Dialogue:

JJ: So, Xiao Gao. Now that you’ve been living abroad for so many years, what were some of the difficulties you ran into? Is there anything that you still have a hard time coping with?

京晶：那个，小高啊，既然你已经在国外生活居住了这么多年，有没有遇到过什么困难？有没有什么事儿现在还难以适应的？

XG:That’s a good question. I can honestly say that my life as an expat in China has been quite pleasurable. A lot of expats living abroad say that they feel lonely, but I actually felt less lonely in China. I think it’s because there’s so many people here in Beijing. Who could possibly feel lonely here?

小高：这是个好问题！老实说，最为一个生活在中国的外国人，我的生活还是挺惬意的。很多外国人人在异乡会觉得孤独，而我在中国却反而感到不那么孤独，也许是因为北京人口密集吧，这么多人围绕着，谁会感到孤单呢？

JJ:What about culture shock? What were some of the things that were hard to adjust to?

京晶：那么有没有遇到文化冲突呢？有没有哪些事你觉得挺难适应的？

XG:Well, when I first came to China, I was in my early 20’s. Everything was new and exciting. I actually liked how different everything was, believe it or not! It wasn’t until about two years later when I started being ethnocentric. Eventually the long lines wherever I went started to take a toll on me.

小高：嗯，我刚来中国的时候也就二十来岁吧，看见什么都很新鲜、有趣，我就是喜欢这种什么都不一样的感觉，真的！直到两年过后，我就变得有点带着美国人的眼光来看中国了（有种族优越感的）。后来，去哪儿哪儿都得排大队让我有点崩溃了。

JJ:Yeah, I can understand that. What about the language barrier? You speak pretty good Chinese now. But didn’t you have a hard time when you first arrived?

京晶：我能理解。那你有没有语言障碍呢？现在你中文说得这么好，可一开始才来的时候就没有遇到困难吗？

XG:I did have a hard time, but that made me want to learn the language even more. After only two weeks or so I was able to get my wants and needs without a problem.

小高：有过艰难啊！但是遇到困难反而让我更想学这门语言。过了差不多两周，我就能简单描述需求了。

JJ:Wow, that’s amazing! So tell me, were you able to find a girlfriend here? Is having a girlfriend in China different than one in the United States?

京晶：哇，那很了不起哦！那你再说说，找个中国女朋友容易么？交个中国女朋友跟交个美国女朋友有何不同？

XG:Yeah, I have a sweet girlfriend now. To be honest, the biggest problems we’ve had in our relationship aren’t necessarily cultural, just normal boyfriend and girlfriend issues that aren’t related to culture, like spending enough time with each other.

小高：有呢，我现在有个可爱的女朋友了，其实呢，我们关系里遇到的最大的问题还真不是文化的问题，就是那些寻常的男女朋友间都会遇到的问题呗！比如花点时间多陪陪对方啦什么的。

JJ:I see. Is there anything you like better about living here than in your hometown?

京晶：原来如此。有没有什么是你觉得住在这儿比住在美国家乡好的呢？

XG:Of course. I feel a lot safer here than in Detroit, especially at night! The amount of people here makes it hard to feel lonely. Also, since I can speak English, everyone is interested in being my friend. I’ve never had a problem finding a language partner! But most of all, I love the food here. C’mon, let’s go eat!

小高：当然有啦！我觉得住在这吧感觉比住底特律安全，尤其是晚上。而且那么多人也不容易你让你感到孤单。还有就是，因为我说英语，人们都想跟我交朋友，我从来没有找不到语伴的烦恼哦！更重要的事，我太喜欢这儿的美食了，走，这就吃点儿去！

New words for dialogue:

Cope with[something] = to deal with [something] 处理（某事）

Expat = short for“expatriate”. Someone living abroad 移居外国者

Culture shock =having a hard time adjusting to a different country’s culture 文化冲突

In my early 20’s =The age of 20, 21, 22, 23. —20来岁

Ethnocentric =evaluating other peoples and cultures according to the standards of one's own culture 种族优越感的

Take a toll on[someone/something] = to cause suffering or damage to [someone/something] 对（某人/事）造成伤害

Language barrier =The difficulties faced when people have no language in common 语言障碍

Or so = about; 左右

Wants and needs =the things that you want and need 需求