2007年VOA标准英语-Perseverance Pays off for Thailand's Sandwich M

By Mil Arcega
Washington
05 July 2007
 

Sirivat Voravetvuthikun, the Thai sandwich man

Ten years after the Asian stock market plunge¹ left him $30 million in debt, a 57-year-old Thai entrepreneur has become a symbol of optimism and perseverance² in his country.  VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

The transition from millionaire stockbroker³ to street vendor⁴ has not been an easy one for Sirivat Voravetvuthikun.  The 57-year old entrepreneur made a fortune in stocks but when the Asian stock market collapsed⁵ in 1997, so did his investments, leaving Voravetvuthikun $30.4 million in debt.

"So my life was totally changed from a luxurious⁶ lifestyle to just a commoner lifestyle."

The U.S.-educated stockbroker says it was a difficult time for his family.  While the creditors⁷ sued, Voravetvuthikun swallowed his pride and began selling sandwiches in the streets of Bangkok.  On his first day, he earned $14.  His wife, Vilailuk, says she often felt disheartened. "But I realized if we gave up, nobody would help us.  No matter what, the two of us have to help each other.  No matter how disheartened we felt, we have to fight."

Ten years later, Voravetvuthikun is "Sirivat the sandwich man," and he is once again a success story.  His business, which includes two coffee shops and a sushi catering⁸ service, employs 14 people.  And he has plans to expand the business. "Today as you can see, I can smile.  Although I was formerly⁹ rich, I was a bankrupt person. Today, I run a very, very small business.  And I still sell sandwiches on the streets of Bangkok, although I'm going to have shops now one after the other.  I feel happy."

Sirivat Sandwich has become a well-known brand in Bangkok -- the symbol of one man's refusal to succumb¹⁰ to fate.  Voravetvuthikun says the company logo, which he designed, says it all.  It features a dollar sign (Thai Bhat currency) and the IMF insignia to remind him of the 1997 crisis and the start of his new career as the sandwich man of Thailand.

1 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

2 perseverance   

n.坚持不懈，不屈不挠

参考例句：

• It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
• Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。

3 stockbroker   

n.股票（或证券），经纪人（或机构）

参考例句：

• The main business of stockbroker is to help clients buy and sell shares.股票经纪人的主要业务是帮客户买卖股票。
• My stockbroker manages my portfolio for me.我的证券经纪人替我管理投资组合。

4 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

5 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

6 luxurious   

adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的

参考例句：

• This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
• The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。

7 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 catering   

n. 给养

参考例句：

• Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
• Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？

9 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

10 succumb   

v.屈服，屈从；死

参考例句：

• They will never succumb to the enemies.他们决不向敌人屈服。
• Will business leaders succumb to these ideas?商业领袖们会被这些观点折服吗？