美文欣赏：旅行无论走到哪里 都是独特的经历

 　　Everyone has a list of destinations they promise themselves to visit during their lifetime. People travel for endless reasons, whether it's to experience different cultures, see natural wonders of the world, or learn about heritage¹. All these ideas are exciting options, because in every situation, you will be exposed to something unfamiliar² and life-changing.

　　每个人都有一堆承诺自己此生要去的地方。人们旅行的原因有很多，有的是要体验不同的文化、看看世界上的自然奇观，或者了解别处的传统。所有这些想法都令人激动，因为无论是哪种情况，你都会体验到从未体验过的、改变人生的东西。

　　I recently had a discussion with someone about my study abroad experience. They listened as I recounted my explorations around Italy and my additional travels. "I would love to do something like that," they said, "but I feel like everyone goes to Europe now. It's not really that unique anymore".

　　我最近和几个人谈论了我在国外的求学经历，他们听我描述在意大利的经历和其他旅行时说：“我也想那样做，但我感觉现在大家都去欧洲，没什么特别的了。”

　　I was pretty shocked by such a statement. Since when was traveling anywhere not cool enough? Naturally, the older you get, you're going to know more people who have traveled to various parts of the world, but does standing³ underneath⁴ the Eiffel Tower have less value to me because so many travelers have done the exact same thing? Or climbing and taking a picture up at the top of the Florence Duomo?

　　听到这样的话我很震惊，从什么时候开始出去旅行没意思了?当然，随着你年龄的增长，你会认识越多在世界不同地方旅行过的人，但是难道就因为很多人都曾站在埃菲尔铁塔下，所以这样做对我来说就没有意义了吗?或者说爬上圣母百花圣殿照张照片就没意思了?

　　My answer: absolutely not. Reading travel blogs and staring at photographs is helpful and enjoyable, but nothing close to actually experiencing that place. The truth is, every new destination is unique, and it's nearly impossible to make a "wrong" decision.

　　我的答案是：大错特错。读旅行博客、看照片都很有帮助，也很有乐趣，但跟亲身经历绝对不一样。其实每个新目的地都很独特，选择任何目的地都不会错。

　　It is important to focus on your own personal journey, not the experience of others. Every city, state, and country, has thousands of different things to offer. The places you will visit all have fascinating people, delicious different kinds of food you've never tried before, and unbelievable history that will blow your mind. Traveling will nevertheless change you and leave an imprint⁵ on the way you see the world - no matter where you go.

　　重点是要关注自己的亲身经历，而不是别人的经历。每个城市、州和国家都有数不胜数的新鲜事物。你要去参观的地方都有有意思的人、你从未品尝过的美味食物和令你痴迷的难以置信的历史。旅行仍然会改变你，在你周游世界之路上留下印记——无论你去哪儿。

　　Whether the destinations we desire are seemingly⁶ simple or seemingly obscure⁷ in the eyes of others, every experience has its own unique value. Keep your adventures authentic⁸ while also utilizing⁹ the opinions and advice of others. In every new destination, you will find a new part of yourself. Truly, no destination is the wrong place to go.

　　无论我们想去的地方在别人眼中看似简单还是无聊，每次经历都有它独特的意义。坚持自己想去的地方，同时也要听取别人的想法和建议。在每个新地方你都会发现一个新的自己。真的，没有一个地方是不该去的。

1 heritage   

n.传统，遗产，继承物

参考例句：

• The ancient buildings are part of the national heritage.这些古建筑是民族遗产的一部分。
• We Chinese have a great cultural heritage.我们中国人有伟大的文化遗产。

2 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

5 imprint   

n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记

参考例句：

• That dictionary is published under the Longman imprint.那本词典以朗曼公司的名义出版。
• Her speech left its imprint on me.她的演讲给我留下了深刻印象。

6 seemingly   

adv.从表面上看起来，似乎是

参考例句：

• Seemingly,we can do nothing to prevent this from happening.我们似乎没有什么办法阻止这件事发生。
• For several seemingly interminable seconds no one spoke.有几秒钟没有人讲话，这几秒钟似乎十分漫长。

7 obscure   

adj.微暗的，难解的，不著名的，（语音学）轻音的；vt.使...阴暗，隐藏，使...含糊，成为含糊的元音；n.暗淡，模糊

参考例句：

• The point of his speech is obscure.他发言的要点模糊不清。
• The joke did not obscure the underlying seriousness of his point.玩笑并没有掩盖他的观点隐含的严肃性。

8 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

9 utilizing   

v.利用，使用( utilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Utilizing an assembler to produce a machine-language program. 用汇编程序产生机器语言的过程。 来自辞典例句
• The study and use of devices utilizing properties of materials near absolute zero in temperature. 对材料在接近绝对零度时的特性进行研究和利用的学科。 来自辞典例句