VOA常速英语2016--印第安纳州及缅甸城市发生巨大改变更为亲近（在线收听）

印第安纳州及缅甸城市发生巨大改变更为亲近 

The 25th anniversary of the first Burmese refugees settling in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is especially sweet for Minn Myint Nan Tin, because it coincides with her adopted city becoming a Friendship City with Mawlamyine in Myanmar.

印第安纳州韦恩堡安置第一批缅甸难民25周年纪念让敏宁·敏特·南提恩特别开心，因为在这一天养大她的缅甸毛淡棉和韦恩堡成为友好城市。

“I have a chance to solve people that who care about us and also the country that I love is both for me, it is a dream come true. ”

“能够同关心我们及我深爱的这两个国家的人打交道，这让我实现了自己的梦想。”

The co-founder of the Burmese advocacy center was a key player in bringing the project to Fort Wayne,which is the home to some 10000 Burmese.

缅甸宣传中心的联合创始人敏宁·敏特·南提恩是在约1万名缅甸人生活的韦恩堡开始这个项目的关键人物。

The Friendship City program falls under the umbrella of Sister Cities, but is a less formal agreement.

这个友好城市项目虽然由姐妹城市协会开展，但并没有签署正式协议。

With democratically held an elections last year, and the emergence of civilian government in Naypyidaw,the time seemed right to pursue a relationship.

去年民主大选及内比都出现的平民政府，似乎表明发展友好关系的时机已经成熟。

As their homeland moved toward the civilian-like government, a lot of change for the refugees, too.

随着缅甸开始平民政府进程，这里的移民也发生了许多改变。

Several have started their own businesses-including 13 grocery stores, 3 restaurants, 2 hair salons, and a car dealership.

有些人开始了自己的生意，包括13家杂货店，3间餐馆，2家发廊及一家汽车经销店。

Sister Cities president, Dorothy Kittaka, notes that a generation of children has grown up speaking English-and many Burmese have become U.S. citizens.

姐妹城市协会主席多罗西·克塔卡指出这一代儿童在英语环境下长大，而且许多缅甸人已经成为美国公民。

“So this is a place where they’re thriving, and why not go back and see what we can do to connect with what they left?”

“他们在这里不断发展壮大，为什么不回去，看看我们能做点什么将他们所留下的联系起来？”

In February, nine members of the Fort Wayne community, including Sister Cities Vice President Tom Herr,made the first official visit to Mawlamyine.

包括姐妹城市协会副主席汤姆·赫尔在内的韦恩堡地方9名官员在2月份第一次对毛淡棉进行正式访问。

“They need a lot of help, and I think they looked us to maybe help them under this new period in their history.”

“他们需要很多帮助，而且我认为他们希望能在自己的这一新历史阶段帮助他们。”

The group has already identified several areas in which it can help:

这个访问团已在一些方面为他们提供帮助：

from business expertise in developing off-the-grade energy sources for power and water, to providing new equipment for the local hospital, to starting an English as a second language classes.

为发展落后的电能水能资源提供业务方面的专业知识，为当地医院提供新设备，开展作为第二语言的英语课程。

“This is where it starts with young people going and understanding and having this experience, seeing their land, and how people are people all over.”

“年轻人从这里开始，了解并有了这样的经历后,看看他们祖国及人与人之间如何互相帮助度过难关。”

As committee chair, Minn is already working on setting up an additional visit to Myanmar, followed by a student exchange in 2017.

作为委员会主席，敏宁已经开始着手准备2017年学生交流后再次访问缅甸事宜。

She hopes by that time, the Friendship agreement will have blossomed into a full Sister Cities program, further connecting her new home to her old.

她希望届时友好协议能够走进姐妹城市中，将她的新老家庭进一步联系起来。