VOA标准英语10月-South Korean 'Goose Dads' Feel Pinch of Crisis-Dr

South Korea's currency, the won, fell to its lowest exchange value in 10 years against the dollar, this week. Panicked investors¹ are taking shelter in the dollar, amid global financial uncertainties², driving its value up. Some of the immediate³ victims of the currency swing are a bunch of lonely South Korean men known as "Goose Dads." VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin explains.

Kim Heung-kuk is reasonably well-known in South Korea. He is a member of that hard-working, mid-level group of celebrities⁴ that make a decent income, but are not considered super-rich. He had a hit song a long time ago, appears in the occasional commercial and does a radio talk show in Seoul.
　

A South Korean bank clerk works next to bundles of U.S. banknotes at the head office of Korea Exchange Bank at downtown of Seoul, South Korea, 10 Oct 2008

Kim belongs to a second group as well: he is one of South Korea's "kiroggi aboji", or "goose fathers."

Kim's wife lives in Hawaii with the family's two children, who both attend school. Their tuition, food, housing and other expenses has to be paid in American dollars.

The term "goose father" derives⁵ from the Korean view of the goose as a traditional symbol of family loyalty⁶. Like many other Korean men with family members in the United States, Kim stays behind in South Korea, working hard - and getting paid in Korean won.

About a year ago, it took a little more than 900 won to buy one dollar. This week, it takes about 1,400 won. That means Kim has to earn about 50 percent more, just to meet the same expenses.

In the past, he says, the dollar was not so expensive. Now, he says, the dollar has shot up and it is getting very hard for him and the other goose fathers to bear.

Kim has taken on more broadcasting work to increase his income. And he acknowledges, the financial crisis has led to some changes of habit.

He says he keeps watching the news every day, hoping the situation gets better. His family travels and eats out less than they used to. He says he also drinks less.

There are no exact figures on how many "goose fathers" there are in South Korea, but estimates are in the high tens of thousands. Up to now, most "goose dads" have seen the sacrifice as worth it, because their children become fluent in English and get a education in problem-solving skills rather than Asian-style rote⁷ memorization.

He says other "goose fathers" are thinking of bringing their children back for a year or so. However, because one of his children is close to graduation, he says he and his wife will try to endure.

In the meantime, Kim plans to keep showing up for work, heading home alone and hoping the dollar comes back down to earth.

1 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

2 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 celebrities   

n.（尤指娱乐界的）名人( celebrity的名词复数 )；名流；名声；名誉

参考例句：

• He only invited A-list celebrities to his parties. 他只邀请头等名流参加他的聚会。
• a TV chat show full of B-list celebrities 由众多二流人物参加的电视访谈节目

5 derives   

v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• English derives in the main from the common Germanic stock. 英语主要源于日耳曼语系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derives his income from freelance work. 他以自由职业获取收入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

7 rote   

n.死记硬背，生搬硬套

参考例句：

• Learning by rote is discouraged in this school.这所学校不鼓励死记硬背的学习方式。
• He recited the poem by rote.他强记背诵了这首诗。