VOA标准英语2010年-Laid Off Brazilian Migrant Workers Wan

Land of ancestors

Some have never been to the land of their ancestors, who migrated¹ to Brazil in the 20th century. But others, like Claudio Koboyashi, have. Until last year, the 53-year old worked in a Japanese factory. He lost his job during the global economic crisis².

He says coming back home to Brazil was not what he expected.

He says it has been difficult and he has not been able to get a job in Brazil. He is taking Japanese language courses, in hopes of returning to Japan.

Koboyashi is not alone, says Masato Ninomiya, president of CIATE – an organization that supports Brazilian workers abroad. He says, despite Japan's economic slump³, many factory workers still see more opportunities there.

"So there are many people waiting for the recovery of Japan's economy to go back there," Ninomiya said. "People who stayed a very long time in Japan, they have some difficulties in adapting themselves again in Brazil'

Ninomiya says salaries in Japanese factories are as much as four times higher than what workers can earn here.

Workers want to return back to Japan

Many of those who returned to Brazil say they cannot wait until the Japanese economy improves, says Helena Sanada, a counselor⁴ at CIATE. She says she has met returned workers who are so eager to go back to Japan, that they are willing to return without any guarantee of a new job – even if that means they end up homeless there.

She says many of them say that society is better in Japan than here in Brazil. She says they feel they would be better off living in the streets of Japan than on the streets here.

CIATE offers counseling⁵ and help

Sanada says some of the returned workers suffer from depression and contemplate⁶ suicide⁷. CIATE offers them counseling and helps them find new jobs.

CIATE President Masato Ninomiya says the children of these workers also suffer from this cross migration⁸. He says, by moving back and forth⁹ between countries, many kids never attend school or receive an education.

"They become adults and they are not educated in any language," Ninomiya added. "Our fear is that many people become rootless. They're not Brazilians. They're not Japanese. They're not educated in Japan. They're not educated in Brazil."

Ninomiya says families that want to go back to Japan should consider what is in their children's best interest.

He adds they also should take into consideration Brazil's expanding economy. Ninomiya says better, higher paying jobs will become more available soon, especially for young Brazilians.

"I recommend them to stay here. Because I think the medium and long term range, I think Brazil will have progress," said Ninomiya.

Matter of right opportunity

Thirty-six year old Carlos Aragaki is taking that advice.

He lost his job last year, during the recession¹⁰ in Japan, and now works at a produce market in Sao Paulo.

Aragaki says he is in no rush to return to Japan.

Although he says he would go back to Japan for the right opportunity; otherwise, he is happy where he is.
 

1 migrated   

v.迁移，移往( migrate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Pioneers from New England migrated to all parts of the United States. 来自新英格兰的拓荒者移居到美国各地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Great herds of buffalo migrated across the plains. 大群野牛迁徙过平原。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

3 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

4 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

5 counseling   

n.咨询服务

参考例句：

• A multimillionaire media magnate has shocked his employees with his candor by telling them all that he's putting his business affairs on hold to enter an alcoholism-counseling program. 一位身份数百万的媒体大亨，坦诚地告诉他全体员工他将暂时搁置他的事业以便参加戒酒班，令员工大为惊愕。
• She will need medical help and counseling to overcome the tragedy. 她将需要医疗帮助和心理咨询来平复这场悲剧。

6 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。

7 suicide   

n.自杀，自毁，自杀性行为

参考例句：

• The number of suicide has increased.自杀案件的数量增加了。
• The death was adjudged a suicide by sleeping pills.该死亡事件被判定为服用安眠药自杀。

8 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

9 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

10 recession   

n.（工商业的）衷退（期），萧条（期）

参考例句：

• Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
• A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。