一封没有寄出的信
读者君，
您好。
我是今天广东英语新闻栏目公众号的撰稿人，同事们都管我叫交哥；我之前也写过几篇文章，分享了我的一些有用没用的翻译经验。有兴趣的读者可以浏览文末的链接。
今天我想重点聊聊英语原版阅读的重要性。回想起自己这么多年来学习英语的经历，我觉得最长进的几年是自己做英语出版的时候。大学毕业后去英国念书，我感觉更多是开了眼界，知道了天有多宽，地有多厚；尤其是看到自己的中译英作业被老师修改得面目全非的时候。而学习更多是在工作中学。
我当时做的杂志叫《疯狂英语阅读版》，还是在我手上创刊的。我当时就执拗一个理念，好的质量来自挑选。为了选一篇好的稿子，别人五篇挑一篇，我就五十篇挑一篇；而出版也有严苛的翻译审校流程。这也就逼着自己认认真真地翻译每一个字句。我记得当时自己冥思苦想英语学习的秘密，最后总结出来就是这句话------要培养自学的能力与自觉学习的习惯。
而原版阅读就显得非常重要了。一来通过阅读能掌握单词在语篇中的正确用法，是很灵活，一点也不死板的用法。
举例子，second 这个词大家都认识，第二的意思；我印象中在做亚运会的时候学习了这个词的另一个用法，原来可以是动词，重音还在第二个音节，指人员借调的意思，to move someone from their usual duties to a special duty, usually for a limited time. 例句有：I’ve been seconded to the accounts department while they’re short of staff. 会计部门人手不足，我被暂时借调过去帮忙。二来也可以通过阅读扩大我们的知识面和理解力。我还记得一开始做杂志的时候，总喜欢揪着中国人和外国人有什么区别，后来阅读多了以后就渐渐发现，其实中国人外国人差别也没那么大。一位我很尊敬的外专，也是一名传奇的美联社记者，就曾经和我分享过他周游世界后的最大发现，他说，it is amazing to know how much we are alike.
下面这篇文章就是我当初做出版时挑选的一篇文章，我到现在还记得第一次看时的震撼。现在也有越来越多的中国孩子到海外留学或者是移民。这是一封新移民子女写给她妈妈的信，代沟现象在中西文化的撞击下表现得特别尖锐。文章末尾的一句话“你把我整根拔起，然后扔在水泥地板上” 让我的心情久久不能平静。若无其事的第二封信将一切矛盾都掩饰了起来，却让人们更加深入地思考母女两代人的茫然和无助。
至于怎么开展英语的原版阅读，我很欣赏在网上看来的一句话，“要有自不量力的勇气”。在人生的某些节点上，自不量力也许是更正确的道路。祝好！希望这篇小文能给你带来思考与启发。您的点赞与转发对我们很重要。谢谢您，也祝您每天进步一点点。
Dear mother,
How are you?
I just finished dinner. Now I am in Benjamin's bed, lying on my stomach. I know, I know, I shouldn' 32 45521 32 14986 0 0 1517 0 0:00:30 0:00:09 0:00:21 2749 32 45521 32 14986 0 0 1353 0 0:00:33 0:00:11 0:00:22 2653t lie on my stomach right after dinner. I should take one hundred paces after each meal. But my physiological psychology professor says that the stomach needs energy to digest. But if you are walking, your legs take up the energy and that's how you get 1)cramps. Mother, who should I listen to?
For dinner I had a turkey sandwich, with lettuce and tomato, but no cheese, mother. Americans all eat cheese, which keeps them healthy, which is why this country is so great, which is why we had to leave home and come here. But mother, I don't care, I hate cheese. Next time, I will try to cook something. There's a wok here in his room, we don't even have a wok at home, do we? I also had a glass of 100% orange juice, and two blueberry gummy sharks.
Now mother, I am sure you are wondering about this boy Benjamin, whose bed I am lying on. This must worry you and your 2)overactive imagination. All those times that you volunteered to 3)vacuum my room, just so you could see that I was hiding underneath the bed. Then when you did the laundry, 4)sniffing my clothes. Did they smell of cigarettes? Alcohol? Men? And you searched my pockets, looking for a note, a phone number. Well mother, the cigarettes are in the guitar, the vodka in the Reebok shoe box. Remember that plant I had in my room, next to the window? Now sit down because mom, that was 5)weed. And thanks to your green thumb, I harvested almost an entire ounce every ninety days. Oh mother, now calm down. Think of all the money you've saved me. By the way, how often did you water it? Because the one here is just not growing.
And the boys. Boys boys boys. You always called them boys. Did you think that somehow the name would 6)neutralize them, render them into little harmless creatures? Like puppies, running around, chasing after cars, without a clue as to what to do if they ever did catch one? You also always called me a little girl.
You didn't even hold a boy's hand before my father, did you? So you tell me, my virtuous mother. Well, that's why we came here. So I can have more freedom, more choices than you had.
I still have your last letter:
"...Daughter, I think I am a pretty open minded parent. I don't like people telling me what to do, so I won't tell you what to do. You are old enough to make your own decisions. I have decided not to interfere, after all, this is your life. So go ahead, choose your own field, be any kind of doctor that you want. Even if you just want to be a general practitioner, I won't..."
Any kind of doctor?
I just popped a 7)yogurt covered 8)raisin in my mouth. Isn't yogurt made of milk? Is this what breast feeding tasted like? I am trying to remember, but I can't even picture your face. Are you still using Oil of Olay? Still dying your hair with Clairol? Still getting your hands dirty when you do it? Try not to get the sink black, your husband will scream.
Now I am eating a sour gummy worm, chewing it up and swallowing like when I used to steal cookies before dinner, gobbling it down before anyone sees. But then you had those dry cookies and I almost choked on one. DO you remember? Of course you do. You are probably the one who told me about it. Mother, you are such a creator. Inside of you grey matter filled my head, long winding 9)intestines filled my body, along with other little soft organs. Then, once outside, you filled my stomach with food, all healthy no doubt. And filled my head with ideas, their quality I am not so sure of. And now, you give me my memories and my past. That's a lot of power, and a lot of potential for abuse. But if you can't trust your mother, who can you trust?
Be patient Mom, I will eventually get to Benjamin. You are always so 10)nosy, so reluctant to let me go. Even at my birth, I had to force you to let me out. Okay, granted that I left you two weeks too early. I am sorry, that must have been painful. I didn't know any better, I thought I was ready. I wasn't. For the next two weeks, (according to your story) you watched my blue face through a pane of glass, as I kicked in a little tank, protesting the price for my 11)stubbornness. You covered me with your gaze, trying to 12)shield me, like the eight months before. Mother, I never wanted you to pay for my mistakes.
When I was four, we got separated at a very crowded store. People pushed each other and inched along as one entity. Amidst this crawling giant, I walked under its legs and all the way home. By nightfall you finally came home. You stood in front of my family, your in'laws, a woman on the verge of 13)hysteria. My grandmother pointed to my small figure playing in the backyard and said, "Thank God my granddaughter had enough sense to come back by herself." And I 14)waddled up to you, a perfectly innocent child, calling, "Mama mama, I came home all by myself." Was that enough to melt the icy look grandma give you? You held me and whispered, "Never leave me again." How often did you wish that I was back inside your body?
For the next few days, our game of hide and seek took new urgency. You, a grown woman, exhibited such poor sportsmanship, nearly burst in tears every time that you couldn't find me, so that I had to come out of my hiding place. And one day, being distracted by a butterfly, I went chasing after it. Forgetting all about you, until you found me later in Grandma's lap. Shaking, your hair loose, you grabbed me and demanded, "Didn't I tell you never to leave me?" Hurt by your tight grip, I cried out, and immediately Grandma 15)snatched me away from you, like the time she snatched me out of the way before an overly friendly dog and its dripping tongue could get to me.
"You want to scare her to death? What kind of a mother are you?" Stroking my back, "Hush, hush, there, there, don't worry, nana's here." As she took me back inside the house, I turned around, and saw your frozen smile glued to your lips. How many millions of women before you stood like that, letting their obedience as daughter-in-laws drown their roles as mothers? Confucius taught you to honor your elderly. What did he say about protecting your child? Yourself?
Soon after that I stopped playing with you and found the company of my peers. I started to come home with dirt under my nails, showing off my bruises.
"Look mama, I got this from climbing the oak tree, it was tall and I fell but I didn't cry."
And you would shake your head, with pride and anxiety mixed. "Such a brave little person" and "Be a good girl, good girls don't climb trees," You always remembered to lower my voice so grandma wouldn't find out. You said it's because old people shouldn't be worried. But to me, you always seemed older than grandma.
Monkeys and tigers don't get along. Grandma the tigress would mutter under her breath. Twelve 16)zodiac signs, you could have been a dog, or a horse, both compatible with the tiger, but you had to be a monkey.
Grandpa was a tiger too, wasn't he? One mountain can't hold two tigers. A fearless cub, I insisted on challenging him. Instead of waiting for the punishment, I actually ran away. And the old 17)patriarch would chase me up the stairs. That mush have been quite a sight, Grandpa with his respectable beard flying, his authoritative walking stick waving, huffing and puffing after a little girl. What must the neighbors have thought. What did you think? You must've had an image of this sweet gentle girl, ribbon in her hair, fat little legs in white stockings dangling in front of a piano, a shy blushing smile. Then me, grass in my hair, skinny brown legs kicking from the highest tree, laughing with all my teeth showing. But how could I be anything less than a tiger? And sometimes, I even had to put in that little extra 18)mischief for your monkey, they are supposed to be curious and restless. But instead, you were this little 19)timid thing, trying to hold onto its tail midst a cage full of prowling tigers.
I didn't realize until we left for America how 20)edgy your voice was. And how your back was always straight, even when sitting on a high back chair. On the plane you finally leaned back. Almost overnight, laugh line appeared around your eyes and mouth. As if your skin, being stretched flat all this time, finally relaxed into these natural 21)creases.
But you didn't escape completely, you brought a little cub with you. One night, as always, you watched with love as your husband read bedtime stories to your daughter. By the end of the second story, you said, "It's bedtime." And so it was, but I said, "Papa, read me another one."
"No. It's bedtime, your father has to get up early for work tomorrow."
"Papa papa one more."
"You've already heard two." You said.
"Papa papa please please." Holding onto his sleeve I looked up and smiled, a perfect little girl adoring her father.
Father laughed, "All right all right, one more." Seeing your cloudy face, he added comfortingly, only half joking, "Wife, don't worry, haven't you heard the saying when the tiger leaves, the monkey becomes the king of the jungle?"
But you never wanted me to leave.
OK, back to Benjamin. I'm sure you're dying to know about him. He has blond hair and blue eyes, and speaks only English, but he knows how to use chopsticks. He also drinks tea. He would like to meet you. I have been with him since this Christmas. We are very close. And yes, mother, we have sex. He is also international relations major. Yes mom, that's still my major, so stop telling everyone that I am pre-med. I am not trying to be difficult, I know you don't like the major. I can still hear your voice, an 22)octave higher than usual.
"International Relations? What kind of job would you get with that? Foreign Service? Where would you go? Are you crazy? Your father and I slaved to bring you to America just so you can finish college and work in a place without indoor plumbing? I am calm, go on, explain, how much more can you destroy my hopes for you? Go back to China? Your father has go to hear this. Husband, husband, come here, listen to what your daughter has to say. She wants to go back and work in China! Yes, the same China that we took her away from. No, I don't want to listen to you. I've heard enough. Now you listen to me little girl. . . Little girl, little girl, why must you be so stubborn? You think that just because you speak perfect English and have high 23)SATs you know everything? Well I've crossed more bridges than you've passed roads. I've had more pepper than you've salt. Trust us, your father and I have a lot of experience. We know what's best for you. You may think this is what you want, but you are too young and idealistic. Who didn't want to save the world when they are in college, but you are an adult now you've got to be responsible and realistic. I am not saying money is the most important thing but...
But mother mother mother, I don't want to be responsible and realistic, I don't want to make money. Mother let go. I am going to do what I can do. I don't want to stay here. I know you came here for my benefit, my future. So I can drive sixteen, choose my college and major, date boys, talk about politics. Yet I am just a little girl, homesick. I can pretend all I want, talk about 24)Kurt Cobain's suicide and what that says about my generation, as if this is my generation. Worry about Bill and Hill and the Whitegate, as if they are my leaders. You pulled me up by the root and threw me on cement, it's more adaptation that I am capable of. I am tired of listening to myself, making sure I sound American. I am tired of hunting behind every word or hidden racist agendas. I am tired of being a guest. All I want is to go home. But mother damn it you know I can't. Mother, we shouldn't have left.
Dear Mother,
How are you?
I just had dinner. I had a turkey sandwich with lettuce and tomato and cheese, one glass of 100% orange juice and two blueberry gummy sharks. The food here is good but I still miss your cooking.
The weather here is great, winter is finally over. How's our garden? School is going well, I enjoy all my classes. I am still an international relations major, but I am keeping my options open. My advisor says medical schools prefer students with a broad liberal arts background, so if I do decide to become a doctor, I can. Exams are coming so I've got to go to the library and study. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Your daughter
亲爱的妈妈，
您好吗？
我刚吃完晚饭，现在正俯卧着趴在本杰明的床上。我就知道你会说我不应该在饭后趴着，我应该来个饭后百步走。可是我的生理、心理学教授们说，胃部消化的时候需要能量，如果你立刻散步的话，能量就给腿部占用了，这就是人们胃痛的原因。妈妈，你说我该听谁的好呢？
我的晚餐是个火鸡肉馅三明治，还有莴苣和番茄，却没有干酪，妈妈。美国人都喜欢吃干酪，这使他们更加健康，也使他们的国家更加强大，这也是我们背井离乡来这里的原因。但是妈妈，我不在乎，我讨厌吃干酪。下次，我要试着自己做菜。他家里有口锅，我们家却连口锅都没有，不是吗？我还喝了杯100%的纯橙汁，还有两块鲨鱼状蓝莓胶质糖。
现在，妈妈您一定特想知道：我正躺着的床的主人——本杰明到底是何方神圣吧？我就知道您会很担心，也一定会不着边际地胡思乱想。想起从前，您总是抢着给我房间吸尘，借此您就可以窥探我床底下的东西。当您洗衣服的时候，您总会特意闻闻我的衣服，闻闻有没有烟味、酒精味或者是男人味？您也总是翻检我的口袋，看看有没有小纸条、电话号码什么的。我就告诉你吧，妈妈。我把香烟藏在了吉他里面，伏特加放在锐步球鞋的鞋盒里。还记得我房间里靠近窗台的那棵植物吗？你听完可千万别着急，妈妈，那是大麻。还多亏了您的巧手，每隔90天我都能收割整整一盎司的大麻。妈妈，您千万别激动。想一想就这样您替我省了多大的一笔钱。顺便问一下，您是多久浇一次水的？因为本杰明家的这棵总是不见长。
还有男孩子们，男孩，您总是把他们叫做男孩。您有没有意识到这种称呼会把他们变成中性人？变成一种弱小、温顺的生物？就像是小狗狗一样，只知道跑来跑去，追赶着汽车，却根本不知道真的追上以后该怎么办？您也总是叫我小女孩。
您在遇见父亲前一定没牵过男孩的手吧？有就不怕告诉我，我纯洁的母亲！这也正是我们来这里的原因，这样我就能享有更多的自由，拥有比您更多的机会。
您的上一封信我还保存着。
“．．．．．．女儿，我自认自己是个思想开明的家长。我不喜欢别人对我指手划脚，也不会干涉你的自由。你已经是个大人了，完全可以自己做主。我早就决定不干涉你的决定，不管怎么说，这是你自己的生活。所以，勇敢地往前走吧，选择你自己的领域，不管你想做什么方面的医生。即使只是一个普通医生，我也不会．．．．．．”
不管什么方面的医生？
我刚把颗沾满葡萄干的酸乳酪放进嘴里。酸乳酪是由牛奶制成的吗？小时候吃奶也是这种味道吗？我在努力地回想着，可我却记不得你的脸。您还在用玉兰油吗？仍使用伊卡璐来染发吗？是不是每次染完都弄得两手黑黑的？可别把洗脸盆弄黑了，要不然你老公又会发脾气的。
现在我正在吃着一种酸酸的、粘粘的虫子，把它整个扔进嘴里咀嚼，然后吞下去，就像以前我在饭前偷吃甜饼一样，在被人发现前赶紧整个吞下去。有一次，您的一块干甜饼就把我给噎住了，您还记得吗？您一定记得，因为这故事还是您告诉我的。妈妈，您可真是无所不能。当我还在您肚子的时候，您就让我的脑子充满了灰色的故事，使我的身子长满了长长弯弯的肠子，还有其他一些小的软组织。接着，出生以后，您就用食物填饱我的肠胃，毫无疑问都是些健康的食品，然后往我的脑子里塞各式各样的认识和看法，它们的质量就难说了。现在，您还给了我记忆和我的过去。这些都给了您很大的权力，也给了您很多滥用权力的机会。但是如果连自己的妈妈都不能相信，我还能相信谁呢？
耐心点，妈妈。本杰明的事我会跟你讲清楚的。您总是那么好管闲事，总是不放心让我一个人面对。即便是我的出生，我也要强迫你让我自己出来。好吧，就算是我提前两个礼拜降世。我很抱歉，那一定是很痛苦的吧。反正我也是一无所知，我认为我已经准备好了，可事实上我并没有。在接下来的两个礼拜里，（据你所说）你透过一块玻璃板看着我那蓝色的脸蛋，看着我在小小的护婴槽里踢动，抗议着因为固执而带来的代价。你用关怀的眼神呵护着我，想给我铸起一道防护墙，就像之前的八个月怀着我时一样。妈妈，我从来没有要你偿还我自己的过错。
在我四岁的时候，有一次我们在一个拥挤的超市走散了。人们你推我挤，只能一寸一寸地移动着。在那个如同巨型怪兽般的拥挤人群中，我在人群中一步一步地挪回了家。在夜晚降临时，您就像个患了歇斯底里症的女人一样回到了家，站在你的夫家，也就是我的家人面前。奶奶指着我在后院玩耍的小小身影说道，“好在我的孙女足够聪明，能够自己走回家。”而我摇摇摆摆地走到你跟前，一脸的天真，叫喊着，“妈妈，妈妈，我是一个人走回家的。”这些够不够融化奶奶瞄给您的冰冷眼神？您把我抱住，在我耳边喃喃地说道，“不要再离开我。”您是多么频频地希望我能够再回到您的体内啊！
在接下来的几天里，我们的捉迷藏游戏又有了新问题。您做为一个成年妇女，却没有体现出任何的体育精神，每次在没能找到我的时候都伤心流泪，以至我不得不自己跑出来。有一天，因为追逐一只花蝴蝶，我完全把您给忘记了，直到最后您在奶奶的膝盖上发现了我。只见您披头散发，走路颤颤悠悠的，您一把抓住我，说，“难道我没告诉你不要离开我吗？” 您都把我给抓疼了，我不禁哭了起来。奶奶这时马上把我从您身边抢了过来，就像那次她抢救我一样，当时一只过分亲热的狗要来舔我，它耷拉着口水的舌头都差点要够着我了。
“你想把她吓死吗？哪有这样做妈妈的？”她一手抚摩着我的后背，一边说道，“哦，哦，乖，乖，别怕，奶奶在这里呢！”当她带着我走进屋时，我回过头来，看见您那僵硬的笑容还停留在嘴边。在您之前又有多少妇女像您一样地站着呢？儿媳的顺从完全把她们母亲的角色给抹杀了。孔夫子教导您要尊敬老人，但他有没有教您怎样去保护您的孩子？保护您自己吗？
从那以后，我就不再和您一起玩了，我有了我同龄的玩伴。我开始两手脏脏地回家，指甲里都是泥，炫耀着身上的瘀青。
“看，妈妈，这块瘀青是我爬橡树时留下的，树很高，我掉了下来，但我没哭。”
您总会摇着头，又是骄傲又是害怕，“真是个小勇士”或者“要做个好女孩，好女孩不爬树，” 您总是提醒我要我降低音调，别让奶奶知道。您告诉我说，我们晚辈不应该让老人担心。但在我看来，您看上去比奶奶还老。
猴虎不相生啊！奶奶这个属老虎的总会低声咕哝着说。根据十二生肖，要跟老虎匹配，您的生肖最好是狗或者马，但你偏偏是属猴的。爷爷也是属虎的，不是吗？一山不能容二虎啊！所以我这只天不怕地不怕的小虎崽总会惹事让他生气。犯了错之后我也不会乖乖束手就擒，而是会选择逃跑。于是老家长爷爷就会走到楼梯口来追我。那场面应该挺滑稽的。只见爷爷气喘吁吁地追着一个小女孩，叫着嚷着，挥舞着那代表权威的拐杖，受人尊敬的胡子吹在半空中。邻居们会怎么想呢？您又在想些什么呢？在您脑海中，我一定是一个乖巧温顺的小女孩，头上扎着彩带，肥嘟嘟的小腿，穿着白色袜子，在钢琴前晃动着，红扑扑的脸上带着羞涩的笑容。可是事实上，我的头发里尽是杂草，黝黑的腿，皮包骨般的瘦，在那最高的树上踢着，笑得肆无忌惮，见牙不见眼。无论怎么看我都是一只小老虎。有时，我甚至会故意和您这个猴子做一些恶作剧，猴子应该是好奇、好动的吧，可您正好相反，像个胆小怕事的小东西，夹在一群饥饿的老虎堆里，您把自己连头带尾裹了个结结实实。
在我们到了美国之后，我才意识到以前您的声音是多么急躁不安。您的后背总是绷得紧紧的，即使是坐在高的靠背椅上也是如此。上了飞机以后，您才终于松弛了下来。就在一夜之间，您的双眼和嘴角才露出笑容，就好象您的皮肤在经过长时间的紧绷之后，一下子松弛了下来，恢复了自然的褶皱。
但您并没有完全逃离危险，您把我这只小老虎也带上了。一天晚上，如同往常一般，您温柔地看着丈夫给女儿讲睡前故事。就在第二个故事结束前，您说，“该睡觉了。”确实也晚了，但我撒娇说，“爸爸，再讲一个，再讲一个。”
“不行，睡觉时间到了，你爸爸明天还要起早上班呢！”
“爸爸，爸爸，讲多一个嘛。”
“你已经听了两个了。”您说道。
“爸爸，爸爸，求求你了。”我抬起头，笑着，拉着爸爸的衣袖，就跟所有喜爱父亲的小女孩一般。
爸爸笑了起来，“好吧！就再讲一个。”看到您乌云密布般的脸色，他加了一句安慰性的话，半开玩笑地说，“老婆，别担心，难道你没听过古人的话吗？山中无老虎，猴子称大王啊！”
但您却从来没要我离开。好了，说回本杰明吧！我猜您已经急得不得了了吧！他有一头金色的头发，一双蓝色的眼睛。他只会说英语，却懂得使用筷子，喜欢喝茶，也很愿意和您见面。我们是从这个圣诞节开始的，我们的关系很好。我也不瞒你说，妈妈，我们还发生了性关系。他也是国际关系学专业的。是的，妈妈，这也还是我目前的专业，所以不要再跟别人说我在读医学预科了。我并不想存心让您难堪，我知道您不喜欢这个专业，我耳边还回响着您比平常的声音要高出八个声贝的声音。
“国际关系学？你毕业后能找到什么样的工作呢？外事服务吗？你能去哪里呢？你疯了吗？你爸爸和我含辛茹苦地把你带到美国，就是指望你能够读完大学，不用干那些锤锤打打的工作！是啊！我是很冷静。说吧，你就说说吧，你究竟还要毁掉多少我们对你的希望？回到中国去？你爸爸一定要听一听这个。老公，老公，快来，听一听你的女儿的话。她想回中国去工作！是的，就是我们把她带出来的那个中国。不，我不想听你说。我已经听够了。现在你听我说，小女孩．．．．．．女儿，你为什么就这么固执呢？你以为讲一口流利的英文，有很高的学术智能测验成绩就证明你知道一切了吗？告诉你，我过的桥比你走的路还多，我吃的胡椒比你吃的盐还多。相信我们，你爸爸和我有很丰富的经验。我们知道什么对你最好，你或许会认为这是你想要做的，但是你还太年轻，太过理想化。在大学的时候哪个人不想去拯救世界呢？但你现在是成人了，你应该有责任心，现实一点，我并不是说金钱是最重要的，但是．．．．．．”
但是，妈，告诉你，我并不想负责任，也不想变得现实，我就不想去赚钱。妈妈，您就放手吧！让我自己走，做我能做的事情。我不想留在这里。我知道您是为我好，为了我的将来，所以我能在16岁时开车，选择我自己的大学和专业，和男孩约会，谈论政治等等。可是，我还只是个小女孩，我很想家，我不能一直假装下去。是啊，我可以假装很有兴趣地和人讨论柯特·柯本的自杀，还有他对我们这一代人的看法，就像这就是我的年代一样；我还要假装担心克林顿和希拉里在白水门事件中的处境，好象他们真是我的领导人一样。你把我整根拔起，然后扔在水泥地板上，这已经远远超过了我的适应能力。我已经厌倦了自言自语，只为了确保自己听起来像个美国人。我已经厌倦了推敲人家字面后的含义，也不想去探究那些日程安排里面到底藏有多少歧视性的内容。我已经厌倦了做客人的滋味。我只想着回家！但是妈妈，您知道我做不到。妈妈，我们从一开始就不应该选择离开。
亲爱的妈妈，
您好吗?
我刚吃完晚餐：一个火鸡肉馅三明治，还有莴苣、西红柿和干酪，一杯100%的纯橙汁，两块鲨鱼状蓝莓胶质糖。这里的食物都还可以，可是我还是想念您的手艺。这里的天气很好，冬天终于过去了。我们的花园怎么样了？我的学业进行得很顺利，我喜欢我所有的课程。我目前的专业还是国际关系学，可如果有更适合我的专业的话，我随时可以换专业。我的指导老师告诉我，医学院的学生要有广博的文化背景知识，所以，如果我确实想成为一个医生的话，我也可以。马上就要考试，我要到图书馆去温书了。下次再聊。
爱你的女儿上
1)cramp n. 腹部绞痛
2)overactive adj. 活跃得不正常的
3)vacuum v. 用吸尘器打扫
4)sniff v. 用力闻
5)weed n. 大麻，大麻属植物,晒干的花簇和叶子可制成毒品制剂，一般通过吸食来获取快感
6)neutralize v. 使中和，中性化
7)yogurt n. 酸奶酪
8)raisin n. 葡萄干
9)intestine n. 肠子
10)nosy adj. 多管闲事的
11)stubbornness n. 顽固
12)shield v. 保护
13)hysteria n. 歇斯底里
14)waddle v. 蹒跚而行
15)snatch v. 攥取
16)zodiac signs n. 黄道十二宫
17)patriarch n. 家长，族长
18)mischief n. 恶作剧
19)timid adj. 胆小羞怯的
20)edgy adj. 急躁的
21)crease n. 褶皱
22)octave n. 八度音阶
23)SAT学术智能测验Scholastic Aptitude Test
24)Kurt Cobain 柯特·柯本，90年代美国最重要的摇滚歌手，后自杀。
图片：黎东灿
作者简介：
何海交，理科生读广外，英国利兹大学应用翻译硕士，后有超过十年英汉互译经验，原广州亚运会组委会笔译主管，现为广东广播电视台英语新闻栏目编辑。
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