礼节美语 104 Laid off 2

 Paul和Sara夫妇俩人跟老朋友Jesse和Miika 一起吃饭，Jesse刚失业，打算回去完成硕士学位。

P: But that's gonna take you at least two years to finish!

J: Actually, I can do it in 10 months by online correspondence course.

M: You know...distance learning. It used to be sort of dodgy, but in the last couple of years even the big-name schools are getting in on the act.

Jesse说，通过网上教学，online correspondence course十个月就能拿到硕士文凭。Miika说，远程教学原来好象不可靠dodgy, 但是最近几年，Even the big-name schools are getting in on the act. 就连很多名牌大学都加入了进来。 Big-name schools名牌学校。get in on the act. 加入进来。

S: Yeah. I've done some research into online distance learning myself. I'm thinking I should get a nursing degree. All the career-guidance web sites say nursing is a field that's definitely growing. They say millions more qualified nurses are going to be needed over the next 20 years.

Sara说，她正在考虑去学护理，因为nursing is a field that's definitely growing. 护理绝对是一个正在成长的领域。今后二十年需要数百万合格的护理人员。

P: But just getting by on Miika's income isn't going to be enough, no?

J: No, you're right. I'm going to bite the bullet and take a part-time job with Miika's dad. In tough times, pride is not a virtue.

S: Especially when you have a family to feed. Paul and I worry everyday that his firm might get into trouble.

光靠Miika一个人的收入肯定不够。 To get by是勉强过日子的意思 。Jesse准备bite the bullet忍辱负重，去给老丈人打工，因为in tough times, pride is not a virtue. 困难时期，骄傲可不是什么优点。

S: Well, I'm not worried about you. I think you both have exactly the right attitude and have made exactly the right plans to make it through these troubles.

J: Yeah! I'm pretty optimistic about things.

P: What's that saying? Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger?

M: That's the one!

S: Let's do this again next month

J: It's a date!

分手前，Sara说Jesse和Miika一定能渡过难关，make it through these troubles. Paul补充说， What's that saying? 那句话是怎么说的来着？ Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger杀你不死者会让你变得更强壮，类似中文里说的，大难不死必有后福。Sara建议下个月再聚。 Jesse说It's a date. 一言为定。