实战口语情景对话 第339期:Dorm Life 宿舍生活

Todd: Miki, when you were in college where did you live?
托德：美琪，你上大学的时候住在哪里？

Miki: My first year I lived in the dormitory that was quite close to the campus. It was about a five minute walks so it was very convenient but I'm not sure that that many people actually enjoyed living in the dormitory because there were so many of us packed into such a small space that one did not get a sense of privacy at all. I shared a room with two other girls and 24 hours a day there was always someone near you, next door, down the hall if not in your own room, and a very small space. In Japan perhaps this wouldn't have been such a large problem because the sense of personal space and privacy perhaps isn't as strong growing up, but really in the United States if you grow up with you own room, if you grow up with your own sense of self and if, you know, you have personal space that you define just instinctively which, you know, maybe three feet in front of you, a meter, or if you have your own personal room itself, it's very difficult to move from that sort of sense of individuality and personal private space, to move into the dorms, and to have to share, all of that, and then always have a smile on your face, if you don't want to be considered a bitch.
美琪：我大一的时候住在宿舍里，离校园非常近。步行5分钟就可以到学校，非常方便，但是我不确定是不是大部分人都喜欢住在宿舍里，因为我们太多人住在一个小地方，实际上完全没有隐私。我和另外两个女孩住在一个宿舍里，一天24个小时你附近都有人，如果你不在自己的房间里，那你的隔壁和楼下大厅也全是人，地方非常小。这在日本可能不是大问题，因为日本人在成长过程中的个人空间感和隐私感可能并不那么强烈，但是实际上在美国，如果你成长的阶段拥有自己的空间，如果你成长的阶段有自我感觉，如果你有个人空间，那你就会本能地认为距离你三英尺或是一米的距离就是你的个人空间，如果你拥有自己的个人空间，那从那个个人感和私人空间离开，然后搬进宿舍，和他人共享空间非常难，如果你不想被看成是讨厌的人那你的脸上就要一直挂着笑容。

Todd: Yeah, so what about food? What did you eat for food? Did you have a kitchen? Did you cook?
托德：那食物怎么样？你吃什么？宿舍里有厨房吗？你做饭吗？

Miki: In the dormitories, no! We had a dining hall. I don't quite remember what it was called, but it was a common area where everyone went downstairs at the same time. It was only open, three hours in the morning, 3 hours in the evening, and we all shared our time together, kind of like a family, I suppose, and we must have eaten just normal American food. I don't remember.
美琪：在宿舍里不做！我们有餐厅。我不太记得那具体叫什么，不过就是一个公共区域，所有人都同时去楼下用餐。那里只在上午开放三个小时，晚上开放三个小时，我们会一起共度时光，像一家人一样，我们吃的一定是普通的美国食物。我不记得了。

Todd: Yeah! Yeah! How about your laundry? How would you wash your clothes?
托德：好吧！那怎么洗衣服？你是怎么洗衣服的？

Miki: That I forget! I think we had laundry machines every other floor in the dorm building. But I actually don't remember. Sorry!
美琪：我忘了！我想宿舍楼每层都有洗衣机。不过实际上我真的不记得了。对不起！

Todd: And what would students do for fun? for socializing?
托德：那学生的娱乐活动都有什么呢？社交活动？

Miki: Oh, I think the bigger question is whether students did anything besides socialize, you know, right, I mean, if you're a freshman the chances of you actually doing work are actually quite small, especially in that sort of a social setting where,
美琪：我想更大的问题是学生们除了社交活动还有什么活动，你知道，我的意思是，如果你是大一新生，那你实际上学习的机会非常小，尤其是在那些社交场合……

Todd: Even at Beckley?
托德：伯克利大学也是吗？

Miki: Oh, are you kidding me? Yes! Berkley is highly competitive but it's also highly, it's a highly social atmosphere, especially in the dorms, well, and then once you move into a communal area, if you're there with your friend, then I don't think a whole lot of studying goes on.
美琪：你在跟我开玩笑吗？没错，伯克利分校竞争非常激烈，但是那里的社交氛围也很强，尤其是在宿舍里，一旦你进入公共区域，如果你和朋友一起，我认为你们不会一起进行很多研究工作。

Todd: Wow! That's funny! Oh, thanks!
托德：哇！那真有趣！谢谢你！

Miki: Surely!
美琪：不客气！