零距離美語會話[家庭]Lesson 4:International Marriage

Four International Marriage.

涉外婚姻

1 Introduction
A Perhaps more than ever before, people from very different cultures marry each other. Such intercultural and interracial marriages have been more common in countries like America and Canada where people from all over the world live, work, and study together. These relationships often have hidden problems and surprising benefits.
不同文化間的人結婚也許已大大超出了往常。這種不同文化、不同人種間的婚姻在像美國、加拿大這種有來自世界各地的人在此生活、工作、學習的國家已經變得很普遍了。這些關係經常隱藏危機，也有出乎意料的好處。
B Every marriage requires commitment, dedication and work. An international / intercultural marriage requires even more attention because of the many obstacles that a couple faces. The obstacles come from family, friends, personal values, expectations, and bureaucratic procedures. To overcome these barriers, intercultural couples need to learn about one another's cultures, accept that cultural roots go deep and that people don't change easily or quickly. And most important, they need to focus on the positives and talk with one another about which traditions they want to carry on as a couple and with their children.
每一個婚姻都需要有承諾，都需要付出努力。由於涉外婚姻夫妻面對着很多障礙，所以需要更加用心。障礙有來自家庭的，朋友的，還有個人價值觀不同，期待不同，以及官方手續。要克服這些障礙，涉外婚姻夫妻需要了解對方文化，並要接受由於這種文化根底深，人是不容易或者很快改變的。最重要的是，他們需要看到那些好的方面，互相商量看作爲夫妻以及小孩以後想繼續採用哪一種傳統。

2 Sample Sentences
1. I think that anyone considering marrying a foreigner needs to look at things very closely before doing so.
我覺得任何選擇和老外結婚的人都應該在此之前仔細地看清楚這件事。
2. Marriage to someone from a different country does require some extra effort.
和一個異國他鄉的人結婚真的是需要更多的努力。
3. It can be worth the effort however.
然而這份努力也可能是很值得的。
4. Couples have said that the first five years of this type of marriage are the hardest.
有夫妻說過這種類型的婚姻前5年是最難的。
5. The key to a successful intercultural marriage is to develop understanding and patience.
一個成功的涉外婚姻最關鍵的就是要培養理解與耐心。
6. It isn't easy to deal with the legacy that we've all grown up with in our ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.
要處理好我們在這種民族、信仰和社會經濟環境下長大所受到的影響是不容易的。
7. Do you ever feel the fear of abandonment by your family, friends and your spouse?
你有沒有過怕被你的家人、朋友和你的配偶拋棄的恐懼心理？
8. How would you describe your intercultural marriage?
你怎麼描述你的涉外婚姻？
9. Understanding the diversity of cultures and traditions in one another's past can enhance a marriage relationship.
理解另外一個人過去不同的文化與傳統可以改善你的婚姻關係。
10. Although there can be many problems in these international marriage relationships, they can also be very successful.
儘管在這種國際婚姻關係中有很多問題，但是它們還是可以很成功的。
11. I've been married for almost 3 years, and never once regretted it.
我結婚快3年了，但我從未後悔過。

3 Conversations
1. Two women are talking about intercultural marriage.
A. You are married to a foreigner, huh? So what’s it like?
B. Well, the first year of our marriage, we had great difficulty getting along. The things that are important to me are not important to him. We had a lot of conflicts1.
A. Yeah, I know what you mean. The first year of any marriage is difficult for all couples, not to mention two people from different cultures.
B. And now we have a two-year-old boy. We’re very happy that he’s healthy and smart.
A. Oh, so he’s half Chinese and half American. That’s unusual. What languages does he speak, then?
B. Right now he speaks mostly Chinese, and he can say a few English words. But he will learn.
A. What does he look like? Can people tell?
B. Yes, people surely can. He’s whiter than the Chinese kids, and his hair is a little blonde. My husband says his eyes are very Chinese though.

【譯文】
——你跟一個老外結婚了，是嗎？那麼是個什麼樣？
——嗯，我們結婚的第一年，我們很難相處。對我來說重要的事對他來說又不重要。我們有過很多衝突。
——是，我知道你什麼意思。結婚的第一年對任何夫妻來說都很難，更不用說是兩個來自不同文化的人。
——而且現在我們有了一個兩歲的男孩。我們很高興他很健康、很聰明。
——噢，那麼他是一半中國血統、一半美國血統。那很不尋常。那他講什麼語言？
——現在他主要講中文，他只會說幾個英文單詞。但是他會學。
——他長得怎麼樣？別人看得出來嗎？
——能，別人當然能看出來。他比其他中國小孩白，頭髮有點金黃。但我丈夫說他的眼睛很像中國人的。

1. An interculture couple are talking about relatives visiting without warning.
A: Well, I can’t believe your uncle and aunt came to stay with us for a week, and they did not even call us in advance2.
B: John, they are old-fashioned people from the Chinese countryside. That’s their custom.
A: I know, but it is hard for me to get used to your relatives coming to visit us, and without warning.
B: Don’t your relatives visit other relatives?
A: Yes, but Americans never visit without calling in advance, and they almost never stay overnight.
B: I think that maybe Chinese families are closer than your families.
A: I think you’re right!
【譯文】
——嗯，我真不敢相信你的叔叔和姑媽和我們住了一個星期，甚至他們都沒有提前打個招呼。
——約翰，他們是從中國農村來的老年人。那是他們的習俗。
——我知道，但是對我來說很難適應你的親戚來看我們，連個招呼都不打。
——你的親戚難道不去看望其他親戚的嗎？
——去啊，但是美國人從不事先不打個電話就去的，而且幾乎都不過夜。
——我覺得也許中國家庭比你們的家庭要親密很多。
——我想你說得沒錯！

3. Tired of Western food.
A: Sally, I’m tired of this Western food. I really miss my mother’s Sichuan cooking.
B: I’m sure you do miss that type of cooking. But can’t you try to get used to Western food?
A: I have tried. But Americans like butter, bread, sugar, and cream too much.
B: I suppose you’re right, Lee. Maybe that’s why so many Westerners are overweight3.
A: It’s interesting that Americans work very hard at their jobs, do not take naps4 during the day, and yet they can be so heavy.
B: You see, because we are often busy working, we eat too much fast food, and that food is very fattening5.

【譯文】
——莎利，這些西餐我真吃膩了。我真想念我媽媽做的四川菜。
——我知道你肯定很想念那種口味的菜。但是你難道不能試着適應吃西餐嗎？
——我都試過了。但是美國人太喜歡黃油、麪包、白糖和奶油了。
——我想你說得對，李。也許那就是爲什麼這麼多西方人超重。
¬——很有趣，美國人工作很賣力，白天又不打盹，而他們還可以這麼胖。
——你想，因爲我們工作經常很忙，所以我們吃快餐吃得很多，而那些食物又很容易使人發胖。

4. Money problems.
A: Calvin, how much money did you spend last weekend?
B: Lily, I’m not sure. Let me check, I think I spent $50.
A: Why don’t you help me save money? You are always spending money.
B: I know that I should learn how to save more, but I hope that we can spend a little on ourselves sometimes.
A: I’m sorry. I guess I’m too extreme when it comes putting money in the bank.
B: That’s okay. I’m sorry, too. It’s a good idea to prepare for the future possibilities.

【譯文】
——加爾文，上個週末你花了多少錢？
——莉莉，我不太清楚。我算算，我想我花了50美元。
——你怎麼不幫我省錢？你老是花錢。
——我知道我應該學會節省錢，但是我希望有時候我們可以花一點點錢在我們自己身上。
——對不起。一說起把錢存進銀行，我想我太過分了。
——沒關係。我也有愧。爲將來做好準備，這是好的。

4 Words and Expressions
1. conflict 衝突, 牴觸
2. in advance 事先; 預先
3. overweight 超重的; 過重的
4. nap 打盹兒, 小睡
5. fattening 用於養肥的