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城里人在乡下

作者: 驻马店翻译公司 发布时间:2017-05-16 14:10:23  点击率:

 为了求得一份清静,久居城里的我和丈夫一起搬到了乡下。乡村生活带给我们诸多的惊喜,而很多意料之外的事件也让人措手不及……Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

 Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

城里人在乡下

 Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

By Gail PrusskyXlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

陈锦麟 选注Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

Like most people born and raised in a big city, I always believed that carrots[2] grew in trees. (Admit it. You big-city folks reading this are nodding your heads in agreement.)Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

But I’d always dreamed of living in the country. When my husband and I realized that our Toronto house was worth a fortune thanks to out-of-control housing prices, we decided to take advantage, sell and buy a piece of paradise in a town northwest of the city.[3]Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

That was four years ago. Now, me and Duane (that’s not his real name—it’s the “country” name I gave him. It suits[4] him) had no experience living in the country. But at this stage of our lives (we’re geezers), it was exciting to embark on a new adventure.[5] Besides, my parents were gone, the kids were grown and, frankly, if I saw one more condo[6] go up in my neighbourhood, the top of my head was going to explode.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

The first winter in our new home was a tough one, with more snow falling than in the previous 10 years. I learned the true meaning of “cabin fever”—when I develop an uncontrollable urge to smack Duane over the head with a cudgel because I can’t stand the sound of the air blowing though his nostril hairs when he breathes.[7] We were trapped together 24/7[8]. A lot. It wasn’t pretty.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

Fortunately our property[9] is located on a main road. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. Remember this, because I shall return to it later.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

When spring came I found myself driving to the city at least once every few weeks. I needed to hug a tall building. I wasn’t adapting[10] so well. Duane, on the other hand, gleefully purchased an ATV, a chainsaw, a riding lawnmower—new toys he had only dreamed about.[11]Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

That first spring also brought wildlife, something we thought we knew about. A skunk began lurking about the property during the day.[12] The dogs would bark at it, I would throw things at it and it would just look up at me as if to say, “You want something, old lady?” It was getting annoying, because although my dogs aren’t the brightest of creatures, they have a strong prey drive and were just itching to get at that skunk.[13]Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

Duane decided to take matters into his own hands. He cornered the skunk outside the basement and proceeded to fire a BB gun at it.[14] This apparently annoyed the skunk enough to make it raise its tail and spray directly into a vent leading to the air ducts in the house.[15] That annoyed me enough to stop talking to Duane for a few days.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

A few nights later, when I discovered Duane in his underwear on the deck outside the bedroom at 3 a.m., firing BBs at raccoons, I decided to put a halt to his antics and took away his BB gun.[16] He’ll get it back when he matures.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

There are so many things to learn when you move from the city to the country. For example: It’s not a good idea to pull up a chair beside a farmer’s field in the dead of winter to stare at the ground just because there’s a sign that reads, “Corn—watch it grow.” Apparently, this is a summer event.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

And it’s also not wise to stock your pond with hundreds of trout when you have a family of mink living there.[17] All I knew about mink was that they were made into coats and stoles[18] that my mother’s generation adored. Now I’ve learned that they are also incredibly good swimmers and can eat hundreds of trout in one month. Because Duane and I disagree about the ethics of trapping[19] innocent creatures, the minks are still there and our pond is now empty.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

But there are so many wonderful things about living in the country. I first realized it would be different when I went through the express lane with a dozen items at the local supermarket and nobody threatened my life or even gave me dirty looks.[20] People actually smiled at me. And driving around the countryside is a relaxing endeavour, unless you get caught in country gridlock.[21] This is when a farmer on his tractor is moving bales of hay and you get stuck behind him.[22]Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

I have discovered clouds. I have seen all sorts of amazing birds and wildlife. I am fascinated by tree fungus and cicada casings.[23] I’m slipping into a new role and a new life and it feels good.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

But I’ve also discovered gravel[24] trucks. Remember when I said that our property is on a main road? Well, it appears, as far as I can make out, that big industry sees the countryside as one giant gravel pit[25], with a few annoying farms and truck stops connecting it all together. Gravel trucks are big. They’re noisy. And they pass by my house a lot.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

At first I was obsessed about sitting by the road with a rocket launcher, but common sense prevailed and I began to adapt to the sound of trucks passing by.[26]Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

But now an American company wants to dig a huge gravel pit just north of my home. I don’t see myself adapting if that happens, so I marched into battle with the rest of the local community. The quarry proposal is aggravating, but it’s given me the opportunity to bond with the people in my area, and that has been the clincher for me.[27] I am home. The city is no longer where I belong. I’m here for the long haul[28].Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

Besides, it truly is paradise.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

So, apparently, carrots grow in the ground.Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

VocabularyXlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

1. slicker:〈美口〉衣着讲究、精通世故的城里人。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

2. carrot: 胡萝卜。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

3. Toronto: 多伦多(加拿大东南部港市);paradise: 天堂,极美的地方。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

4. suit: 适合于(某人)。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

5. geezer:〈美〉老头,老家伙;embark on: 开始,着手(尤指新的、有难度的或令人激动的事)。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

6. condo:〈美口〉公寓,公寓楼。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

7. cabin fever:(长期独居斗室引起的)幽闭烦躁症;uncontrollable: 无法控制的;urge: 冲动;smack:(用某物)啪的一声打;cudgel: 短粗棍。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

8. 24/7: 一天24小时,每时每刻。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

9. property: 花园住宅。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

10. adapt: 适应。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

11. gleefully: 欣喜地;ATV: =all-terrain vehicle:(能行驶于各种地形的)全地形汽车(单座,敞篷,有三四个大轮子);chainsaw: 链锯;lawnmower: 割草机。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

12. skunk: 臭鼬(一种北美洲产的动物);lurk: 潜伏,埋伏。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

13. prey drive: 指要捕食的冲动;itch: 渴求,热望。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

14. corner: v. 把(人或动物)困住;fire: v. 开火,射击;BB gun:〈美〉气枪。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

15. spray: 喷;vent: 通风口,排气道;air duct: 空气管道。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

16. deck:(房屋的)露天平台;raccoon: 浣熊;halt: 停止,暂停;antics: (复数)古怪而可笑的举动。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

17. stock: 储备;trout: 鳟鱼;mink: 水貂。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

18. stole: 女用披肩,女用长围巾。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

19. trap: 设陷阱捕捉。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

20. express lane: 超市里的快速结账通道(专供买少量物品的人通过);give sb. dirty looks: 厌恶地看某人。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

21. endeavour: 尝试;gridlock:(街道上车辆过多造成的)交通堵塞。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

22. bale: 捆;hay: 干草。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

23. fungus: 真菌植物,如蘑菇等;cicada: 蝉;casing: 壳。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

24. gravel: 沙砾,砾石。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

25. pit: 坑。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

26. rocket launcher: 火箭发射器;common sense: 常识(尤指判断力);prevail: 占优势。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

27. quarry: 采石场;aggravating: 恼人的;clincher:〈口〉(促使某人行动或结束争论、讨论等的)决定性事实。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

28. for the long haul: 长远地。Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

(来源:英语学习杂志)Xlh驻马店翻译公司-忠信乐译翻译有限公司

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