“海龟”的烦恼

Susanna： Good morning， Harvey.

Harvey： Hey， Susanna. Im surprised to see you up this early.

Susanna： Really？ Im a bit of an early bird. I often come to this coffee shop before class. What brings you out at this hour？

Harvey： I just wanted to use the wifi to Skype with my parents.

Susanna： At six oclock in the morning？ Your parents must be serious early risers.

Harvey： Have you forgotten？They live in China. They didnt come to America with me when I got accepted to university.

Susanna： Oh， right. Thats a big time difference. It must be difficult living between continents like that.

Harvey： Living between continents is one thing. Living between cultures is another. Thats what I wanted to talk to my parents about， actually.

Susanna： What do you mean？

Harvey： I still cant decide what to do when I graduate. Should I stay here， or should I go back？

Susanna： I always assumed you would go back. I mean， wouldnt it be easy for you to get a good job after studying abroad？

Harvey： Not necessarily. ①There was a time when sea turtles were guaranteed a life on easy street， but that time is past.

Susanna： Im sorry， sea turtles？

Harvey： Oh， right. Thats what we call people who study abroad and then go back to China. In years past， they were honoured for the skills they brought back to China. They helped revolutionize and modernize the country.

Susanna： Sounds like a pretty noble tradition.

Harvey： That was then， and this is now. ②These days， they can hit a wall when they go back.

Susanna： Dont your language skills and international experience count for something？

Harvey： ③Good English doesnt put you in front of the pack like it used to.

Susanna： But not everyone has the experience of working in foreign countries.

Harvey： That can be a double-edged sword. ④Chinese companies and American companies are a world apart.

Susanna： How so？

Harvey： Oh， the internal culture is different. Americans stick to ideas like transparency and fair hours. ⑤Lots of Chinese bosses expect their employees to burn the midnight oil. It can be hard for a sea turtle to adapt.

Susanna： Well， then， you could start your own company. You are studying media， right？ It seems like that field is ripe for entrepreneurs.

Harvey： It is， but only for the right entrepreneurs. ⑥To connect with Chinese consumers， you need to be in tune with the Chinese way of thinking and using media. Ive been in the States for four years now， so Im a bit out of the loop.

Susanna： Well， then， why not just stay here？

Harvey： I could， but Im not guaranteed a free lunch here， either. And besides， Id miss my parents.

Susanna： Well， I guess thats the important thing.

Harvey： What is？

Susanna： No matter where you go， you can always go home to your family sometime！

Harvey： I suppose youre right. Ill try to keep focusing on the bright side！

苏珊娜：早上好，哈维。

哈維：嘿，苏珊娜。我很惊讶能这么早看见你。

苏珊娜：真的吗？我向来很早起床。我经常在上课前来这家咖啡厅。你怎么也在这个时间出门？

哈维：我只是想用这里的wifi和我的父母在网上通话。

苏珊娜：在早上6点？你的父母肯定是很早起的人。

哈维：你忘记了吗？他们住在中国。当我收到美国大学的录取通知时，他们没有和我一起来这里。

苏珊娜：噢，对啊。两国的时差是很大的。跨洲的生活肯定很艰难。

哈维：跨洲生活是一回事，跨文化生活又是另外一回事了。事实上，这就是我想和父母说的事。

苏珊娜：你的意思是？

哈维：我还没有决定毕业后干什么。我应该留在这里，还是应该回国？

苏珊娜：我一直以为你会回去。我的意思是，你在国外学习后不是应该很容易就找到一份好工作吗？

哈维：不一定。以前的海归确实能够生活富足，但是那个时代已经过去了。

苏珊娜：不好意思，“海龟”？

哈维：噢，对啊。我们把在国外学习然后回国的人叫作海归。在过去那些年，他们把（国外）的技术带回中国而受到尊重，他们改革了我们的国家，使国家更加现代化。

苏珊娜：听起来这是一个非常高尚的传统。

哈维：以前是以前，现在是现在。现如今，他们要是回国也会碰壁。

苏珊娜：你们的语言技能和在国外的经历难道不重要吗？

哈维：好的英语技能不像从前那样使你在竞争中处于优势。

苏珊娜：但不是每个人都有在国外工作的经历。

哈维：这是把双刃剑。中国的公司和美国的公司是截然不同的。

苏珊娜：为什么？

哈维：噢。他们的内部文化是不同的。美国人坚持透明度和公正的工作时间。然而许多中国的老板却希望他们的员工能够加班加点。所以这对于一个海归来说是很难适应的。

苏珊娜：好吧，那么，你可以自己开公司。你学的是媒体学，对吗？这个领域对于创业者来说已经成熟了。

哈维：是的，但这仅对于合适的创业者。想与中国的客户打交道，你必须与中式思维和运用媒体的模式相一致。现在我来美国已经4年了，已经与那边的情况脱节了。

苏珊娜：好吧，那么，为什么不留在美国呢？

哈维：我可以这样做，但是我在这里也不能有免费的午餐。此外，我很想念我的父母。

苏珊娜：嗯，我认为这是很重要的事。

哈维：什么重要的事？

苏珊娜：不管你到哪儿，你都可以抽时间回家看看家人！

哈维：我想你是对的。我会试着往好的方面想！

Smart Sentences

① There was a time when sea turtles were guaranteed a life on easy street， but that time is past. 以前的海归确实能够生活富足，但是那个时代已经过去了。

on easy street： in a state of financial independence and comfort（顺境，安定富足）。例如：

When I get this contract signed， Ill be on easy street.

等我签了这份合约，我可就衣食不愁了。

② These days， they can hit a wall when they go back. 现如今，他们要是回国也会碰壁。

hit a wall： reach a situation where you cannot make any more progress（受阻，碰壁）。例如：

The negotiation hit the wall last week when the labour union refused to yield on the medical benefits.

上周，工会拒绝在医疗福利上让步，谈判受阻。

③ Good English doesnt put you in front of the pack like it used to. 好的英语技能不像从前那样使你在竞争中处于优势。

in front of the pack： ahead of everyone else in a competition（在竞争中优于其他人）。例如：

With your past performance and skills， you two are in front of the pack for the promotion this time.

以你俩过去的表现和技能，这次晋升比别人都有优势。

④ Chinese companies and American companies are a world apart. 中國的公司和美国的公司是截然不同的。

a world apart： completely different（大相径庭）。例如：

Johns and Jesses designing philosophies are a world apart. Its

interesting to see how the two work together on this project.

约翰和杰西两人的设计理念相距甚远，看看他们两人在这个项目上如何合作会很有意思。

⑤ Lots of Chinese bosses expect their employees to burn the midnight oil. 然而许多中国的老板却希望他们的员工能够加班加点。

burn the midnight oil： work very late into the night（连夜苦干，开夜车）。例如：

Ive got to get this report finished by tomorrow so I guess Ill be burning the midnight oil tonight.

我明天得完成这份报告，我想我今晚要开夜车了。

⑥ To connect with Chinese consumers， you need to be in tune with the Chinese way of thinking and using media. 想与中国的客户打交道，你必须与中式思维和运用媒体的模式相一致。

in tune with sth.： in agreement with sth.（与……协调，与……一致）。例如：

What Bill said at the meeting was just not in tune with the companys policies.

比尔在会上说的话与公司的政策并不相一致。