美国驻中国员工Tiffany跟中国同事Kelly聊天儿。
KellyYan:SoTiffany,you'vebeenworkingwithushereinChinaforafewmonthsnow.Areyoustillfeelingcultureshock
TiffanyScolini:Yes,abit.Butit'smuchbetterthanthefirstfewweeks.BackthenIwasreallyafishoutofwater.
K:RememberthefirsttimeItookyoutoeatrealChinesefoodYoubarelytouchedanything!
T:Iknow!Iwasscared!Alotofthefoodhereisverydifferentfrombackhome.AndtheChineserestaurantsI'vebeentoinAmericaareverydifferentfromhere.
Tiffany来中国几个月，文化上还是有些不习惯，Iamstillfeelingcultureshockalittlebit.不过，跟刚开始比已经强多了。刚来那会儿，Iwasreallyafishoutofwater.就象离了水的鱼，意思是跟环境格格不入，特别不自在。Kelly第一次带Tiffany去中国餐馆吃饭，Tiffany几乎没动筷子，因为这儿的中餐馆跟美国的中餐馆差别太大了。
K:Yeah.WeChineseliketojokeaboutAmericanChinesefood.It'sreallynotveryauthentic.
T:Yes,that'strue.ButIthinkit'strueallaroundtheworld.Youreallyhavetobeinthefood'soriginalcountrytotrulyexperienceit.MyfamilyisItalianandinItalytheythinkAmerican-Italianfoodisawful!
K:Oh,butIlovepizza!
T:Me,too!ButthepizzainItalyisn'tanythinglikeAmericanpizza.IntheU.S.weliketoborrowthegeneralideaofafood,andthenwegiveitanAmericantwist.
吃中国饭去中国，吃意大利菜去意大利，这样才能吃到最正宗的，authentic,a-u-t-h-e-n-t-i-c,authentic.在美国，虽然什么都能吃得到，但是美国人喜欢把别人的菜拿来，giveitanAmericantwist，加入美国自己的特色。
K:IrememberwhenIwasintheStatesIorderedfishonetime.WhenthedisharrivedIwassurprisedtoseejustalittlechunkofmeat.Ithought"Whereistheheadandtail"
T:(laughs)Oh...yes.IntheStateswealmostneverleavetheheadandtailonafish!Americansarekindofsqueamishwhenitcomestodeadanimals.Wewouldnever—notinamillionyears—leavetheheadonachicken!
K:Yeah,that'sright!IneversawachickenheadwhenIwasthere.
Kelly回忆说，她在美国点鱼，结果上来的只是一盘鱼肉。原来，美国人不吃鱼头和鱼尾。Tiffany解释说，Americansarekindofsqueamishwhenitcomestodeadanimals，美国人对杀生非常敏感。Squeamish意思是容易受惊的，神经质的。Americanswouldnever—notinamillionyears—leavetheheadonachicken.美国人绝不会把鸡头留在盘子里。这里说的notinamillionyears,一百万年都不会，是强调的意思。Tiffany对中国菜还有哪些印象呢我们下次继续听。