常春藤解析英语【36】Finding Himself　印度之旅

Finding Himself　印度之旅

by Marcus Maurice

In the rural city of Kochi in Kerala, India, Michael Cheng felt that he wasn't experiencing the real India. He was far away from the comfort and technology of his home in Taiwan. Yet, he was staying at a house that had a car and a driveway. These are luxuries that only a few can afford in India. He kindly asked the family he was with if he could live as most Indians live.

They consented to his request and Michael got to live with a new family who made a living by fishing. Every day, Michael would go with them to work and do what they did, catching and cleaning fish. He would bathe in the river because that was the only water they had. When he had the soap on his body, a lot of small fish would come bite him and Michael said it felt like a massage.

Inside their house, everyone slept on mats that were on a dirt floor. However, there was one thing that looked out of place—a big recliner in the middle of the living room. Michael asked one of the kids, "Why do you have such a nice chair when all of the other things in the house are old?" One of the sons answered, "My father said that we have to have something nice in case we ever have a visitor. Would you please honor our family and sit in the chair?" At that moment, Michael learned that in India, a guest is a god.

单字小铺

1. rural a. 乡下的
urban a. 城市的

2. experience vt. 体验

3. comfort n. 安逸，舒适 & a. 舒适的

4. driveway n. 私人车道

5. luxury n. 奢侈
luxurious a. 奢侈的
live a luxurious life　　过着奢侈的生活

6. bathe vi. 洗澡

7. massage n. 按摩

8. mat n. 垫子；草席

9. dirt n. 泥，土

10. recliner n. 躺椅
= reclining chair

精解字词词组

1. afford vt. 负担得起
注意:
afford 其前通常与助动词 can 或 can't 并用，而不可单独使用，其后则可接名词或不定词作受词。
can/can't afford + N/to V　　负担得起∕不起（做）……
例: After working for months, I can finally afford that scooter I want.
（工作几个月后，我终于买得起想要的那辆机车了。）

2. consent to + N/V-ing　　同意∕答应……
consent vi. 同意
例: Lily's father consented to letting her borrow his car for the weekend.
（莉莉的父亲同意让她在周末开他的车。）

3. make a living by V-ing　　靠……维生
= earn a living by V-ing
例: Though he's rich now, Mr. Jones once made a living by collecting garbage.
（虽然琼斯先生现在很有钱，他曾靠捡垃圾维生。）

4. feel like + N　　感觉像……
feel like + V-ing　　想要做……
例: The passing train made the building shake so much that it felt like an earthquake.
（驶过的火车让大楼剧烈摇晃，感觉就像地震一样。）
例: I feel like going out for dinner tonight.
（今晚我想出去用餐。）

5. out of place　　不适当的；格格不入的
例: Jim felt out of place among all the girls in the dance class.
（吉姆在一整班都是女生的舞蹈课中感到很不自在。）

6. in the middle of...　　在……中央∕中间
例: There is a small island in the middle of the lake.
（那座湖中央有座小岛。）

7. in case + S + V　　万一∕倘若……；以防……
例: Katie always carries a camera in case she sees something interesting.
（凯蒂总是随身携带相机，以备看到任何有趣的事情。）

8. honor vt. 使增光；对……表示敬意
例: There will be a party tonight to honor our retiring English teacher.
（今晚的派对是为了向即将退休的英文老师表示敬意。）

中文翻译

在印度喀拉拉的乡村小镇科钦里，麦可（郑锡懋）觉得自己体验的并非真正的印度生活。他虽然远离台湾老家的舒适与科技，然而他寄住的却是一个有私人轿车和车道的家庭。在印度，这是少数人才能负担得起的奢华。他客气地询问寄宿家庭自己能否去过大多数印度人的生活。

他们同意他的要求，于是麦可寄宿在一个以捕鱼维生的家庭。麦可每天和他们一同去工作，做他们每天做的事情：捕鱼并清洁渔获。他在河里洗澡，因为那是他们唯一的水源。当他涂上肥皂，很多小鱼都会游过来咬他的身体，麦可说那就好像按摩一样。

在屋子内，每个人都睡在铺在泥地的垫子上。不过有件东西看起来非常突兀，那就是客厅中央的一张大躺椅。麦可问其中一名孩子：『为什么房里其它东西都那么旧，却有一张这么好的椅子呢？』其中一个儿子回答：『爸爸说要有一张好椅子，以备有客人来。您愿不愿意赏脸坐在这张椅子上呢？』在那一刻，麦可了解到对印度人来说，宾客至上。

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