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美国概况英语第 62 课：Fast Pace 快节奏

Many visitors find the fast pace at which people move very troubling. 许多游客看到美国人做事都是快步调，觉得很难理解。

One's first impression is likely to be that everyone is in a rush. 初到美国的人，第一个印象大概就是觉得美国人似乎都是匆匆忙忙的。

City people always appear to be hurrying to get where they are going and are very impatient if they are delayed even for a brief moment. 城市里的人好象总是在赶着到什么地方去，稍有耽搁，就很不耐烦。

At first, this may seem unfriendly to you. Bus drivers will rush you; storekeepers will be in a hurry as they serve you; people will push past you as they walk along the street. 一开始，你也许以为这是对你的不友好。公共汽车司机催你；商店售货员跟你做生意时也是急急忙忙；你在街上走，后面的人一推就赶到你的前面。

You will miss smiles, brief conversations with people as you shop or dine away from home. 你买东西或在外面吃饭，不会有人跟你说笑寒喧。

Do not think that because Americans are in such a hurry that they are unfriendly. 别以为美国人这样匆忙是对你表示不友好。

Often, life is much slower outside the big cities, as is true in other countries as well. 大城市以外的人们，生活的步调就慢得多了，这和其它国家差不多。

Americans who live in cities such as New York , Chicago, or Los Angeles, often think that everyone is equally in a hurry to get things done; they expect others to "push back", just as city people do in Tokyo, Beirut, or Sao Paulo, for example. 住在纽约、芝加哥或洛杉矶等大城市的美国人，往往觉得人人做事都同样在赶；他们希望别人也 “推一下”，跟东京、贝鲁特或圣保罗的人一样。

But when they discover that you are a stranger, most Americans become quite kindly and will take great care to help you. 不过，一但他们发现你是外国人，多半会对你友好并尽力帮忙。

Many of them first came to the city as strangers and they remember how frightening a new city can be. 许多美国人初到城市时，他自己也是外地人，他们还会记得到了一座新城市时，心里有多么忐忑不安。

If you need help or want to ask a question, choose a friendly looking person and say, "I am a stranger here. Can you help me?" 你如果需要人帮忙或想问什么问题，可以找一位面容和善的人，对他说 “我是外国人。您能帮我一下吗？”

Most people will stop, smile at you, and help you find your way or answer your questions. 这时候，人们多半会停下来，微笑地给你指点方向或回答你的问题。

But you must let them know that you need help. Otherwise they are unlikely to help.但你必须让他们知道你需要人帮忙，否则他们多半不知道你需要帮忙。

Occasionally, you may find someone too busy or be discouraged; just ask someone else. Most Americans enjoy helping a stranger. 你偶尔也会碰到一个自己很忙或急着办事而不能帮助你的人。遇到这种情形，你也不必灰心，那就再找别人。大多数美国人都愿意帮外国人的忙。