英语文化随身带

by Cathy Manson

“英语文化随身带”是一个英国电台节目，文章短小精悍，内容包罗万象。将英语文化装进口袋里，利用闲散的时间随身翻阅，英语学习者可以在潜移默化中了解当代英语世界的生活和文化。

远离家乡工作和生活已经是当今的一个普遍现象，那么随之而来的乡愁该如何应对？也许有人可以和本文作者产生共鸣，并得到一些有用的建议呢。

I feel a bit sad today because Im homesick. I miss the delicious plates of pasta[意式面食] with a special sauce my mother used to make. She was a great cook！ But I work abroad and I have to cope with the occasional[偶然的] feeling of nostalgia.

The footballer Jesus Navas suffers badly. He is moving from Seville to Manchester City， but for years he could hardly leave his hometown. Anxiety attacks forced the player out of training camps. They say he has overcome his homesickness through counselling[辅导].

These days people often relocate[迁移] to another country to study or to work. Many find it difficult to adapt， though. According to research by the University of Warwick注1 Counselling Service， up to 70% of adults experience homesickness at some point in their lives. It can have similar symptoms to depression， says psychologist Dr. Caroline Schuster.

Almost anything can trigger homesickness—a smell， a taste， even a colour reminds them of home. Mohammed Barakat sent us a message on Facebook about his longing[渴望] for “the smell of rain and green” during the Sudanese rainy season. Mari Damian misses “the smell of Christmas cakes”.

Homesickness is not something new. The ancient Greek poem Homers Odyssey注2 talked about it. But the modern term was created in the 17th century to describe the feelings of Swiss mercenaries，who longed for their homeland while fighting elsewhere in Europe.

According to Dr. Susan Matt， who wrote a book about the subject， people used to see it as a dangerous disease.

Modern technology can limit the feeling of isolation， allowing people to keep in touch with loved ones. Social psychologist Dr. Gary Wood says Skype is a lifeline because it can allow grandparents a world away to watch their grandchildren grow up.

But people should not allow homesickness to stop them living in the present. I follow advice given by Dr. Wood： I write down three new things that Ive been grateful for every night， as well as three things Im looking forward to every morning.

What about you： what do you miss when you are away from home and family？

我今天感到有点儿悲伤，因为我想家了。我想念妈妈以前做的那种放有特殊调料的美味意大利面。她是一个很棒的厨师！但我在国外工作，不得不应对这偶发的思乡病。

足球运动员赫苏斯·纳瓦斯得了很严重的思乡病。他从（西班牙的）塞维利亚来到（英国的）曼彻斯特城，而此前数年他都没怎么离开过家乡。焦虑发作迫使这名运动员离开训练营。他们说他要通过心理辅导克服思乡病。

现在，人们经常移居到另一个国家去学习或者工作。可是，许多人发现很难适应。根据华威大学校园咨询服务处的研究表明，多达70%的成年人在他们一生中的某个时期会经历思乡病。心理学家卡罗琳·苏斯特医生说，思乡病可能有类似于抑郁症的症状。

几乎任何事都可能引发乡愁——某种气味、某种味道，甚至某个颜色都让他们想起家。穆罕默德·巴拉卡特在脸谱网上给我们发送了一条消息，诉说他在苏丹雨季期间对“雨和绿色之气味”的渴望。马里·达米安则想念“圣诞蛋糕的香味”。

思乡病并非什么新鲜事。古希腊诗人荷马的《奥德赛》就讲述过此病。但是这个现代用语是在17世纪创造出来的，描述瑞士雇佣兵在欧洲其他地方打仗时极其盼望回家的情绪。

马特·苏珊医生写了一本关于此课题的书。依照她所说，人们过去将此视作一种危险疾病。

现代科技可以减少孤独感，让人们与所爱之人保持联系。社会心理学家加里·伍德博士说讯佳普是救生索，因为它能让祖父母在世界另一端看着孙儿成长。

但是人们不该让思乡情绪阻挠当前的生活。我遵照伍德医生提供的建议：每天晚上写下三件最近发生的令我感激的事情，每天早上也写下三件我期望发生的事情。

你呢？当你离开祖国和家的时候，你想念什么呢？

Quiz小测验

1. Mary was not happy living in the city. She longed __________a peaceful life in the countryside.

A. forward B. for C. after D. about

2. I miss my brother. Hes on a long tour around Europe but he promised to__________ wherever he goes. A. adapt B. be grateful for C. keep in touch D. overcome

3. After a lifetime of adventure all over the world all I want is to go back to my __________.

A. homesickness B. world away C. nostalgia D. homeland

4. You might not like our new office but youve got to ________ if you want to continue working in this company.

A. allow B. keep in touch C. adapt D. remind

5. Johnny is very keen on understanding peoples feelings. This is a good thing to keep in mind if you want to be _____________.

A. a mercenary B. a cook C. footballer D. a psychologist