多样化的美国

2016-05-14ByAmirahAhmad

英语学习 2016年6期

By Amirah Ahmad

The Divided1 America

America is a large place. Like China， we are divided into regions that have their own idiosyncrasies2 that make different parts of our same nation unique. Thus， you can certainly tell a lot about an American tourist if you ask them the simple question： Where are you from？ However， although each region in America is different， we must be careful to refrain from generalizing the residents of each region.3 Saying New Yorkers are rude （which， unfortunately， is their reputation）4 is not saying that all New Yorkers are rude. Nonetheless， without further ado， here are you American regions， with all of their dirty details， unique characteristics， infamous reputations， and partially-stereotypes.5

The Northeast

I figured it would be fair to start with my hometown first before I begin to badmouth6 other regions. The Northeast is hands down known for its hustle and bustle.7 There is not a second of rest in the northeast， where opportunists， eager college interns， and successful businessmen and businesswomen stroll the streets.8 Northeasterners are typically considered more cosmopolitan， since they are located near the coast， and in comparison to the rest of America they are blessed with a lot of diversity.9 There is relatively more diversity in this part of America with a high proportion of immigrants to Americans.10 Furthermore， Id like to distinguish New York as its own entity， since New York personalities are strong enough to have their own description.11 New York is known to have the most rude people in America， whether that means the police officers who callously scold you for making a wrong turn or the barista who hands you your double-shot， mocha Frappuccino with a side of sass.12 Though New Yorkers can be described to have somewhat of an attitude， New York City is certainly a perfect encapsulation13 of America. The city has people from all walks of life roaming the streets， hot dog vendors with mystery meat hot dogs， and the best amalgamation of hole-in-the-wall restaurants juxtaposed with extravagant eateries.14 New York， simply， has it all.

The South

Ah， the South. Everyone loves the South. Blessed with most polite people and the most comforting foods， Southern America is certainly a spectacle15. Speaking on Southern politeness， there is， in fact， something called the Southern gentleman. It describes any man from the south with a southern accent and who has the utmost respect for women.16 A southern gentleman is a man who opens doors for others， sweet talks ladies， and is extremely chivalrous in all that he does.17 If you still dont believe me when I say the South is incredibly friendly， let me share a short anecdote.18 One of my friends was passing through Alabama this past summer when she and her friend ran into a jolly old man.19 After a couple of minutes of chatter， the man asked if the travelling girls wanted to get a bite to eat.20 He asked them which diner they wanted to go， and off they went to eat a hearty21 lunch. He took them to small diner where he fed them a nice meal over small talk and friendly chit-chat22. But lo and behold， they found out mid-way through conversation that this man was actually the mayor of the town they were visiting！23 On a side note， my vegetarian friend told me the only vegetables the diner had were green beans and potatoes.24 Southern comfort food is nationally renowned25 for being extremely delicious and unhealthy. Their staple foods are mashed potatoes， fried chicken， macaroni and cheese and anything else that warms the soul and clogs the arteries.26

The Middle

Next up27 is the middle of America. Coast dwellers typically joke around about the “irrelevance” of the middle.28 The middle states are typically known as the states you fly over， or rather “fly-over” states. These are states that typically arent destinations， but are instead the states you pass through via automobile or fly over via airplane when travelling from coast to coast. The typical stereotype of the middle of America are that they are simple and minimalistic， their favorite food group is cheese， people graze in the miles and miles of corn fields，29 and that they are too friendly. Of course， these stereotypes are merely stereotypes and barely hold a fraction of30 truth. Although they dont go cow tipping every night， dont eat corn and cheese for every meal， and actually drive cars instead of tractors， the middle of America is definitely more minimalistic and rural than its coastal counterparts.31

Texas32

It would be an understatement33 to refer to Texas as a region. Its more of its own country. Texas pride trumps all， and Texans as a whole have the character and personality to literally become their own nations.34 Texans have made many futile attempts to secede from the United States， however the chance of it actually happening decreases as time goes on.35 Nonetheless， Texas is intense36. Their adherence to The Second Amendment （the right to bear arms）， barbeque， and the Cowboys football teams is unwavering.37 In many areas of the state， many people wear worn out cowboy boots perfectly paired with a cowboy hat. As large as the state is， Texas pride is even larger. I recall my internship on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. surrounded by many people from many different states.38 However， the friends from Texas were most vocal about their loyalty to their state， constantly complimenting Texas at the expense of insulting D.C.39 I loved witnessing their intense loyalty， but one thing I learned was： dont mess with40 Texas.

The West Coast

When someone brings up41 the west coast， what typically comes to mind is California. However， I want to take the time to speak about the other states included in the west coast， namely Oregon and Seattle，42 who always go unnoticed. The only thing I particularly want to mention is the intense amount of rain these two states get， while California suffers from debilitating43 dry months. A friend of mine from Oregon commented that he was disappointed in the number of people who carry umbrellas in Virginia44. In Oregon， he can spot the tourists simply by seeing who is holding an umbrella to block themselves from the rain. Oregonians are so used to rain they rarely ever carry umbrellas with them. Moreover， California is also obviously part of the West Coast. Californians often boast， “West Coast， best coast” while simultaneously， from what I can imagine， whipping out the “hang loose” sign.45 Californians are known to be extremely easy-going， carefree， and “hipster”46. Filled with surfers， hippyesque free-roamers， and laid-back “dudes”，47 California is certainly a state worthy of a visit， as is the rest of America！

1. divided：分开的。

2. idiosyncrasy：特性。

3. refrain from：控制自己不做……；generalize：（以偏概全地）推论；resident：居民。

4. New Yorker：（美国）纽约市人；reputation：名声。

5. 但言归正传，下面就为你们介绍一下美国各个地区，包括所有不好的细节、独特的个性、远扬的臭名以及部分刻板印象。nonetheless：然而；without further ado：言归正传；infamous：声名狼藉的；partially：部分地，在一定程度上；stereotype：墨守成规的观念，刻板模式。

6. badmouth：诽谤。

7. hands down：无疑地；hustle and bustle：熙熙攘攘。

8. opportunist：机会主义者；intern：实习生；stroll：漫步。

9. cosmopolitan：世界性的；be blessed with：赋有……的；diversity：多样性。

10. proportion：比例；immigrant：移民。

11. distinguish：使区别于；entity：实体； personality：个性。

12. 众所周知，纽约人是美国最无礼的人：如果你不小心拐错了弯，纽约警察会给你劈头盖脸一顿骂；你点了双份的摩卡星冰乐，咖啡馆店员在为你上咖啡时可能会出言不逊。callously：无情地；scold：责骂；barista：咖啡馆店员；double-shot：双份的；mocha：摩卡咖啡；Frappuccino：星冰乐，又叫法布奇诺，星巴克的招牌饮料；sass：无礼的话。

13. encapsulation：概括。

14. all walks of life：各行各业；roam：漫步；vendor：小贩；amalgamation：混合； hole-in-the-wall：狭小的；juxtapose：把……并列；extravagant：奢侈的； eatery：小餐馆。

15. spectacle：奇观。

16. accent：口音；utmost：最高的。

17. sweet talk：对……甜言蜜语；chivalrous：（对女人）彬彬有礼的。

18. incredibly：难以置信地；anecdote：趣闻轶事。

19. Alabama：阿拉巴马州，美国东南部一州； jolly：快乐的。

20. chatter：喋喋不休；get a bite to eat：随便吃点东西。

21. hearty：（饭菜）丰盛的。

22. chit-chat：聊天。

23. lo and behold：你瞧（表示惊讶的感叹词）；mayor：市长。

24. on a side note：还有一点；vegetarian：素食主义者。