How to Be a Good House Guest 如何做一个好客人

2018-07-16陈延洲

中学生英语·中考指导版 2018年1期

陈延洲

When visiting someones home， whether theyre a close family member， a friend， or a colleague， it is important to be a polite guest. Your manners could make all the difference between a pleasant stay or a disastrous1 one. Be polite in order to make sure that your stay is enjoyable both for yourself and your hosts.

拜訪某人的家时，无论他们是亲密的家庭成员、朋友或同事，做一个有礼貌的客人是很重要的。会是一次愉快的逗留还是一次灾难性的到访将取决于你的礼貌。要有礼貌，以保证你的到来对于你和主人都是愉快的。

★Communicating with Your Host 与主人交流

1. Be specific with dates of arrival and departure.

Dont keep your visit open-ended2. Also， dont book an airline reservation before you first discuss it with your host. If your host has agreed to certain dates， dont try to add on to those dates without discussing it， and respect that your host may have to discuss your stay with their family or housemate.

Avoid overstaying your visit. Even though you have been invited into their home， your hosts may have rearranged their normal routines on your behalf. If you are staying for a period longer than three days， consider changing the arrangement， or finding ways to leave and stay elsewhere for a few days to give your hosts some private time.

1. 明确具体到达日期和离开日期。

你的到访不要太过随意。另外，在你还未和主人讨论之前，不要预订机票。如果主人已经同意你某个日期到访，在没有讨论的情况下不要延长到访日期，主人可能需要与他们的家人或室友讨论你的逗留，请予以尊重。

不要逗留过久。即使热情地邀请你到他们家，主人也可能因为你的到访要重新安排他们的日常生活。如果你呆的时间超过三天，就要考虑改变一下你的计划，或想方法离开并待在其它地方几天，给主人留出一些私人时间。

2. Be respectful of the hosts time.

Dont show up earlier than the time you had agreed upon. Your host may not be ready for you and an early arrival could cause inconvenience to them. If， for some unforeseen3 reason， you caught an earlier connection or you had an extra days vacation and want to arrive earlier， call them first.

Avoid showing up later than the time you promised. This may upset many hosts who worry about what might have happened to you. If you are delayed for any reason， call them and explain.

2. 尊重主人的时间。

不要比你约定的时间早到。主人可能尚未准备好迎接你的到来，早到可能会给他们带来不便。如果出现一些不可预见的原因，你要提早联系，亦或你有额外的一天假期，想早点到，请先给他们打电话。

也不要比你说好的时间晚到。这可能会让主人感到不安，他们担心你可能发生意外。如果你因为任何原因耽搁了，应该打电话跟他们解释一下。

3. Communicate clearly about comings and goings.

If you will not be with your hosts all the time， discuss your plans beforehand to make sure that you will not inadvertently4 inconvenience them. Dont leave their home， even for a short outing， without telling them. Your host should not have to guess whether you went out or not.

Be quiet when arriving back late， and， if given a key， use it. Turn out the lights and check to make sure that the door is locked behind you.

3. 清楚地告知你的行踪。

如果你不是一直和主人呆在一起，事先讨论一下你的计划，以确保你不会无意中给他们带来不便。即使是短暂的外出，也不要不告而别。不应让主人去猜测你是否外出。

晚回来时要保持安静，如果有钥匙，就用钥匙开门。记得关灯，并检查一下进来时是否锁好了门。

★Showing Your Host Respect 对主人表示尊重

1. Be flexible with your time.

Make a conscious5 effort to adapt to your hosts preferences and patterns. To be clear， ask about their expectations of you during your stay. Ask if you are expected to share meals with them or at which time they would prefer you to turn out the lights. It is especially important to accept that others have to live in the house， too.

1. 靈活安排你的时间。

自觉地去适应主人的喜好和模式。明确地说，要问问他们在你逗留期间对你有什么样的预期。询问一下你是否应该和他们一起进餐，或者他们希望你在什么时候关灯。尤其重要的是，要接受其他人也住在这所房子里的事实。

2. Share the household bathroom respectfully6.

If the house only has one bathroom， ask when it is convenient for you to use it. Remember to flush7 the toilet and put the lid8 down. Dont leave a dripping faucet9， and turn off the light when youre finished.

Dont rummage10 around in their cupboards looking for a toothbrush or other essentials； instead， ask your host if they have any spares.

2. 有礼貌地共享家庭浴室。

如果房子只有一个卫生间，要问问你什么时候可以使用。记得冲马桶，盖上盖子。不要让水龙头一直滴水，使用完卫生间后要关灯。

不要为寻找牙刷或其他必需品而翻箱倒柜，应该询问主人是否有备用物品。

3. Respect cultural and familial differences.

Do not criticize your hosts preferences. If eating a certain kind of food is a violation11 of your cultural or religious beliefs， let your hosts know before you arrive.

Adapt12 to your hosts lifestyle. There may be children， pets， elderly parents， or others in the home with whom you may be unaccustomed to living with. Go with the flow and try to learn something from the experience.

3. 尊重文化和家庭的差异。

不要批评主人的喜好。如果吃某种食物会与你的文化或宗教信仰冲突，在你来之前应让主人知道。

适应主人的生活方式。可能会有孩子、宠物、年迈的父母，或其他人在家里，你可能不习惯和他们在一起生活。但请随大流，从经验中吸取教训。

★Staying Self-Reliant13 自力更生

1. Offer to make contributions.

Even if youre not eating at your hosts home， offer to buy something. Remember that your hosts have probably already been shopping for extra things and spent a considerable amount of time and money to get ready for your visit. You could either pay for their next supermarket trip， or offer to go out and buy things for both yourself and for them （ask them for a list）.

1. 主动提出做贡献。

即使你不在主人家吃饭，也要主动去买点东西。请记住，由于为你的到来做准备，主人可能已经购买了额外的物品，花了大量的时间和金钱。你可以为他们下一次超市购物买单，或主动出去为自己和他们买些东西（向他们要沟物清单）。

2. Do your own laundry.

Dont be embarrassed about asking whether or not it is okay to do your laundry at your hosts place. They understand that after a few days youll have dirty underwear.

Ask your host when the most convenient time for you to do your laundry would be， emphasizing that you dont want to cut into the households normal routine.

2. 自己洗衣服。

不要不好意思问是否可以在主人家洗衣服。他们可以理解，几天的时间你会有脏的内衣。

问问主人，什么时候你洗衣服最方便。你要强调的是，你不想打乱主人家的正常生活。

3. Offer to help at mealtimes.

This doesnt mean crowding the host out of the kitchen， but instead it means collecting plates， carrying out dishes， offering to wash up， cleaning off the counters， and taking the garbage out. You could even offer to cook a meal or two yourself.

3. 在用餐时主动提供帮助。

这并不意味着把主人从厨房里挤出来，而是指收拾盘子、端菜、洗碗、清理案台、把垃圾倒出去。你甚至可以主动提出由你来做一、两顿饭。

★Showing Gratitude 感恩

1. Bring a gift to show gratitude14.

Offer something as a way of thanking your hosts in advance. It demonstrates your appreciation of their important efforts to make your stay a good one. Considerate， inexpensive gifts include a bottle of wine， a box of chocolates， a basket of fruit， or a bouquet of flowers.

1. 送礼物以示谢意。

事先准备礼物作为向主人表示感谢的方式。这表达了你对他们为你期间圆满逗留所花的功夫的感谢。准备些体贴但并不一定昂贵的礼物，比如一瓶葡萄酒、一盒巧克力、一篮子水果或一束鲜花。

2. Be appreciative.

Express that you are pleased with the local food， sightseeing， and other attractions. If your hosts have provided you with a home-cooked meal， show your appreciation through compliments15 and by offering to take care of the next meal.

2. 表示欣賞。

表达你对当地的食物、观光游览和其他景点感到满意。如果主人为你准备了一顿家常菜，那么你可以通过赞美以及提出由你准备下一餐的饭菜来表达你的感激之情。

3. Thank your hosts for the stay.

Help them clean up anything that you may have moved during your visit. Also dont rush out of the house when you are leaving， since the hosts might assume that you did not appreciate your stay.

Leave a thank-you note on your departure. It is polite to leave a small token16 to show that you are grateful for their hospitality. A handwritten card makes a thoughtful token of appreciation.

3. 感谢主人的招待。

帮助他们清理你在造访期间可能移动过的东西。当你准备离开的时候也不要急匆匆的，因为主人可能会认为你不喜欢呆在这里。

在离开时留下感谢信。留下一点小心意表示你对他们款待的感谢，这是礼节。一张手写的卡片很好地代表了感激之情。