CHARLIE: Excuse me. Is anyone in that seat next to you?
ANGELA: No, I don’t think so.
CHARLIE: Do you mind if I put my jacket there?
ANGELA: No. It’s no problem.
ANGELA: Are you American?
CHARLIE: Yes. And you?
ANGELA: No. I’m from Taiwan. Can’t you see?
CHARLIE: Well, there are many Chinese Americans, you know.
And your English is very good. You sound like an American.
ANGELA: I don’t think so. You are flattering me.
CHARLIE: No, really. I can only hear a little accent.
ANGELA: Are you flying home?
CHARLIE: Well, yes. Actually, I’m going back to visit.
ANGELA: You were visiting Taiwan?
CHARLIE: No, I’m going back to America to visit.
I’m from America, but I don’t live there now. I live in Taichung.
ANGELA: Really! You live in Taiwan!
CHARLIE: Yes. Why not?
ANGELA: May I ask what your job is in Taiwan?
CHARLIE: Sure. I teach history in a university. Have you heard of Dong-Hai University?
ANGELA: Of course. It’s a good school. How long have you lived in Taichung?
CHARLIE: I have lived in Taichung for two years now.
So this is the second time I am going back to the States.
I go back once a year to visit my family.
ANGELA: It must be strange for you to live in Taiwan.
CHARLIE: No, it isn’t strange at all.
Many people from Taiwan move to America too, you know.
Do you think it is strange for them?
ANGELA: No. Well, I don’t know.
But Taiwan is so crowded. Don’t you miss life in America?
CHARLIE: There are some things I miss. But I love Chinese food.
And I think the people in Taiwan are really hospitable.
Besides, I grew up in Los Angeles, so I’m used to living in crowded places.
Why are you going to America?
ANGELA: I’m going to New York to visit my sister. She is in art school.
I’ve never been to New York before. I’m kind of scared.
CHARLIE: Why?
ANGELA: Well, I know a lot of people have guns there. I think maybe it isn’t too safe.
CHARLIE: Don’t worry about it.
Your sister lives there. She probably knows the places in town you shouldn’t go.
It’s true there are some dangerous places in big American cities.
But if your sister lives there, she must know the city pretty well already.
ANGELA: Yes, I’m not really scared. Maybe only a little.
CHARLIE: Don’t believe what you see on TV. You will have a good time in New York.
What things do you want to see?
ANGELA: I want to see the museums, and I want to shop a lot.
CHARLIE: The museums are excellent. And the shopping!
Well! I’m sure you’ll spend a lot of money there.
ANGELA: Hmm. I hope not.
查理：對不起，你旁邊有人嗎?
安琪拉：沒有吧。
查理：你介意我把夾克放在那里嗎?
安琪拉：沒問題。
安琪拉：你是美國人嗎?
查理：是的，你呢?
安琪拉：我是臺灣人，看不出來嗎?
查理：你知道的，美國有很多華裔。
而且你的英文很好，聽起來像是美國人。
安琪拉：不會吧，你過獎了。
查理：是真的，我只聽出有一點點口音。
安琪拉：你是要回家嗎?
查理：是的，事實上我是回去探親。
安琪拉：你是來臺灣探親的?
查理：不是，我要回美國探親。
我是美國人，但是我現在不住在那里，我住在臺中。
安琪拉：真的!你住在臺灣啊!
查理：沒錯。為什么不呢?
安琪拉：我能請問你在臺灣的工作嗎?
查理：當然可以。我在大學教歷史，你知道東海大學嗎?
安琪拉：當然，是個不錯的學校。你住在臺中多久了?
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(兼職編輯：段保凈）
