M:外面买的饭,盒子看起来都差不多不少。If you don't have your name on it, 别人拿错是很有可能的呀!
C:那倒是。不过,发生了今天的事, I don't think I'll ever forget to put my name on my lunch.
M:不过这冰箱确实是个大问题。 Sometimes people bring their lunch, and later decide to go out to eat and forget about their food in the frig until it starts to smell.
C:是呀,有两次我看到有东西都发霉了。I just have to throw them out. 得了,别说了,真恶心。
I have to find some lunch.
M:See you later.
C:Hi, Mary, ready to go home? Can I walk with you?
M:Sure. By the way, did you find out who ate your lunch?
C:Oh, yes, I did. It was all a mistake. Brian太忙,让William给他带个沙拉回来放在冰箱里。Brian 去冰箱拿沙拉的时候William还没有回来。他以为我的沙拉就是William替他买的,所以就吃了。
M:原来如此。 But we do need to remind people to observe simple kitchen courtesies.
C:Simple kitchen courtesies? 厨房里还有礼貌呀?
M:当然有呀!For example, if you drink the last cup of coffee, you should fix a new pot for others.
C:我同意。有两次,我想喝咖啡,可是到了厨房看见的是空咖啡壶。I have to make a new pot and wait for a long time to get the coffee ready。
M: Also, it's just good manners to clean up after yourself such as wiping off the counter and throwing away the trash.
C:噢,擦桌面和扔垃圾!这我倒是没有想到,因为在家里这些不是我妈,就是我姐姐做的。不过,Next time, I should pay more attention to it.
M:You also have to remember: keep the refrigerator clean -- put your name on your food and throw away any unwanted food; make a new pot of coffee when you drink the last cup. Throw away the trash, and clean the counter.
M:This is a good restaurant. The soup is wonderful, we should come more often.
(Sound of spoon scraping the bowl)
M:Chen Hao,don't scrape your bowl. Just tip your bowl away from you to retrieve the last spoonful of soup.
C:把碗往外抬起一点,让汤都到一边去。Mary, what are the main points that I need to remember?
M:Spoon the soup toward the center or front of the bowl and then bring the spoon back to your mouth; slurping is considered bad manners in Western etiquette; if the soup is too hot, stir it slightly or simply wait; tip your bowl away from you to retrieve the last spoonful of soup.
C:But isn't it risky to give someone your credit card?
M:像样的饭馆都有信誉,so it's not risky and it's done all the time。要是你不想先付帐的话,那你当天就先告诉服务员吃完饭后把账单交给你。That will eliminate any confusion over who is paying.
C:That's a very good idea。对了,Mary,既然我们在这里,那我就先定一个比较安静,景色比较好的桌子吧。
M:A wonder idea to request a specific table for tomorrow.
C:Mary,Thank you so much.
M:You're welcome. Next time you'll know that as a host, it's your responsibility to choose an appropriate restaurant, taking care as much as possible ahead of time such as arranging for how to pay the bill and requesting a nice table. Then it will be an enjoyable evening for all.