TextKCatching crabs
Catching crabs Text
Text月Catching crabs1ln the fall of our final year, our mood changed.The relaxedatmosphereofthepreceding summer semester,theimpromptuballgames, the boating on the Charles River, the late-night parties haddisappeared, and we all started to get our heads down, studyinglate,and attendance at classes rose steeply again.We all sensed wewere coming to the end of our stay here, that we would never geta chance like this again, and we became determined not to wasteit.Hore...Translation
Catching crabs 1 In the fall of our final year, our mood changed. The relaxed atmosphere of the preceding summer semester, the impromptu ball games, the boating on the Charles River, the late-night parties had disappeared, and we all started to get our heads down, studying late, and attendance at classes rose steeply again. We all sensed we were coming to the end of our stay here, that we would never get a chance like this again, and we became determined not to waste it. Text
Text万Most important of course were the final exams in April and Mayin the following year. No one wanted the humiliation of finishinglast in class, so the peer group pressure to work hard was strongLibraries which were once empty after five o'clock in the afternoonwere standing room only until the early hours of the morning, andguys wore the bags under their eyes and their pale, sleepy faceswith pride, like medals proving their diligence.Translation
Most important of course were the final exams in April and May in the following year. No one wanted the humiliation of finishing last in class, so the peer group pressure to work hard was strong. Libraries which were once empty after five o’clock in the afternoon were standing room only until the early hours of the morning, and guys wore the bags under their eyes and their pale, sleepy faces with pride, like medals proving their diligence. Text
Text万2But there was something else.At the back of everyone's mind waswhat we would do next, when we left university in a few monthstime. It wasn't always the high-flyers with the top grades whoknew what they were going to do. Quite often it was the quieter,less impressive students who had the next stages of their lifemapped out.One had landed aiob inhis brother'sadvertising firmin Madison Avenue,another had got a script under provisionalacceptanceinHollywoodMore...Translation
2 But there was something else. At the back of everyone’s mind was what we would do next, when we left university in a few months’ time. It wasn’t always the high-flyers with the top grades who knew what they were going to do. Quite often it was the quieter, less impressive students who had the next stages of their life mapped out. One had landed a job in his brother’s advertising firm in Madison Avenue, another had got a script under provisional acceptance in Hollywood. Text
Text二The most ambitious student among us wasgoing to work as a party activist at a local level. We all saw himending up in Congress one day. But most people were either lookingto continue their studies, or to make a living with a white-collar jobin a bank, local government, or anything which would pay themenough to have a comfortable time in their early twenties, and thensettle down with a family, a mortgage and some hope of promotionTranslation
The most ambitious student among us was going to work as a party activist at a local level. We all saw him ending up in Congress one day. But most people were either looking to continue their studies, or to make a living with a white-collar job in a bank, local government, or anything which would pay them enough to have a comfortable time in their early twenties, and then settle down with a family, a mortgage and some hope of promotion. Text
Text日3Iwent home at Thanksgiving,and inevitably,my brothers andsisters kept asking me what I was planning to do.I didn't knowwhat to say. Actually, I did know what to say, but I thought they'dprobably criticize me, so I told them what everyone else wasthinking ofdoing4 My father was watching me but saying nothing. Late in the eveninghe invited me to his study.We sat down and he poured us a drinkTranslation
3 I went home at Thanksgiving, and inevitably, my brothers and sisters kept asking me what I was planning to do. I didn’t know what to say. Actually, I did know what to say, but I thought they’d probably criticize me, so I told them what everyone else was thinking of doing. 4 My father was watching me but saying nothing. Late in the evening, he invited me to hisstudy. We sat down and he poured us a drink. Text
TextF5"So?"he said.6“Er...sowhat?"7"So what do you really want to do?" he asked8 My father was a lawyer, andI had always assumed he wanted me to gotolaw school, and follow his path through life. SoI hesitated.g Then I replied, “I want to travel, and I want to be a writer"1o This was not the answer I thought he would expect. Travel?Where?Awriter? About what? I braced myself for some resistance to the idea.Translation
5 “So?” he said. 6 “Er . so what?” 7 “So what do you really want to do?” he asked. 8 My fatherwas a lawyer,and I hadalways assumed hewanted metogoto law school, and follow his path through life. So I hesitated. 9 Then I replied, “I want to travel, and I want to be a writer.” 10 This was not the answer I thought he would expect. Travel? Where? A writer? About what? I braced myself for some resistance to the idea. Text
TextF11 There was a long silence12"Interestingidea,he saidfinally13 There was another long silence14“Ikind of wish I'd done thatwhenI was your age."15/ waited.16“You have plenty of time.You don't need to go intoa career which payswell just at the moment. You need to find out what you really enjoy now,because if you don't, you won't be successful later"17 “So how do I do this?"Translation
11 There was a long silence. 12 “Interesting idea,” he said finally. 13 There was another long silence. 14 “I kind of wish I’d done that when I was your age.” 15 I waited. 16 “You have plenty oftime. You don’t need to go into a career which pays well just atthe moment. You need to find out what you really enjoy now, because if you don’t, you won’t be successful later.” 17 “So how do I do this?” Text
Text日18 He thought for a moment. Then he said, "Look, it's late. Let's take the boatout tomorrow morning, just you and me. Maybe we can catch some crabsfor dinner, and we can talk more."1g It was a small motorboat, moored ten minutes away, and my father hadowned it for years. Early next morning we set off along the estuary. Wedidn't talk much, but enjoyed the sound of the seagulls and the sight of theestuarycoastlineandtheseabeyond.Translation
18 Hethoughtfor amoment. Then he said, “Look,it’slate. Let’stake the boat out tomorrow morning, just you and me. Maybewe can catch some crabs for dinner, and we can talk more.” 19 It was a small motorboat, moored ten minutes away, and my father had owned it for years. Early next morning we set off along the estuary. We didn’ttalkmuch, but enjoyedthe sound oftheseagulls and the sight ofthe estuary coastline and the sea beyond. Text
Text2o There was no surf on the coastal waters at that time of day, so it was asmooth half-hour ride until my father switched off the motor.“Let's see ifwe get lucky" he said, picked up a rusty mesh basket with a rope attachedand threwitinto the sea.21 We waited a while, then my father stood up and said, "Give me a hand withthis," and we hauled up the crab cage onto thedeckTranslation
20 There was no surf on the coastal waters at that time of day,so it was a smooth half-hour ride until my father switched off the motor. “Let’s see if we getlucky,” he said, picked up a rustymesh basket with a rope attached and threw it into the sea. 21 Wewaitedawhile,thenmy fatherstoodupandsaid, “Givemeahandwith this,” and we hauled up the crab cage onto the deck. Text