正文
1. Business as usual 一般出差
出国玩或者开会,与海关对话是下了飞机第一个讲英文的机会。你把手上的护照送上去,当对方看着你的照片,下一句话就是问:「您此趟旅行是商务还是个人行程呢?」(Are you traveling for business or pleasure?)
西方国家重视诚恳。如果简单的问题感觉很复杂,而不知道该怎么回答,不要含糊的讲话。如果被询问出差什么目的,也提供简单明了的答案,象是在哪里开会,住什么旅馆。参考一下正确与不正确的例句:
(O) For business. I am here for the annual industrial engineering convention. The event is happening at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco. I am staying at the Hilton Hotel, which is also located downtown.
我是出差。我来参加每年的工业工程大会。会议在旧金山市中心的Moscone会场中心举行。我住希尔顿酒店,也是位于市中心。
(X) I am an engineer. I came to attend a meeting and make a presentation. My colleague will take me to the hotel, sorry, I can’t recall the name of the place right now.
我是工程师,来参加一个会议,并做报告。同事会带我到酒店,很抱歉,我不记得那个地方的名字。