Is the art of conversation dying? The other day, my wife1two teenage children did something we haven't2for ages. It didn't require the Internet, a TV screen, batteries…or anything else for that matter. But we all3it so much that we're thinking of doing-it again sometime.
We had a conversation. The kind of real, live conversation was4when I was growing up, but it seems all too rare these days. Today we have chat rooms, text messages, e-mails... but we seem to be losing the5of communicating face to face. We all know6young people are out on a date 约会 these days, they spend most of the time7their mobile phones. And teenagers nowadays seem to 8 to communicate with their friends by sending text messages rather than actually9to them.
If we carry on like this, in the future, we'll lose the use of our10. What do you think? E-mail me, and who knows? Maybe we could even have a real conversation about it!
Point at (指）something in the room. It is not polite to point with the index finger (食指）in the Middle and Far East.
Making a "V" means "Victory" in most parts of Europe when you make this sign with your palm (手掌) facing away from you.
Use a circle with fingers to show "OK". This means "OK" in the U. S. and in many countries around the world. In Japan, this means "money". In France, it has the meaning of "zero".
Pass a thing to someone with one hand. In Japan this is very rude (粗鲁的). In many Middle and Far Eastern countries it is rude to pass something with your left hand.
Barbara couldn't take it any more. Her upstairs neighbor was blasting (吹奏)his stereo (立体声) again. She had asked him twice already to turn the volume down. The first time she asked, he was surprised. He said he didn't know that she could hear his stereo.
"Yes," she said, "it's just like your stereo was in my living room. I can hear every note!"
He said he would keep it down. She hoped that he was telling the truth. Of course, he wasn't. The very next day, he blasted his stereo. She went upstairs to remind him of his promise. He said the volume was so low that he could hardly hear it. She asked him to turn it lower. He said he would try. When she went back to her room, the music was louder than when she had walked upstairs.
So, this was the third time. She took her baseball bat upstairs with her. She knocked very loudly on his door. When he opened the door, she screamed (尖叫）at him like a crazy person. She told him she would kill him if he didn't turn the music down and keep it down. His eyes got big.
She went back downstairs. She couldn't hear a note.
"I can't believe I said that," she told herself.
Do you know how to have a good relationship? There are some tips of successful relationships.
Communicate. Communication is the important part of every good relationship. When you first start seeing one another, it may be all about body, but long relationships need love and communication.
Listen. Listening is as important as talking. Listen to what your partner is telling you in words. And "listen" to his or her body language.
Share goals. What do you want to be in a year? In 5 years? Having shared goals is a key to how to have a good relationship.
Common (共同的) activities. You should do some things together. Do you both like hiking, playing, or singing? Common activities can allow you to spend time doing things together.
Give space (空间). How to have a good relationship needs that you give your partner space to pursue (追求) his or her interests too.
Learn to take. Some people are more comfortable (舒服的) with giving than taking. Don't be afraid of taking those things which your partner gives.
