精彩英语故事18

PAGE精彩英语故事18我有两个领养妹妹生活从此改变Anonlychild,aperfectlyordinarylittlegirlinruralWisconsin,Iwantedsistersmorethananything.WhenIturnedseven,myparentsmadeadecisionthatdelightedmebeyondmeasure:theychosetoadopt.小时候我是家里的独生女，是威斯康新州农村的一个非常普通的女孩。那时我特别想要的就是妹妹。我7岁那年，父母做出了一个让我喜出望外的决定：他们要领养了。ItwasChristmastimewhenmytwonewsisters,aged6and3,arrivedfromColombia.Theycamewithagreatflourishofcelebration,asfriendsandrelativesvisitedusbearinggiftstowelcomethem.Thateveningourguestswenthomeandwewerelefttoourselves.MysistersandIwenttothebedroomweweretoshare;aswecrawledsintosourbeds,ourparentscametoeachofus,tuckingusinandsayinggoodnight.“Teamo,”theywhisperedtomynewsistersinSpanish,“Iloveyou.”那是圣诞节期间，我的两个新妹妹，一个6岁，一个3岁，从哥伦比亚来到了我家。她们的到来带来了喜庆，亲朋好友带着礼物来我家欢迎她们。那天晚上客人们走后，剩下了我们自己，我和妹妹们走进我们共用的卧室；当我们爬上床时，父母进来了，为我们一一掖好被角并且道了晚安，“Teamo”，他们用西班牙语向我的新妹妹耳语道，“我爱你”。Fromthebeginningthesenewcomerswerelikemyownfleshandblood;weplayedandbickeredandlearnedjustasifwehadalwaysbeensisters.Fromthebeginningweallweremyparents'daughtersequally,astheysupervisedandscoldedandencouragedus.从一开始，新来的妹妹就像是我的亲妹妹；我们一起玩，一起斗嘴，一起学习，仿佛我们一直就是姐妹；父母对我们指教、训斥或鼓励时，我们都是父母的女儿，谁都不受偏袒。Lifeseemedgreat.Beneaththesurface,however,myparentswerestrugglingwiththeirownmaritalproblems.Aswegirlswereapproachingourteenyears,myparentsutteredthefatefulwords,“We'regettingadivorce.”生活看上去非常好。然而，在表象之下，父母却在为他们之间的婚姻问题而苦苦挣扎，当我们姐妹十几岁时，父母说出了那句致命的话：“我们要离婚了。Mysistershadbeenhurtbefore.Theyhadbeendealtagreatwoundwhentheirbirthmotherabandonedthem,andnoneofusunderstoodthedepthoftheirinnerturmoil.Itwasapainthatnowresurfaced,astheemotionsfromthatabandonmentyearsearlieroverwhelmedthem.”妹妹们以前就受到过伤害，当她们遭生母遗弃时蒙受过巨大的伤痛，无人能够理解她们内心的烦乱有多深，而这一痛苦如今又重新浮现出来，早年被遗弃时的情感使她们不知所措。Weallstruggledduringthistime.Myfatherremarriedandstrovetoprovidesomesortofstabilityforusthroughthisnewfamily:anothermother,brotherandsister.Butthebondsbetweenmyparentsandsisterscontinuedtodisintegrate.BythetimeIleftforcollege,myfamilywasinprofounddisarray.在这一段时间里我们都在苦苦挣扎。我的父亲再婚了，并努力通过新的家庭——另一个妈妈、弟弟和妹妹——为我们提供稳定的生活。但父母与我们姐妹间的关系仍在分崩离析。在我离开家上大学时，家里正处于一片混乱当中。Duringmycollegeyears,myoutlookonlifeevolvedinsignificantways.Thispersonaltransformationledmyparentsandsisterstoreevaluatetheirownlivesandmakechangesthatultimatelybroughtustogetherasafamily.Mymotherandfatherhaveagainbecomegreatsourcesofencouragementforusthreesisters.Theyhavesucceededinprovidingourliveswithafoundationofstablelove.Oneofmysistershasrecentlymarried,andfamilygatheringsarenowoccasionsofhappinessandrenewal.上大学期间，我的人生观向着积极方向发生了重大改变，这一切身转变导致我的父母和妹妹重新评价他们的生活并且也做出改变，这些改变最终把我们带到一起，真正成为一家人，父母再次成为鼓励我们三姐妹的巨大源泉，他们成功地为我们提供了以稳定的爱为基础的生活。我的一个妹妹最近已经结婚，如今家庭团聚是获得幸福与焕发精神的所在。ChinesefriendssometimesaskmewhyIaminChina,workingatalowsalarywhenIcouldbeprosperinginAmerica.ItistheexperiencesIwentthroughwhilegrowingupthathavemademewhoIamtoday.IamonthestaffofCBN,ahumanitarianorganizationinBeijingthatseekstohelppeopleindistress.Amongourmanyprojects,weoftenworkwithorphans.中国朋友有时问我为什么愿意拿着比在美国要低的工资在中国工作。那是源于我个人成长过程中走过的经历，这些经历造就了今天的我。我现在在CBN(世博恩)——帮助有困难的人的慈善组织内工作。在我们所开展的工作中常常与孤儿打交道。MycolleaguesandIhavesentanumberoforphanstotheUSandCanadaforfreeoperations.OneisalittlegirlnamedXiaoChuwhowasbornwithaweakheart.Shewasabandonedasababy.Byagetwoshewasalreadyexperiencingshortnessofbreathandlossofappetite.Herfuturelookedgrim.LastJanuaryweflewhertoCanadaforsurgery,alongwithtwootherorphanswithheartproblems.Theoperationsweresuccessful,andallthreechildrenhavesincereturned.我和我的同事把很多孤儿送到了美国和加拿大免费做手术，其中有一个女孩叫肖楚(音译)，有先天性心脏病，婴儿时就被遗弃了，两岁时就呼吸困难，没有了食欲，她的前景看来很危险。今年1月，我们把她和另外两个有心脏病的孤儿送到了加拿大做手术，手术非常成功，3个孩子都已经回来了。WearealsoworkinginsomeofBeijing'sorphanagesandschoolsforthementallyhandicapped.Everyweekwevisitvariousschools,playinggameswiththechildrenandteachingthemEnglish.NotlongagoweorganizedaconferencewithorphanexpertSherrieEldridgetodefinethespecialchallengesthatorphansface.Theconferencewasofbenefittoorphanagedirectorsandadoptiveparentsalike.我们还在北京的一些孤儿院和培智学校开展工作。每周我们都去不同的学校，和孩子们一起做游戏，教他们英语。不久前我们还组织了一次研讨会，请研究孤儿心理的专家雪莉艾尔德里奇讲解孤儿面临的特殊问题。这一研讨会对孤儿院院长和收养孩子的父母都十分有益。Ourcharitableorganizationalsoprovidesfundsforcleft-lipandpalateoperationsforthepoor.OneyoungwomaninGansu,forinstance,hadspentherlifewatchingtheworldgobyfromtherefugeofherroom,afraidtogooutsidebecauseofhercleftlip.Nowshecanleaveherhouseandbeaparticipantinliferatherthanaspectator.我们的慈善机构还为家境贫困的兔唇、腭裂儿童出资做手术。比如，甘肃的一个姑娘因为兔唇始终躲在房子里面看外面的世界，不敢走出去。如今她可以走出家门，成为生活的参与者，不再是旁观者了。InwesternGansuwehavebeenbuildingcisternsinvillagesthatareshortofwater.Inaregionwithsolittlerainfall,somepeoplehavetowalkgreatdistancestofetchwaterfortheirdailyneeds.Contributionsfromindividualsandcompanieshaveenabledustobuildover500cisterns,eachbigenoughtosupplyafamilyofsevenforanentireyear.SothisishowIhavechosentoleadmylife.在甘肃西部，我们还为缺水的乡村建了贮水池。在少雨地区，人们必须走很远的路去取生活用水。来自个人与单位的捐款使我们建起了500多个贮水池，每个贮水池的水足够一个七口之家用上一年。你看，我就是这样选择了自己的生活。AtoneorphanageIvisitedthispastJuly,Icamefacetofacewithtwolittlegirlsaged3and6.Theylookedupatmewiththeircautiousbrowneyes,andIfeltIwasonceagainlookingsintotheeyesofmysistersfifteenyearsago.Irealizedhowmuchadoptionhadmeanttoeachofusinmyfamily.Fifteenyearsago,mysisterstooweresittinginanorphanage,withnoonetocalltheirparentsandnoplacetocalltheirhome.Nowtheyhavebothintheunconditionalloveofmyfamily.今年6月我来到北京的一个孤儿院，与一个3岁和一个6岁的女孩面对面，她们的棕色眼睛谨慎地看着我，我觉得自己又一次看到了15年前我的两个妹妹的眼睛。我意识到领养对我们家庭的每一个成员的意义是多么重大。15年前，我的妹妹也坐在孤儿院里，没有人能称做父母，没有地方能称做家。如今，她俩生活在我们家中的毫无保留的爱当中。从小甜饼中得来的幸福Oneofmypatients,asuccessfulbusinessman,tellsmethatbeforehiscancerhewouldbecomedepressedunlessthingswentacertainway.Happinesswas"havingthecookie."Ifyouhadthecookie,thingsweregood.Ifyoudidn'thavethecookie,lifewasn'tworthadamn.Unfortunately,thecookiekeptchanging.Someofthetimeitwasmoney,sometimespower,sometimessex.Atothertimes,itwasthenewcar,thebiggestcontract,themostprestigiousaddress.Ayearandahalfafterhisdiagnosisofprostatecancerhesitsshakinghisheadruefully."It'slikeIstoppedlearninghowtoliveafterIwasakid.WhenIgivemysonacookie,heishappy.IfItakethecookieawayoritbreaks,heisunhappy.ButheistwoandahalfandIamforty-three.It'stakenmethislongtounderstandthatthecookiewillnevermakemehappyforlong.Theminuteyouhavethecookieitstartstocrumbleoryoustarttoworryaboutitcrumblingoraboutsomeonetryingtotakeitawayfromyou.Youknow,youhavetogiveupalotofthingstotakecareofthecookie,tokeepitfromcrumblingandbesurethatnoonetakesitawayfromyou.Youmaynotevengetachancetoeatitbecauseyouaresobusyjusttryingnottoloseit.Havingthecookieisnotwhatlifeisabout."我有一位病人，他是一个成功的商人，告诉我，在他患癌症之前，凡事如果没有确定下来他就忧心忡忡。对他而言，幸福是“拥有小甜饼”。如果你拥有了小甜饼，一切都一帆风顺。如果你没有小甜饼，生活就一文不值。不幸的是，小甜饼总是不断变换着，有时是金钱，有时是权力，有时是欲望。在其他时候，它是一辆新车、一份数额最大的合同、或者一个享有声望的通讯地址。在他被诊断出患有前列腺癌的一年半之后，他坐在那里，悲天悯人地摇着头，说：“长大以后，我好像就不知道怎样生活了。当我给我儿子一个小甜饼时，他心花怒放。如果我拿走甜饼或者是小甜饼碎了，他就闷闷不乐。不同的是，他只有两岁半，而我已经43了。我花了这么长的时间才明白小甜饼并不能使我长久感到幸福。从你拥有小甜饼的那一刻，它就开始破碎，或者你就开始担心它会破碎，抑或你开始担心别人拿走它。为了守护你的小甜饼，为了防止它破碎或者确定别人不会从你手中夺走它，你不得不放弃许多东西。你忙于不让自己失去它，甚至没有时间享受它。拥有小甜饼并不是生活的全部内容。Mypatientlaughsandsayscancerhaschangedhim.Forthefirsttimeheishappy.Nomatterifhisbusinessisdoingwellornot,nomatterifhewinsorlosesatgolf."Twoyearsago,canceraskedme,'Okay,what'simportant?Whatisreallyimportant?'Well,lifeisimportant.Life.Lifeanywayyoucanhaveit,lifewiththecookie,lifewithoutthecookie.Happinessdoesnothaveanythingtodowiththecookie;ithastodowithbeingalive.Before,whomadethetime?"Hepausesthoughtfully."Damn,Iguesslifeisthecookie”.我的病人笑着说癌症已经改变了他。不论他的生意是否一帆风顺，不论他在打高尔夫球时是输是赢，他有生以来第一次感到幸福。“两年前，癌症问我‘什么重要？什么才真正的重要？’对，生命重要。生命。生命，无论如何你拥有生命。有小甜饼也罢，没有小甜饼也罢，幸福与小甜饼并非息息相关，而是与生命的存在有关。可是，时光一去不复返，谁又能让时光倒流呢？”他停顿了一下，若有所思，说：“该死，我觉得生命就是那块小甜饼”。惊弓之鸟IntheWarringStatesPeriod,therewasamanintheStateofWeicalledGengLei.Onedayhesaidtotheking，“Icanshootdownbirdsbysimplypluckingmybowstring.'Whenthekingexpresseddoubt,GengLeipointedhisbowatawildgooseflyinginthesky,twangedthebowstring,andthegoosefelltotheground.GengLeisaid,“Thisgoosehasbeenhurtinthepast.Hearingthetwangofthebowstring,itassumedthatitwasdoomed.Soitsimplygaveuptryingtolive.”战国时期魏国有个名叫更羸的人。一天，他对国王说：“我只要拉开弓，空射一下，就能把天上的鸟射下来。”国王不相信。更羸便对准天上飞来的一只雁射去，果真那只雁听到拉弦的声音就掉了下来。国王感到很奇怪。更羸说，“那是一只受过伤的雁。它一听到我拉开弓弦的声响，就惊慌得支持不住，自然要掉下来了。”寓意：“惊弓之鸟”这个成语比喻受过惊恐之后，有一点动静就特别害怕。情人眼里出西施世界上最远的距离不是生和死，而是我在你眼前，你却不知道我爱你。Shewasnotbeautiful.Nothingaboutherwasextraordinary.Nothingabouthermadeherstandoutinacrowd.Shegrewupinafamilyofsixandbeingtheeldest,shelearnedresponsibilityatanearlyage.她并不漂亮，也没有什么特别之处。没有什么能让她从人群中脱颖而出。她生长在6口人的大家庭。作为姐姐，她很早就学会了责任。Asshegrew,sheinstilledasortoflightandcheertowhomevershemet.Shewasnotbeautiful,butshemadeothersfeelbetteraboutthemselves.Shemeetsarebelboywhothinksheisallman,theybecomefastfriendsandshefellinlovewithhim.随着成长，她逐渐使所遇到的人获得了智慧和欢乐。她并不漂亮，但是她使别人对他们自身感觉很好。她遇到了一个叛逆的男孩，他认为自己很不错。他们成为了好朋友，而她则爱上了他。ThemanthenfellinlovewithagirlnamedAnna.HetellsherAnnaislikeabeautifulangel.Thegirlswallowsalumpatherthroat.Shewasnotbeautiful,shedidnotpossestheheartoftheoneheloved,butshedidnotcare.Aslongashewashappy,shewouldbehappy.Shehelpedwritethemostbeautifulletterstohisangel.Allthetimevisioningitwassheherselfreceivingthoseveryletters.Andsothegirlhelpedhimchoosetherightclothes,saytherightwords,andbuytherightgiftsforhisangel.那个男孩爱上了一个叫安娜的女孩。他告诉女孩说安娜像一个美丽的天使。女孩强忍着不哭。她并不漂亮，她不能拥有所爱男孩的心，但是她并不在乎。只要男孩高兴，她就会快乐。她帮助男孩给他的天使写最美的情书。一直以来，她都幻想着是自己收到这些情书。女孩帮男孩选合适的衣服，说恰当的话，给他的天使买心仪的礼物。Hisangelbroughthimmuchjoy.Thenoneday,theangelhelovedlefthimforanotherricherman.Theboywasstunned.Hewassohurt,hedidnotspeakfordays.Thegirlwenttohim.Hecriedonhershoulder.Timewentbyandsowoundsheal.Theboyrealizessomethingabouthisfriend.Somethingheneverrealizedbefore.Howherlaughtersoundedheavenlyandhowhersmilesbrightenedupthedarkestdays!Thisplain,simplegirlwasbeautifultohim.Ononeday,hepickedupallhiscouragetoseeher.Hewalkedtoherhouse,nervous,andfidgeting,Runninghisthoughtsoverandoverhishead.他的天使给他带来很多快乐。但是突然有一天，天使离开了他而和另一个有钱的男人在一起。男孩震惊了。他很受伤，很多天都不说一句话。女孩来找他，他伏在她的肩膀哭泣。时间飞逝，伤痛逐渐痊愈。男孩意识发现了女孩的一些品质，一些以前未曾注意到的：她的笑声听起来多像来自天堂，她的微笑照亮了最阴郁的日子。这个朴实无华，单纯的女孩也很美。有一天，他鼓足勇气来看她。他向女孩的住所走去，紧张，坐立不安。头脑中一遍遍想着那些。Hewasgoingtotellherhowbeautifulshewastohim.Hewasgoingtotellherhowwonderfullyinlovehewaswithher.Heknocked.Noonewashome.Thenextday,hefoundoutthatthegirlhetrulyfellinlovewithhadabraintumorthatputherintoacoma.Thedoctorsweregrim.他将告诉她，对他来说她是多么的美丽；他讲告诉她爱上她是多么的美妙。敲门，却没人在家。第二天，他发现真正爱上的女孩患上了脑瘤陷入了昏迷。医生们都很难过。Finally,hegottoseeher.Heheldherhandandhecriedforthisbeautifulgirl.Shehadtaughttherebelboytoloveandwhatitistobeloved.Shewasthemostbeautifulgirlintheworldtohim.Hecried,butitwastoolate.他终于看到了她。握着她的手，他为女孩哭泣。她教会了叛逆的男孩去爱和去爱什么。在他眼里，她是世界上最美的女孩。他在哭泣，但是一切都太晚了。Lookaround.Aren'ttherealotofplainfaces?Takeagoodlookoryoumightjustmissoutthatbeautifulperson.环顾四周，是不是有许多朴实无华的面孔？仔细看一看，否则你有可能与美丽的人擦肩而过。蓝胡子BlueBeardOncetherewasaveryrichman.Helivedinabeautifulhouse,andhadabeautifulgarden.Therichmanhadabluebeard:sohewascalled“BlueBeard”.Neartherichman'shousetherelivedapoorwoman.Shehadthreesonsandtwobeautifulgirls.ThenameofoneofthegirlswasAnn;thenameoftheotherwasFatima.BlueBeardwantedtomarryoneofthegirls,butthegirlsdidnotwanttomarryBlueBeard.AnnandFatimadidnotwanttomarrytherichmanbecausehisbeardwasblue.BlueBeardhadmarriedmanywives,buthiswiveshadgoneaway.Nooneknewwherehisotherwiveshadgone.ThegirlsdidnotwanttomarryBlueBeardandbecomehiswife,becausenooneknewwherehisotherwiveshadgone.SotheirmothersaidtoBlueBeard,“Mygirlsdonotwanttomarryyou.”ThenBlueBeardsaid,“Comeandliveinmyhouseforsomedays.”SotheywentandlivedinBlueBeard'shouse.Itwasaverybeautifulhouse,andBlueBeardwasgoodtotheminmanyways.Fatimasaid,“Hisbeardisblue,butheisnotabadman.Heisverygoodinsomeways.SoIwillmarryhim.”SofatimamarriedBlueBeard,andwenttoliveinthebeautifulhouse.Somedayswentby.ThenBlueBeardsaid,“Ishallgoonajourney.”ThenhegaveFatimathekeysofalltheroomsinthehouse.Hesaid,“Thisisthekeyofthatlittleroom;donotopenthedoorofit.…Saythatyouwillnotopenthedoorofthelittleroom!”Fatimasaid,“Iwillnotopenthedoorofthatlittleroom.”ThenBlueBeardwentaway.WhenBlueBeardwasaway,allFatima'sfriendscametoseeher.Sheshowedthemtherooms,andwhatabeautifulhouseitwas;butshedidnotopenthedoorofthelittleroom.Thefriendswentaway.ThenFatimasaid,“ShallIopenthedoorofthatlittleroomnow?Whydidhesay,'Donotopenit'?Iwanttoseewhatisinthelittleroom.”Fatimatookthekey;shewenttothedoorofthelittleroom,andopenedit.IntheroomshesawallBlueBeard'sotherwives.Theyweredead!Thekeyfellfromherhand.Whenshetookituptherewasaredmarkonit.Sheshutthedoor.Thenshetookthekeytoherroom.Shesaid,“BlueBeardwillseethemarkonthekey,hewillknowthatIhaveopenedthedoorofthelittleroom,andhewillkillme,ashekilledalltheotherwives.”Sherubbedthekeywithacloth,butthemarkdidnotgoaway.Shewashedthekeyinhotwater,butthemarkwasnotwashedaway.Sherubbedthekeyonastone,butshecouldnotrubthemarkaway.BlueBeardcameback.HecalledFatima,andsaid,“Givememykeys.”Fatimagavehimtheotherkeys;butshedidnotgivehimthekeyofthelittleroom.Hesaid,“Whereisthekeyofthelittleroom?”Shesaid,“Iwillbringit.”Shewentandbroughtit;andhesawtheredmark.Hesaid,“Youhaveopenedthedoorofthelittleroom.Nowyoushalldie.”Shefellathisfeet:“Givemesomehourstolive,”shesaid.Hesaid,“Iwillgiveyouonehour.”Fatimahadthreebrothers.Herbrothershadsaid,“Weshallcomeandseeyoutoday,”buttheyhadnotcome.Shesaid,“Ifmybrotherscomeinthishourtheywillsaveme.”HersisterAnnwasinthehouse.Shecalledtoher,“SisterAnn,SisterAnn,gothethewindowandseeifmybrothersarecoming.”SisterAnnwenttothewindow;shesaid,“Iseenoonecoming.”Fatimawaitedalittle;thenshecried,“SisterAnn,SisterAnn,doyouseeanyonecoming?”SisterAnnsaid,“Idonotseeanyone;nooneiscoming.”BlueBeardcalled,“Fatima!”Fatimasaid,“SisterAnn,SisterAnn,isanyonecoming?”“Iseealittledust,”saidSisterAnn,“veryfaraway.”BlueBeardcalled,“Fatima,comedown.”“SisterAnn,SisterAnn,”saidFatima,“isthereanyoneinthedust?”“Iseemeninthedust,”saidSisterAnn.BlueBeardcalled,“Anhourhasgoneby.Comedown,Fatima,andIshallkillyou.”“SisterAnn,SisterAnn,arethreemeninthedust?”BlueBeardcalled,“Anhourhasgoneby.Ifyoudonotcomedown,Ishallcomeup.”“Iseethreemen,”saidSisterAnn.“Theyaremy