直击澳洲生活

1、直击澳洲生活 很多人都说，了解一个地方的最好办法，就是去了解当地人。最佳选择莫过于身边的朋友，熟悉、自然、真实，而且十分生活化，而跟他们聊天，参与他们的生活是对当地生活最直接有效的体验。对于澳大利亚而言，更是如此。 澳大利亚是一个移民国家。这里除了原著民，其它人口都来自世界各地。根据史料记载，最早来到澳洲大陆的是荷兰探险家Willem Janszoon，他在1606年3月发现了昆士兰州的开普约克半岛（Cape York Peninsula）的西海岸。之后的两个世纪里，相继有不同的欧洲探险家驶经这里。但是一直到1770年，才有来自英国的库克船长（Captain James Cook）给这片大陆戴

2、上英国的皇冠，使之成为英国专门流放犯人的殖民地。1868年，英国停止了向这里运送犯人，被运送来的大约16万英国犯人，加入了此后由“淘金热”吸引来的大批寻求财富的其他移民。五湖四海的人聚集在了一起，组成了这个新的国家。 作为一个年纪相对较轻的国家，澳大利亚少了背负过长历史的沉重感，多了几分轻松和活力。澳洲人经常把自己的国家比喻成一个teenager，还在青春期里的少年，有大把的空间和时间来成长，并且绝对自信绝对精力充沛。 直到现在，生活在澳大利亚的人还是由新移民，第二代移民，还有在这片土地上扎根数代的移民以及原著民组成。新来的人在努力地适应这里新鲜而且友好的环境，辛勤开拓属于自己的天地，憧憬着美

3、好的未来。在这里生活过两代以上的人，体内基本上都已经流动着澳大利亚的血液，成为从里到外的Aussie。原著民还在这片本来属于他们的土地上争取着更多应有的权利。政府也在加倍努力地给予他们本应该得到的尊重和保护。虽然背景各异的人群有着诸多的不同，但是同时生活在澳大利亚的这个事实又赋予了所有人相同的生活理念。 这里的袋鼠和海鸥满大街溜达，跟人类和谐相处。这里的人们生活态度轻松简单。啤酒、烧烤和海滩(Beer, BBQ and Beach)是大部分澳洲人休闲生活的关键词。他们热爱运动，对各种文化都有所了解并且极具包容心。澳大利亚特有的气质和氛围就在这样轻松和谐的生活中逐渐成型。 我来到这个崇尚自由轻松

4、的国度已逾四年。但真正融入当地的生活还是在近两年工作之后。为了让喜欢澳大利亚文化的朋友对这个南半球的国家有更深入的了解，帮助打算留学移民澳洲的朋友预先了解这个国家，我完成了本期采访。希望我的图片和文字能够帮助您进一步了解这个美丽的国家。 受访人物：Michelle Kalos 我的受访者是现在公司的经理，Michelle Kalos。她是克罗地亚移民的后裔，在澳大利亚出生长大，是个地道的澳洲人。她的丈夫Chris来自希腊家庭，也出生在澳大利亚。两个人都是来澳大利亚的第二代移民，这种来自不同国家背景的结合在这里非常常见。他们有可爱的孩子，信仰上帝，有自己的大房子和度假别墅，经济来源稳定，是典型的

5、中产阶级家庭。 I Do Live in the Lucky Country 米歇尔卡罗斯眼中的澳洲生活 Life in Australia is very simple, it is only as hard as you make it. I feel I do live in the Lucky Country. I traveled overseas when I was in my late twenties and went to many countries in the world. This holiday really opened my eyes at just how

6、much Australia has to offer. Australia is young and still developing, and because of this we have opened our arms to the many different cultures that now form our nation. It is the best of each culture that we have developed a taste for and that make us quite unique from other countries. There are n

7、o boundaries to what you can do, it is a free country. Not bound by history, although we do respect and celebrate it, not bound by ancestors principles, but we do respect and remember them. 在澳大利亚生活非常简单，难易完全取决于自己。我真的觉得自己是生活在“幸运之国”。在我快三十岁的时候，曾经海外旅行过一次，去了世界上不少的国家。那次的旅行真的让我大开眼界，而且了解了澳大利亚提供给我们多少的福利。这个国家现

8、在还年轻，而且在不断地发展着，因此，我们张开怀抱接受各种各样不同的文化，并且将其融入我们国家的文化之中。我们摄取这些文化当中最好的一部分，这使得我们国家与众不同。澳大利亚对于国民的行为没有太多的限制，是个自由的国度。我们尊重历史，但不会受到历史的束缚；我们敬重并且铭记着先人，但不会被祖先的条条框框束缚脚步。 Australia does not move as fast as the rest of the world, and I think this has kept our lifestyles relatively simple. Our immigrant parents were

9、hard workers. We dont have it as tough today as our parents did, but they were happy and made do with what they had. They worked hard to be accepted in Australia and get a home for their family, and this really laid the foundations for my generation. 跟世界上其它国家相比，澳大利亚节奏并不快，我们保持着相对简单的生活方式。我们的父母是从国外移民来到

10、这里，他们都很辛勤。与他们相比，我们今天的生活轻松了很多，不过他们同样也对今天拥有的一切感到幸福。他们的辛苦工作换来的是被澳大利亚的社会认可，拥有了自己的家，并且为下一代打下基础。 The Australian culture likes to laugh, including laughing at themselves. We are relaxed and encourage mateship and loyalty. We are sometimes too relaxed. Our government makes it too easy for the faint-hearted

11、- it is too easy not to work because the government payments might be better. It is easy to have another child as a single parent because the government will pay you, and our law makes it too easy to walk away from marriage. Too many options lead to too many statistics. When I decided I was ready fo

12、r children, I made the decision to give up my position as finance manager to stay at home with my boys, with every intention of returning to work when they were at school. I wanted the choice and we set ourselves up financially to do it. My decision was against the Macedonian tradition of leaving yo

13、ur children in the care of grandparents while you worked to build your assets. The most satisfying years were being with the boys and it was the hardest job I have ever done - being a stay-at-home mum after you have developed a career and respect in the industry is hard to adapt to mentally and it t

14、ook a while to get used to, but I shifted my energy into other areas around my boys. But I think I could do any job now after my days at home. 澳大利亚人喜欢笑，包括自嘲。我们心态放松，看重友谊和忠诚。但有时候我们显得过于放松。政府让懒散的国民也能过上舒服的日子不工作也能舒适的生活，政府为失业的人提供的补贴可能比他工作时的薪水还高。对于单身父母来说，再要一个孩子并非难事，因为政府有补贴，法律让人很容易就可以走出婚姻。太多的选择导致各种不同的结果。在决定要

15、照顾孩子的时候，我决定放弃公司财务经理的头衔，跟儿子们呆在一起，一直到他们上了学才重新开始工作。为了这个决定，我从财政方面积极做了准备。虽然这个决定完全不符合马其顿人的传统（他们通常是把带孩子的任务交给祖父母，而自己去继续工作积累更多的财富）。但是跟孩子们在一起的那些年是最令我心满意足的，这当然也是我所胜任的工作当中最难的在事业上有所成就之后回归家庭，做全职太太，实在需要花时间从心理上适应。好在我将自己的心思全部都转换到孩子们身上。不过我也认为，在家呆过一段时间之后，我能够胜任任何工作。 In Australia, we have so much land. My backyard is bi

16、g and looks out over the hills and clear skies, and I watch kangaroos laying in the sun in my backyard and my neighbors backyards. We have to be careful now that they dont jump out in front of your car as you go down the street. They have come in to feed on the lawns, as it is cold and dry now. 澳大利亚

17、幅员辽阔。我们的后院很大，从那里可以看到山丘和明澈的天空。还有袋鼠在我们家和邻居家的后院里晒太阳。在开车出去的时候你得提防着它们，以免它们突然跳到车前。现在天气又干又冷，它们常在草地上觅食。 If you really want to, you can work hard and build your opportunities. I measure my wealth, not by the number of properties we own, but the boys and my faith in God that keeps me guided and on the track.

18、如果真的愿意，你也可以辛苦的工作为自己争取各种机会。我并不以现在拥有了多少财产来衡量自己拥有的财富，我的财富是我的儿子和对上帝的虔诚之心。它将一直指引着我，让我不会迷失方向。 Interview跟米歇尔卡罗斯话家常 Sophie: Can you tell us something about your origins? Where are you from? Were you born in Australia? Michelle: Yep. I was born in Queanbeyan. Ive lived in Queanbeyan all my life. My father is

19、 Croatian. He came here to Australia and worked down at the Snowy Mountain Hydro Scheme. He met my mum at Tumut (she is Australian) and they moved to Queanbeyan for work. He was a builder/carpenter. I didnt really get to know my fathers side of family. It was mostly based on what my mother and fathe

20、r told us. I finally got to meet my fathers side of the family when I went overseas about 16 years ago, which was really good because my father died when I was young.It really filled a big gap in my life to meet his side of the family and see how they live, their culture yeah, it was just good to se

21、e where my roots came from because Id always grown up with my mothers side of the family. They lived in Tumut and we went to visit when we were young. Sophie: Did you speak to them in English, or their language? Michelle: Over there, the young ones are taught English in school so we could talk to th

22、em in English. I can also talk to my aunties and uncles in English. But with my family out in the village in Gorrya Bistra, just outside of Zagreb on farmland, they couldnt speak English because they are a lot older. Chris, he can speak Macedonian it took him a little while to learn to communicate.

23、Theyre both Slavic languages so after a couple of days, he picked up the dialect and was able to communicate with them. Sophie: Youre married to a Greek family. Whats that like? Michelle: Greek families are very close-knit, very different from Australian families. They can be overbearing sometimes.

24、It can be hard for someone of a different culture or background to come into a Greek family, because they are very traditional. Its not just your immediate family. You actually take on all of the extended families, so its a big community that you become a part of. Sophie: When did Chris family come

25、here to Australia? Michelle: In the late 50s or 60s. Sophie: So is Chris the second generation after the immigrants? Michelle：Yes. Having children growing up in Australia, the family is learning to accept that some of their traditions are being lost because their children are growing up in an Austra

26、lian environment where traditions arent the most important thing. They are moving to modern times. Sophie: I think I remember you mentioning that family members are so close its difficult not to see fights sometimes? Michelle: Yeah, because families are so close-knit, they tend to lose some of the p

27、rivacy that normal families would have. Europeans do have, you know, fights. (Laughs) Disagreements is probably a better word. They speak with their mind and that can come across the wrong way. Sophie: What do you think about the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Michelle: Ah, My Big Fat Greek Wedding

28、 ismy life. (Laughs) When the movie came out, I wasnt the only person who thought that, because my brother-in law watched the movie and he said, Oh my God, this is terrible. Im watching my life. Its very close to reality, and its probably the same for everybody who has married into a Greek family. S

29、ophie: So it isnt as funny to you as to other people? Michelle: No, we did have a lot of laughs over it because it does happen, a lot of things in the movie do happen. I think some people who watch the movie that arent involved in the Greek community miss a lot of things because they dont quite unde

30、rstand what is going on, you know, things that we could relate to. Sophie: For example? Michelle: When we were watching the movie with Australian friends, when it got to the part where she (the main female character) was walking down the aisle and everyone was spitting at her, I noticed all my frien

31、ds looked pretty disgusted, and they were going, What are they doing? Actually, they were wishing the newlyweds good luck and keeping away the evil. Sophie: Can you tell me anything else about their traditions? Michelle: The Greeks dont celebrate so much their birthdays. Instead, they have Name Days

32、. Many Greeks are named after religious figures, and there are special days for particular religious figures. On a persons Name Day, people come to the house and bring drinks and food and celebrate. It almost replaces the birthday. In Australia, we celebrate birthdays. In Macedonia, they focus more

33、on Name days. The older generation is still doing it, but the new generation is not. Sophie: Any special types of food within the family? Michelle: Stuffed peppers are a tradition in Macedonia, mainly because they have huge gardens of banana peppers. When they are in season, theyll make any dish wit

34、h the pepper (laughs). My brother-in-law terms stuffed peppers the Macedonian T-bone because they practically have it for any meal. Its very tasty, very healthy. I enjoy it. Sophie: Tell me about your holidays. Michelle: My sanity is in leaving Queanbeyan, the Canberra area, and driving down the coa

35、st. As soon as I get over the Bungendore hill, all the stress and thoughts of what has to be done disappear. First thing I do is go to the news agency and buy some magazines. Then I relax for the rest of the time down there. I do nothing until the last hour or so when we have to come home, then its

36、a mad rush to clean the house (laugh). We are totally relaxed down there. Sophie: Can you describe your holiday house for me? Michelle: Its in Malua Bay. Its one street back from the main road which runs all the way down the south coast. Its a two storey hard plank house, and the views from the vera

37、nda, lounge, and the kitchen are what I describe as million-dollar views. It looks straight out onto the beach, its great. We can walk to the shops, walk to the beach we can walk up to the club if we want to, and its about a ten minute drive into Batemans Bay. Sophie: What do your husband and kids d

38、o there? Michelle: My husband, he would like to fish full time if he could. Thats his dream. My boys, they enjoy fishing, they like going down to the beach. Theyve learned how to surf now, theyve got surfboards. In the summer time, basically every morning we get up, have brekkie, go to the beach, an

39、d come back for lunch. The wind picks up after lunch and its pretty hot in the air. We may go back down to the beach in the afternoon when the wind drops and its a little bit cooler. The best time on the beach in the summertime is 7 oclock. Its beautiful. Sophie: So are there a lot of water sports d

40、own there? Michelle: Yeah, we used to do a little bit of snorkeling. Were teaching the boys to go snorkeling. Chris is the half owner of a boat, so we go out in the boat fishing. We used to go up to the river and do a bit of rubber tubing. Ive tried to learn how to surf this summer, but its not as easy as it looks (laughs). Its quite hard, you know, to get your body up and balanced. The kids are doing really well. We also boogie board and do some dog walking its just nice to be down there. Sophie: Almost everybody in Australia talks about sports. Michelle: Australia i