Richie and Grace are an Irish-Chinese couple living in Beijing. They met when in Spain, fell in love and returned to Grace's homeland to settle down. Bilingual Time caught up with them in a bar in the capital for a chat about Valentine's Day and cross-cultural love.里奇和格蕾絲是居住在北京的一對(duì)夫妻，一方來(lái)自愛(ài)爾蘭，一方來(lái)自中國(guó)。他倆在西班牙相遇、相戀，并回到了格蕾絲的祖國(guó)定居。《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》在首都一家酒吧里找到了他們，和他倆聊起了情人節(jié)和跨文化戀情。
Bilingual Time： What, to you, is the ideal Valentine's Day？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：對(duì)你們來(lái)說(shuō)，什么才是完美的情人節(jié)呢？
Grace： To me, the ideal Valentine's Day would be the couple, me and my husband, spending the whole night together with a romantic dinner and presents for each other. Well, it doesn't really matter if we buy presents for each other. Spending the night together, chatting, talking about our dreams, our relationship is important. Being romantic is very important.格蕾絲：對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，完美的情人節(jié)應(yīng)該是夫妻，即我和我丈夫，整晚呆在一起，享用浪漫的晚餐并互贈(zèng)禮物。嗯，為對(duì)方買(mǎi)禮物與否真的無(wú)關(guān)緊要。重要的是，晚上呆在一起聊天、談?wù)撐覀兊膲?mèng)想與我們的結(jié)合。浪漫是非常重要的。
Bilingual Time： What about you Richie？ What do you think？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你呢，里奇？你怎么想的？
Richie： In my opinion, I suppose, when you are in a relationship, you are with the person everyday, all the time, and Valentine's Day is the one day of the year that you can actually show your appreciation for that person and what they mean to you.里奇：我想，我的看法是，當(dāng)你們維持一種關(guān)系時(shí)，你每天都要和那個(gè)人在一起，片刻不離，而情人節(jié)就是一年中你可以真正向那個(gè)人表達(dá)欣賞之情并表露她/他對(duì)你意義所在的一天。
Bilingual Time： How would you show your appreciation？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你是如何表達(dá)你的欣賞之情的？
Richie： Twelve red roses would have to be number one on the list. Twelve red roses symbolize love, in the West. I think so； I don't really know the story behind it. Twelve red roses, anyway, would be a must on Valentine's Day. Some people like to buy their lady chocolate on Valentine's Day but I don't go in for that because chocolate makes you fat.里奇：12朵紅玫瑰是的表達(dá)方式。在西方，12朵紅玫瑰象征著愛(ài)情。我是這樣認(rèn)為的，但我真的不知道它的由來(lái)。不管怎么說(shuō)，情人節(jié)必須有12朵紅玫瑰。一些人喜歡在情人節(jié)給他們的女人買(mǎi)巧克力，但我卻不喜歡，因?yàn)榍煽肆?huì)使你發(fā)胖。
Grace： You mean chocolate makes the wife fat.格蕾絲：你是說(shuō)巧克力會(huì)使妻子發(fā)胖。
Richie： Exactly！
里奇：正是！
Bilingual Time： What do you think are good Valentine's Day gifts？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你認(rèn)為，什么才是好的情人節(jié)禮物？
Grace： I prefer to get something very practical for my husband. For example, a really nice jumper or a nice pair of gloves； something that can make the man feel warm. When he puts on the gloves he will remember that “my wife bought them for me”. And also, I think a nice Valentine's Day present would be, like a gesture that you really love him and really appreciate what he has done for you. You have to show this, not necessarily with presents. You can tell him, maybe. Talk to him and thank him for whatever he has done.格蕾絲：我更喜歡給我丈夫買(mǎi)一些非常實(shí)用的東西。比如說(shuō)，一件非常漂亮的套頭毛衣，或是一副漂亮的手套，一些可以使他感到溫暖的東西。當(dāng)他帶上手套的時(shí)候，他會(huì)記起“這是我妻子給我買(mǎi)的”。還有，我認(rèn)為一個(gè)好的情人節(jié)禮物要表示出你非常愛(ài)他，非常感激他為你所做的事情。你不必非要送禮物，但一定要表達(dá)出這個(gè)意思。也許，你只要告訴他就可以了。和他談?wù)勗挷⒏兄x他為你所做的一切。
Richie： Romantic dinners are also a very very big part of Valentine's Day, in my opinion. Last year, for example, we went to a restaurant. It was very nice. There were a few other couples there. There was one rich English gentleman in particular and he had a bottle of champagne on ice. I just bought a cheap bottle of Great Wall. （Laughs） It's the thought that counts.里奇：在我看來(lái)，浪漫的晚餐也是情人節(jié)非常非常重要的一個(gè)部分。比如說(shuō)，去年我們就去了一家餐廳。那家餐廳非常好。有幾對(duì)夫妻也在那兒用餐。其中有一位有錢(qián)的英國(guó)紳士比較特別，他要了一瓶放在冰塊中的香檳。我只買(mǎi)了一瓶便宜的“長(zhǎng)城”葡萄酒。（笑）可重要的是這份心意啊。
Bilingual Time： What else did you do last year on Valentine's Day？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：去年的情人節(jié)你們還做了什么？
Grace： We can't tell you everything！ （Laughs） Well…
格蕾絲：我們不能把所有事情都告訴你?。。ㄐΓ┼拧?BR> Richie： I can't remember！
里奇：我記不起來(lái)了！
Grace： Not much…
格蕾絲：不多……
Richie： Yeah, we had a nice dinner, then came home, chilled out, relaxed, and drank some more wine.里奇：對(duì)了，我們吃了一頓愉快的晚餐，然后回了家，休息、放松，并且又喝了些葡萄酒。
Grace： Wine is very important.格蕾絲：葡萄酒是很重要的。
Richie： Exactly. It puts you in the mood.里奇：確實(shí)如此。他可以為你們營(yíng)造出情調(diào)。
Bilingual Time： In the mood for what？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：什么樣的情調(diào)？
Richie： The romantic mood！
里奇：浪漫的情調(diào)！
Bilingual Time： Do you think that cultural differences influence your relationship？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你認(rèn)為文化的差異會(huì)影響你們的關(guān)系嗎？
Grace： Yeah, definitely. There are pros and cons. When you come from different cultures you find it more interesting. It's more exciting to get to know each other and to get to know each other's cultures. During this process of understanding each other you establish something in common. I think this relationship is very interesting and exciting but sometimes it can be very challenging. We sometimes argue over things because we don't think in the same way. I always insist that my way of thinking is correct and sometimes he thinks “why can't we do things my way？”格蕾絲：是的，當(dāng)然會(huì)。 它有利也有弊。當(dāng)你們來(lái)自不同的文化背景時(shí)，你會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)那更有意思。了解彼此并了解彼此的文化是更令人興奮的事情。在這個(gè)相互理解的過(guò)程中，你們也形成了共同之處。我認(rèn)為這種關(guān)系很有意思也很令人興奮，但有時(shí)也會(huì)很有挑戰(zhàn)性。我們有時(shí)會(huì)因一些事情而爭(zhēng)吵，因?yàn)槲覀兊乃季S方式不同。我總是堅(jiān)持我的思維方式是正確的，而有時(shí)他就會(huì)想“為什么我們就不能按照我的方式做事呢？”Bilingual Time： But even people from the same culture can have this kind of situation because their personalities are different.《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：但是，即使是文化背景相同的人也會(huì)出現(xiàn)這種情況，因?yàn)樗麄兊膫€(gè)性是不同的。
Richie： If you are in an inter-cultural relationship the effects are deeper because the two of the people involved have grown up in entirely different ways. They have their own norms and mind-sets established from childhood. The differences are more difficult to bridge. Whereas, if you are with someone of your own culture, if you disagree on a point, the other person will be used to that sort of thing, will know it already. Whereas, in an inter-cultural relationship that isn't the case.里奇：如果你們的關(guān)系是維持在不同的文化背景下，結(jié)果會(huì)更糟，因?yàn)楫?dāng)事的兩個(gè)人在成長(zhǎng)方式上是完全不同的。他們從小就建立起一套自己的行為準(zhǔn)則和思維模式。這些差異更難于逾越。然而，如果你和另一個(gè)人的文化背景相同，而你們又在某一點(diǎn)上出現(xiàn)分歧的話，那么另一個(gè)人就會(huì)對(duì)此類(lèi)事情習(xí)以為常，不再感到陌生了。不過(guò)，如果是在不同的文化背景下維持一種關(guān)系，就未必如此了。
Bilingual Time： The two of you got married. Obviously you feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你們倆已經(jīng)結(jié)了婚。顯然，你們感到的是利大于弊。
Richie： Without a doubt.里奇：毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)。
Bilingual Time： What are the advantages of inter-cultural relationships？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：在不同的文化背景下結(jié)合的優(yōu)勢(shì)是什么？
Richie： As Grace was saying, it is a life-long learning experience. You are constantly learning about a different way of life. You are even engaged in a different way of life； me particularly, being here in China.里奇：正如格雷絲所說(shuō)，這是一種要用一生時(shí)間來(lái)體會(huì)的經(jīng)歷。你不斷體會(huì)著一種不同的生活方式。你甚至融入了一種不同的生活方式之中，特別對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，因?yàn)槲艺幼≡谥袊?guó)。
Grace： You can get a lot of excuses. Just blame the culture.格蕾絲：你可以找到許多借口。只是說(shuō)是文化造成的。
Richie： Exactly. For example, if I was to go out and get wasted drunk, I could just blame cultural differences. I'm Irish. All Irish people do this！
里奇：當(dāng)然。比如說(shuō)，如果我出去并喝得爛醉如泥，我就可以說(shuō)是文化差異造成的。我是愛(ài)爾蘭人。所有愛(ài)爾蘭人都會(huì)這樣做！
（里奇開(kāi)心地笑著，而格蕾絲正深情地看著他。當(dāng)我們談到了喝酒的時(shí)候，我們便決定結(jié)束訪談，開(kāi)始暢飲。）
Bilingual Time： What, to you, is the ideal Valentine's Day？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：對(duì)你們來(lái)說(shuō)，什么才是完美的情人節(jié)呢？
Grace： To me, the ideal Valentine's Day would be the couple, me and my husband, spending the whole night together with a romantic dinner and presents for each other. Well, it doesn't really matter if we buy presents for each other. Spending the night together, chatting, talking about our dreams, our relationship is important. Being romantic is very important.格蕾絲：對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，完美的情人節(jié)應(yīng)該是夫妻，即我和我丈夫，整晚呆在一起，享用浪漫的晚餐并互贈(zèng)禮物。嗯，為對(duì)方買(mǎi)禮物與否真的無(wú)關(guān)緊要。重要的是，晚上呆在一起聊天、談?wù)撐覀兊膲?mèng)想與我們的結(jié)合。浪漫是非常重要的。
Bilingual Time： What about you Richie？ What do you think？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你呢，里奇？你怎么想的？
Richie： In my opinion, I suppose, when you are in a relationship, you are with the person everyday, all the time, and Valentine's Day is the one day of the year that you can actually show your appreciation for that person and what they mean to you.里奇：我想，我的看法是，當(dāng)你們維持一種關(guān)系時(shí)，你每天都要和那個(gè)人在一起，片刻不離，而情人節(jié)就是一年中你可以真正向那個(gè)人表達(dá)欣賞之情并表露她/他對(duì)你意義所在的一天。
Bilingual Time： How would you show your appreciation？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你是如何表達(dá)你的欣賞之情的？
Richie： Twelve red roses would have to be number one on the list. Twelve red roses symbolize love, in the West. I think so； I don't really know the story behind it. Twelve red roses, anyway, would be a must on Valentine's Day. Some people like to buy their lady chocolate on Valentine's Day but I don't go in for that because chocolate makes you fat.里奇：12朵紅玫瑰是的表達(dá)方式。在西方，12朵紅玫瑰象征著愛(ài)情。我是這樣認(rèn)為的，但我真的不知道它的由來(lái)。不管怎么說(shuō)，情人節(jié)必須有12朵紅玫瑰。一些人喜歡在情人節(jié)給他們的女人買(mǎi)巧克力，但我卻不喜歡，因?yàn)榍煽肆?huì)使你發(fā)胖。
Grace： You mean chocolate makes the wife fat.格蕾絲：你是說(shuō)巧克力會(huì)使妻子發(fā)胖。
Richie： Exactly！
里奇：正是！
Bilingual Time： What do you think are good Valentine's Day gifts？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你認(rèn)為，什么才是好的情人節(jié)禮物？
Grace： I prefer to get something very practical for my husband. For example, a really nice jumper or a nice pair of gloves； something that can make the man feel warm. When he puts on the gloves he will remember that “my wife bought them for me”. And also, I think a nice Valentine's Day present would be, like a gesture that you really love him and really appreciate what he has done for you. You have to show this, not necessarily with presents. You can tell him, maybe. Talk to him and thank him for whatever he has done.格蕾絲：我更喜歡給我丈夫買(mǎi)一些非常實(shí)用的東西。比如說(shuō)，一件非常漂亮的套頭毛衣，或是一副漂亮的手套，一些可以使他感到溫暖的東西。當(dāng)他帶上手套的時(shí)候，他會(huì)記起“這是我妻子給我買(mǎi)的”。還有，我認(rèn)為一個(gè)好的情人節(jié)禮物要表示出你非常愛(ài)他，非常感激他為你所做的事情。你不必非要送禮物，但一定要表達(dá)出這個(gè)意思。也許，你只要告訴他就可以了。和他談?wù)勗挷⒏兄x他為你所做的一切。
Richie： Romantic dinners are also a very very big part of Valentine's Day, in my opinion. Last year, for example, we went to a restaurant. It was very nice. There were a few other couples there. There was one rich English gentleman in particular and he had a bottle of champagne on ice. I just bought a cheap bottle of Great Wall. （Laughs） It's the thought that counts.里奇：在我看來(lái)，浪漫的晚餐也是情人節(jié)非常非常重要的一個(gè)部分。比如說(shuō)，去年我們就去了一家餐廳。那家餐廳非常好。有幾對(duì)夫妻也在那兒用餐。其中有一位有錢(qián)的英國(guó)紳士比較特別，他要了一瓶放在冰塊中的香檳。我只買(mǎi)了一瓶便宜的“長(zhǎng)城”葡萄酒。（笑）可重要的是這份心意啊。
Bilingual Time： What else did you do last year on Valentine's Day？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：去年的情人節(jié)你們還做了什么？
Grace： We can't tell you everything！ （Laughs） Well…
格蕾絲：我們不能把所有事情都告訴你?。。ㄐΓ┼拧?BR> Richie： I can't remember！
里奇：我記不起來(lái)了！
Grace： Not much…
格蕾絲：不多……
Richie： Yeah, we had a nice dinner, then came home, chilled out, relaxed, and drank some more wine.里奇：對(duì)了，我們吃了一頓愉快的晚餐，然后回了家，休息、放松，并且又喝了些葡萄酒。
Grace： Wine is very important.格蕾絲：葡萄酒是很重要的。
Richie： Exactly. It puts you in the mood.里奇：確實(shí)如此。他可以為你們營(yíng)造出情調(diào)。
Bilingual Time： In the mood for what？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：什么樣的情調(diào)？
Richie： The romantic mood！
里奇：浪漫的情調(diào)！
Bilingual Time： Do you think that cultural differences influence your relationship？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你認(rèn)為文化的差異會(huì)影響你們的關(guān)系嗎？
Grace： Yeah, definitely. There are pros and cons. When you come from different cultures you find it more interesting. It's more exciting to get to know each other and to get to know each other's cultures. During this process of understanding each other you establish something in common. I think this relationship is very interesting and exciting but sometimes it can be very challenging. We sometimes argue over things because we don't think in the same way. I always insist that my way of thinking is correct and sometimes he thinks “why can't we do things my way？”格蕾絲：是的，當(dāng)然會(huì)。 它有利也有弊。當(dāng)你們來(lái)自不同的文化背景時(shí)，你會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)那更有意思。了解彼此并了解彼此的文化是更令人興奮的事情。在這個(gè)相互理解的過(guò)程中，你們也形成了共同之處。我認(rèn)為這種關(guān)系很有意思也很令人興奮，但有時(shí)也會(huì)很有挑戰(zhàn)性。我們有時(shí)會(huì)因一些事情而爭(zhēng)吵，因?yàn)槲覀兊乃季S方式不同。我總是堅(jiān)持我的思維方式是正確的，而有時(shí)他就會(huì)想“為什么我們就不能按照我的方式做事呢？”Bilingual Time： But even people from the same culture can have this kind of situation because their personalities are different.《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：但是，即使是文化背景相同的人也會(huì)出現(xiàn)這種情況，因?yàn)樗麄兊膫€(gè)性是不同的。
Richie： If you are in an inter-cultural relationship the effects are deeper because the two of the people involved have grown up in entirely different ways. They have their own norms and mind-sets established from childhood. The differences are more difficult to bridge. Whereas, if you are with someone of your own culture, if you disagree on a point, the other person will be used to that sort of thing, will know it already. Whereas, in an inter-cultural relationship that isn't the case.里奇：如果你們的關(guān)系是維持在不同的文化背景下，結(jié)果會(huì)更糟，因?yàn)楫?dāng)事的兩個(gè)人在成長(zhǎng)方式上是完全不同的。他們從小就建立起一套自己的行為準(zhǔn)則和思維模式。這些差異更難于逾越。然而，如果你和另一個(gè)人的文化背景相同，而你們又在某一點(diǎn)上出現(xiàn)分歧的話，那么另一個(gè)人就會(huì)對(duì)此類(lèi)事情習(xí)以為常，不再感到陌生了。不過(guò)，如果是在不同的文化背景下維持一種關(guān)系，就未必如此了。
Bilingual Time： The two of you got married. Obviously you feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：你們倆已經(jīng)結(jié)了婚。顯然，你們感到的是利大于弊。
Richie： Without a doubt.里奇：毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)。
Bilingual Time： What are the advantages of inter-cultural relationships？
《雙語(yǔ)時(shí)代》：在不同的文化背景下結(jié)合的優(yōu)勢(shì)是什么？
Richie： As Grace was saying, it is a life-long learning experience. You are constantly learning about a different way of life. You are even engaged in a different way of life； me particularly, being here in China.里奇：正如格雷絲所說(shuō)，這是一種要用一生時(shí)間來(lái)體會(huì)的經(jīng)歷。你不斷體會(huì)著一種不同的生活方式。你甚至融入了一種不同的生活方式之中，特別對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)，因?yàn)槲艺幼≡谥袊?guó)。
Grace： You can get a lot of excuses. Just blame the culture.格蕾絲：你可以找到許多借口。只是說(shuō)是文化造成的。
Richie： Exactly. For example, if I was to go out and get wasted drunk, I could just blame cultural differences. I'm Irish. All Irish people do this！
里奇：當(dāng)然。比如說(shuō)，如果我出去并喝得爛醉如泥，我就可以說(shuō)是文化差異造成的。我是愛(ài)爾蘭人。所有愛(ài)爾蘭人都會(huì)這樣做！
（里奇開(kāi)心地笑著，而格蕾絲正深情地看著他。當(dāng)我們談到了喝酒的時(shí)候，我們便決定結(jié)束訪談，開(kāi)始暢飲。）