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夫妻，一方來自愛爾蘭，一方來自中國。他倆在西班牙相遇、相戀，并回到了格蕾絲的祖國定居。《雙語時代》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？
《雙語時代》：對你們來說，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：對我來說，完美的情人節(jié)應該是夫妻，即我和我丈夫，整晚呆在一起，享用浪漫的晚餐并互贈禮物。嗯，為對方買禮物與否真的無關緊要。重要的是，晚上呆在一起聊天、談論我們的夢想與我們的結合。浪漫是非常重要的。
Bilingual Time： What about you Richie？ What do you think？
《雙語時代》：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，當你們維持一種關系時，你每天都要和那個人在一起，片刻不離，而情人節(jié)就是一年中你可以真正向那個人表達欣賞之情并表露她/他對你意義所在的一天。
Bilingual Time： How would you show your appreciation？
《雙語時代》：你是如何表達你的欣賞之情的？
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朵紅玫瑰是的表達方式。在西方，12朵紅玫瑰象征著愛情。我是這樣認為的，但我真的不知道它的由來。不管怎么說，情人節(jié)必須有12朵紅玫瑰。一些人喜歡在情人節(jié)給他們的女人買巧克力，但我卻不喜歡，因為巧克力會使你發(fā)胖。
Grace： You mean chocolate makes the wife fat.格蕾絲：你是說巧克力會使妻子發(fā)胖。
Richie： Exactly！
里奇：正是！
Bilingual Time： What do you think are good Valentine's Day gifts？
《雙語時代》：你認為，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一些非常實用的東西。比如說，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。當他帶上手套的時候，他會記起“這是我妻子給我買的”。還有，我認為一個好的情人節(jié)禮物要表示出你非常愛他，非常感激他為你所做的事情。你不必非要送禮物，但一定要表達出這個意思。也許，你只要告訴他就可以了。和他談談話并感謝他為你所做的一切。
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，浪漫的晚餐也是情人節(jié)非常非常重要的一個部分。比如說，去年我們就去了一家餐廳。那家餐廳非常好。有幾對夫妻也在那兒用餐。其中有一位有錢的英國紳士比較特別，他要了一瓶放在冰塊中的香檳。我只買了一瓶便宜的“長城”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？
《雙語時代》：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：確實如此。他可以為你們營造出情調。
Bilingual Time： In the mood for what？
《雙語時代》：什么樣的情調？
Richie： The romantic mood！
里奇：浪漫的情調！
Bilingual Time： Do you think that cultural differences influence your relationship？
《雙語時代》：你認為文化的差異會影響你們的關系嗎？
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，當然會。 它有利也有弊。當你們來自不同的文化背景時，你會發(fā)現那更有意思。了解彼此并了解彼此的文化是更令人興奮的事情。在這個相互理解的過程中，你們也形成了共同之處。我認為這種關系很有意思也很令人興奮，但有時也會很有挑戰(zhàn)性。我們有時會因一些事情而爭吵，因為我們的思維方式不同。我總是堅持我的思維方式是正確的，而有時他就會想“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.《雙語時代》：但是，即使是文化背景相同的人也會出現這種情況，因為他們的個性是不同的。
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：如果你們的關系是維持在不同的文化背景下，結果會更糟，因為當事的兩個人在成長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則和思維模式。這些差異更難于逾越。然而，如果你和另一個人的文化背景相同，而你們又在某一點上出現分歧的話，那么另一個人就會對此類事情習以為常，不再感到陌生了。不過，如果是在不同的文化背景下維持一種關系，就未必如此了。
Bilingual Time： The two of you got married. Obviously you feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.《雙語時代》：你們倆已經結了婚。顯然，你們感到的是利大于弊。
Richie： Without a doubt.里奇：毫無疑問。
Bilingual Time： What are the advantages of inter-cultural relationships？
《雙語時代》：在不同的文化背景下結合的優(yōu)勢是什么？
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，這是一種要用一生時間來體會的經歷。你不斷體會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，特別對我來說，因為我正居住在中國。
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：當然。比如說，如果我出去并喝得爛醉如泥，我就可以說是文化差異造成的。我是愛爾蘭人。所有愛爾蘭人都會這樣做！
（里奇開心地笑著，而格蕾絲正深情地看著他。當我們談到了喝酒的時候，我們便決定結束訪談，開始暢飲。）
Bilingual Time： What, to you, is the ideal Valentine's Day？
《雙語時代》：對你們來說，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：對我來說，完美的情人節(jié)應該是夫妻，即我和我丈夫，整晚呆在一起，享用浪漫的晚餐并互贈禮物。嗯，為對方買禮物與否真的無關緊要。重要的是，晚上呆在一起聊天、談論我們的夢想與我們的結合。浪漫是非常重要的。
Bilingual Time： What about you Richie？ What do you think？
《雙語時代》：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，當你們維持一種關系時，你每天都要和那個人在一起，片刻不離，而情人節(jié)就是一年中你可以真正向那個人表達欣賞之情并表露她/他對你意義所在的一天。
Bilingual Time： How would you show your appreciation？
《雙語時代》：你是如何表達你的欣賞之情的？
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朵紅玫瑰是的表達方式。在西方，12朵紅玫瑰象征著愛情。我是這樣認為的，但我真的不知道它的由來。不管怎么說，情人節(jié)必須有12朵紅玫瑰。一些人喜歡在情人節(jié)給他們的女人買巧克力，但我卻不喜歡，因為巧克力會使你發(fā)胖。
Grace： You mean chocolate makes the wife fat.格蕾絲：你是說巧克力會使妻子發(fā)胖。
Richie： Exactly！
里奇：正是！
Bilingual Time： What do you think are good Valentine's Day gifts？
《雙語時代》：你認為，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一些非常實用的東西。比如說，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。當他帶上手套的時候，他會記起“這是我妻子給我買的”。還有，我認為一個好的情人節(jié)禮物要表示出你非常愛他，非常感激他為你所做的事情。你不必非要送禮物，但一定要表達出這個意思。也許，你只要告訴他就可以了。和他談談話并感謝他為你所做的一切。
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，浪漫的晚餐也是情人節(jié)非常非常重要的一個部分。比如說，去年我們就去了一家餐廳。那家餐廳非常好。有幾對夫妻也在那兒用餐。其中有一位有錢的英國紳士比較特別，他要了一瓶放在冰塊中的香檳。我只買了一瓶便宜的“長城”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？
《雙語時代》：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：確實如此。他可以為你們營造出情調。
Bilingual Time： In the mood for what？
《雙語時代》：什么樣的情調？
Richie： The romantic mood！
里奇：浪漫的情調！
Bilingual Time： Do you think that cultural differences influence your relationship？
《雙語時代》：你認為文化的差異會影響你們的關系嗎？
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，當然會。 它有利也有弊。當你們來自不同的文化背景時，你會發(fā)現那更有意思。了解彼此并了解彼此的文化是更令人興奮的事情。在這個相互理解的過程中，你們也形成了共同之處。我認為這種關系很有意思也很令人興奮，但有時也會很有挑戰(zhàn)性。我們有時會因一些事情而爭吵，因為我們的思維方式不同。我總是堅持我的思維方式是正確的，而有時他就會想“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.《雙語時代》：但是，即使是文化背景相同的人也會出現這種情況，因為他們的個性是不同的。
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：如果你們的關系是維持在不同的文化背景下，結果會更糟，因為當事的兩個人在成長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則和思維模式。這些差異更難于逾越。然而，如果你和另一個人的文化背景相同，而你們又在某一點上出現分歧的話，那么另一個人就會對此類事情習以為常，不再感到陌生了。不過，如果是在不同的文化背景下維持一種關系，就未必如此了。
Bilingual Time： The two of you got married. Obviously you feel that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.《雙語時代》：你們倆已經結了婚。顯然，你們感到的是利大于弊。
Richie： Without a doubt.里奇：毫無疑問。
Bilingual Time： What are the advantages of inter-cultural relationships？
《雙語時代》：在不同的文化背景下結合的優(yōu)勢是什么？
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，這是一種要用一生時間來體會的經歷。你不斷體會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，特別對我來說，因為我正居住在中國。
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：當然。比如說，如果我出去并喝得爛醉如泥，我就可以說是文化差異造成的。我是愛爾蘭人。所有愛爾蘭人都會這樣做！
（里奇開心地笑著，而格蕾絲正深情地看著他。當我們談到了喝酒的時候，我們便決定結束訪談，開始暢飲。）