Archive for March, 2009

The First Step for Choosing a US President -2008

Friday, March 20th, 2009

                                                by Don Huffman

       Maxine and I were both interested in the outcome1 of the “First In The Nation Iowa Caucus”2 which took place in our state of Iowa on January 3, 2008.  A caucus is a meeting of likeminded people3 to determine policy or elect candidates4 for office, and we have attended some5 in previous years. Don couldn’t attend unless he was willing to register as either a Democrat or a Republican6, and that would cancel7 his registration as an Independent8. Maxine and Kim planned to attend but the weather was bad and the roads and parking lots9 were icy. They could not do the caucus10 this year.  Still, we think it a good idea11, and we will continue to follow the results.

       We were surprised that the young, black Democrat, Barack Obama12, scored a victory over the popular politicians Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in a predominately13 white state with many conservative Republicans14. We were surprised that a conservative, obscure15, former Baptist preacher16 from Arkansas17 defeated other Republicans who spent much more time and money in Iowa before the caucus. 

        One might ask, “What significance does this have if any?”  For us the answer is, “The Iowa Caucus is the first step in the selection of a new candidate for determining18 the president of the U.S. Iowans19 have once more shown themselves to be among the best informed of any voters in the U.S.”  Some other states and areas in the country might not agree with this, but Iowa is the first state to express their favorites in each party, and this creates lots of excitement.

        Iowa held primary presidential elections20 until 1972, to determine candidates for both the Republican and Democratic21 parties. The final election takes place once every four years on the first Tuesday in November, and the President-elect22 is ultimately determined by a vote of the Electoral College23, a group of people from each of the 50 states, their numbers based on state population.  Presidential elections are not determined by popular vote24 in the U.S.

        In 1972 Iowa’s political leaders came up with a process which they felt would better inform both the voters and the presidential hopefuls25 about the important issues26 and policies involved in the presidential elections.  They devised27 a “First-In-The-Nation Caucus,” and scheduled it before any other state primary election or caucus.  State leaders in Iowa noticed that there had been a decline of interest in primary presidential elections28, and they hoped to encourage a closer, personal knowledge of each candidate29 before the nominating conventions of both major parties30. We feel it has worked well, because the interest is certainly greater than before. 

        35 years later, some other states and regions have challenged31 the wisdom of the Iowa Caucus, claiming32 the Iowa state population is too small, it lacks diversity in minority populations33, and therefore some people have suggested that the “First-In-The-Nation” status be passed around from state to state34, or rotated on a regional plan35. So far this has not happened. In a state of fewer than 1.5 million voters36, more than 350 thousand Iowans participated in the caucuses. Party candidates met voters in literally all of Iowa’s 99 counties in schoolrooms, churches, community centers37, small country stores, and in private homes as well as on the streets.  They met, presented their views, and learned about what was important to the citizens of Iowa.  The turnout38 of voters this year was about 20% higher than for the last presidential election. One of the few complaints39 heard was that “There wasn’t enough room for the participants who attended.” Iowans insist40 that this shows the value of their caucus plans. People like it!

        It remains to be seen41 what the final results of the 2008 presidential election will be, but nearly all local and national politicians and political analysts42 agree that the Iowa Caucus results indicate a widespread desire for radical changes43 in political leadership in the U.S.  Recent polls indicate that these views are nationwide, and we think this is good news!

 

 

Notes:

1. outcome: results of something (结果)

2. First In The Nation Iowa Caucus: a meeting of Iowa citizens who wish to discuss and make decisions about their choices for major party candidates in presidential elections (全国第一州爱荷华州政党候选人初选).

3. likeminded people: people or groups who have similar tastes, interests, and opinions (志趣相投的人,想法相同的人).

4. candidates: those persons who wish to be selected to represent their political party (候选人).

5. have attended some: have been present at or have gone to some meetings of the kind (曾经参加过一些这样的会议).

6. register as either a Democrat or a Republican: officially declare allegiance to a given political party (登记为民主党员或共和党员).

7. cancel: delete, omit or remove something (取消).

8. Independent: a person who is not affiliated with either major party (无党派人士).

9. parking lots: the spaces provided for cars to park while attending an event (停车场).

10. do the caucus: take part in or participate in the caucus (参加该会议).

11. Still we think it a good idea: 我们依然认为参加会议是个好主意。此处it是指前面的”do the caucus”。

12. Barack Obama: 巴拉克•奥巴马

13. predominately: mostly, for the most part (大部分地,绝大多数地).

14. Republicans: 共和党党员

15. obscure: not known about or not well known (不知晓的,无名的).

16. Baptist preacher: 基督教新教、浸礼会教派牧师

17. Arkansas: 阿肯萨斯州

18. determining: deciding or making a choice (决定,选择).

19. Iowans: 爱荷华州人

20. primary presidential election: the first formal voting in the selection of a presidential candidate (首次总统选举正式投票).

21. Democratic party:民主党

22. President-elect: the person who has most recently been elected as president (当选总统).

23. Electoral College: the group of people representing each state in the U.S. who are given the authority to make the final selection of the president and the vice president of the U.S. (美国总统选举人团,由各个州的代表组成,他们有权最后选举美国的总统和副总统).

24. popular vote: the actual count of the votes cast by individuals within the nation ( 美国个人选民的实际投票数).  In the U.S. this is not the final determination of the president and vice president.

25. presidential hopefuls: people who want to win or seem likely to win the presidential election (有望当选总统的人).

26. issues: the major considerations of items thought to be the most important (议题,社会问题).

27. devised: developed or came up with a plan (设计,策划).

28. decline of interest in primary presidential elections: 对总统候选人初选的兴趣下降

29. encourage a closer, personal knowledge of each candidate: 促进对每个候选人个人情况的更加了解。

30. nominating conventions: formal meetings of political parties and their representatives to select their choice for president and vice president (政党及其代表选择总统和副总统人选的提名大会).

31. have challenged: have refused to accept that something is right, fair, or legal (质疑,怀疑).

32. claiming: stating or believing something to be so (声称).

33. minority populations: 少数民族人群

34. passed around from state to state: moved or changed from one state to another (一个州一个州地传过去).

35. rotated on a regional plan: 按地区轮流

36. voters: those people who cast a ballot in an election, or who are permitted to do so (投票者,有投票权的人).

37. community centers: 社区中心

38. turnout: the number of people who vote in an election (参加投票的人数).

39. complaints: criticisms, or negative remarks about something or someone (意见,批评).

40. insist: absolutely demand, or require that something be considered a fact (坚持认为).

41. It remains to be seen: 依然要等着瞧

42. political analysts: those people whose profession is to study and interpret political actions or results (政治分析家).

43. radical changes: striking or important departure in direction or courses of action (根本变化). 

 

 

Dutch Day Camp in Pella, Iowa

Friday, March 20th, 2009

                                                                                  by Kathy Li

Today’s blog was written by a much younger, and quite special, person, whom Don and I enjoy very much.  She would like to share a special experience with other people. 

 

My name is Kathy Li. I was born in Hangzhou, China, but I’ve lived in the U.S. for six years.  I am 11 years old and I will be a 6th grade student in the fall.  I usually spend my summers with my honorary grandparents1 in Pella, Iowa.  (Don and Maxine Huffman)

 

 Last year and this year I attended Dutch Day Camp2 in the Pella Historical Village3.  Last summer I learned about the Dutch in the Netherlands4.  I also learned to speak a little bit of Dutch and we played lots of Dutch games.  This year we learned about how the Dutch came to Iowa and settled5 in Pella.  Mrs. Zylstra teaches the day camp and she is also a 5th grade teacher.  Her ancestors6 helped settle Pella.  She planned a lot of fun activities7 for us and we learned a lot.  We toured8 the Dutch windmill9 that I have visited several times before but I have learned something new every time.  Mrs. Zylstra wanted us to do some research on Pella to see if it was more Dutch or more American.  My grandpa and I did a survey10 about Dutch names and non-Dutch names.  We found that Pella is still heavily populated with people of Dutch ancesrtry11. 

 

This will be the last time I attend Dutch Day camp because next year I will be too old for it.  Besides I will be visiting my Grandma Sheng12 in Hangzhou next summer.  I have forgotten how to speak Chinese.  I am hoping that Grandma Sheng will help me learn it again.  But I will always have good memories13 of Pella and Dutch Day Camp. 

 

Notes:

1. honorary grandparents: a title for extended family individuals of about the age of ones own biological family who one elects and honors by calling them Grandfather and/or Grandmother (干爷爷/外公,干奶奶/外婆).

2. Dutch Day Camp: a vacation period educational activity held in Pella, Iowa, which teaches children about the customs and culture of Dutch people who have immigrated from the Netherlands and established homes in Pella.

3. Pella Historical Village: a large museum consisting of many buildings which exhibit the architectural, historical, and cultural background of Pella (派拉历史博物馆).

4. Netherlands: the country often called Holland which is located in northwest Europe (荷兰).

5. settled: established homes and a community (定居).

6. ancestors: 祖先

7. fun activities: enjoyable pastimes such as games, music, dancing, art, etc.

8. toured: traveled as a group, or go through a specific area of interest (参观).

9. Dutch Windmill: 荷兰风磨坊

10. survey: a collection of data for the analysis of some aspect of a group or area (调查).

11. ancestry: the members of ones family who lived a long time ago (祖先).

12. Grandma Sheng: Kathys biological grandmother who lives in China (Kathy住在中国的亲外婆).

13. Hangzhou: a city in Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China, where Sheng lives.

14. memories n. things from the past which one remembers (记住的事物).

 

 dutch-day-camp

Reading Circle

Friday, March 20th, 2009

I belong to a number of different groups, but the oldest one1 is the Ladies Social and Literary Society, more commonly referred to as the “Reading Circle”2.  This organization was started in 1876, just 26 years after Pella was settled3.  It was founded4 by a group of ladies who were already intelligent readers5, despite the hardships6 of living in a developing7 rural area, and who wanted to promote intellectual endeavors8, particularly reading. 

 

At first the group was very informally organized9, but in 1884 the members wrote and approved10 a constitution11.  This document12 has been and still remains the guide13 for the organization for more than a century.  According to this constitution, the goals of the Reading Circle are (1) to pursue a systematic course of reading14, (2) to discuss domestic and foreign subjects15, and (3) to promote sociability16 and friendship.  I believe those to be very worthwhile goals17, so when I was invited to join the group about fifteen years ago, I was happy to accept the invitation and become a part of the organization18.

 

Each year our reading is organized around a theme19.  This past year it was “Treasuring20 our Natural Heritage21: Understanding our Environment22.  We take turns23 being responsible24 for the discussion of the book chosen for that month.  In March I was responsible for the discussion of the book AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH25 by Al Gore.  I think that it is an excellent book since it discusses the reality26 of global warming27.  Since Don is interested in the discussion of global warming and had also read the book (in fact, we read it out loud together), I invited him to be a co-presenter28.  We found the ladies quite interested in discussing the subject, and we all believe it is a serious problem for planet Earth.

 

Other years we have had such themes as “The U.S. Constitution” and “Literature of the Western U.S.”  I am on the committee to decide what next year’s theme will be, but as yet we haven’t met to decide, so I don’t know what it will be.  I’m sure we’ll find something interesting though.

 

We meet in the homes of the individual members.  Our meeting time is the third Friday afternoon of the month, at 2:00.  We have our program first and then simple refreshments with tea or coffee afterwards.  It is always a pleasant and worthwhile29 occasion, and I am proud to belong to such an organization that has promoted30 reading for over 150 years. 

 

Notes:

1. the oldest one: the organization that has been in existence the longest.

2. reading circle: a group of friends getting together to read (读书圈子).

3. Pella was settled: Pella became a new colony or residence (成为新的居住地).

4. founded: formed or set up for a given purpose (建立).

5. intelligent readers: individuals who enjoy reading good books (擅长读书者).

6. hardships: difficulties encountered while doing something (艰辛).

7. developing: in the process of growing or maturing; becoming organized (发展中的).

8. endeavors:努力

9. At first the group was very informally organized: 原先这是一个非正规的团体。

10 approved: agreed upon (同意、赞成).

11. constitution: 章程、规章制度

12. document:文件

13. guide:指导思想

14. systematic course of reading: a specific plan of reading (系统的阅读计划).

15. domestic and foreign subjects: 国内外的话题

16. sociability: ability to get along well with other people (社交能力).

17. goals: the end towards which aims or intentions are directed (目标).

18. organization: a group formed for a specific purpose (组织).

19. theme: subject or topic for discussion or focus (主题).

20. Treasuring: considering as valuable or important (珍惜、珍贵).

21. National Heritage: 民族遗产.

22. Environment:环境

23. take turns: 轮流

24. being responsible: 负责

25. An Inconvenient Truth: a book about global warming by Al Gore.

26. reality:现实

27. global warming: world-wide tendency for the temperature to rise (全球变暖).

28. co-presenter: person who assists in making a presentation.

29. worthwhile: valuable (值得的).

30. promoted: 推动、促进

Golden Girls

Friday, March 20th, 2009

                                                                             by Kim Huffman

The following blog was written by Kim, Maxine & Don’s daughter who has sometimes been mentioned in the other blogs.

 

This past Saturday I had lunch with the “girls1.”  For the past 25 years, the “girls” have gotten together for lunch.  I have known them since I was a little girl2, and have always liked them.  Once a weekly lunch, this group of nine now gets together once a month.  Included in this group are:

Maxine:  my mother, a retired college English professor3;

Mina:  a retired college home economics professor4, who is the daughter of a Dutch Dominie5 (minister);

Lilo: a retired college German professor6, who is originally from Germany and makes wonderful coffee as dark and rich as the night sky7;

Charlotte: a retired high school and college Spanish teacher8, who also spent many years as a pilot9 and flying instructor10.  (She was one of the first women pilots in Iowa);

Janice: who has taught almost every level11 of English and mathematics from high school to graduate school;

Mary:  who is still a college level English professor, and whose mother Nora (born in Scotland12 and then a World War II war bride13) was a part of the group as well. 

The years have taken three friends from this group14:  Miss Madeline, a college librarian15, Nora, and Evelyn, a gifted musician16.  Also, Donna moved away17 18 years ago.

 

I joined the group recently18 when I moved back to Pella, and love being with these active, interesting ladies19, even though they are much older than I.  We talk about everything, from the weather, flower planting20, our travels21 (it is a group that has traveled a lot over the years), and grandchildren (for those who have them).  Every once in a while22 some one will mention23 something about herself that no one else ever knew.  This is why we’re such good friends.

 

The saying goes, “Make new friends; keep the old.  One is Silver, the other Gold24.”  No doubt, these are the Golden Girls. 

 

Notes:

1. “girls”: women of all ages in the U.S., usually good friends may call one another this when they are going to get together.

2. little girl: a female child (小女孩).

3. a retired college English professor: 退休的大学英语教授。

4. home economics professor: a person who has taught classes related to homemaking, such as cooking, sewing, child care, etc. (家政学教授).

5. Dutch dominie: a person in the tradition of the Netherlands who is a professional preacher in a church (荷兰教堂专职牧师).

6. German professor n. a person who has taught courses related to German language and literature in a college or university (德语教授).

7. as dark and rich as the night sky (simile): a simile that describes the color and taste of excellent coffee (一种明喻,用来描述高级咖啡的颜色和味道).

8. Spanish teacher n. a person who has taught Spanish language and literature (西班牙语教师).

9. pilot: a person who is capable of flying an airplane skillfully (飞机驾驶员).

10. flying instructor: a person who teaches other people how to fly an airplane (飞行教员).

11. level: a specific stage or grade of learning, i.e., of math, of Spanish language, etc. (年级、层次).

12. Scotland: the name of a country; part of the British Isles (苏格兰).

13. war bride: a person who has married a serviceman from another country, and who then immigrates to the husbands country (战争新娘,指与一位来自于另一国家的在役军人结婚并移居其丈夫国家的新娘).

14. The years have taken three friends from this group: 已经有三位朋友在这些年里去世。

15. librarian: a person who is trained to work in a library; at any level of school, or in a private or community library (图书管理员).

16. gifted musician: a person with excellent music skills (有天赋的音乐家).

17. moved away: left a particular place (搬走了).

18. recently: a period of time not long before the present ( 最近).

19. ladies: a formal way of referring to cultured women (女士).

20. flower planting: The activity associated with planting flowers, either with seeds or bulbs; also called flower gardening (种花).

21. travels: extended journeys made by an individual or a group of persons (旅游).

22. every once and a while: occasionally, now and then (偶尔).

23. mentioned: spoken of casually about somebody or something (提到).  For example, one day when we were having lunch Lilo mentioned that after World War II when people were suffering from hunger, she worked on a farm to keep from starving.

24. Make new friends, keep the old. One is silver, the other gold. (结识新朋友,保持住老朋友。新的是银,老的是金。): a metaphoric saying stressing the great value of having both new and old friends.

 

Winter Travel

Friday, March 20th, 2009

Traveling during the winter often is dangerous and not at all enjoyable.  If one is flying, it could be that the desired flight1 will be cancelled2 or so late that connecting flights3 will be missed.  When we are flying some place we try our best to avoid flying through the Denver4 airport because we have missed a number of connections5 there over the years.  In fact, we were told by a pilot that Denver has about the worst weather of any U.S. airport.

 

Traveling by car can be dangerous and unpleasant too.  The week before Christmas, we drove to Kansas to visit some of Don’s relatives.  I was skeptical6 about going because the long-range weather forecasts7 were for bad weather, but Don wanted to go so badly that I agreed.  On the Thursday before Christmas, the trip down to southern Kansas was fine, as was the weather.  We had good visits with Don’s brother and his wife, his nephew Robb8 who lives in that area, and his nephew John from New York.  John and his wife Linda came on Saturday with the idea of driving on to Kansas City9 that night to visit with Linda’s mother.  By the time they got to Don’s brother’s house, the weather forecast of bad weather that day had turned out to be true and we had a heavy snow storm with a lot of wind.  Of course, they were smart enough not to go on further that night, so we had a really nice visit with them. 

 

Fortunately, during the night the snow stopped.  We discovered that the windows of our car were ice covered and it took quite a while to get them cleaned off.  We have metal studded snow tires10 so were able to leave all right, though the country road wasn’t in very good condition.  The roads weren’t bad at all until we got north of Kansas City.  The highway from there to Des Moines (over 200 miles) was icy.  We saw over 50 cars that had slid off11 the highway.  Some were upside down, some on their side, and still others stuck in snow drifts12 at the side of the road.  I did quite a bit of the driving during that part of the trip and I clenched13 my hands so tightly around the steering wheel14 that they hurt for two days after that.  Don drove on to Pella from Des Moines and we saw about 12 cars in the ditch in that 30 mile area.  When we got home, we were truly thankful to be home and both of us were tired throughout Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  Both days were nice.  We celebrated with family and friends here, and I was thankful that we had made it home15 all right so that we could do so16.

 

Notes:

1. desired flight: flight that someone wants or hopes to have (很想乘的航班).

2. cancelled: eliminated or deleted from a schedule of events or activities (取消).

3. connecting flights: travels which make transfers possible at given airports, and which involve a change of aircraft involved (续程航班,旅途中转机).

4. Denver: 丹佛市,美国科罗拉多州首府

5. connections: (火车、飞机等的)衔接、联运

6. skeptical: doubtful, or having reservation about something (表示怀疑/疑惑的).

7. long range weather forecasts: the prediction of the weather for at least several days in the future (数日/一周天气预报).

8. nephew: the son of ones brother or sister (侄儿/外甥).

9. Kansas City: 堪萨斯城

10. metal studded snow tires: car or truck tires which have very hard steel inserts into the tread of the tire (有金属钉的下雪用轮胎,轮胎花纹里嵌有很硬的钢钉).  These give better traction than regular tires in conditions including ice, snow and rain.

11. slid off: left the roadway because of slick, snowy or icy conditions which made them lose control of their vehicle (滑出去).

12. snow drifts: piles of snow blown into piles or areas by the force of wind (吹积的雪堆).

13. clenched: held or closed tightly (握紧).

14. steering wheel: 方向盘

15. made it home: (idiom) succeeded in getting home when this is difficult (顺利到家).

16. we could do so: we could celebrate with family and friends here.

Sinterklas Day

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

In our small ethnically1 Dutch2 town of Pella, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is Sinterklaas Day3.  In Holland it would be on December 6th but we celebrate4 it the Saturday after Thanksgiving so that grandchildren who come from out of town for Thanksgiving can stay and participate5. 

 

Who was Sinterklaas?  Let me tell you.  A good man, Saint Nicholas6, (later known as Sinterklaas) lived from 271 to December 6, 342 AD in Myraa, Asia Minor7.  He became the patron saint8 of fishermen and as a priest was known for good deeds9 all through the Mediterranean area10.  He is the patron saint of Amsterdam11.  As Dutch trade12 grew, so grew the tradition13 of Sinterklaas.

 

Traditionally, Sinterklaas arrives by boat from Spain and rides through the streets on a white horse.  He is accompanied by a Moorish servant14, Piet, and many helpers.  Sinterklaas listens at chimneys15 to check children’s behavior16.  Wooden shoes17 are left by the fireplace18 with carrots or hay19 for the horse.  Piet exchanges20 this for a small gift of candy. 

 

Sinterklaas Eve21, December 5 and Sinterklaas Day, December 6, are days of festivity22 and merriment23.  Sinterklaas parties consist of jokes, rhymes24 simple gifts, and lots of festive fun and laughter.  Traditional spice cookies25, hot chocolate26, and Dutch donuts27 are served.    Big pieces of Dutch chocolate in the shape of letters are also given. 

 

In Pella there is usually a parade28 with Sinterklaas arriving on a big float29 made like a boat.  Children dressed in Christmas costumes30 follow the float.  Our eight year old granddaughter Cassie loves to come for the Sinterklaas festivities and did so again this year.  Kim made her a costume for the parade, a snowman31 costume.  She really looked cute in it.  Unfortunately it was a very, very cold day so the people in charge cancelled32 the parade, saying it was too cold for little children to march33.  Cassie was terribly disappointed but she got to wear her costume anyway to the breakfast party at 10:00.  At the party we ate Dutch pastries34, which Cassie liked very much.  Each person was also given a little pottery windmill35.

 

After the breakfast party we all walked to the Pella Opera House36, where there was a program of Dutch songs and a story.  Then Sinterklaas read the name of each child there, announced37 a good deed38 the child had done (provided by parents or grandparents), and gave the child a big chocolate letter “S.”  As we left the Opera House each child received a big spice cookie.  Cassie and I had a wonderful morning, even though she was disappointed about the parade.

 

Notes:

 

1. ethnically: 在种族方面,就种族而言

2. Dutch: (of) people from the Netherlands, a western European country (荷兰人,荷兰人的).

3. Sinterklaas Day: the day in Holland in honor of Saint Nicholas (荷兰的圣尼古拉节).

4. celebrate: 庆祝

5. participate: be part of an activity or action, take part in an event (参加).

6. Saint Nicholas: the name of the patron saint who in the western tradition was known for his good deeds and kindness to children (圣尼古拉,是西方传说中的守护神,他对孩子非常仁慈,做了很多善事).

7. Asia Minor: the peninsular part of Asia between the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea, comprising an area now known as Turkey (小亚细亚,位于黑海,地中海和爱琴海之间,是土耳其所在地).

8. patron saint: the name given to the saint who is the protector, guardian or fatherly religious leader of a specific group of people (守护神).

9. good deeds: something good done by a person or group of people (善事,好事).

10. Mediterranean area: the land bordering on the Mediterranean Sea (地中海地区).

11. Amsterdam: an important sea port and commercial city of Holland (阿姆斯特丹,荷兰的海港和商业城市).

12. trade: commercial activity (贸易).

13. tradition: a practice based on a historical past event or an important activity (传统).

14. a Moorish servant: 摩尔人仆人。The word Moorish comes from the Moors, a group of Arabic people who were the conquerors of Spain and controlled the southern part of the country between the 8th and 15th centuries.

15. chimneys: 烟囱

16. behavior: 行为

17. wooden shoes: shoes made of wood which were characteristic of workers in Holland where dampness and mud were common in working places (荷兰木鞋,穿这种木鞋是荷兰工人的特色,因为那儿的工作场地潮湿多泥。).

18. fireplace: 壁炉

19. hay: the dried grass stem of plants such as wheat, alfalfa, etc. used for feeding animals.

20. exchanges: 更换

21. Eve: evening.

22. festivity: a joyful or gay activity (欢庆活动).

23. merriment: laughter, fun, and enjoyment (欢笑)..

24. rhymes: 押韵诗

25. spice cookies: traditional Dutch pastries made with traditional Dutch spices (香味小甜饼,用传统的荷兰香料做的传统荷兰糕点).

26. hot chocolate: a beverage made by mixing powdered chocolate with water or milk and usually heated and consumed in cold weather.

27. Dutch donuts: a round pastry with a hole in the center, cooked in hot oil and usually frosted with sugar (荷兰面圈,一种外面有一层糖霜的油炸面圈).

28. parade: a formal procession, usually well organized of people wishing to celebrate some important event (一种庆祝游行).

29. float: a decorative structure on wheels (彩车).

30. costumes: clothes that are typical of a particular place or period of time in the past (某地或某时期的典型服装).

31. snowman: 雪人

32. cancelled: deleted from a schedule, omitted, struck out or removed.

33. march: walk in a rhythm or pattern as in a parade or well organized procession (游行,行进).

34. pastries: sweet baked goods, often flavored with sweet coverings or fruit, and frequently eaten with coffee or tea (甜糕点,上面常常有一层甜的东西或水果,经常与咖啡或茶一起吃).

35. pottery windmill: a small replica of a windmill made of clay and glazed before heating to harden the clay and glaze (做纪念品用的小陶瓷风车房).

36. Pella Opera House: a building constructed in the late 19th century in Pella, Iowa, where the Dutch had settled and built a small town (派拉剧院,于19世纪晚期建在爱荷华州的派拉,派拉是荷兰人建立的小城镇,是他们的定居地。).  It was recently renovated and serves as a place for performing musical and dramatic events for residents and tourists.

37. announced: said out loud, or voiced something (宣布).

38. good deed: an act of kindness or generosity; something done for another person without expecting pay for doing it (好事,善事).

No Place is Perfect

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

The sky here in McCall is so smoke-filled this morning that we can’t see the mountains on the East side of the valley1.  Usually2 I enjoy seeing the early morning sunrise3 and its colors on the mountains, but this morning it isn’t possible.   The smoke, of course, is due to the forest fires that are burning on nearby mountains.  The fires are in wilderness4 areas, where the forestry service5 doesn’t try to send in fire fighters unless some homes or tiny villages are in danger.  There are some fire retardants6 and water dumped7 on the areas, but the fires keep spreading and the smoke keeps building up and descending into the valley8.  It has an acrid9 smell and it is irritating10 to one’s eyes and lungs11.  Consequently12, I don’t mind it that we are leaving to return to our home in Iowa in a few days.   Our little paradise13 here has just too much smoke for comfort. 

Iowa is not a perfect place either.  It will probably be hot and humid14 during the next month or so.  There is also the chance of tornadoes15 in the spring and summer.  We waited in our basement16 earlier this summer as a tornado passed over our town.  Also there will be snow and ice storms this winter.  However, I know that on our coastal17 areas of the U.S. people are hoping that there will be no hurricanes18 this late summer and early fall (hurricane season).  

Many Midwesterners19, including Iowans, think that they would like to move to California or Florida for their wonderful climate.  However, those areas are not perfect places either.  There is the constant fear of earthquakes20 in California and hurricanes in Florida, and recently there have been both forest and grass fires that have destroyed many homes and even a few small towns.

I really hate to see the beautiful forests destroyed here in the mountains.  I also hate to hear of the flooding21 in Texas and Oklahoma.   Realistically22 there can be no perfect place to live because weather extremes23, floods, tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. occur all over the world, so people everywhere have to learn to value24 the positive aspects25 of wherever they are and to cherish26 them, just as I cherish the forests and mountains of Idaho and the green cornfields and rolling countryside of Iowa.         

 

Notes:

1. valley: a low area of land between raised hills or mountains (山谷)

2. usually: in most cases; the most common; normally (通常).

3. sunrise: the time of day in early morning when the sun appears on the horizon.

4. wilderness: a large area of land that has never been developed or farmed (荒无人烟的地方)

5. forestry service: a governmental agency which oversees the forested areas in the U.S. (林业局).

6. fire retardants: 不易燃烧物

7. dumped: dropped from an areas above; in this case in containers suspended or carried in airplanes or helicopters (投放,倾洒).

8. the smoke keeps building up and descending into the valley: 烟不断地生成并向山谷漫延

9. acrid: unpleasant, stinging sensation or odor, often present with smoke (难受的,刺鼻的)

10. irritating: causing discomfort to the skin or other part of the exposed body (有刺激的,引起疼痛的).

11. lungs:肺

12. consequently: as a result of; because of or in view of something (结果)

13. paradise: a place highly desired by a person; heavenly place; a place of delight (天堂,令人向往的地方).

14. humid: a weather situation in which there is a high level of moisture in the air (潮湿的).

15. tornadoes: violent storms over land, characterized by funnel shaped winds, capable of damaging property or life (龙卷风).

16. basement: the lower part of the house; underground level, dug into the soil (地下室).

17. coastal: in areas along the oceans or seas (沿海的).

18. hurricanes: strong winds arising in the oceans and capable of moving onto land to produce damage either by straight force winds, or by tornado-like winds (飓风).

19. Midwesterners:中西部地区的人

20. earthquakes: geological events in which cracks form in the Earths surface causing possible damage and shaking of the adjacent land (地震).

21. flooding:洪灾、水灾

22. realistically: actually, truthfully (现实地,实际上)

23. extremes: the higher and lower limits of some weather conditions, i.e. temperature, storms, rainfall, etc. (极度状况).

24. value: appreciate or assign positive worth to something (珍重,看重).

25. positive aspects: qualities which are desirables or good in a given situation (好的方面).

26. cherish: hold as important and good for oneself and others (珍爱,珍惜).

Mainstreet U.S.A.

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

There is an interstate highway1 that is commonly referred to as the Main Street U.S.A.2 because it stretches from New York, New York, and the Atlantic Ocean to San Francisco, California, and the Pacific Ocean3.  It is the busiest interstate in the nation.  Officially it is known as Interstate 804.  It was built along what was once known as the Lincoln Highway5, in honor of President Abraham Lincoln6. 

 

As one travels across the U.S. on I-80, one gets a good cross section7 of the variety of Scenery one can find in the U.S8.  Starting in the heavily populated9 and congested10 area of New York and New Jersey, the traveler soon gets into the rolling hills11 and mountains of Pennsylvania, with its big, well tended12 Amish13 farms.  This type of scenery continues on through Ohio and Indiana, but the road becomes congested and busier as the traveler passes by Chicago in northern Illinois.  The truck traffic is especially heavy14 because Chicago is an important business hub15.

 

On west of Chicago one again enjoys the scenery of the rich agricultural lands16 and then crosses17 the majestic18 Mississippi River19 into Iowa.  Since Iowa is the number one corn producing state20 in the nation, one sees vast21 fields of corn during the growing season.  This continues into Nebraska, but as one gets further west and the climate22 is drier, one sees cattle grazing23 on the grasslands there.  As one leaves Nebraska and enters Wyoming, the beautiful Rocky Mountains24 appear.  At one rest area25 there is a huge statue26 of Abraham Lincoln, reminding the traveler that this highway is also the Lincoln Highway.  From here on one sees mountains and desert as one travels through Utah, Nevada and into California with its pine forests.  One highlight27 of the trip in Utah is the Great Salt Lake28, the largest body of salt water on our continent29.

 

As one leaves the forested mountains of California30 and heads into the heavily populated areas, traffic becomes very heavy again, but when one arrives in San Francisco, one is rewarded by the sight of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and the blue water of the Pacific Ocean31.

 

This blog is being written from our vacation home32 in the mountains in Idaho.  We traveled on Interstate 80 from our area in Iowa to the Salt Lake City area before heading north into Idaho, and once again we were reminded of the varied beauty33 of our country.  We recommend this road trip34 to anyone who can take it.

 

Notes:

1. interstate highway: 美国州际公路

2. Mainstreet U.S.A.: the primary or busiest street (美国最重要最繁忙的道路).  Most cities have a mainstreet as a result of having been located on or near a highway.  Because this interstate highway passes completely across the U.S. it is thought of as a mainstreet of our country.

3. it stretches from New York, New York, and the Atlantic Ocean to San Francisco, California, and the Pacific Ocean: 它从纽约州的纽约市以及大西洋一直延伸到加利福尼亚的旧金山以及太平洋。

4. Interstate 80: 80号州际公路,常用I-80表示。In the U.S., most interstates which run East/West have even numbers, i.e. I-80, I-90 etc., and those going North/South are given odd numbers, ie. I 1 in California, I-35 from Minnesota to southern Texas etc.

5. Lincoln Highway: the name given initially to Highway #30 in honor of President Abraham Lincoln.  I-80 travels mostly on the same path as did highway #30.

6. Abraham Lincoln (亚伯拉罕•林肯): the 16th President of the United States who is honored as the leader of the country who opposed slavery and brought important social and physical changes in the U.S. He was from the state of Illinois, and he promoted construction of many highway and railroad projects in his attempt to develop the western part of the U.S.

7. cross section: a cut or view extending across a large area or object; a typical selection of the various aspects of that area or object (剖面,有代表性的人或物).

8. As one travels across the U.S. on I-80, one gets a good cross section of the variety of Scenery one can find in the U.S.:当人们在80号公路上横穿美国旅行时,就能看到很有代表性的美国景色变化的剖面。

9. populated: heavily represented by having many people in an area (人口稠密的).

10. congested: full of traffic (交通拥挤的).

11. rolling hills: a series of rounded, raised land forms, one after another (延绵起伏的山丘).

12. well tended: kept in excellent condition, appearing tidy and attractive (精心照料的).

13. Amish: of a group of people who live simply, particularly in rural areas; and who were immigrants from Germany, mostly in the 18th century (阿米什人,阿米什人的).

14. The truck traffic is especially heavy: 货车运输特别繁忙。.

15. business hub: the central and most important part of business in the area (商业中心).

16. rich agricultural lands: fertile soil, useful for growing crops on a commercial or individual basis.

17. crosses (横跨): In this case, the Mississippi River is crossed by a long bridge as a part of I-80.

18. majestic:雄伟的,壮丽的

19. the Mississippi River: the name of the river which originates in Minnesota and flows southward to the Gulf of Mexico.  It is the longest river in the U.S. (密西西比河,起源于明尼苏达州,向南流入墨西哥湾,是美国最长的河流。)

20. number one corn producing state: the state in the U.S. where the most corn is grown in a given year (生产玉米大州).

21. vast: great in size, extent or range; enormous.

22. climate:气候

23. grazing: (cattle or sheep) slowly eating grass in a pasture.

24. grasslands n. an extensive area where grasses are the primary plants growing naturally.

25. Rocky Mountains: the name of a high mountain range extending from Alaska south into Mexico (落基山脉,它北起阿拉斯加,南至墨西哥).

26. rest area: a facility located along a highway where passengers may stop to find restrooms, water and a safe place to rest from travel for shorter periods of time (高速公路上供过往旅客休息的服务区).

27. statue:塑像

28. highlight:最精彩、最难忘、最有趣的部分

29. Great Salt Lake:大盐湖,位于美国犹他州

30. continent:洲,大陆

31. forested mountains of California: tree covered high mountains; i.e. Rocky Mountains.

32. one is rewarded by the sight of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and the blue water of the Pacific Ocean:人们能看到美丽的金门桥和蓝色的太平洋。

33. vacation home:  a second home, usually located in a desirable area where it is possible to relax and engage in recreational activities (第二个家,通常位于自己喜欢的地方,是休闲度假的去处).

34. varied beauty: 各种不同的美景

35. road trip:驱车旅游

main-street

inter-state-80

Home Again

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

It’s good to be home again!  Don and I had a wonderful trip to China, where Hangzhou seems like a second home to us.  We’ve lost count of the times1 we have visited there, but we think this was trip number 18.  We have a wonderful, warm circle of friends2 there, but there are also things that make our home in Iowa especially welcome again– our  king-size bed3 that is long enough for Don’s two meter height, our daughter Kim with her cheery laugh, and, of course, our big, faithful black labrador dog, Blitzen.  According to Kim, Blitzen missed us terribly4 while we were away, but probably no more than we missed her.  At the moment she’s close by, looking out the door at the birds, squirrels5 and occasional cat in our back yard.

 

This is the time of year when many people head for “home,” wherever that may be.  Thanksgiving Day6 is next Thursday, a time when almost all Americans head for home and family if at all possible.  Throughout the country people are planning Thanksgiving gatherings, especially the food.  Of course, most menus will include turkey7, so the big decision will be how to fix it.  Our son Jim, a chef in Des Moines, will be here for Thanksgiving dinner for the first time in seven years.  The restaurant where he is executive chef has served big Thanksgiving brunches8 and he had to be in charge of getting them prepared.  This year the restaurant will no longer do this, so he happily announced9 that he will be home for Thanksgiving dinner and he hopes it will be like the one I would fix when he and Kim were younger.  So, next Tuesday I’ll go to the super market10, buy a whole frozen turkey, and start thawing11 it on the back porch.  With turkey we’ll have bread dressing12, green bean casserole13, escalloped white potatoes14, baked sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry and pineapple jello salad15, rolls, and two kinds of pies (pumpkin16 and pecan17).  Jim will prepare and bring the sweet potatoes and one of the pies.  All families have their traditional meal items, but I know ours is pretty typical.  I don’t enjoy fixing a big turkey so will get a small one, probably about 10 pounds.  In the past I’ve prepared ones as big as 25 pounds18.  Never again!19

 

It’s no coincidence20 that the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year in the U.S.  People may have gone home on Tuesday, Wednesday or even early Thursday morning, but almost everyone has to be back to work or school the following Monday, so the airports are jammed21 and the highways crowded.  I’m glad we will already be home!

 

 

Notes:

1. have lost count of the times: have forgotten how many times something has occurred (记不得有多少次了).

2. a …circle of friends: a group of close friends.

3. king size bed: a bed which is very large, both longer and wider than normal (特大号床).

4. terribly: very much.

5. squirrels: 松鼠

6. Thanksgiving Day (感恩节): the fourth Thursday in November, a day when families get together for a large meal in memory of the historical event at which British settlers and Native Americans feasted together in friendship.

7. turkey (火鸡): a large, native bird in the U.S. which has been domesticated, and is now part of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

8. brunches: meals which are served about mid-way between breakfast and lunch (早午餐).

9. announced: stated or said.

10. super market: a large store which sells all sorts of food and items to be used in the home.

11. thawing: the melting of frozen items (化冻).

12. bread dressing: (AmE.) a mixture of bread, onions and spices prepared along with chopped internal organs of the turkey; dressing here means stuffing (指填入火鸡肚子里的面包等填充物).

13. green bean casserole: a dish prepared with green beans, mushroom soup and onions, probably the favorite vegetable dish in the U.S. (由绿豆、蘑菇汤、洋葱等做成的砂锅,颇受美国人喜欢).

14. escalloped potatoes: potatoes sliced, with a sauce and baked in an oven (烤土豆片).

15. cranberry and pineapple jello salad: a mixture of gelatin, pineapple, and cranberries (越橘、菠萝和果冻做成的沙拉).

16. pumpkin (pie): 南瓜馅饼

17. pecan (pie): 山核桃肉(跟鸡蛋、白糖及调料等做成的)馅饼

18. 25 pounds: 相当于 11.36 公斤

19. “never again”: an idiom meaning I hope never to cook a turkey that large in the future.

20. coincidence: an occurrence of two or more events that occur at the same time and seem to have some connection, but actually are independent events (巧合).

21. jammed: so crowded as to be unable to move easily, full of people.

Making Connections for the Chinese New Year

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

      Maxine and I have had several trips to China when we’ve had to rush to make connections1 between scheduled flights, and we’ve even missed connections a couple of times.  This time, as we travelled to Hanghzhou for the Chinese New Year and meetings with our colleagues, we had the novel2 experience of racing in wheelchairs to catch our flight from Chicago O’Hare to Shanghai Pudong.

      The trip started innocently enough3.  We had arranged for electronic tickets4, roundtrip from Des Moines to Shanghai.  Because the weather was blustery5 and snowy in Iowa, we elected to stay overnight in a motel near the Des Moines airport rather than to make the trip from Pella to Des Moines on possibly icy roads in the early morning.  Kim and Blitzen drove us to Des Moines the day before, had a lunch with us, and then dropped us at our motel.

      We woke at about 5:00am, dressed, and took the courtesy bus6 to the Des Moines airport, arriving two hours ahead of our flight time as required for our overseas flights.  Our luggage – which we’d carefully packed to meet weight limits – checked through ok, and we passed through the security check without incident, then walked leisurely to Gate A-57 for our United Airlines flight to Chicago. 

      About 10 minutes before scheduled flight time, we heard our names announced8, informing us to report to the United9 clerk at the gate.  We were told that our plane was delayed to Chicago so we could not leave Des Moines by United in time to make our connection to the United flight U835 to Shanghai. However, United was able to contact American Airlines and secure10 seats on flight #1109 which was departing for Chicago in a few minutes, and which would allow us to make our O’Hare connections on United U835 to Shanghai.

      That seemed fair enough, and we were informed that our luggage would be taken over to the American Airlines flight and checked through to Shanghai as usual. They issued another set of luggage tags for us, so I now had one set from United, and another from American. O.K., no problem, so we lugged11 our carry-on bags12 down the corridor to American Airlines Gate #5A, received our seat assignments on the American Airlines flight to Chicago O’Hare, and congratulated ourselves at having been lucky.  We had a nice trip to Chicago, circled a bit near O’Hare to account for the slight delay due to snowy weather, and we prepared to leave American Airlines to catch our United flight U835 to Shanghai.  As we departed the plane, the friendly, helpful flight attendant looked at our tickets and told us that “the flight to Shanghai” would leave from Gate K29.  Noting that Maxine was limping13 a bit as we exited the ramp14, the friendly attendant suggested that we arrange for a wheel chair for her for our trip to Gate K29, about 10 minutes from our arrival gate. Well, that was nice, and a rather small young woman with a comfortable wheel chair helped Maxine into the wheelchair, and off we headed for the Shanghai flight.  We chatted with the young wheelchair pusher15, and arrived at Gate K29 just as boarding began for the flight to Shanghai.

      As we handed our tickets to the clerk at the gate she said, “These are for the United flight U835, not the American Airlines flight #1355.  You’ll have to go to the United Gate C9,” and as she glanced her computer she added, “United flight U835 is now boarding for departure and I don’t think you can walk there in time to make the connection.  I can’t put you on this American Airlines flight because it is completely full, but if you can get another wheel chair for Don, you may be able to move faster than you could walk to Gate C9. I’ll call United and tell them you’re on your way.”

      Another wheelchair with pusher was instantly at hand, and we were off on our race of the day.  The fellow who had my chair was stronger and faster, so he took the lead16, weaving17 in and out of traffic at full trot18, into elevators, up, then down again, dashing19 down corridors, and trying to see United’s departure screens20 to verify that Gate C9 was the correct destination.  I shouted at people in our way, “Coming through, look out, gangway21,” and other appropriate verbal warnings22 to those who did not see us rushing along in our race to Gate C9.  People parted like the Red Sea for the Israelites23 without a single collision24. (Let it be known that United Gate C9 is about as far from American Airlines K29 as is possible in this mammoth25 airport!)  We didn’t have a stopwatch26 on the trip, but it was at least a 10 minute dash, leaving our young wheelchair pushers tired and breathless, but proud of their performance.  We paid our pushers well for their efforts, and, boarding our flight U835, we collapsed gratefully in our assigned business class seats27, well started on our way to Shanghai.

      Things went well again, the trip was uneventful with comfortable seating, too much food, ample snacks, and a flight just about an hour later than scheduled. Our luggage arrived on the United carousel28 – not on the American Airlines. Immigration and customs clearances went smoothly29, and we pushed our luggage cart to the arrival gate, greeted Li Shumin and Jiang Jingyang and our driver for the trip to Hangzhou30.  The driver brought the minivan31 to pick up the luggage, and we left the airport, noticing the heavy traffic as we moved from the airport onto the highway.  There was a mixture of sleet32 and snow, lots of slush33 on the pavement, and our driver began his skilled demonstration of switching lanes34, dodging35 other cars, busses and trucks, and moving as fast as the flow of traffic36 would allow.  He knew what he was doing, and we were off to Hangzhou, though the heavy traffic and icy roads required more than an hour before we left Shanghai.  We continued to talk, contact our friends37 by cell phones now and then, eat snacks and drink water as we traveled.  It was more than four hours later when we reached the service area when the driver asked whether we needed a rest stop – we really did38, though we hadn’t thought much about it.  Everyone in the car bobbed, weaved and shoved39 through crowds to the restroom areas, more than glad to have the break.  We dispatched our errands40, quickly returned to the van and headed toward Hangzhou.

       The first exit to Hangzhou41 would have been the first choice for the driver, but as we approached the exit area it was evident that many cars and trucks were stuck in the snow and ice on the slight incline that led into Hangzhou on that exit ramp14.  We continued on to the next exit which was more nearly level, and entered Hangzhou with little difficulty.  Throughout the trip from Shanghai we had mixed snow and rain, some fog, and a temperature that stayed at about the freezing point.  The driver wove42 his way through icy, slushy streets43 along landmarks that looked familiar to us from previous trips, but with a blanket of about a foot of snow44. It felt good to be in our “second home45” again even though it was the first heavy snow we had ever seen here.

       We arrived at the Zhejiang University Science Park46 hotel at about 10:00pm where we found He, Ying, and Haihong in their overcoats in our room, waiting for us, but insistent that they leave immediately and let us get ready for a sleep. We agreed that was a good idea.  It had been a long travel day of about 30 hours since we started from Des Moines, and despite the comfortable accommodations we were tired, and grateful for the welcome sleep in Hangzhou.

 Notes:

1. connections: the correct changes from one part of a trip to another by going to the correct gate and presenting a boarding pass and ticket for the next part of the trip (在机场转机).

2. novel: new or unusual (新奇的,不同寻常的).

3. The trip started innocently enough: 旅途很单纯自然地开始了。

4. electronic tickets: computer generated proof of purchase of a ticket (电子机票).

5. blustery: windy and stormy (狂风大作的).

6. courtesy bus: a bus or van furnished by a hotel or motel which delivers passengers from the hotel to the airport departure area at no cost to the passenger (旅馆的免费班车).

7. Gate A-5: A-5登机口

8. we heard our names announced: 我们听到广播里在叫我们的名字

9. United: United Airlines (美国联合航空公司).

10. secure: get or achieve something (获得,弄到).

11. lugged: pull or carry something heavy with difficulty (用力拖、拉、搬运).

12. carry-on bags: 随身行李包

13. limping: walking with the favoring of one leg and a noticeable difficulty (一拐一拐地走).

14. ramp: 斜坡

15. wheelchair pusher: 推轮椅的人

16. took the lead: be the first to start doing something or be most active in doing something (带头).

17. weaving: moving first to the right, then to the left around other people when moving more rapidly than most walkers (迂回行进,穿行). 

18. at full trot: at a pace faster than normal walking, but not running at full speed (以疾走的速度).

19. dashing: going or running somewhere very quickly (猛冲,飞奔).

20. Uniteds departure screens: 列有美联航离港信息的屏幕

21. Coming through, look out, gangway: slang expressions in English which mean get out of the way, or watch out to avoid a collision with another person or persons (闪开,留神,让路).

22. other verbal warnings: 其他提醒人的话

23. parted like the Red Sea for the Israelites: a metaphor from a biblical story in the Old Testament of the Bible which states that the Israelites who, when they were pursued by their enemies, came to the Red Sea, and God miraculously parted the waters of the sea to allow the Israelites to pass through safely; then caused the water to return to prevent pursuit by the enemies (像红海为希伯来人分开一样。这是出自于圣经的典故:据《圣经》的《旧约全书》记载,希伯来人受到敌人的追赶来到红海边,上帝奇迹般地把海水分开,让希伯来人安全通过,然后又让海水退回以阻止敌人的追踪。).

24. collision: 碰撞

25. mammoth: very large (巨大的,庞大的).

26. stopwatch: a watch especially adapted for timing races (比赛用的跑表).

27. collapsed gratefully in our assigned business class seats: 瘫倒在为我们安排好的商务舱座椅上,心里非常感激。

28. carousel: the moving belt that you collect your bags from at an airport (机场提取行李的传送带).

29. Immigration and customs clearances went smoothly:入境检查和过海关都顺利通过。

30. greeted Li Shumin and Jiang Jingyang and our driver for the trip to Hangzhou:遇到了来迎接我们的李淑敏,蒋景阳和开车去杭州的司机。

31. minivan: 小面包车

32. sleet: 雨夹雪

33. slush: 开始融化的雪

34. switching lanes: moving from one lane of the street or highway to another to facilitate forward progress in congested traffic (换车道).

35. dodging: avoiding something or someone by moving quickly (闪开,躲开).

36. flow of traffic: 车流

37. contact our friends: 跟朋友联系

38. we really did: we really needed a rest stop

39. bobbed, weaved and shoved: move quickly one way, then another, and gently shoving other people, and working ones way (into the restroom areas) (一会儿朝这边走一会儿朝那边走,急急忙忙,推推搡搡地前进).

40. dispatched our errands: took care of our needs and business (处理掉该做的事情).

41. The first exit to Hangzhou:进杭州的第一个入口

42. wove: (weave 的过去式) 迂回行进,穿行

43. slushy streets: 覆盖着融雪的街道

44. a blanket of about a foot of snow: 一英尺厚的雪

45. second home: 第二个家

46. Zhejiang University Science Park:浙江大学科技园