A-romantic-chance-encounter
Bobby:It-took–me-by-surprise-that–you-know-a-thing-or-two-about-china-or-chinese。
『Input』know-a-thing–or-two-about…对…有所了解，见多识广；E。g。Lady-Gaga-is-a-fashionista，she–does-know-a-thing–or-two–about-fashion。
Nikki:u-are-mistaken『弄错的、理解错误的』，i-do-not-know–much-about-China-though-i–was-born-in–Hong-Kong–and-had-been-living-there-till-i-left–when-I-was-9-years-old。
Bobby:Do-you–know-any-Chinese?
Nikki:the-language?Actually-i-used–to-study-some-very-basic-chinese，its-Cantonese『广东话』I-think。
Nikki:unfortunately-i–left-for-more-than-11-years，i-have-forgotten–almost-everything-as-far-as-the–language-is-concerned。
『Input』让我感到费解的是，她在香港也生活了几年，9岁才离开，可为什么一句广东话都不会说呢？
『Notes』As-far-as-sth-is-concerned就…而言；I-am–pretty-self-effacing『不求闻达的』as-far-as-society『交际、陪伴』is-concerned。
Bobby:It-doesn’t-come-to-much，anyway-you-are-still-young，there’s–plenty-of–chances-to-power-yourselfup。
Nikki:yeah，u-can–say-that。
Bobby:Where-did-you-‘grow-up’『成长、生长』?
Nikki:well-i-grew–up-in-New-Zealand，but-expanding『扩展、拓展』myself–now-in-the-university–in-Sydney。
『Input』可能大家有时候会觉得奇怪，为什么语言经过翻译之后，就会变得怪怪的，这是因为语言习惯不一样，有很大的差异，所以你要多培养英语的语言习惯，熟悉这种语言上的差异，这是你提升口语的不二法门。
Bobby:Well，your–lifestyle-is-a-mystery『谜、神秘』to-me，I-always–get-jealous『羡慕的』of-those-who-get-a–chance-to-travel-all–over-the-world。
Bobby:I-have–always-been-enthusiastic『热情的』about-the–idea-of–travelling-throughout『贯穿』the-world。
Nikki:just–believe-in-yourself-and-your-own-strength，you-will–get-there-for–some-time-to-come。
『Notes』这里的get-there是指‘达到目的、有所作为’，并不是说‘到达那里’;E。g。Don’t-say–you-have-no-aptitude『天资』for-language，if–you-keep-on–doing-the–good-job-and–‘hanging-in-there’『坚持下去』，you-will-get–there-in-the-end。
Bobby:Thank-you-for–your-kindness，that-means-a-lot。
Bobby:do–you-have-any-siblings『兄弟、姐妹』?
Nikki:Ohh–my-sisters-are–in-NZ，and-my–parents-are-in-the-usa。
Nikki:a-kind–of-broken-family:)
Bobby:What-are–your-parents–doing-in-the-u。s?
Nikki:hehee，my-dad–runs-a–company-and-my-mom-is–there-to–help-him–with-the-business。
Bobby:ohhhh-that’swonderful，I-have-always–wanted-to-run–my-own-business，to-be-my-own-boss。
Bobby:but-unluckily，I-can’t-‘put-up’『提供』enough-funds『基金』needed-to-support–my-cause『事业、目标、理想』
Nikki:I-certainly-will-be-praying『祈祷』that-something–good-comes-your-way，just-keep-yourself-busy，u–will-be-fine。
Bobby:that’s-so–sweet-of-you，you-said-u-were–born-in-hk，I’d-like-to–know-the–story-behind-it。
Nikki:well，my-mum–was-helping-kids-in-hk–at-that-time，then-she-met-and–‘fell-in-love’『爱上了、坠入爱河』with-my-father，i–was-born-in-hk–till-I–left-when-I–was-9。
Bobby:that–sounds-so-romantic『浪漫的』，what’s-your-father’s-ethnicity『种族渊源』?
Nikki:he’s–a-kiwi『新西兰人』，and-my–mother-is-half-chinese
Bobby:How’s-that?
Nikki:heheheee-that’s-bcos-my–grandpa-is-originally『最初』from-china，my-grandma-is-an-american-andi’m1/4chinese，so-this–should-be-an–interesting-way-of-acquaintance『熟人』。
Bobby:was-your–grandpa-fluent『流利的、流畅的』in-English-at-that-time?
Nikki:of-course，he-was–the-‘first-mate’『大副』of-the-captain『船长』，plus，how-could-u-fulfill『履行、执行』it-without-a-good–command-of-English?
『Input』说句实话，我对她的祖父是很感兴趣的，一个中国人在外国的轮船上当大副，还能说流利的英语，这是不简单的，个人猜想，应该是出生在美国的中国人吧。
Bobby:how-did-the-2-of-them–meet-back-then?Your–grandpa-and-grandma。
Nikki:well-grandpa-was-at-a-party-where-every-passenger『乘客』was-invited-by-the–captain-to-dinner-that-night，then-they–were-introduced『介绍』to-each-other。
Bobby:I-could-imagine『想象』the-picture『景象』，they-should’ve-had-the–time-of-their-lives-in-each-other’s–company-that-night。
『Notes』have-the-time-of-your-life过得很快乐、玩得痛快；E。g。‘Would-you-like-to-go-with-me-to-the-Yellow-Crane-Tower-tomorrow，I’m-positive『肯定的』you-are–going-to-have–the-time-of–your-life-in-my-company’。
Nikki:You-bet，and-a-few-weeks–after-that，my-grandpa-wooed『求爱』my-grandma–with-a-large-bouquet『花束』of-roses–and-she-accepted-his-proposal『求婚』‘on-the-nail’『立即』。
Bobby:Ohh-Nikky，you’ve-arisen『刺激』my-interest，I-am–wondering-what–your-grandma-looks–like-exactly，must-be-very-attractive『吸引人的』and-elegant『优雅、优美』，am-i-right?
Nikki:hmmm-i-got-the-picture，u–wanna-see?
Bobby:Why-not?A–picture-is-just–the-ticket，send-it-over-here。
Nikki:done…see-it…hahaaahahaha
Bobby:Wow-she’s–so-gorgeous『华丽的』，an–image-of-genial『亲切的』beautiful，she’s-really-dazzling『光彩夺目的』，at-least-to-my-eye。
Nikki:yeahhhh–loooolololo-you-are-so-smart，smart-guy-u-are。
『Notes』这个时候我感觉到有点不对劲了，为什么她要哈哈大笑呢，看一张照片就这么可乐吗？再一想，她外婆那个年代有彩色照片吗，而且还这么清楚，她不会在糊弄我吧，这里面肯定有猫腻。
Bobby:You–could-have–fooled-me，I-gather『认为、猜想』it’s-you，you-don’t-have-your-grandma’s–pictures-there-with-u-on–your-computer，do-u?
『Notes』You-could-have–fooled-me你休想瞒我；
Nikki:of-course-it’s-me，do-u-really–think-I–have-my-grandma’s-pics-here–with-me???Hahahhaahhha
Bobby:hehheh-you–are-very-naughty『淘气』，u–almost-got–me-on-that-one。Hahahha
Nikki:I-thought-it-was-fun，I-like-to-tease『戏弄』u-hahahah
Nikki:you-seem-so-interested-in–my-grandma，I-should–write-and–tell-her，she–would-be-so-excited
Bobby:if-u-do-write-to-her，give-her-my-best(regards)。
Bobby:Nikki，you’re–a-one，I–enjoy-spending-time-with-you，but-it-is–getting-a-little-bit-late-here。
Nikki:ok-la，you–may-leave-any-time–u-want，I-know-ur-tired。
Bobby:when-shall-I-see–u-again?
Nikki:same–time-tomorrow-okay?
Bobby:okay，I’ll-talk-to-u-again-tomorrow–same-time
Nikki:that’s-good，I’ll–see-u-then，byeeee
Bobby:bye-bye，take-care，see–u-tomorrow
Nikki:wait…what’s-your–name-then?
Bobby:well–my-name-is–Qian-Bo，Qian-is–my-surname，Bo-is-my-first-name，I-like–to-call-myself‘bobby’，cause-it-includes–my-Chinese-name‘bo’，soit’s-like-a-pun。『双关语』
Nikki:okay-Qian-Bo，nice-talking-to-u，bye-for-now，see–u-later。
Bobby:Byeeee，keeeep-welllllll，see-ya。
