英文阅读："Worrying about first impressions"
Earlier this year I read a book about understanding first impressions. InEnglish they say, "Don't judge a book by its cover", but you and I both do
though often we do not know why we instantly like, or dislike someone. In the
book I read, the author gave two important warnings – first, that we needed to
be careful before passing judgment and second, that if you or I have been
misjudged the first time, it is going to take a lot of effort to change that
persons opinion of you.
So with this in the back of my mind I thought a lot about my arrival to
Beijing and starting work with the China Daily. For quite some time I planned my
clothes, my attitude, even the way I would walk through customs at the airport.
But most of all – to make that winning impact first impression I'd bought a new
set of luggage – the kind that pilots and air hostesses use.
Well as luck would have it - this week my wife flies to Australia on
business (she was meant to go two weeks ago) so good "loving husband" Brendan
decides it is best that she take the "ultra stylish" bags and he can use the old
grey dusty suitcase, the one hidden upstairs with all the spiders and dead
cockroaches inside.
Well - talk about making a good first impression.
Enjoying the good weather in the gardens of the China Daily
When I arrive at Beijing airport and am waiting at the carousel, I find my
suitcase has broken and all the contents lay exposed, going round and round, as
my face goes red and red. And so it is - feeling like a homeless migrant worker
- that I walk through the arrival gate at the airport to meet the welcoming
committee of the China Daily. Rather than try explaining that this wasn't really
my suitcase and that I normally travel like 007, very cool and in control, I put
on a brave face and let them help me carry my belongings back to the pick up
van.
It was quite funny really because one of the books I had taken with me for
the flight was a text called, "How to stop worrying and start living". The kind
lady from the Human Resources Department who met me at the airport now had this
book on her lap as we traveled into the city. I felt a bit silly but to be
honest - I was nervous about coming to Beijing. I couldn't hide it.
Well that was the impression I gave - but how after 5 days in the capital
would I express my first impressions of Beijing?
Remember I have just come from living in Haikou, there with its sea breeze,
coconut trees and beautiful black and blue butterflies. There the locals warned
me about "big bad Beijing". A lot of them were from the mainland and
spokemenacingly of the "cold, cruel winters" and the air that gave you lung
cancer. After listening to this for several months you can understand why I
started having problems sleeping.
But if I remember correctly one of the main points of the book on
overcoming worry was the idea that first you needed to accept what was the worst
thing that could possibly happen. For me this meant the people at the China
Daily wouldn't want me.
Fortunately my first morning at the office was fine. I met the department,
from top to bottom, and must say that I have so far found them all to be
pleasant and helpful. There are lots of foreign faces around Beijing, in fact,
as I was saying to one American staff member, I have seen more foreigners in a
few days here than I have in two years living in Haikou.
Later that week I met an old friend, an English fellow, and he and his
partner took me out to a Thai restaurant. It was a nice place but when we got
the bill I almost vomited the food straight back out again at the waitress,
"Shenme? 360 yuan? Kaiwanxiaoba? In Haikou I know workers who get only 500 yuan
a month! Next time I want to eat Thai food I'll catch a plane to Bangkok – it'll
be cheaper than eating here!" I raged like a fire breathing dragon. This was my
first impression of eating out in the sanlitun area. Sorry.
To calm me down my friend took me for a walk outside through little back
alleys full of bars and clubs. What I saw were mostly foreign devils getting
drunk and silly. He said a lot were students studying Chinese; others were
probably workers like him. I quickly hopped inside a taxi and headed back to my
bed.
A couple stroll along the jianan lu canal
The next morning, just before nine, my colleague from the Daily knocked at
my door and off we went to the soccer field. He is the captain of the office
team and I felt like Beckham as I put on my boots.
...
Oh but as I sit writing this now, I think back to yesterday and the moment
of glory when I kicked a goal. And then - when I accidentally kicked an opponent
in the leg and he crumbled. And then I fell over and hurt my knee, (and wanted
to cry). But it was worth it. I can hardly walk now but I had fun and met some
nice people who I had no idea were in my office.
As for the weather – well Beijing has shown me blue skies 4 out of 5 days.
I went for a walk today and found a lovely grassed park that I will go back to
again and again. There is a local restaurant that has all my favorite Chinese
dishes like brown fungus, broccoli, seaweed and cold tofu with coriander - all
for less than 30 yuan!
And as for making that good first impression, and trying not to worry –
well, I hope I've gotten beyond that now.
Useful phrases and expressions
passing judgment – to pass judgment means to decide if something or someone
is good or bad; to evaluate
in the back of my mind - to have a thought or idea that you keep and are
always aware of
carousel – a machine that goes around in circles, at the airport it is the
baggage collection area
lap - your upper legs, when you sit down the place where you put things
on
menacingly – to do something threateningly, to give warning, to create a
sense of fear
from top to bottom – this means everyone or everything, here it means all
the staff, from the boss through to the cleaner
vomit - to be sick, to throw up already eaten food
crumbled – to fall down, to collapse.
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