英语翻译
Onesummerholiday,ateenagervolunteeredtoworkinasoupkitchenandgotherfirstbiglessonthere.Whatwasthelessonshedrewfromtheexperience?Let'sreadthefollowingstory.
BecomingaBetterPerson
LauraHennessey
Inthesummerof1992Igotmyfirstbiglessonincommunityservice.IcanstillrememberhowIfeltthefirstdayofmyvolunteerassignment.IthoughtIwasoneofthemostselflessteenagersaround,givingawholemonthofmyprecioussummertoworkinasoupkitchen.
At7a.m.everymorning,Iwouldwalktothebusstopinmysuburbanneighborhood,boardthe67Aandsettleinforthehour-longrideinto,whatseemedtobe,anotherworld.Goodbyeair-conditioning,biggrassyyardsandpedigreedogs.Hellosmellysoupkitchen,swelteringstreetcornersandtrash-filledalleyways.Ifeltlikeasaint.
Twoexperiencesfromthatmonthinthesoupkitchenstillstandoutinmymind.Onedaythekitchengotahugecardboardboxfilledwithunpeeledbabyshrimp.Needlesstosay,I,withthehelpofothervolunteers,spentthewholemorningsortingthroughandpeelingamillionlittleshrimpforthegumbo.Icouldn'teatshrimpforyears.
Thesecondexperiencewasfarmoreinfluentialthantheshrimpincident,butitwasalsomuchmoredifficult.Partofourjobatthesoupkitchenwastocomeupwithactivitiesfortheneighborhoodkids.Wewouldseethesamekidsalmosteveryday,sowegottoknowthemquitewell.IbecameparticularlyfondofayoungboynamedBruce.
OnerainydayBruce,whowasnormallyveryoutgoingandlaughedeasily,satmotionless,allaloneatabigtableinthecorner.Wetriedtogethimtojoininthefunwiththeotherkids,butherefusedtotakepartinthesillygames.Eventually,Iapproachedhimandsatdowntotalk.
"Hi,Bruce.Howareyou?"Noresponse."What'swrong,Bruce?Areyousad?"
"No."
"Areyouangryatsomebody?"
"No."
"OK,Bruce.Areyoutired?"
"No."
"Areyousick?"
OnceagainBrucereplied,"No."