陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作，他跟美國同事Amy一起喝下午茶。
(Office ambience)
A：Chen Hao, you've been attending a lot of business dinners lately. Didn't your team go out again last night with the clients?
C：沒錯。我老板Mr. Brown決定請客人到附近剛開張的那家法國餐館去吃飯。
A：How did it go?
C：飯菜的味道確實不錯，但是有個客人很失態。
A：What do you mean?
C：首先，她點的菜都是菜單上價錢最貴的。
A：What did the others do?
C：其他人點的都是中等價位的，我也一樣。
A：This client sounds as if she could use some business etiquette training. Unless Mr. Brown suggested that you all order certain pricey dishes, she should have chosen something moderately priced.
C：我覺得也是。除非主人堅持，否則客人應該點一些普通的菜才對。
A：It's rude to take advantage of your host like that. This client is not very savvy about business dining.
C： Savvy是什么意思啊？
A：Savvy means having knowledge and experience.
C：這個客戶確實不懂禮貌，而且還不只這些呢！
A：Let's head back to the office now. You can tell me on the way.
******
陳豪和Amy兩人一起往回走。
A：So there is more to this story?
C：那個客人不僅點的都是最貴的，而且一道菜都不拉。
A：Like what?
C：從湯開始，然后是頭臺、沙拉，主菜，最后還有特制的甜點，一樣不少。
A：What did everyone else do?
C：Mr. Brown雖然吃得很少，但也只好跟著她一道菜一道菜地點。
A：He was doing the correct thing as host by ordering the same as the client.
C：作為主人，一定要這么做嗎？
A：When someone orders appetizers or other dishes in addition to the entrée, it is polite for others to order the same courses.
C：那又是為什么呢？
A：That keeps the pace of the dinner even and avoids the awkwardness of one person eating a course by herself.
C：如果沒有別人點湯的話，那個客戶自己吃的時候一定會覺得很尷尬。
A：At an informal dinner, some people have soup while others may select a different appetizer to have at the same time. Everyone should have an equal number of courses.
C：那作為請客的主人，在飯桌上能做些什么呢？
A：Simple. The host can say, "Why don't we all have an appetizer?" Or he could ask, "Would anyone like something to start with?"
C：這樣一來，你就能知道自己是不是唯一想點頭臺的人了。
A：Right. If no one else has a starter course, then you don't either.
C：你真應該給昨天那個客人好好上一課。 |
大學英語---