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."