【新唐人2013年01月02日訊】 (美国之音電)
- 禮節美語232-Quit-Smoking-II
Daisy和Kathy聽說同事Johnny戒煙，很替他高興。Kathy問Johnny是怎麼戒的。
K: What’s worked so far?
J: Well, for starters, I saw a doctor who specializes in helping people quit smoking. The doctor recommended a therapy group that meets twice a week.
D: So everyone in the group is trying to quit smoking?
J: Yep…we were all in the same boat. We have a buddy system….if we need help, we call each other.
K: That’s really great!
J: Also, the doctor recommended getting some exercise so I started doing some cycling. I could barely make it down the street for the first couple of days, but now I’m riding as much as 10 kilometers!
原來，Johnny專門找了個醫生，指導他如何戒煙，醫生建議他加入一個 therapy group 治療小組，小組成員都是想戒煙的煙民，同病相憐，they were all in the same boat. in the same boat是一個很常用的短語，意思是處境相同。另外，醫生還建議Johnny鍛練身體，騎自行車。
D: When you quit smoking you also have to change your lifestyle. I had to stop drinking too much beer, because when I drank, it made me want to smoke. I started eating more fruits and vegetables and I cut down on red meat.
K: Yeah, that makes sense. Change your diet…change your lifestyle…start a new you!
J: So far the toughest time is when I’m hanging out with friends in clubs, bars or KTVs.
D: I guess you’ll just have to chew a lot of gum.
J: Yeah…the doctor told me to keep my mouth and hands busy! Chew gum, drink water, whistle, draw, hold a pencil…just try to distract my mind.
Daisy說，戒煙的一部分是要改變生活習慣，比如他自己，原來愛喝啤酒，一喝啤酒就自然而然地想抽煙，所以為了戒煙他索性連酒也少喝了，開始多吃蔬菜水果，並且 cut down on red meat. 少吃紅肉。to cut down on something 是減少的意思，red meat 紅肉，包括豬肉，牛肉，羊肉等，跟 red meat 相對的是雞肉和魚肉等 white meat. Johnny說，最痛苦的時候是跟朋友到夜總會和酒吧那種地方去，周圍抽煙喝酒的人太多，誘惑太大，醫生曾建議他，不要讓自己的嘴和手閑著，嚼口香糖，喝水，吹口哨，或者乾脆手裡拿根筆，都行。
K: I applaud your efforts to quit! I’m sure you’ll be much happier in the long run.
D: Yeah…a couple of years from now, you look back and wonder how you could’ve ever been a smoker!
J: I hope so…because it’s been pretty tough.
D: Don’t worry; there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
K: Keep up the good work!
J: Thanks, guys!
最後，Kathy 和Daisy都鼓勵Johnny一定要堅持，Daisy說，there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 隧道盡頭能看到光明，類似中文裡說的曙光就在前面。
