Tales from the Huffmans

     Well, our buying a car is not really an important part of the world’s economic problems, but like most Americans, we have been mostly unconcerned about the cost of operating automobiles, both in an economic and an environmental sense¹.  In our defense², our small town of Pella has no public transportation within the city or to outlying cities where one might want to shop or attend a movie, etc.  Cars are about the only way to meet transportation needs. But, in the past few years the price of gasoline nearly doubled, alternative fuels³ have been developed, service, tires and repairs for cars have increased greatly, and we all have been urged to help solve environmental problems which are, to a great extent, due to emissions⁴ from automobile, truck and bus engines.

      Until recently we had three family cars even though our garage has room for only two.  We have three adult drivers, only one of whom needs transportation to work each day.

      Before Maxine and I retired from full time teaching, we both often had need for a car to attend meetings, shop and run errands⁵, etc.  However, when we retired, gasoline was inexpensive, our cars were not new, and it was less expensive to pay registration and insurance fees each year on the older cars.  It was convenient to know that a car was available to each of us when needed

      Last year we began to consider ways in which we could reduce our car expenses and concurrently⁶ be more environmentally involved.  We decided it was time to give up one car and do what was possible to aid environmental situations.  Our oldest car was 13 years old, the 2^nd was 7 years old, and our newest one was 3 years old.  Our logic⁷ was that we should either sell or trade⁸ the oldest car because of its high mileage, and we should keep our 7-year old car because it had the lowest mileage of the three, was a bit smaller and easier to park for local use. Our newest car would probably bring a fair price if traded.  As it happened, we could more easily trade two cars in for a newer car than we could sell or trade either of them separately.

      Especially at times of economic recession⁹, neither the car dealers nor the car owners want to lose money on a trade or purchase, so there is an understandable bargaining process¹⁰ whenever a sale is considered.  We have learned over the years to welcome this bargaining. It involves not only the potential buyer and the one dealer, but also dealers competing with other dealers, as well as with the buyer.  In some ways there is an advantage in buying from one’s local dealer, because it is easier to arrange for servicing and repair without driving to a more distant dealer.  It is also a good idea to support local businessmen if one hopes that they in turn¹¹ will support community activities in which we all are interested, i.e. schools, recreational and sports activities etc.

      In our specific case, the bargaining process took several hours and the final result was that we received what we felt was a fair trade-in¹² price for our two cars; the dealer felt that we had been reasonable in our suggestions, and we agreed to buy a 2008 model which has the “Flexfuel” type engine¹³. Because of the current interest in developing ethanol¹⁴ as a less-polluting fuel, the state of Iowa subsidizes¹⁵ ethanol/gas mixtures which a flexfuel engine can use.  85% ethanol costs about $2.00/gallon, 15% ethanol costs about $3.50/gallon, and regular gasoline about $3.65/gallon.  We can reduce pollution by driving our new car, can help support farmers and companies who grow corn and other crops to make ethanol, and can eliminate the cost of upkeep¹⁶ on our cars by cutting back to two cars.  This will help the transition¹⁷ from gasoline to more clean-burning fuels.  At the same time, the local car dealer has sold a car during an extremely difficult market situation¹⁸.

      It is likely true that “Flexfuel” engines and hybrid-cars¹⁹ are only transitions from current to other alternative fuels.  Hydrogen fueled cars are being developed, and when these are available, drivers will finally have cars which eliminate nearly all harmful “greenhouse gases,” and have a plentiful source of energy that could be less expensive. Hydrogen is abundant²⁰ and does not require access to²¹ oil supplies which are non-renewable²².  Meantime, we will reduce car costs in any way we can, and that includes not using a car when a bicycle ride or walking is possible.

      We know that ours is only a tiny contribution to much larger environmental and financial problems, but, if everyone makes even small changes, great progress can be possible.

 

Notes:

1. both in an economic and an environmental sense: 既从经济又从环境的角度来看.  Here the word “sense” means a way of thinking about or understanding something.

2. in our defense:为我们（买车一事）辩护.

3. alternative fuels: combustible sources of energy to run engines other than those derived from petroleum (非传统燃料，可替代燃料).

4. emissions: gases or other substances that are sent into the air (排放物).

5. run errands: 办差使，跑腿

6. concurrently: at the same time; with more than one thing happening at a time (同时).

7. logic: a methodological way of thinking in a reasonable way with good criteria (逻辑推理).

8. trade (in): give something old as part of the payment for something new (折价换购).

9. economic recession: a situation in which economic activity is unusually low (经济衰退).

10. bargaining process: an activity in which two or more individuals attempt to

reach an agreeable price to be paid for some item or service (讨价还价过程).

11. in turn: as a result of something that is part of a connected series of events (结果，反过来).

12. trade-in: something such as a car or piece of equipment that you give as part of the payment for something new (折价物，折价品).

13. “Flexfuel” type engine: an automobile engine which can burn either gasoline, or

a mixture of other fuels, in this case mixtures of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) (能使用混合燃料的发动机).

14. ethanol: 乙醇

15. subsidizes: pays some of the cost of goods or services so that they can be sold to other people at a lower price (给……津贴/补贴).

16. upkeep: the process of keeping something in good condition (维护).

17. transition: a change from thing to another (过渡).

18. extremely difficult market situation: a condition of the economic situation at a given time (非常困难的市场形势).

19. hybrid-cars: cars with a part gasoline and part electrical engine (混合动力汽车).

20. abundant: available in large quantities so that there is more than enough (丰富的).

21. access to…: the right or opportunity to have or use something (对……的享用权/享用机会).

22. non-renewable: unable to be renewed (不能再生的).

 Today one of our errands¹ will be to return pop cans and bottles² to our city can and bottle recycling center³.  We usually wait until we have one or two large plastic garbage bags⁴ filled with the cans and bottles, and then take them there.  We need to make the trip soon. 

 

When we get to the recycling center, we have two choices as to what to do with the cans and bottles.  Either we can take them inside to be counted by a worker and given back the deposit⁵ we paid at the super market when we purchased the drinks, or we can just leave them outside in a big box labeled “Donation⁶ for C.O.C. ^7”  This means that instead of our collecting the money for ourselves, it will go to The Christian Opportunity Center⁷, a special private school for handicapped⁸ people located here in Pella.  It is always in need of extra funds⁹ for carrying on its work with the severely¹⁰ handicapped people it serves.  Our other materials that need recycling were picked up by the city this morning after we had put the paper, tin cans, and non-redeemable¹¹ bottles in the recycle box¹² in front of our house. 

 

 There has been a resurgence¹³ of “the battle of the bottle, part of the war on waste^14.”   In the  1970s in the U.S. there was interest in cleaning up the environment¹⁵ during “Earth Day¹⁶” by picking up the waste paper, cans and bottles which littered¹⁷ the roadsides nearly everywhere.  Most state legislatures¹⁸ and larger city councils¹⁹ wrestled²⁰ with the problem, and all agreed that there must be some monetary incentive²¹ to keep the roadsides clean, and to save both glass and metal wasted in bottles and cans. 

 

  A similar problem had been solved patriotically²² during World War I and the 1940s by establishing collection centers for paper and waste metal²³, letting those who wished to do so collect waste paper and metal, and be paid a small sum by the collection center when these were recycled. Any person who was in the Boy Scouts²⁴, a school club, etc. at this time knew how this worked. With “forced labor²⁵” and a few cents per pound paid for paper and metal, the country had a successful recycling program during that period, and the clubs and groups built a modest treasury²⁶ for their activities.  It was a win-win situation²⁷ but in a few years, the “war effort” was no longer a valid excuse²⁸, and groups of young people found better ways to raise money.

 

 Within a few years the “throw away society²⁹” was again wallowing³⁰ in its own wastes, and it became evident that a better recycling system was needed.  First came city ordinances³¹ and state laws requiring grocery stores and other dealers in bottles and cans to collect the used containers and return them to waste collection centers.  Eventually private redemption centers³² replaced the collection by grocery stores so that beverage salesmen did not have to bear the brunt³³ of the work and smell!

 

  Whatever the problems, it was true that this process, while flawed³⁴, resulted in many fewer cans and bottles being dumped³⁵ along roadsides and empty lots³⁶.  In fact, many regions organized clubs and groups of concerned citizens “adopted a few miles³⁷” of a highway right of way and provided weekly collection of the waste items thrown there.  Within the past year or two, most states have been looking for more equitable³⁸ means of recycling cans and bottles.  Attempts to force stores to collect cans and bottles have found strong resistance³⁹. Some states, including Iowa, have tried legislation⁴⁰ to raise the deposit fee to 10 cents per can and require machines at stores where cans and bottles can be recycled.  We are in favor of the 10 cent fee, but this is still a controversial⁴¹ issue.

 

The battle of the bottle and the war on waste will continue. New efforts may succeed, but likely will do so only when the consumer is willing to pay the real cost of packaging⁴² and containers and to use systems that are effective in improving the environment while spreading the cost broadly among users. (703words)

 

Notes:

 

1. errands: short trips from home to complete small tasks, such as shopping, mailing packages, etc. (跑腿，差事).

2. pop cans and bottles: containers in which soft drinks are sold (饮料罐/瓶). Such drinks are referred to as pop in the Midwest, but soda in the East.  In California the term “coke” often refers to all soft drinks.

3. recycling center: a place where waste items such as cans, bottles, paper or metal may be taken for reprocessing and reuse (回收利用中心，空罐头、空瓶子、废纸或废金属在那里经过处理可以重新使用).

4. plastic garbage bags: very large bags that can contain large quantities of waste items (塑料垃圾袋).

5. deposit: the additional money which one pays when purchasing a beverage in a can or bottle (押金，买罐装或瓶装饮料时额外付的压瓶费).

6. donation: a gift, usually for some charitable cause or organization (捐款).

7. C.O.C. / The Christian Opportunity Center: a private school and residential campus in Pella, Iowa, where mentally and physically disabled persons are trained to function in society, and especially to become self sufficient if possible (基督教机会中心，是派拉的一所私立住宿学校，残疾人在该校接受培训，使他们能够在社会上发挥作用，尤其是有可能成为自食其力的人).  This private school serves clients from the entire region and is supported by private contributions and gifts.

8. handicapped: disabled in some manner, either physically or mentally (有生理缺陷的，弱智的).

9. extra funds: 额外的经费

10. severely: very badly or to a great degree (严重地).

11. non redeemable: unable to be exchanged for money (不能退换钱的).  Many juice bottles for which no deposit is required are unable to be exchanged for money.

12. recycle box: a strong, plastic box provided to city residents who pay a monthly fee for use of the box to place recycled items picked up at the front of the residence (回收箱，一种很结实的塑料箱供居民放可回收物品，使用回收箱居民每月要付费).

13. resurgence: the reappearance and growth of something that was common in the past (再现，复苏).

14. “War on waste”: active participation in solving the waste problem for a society or community (解决废物的战争).

15. environment: 环境

16. “Earth Day”: the day set aside by the U.S. government to give attention to improving the environment of the “Earth,” the planet on which we live (地球日，这是美国政府为了改善自己居住的地球环境设定的).

17. littered: scattered widely over a given area (…扔得到处都是).

18. State Legislatures: the governing bodies made up of elected officials which make the laws for the state where one resides (州立法机关，制定所在州法律的机构，其成员由选举产生).

19. City Councils: the local governing bodies for a town or city (市政委员会).

20. wrestled: struggled with, or worked hard to achieve a given goal (费力地处理、解决).

21. monetary incentive: the use of money to make something more attractive or desirable to a person or group (用钱进行刺激、鼓励的措施).

22. patriotically: 爱国地

23. waste metal: metal that is no longer needed, is broken, or can be parted with (废金属).  During both big wars citizens were urged to donate metal so that it could be recycled into ammunition, weapons etc. 

24. Boy Scouts: an organization of boys (童子军).  There is also a Girl Scouts organization. 

25. “forced labor”: 所谓强制劳动. Members of the scouts, school clubs etc., knew it was their duty to collect metal and other recyclable materials; consequently, the work would be done.  Many times there were competitions between groups, forcing the individual members to try even harder to collect much waste material

26. modest treasury: a small amount of money that could be used for the activities of an organization (小金库).  If enough members turned in recyclable materials, the treasury could build up fast and support numerous activities for the group. 

27. win-win situation: an event in which everyone involved gains something positive (双赢局面).  In this case, the waste material was disposed of (a winning situation) and the organization received its needed funds for its activities (also a winning situation).  This is a popular positive saying at the present time.

28. valid: effective, correct, appropriate, etc. in a given case (有效的，合理的).

29. “throw away society”: the term used to describe a wasteful society or group of people (一次性使用的社会，指非常浪费的社会或群体).

30. wallowing: taking unrestrained delight in something, degraded or degenerate activity (沉湎，沉迷).

31. city ordinances: laws passed by the City Council, pertaining only to that city (市政条例、法规).

32. private redemption centers: 私营废瓶收购中心

33. bear the brunt: take on the burden (承担后果).

34. while flawed: although it was not perfect or with errors (尽管不完美).

35. dumped: carelessly dropped or thrown (丢弃).

36. empty lots: 空的停车场

37. “adopted a few miles”: took on the responsibility for cleaning up a given area along a roadway (负责几英里的清洁任务).

38. equitable: dealing fairly and equally with all concerned (公平的，公正的).

39. resistance: opposition, objection or unwillingness to participate or to agree with something (阻力).

40. legislation: 法律，法规

41. controversial: subject to argument, dispute or disagreement (有争议的).

42. packaging: wrapping, enclosing or covering, as in gift wrapping, etc. (包装).

        Many of our international friends who come to Pella, or any other area in the United States, tell us that they hesitate¹ to walk through areas between houses because they believe that property owners² will “shoot them”³ or at least object to their walking across private lawns and between houses.  Actually, this is a rather unfortunate⁴ misconception⁵, and it is another good example of cross-cultural misunderstanding⁶.

        In the U.S., homes are built on land which is privately owned, but unless a property is fenced off⁷, such as a garden, or signs are posted⁸ saying “No Trespassing⁹,” or “No Hunting¹⁰,” etc. any person has a right¹¹ to walk on private property¹² between houses, small stores, etc.  In fact, residential building permits¹³ require that there be at least 15 feet [about 5 meters] between any buildings, stores, etc. except for commercial areas¹⁴ where stores and apartments may have adjoining¹⁵ walls or smaller spaces.  This is done to permit access to fire engines¹⁶, water, electricity and gas meters¹⁷, delivery of packages, etc.

        We expect¹⁸ to see people walking through our side and back yards if it is the most direct pathway to a destination¹⁹.  The same is true for bicycles, though it is expected that automobiles do not use this as an alternative²⁰ to paved streets or roads²¹.

        It is also true that in most cases, free access²² to public beaches, recreational areas, parks etc. must be provided²³ to people walking or even driving to them.  Beachfront²⁴ hotels are required by law²⁵ to provide access to the ocean and lakeside beaches, even if it means that people might have to walk through the hotel lobby²⁶ to reach the beach area.

        It is neither appropriate²⁷ nor lawful²⁸ for persons walking through private yards to damage gardens or fences, litter²⁹ private property, or mistreat³⁰ pets in private yards, etc.

        We tell our friends to come in through the backyard³¹ of our home, and that is true with most property owners.  If a property owner wishes to exclude³² walkers from their property, they are permitted to have fencedyards³³, but they must still leave access to emergency vehicles³⁴, water hydrants³⁵, etc.

        Of course, when walking through private lawns³⁶, driveways³⁷, etc. a person is not free to examine buildings, yard ornaments³⁸, or to look into windows of adjacent³⁹ homes.  These violate⁴⁰ the principle of free access through private property, and are considered both illegal and unacceptable⁴¹ behavior.

        We recognize that these laws and practices regarding access through private property are not the same in all countries; that some private homes are built on land with long term leases⁴², and are not therefore appropriate for private walkers, etc.  “When in Rome, do as the Romans do⁴³.” 

        Pella and other U.S. towns and cities are not “Rome,” but one should feel free to take the most direct path while walking without fear of being injured, scolded⁴⁴ or shot by doing this.

 

Notes:

1. hesitate: wait before doing something; not immediate (犹豫，踌躇).

2. property owners: 房地产的主人

3. “shoot them”：向他们开枪

4. unfortunate: lacking good luck (很不幸).

5. misconception: wrong idea about something, not a fact, misunderstanding (误解，错误看法).

6. cross cultural misunderstanding: not knowing something because it is different in one culture or society from another (不同文化引起的误解).

7. fenced off: closing one’s property from people by putting up a wire, wooden or stone wall (用栅栏隔开).

8. signs are posted: signs are put in a given place, usually where something will be easily seen (设置、安放标牌).

9. “No Trespassing”: a common way of warning people not to come onto the property ( 不准擅自进入).  Once such a sign is seen, people will know that they definitely are not welcome there. 

10. “No Hunting”: a sign warning people that they definitely are not welcome to hunt on that property (禁止打猎). 

11. right: something to which someone has a just claim; the power or privilege to which a person is justly entitled (权利).

12. property: something owned by a person or business, specifically a piece of real estate (财产，特别是不动产).  The owner of private property has the right to possess, enjoy or dispose of it, but most of the time does not try to keep others away from it.  

13. permits: written permissions granted by someone having the authority to do so (许可证).  In most cities and towns a person wishing to build a house or other building must apply for and receive a permit from the city government in order to do so.

14. commercial areas: places where business takes place (商业区).  Many buildings are designed as commercial buildings and need special requirements.

15. adjoining: directly connected to one another; touching at a point or line.; adjacent (相连的，毗连的).

16. fire engines: 消防车

17. water, electricity and gas meters: devices for measuring the volume of water, electricity and gas used over a period of time (水，电，煤气表).

18. expect: suppose or think something will happen (期盼).

19. destination: the place to which one is going; point of the end of a travel or journey (目的地).

20. alternative: 可供选择的通道

21. The same is true for bicycles, though it is expected that automobiles do not use this as an alternative to paved streets or roads: 对自行车也一样，尽管不希望汽车利用这里作为替代街道或马路的一种通道。

22. access: permission, liberty or ability to enter, or approach (进入、接近……的权利).

23. must be provided: always available; must be supplied (必须提供).

24. beachfront: a strip of land next to a large body of water (海滩地区).

25. by law: according to legal documents; may not be denied (按法律规定，根据法律).

26. hotel lobby: the main floor of a hotel where business transactions occur; public area of a hotel (旅馆大堂).

27. appropriate: suitable or according to expectations (合适的，恰当的). 

28. lawful: required by law (合法的)

29. litter: discard unwanted trash such as paper, wrappers, fruit peels, etc. (乱扔废物)

30. mistreat:  treat badly or tease; injure (虐待).

31. backyard: a grassy yard behind a house (后院)

32. wishes to exclude walkers from their property: 希望行人不要进入他们的土地

33. fenced yards: yards which are surrounded by wooden, wire or stone walls (围上栅栏的院子).

34. emergency vehicles: cars used for police, fire or medical reasons (紧急车辆，如警车、救火车、救护车). Often they are provided with sirens or loud horns

35. water hydrants: 消防龙头

36. lawns：草坪

37. driveways: paved areas leading from the street into the homeowner’s garage (私人车道).

38. yard ornaments: 院子里的点缀物

39. adjacent: nearby or next to (相邻的).

40. violate: break the law, disobey some rule or standard or conduct (违背).

41. unacceptable: 不能接受的

42. leases: legal contracts giving a person or group a right to use a piece of property, a house, car, or other item.

43. “When in Rome do as the Romans do.”: 入乡随俗

44. scolded: 挨骂

Last week was “Cleanup Week¹” in Pella, where we live. There are two Clean Up Weeks, one fall, and one spring in Pella.  Normally, one day of every week the Pella waste disposal trucks² haul³ away garbage from residences to the regional landfill⁴.  Paper, bottles and cans are recycled⁵ on the same days.  Other waste items⁶ such as electronic and electrical appliances⁷, old car batteries⁸, car tires, and waste paints⁹ are also collected twice a year by a locally sponsored¹⁰ program.  The collective name for old or worn out items¹¹ is trash¹².

 

Americans are finally trashing¹³ our wasteful habit of throwing old things away¹⁴.  In 2005, we generated less garbage and recycled more waste¹⁵.  This was the first time ever that our government has recorded a decline¹⁶ in the amount of trash produced. The United States made 245.7 million tons of garbage in 2005, about 1.6 million tons less than in 2004 according to the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency¹⁷.]  That means an average of about 4.5 pounds of garbage per person per day for our residential families¹⁸.  That is a good start, and we can probably improve this reduction of waste as we continue to work at recycling.

 

Nearly one-third of our trash was recycled in 2005, and the EPA has set a goal for us to recycle 35% of our trash by 2008.  That would be a big change from 1980, when only 10% of trash was recycled in the United States.  Kate Krebs, the executive director of the National Recycling Coalition¹⁹, a citizen’s organization, has launched²⁰ a comprehensive education campaign²¹ to teach people what to recycle and where to do it.

 

One of the newest targets²² for recycling; electronic equipment waste, is the fastest growing part of the nation’s trash.  In 2005, about 1.5 million to 1.9 million tons of used and unwanted electronics items were discarded²³, mainly in landfills.  Only 345,000 to 379,000 tons were recycled.  The recycling of computers, printers, telephones, cell phones, microwave ovens, etc, as well as rubber automobile tires has recently become a serious recycling effort in the U.S.   Automobile tires, used oil (paint), and batteries were previously²⁴ wasted, but now the oil and batteries are recycled, and used tires are ground²⁵ to small pieces and used to build all-weather playing fields for football, running tracks, and playgrounds.

 

Recycling is important to all of us, because it helps prevent greenhouse gas emissions²⁶ and saves energy.  The EPA says that our efforts in 2005 saved the energy equivalent²⁷ of 11 billion gallons of gasoline.  This is good news to me, and to all Americans, and it should be encouraging²⁸ to other countries throughout the world.  Some of these started recycling long before the U.S. took it seriously.

 

My family has two phones, two microwave ovens, an old computer printer and four car tires in our garage.  We will soon learn when our local recycling of electronic items, electrical appliances, and car tires are scheduled for this fall season.  As the computer experts say, “Garbage in – garbage out.²⁹”  It never ends!

 

Notes:

1. “Cleanup Week”: a designated week in which waste items may be left out at the street to be carried off by the city trucks to the landfill area (清除废物周，该周内市里派车将置放在路边的废物拉到垃圾填埋场).  Actually, some of these articles are still useful, and some people go around the city looking for items they’d like to have, and they pick them up and take them home, or prepare them to be sold as used items.

2. waste disposal trucks: trucks specially provided with parts to load trash and to carry it to the dump landfill (垃圾车).

3. haul: carry something or somebody to some destination (拖运).

4. regional landfill: an area set aside for the disposal and burying of waste materials; often done on a county or multi-county basis rather than for individual cities (地区垃圾填埋场).

5. recycled: collected and used again for another product (回收利用).

6. waste items: things that are no longer useful; i.e. glass, paper, tin cans, etc. (废弃物，如玻璃，纸张，听装罐等).

7. electrical appliances: electronic and electrical appliances, phones,  radios, T.V.s  etc. (家用电器)

8. batteries：电池

9. waste paints: unused paint left over which is no longer useable  or wanted (剩下不用的油漆).

10. locally sponsored: supported by the city, district, or county (由地方上资助的).

11. old or worn out items: 旧的或者用坏了不能再用的东西

12. trash: 废物，垃圾

13. trashing: throwing out or discarding; no longer a useful item, so of little value (丢弃废物).

14. wasteful habit of throwing old things away: 把旧东西丢掉这种很浪费的习惯

15. In 2005, we generated less garbage and recycled more waste: 2005年，我们产生的垃圾更少了，回收利用了更多的废物。

16. decline: 减少

17. Environmental Protection Agency: a U.S. government organization which is given the responsibility for protecting the environment, and for assuring that the public is not endangered by faulty disposal methods (环保局，美国政府机构，负责保护环境以及确保公众不受不正当的垃圾处置方法的危害).

18. residential families:.住户

19. National Recycling Coalition: 全国废物回收利用联合组织

20. launched: has begun, or started on a process or task (发起).

21. comprehensive education campaign: 全面的教育运动

22. targets: 目标

23. discarded: thrown away, got rid of (丢弃).

24. previously: 以前

25. ground: cut or pulverized to very small pieces or a powder-like material (磨碎，碾碎).

26. emissions: 释放

27. equivalent: 等量物

28. encouraging：令人鼓舞的

Today I have a guest blogger¹.  He is Dr. Kenneth Weller, retired president² of Central College³.  He is a good representative⁴ of what many of us Americans do after we retire⁵:  we volunteer⁶ in different ways to help different organizations in which we have an interest.  He will now explain his volunteerism⁷.

 

I am a volunteer guide⁸.  I show people around and explain the working⁹ of a huge Dutch windmill¹⁰.  It is a reproduction¹¹ of one built in the Netherlands¹² 150 years ago.  In fact, it was designed and built by descendants¹³ of a family of millmakers¹⁴ who have been fashioning¹⁵ mills for four generations¹⁶.  You may be surprised to learn that although it was built recently in the Netherlands it was taken apart and reassembled¹⁷ and now stands where I live in the middle of the United States, in Pella, Iowa.

 

Pella, Iowa, has a strong and continuing relationship with the Netherlands and its people reaching back over 150 years to the first settlers who came directly from the Netherlands to Pella in much the same way that others came to different locations in the US from Africa, Asia, Europe, and all over the world.

 

When I show people around Pella’s authentic¹⁸ Dutch mill which soars¹⁹ high above the highest rooftops, I tell them that it is more than a tourist attraction²⁰; it is a museum.  I hope that they enjoy it, but as a museum it also should teach them something about the past that will shed light²¹ on problem areas²² of today such as immigration management²³ and sustainable energy²⁴.

 

As people of Pella²⁵ we acknowledge²⁶ in our museum, our architecture²⁷, our gardens and our customs²⁸ that we are connected with another ancient culture.  We offer a symbolic²⁹ way to all Americans as a reminder of their own personal connections³⁰ with some other culture or mixture of cultures that go back many centuries³¹ and lend meaning to their lives³².  As we read in today’s newspapers of our struggles³³ with managing immigration, we cannot forget that almost all Americans are the descendants of immigrants, and therein lie both challenge and opportunity³⁴.

 

The same newspapers are filled with concerns for finding environmentally friendly, sustainable sources of energy³⁵.  Visitors to the mill will experience in the swishing³⁶ of the arms³⁷ and the rumbling³⁸ of the immense grind stones³⁹ the simple but astounding⁴⁰ potential⁴¹ inherent in⁴² new adaptations⁴³ of simple ancient methods for capturing power from the wind⁴⁴.

 

And so, if you are in Pella, Iowa, look for a little old, round man⁴⁵ with a blue cap and a big smile.  I will entertain⁴⁶ you and challenge⁴⁷ you to look for wisdom of the past for solving problems of today.  But if you don’t plan to come to Iowa, I am sure that if you look around wherever you are, you will find someone else volunteering just like me. 

 

Notes:

1. guest blogger (特邀写博客者): a person who does not usually write blogs, but who has written this blog because he knows the details and is willing to share them.

2. president: the chief administrative officer of a college (校长).

3. Central College: a small liberal arts college located in Pella, Iowa.

4. representative: a person who speaks for or serves as an example of a larger group (代表).

5. retire: leave a place of employment or a career after having served for a given period of time ( 退休).

6. volunteer: offer one’s time or service to help in some activity or endeavor (做义工).

7. volunteerism: 义工服务

8. volunteer guide: one who leads a group through a tour of a place, a museum, etc. without being paid to do so (义务导游).

9. working: the way something such as a system, piece of equipment, or organization works (运行、工作方式).

10. Dutch windmill [荷兰风车(磨)房]: a type of wind driven set of machines designed in the Netherlands by Dutch  people who specialize in constructing these machines which may produce power to do jobs such as to grind grain, pump water, produce electrical power, etc.

11. reproduction: an exact copy of another thing, i.e. in this instance, a windmill copied from a preexisting windmill in the Netherlands (仿制品、复制品).

12. Netherlands: the country, also called Holland, where the residents are called Dutch (荷兰).

13. descendents: people who have come from a direct line of ancestors (后裔、后代).

14. millmakers: workmen who are skilled in the making of windmills (风车房制造者).

15. fashioning: shape or make something, using your hands or only a few tools (手工制作).

16. generations：代

17. reassembled: put together again from pieces which had previously been part of a whole (重新组装).

18. authentic: genuine or real (地地道道的).

19. soars: flies or glides in the air, or is located high above the ground (高耸).

20. tourist attraction: something which draws the attention of tourists (吸引旅游者的景点).

21. shed light (on): make something easier to understand, by providing new or better information (使……更容易理解).

22. problem areas: things which cause difficulties or challenges for a group of people or a nation, etc. (存在问题的方方面面).

23. immigration management: 移民管理

24. sustainable energy：可持续使用的能源

25. Pella: the name of a city in south central Iowa, founded by a group of immigrants from the Netherlands about 1846 (美国爱荷华州中南部的一个城镇).

26. acknowledge: 承认……的重要性.

27. architecture: a specific type or style of building pattern or design of houses, etc. (建筑风格).

28. customs: practices of a given group of people; the way in which a group behaves in expressing their cultural heritage (风俗习惯).

29. symbolic: characterized by exhibiting or using ways that are representative of a group (有象征意义的).

30. personal connections with…: 个人与……的关系

31. centuries: (许多) 世纪

32. lend meaning to their lives: 为他们的生活增添了意义

33. struggles: difficulties or problems which people must deal with.

34. therein lie both challenge and opportunity: challenge and opportunity come from the situation (that almost all Americans are the descendants of immigrants) [(几乎所有美国人都是移民的后代，) 挑战和机遇都是由此而产生的].

35. finding environmentally friendly, sustainable sources of energy: 找到对环境有利、可持续利用的能源

36. swishing: a noise associated with the movement of something through the air (嗖嗖的声音).

37. arms: the sails or the extended flat portions of a windmill which catch the movement of the wind, and thus are rotated (风车的转动臂).

38. rumbling: the loud, low pitched noise of machinery or other items being moved about (隆隆声).

39. grind stones: 石磨的磨盘.

40. astounding：惊人的

41. potential: 潜能，潜力

42. inherent in …: 在……固有的

43. adaptations: small changes made in something (变化，改变).

44. simple ancient methods for capturing power from the wind: 从风力中获取能量的简单又古老的方法

45. round man: a colloquial way of indicating a fat person, or a person who is rather wide, but not very tall (圆滚滚或矮墩墩的男人).

46. entertain: furnish or show something of interest to another person or persons (接待).

47. challenge: cause another person to respond to something said or asked (提问，盘问).

 

This past week Don and I have been participating¹ in a community service program² known as “meals on wheels³.”  As volunteers in this program we have been delivering noontime meals to elderly people who can no longer easily prepare them⁴ for themselves.  Some of them are even confined to⁵ wheel chairs⁶.

 

The food is prepared⁷ in the kitchen of the Pella Community Center⁸.  There is always a hot dish, such as chicken or roast beef, and a cold dish, such as fruit or a salad.  The food is put in plastic containers⁹ and placed in big thermal bags¹⁰ which we pick up.  There are also small containers of milk that go in with the cold food.  We are given names and addresses of the people to whom we are to deliver¹¹ the food and even are told if we should just walk into the house after knocking¹² (in situations where the people can’t move fast, or at all¹³.)  We had nine people to deliver to in our group and it took us about an hour to complete the deliveries¹⁴ each day.

 

We are told that the food is good, and we know the elderly people appreciate¹⁵ it and our delivering it.  They keep saying so.  The cold box usually contains a sandwich¹⁶ which they can eat in the evening.  That way they really are sure to have two meals each day. 

 

Some of the people see no one else other than the meal deliverers each day¹⁷, so they are eager for a little conversation¹⁸, and they often like to ask about the weather.  Today I could tell them that it was lovely, sunny and cool.  Yesterday I told them how windy and rainy it was.  No matter what¹⁹, they are always interested.

 

The program of food deliverers is organized through the local churches.  When it is our church’s turn, volunteers are asked for, and if we are in town we volunteer²⁰.  It’s an activity that always makes us feel good, and we know it is both useful and appreciated.

 

Notes:

l. participating: taking part in along with other people (参加).

2. a community service program (社区安排的服务项目): an activity provided by the community in order to provide a needed item or items for some specific group, i.e., the elderly, within the city or area.

3. meals on wheels: 汽车送饭（服务项目）

4. them: 指前面提到的meals。

5. confined to: If someone has to be confined to a wheelchair, bed, or house, etc., they have to stay there because they are disabled or ill.

 6. wheelchairs (轮椅): sturdy chairs with wheels for people who cannot walk, or walk poorly.

 7. prepared: put together, cooked, or made ready beforehand .

 8. Pella Community Center (佩拉镇社区中心): a building provided by the city of Pella which serves as an area for community offices, recreation, art exhibits and other services to people living in the community.

 9. containers (容器): box-like receptacles for holding items such as food or other items.

10. thermal bags (保温袋): large portable, insulated plastic containers which keep food or other materials hot or cold for a period of time.

11. deliver (递送、投递): take one or more items to a specific location or address.

12. knocking: 敲门

13. or at all: or can’t move at all (或者根本走不动). 此处省略了can’t move，at all用来加强语气。

14. deliveries: 递送任务。

15. appreciate (欣赏、感激): feel grateful or thankful for, enjoy something.

16. sandwich: 三明治

17. Some of the people see no one else other than the meal deliverers each day: 他们当中有些人每天除了送饭的人见不到别的人。此处other than表示apart from, except。

18. eager for a little conversation: wanting very much to have a little conversation (非常想聊一点天).

19. No matter what: No matter what the weather is (不管是什么天气).

20. volunteer (志愿做某事): agree to do something without being paid or forced to do it, do a task without expectation of payment or wages. 此处volunteer是动词。