Visiting an American Home 到美国人家中做客
What to do when you're a guest
做客应有的举止
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When you are invited to a meal in an American home, it will probably be informal . The food is usually served family style, so everyone passes the food to one another. Americans love to talk while they eat, so expect a lively conversation.
When you are invited, you can ask if you may bring something for the meal. If the hostess refuses, do not take a dish. That would be impolite . Instead, take candy, flowers or a small gift from your country. But you don't have to; Americans don't expect you to bring anything.
Plan to arrive on time or just a few minutes late. Do not arrive early. The hostess needs the last few minutes to get everything ready. If you are going to be more than 15 minutes late, call to let the hostess know.
When you arrive, you don't need to take off your shoes. Most Americans wear their shoes in their homes. But make yourself at home as most Americans treat guests like family.

你若受邀到美国人家里吃饭，场合大概都不会太正式。用餐方式通常很家常，所以大家会互相传递菜肴。美国人吃饭时喜欢交谈，因此要有心理准备以面对热络的聊天情况。
受邀时，你可以先问一下可否带吃的过去。假如女主人婉拒了，就不要带餐点去，否则会显得失礼，不过，你可以带些糖果、鲜花或从自己国家带来的小礼物，可是这并非必要；美国人并不期待客人带礼物来。
算好时间准时赴约或晚个几分钟到，不要提早到。女主人需要最後几分钟的时间把一切准备就绪。如果你会迟到十五分钟以上，应该打电话通知女主人。
    到了主人家，可以不用脱鞋。美国人多半直接把鞋子穿进家里。不过，你不用感到拘束，因为大多数的美国人对待客人就像家人一样。

Word Bank
informal (adj)非正式的
You don't have to wear nice clothes to the party. It's informal.
hostess (n)女主人
The hostess made us feel very comfortable and fed us delicious food.
impolite (adj)失礼的
Don't put your elbows on the table when you eat. That's impolite.
make oneself at home (idiom)不要拘束（当自己家一样）
I'm so glad you came to my house! Make yourself at home.

Chat Room
Lazy Susan并不是一个人，指的是在餐厅桌上的转盘，转盘只有吃中国菜才会用到，吃西餐就没有Lazy Susan这种东西，因此在外国人家吃饭的时候菜是用传递的方式让每个人都能拿道菜，pass the food to one another，这是吃西餐的一个餐桌礼仪

informal
轻松的，自在的，不拘礼节的；非正式的
1 The restaurant has a friendly and informal atmosphere.
这家餐厅有一种友善又轻松自在的气氛。
2 Do you think wearing jeans to a wedding is too informal?
你觉得穿牛仔裤去参加婚礼会不会太不正式了？

hostess
1 We wrote a thank-you note to our host after the party.
派对结束之后我们写了谢函给主人。
2 The hostess prepared treats and little gifts for each child.
这位女主人为每位孩子准备了好吃的小点心和小礼物。

make oneself at home
feel at home：感觉像在自己家一样的自在
1 Please make yourself at home! I'll be back in a second.
不要拘礼，我马上就回来。
2 The hostess made us feel at home.
女主人让我们觉得宾至如归。

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Conversation A
(Jack and Laura received an invitation to dinner.)
Laura: Jan and Bill Brandt invited us to dinner on Friday night. I told them we'd come.
Jack: Great! You know I love Jan's cooking. What time?
Laura: 6:30.
Jack: Can we take anything?
Laura: No, it's not a potluck . Jan wants to do all the food preparation herself.
Jack: Well, let's take some flowers. Jan loves roses.
Laura: Good idea. And can you come home from work a little earlier than usual? I'd like to be on time.
Jack: OK. I'll try.
Conversation B
(Friday night, Jack and Laura are going home after dinner.)
Laura: What a delicious dinner.
Jack: It was. I had high expectations , and I wasn't disappointed!
Laura: It was very nice of you to help clear the table and do the dishes.
Jack: I don't mind. I get lots of practice at home!
Laura: The Brandts have a beautiful bathroom, don't they?
Jack: Yes, they do. I had to be careful not to splash water on the floor.
Laura: I'm glad you were. I wish you'd be more careful at home.

会话A
（杰克与萝拉收到晚餐邀请函）
萝拉：珍和比尔?布兰特夫妇邀我们周五晚上一起吃饭。我已经答应了。
杰克：很好呀！你知道我超爱吃珍做的菜。是几点啊？
萝拉：六点半。
杰克：我们可以带东西过去吗？
萝拉：不用，这次不是百乐餐。珍打算自己张罗所有吃的东西。
杰克：这样的话，我们就带些花吧，珍很喜欢玫瑰。
萝拉：这个点子不错，那你可以比平常早下班回家吗？我想准时到他们家。
杰克：好，我尽量。
会话B
（杰克与萝拉在周五晚上用完餐後回家）
萝拉：晚餐真好吃。
杰克：是啊。我可是有很大的期待呢，果然没让我失望！
萝拉：你帮忙收拾桌子还有洗碗，真是体贴。
杰克：这不算什麽。我在家可是训练有素呢！
萝拉：布兰特家的浴室真漂亮，对不对？
杰克：对啊。我得小心翼翼别让水溅到地板上。
萝拉：真高兴你这麽小心。希望你在家也能更小心！

Word Bank
potluck (n)百乐餐（参加者各自带餐点以与他人共享的餐会）
Everyone brought a dish of food to the potluck.
preparation (n)准备
Denise didn't ask for any help. She did all the preparation for the party herself.
expectation (n)期望；期待
I can't wait to try this restaurant. I have very high expectations for it.
splash (v)泼溅
Tommy splashed water on his sister in the swimming pool.

Chat Room
当人家邀请你去他家吃饭的时候，你应该怎么回答？Yes, I'll go.（speaker的观点）和Yes, I'll come.（listener的观点）都可以

potluck
1 Can you bring your famous roast beef to the potluck dinner Saturday.
周六晚上的potluck你可以带你有名的烤牛肉来吗？
2 The dinner at the Chang's is a potluck, so what are you bring?
在张家举办的餐会是各自带菜的，那你要带什么菜来呢？

expectation
对某个对象有所期待用of
1 The success of the album has exceeded the band's expectation.
这张专辑的成功远超过乐团原本的期待。
2 Jack's parents have very high expectations of him.
Jack的父母亲对他有很高的期待。

splash
(v/n)
1 The kids splashed some juice on the carpet by accident.
小朋友不小心把果汁泼在地毯上了。
2 Oil splashed out of the tank.
油从油箱里撒了出来。
3 She dived into the water with a big splash.
她跳下水的时候激起很大的水花。