陈豪在北京的abc美国公司工作,他的美国同事amy好像显得不太高兴。
(office ambience)
ch:hi amy, how are you?
a:i'm fine.
c:听上去你好像不太高兴?出什么事了吗?
a:as a matter of fact there is. i consider you a good friend as well as colleague. you know i have tried to help you as much as i can since you came to work at abc.
c:是啊。这几个月来,你确实帮了我很多忙,我特别感激。
a:unfortunately we have a problem right now. as we say in the united states, "i have a bone to pick with you".
c:"a bone to pick with me?" 这是什么意思啊?
a:it means that i have a complaint about something that involves you.
c:我什么地方得罪你了吗?
a:forgive me - i may be wrong, but i think you used my office while i was away last week.
c:没错,你出差的时候。我以为你不会介意呢。
a:i would not have minded if you had asked me first.
c:你走后我才想起来的。正好有个项目快到期了,我需要个安静的地方工作,所以就借用了你的宝地。
a:i understand, but you need to be aware that you shouldn't make yourself at home in someone else's office without first asking permission.
c:对不起,可你是怎么知道的呢?
a:we will have to continue this later. i have a meeting in five minutes.
******
当天下午陈豪和amy又碰面了。
a:chen hao, you deserve to know what bothered me about your using my office without asking me first. you were not very considerate in some of the things you did.
c:你能说具体点儿吗?
a:it appears that you ate your lunch in my office.
c:你怎么知道的?
a:there were crumbs all over my desk.
c:那是我不对,应该打扫干净。
a:and how do you explain the missing paper clips? i was down to my last few, and when i came back, there weren't any left.
c:对不起,最后几个回形针用了。
a:and that means that you went through my desk to find them.
c:可大家不都这样吗?我以为可以这样做呢。
a:well, it's not. even with good friends. just because people are not at their desk, doesn't mean that you can make your self at home when they are not there.
c:你说得没错。不过我确实不是有意得罪你。
a:i accept your apology. in the future remember to ask permission before you use a coworker's desk, office equipment or supplies. when you do receive permission, leave everything as you found it.
c:我以后知道了,谢谢你告诉我。