第12章 欢迎新生的派对和学生生活(1)
Party for Freshmen and Student Life
Scene 1
When she flew to New York，Ding Rui carefully read Columbia University's manual，she found everything was written in details-map of the city，how to get to the university，where to register，where her dormitory was，where to pay the tuition and other cost and how to get her insurance policy.She still remembered what she had received from the Nanjing University when she had been admitted.It had been so simple.She had to ask and ask before settling everything.Now she could make it by herself only with the help of the manual.How considerate the administration people were！
The next day after she arrived，she was advised there would be a party for the Chinese freshmen at six p.m.by the Chinese Student Union.She was excited.She had a shower，made up and chose evening wear.
The party was in the school dining hall.The president of theChinese Student Union gave a speech："Distinguished guests，ladies and gentlemen：
On behalf of us guys who have come earlier，welcome to Columbia University and be part of us.All of you have come to CU with your dreams.Dreams of success，dreams of becoming professionals，entrepreneurs，scholars and leaders of society.Your coming to CU signifies the first step in your journey of discovery and learning，a journey towards your dream.Life on this journey will be challenging indeed.It may not be comfortable because this is Columbia University.Yet，your dream will come true.To realizeyour dream，you have to understand what is special here.You also have to know how to make the most of your time in the university.
Of course，I thought it is also very important to be part of us if you want to do well.
I am afraid that I have talked too much.Please enjoy the delicious food and drinking here and talk with us."
Ding Rui took a glass of wine.
"The first glass for thirst，the second for nourishment，the third for pleasure，and the fourth for madness，"shouting was someone.
Many people laughed.Ding Rui was talking with a girl next to her.Her name was Li Jun.She majored in bioscience，too.She graduated from Peking University and she was from Xi'an，An China.
"Do you know that girls and boys go to the same rest room insome universities？"said Li Jun.
"That seems very strange.Are there any separate restrooms for the students from different cultures in the schools？"asked Ding Rui.
Suddenly somebody shouted out and shocked them，"No，sweetheart.No.You have to be used to American culture since you are here.Are you still virgin？How long will you keep it？Ha！Ha！Ha！"
They turned and saw a tall and slim woman with lip painted very red.She seemed to be a vampire who had just sucked blood somewhere.Her eyes were small.Their shining could frighten many.
"Hey，crazy woman！You should have learnt more about thewestern culture than us as a senior student here.Who are you？"said Ding Rui and her face was flushed with shyness and anger.
"Oh！Baby，you seem to know America much more than me.I have stayed here for ten years.Who can say she knows more than me about Columbia or about the USA？"She seems a little drunk.
Li Jun pulled the skirt of Ding Rui.They left and went up to thepresident.
"Forgive her，ladies.She has drunk too much，"said the president.
A pretty plump lady，Guo Tifei walked near them and murmured to them："That was Yu Fan.English Name Faith or Fay in short.The old bird is her nickname.She has too much hatred."
飞往纽约的路上，丁瑞仔细阅读了哥伦比亚大学的手册，她发现一切都很详细——城市地图，怎样到达学校，在哪里注册，宿舍在哪里，在哪里交学杂费以及怎么办理保险。她仍然记得当年收到的南京大学录取通知书，太简单了。搞定之前，她不得不问了又问。现在凭着一个小册子，就能办妥，管理人员想得真周到啊！
到校后的第二天，丁瑞接到通知；晚上六点有场欢迎中国新生的晚会，晚会由中国留学生联谊会主办。她感到特别兴奋，她洗澡，化妆，选晚礼服。
晚会在学校饭厅举行。中国留学生联谊会主席发表演讲：“尊敬的来宾，女士们，先生们：我代表老生，欢迎你们来到哥伦比亚大学，成为我们中的一员。来到哥伦比亚大学，每个人都有自己的梦想；成功梦，专家梦，企业家梦，学者梦和当官梦。走进哥伦比亚大学的大门，就意味着你们的求学探索更上一层楼，离梦想的实现又近一步。这里的生活确实充满着挑战，莫等闲，因为这里是哥伦比亚，你将梦想成真，因为这里是哥伦比亚。为了梦想，你要懂得这里什么不一样。你要懂得大学里的大部分时间，怎么利用？你不能不明白。当然，要干好，成为我们的一员是非常重要的。我恐怕说得太多了。大家吃好、喝好、聊好。”
丁瑞拿了杯酒。有人在叫：“第一杯解渴，第二杯养身，第三杯尽兴，第四杯疯狂。”
许多人大笑。丁瑞和身旁的一位女孩聊天，女孩叫李君，专业也是生物科学。她是西安人，毕业于北大。
李君说：“知道吗？有些大学里，男生女生同用一个厕所？”丁瑞问：“太奇怪了？有没有不同文化背景学生用的分开的厕所？”突然有人大叫，吓了她们一跳：“没有，乖乖女，没有！在这里，你们就必须适应美国文化。你们还是处女吧？还能忍多久啊？哈！哈！哈！”
她们转过身，看见一位身材高挑的女子，嘴唇涂的鲜红，像一个刚在哪里吸过血的吸血鬼，眼睛很小，闪出的光能吓倒一群人。
丁瑞又羞又恼，脸胀得通红，她说：“喂，疯女人。既然是老生，对西方文化的了解要比我们多吧。你是谁啊？”
“噢，宝贝，看起来，你比我更了解美国。我在美国十年了。哥伦比亚大学，美国，谁敢说比我知道得多？”她有点醉了。
李君拽了拽丁瑞的裙子，他们离开她去找联谊会主席。主席说：“原谅她吧，女士们，她喝多了。”一位身材丰满的优雅女士，郭惕非，走过来，轻声地说：“那是于帆。英文名字叫菲斯或者简称菲。绰号老鸟。这个女人怨恨太多。”
New Words and Expressions
1.manual n.手册
2.administration n.行政、行政部门
3.tuition n.学费
4.admit vt.接纳、入学
5.distinguished adj.著名的、卓著的
6.professional n.专业人员
7.entrepreneur n.企业家
8.nourishment n.营养
9.shock vt.使…震惊
10.slim adj.苗条的
11.vampire n.吸血鬼
12.suck v.吸，吮
13.flush vt.使……脸红
14.plump adj.丰满的
15.nickname n.绰号
Scene 2
Ding Rui paid and got her text books.They were very expensive.One book would cost her more than 120US dollars because textbooks were published with limited copies and a scholar's effort cost much.Jennifer had driven the car to the University.She wanted to apply for her American driving license.She had contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)although she could drive in the USA as she was over eighteen and had a valid driver's license from her home country and she might drive as long as her home country license remains valid.Jennifer told her it would be more convenient for her to have the driving license because it was the identification card in the USA.
Ding Rui had had several classes.She found that the professors decided the classroom rules.If you do not ask questions，the professors would keep silent.If you wanted to learn something，you had to ask questions continuously.When professors taught or a student was giving a speech，the others would keep silence.
In the evening，Ding went to Starbucks with Li Jun and theplump lady，Guo Tifei.