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。