[分享] FLOWER BOY
在悉尼留学两年多的时间，我做过十几种兼职工作。每当想起那些工作，心中总是感到自豪，不知道自己是怎样挺过来的。脑海里的记忆也总是疲劳，痛苦和恶劣的工作环境。但有一份工作，一想起来就让我充满了温馨甜蜜，继而是一丝忧伤。眼前又看到各种各样美丽的花儿，空气中仿佛又飘着淡淡的花香……<p></p></P>这份工作是卖花，准确的说是做和卖花相关的工作，朋友们叫我“flower boy”。花店开在windyard station，是悉尼中心商业区的一个地下列车站。花店有两个摊位，分别在车站的两边入口。我的工作分为两个时段，早上6点到9点，下午5点到7点，人流的高峰期。具体内容是早上把所有的花和花盆从冰库里搬出来，换水，修剪和卖花。下午是卖花和把所有的东西收进去。<p></p></P>
我深深的喜爱这个工作。从第一天起，我就发觉它和我以前干过的工作截然不同。以前在餐馆收盘子，一身的饭菜味；在鱼市搬鱼，一身的鱼味；在这儿干完活却是一身的花香，走在大街上左顾右盼，自信心大增。回到家朋友们都来亲近你。以前捧着一堆盘子或抱着一箱鱼，顾客都向两旁躲，如今捧着一大束玫瑰在两个摊点间穿梭，迎接的是欣赏和羡慕的目光。而且这里往来的顾客白领居多，所讲的英文都是Academic（学术）类的，经常会听到他们对花儿的赞叹，“lovely, beautiful”之类的好词儿不绝于耳，让你工作时身心舒畅。<p></p></P>
在花丛里工作的时光固然让人留恋，但更让我怀念的，是在那段日子里认识的两个朋友。 <p></p></P>
T是我卖花的同伴。“她”是一个二十多岁的澳洲小伙子，同性恋。T的主要工作是插花和配花（Flower arrangement）。她对这门艺术有天赋，又心灵手巧，做出来的花束客人都非常喜爱。她的性格跟Sunflower一样，真诚开放，跟她交流很愉快。我记得她见到我的第一个问题是：“你觉得我漂亮吗？”我一愣，红着脸憋了半天，终于憋出一句托福听力原文：“Is ice cold?”<p></p></P>
适应了她的风格，我们相处就融洽了。T经常给我讲她对花儿的一些心得，还逼我背单词。她时常冷不丁的从身后拿出一支花来考我：“这是什么花？”我一看，中文名称都不知道。只好红的叫“red flower”,黄的叫“yellow flower”。她气得脸色发白：“你们男孩子都不喜欢花吗？”这下我可振振有辞了：“谁说的，你看我就是个例子。我不喜欢洗盘子不喜欢搬鱼，却喜欢卖花！”<p></p></P>
T给我看她身穿超短裙的照片，妩媚迷人。又给我看同性恋的报纸，这下才真是大开眼界，如愿以偿。看这种报纸可是我们学市场营销专业学生的课后作业之一。澳洲的同性恋群体很大，他们的特点是教育良好，收入高，消费潜力大。电视里也有专门针对这个群体的广告。我当即表示要把报纸借回去研究研究，她望着我露出了紫罗兰的微笑。<p></p></P>
在花店的最后一天工作，T送给我她做的一束百合花。拿回家中，正在感动，朋友们却在我面前一字排开，审讯开始：“你的同事送的！？你在fish market搬鱼的同事怎么没送几条三文鱼给你？！” <p></p></P>
我第一次见到K是去垃圾房倒垃圾。每天晚上我都负责把花店里的所有垃圾倒掉。这可是真正的绿色垃圾。一些花茎和枝叶，还散发着清香，是我在澳洲最爱的垃圾。K是垃圾房的工作人员，中等身材，瘦瘦的，四十多岁，天津人。大家都是中国人，很快就熟了。K很热情，象大哥哥一样照顾我。要么在我倒垃圾的时候给我讲澳洲的三教九流，生活经历，提醒我不要上当，要么挽起衣袖直接帮我一起干活。<p></p></P>
一天我刚进垃圾房，他微笑着对我说：“等一下。”他转身从包里拿出一个汉堡包，“我知道你还没吃晚饭，我来帮你干，快抓紧时间吃。”原来他的公司中餐提供肯德鸡，他中午多拿了一份。很久没有体会被人关爱的滋味，接过了汉堡包，我不禁心中一酸。国内讲究的什么星级饭店，就餐环境统统比不上这个在异国他乡温馨的垃圾房。在那里，我看着K忙碌的身影，吃完了那个汉堡包。<p></p></P>
从那以后，K经常给我带一些吃的，或帮我把活儿干完，挤出一些时间谈天说地。他来澳洲十几年了，没有身份，妻子和孩子在国内。他每月把大半的工资寄回国供孩子上学。前不久妻子和他离婚了，他照样的寄钱。K憧憬着有一天挣到足够的钱就马上回国和孩子团聚，离开没有牵挂没有欢乐的澳洲。K最爱跟我讲他孩子的童年趣事，引得他自己和我哈哈大笑。如今他的儿子已经二十岁了。可父子分开了十几年，他的脑海里仍只留有儿子的童年印象。那却是K在澳洲唯一的珍贵。<p></p></P>
因为上课时间的调整，我不得不辞去花店的工作。最后一次倒垃圾，K说希望很快能在国内再见面，更希望不是在国内的垃圾房里再见。我笑了。<p></p></P>
回到北京，每次我去肯德鸡的时候，就会想起那个有汉堡包，有欢声笑语，有K的垃圾房。K，希望在国内能很快见到你，我请你吃肯德鸡。 <p></p></P>
相关英语学习<p></p></P>
花是老外日常生活中不可缺少的事物。任何一个小小的事件，他们都爱通过花来表达情感。我在花店打工的时候，虽然经常遇到顾客会先告诉你他们买花的用意，希望得到专业的建议，但大多数时候顾客们都有自己的主见。这时候老板就要求我去询问他们买花的目的，争取向他们推荐一些名“贵”的花卉品种。渐渐的我发现老外们已经把买花当作一种习惯，就像我们中国人有事儿没事儿喜欢下馆子一样。刚开始在花店工作，我就遇到一位女顾客，她想买束花儿送给刚在赌场里赢了钱的男友，问我有什么好的建议。当时我一愣：“有没有搞错，我还是给你介绍一个China Town的中餐馆吧！”<p></p></P>
老外买花的原因和送花的场合很多，除了我认为是“应该买”的场合，其他的情况还包括：同事工作升迁，搬家，朋友生了小孩，家里添了保姆，买了新车，旅行结束等等，不胜枚举。也有人觉得生活太boring或太routine, 周末买束花放在家里搞搞气氛。还有许多女士买花的原因仅仅是：“They’re lovely!”。<p></p></P>
经过那段时间的职业刺激，以后我再去参加老外朋友的聚会场合时，不管事件大小，不管聚会主题的感情色彩是什么，统统都是刘氏万有鲜花定律。省去了以前要冥思苦想什么礼物合适，什么价位合适的痛苦过程。而且主人们接到这份礼物后都是非常的高兴满意。当然最关键的是那些花儿都是我以“内部价格”采购到的！<p></p></P>
鉴于花在国外生活中的重要性，准备出国留学的朋友们，赶快来熟悉下面的英语单词和买花送礼的基本常识吧！<p></p></P>
花店，花商：Florist<p></p></P>
一束花的表达： a bouquet（bunch, cluster）of roses<p></p></P>
花盆：flowerpot；花瓶：flower vase<p></p></P>
a box of flowers： 一盒花？是不是中文听着怪怪的？一个绿色或紫色的四方型小纸盒，里面装一块四方型的绿色花泥，各种鲜花就可以插在花泥上。这种方法比普通的插在花瓶里的花保持的久，而且可以随意体验插花的艺术。国内很少见，开花店的朋友是不是可以借鉴一下？<p></p></P>
花泥：oasis, 字典里只有“沙漠中的绿洲”的意思，如果你买花的时候，老板提醒你要“water the oasis”，你可不要理解为“给沙漠绿洲浇水”哟！<p></p></P>
花瓣：petal；花冠：corolla；老外有时围绕这两个单词讨价还价。<p></p></P>
Bud: 花苞，蓓蕾，rosebud<p></p></P>
包装：please wrap them in that paper. 请你用那种纸把花包起来。<p></p></P>
彩带：ribbon；What color of ribbon would you like？你喜欢哪种颜色的丝带？<p></p></P>
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ROSE <p></p></P>
Dark crimson暗红色玫瑰 – Mourning悲恸<p></p></P>
Pink - Perfect Happiness <p></p></P>
Red - Love, I Love You <p></p></P>
White - You're Heavenly, Secrecy and Silence <p></p></P>
Yellow – Jealousy<p></p></P>
Thornless 无刺玫瑰 - Love at First Sight 一见钟情<p></p></P>
CARNATION - Fascination, Woman Love <p></p></P>
ORCHIDS - Refinement, beautiful Lady, many children<p></p></P>
GERBERA 非洲菊- cheerfulness<p></p></P>
LILY 百合– Purity<p></p></P>
TULIP 郁金香- Perfect Lover<p></p></P>
JASMINE 茉莉– Sexual （Harvey’s hint：Always be careful with it when you give or receive!）<p></p></P>
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National Flower<p></p></P>
China - Peony USA - American Rose UK – Rose<p></p></P>
Australia – Golden Wattle 金合欢 Canada – Maple leaf 枫叶<p></p></P>
相关英语知识阅读<p></p></P>
毫无疑问，情人节（Valentine's Day）是西方一个非常重要的节日。那一天，鲜花贺卡满天飞。但在花店打工的Harvey却很不喜欢这个节日，因为在2月14号这一天意味着要从早上4点到晚上12点不停的忙碌，很累，很累。在情人节来临的前几天，花店工友们都没有了欢声笑语，从眼神中读到的只有恐怖。对flower boy来说，“Valentine is coming soon.（情人节要到了）”无疑可以翻译为“狼来了”或“一年一度的世界末日到了”。无奈大多数人喜爱这个节日，Harvey只好极不情愿的整理了下面这篇英语文章。<p></p></P>
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Valentine's Day<p></p>Valentine's Day happens every year on February 14. Red and pink hearts, along with <B>chubby cupids</B>, decorate stores, offices, and classrooms. Children often make cards to give to their friends and their families. Adults make or buy special cards for the people they love. Friends may give gifts of candy, flowers, jewelry or clothing. <p></p></P>The cards given on Valentine's Day are called "<B>valentines</B>." Valentines often have poems written on them. One of the most popular Valentine's poem is the following: <p></p></P>Roses are red;
<B>Violets</B> are blue;
Sugar is sweet,
And so are you. <p></p></P>Valentine's Day is not a legal holiday. This means that businesses and schools are open. Mail is delivered. But Valentine's Day is still a very special day. Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to tell someone "I'm glad you're my friend," or "I love you." <p></p></P><I>--The Story of St. Valentine (Legend One)<p></p></I></P>St. Valentine was a <B>Christian</B> <B>priest</B> who lived in 270 A.D. (270 A.D. means 270 years after Christ was born.) At that time, the Roman government controlled much of the world. <p></p></P>The Roman government needed many soldiers to protect its lands. The Emperor Claudius II decided that married men did not make good soldiers because they wanted to stay at home with their wives and children. He made a very strange law that said young men were not allowed to marry. He also said that any priest who <B>married</B> a young couple would be put to death. <p></p></P>A priest named Valentine <B>disobeyed</B> the Emperor. He secretly married many young couples. When the Emperor found out, he had Valentine <B>imprisoned</B>. Valentine was <B>beheaded</B> for his disobedience on February 14. Since Valentine had helped lovers, the day he died became a day for people to express love for others. <p></p></P><I>--The Story of St. Valentine (Legend Two) </I><I><p></p></I></P>The Roman government did not like the Christian religion, so Christians were <B>persecuted</B> and were not allowed to <B>worship</B> as they pleased. The Roman government thought they could get rid of the Christian faith by persecuting Christians. <p></p></P>A priest named Valentine continued to practice faith in spite of the persecution. He refused to worship the Roman gods. This made the Emperor Claudius II very angry. Claudius II had Valentine arrested and put into prison. <p></p></P>Valentine spent one year in prison. The prison was very uncomfortable. He had to sleep on a cold, hard floor, and he had very little food. But Valentine was not sad. He had always been kind to children, and they remembered his kindness. The children threw flowers and kind notes to him through the prison bars. Valentine had made friends with the <B>jailer</B>'s blind daughter. She would bring these notes and flowers to him. Whenever he could, Valentine sent notes back out to the children. <p></p></P>The Emperor Claudius II was impressed by Valentine's kindness. He said that Valentine could go free if he would worship the Roman gods. Valentine refused. Instead, he did a very bold thing and tried to <B>convert</B> Claudius II to Christianity. This made Claudius II very angry. He said that Valentine would be put to death. <p></p></P>During the days before his <B>execution</B>, Claudius prayed for the jailer's blind daughter, and she <B>regained</B> her <B>sight</B>. Valentine was beheaded on February 14. Before he died, he wrote a farewell message to the jailer's daughter and signed it "From Your Valentine." Some people say we remember his death by sending kind messages to our friends. <p></p></P> 我还以为都没了呢~~真好！[em02] <P>Absolutely fantastic!!</P><P>Amasing!!</P> 在异乡，哪怕是小小的关怀，都是到心坎里的。那种被人关心的感受是一辈子不会忘记的。 的确有意思！拜读！！ very intersting very intersting t] bucuo <p>a?za牋 a牋 za?.........f1!</p>[em02] 好 最真实的，就是最感动人的的
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