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224.No Trivial Triumph
第224課 非同小可的成功
My triumph in English class was no trivial matter.
我在英語(yǔ)課程方面的成功非同小可。
I trudged to class everyday, even in the most trying of times, over the tundra that marks the winter here.
每天我走過(guò)這里冬天常見(jiàn)的凍原，步履艱難地去上課，即使在最為難捱的時(shí)期。
I had a turbulent time coming up with the tuition for the class as well,
我也經(jīng)歷了湊學(xué)費(fèi)的艱辛，
once working as a collector of firewood and twigs to place in the fireplaces of rich families.
曾經(jīng)拾木柴和細(xì)樹(shù)枝供富家的火爐生火。
But once it began, I put all that turmoil behind me,
而一旦開(kāi)始，我把困苦統(tǒng)統(tǒng)置于腦后，
forgetting all that was troublesome in my life so that I could concentrate on learning English.
忘掉生活中的一切煩惱，全心專(zhuān)注于英語(yǔ)的學(xué)習(xí)。
I attended extra tutorials and even hired a private tutor.
我參加額外的輔導(dǎo)，甚至雇了一位私人教師。
The trumpet sounded in the morning, and I tried my best to trot to class with a happy look on my face.
早晨當(dāng)號(hào)角響起，我竭盡力氣，一路小跑去上課，臉上帶著一副高興的神情。
Sometimes an overwhelming feeling of failure tugged at me, however.
但是，有時(shí)一種令人窒息的失敗感在拖我后腿。
I would tumble into a theater and enjoy the entertaining machinations of an acting troupe.
我會(huì)闖入劇院去欣賞演出劇團(tuán)所表演的引入入勝的陰謀詭計(jì)。
This usually made me feel better.
這樣通常使我感覺(jué)好些。
Whenever I felt myself getting bored with English,
每當(dāng)我發(fā)覺(jué)自己對(duì)英語(yǔ)感到厭煩的時(shí)候，
I would try to twine my interest in language with my interest in philosophy.
我就會(huì)把自己對(duì)語(yǔ)言的興趣與對(duì)哲學(xué)的興趣相互結(jié)合。
I would seek out translations of Chinese philosophy books that I had already read in my native language.
我會(huì)找出我曾用母語(yǔ)讀過(guò)的中國(guó)哲學(xué)書(shū)籍的譯文。
I would take a taxi down the turnpike and buy some books at a famous bookshop.
我會(huì)在公路上打的，去一家有名的書(shū)店買(mǎi)些書(shū)籍。
On one occasion, I bought a turquoise colored reading lamp at a gift shop next to the bookstore. I still have it.
有一次，我在書(shū)店旁邊一家禮品店買(mǎi)了一盞碧綠色的閱讀用臺(tái)燈。我現(xiàn)在還在用。
Tackling a foreign language is no easy task. I am truculent by nature.
學(xué)一門(mén)外語(yǔ)絕非易事。我生性爭(zhēng)強(qiáng)好勝。
When I found myself getting angry at something I did not understand, I would tightly squeeze a tube of toothpaste.
當(dāng)我發(fā)現(xiàn)自己對(duì)不懂的東西生氣的時(shí)候，我就使勁擠牙膏管；
It also helped to sit in the tub and take a long, hot bath.
坐在浴缸里，洗個(gè)長(zhǎng)時(shí)間的熱水澡也管用。
Well, in the end, all the hard work paid off. I have my trustworthy teachers to thank.
好啦，最后，所有的辛苦都有了好結(jié)果。我得感謝我那些值得信賴(lài)的老師。
Tomorrow, visa in hand, I am heading off for the tropical sun of southern California.
明天，我將手握簽證，動(dòng)身前往南加州的灸熱地區(qū)。
