London 倫敦-
1. Transportation (大眾運輸)
The London Underground is one of the busiest rail services in the world.
It's (naturally) a reliable source of complaints: how slow it is, how expensive it is, how/why it doesn't run 24 hours a day and why are the Tube drivers constantly going on strike?
2. Real estate (房地產)
Fluctuating housing prices, and which neighborhoods are up and coming, are always a hot topic. Because of high property taxes, however, few can afford to move, which leads many Londoners to convert their attics into bedrooms and bathrooms, or to extend their kitchens.
If you want to establish immediate camaraderie with a London homeowner, ask how his or her loft conversion is going.
3. The weather (天氣)
Despite what the Gershwins wrote, it isn't all that foggy in London town.
But weather is still the go-to conversation starter, whether it's cold when it was supposed to be hot, or raining when it was supposed to be dry.
The forecasters, naturally, are rarely completely right.
London also faces the threat of drought this year, causing many residents to wonder not just if it will happen, but how bad it might be.
4. Schools (學校)
Children in England enter primary school at five and secondary school at 11. Any parent with kids that age is fixated on getting his or her child into the right state (public) or private schools -- right down to buying a new home in a prime "catchment area" (school district), or dusting off the piety and becoming a regular churchgoer (even converting!) to secure entry in the best state-funded faith schools.
5. The Olympics (奧運)
The 2012 Olympics in London are the topic this year. Whether you care about the Games or not.
Many Brits tend toward a gloomy outlook on how good the opening ceremony will be, how many (if any) medals the home team will win, the potential for terrorism and how crowded the city will get.
But they're still planning on going, leaving locals to wonder why they couldn't get any better tickets (or revel in the choice seats they scored via work).
New York City 紐約市-
1. Transportation(大眾運輸)
Nearly everyone in New York takes the subway, which runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
So there's no shortage of complaints about which subway lines are the worst and why, or which line isn't running today and why it delayed your commute by an hour -- "We sat in the station for 30 minutes!" -- not to mention detailed directions on the quickest way from point A to point B.
2. Real estate (房地產)
There are five boroughs in New York, but the Manhattan versus Brooklyn debate in particular -- i.e., which is the better place to live? -- will never die. (Though don't forget the loyal Queens contingent.)
Also, New Yorkers aren't shy about asking you what you pay in rent.
3. The weather (天氣)
Though winters (cold) and summers (hot and humid) inspire constant commentary, even a warm winter will start conversations about whether or not it's ever going to snow.
In spring or on any remotely nice day -- when New Yorkers are released from their apartments and offices to play in the sunshine -- "It's so beautiful outside" is the first sentence off anyone's tongue.
4. Vermin(害蟲)
Dealing with vermin is a part of life in New York.
As a visitor, you'll probably spot a few rats on the subway tracks at night, but every New Yorker has a colorful tale about the mouse they found in their apartment, the biggest cockroach they ever saw or that time a rat ran over their foot.
5. Throwing up in a cab(在計程車上吐了)
It might surprise you how many New Yorkers have a "throwing up in a cab" story -- or one about a friend who vomited on the subway or their friend's friend who got sick out the cab window.
One reason? New Yorkers don't drive, so drinking and getting home don't always mix well.
下一篇還有三個城市喔~讓我們繼續城市話題之旅吧!!
菁英教育｜上海托福培訓｜上海雅思培訓｜遊學｜托福｜多益｜雅思｜全民英檢｜TOEFL｜TOEIC｜IELTS｜GEPT｜SAT｜上海SAT培訓｜上海SSAT培訓｜日本打工度假｜日文補習班｜菁英排課系統
|
