E-mail: Interivew with Taxi Driver about the Olympics

I conducted an interview with a taxi driver about his thoughts on the Olympics. Enjoy!

我：你好。你叫什么名字？

hello,what’s your name?

司机：你好。我叫王杰。

driver: Hello,My name is WangJie

我：你是做什么工作的？

What do you work for?

司机：我是一名出租车司机

I am a taxi driver.

我：奥运接近了北京你感到了什么变化？

What kind of changes have you noticed in Beijing in the mounth leading up to the Olympics?

司机：啊。变化太大了。城市建设和人们的精神面貌都发生了很大的变化。

oh,yes,it is great changes in Beijing.the urban construction and the mental outlook all had changed a lot.

我：你认为大家对北京的改变是否是同一种方式？

Do you think that everyone experiences the changes the same way?

司机：恩 是的

en,yes.

我：你认为会有人会被奥运负面的影响么？如果是的话会是谁？为什么？

Do you think someone poeple will be negatively affected by the Olympics,if so who and why?

司机：可能会有，因为人很多。什么样的情况都有可能发生。奥运一开，给大家交通，生活带来很多不便。但还是少数人不会理解

Maybe, because there are too many people so anything could happen. Olympics also may bring some traffic trouble or life troubles. Maybe a few people can’t understand.

我：奥林匹克运动会让你感到为中国自豪么？

Has the Olympics made you feel more proud of China and if so why?

司机：是的，因为是全世界的活动，大家都很自豪。

Yes, Because it is the global activity, all the Chinese people feel proud.

我 ：你买过奥运纪念物么？

Had you bought any Olympic souveneirs?

恩，买过，现在我车里挂的福娃就是奥运纪念物。

yes,now you can see the cosmat hanging in my car.

我：那我能给你照一张相么？

so, can I take a picture of you?

司机：哦，可以。

oh,yes.

我：你对奥运的哪项运动最感兴趣？为什么？

Which sports will you follow most in the Beijing Olympics and why?

司机：我对100米栏，刘翔的这个。还有中国男篮。姚明他们是不是会来。还有中国足球是否会走向世界。

I’m really interesting about 100 meters jump a hurdle like LiuXiang ,and Chinese men’s basketball, If YaoMing will come and whether Chinese footballer can step to the world.

我：你对谁最感兴趣呢？

Who do you most interesting?

司机：刘翔，姚明

LiuXiang, YaoMing.

我：为什么呢

Why?

司机：因为他们不但为我们中国人争光，也为亚洲人争光。

Because they not only brings honor for our Chinese, also brings honor for the Asian.

我：北京奥运对你有什么个人的影响么？

What impact has the Beijing Olympics had on you, personally?

司机：我是一名司机，奥运对交通加强了管制，影响了我的一些收入。但是毕竟是世界的活动。而且我们可以看到比赛

You see I’m a driver, Olympic Games strengthened the control to the transportation, It has affected my income. But it is the world activity after all so moreover we may see the competition.

我：你对北京奥运有什么担心的地方么？

What worries, if any,do you have about the Olympics?

司机：有。虽然有安全措施，但是避免不了有一些恐怖分子得蓄意破坏。

Yes, Even though there has security measure, But may not avoid some terrorist sabotage.

我：你认为在电视前看奥运和远离现场看有什么不一样的地方么？

What impressions about China do you hope foreigners who attend the Olympics or watch them on televisions take away with them?

司机：电视看的是画面，在现场时身临其境。感受下当场气氛

Well, In the TV, we just watch the some moving pictures, but, Is experiences personally in the scene. Feeling on the scene atmosphere.

我：你自己也会经常做运动么？

Do you often do some sports? What kind?

司机：是的经常.散步，游泳，打乒乓球。

Yes, I often do some walking, swimming, play ping-pong.

我：你大概每周做几小时的运动？

How many hours a week do you spend on there activities?

司机：基本上每天都要活动。

Mostly every day.

我：你认为健身是爱国的责任得表现么？

Do you see fitness as a patriotic duty?If so why?

司机：是的

Yes.

我：现在的社会竞争是残酷的。奥林匹克运动会是竞争为主的比赛。你是怎么看待奥林匹克运动会里的竞争的？

To be sure, competition lies at the heart of the Olympics and just about all sporting events. What do you think of the competitions in the Olmpic?

司机：竞争就有胜有负，中国提倡友谊第一比赛第二。但是还是赢了比较好

If has the compitition, there will have the winner and loser. The Chinese advocate friendship first competes second. But I still hope we can win.

我：你认为太多的竞争是不是会不好？

How can too much competition be bad?

司机：竞争本身没有不好的地方。身为运动员也有失败的时候。

Competition itself is not a mistake. Because the athlete also has defeat’s time.

我：很多人说中国人没有团队合作精神。你认为奥运来了能改变么？

Some people say Chinese people don’t know how to work well as a team. Do you think the Olympics has changed the concept of “teams” and “teamwork” in China?

司机：肯定因为奥林匹克能到北京来是很不容易的。奥运来了是运动员更有向心力

Of course it can change. It is not easy for the Olympics will be hold in Beijing.Becasue of the Olympic,The athlete will has centripetal force.

我：你注意到外国人开始多了么？

Are you more aware of other country’s now that many of them are coming to Beijing?

司机：是的每天都能看见

yes, Mostly everyday I can see

我：你对那些国家的人最感兴趣？

Which country’s person are you most interested to ?

司机：每个国家都感兴趣，对于那些先进的发达国家更感兴趣，是要学习他们的文化文明。

I’m interested in every countries’ person, more interesting about the people from developed countries. We can konw about their countries ‘culture.

我：你曾经注意过非中国运动员么？

Are you rooting for any non-Chinese athletes?

司机：注意了很多，像美国NBA的球星。

Yes, Many, such like the super star of NBA.

我：你认为奥运歌曲会被选定为哪个呢？哪首歌对你来说最有意义？

What do you think about the proposed olympic songs? Which ones should be chosen?What it means to you?

司机：我听得很少，我对音乐不是太敏感，我对这方面发表不了什么看法。

I have no idea about this question.

我：谢谢你

thank you!