Module3AdventureinliteratureandthecinemaIrememberdreamingforyearsaboutlivingabroad.FirstitwasItalywhereIcoulddiscovermyroots.ThenitwasFijibecauseitseemedlikethefurthestplacefromLosAngeles.AfterFiji,mydailyroutineinvolvedwakingupearly,workingallday,andstudyingallnight.AsI'mwritingthis,Icouldpicturemyselfayearandahalfago,sittinginmyoffice,gazingoutofthe20thfloor,andwonderingwhatitwouldbeliketoliveinanothercountry.ThenonedayIchosetostopdreaming.Instead,Ichosetostartplanning.IgavemyselfeightmonthstosaveenoughmoneyandplanwhereIwouldgo.Mygoalwastoliveabroadforayear.Ididtwojobs,sometimesthree,soIcouldsaveenoughmoneyfortheschoolloansandcreditcardbillswhichIwouldstillhavetopaywhileIwasgone.Ihadnosociallife,butIknewthatIwasworkingtowardalifechangingexperience.IwantedtogetoverthefluencyhumpinSpanish,soIlookedintocountriesinLatinAmerica.InSeptemberof2011IquitmyjobandmovedtoCostaRica.IvolunteeredtoteachEnglishatalocalschoolinapoorneighborhoodfortwomonths.Itwasrewardingbeyondbelief.Suddenly,panicstruck.InDecembermymoneywasgoingtorunoutandIwouldhavetogohome.Asfatewouldhaveit,twoweeksbeforeIwasduetoleave,afriendtoldmeaboutajobinalocalcompanywhereshehadjuststartedworking.Sheknewmybackgroundwasinmarketingandsocialmedia,andtheyjusthappenedtohaveaSocialMediaManageropening.Iinterviewedandgotthejob!Then,asfatewouldhaveitagain,theDirectorofCommunicationsquitthedayIstarted.Aftertheinitialshock,Idecidedthatmyjourneydidn'tendthereandappliedforherpositionandthenIbecamethenewDirectorofCommunicationsforamultimilliondollarcompanyinCostaRica!Section_ⅠIntroduction_&_Reading_—_PrereadingTheSteamboatTherewasabigstormaftermidnightandtherainpoured①down.Westayedinsidetheshelter②wehadbuilt③andlettheraftsaildowntheriver.Suddenly,bythelightof④thelightning,wesawsomethinginthemiddleoftheriver.Itlookedlike⑤ahouseatfirst⑥，butthenwerealizeditwasasteamboat.Ithadhitarockandwashalfinandhalfoutof⑦thewater.Weweresailingstraight⑧towardsit.①pour/pɔː/vi.(雨)倾盆而下；pourdown倾盆而下②shelter/'ʃelt/ən.遮蔽物；栖身之地③wehadbuilt为定语从句，其前省略了关系词that或which。④bythelightof借助于……的光亮⑤looklike看起来像⑥atfirst起初，开始的时候⑦halfinandhalfoutof一半在……里，一半露出……⑧straightadv.径直地；直接adj.直的；笔直的汽船[第1段译文]后半夜来了一场暴风雨，大雨倾盆而下。我们躲进了自己事先搭起来的避雨棚，让木筏沿河顺流而下。突然，借助闪电的光亮，我们看到河中间有东西。一开始它看上去像座房子，但后来我们意识到那是一艘汽船。它触礁了，一半沉到水里，一半露在水面上。我们的木筏正径直朝着它驶去。“Itlooksasif⑨it'llgoundersoon，”Jimsaid,afteracoupleof⑩minutes.“Let'sgoandtakealook⑪，”Isaid.“Idon'twanttoboard⑫asinkingship，”saidJim,butwhenIsuggestedthatwemightfindsomethingusefulontheboat,heagreedtogo⑬.Sowepaddled⑭overandclimbedontothesteamboat,keeping⑮asquietasmice⑯.Toourastonishment⑰，therewasalightinoneofthecabins.Thenweheardsomeoneshout⑱，“Ohpleaseboys,don'tkillme!Iwon'ttellanybody！”Aman'sangryvoiceanswered,“You'relying⑲.Yousaidthatlasttime.We'regoingtokillyou.”⑨Itlooksasif...看上去好像……，asif引导表语从句。⑩acoupleof一些，几个acoupleofminutes几分钟，一会儿⑪take/havealook看一看，其后若带宾语需加at。⑫boardvt.上(船、车、飞机等)onboard在船上(或其他公共交通工具内)⑬agreetodosth.同意做某事⑭paddle/'pædl/vi.用桨划(小船)⑮keeping...为现在分词短语作伴随状语。⑯asquietasmice像老鼠一样安静地...
