2022年12月22日 VOA慢速英语：大流行病在某些方面改变了美国人的生活

 

The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic disease almost three years ago. The health crisis greatly changed America in ways temporary and long-lasting.
大约三年前，世界卫生组织宣布 COVID-19 为大流行病。这场健康危机以暂时和持久的方式极大地改变了美国。
 
Here is a look at some interests that arose among people during the years of restrictive experience.
下面是人们在多年的限制性经验中产生的一些兴趣。
 
Musical instruments
乐器

During the pandemic, more people learned to play, or returned to playing, a musical instrument.
在大流行期间，更多的人学会了演奏或重新演奏乐器。
 
For most, the activity was a hobby, something done for pleasure alone.
对于大多数人来说，这项活动是一种爱好，只是为了快乐而做的事情。
 
Bob Dorobis of Middletown, New Jersey, is an example. After a long break from music, he worked hard to improve his guitar technique during the pandemic. Now, the 70-year-old software developer is looking forward to more music time in retirement.
新泽西州米德尔敦的 Bob Dorobis 就是一个例子。在长期远离音乐之后，他在大流行期间努力提高吉他技术。现在，这位 70 岁的软件开发人员期待退休后有更多的音乐时光。
 
"When your fingerpicking sounds good it's very rewarding," he said. "I finally realized the only way for me to like it better is to learn it better."
“当你的指弹听起来不错时，这是非常有益的，”他说。“我终于意识到让我更喜欢它的唯一方法就是更好地学习它。”
 
Exercise
邻里友善
 
During the pandemic, a lot of people started exercising – mainly running, bicycle riding, and walking.
在大流行期间，更多的美国人更多地参与到他们的邻居和社区中。
 
Beth Lehman is a childcare worker in Greenville, New York. She got on a bike for the first time in years with the children she cares for. Now, the whole family she works for rides bikes with her, including a grandfather in his 80s.
贝丝·雷曼 (Beth Lehman) 是纽约格林维尔的一名儿童保育员。多年来，她第一次和她照顾的孩子们一起骑自行车。现在，她工作的整个家庭都和她一起骑自行车，包括一位 80 多岁的祖父。
 
"I faked confidence," she said of taking to two wheels again.
“我假装自信，”她谈到再次转向两个轮子时说。
 
Neighborly kindness
邻里友善
 
During the pandemic, more Americans got more involved with their neighbors and communities.
在大流行期间，更多的美国人更多地参与到他们的邻居和社区中。
 
Many began to help old people. Neighborhoods organized assistance for them, including snow removal, food deliveries and transportation to medical visits.
许多人开始帮助老人。社区为他们组织了援助，包括除雪、送餐和就医交通。
 
Lisa and Larry Neula in Sacramento, California, shared their musical talents with their neighbors. Lisa is a former competitor and teacher of Hawaiian dance. Larry is a singer with the Lim Family, a Hawaiian traditional music group.
加利福尼亚州萨克拉门托的 Lisa 和 Larry Neula 与邻居分享了他们的音乐才华。丽莎曾是夏威夷舞蹈的参赛者和老师。Larry 是夏威夷传统音乐团体 Lim Family 的歌手。
 
The couple performed just outside their house for gatherings of their neighbors during the pandemic. They continue the events to this day.
在大流行期间，这对夫妇就在他们家外面为邻居的聚会表演。他们将活动延续到今天。
 
"If you get one person who shows they want to be social, then the other people catch on. It gets to be contagious," Lisa said. "I don't want to take all the credit, but it makes me a better person."
“如果你找到一个表现出他们想要社交的人，那么其他人就会流行起来。它会具有传染性，”丽莎说。“我不想把所有的功劳都归功于自己，但这让我成为了一个更好的人。”
 
Sports and gardening
运动和园艺
 
As indoor public gatherings became impossible, outdoor activities became more popular.
随着室内公共集会变得不可能，户外活动变得更加流行。
 
Gardening, for example, was a way to get some extra exercise and grow fresh food. "Now, I rarely watch TV," said Kelly Flor-Robinson from Bethany Beach, Delaware.
例如，园艺是一种获得额外锻炼和种植新鲜食物的方式。“现在，我很少看电视，”来自特拉华州伯大尼比奇的凯利弗洛罗宾逊说。
 
Sports such as pickleball added players. Its fan base grew so large, the demand for playing time was bigger than court capacity in some places.
匹克球等运动增加了球员。它的粉丝群增长如此之大，以至于在某些地方对上场时间的需求大于球场容量。
 
The situation for golf was similar.
高尔夫的情况类似。
 
In Maplewood, New Jersey, Matthew Peyton and his son, Julian, worked on their golf games together. Julian now works in a sports shop and is learning about college golf programs.
在新泽西州的 Maplewood，Matthew Peyton 和他的儿子 Julian 一起打高尔夫球。朱利安现在在一家体育用品商店工作，正在学习大学高尔夫课程。
 
"So there I am. Single dad with a 15-year-old, active teenage boy who won't be going to school for two years," Matthew said. "We don't know what's safe. We don't touch door knobs or go to the store. But the golf course is our refuge. You're 300 yards away from anyone else all by yourself. It's like a private oasis."
“所以我就是这样。单身父亲有一个 15 岁、活跃的十几岁男孩，他两年内不会上学，”马修说。“我们不知道什么是安全的。我们不碰门把手或去商店。但高尔夫球场是我们的避难所。你一个人与其他人相距 300 码。它就像一片私人绿洲。”
 
Shopping
购物
American shopping also changed. Curbside pickup and food delivery exploded in popularity. Both are still important for some people who once liked to visit stores.
美国购物也发生了变化。路边取货和送餐服务大受欢迎。对于一些曾经喜欢逛商店的人来说，两者仍然很重要。

"I used to enjoy food shopping, but this saves so much time and overspending on my part so I stuck with it," said Amanda Sheronas Spencer in Malvern, Pennsylvania.
宾夕法尼亚州马尔文的 Amanda Sheronas Spencer 说：“我以前喜欢购物，但这节省了我很多时间和超支，所以我坚持了下来。”
 
She added, "If I do go in person, I have to stick to my list, which is difficult for a person who loves food and cooking!"
她补充说：“如果我亲自去，我必须坚持我的名单，这对一个热爱美食和烹饪的人来说很难！”