These are called “love tents” but they’re not what you think.
雖被稱為“愛的帳篷”,但是它們可與你所想不同。
Chinese colleges have come up with an unusual way to help freshmen1 settle in.
中國的大學(xué)別出心裁,以一種特殊的方式幫助新生適應(yīng)校園。
They turn their gyms into campsites for moms and dads, some of whom have traveled thousands of miles across the country, to say goodbye.
學(xué)校把體育館作為營地讓家長落腳,這其中不乏一些人從國內(nèi)各處不遠萬里來送別他們的寶貝。
For the past five years, Tianjin University in northern China has provided free accommodation for parents in what it calls “tents of love.” Other schools let parents sleep on mats in school gymnasiums.
過去五年來,天津大學(xué)一直為家長們提供免費住處,并將其稱為“愛的帳篷”。其它學(xué)校也讓家長借宿在學(xué)校體育館的墊子上。
”Going to college is a life moment and my parents didn’t want to miss that,” said Xiong Jinqi, afreshman2 at Tianjin University majoring in applied3 chemistry.
熊金琦(音)是天津大學(xué)應(yīng)用化學(xué)專業(yè)新生,他說:“去大學(xué)報到是一生中的重要時刻,我爸媽不想錯過。”
His parents traveled with him on the 19-hour train journey from Jiangxi province in southern China.
他父母陪他一起從中國南方的江西省坐了19個小時的火車來到學(xué)校。
”My parents are eager to see what my life will be in the next four years.”
“他們特別想看到我未來四年的生活會是什么樣子。”
Coddled?
溺愛?
Images of schools gyms packed with parents have been widely shared on Chinese social media prompting a debate on whether China’s only children are too coddled.
學(xué)校體育館里擠滿家長的圖片在中國的社交媒體上廣泛流傳,引起了人們對中國獨生子女是否太過嬌慣的爭論。
Some have voiced criticism of Tianjin University, saying that they think both the parents and the children should be more independent.
有人批評天津大學(xué)的做法,他們認為家長和孩子都應(yīng)該更加獨立。
Of course, “helicopter parents” like these aren’t confined to China.
當(dāng)然,這樣的“直升機父母”也并非僅限于中國。
But China’s millennials are often doted on by parents and two sets of grandparents, prompting fears that China has produced a generation of “little emperors” unable or unwilling4 to take care of themselves.
但中國的千禧一代,常常是被爸媽哄著,爺爺奶奶姥姥姥爺寵著,使人擔(dān)心中國培養(yǎng)了一代“小皇帝”,不愿意自理或缺乏自理能力。
Xiong Bingqi, the deputy director of think-tank 21st Century Education Research Institute, thinks the problem is overstated.
21世紀(jì)教育研究院的副院長熊丙奇認為,問題嚴(yán)重性被夸大了。
”It has always been a problem in China that at the start of every school year, colleges are packed with parents who come along to drop off their children and stay with them,” he said.
“每一次新學(xué)年開始的時候,大學(xué)里都擠滿了送學(xué)生的家長,并且還會呆幾天,這在中國一直是個問題,”他說。
”For some families, it’s their way to celebrate the first-ever family member who’s able to go to college,” Xiong added. “There’s nothing wrong with sharing the happiness.”
“對一些家庭來說,這是對家里出了第一位大學(xué)生的慶祝方式,”熊院長補充道。“分享這份喜悅沒什么不對的。”
’No brainer’
“人之常情”
Xiong’s father said the decision to escort their son was a no-brainer. He and his wife are among the many “campers” who sleep in the 550 temporary tents set up in the Tianjin University gym.
熊金琦的爸爸說護送兒子來學(xué)校是想都不用想的事兒。他和妻子兩人同眾多“露營者”一起,睡在天津大學(xué)體育館搭起的550個臨時帳篷里。
”My child has lots of luggage and we also want to go travel,” said his father Xiong Yonghui.
“孩子要拿很多行李,我倆也想旅旅游,”熊金琦的父親熊永輝說。
”The hotels nearby are fully5 booked so I had to sleep in the tents.”
“附近的旅館都訂滿了,只能住帳篷。”
Their son also shrugged6 off the criticism although he said he was looking forward to living on his own for the first time.
盡管他們的兒子說自己期望著開始第一次獨立的生活,但也對批評的聲音不屑一顧。
”Being accompanied by my parents doesn’t mean I’m spoiled.”
“爸媽陪著并不代表我被慣壞了。”