陳豪是個勤快的年輕人,ABC美國公司的總裁很喜歡他, 正在逐漸給他增加一些任務(wù)。陳豪也很機(jī)靈,凡是沒有把握的事都去請教美籍華人Mary。
(Office ambience)
M:陳豪,你好象很激動,What happened?
C:啊呀,我們的總裁,Mr. Moore,讓我明天請兩位客戶吃晚飯。我知道, 我過去一直是當(dāng)陪客的,never been a host。I don't even know what to do!
M:Don't worry。當(dāng)主人主要是要保證晚餐進(jìn)行得順順當(dāng)當(dāng),讓客人感到舒適滿意。
C:可問題是怎么做。Tell me specifically what to do first。
M:First, of course, choose a restaurant, 找個合適的飯館呀!
C:哎,我們公司附近不是最近開了一個新飯館嗎? I'll take them there。
M:你呀,最好找一個你熟悉的飯館,so you can be sure that the food and service will be good。
C:那倒是,否則太危險。I did hear that new restaurant is quite noisy。
M:太吵鬧可不行,You need an atmosphere that is suitable for business conversation。
C:有了,我想起了一個非常合適的飯館。 Mary, would you like to have lunch there with me today to check it out?
M:Thank you. I'd love to be your guinea pig for lunch。我就做一回你的試驗品吧!
C:Guinea pig! 請你吃飯還說做我的試驗品!
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C:So, Mary, what do you think? Will this work for the business dinner?
M:It's perfect。對了,既然你現(xiàn)在在這里,你可以認(rèn)識一下那head waiter,把明天的帳先付了,take care of the bill for tomorrow night。
C:飯還沒有吃,吃什么都還不知道,就付錢?
M:沒有關(guān)系的。你先把信用卡給他,讓他印一份,告訴他你要給多少小費(fèi),然后簽個字,讓他們把賬單的副本寄給你。
C:But isn't it risky to give someone your credit card?
M:像樣的飯館都有信譽(yù),so it's not risky and it's done all the time。要是你不想先付帳的話,那你當(dāng)天就先告訴服務(wù)員吃完飯后把賬單交給你。That will eliminate any confusion over who is paying.
C:That's a very good idea。對了,Mary,既然我們在這里,那我就先定一個比較安靜,景色比較好的桌子吧。
M:A wonder idea to request a specific table for tomorrow.
C:Mary,Thank you so much.
M:You're welcome. Next time you'll know that as a host, it's your responsibility to choose an appropriate restaurant, taking care as much as possible ahead of time such as arranging for how to pay the bill and requesting a nice table. Then it will be an enjoyable evening for all.