宽广的校外课堂

教师家里轮流举行的聚会、知名或者不知名的人邀请的派对、以各种纪念为名举办的各种活动，由校外人士做的学术讲座等，形成了密苏里新闻教育宽广的校外课堂。

密苏里新闻学院的许多老师喜欢在自己的家里开party。每当周末或者节假日，总会有一些老师举办这样的活动。多则邀请几十人，少则几个人，在家里海阔天空地畅谈，在真实的情景之中让世界各地的学生们了解美国的文化、生存与生活方式，了解专业知识在实际社会中的应用。这是一个颇受学生，特别是外国学生欢迎的方式，是密苏里新闻教育的另一面，也是不可或缺的重要的一面。这样的聚会，说白了就是朋友们或者师生们进一步交流的一个平台，只不过交流的内容扩展到了任意一个方面。

因为希望尽可能全面深入地了解美国，所以凡是被邀请参加的家庭聚会，我都参加了。在访学的后期，我也模仿美国老师的做法，在自己的公寓里搞了几次类似的聚会。

密苏里新闻学院的老师们用这样的方式加强与大家的沟通与交流，也向我们展示了新闻教育的另一面。在国内，学生在课后很难再找到老师，在这里基本不会出现。

Laura Ertz是一位退休教师，她非常喜欢来自世界各地的朋友们。她的女儿曾经在中国石家庄的一个高校当过一年的英语老师，她的女婿是韩国裔，所以她家有传统的东方情结。

Laura喜欢写写画画，以写各种题材的小文章见长，内容包罗万象。她们夫妇均是基督徒，我与几个中国留学生一起到过Laura家里一次，留下的印象非常美好。我与妻儿曾应邀拜访她家，我们家庭成员个个都珍藏了温馨的回忆。

我们第二次去的时候给她带了两本书，一本是我妻子任责任编辑的关于上海世博会的图书，该书图文并茂，间有双语，是关于上海世博会的权威图书另外一本是我新闻传播专业方面的新作。因为她有许多中国朋友，所以我也就没有特意做对应的翻译。因为来她这里的中国人特别多，我希望她在休闲的时候能够与中国朋友好相处。Laura非常喜欢这两本书，当着我们的面看了很久问了我们不少问题，也就是在那个时候，我们更多地谈到了写作的话题。

我很想在有限的时间内了解更多层面的美国人、美国习俗、美国文化、美国宗教等等，也有把这些内容介绍给国内朋友的想法，于是与Laura交换了意见，她非常赞同，不久她就发来了这篇文章。我们原本是要深入合作的，但回国日期的临近使得我没有更多的时间商定具体的细节，回国后则是忙得乱了方寸，合作计划只好暂时搁浅了。

下面的文章是Laura的原版以及翻译。

【原文】

Happy Holidays

By：Laura Ertz

When you come to the United States be prepared to enjoy our many holidays.They may be national days of remembrance，or others such as Easter，Thanksgiving and Christmas that began as religious celebrations and now share the limelight with Santa and the Easter Bunny.Let me introduce you to some of our major holidays.

Let’s begin with Easter which is held in the spring of the year.Easter began as a church celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Special services are held during Lent，the forty days prior to Easter.Good Friday services are solemn as we remember the death of Jesus Christ.Easer Sunday is a day of great celebrating as the resurrection of Christ is celebrated in Churches not only in America，but throughout the world.Many begin their day at an outdoor Sunrise service in the early morning hours，followed by a later church service and festive meal.

Easter is a fun time for children.They look forward to the Easter Bunny bringing them colored eggs and candy in pretty decorated baskets on Easter morning.Easter egg hunts are held in parks，at many homes，and even on the White House lawn in Washington.The children race to find the hidden eggs and candy.

The Fourth of July is a national holiday in honor of our county’s independence from England in 1776.Those who serve in our military are honored，parades are held，and wreaths are placed on graves and memorials throughout the country for those that lost their lives for our country.Federal and city offices are closed，and many have that day off to spend with friends and family at barbeques and parties.As night falls，many cities and towns light up the sky with firework displays.Be sure to be a part of this important day and evening！

In September we have Labor Day，a national holiday that honors the country’s workers.Like the Fourth of July，many Federal and state offices are closed and most people have the day off to spend relaxing.

November is the start of a busy holiday season with Thanksgiving.This holiday began with the pilgrims，our first settlers，as a religious celebration thanking God for a bountiful harvest and all His blessings.Now this day is celebrated in homes across America regardless of religious belief.Thanksgiving is traditionally celebrated with a wonderful meal that often includes roast turkey，pumpkin pie and all the trimmings.At our home，before the blessing is asked，we stand in a circle and each person tells something that they are thankful for.If you are invited to share a Thanksgiving dinner，be sure and accept.

Certainly the biggest holiday of the year is Christmas.Yet again，this is a Christian celebration honoring the birth of Christ.As the Christ Child received gifts from the Magi，three wise men from the East，we give and receive presents.Our homes，offices，stores，and buildings are decorated for the season with Christmas trees，poinsettia plants，and many candles.Neighborhoods and cities are lit in brightly colored lights and displays.

We decorate our house with an artificial Christmas tree with the latest LED lights，little snowmen ornaments，and a wreath on our door with lovely red ribbons.Other people go out into the woods and cut a live tree to decorate for their home.On our mantle we place our beautiful，hand painted nativity set that depicts the birth of the Christ Child.It is a joy each year as I carefully unwrap the statues of baby Jesus，his mother，Mary，Joseph，the Magi，a shepherd，and an ox and donkey.It brings to mind the stable where He was born，the shepherds who were the first to know of his birth，and the Magi who came from the East（possibly China）to find the Christ Child.

Santa Claus shares the limelight of this holiday.The jolly old man in the red suit brings gifts to the good boys and girls in his sleigh pulled by eight tiny reindeer—or nine if you count Rudolph with the red nose.Songs are sung about Santa having a list and checking it twice，to see who is naughty or nice.American children usually try to be especially good at Christmas time，in the hope he will bring everything on their list of wanted toys.

Many cities and towns kick off the holidays right after Thanksgivingwith a Holiday Parade.Santa may be riding on a tractor，a fancy float with a sleigh and eight reindeer，or possibly on a fire truck.You will see Santas at the mall ，and ringing bells on street corners for charity.It is a wonderful time of goodwill when we think of how we can help others，and we take time to smile at strangers on the street.There are Christmas parties to attend and special cultural events for the season.When you are here，please join in the festivities！

While you are in our country，I hope you will visit an American home or make American friends.We have many international students and visiting scholars that visit our home.We have made many lasting friendships，and are excited over making more new friends.The more people we meet from other countries continues to show us as people，we have more similarities than differences even though our countries are different.

I hope you have enjoyed our little walk through a few of our American holidays.I hope you enjoy them all during your stay.

【译文】

快乐的节日

——劳拉·厄茨

当你来到美国，请准备好享受我们的各种节日吧。它们可能是全国性的纪念日，或是其他节日，例如复活节、感恩节、圣诞节，这些节日刚开始是宗教庆典活动，现在是与圣诞老人共享灯光，还有复活节兔子。让我来给你介绍一些我们的主要节日吧。

首先来说说春季的复活节。复活节最初是教会庆典活动，庆祝耶稣基督的死亡和复活。在复活节前的四十天是大斋节，期间会有特别的仪式。Good Friday的仪式非常庄严，用来纪念耶稣遇难。Easer Sunday是庆祝耶稣复活的重大庆典日，不仅美国教堂，而且在世界各国的教堂庆祝。很多人大清早在户外进行日出仪式，开始他们一天的生活，接着在教堂做礼拜、吃圣餐。

复活节是孩子们最开心的节日。他们期盼着那天早上复活节兔子给他们带来彩蛋和糖果，这些彩蛋和糖果放在包装得非常漂亮的篮子里。在公园里，在家里，甚至在华盛顿白宫的草坪上，随处可见复活节找蛋活动。孩子们跑来跑去，到处寻找藏好的蛋和糖果。

7月4日是国庆节，庆祝我们国家1776年从英国独立。那天，在全国，军人会受到表彰，进行阅兵，墓碑和纪念碑前会摆放花环，以缅怀为国捐躯者。联邦和政府部门那天都不办公，许多人都和亲朋好友一起烧烤或聚会。当夜幕降临时，许多城镇的烟花点亮了星空。一定要参与这些重要的日子和夜晚！

在9月我们会有劳动节，这是国家性的节日，纪念全国的工人们。就像在7月4日一样，许多联邦和州办公室都关门了，大多数人都放假，去消遣放松自己。

从11月开始会有各种各样的节日，首先是感恩节。这个节日始于朝圣者，我们的第一批定居者，作为一种宗教庆典，为丰收和福佑而感谢上帝。现在，美国人在家里庆祝这一天，与宗教信仰没有什么关系。传统的庆祝方式是一顿丰盛的美餐，通常有烤火鸡、南瓜派和所有的配料。在我们家，祷告之前，我们会站成一个圈，每个人都说说他们要感谢什么。如果你被邀请去共享感恩节晚餐，请欣然接受。

当然，一年当中最盛大的节日非圣诞节莫属。这也是一个宗教庆祝节日，庆祝耶稣诞生。就像基督这孩子会收到东方三博士的礼物一样，我们也会送出和收到礼物。我们的住房、办公室、商店、各种建筑都用圣诞树、圣诞红植物和许多蜡烛装点。社区和市区都点亮了彩灯。

我们用人造圣诞树装点我们的房子，树上挂着最新的LED灯、小雪人饰品，并在家门口放一个花环，上面会扎着非常漂亮的红丝带。也有人会去树林里砍一棵小树装饰他们的家。我们把漂亮的、手绘的耶稣诞生地的图画铺在地上。每年当我小心翼翼地把婴儿耶稣、他的母亲、玛丽、约瑟、东方三博士、牧人、牛和驴的雕像打开时，我都感觉非常开心。它使我想起了他出生的牛棚，牧羊人是第一个知道他出生的，来自东方的三博士（可能是中国）找到了基督的孩子。

圣诞老人是这个假期的焦点。这个快乐的老人穿着红色套装，坐着由8只小驯鹿（如果把红鼻子的Rudolph算上的话是9个）拉着的雪橇，给听话的孩子们送去小礼物。在唱圣诞歌曲时会有一个清单，检查两遍，看哪个孩子调皮，哪个孩子听话。美国孩子通常在圣诞节的时候都尽可能表现得乖巧，希望圣诞老人能把清单上列出的他们想要的所有玩具都送给他们。

许多城镇都会取消感恩节后面的节日，这样就能有一个假期游玩。圣诞老人可能会坐着卡车、载着雪橇和八只驯鹿的漂亮彩车，或者有可能坐着消防车。你将在购物中心看到圣诞老人，在街角听到为慈善捐款的铃声。这是一个充满善意的好时节，我们想着怎样帮助别人，我们对街头的陌生人投以微笑。这期间，会有圣诞晚会可以参加，还有一些文化性的活动。当你来到这儿，请参与这些活动吧！

当你来到我们的国家，我希望你会拜访美国家庭或者结交美国朋友。有很多留学生和访问学者来我们家玩，我们和其中很多人建立了持久的友谊，如果能交更多的新朋友，我们会非常开心。我们结识越多来自其他国家的人，我们就会有越多的共同点，即使我们的国家是不同的。

我希望你在美国逗留期间旅行愉快，尽情享受美国的节日。