Situation: Susan is hanging out in a 24-hour diner after a tough day at work. When her coffee finally arrives， she strikes up a conversation with the waitress.

Susan: I'm so glad that you guys are open around the clock now.

Waitress: Yeah， you can't imagine the amount of people that come in here for dinner， even in the middle of the night.

Susan: I always guessed that I wasn't the only madman around here. It's pretty hard working and raising a family. It's nice to know that I can stop in here on the way home and get a bite to eat.

Waitress: I know how you feel. I'm a final-year grad student working on my thesis.

Susan: Wow， you must be really busy， juggling work and school.

Waitress: I can imagine you're much busier， though. Sometimes， it's hard enough just balancing work and school. The thought of adding a family to the works terrifies me.

Susan: Well， I think we just do what we've got to do.

Waitress: But don't forget to have a little fun on the way. Otherwise， what's the point in doing anything?

Susan: You've got that right.

Waitress: So， what'll it be?

情景：在一天忙碌的工作之后，蘇珊來到一家24小時(shí)營業(yè)的餐館。當(dāng)咖啡端上后，蘇珊和一位女服務(wù)員聊了起來。

蘇珊：真高興你們現(xiàn)在24小時(shí)都在營業(yè)。

服務(wù)員：是啊，你絕對(duì)想象不到即使到了半夜還有這么多人來這里吃飯。

蘇珊：我就知道不是只有我一個(gè)人如此。你知道嗎？工作的同時(shí)又要養(yǎng)家真的很困難。知道能在回家路上過來吃個(gè)東西真好。

服務(wù)員：我能了解你的感受。我是個(gè)研究生，今年是最后一年，正在趕論文。

蘇珊：哇，你要同時(shí)兼顧工作和學(xué)業(yè)，一定很辛苦。

服務(wù)員：我能想象到你的難處，有時(shí)候光在工作和學(xué)業(yè)上取得平衡就已經(jīng)很辛苦了。除了工作還要養(yǎng)家更讓我覺得可怕。

蘇珊：嗯，我想我們都是在盡自己的本分。

服務(wù)員：還有在過程中享受一點(diǎn)點(diǎn)樂趣。不然，這還有什么意思呢？

蘇珊：你說的對(duì)。

服務(wù)員：那，你要來點(diǎn)什么呢？

Notes

1. around the clock

意為“晝夜不停、夜以繼日、二十四小時(shí)不休息”。

例句：We worked around the clock to finish the job.

我們?yōu)橥瓿扇蝿?wù)夜以繼日地工作。

2. stop in

有兩種意思，一為“留在家中”，一為“順道拜訪”。文中為第二種意思。

例句：She usually stops in on Friday evenings.

星期五晚上她通常都待在家里。

Say， when you get a chance will you stop in at my office?

喂，你要有時(shí)間就來我辦公室一次吧。

3. get a bite to eat

意為“隨便吃點(diǎn)東西”。

例句：Can you tell me where I can get a bite to eat?

你能不能告訴我哪里可以隨便吃點(diǎn)東西呢？

4. on the way

意為“在……路上、在……過程中?！币部梢哉f成是on (one's) way，后面接地點(diǎn)。文中指的是“在做某事的過程中”。

例句：He is well on the way to becoming a professional writer.

他就要成為一名專業(yè)作家了。

5. Working woman in different Countries

越來越多的職業(yè)女性將健康和自立放在第一位。調(diào)查顯示，亞洲尤其是中國職業(yè)女性在選擇工作場(chǎng)所的條件，有60%的受訪者，將離家近視為第一要素；58%的人認(rèn)為上班時(shí)間可彈性調(diào)整是重要因素；30%的人將工作時(shí)間短列為優(yōu)先考慮；只有16%的人認(rèn)為薪資和能力是相當(dāng)重要的。由此可見，亞洲職業(yè)女性似乎更重視家庭。而在西方Working women want to spend more time with their families， but they can't afford to. Working women say they want more cash in their wallets， even more than other benefits， like health care. They also need a raise and a break.很多職業(yè)女性開始將關(guān)注點(diǎn)放在自己身上而非家庭。