懒人一个，距离上次更新又过去了大半年，日子过得安逸而平淡，文字的才思日渐枯竭，不过这大半年细想起来也不乏可记之事，趁尚有余温，回忆一番，以此为迈向社会的承前启后篇。

     记忆里很长一段时间都有找工作的痕迹。从一开始的茫然，到进行中的疲惫失望，再到最后的尘埃落定，个中滋味，冷暖自知。最初招聘浪潮袭来之时，在应届生和英才网上一次次网申，在没有明确定位的前提下，漫无目的地随大流，宝洁、opera、accenture、kpmg、渣打、SAP……掐指算算，还真没多少与专业挂上钩的，笔试、电话面试、面对面面试、小组群面……身着正装，穿梭于写字楼、学校，接受着一次次的锻炼，也承载着一次次的失望。很多次，我都怀疑公司的氛围是否真适合自己，如果我连自己都说服不了，怎么能打动面试官呢，不止一次面试官对我的印象都是太淡定了，没有他们希望的passion……但是想到留所，又觉得没有那种钻研的劲头。那段时间，一下子觉得自己好失败，没有目标，无比沮丧，这里要谢谢亲爱的LG，在我自怨自艾的时候，是我最好的倾诉对象，给了我极大的鼓舞和支持，缓解了我很大的压力。找工作的过程并不顺利，结局还算皆大欢喜，最后去了xilinx做技术支持，FPGA算是我的专业所在，自己并不讨厌，待遇氛围都还不错，至于将来的前景，只能做了再看吧。

     其间还考过公务员，笔试没有悬念地通过了，考虑到所报的专业和LG的工作地点，报了浦东地税，虽然听说是大热门，不过当时已经签了三方，也没太大压力，心想试试无妨。面试发挥比较失败，一道于丹论语的问题居然没听清，而且死脑筋地没有让对方重复一下，答得可想而知，这是自己比较懊悔的地方，其实可以做得更好。结果调剂到了金山地税，权衡再三，交通问题实在难解决，决定放弃。顺便赞一下金山地税的人事科老师，非常热情，效率也很高，如果再近那么一点点……可惜没有如果，凡事总要做个抉择的。又想起了那句话，我们都只能凭当时的智慧，选择当时以为正确的道路。

     6月2日进行了毕业答辩，本来是4号的，谁知道老板刚从风三基地回来，又要去北京出差，只能临时前调，小小惊恐了一下。上午把PPT检查，最后演练了一下，下午就匆匆上阵了。按照惯例，讲完了PPT之后，回答答辩委员会的问题，每人两三道，实事求是地回答了，基本上没有什么为难的。然后是在门外等委员讨论决议，虽说知道一般没啥问题，还是小小忐忑了下。最后，宣读了答辩委员会决议，决定授予我硕士学位，论文优秀，心里着实轻松了下，算是对我两年工作的肯定和总结吧。

     到此，学生生涯真的要结束了，回想起三年前大四离别时，恋恋不舍还历历在目。如今又到了告别的年代，三年的研究生生活，还是挺充实的，认识了几个好朋友，见识了院士学者的风采，锻炼了动手能力，以后都是记忆里的美好了。

　　为了庆祝anniversary，昨晚和bf小奢侈了一把，去喜多屋吃了顿海鲜自助。春节的时候因为口译上课，放弃了组里去喜多屋的聚餐，这回算是补上吧。

　　我们到的时候晚饭才刚开始，人还没几个。定的位子坐落于最靠里，很安静，窗外能看到浦江和浦西风景，不过那会尚未天黑，总的来说环境还是不错的。刚坐定的时候肚子还是有点饿的，这让我们对今天的战果充满期待。说起自助，印象最深的一次还是大学生日那会，宿舍四个女生去吃火锅自助，抱着吃够本的心态，吃了ｎ多的肉，到最后出来的时候几乎都站不起来了……每每和花花回忆起当初的盛况，总免不了唏嘘一番。

　　据说那边的哈根达斯冰淇淋每次都要排长队的，不过我们到的那会还没开始供应。西点橱窗对我的诱惑甚至超过了海鲜，提拉米苏很赞。传说中的帝王蟹也没开始供应，第一次取食装了满满一盘，回来开始动筷。等我们这一盘吃得差不多时，人已经开始陆续多了。帝王蟹出来了，果然不少人守候，不一会就被瓜分完毕。本着兼容并包的原则，我的挑选原则是面广点小，没吃过的都挑一点，趁人还不多，又挖了两个哈根达斯的小球，心满意足的回到座位上再次开吃。这时窗外已经开始灯火点点了，映照得浦江两畔一派繁华风情，欣赏着窗外的夜景，还是颇有情调的啊。很快好像就有了饱意，面对着琳琅满目的美食再次精挑细选回来，却渐渐乏有动筷的欲望，不禁感叹已经过了吃buffet的年龄了……说说话消消食，又吃了一些甜点和水果，不知不觉三个多小时也过去了。

　　出来的时候还是有点小撑，总的感觉，甜点不错，哈根达斯没有想像的惊艳，帝王蟹的肉质很鲜美，菜式种类很多，但真正有印象的没几个，也许是对海鲜不是特别钟爱。不过对小胃的人来说，两百块大洋的人均实在有点亏。

　　PS：收到了一份意外的礼物，开心感动。发文纪念愉快难忘的一天

高口笔试通过了，不过口试准备很不充分，5月的一次实在心里没底，留待11月再战吧

先标记祝贺自己一下

I can't help shedding tears when I first read it, which tells so much about what true love is alike in ordinary lives.

 

Hanover Square

 

Can it really be sixty-two years ago that I first saw you?

It is truly a lifetime, I know. But as I gaze into your eyes now, it seems like only yesterday that I first saw you, in that small cafe in Hanover Square.

From the moment I saw you smile, as you opened the door for that young mother and her newborn baby. I knew. I knew that I wanted to share the rest of my life with you.

I still think of how foolish I must have looked, as I gazed at you, that first time. I remember watching you intently, as you took off your hat and loosely shook your short dark hair with your fingers. I felt myself becoming immersed in your every detail, as you placed your hat on the table and cupped your hands around the hot cup of tea, gently blowing the steam away with your pouted lips.

From that moment, everything seemed to make perfect sense to me. The people in the cafe and the busy street outside all disappeared into a hazy blur. All I could see was you.

All through my life I have relived that very first day. Many, many times I have sat and thought about that the first day, and how for a few fleeting moments I am there, feeling again what is like to know true love for the very first time. It pleases me that I can still have those feelings now after all those years, and I know I will always have them to comfort me.

Not even as I shook and trembled uncontrollably in the trenches, did I forget your face. I would sit huddled into the wet mud, terrified, as the hails of bullets and mortars crashed down around me. I would clutch my rifle tightly to my heart, and think again of that very first day we met. I would cry out in fear, as the noise of war beat down around me. But, as I thought of you and saw you smiling back at me, everything around me would be become silent, and I would be with you again for a few precious moments, far from the death and destruction. It would not be until I opened my eyes once again, that I would see and hear the carnage of the war around me.

I cannot tell you how strong my love for you was back then, when I returned to you on leave in the September, feeling battered, bruised and fragile. We held each other so tight I thought we would burst. I asked you to marry me the very same day and I whooped with joy when you looked deep into my eyes and said "yes" to being my bride.

I'm looking at our wedding photo now, the one on our dressing table, next to your jewellery box. I think of how young and innocent we were back then. I remember being on the church steps grinning like a Cheshire cat, when you said how dashing and handsome I looked in my uniform. The photo is old and faded now, but when I look at it, I only see the bright vibrant colors of our youth. I can still remember every detail of the pretty wedding dress your mother made for you, with its fine delicate lace and pretty pearls. If I concentrate hard enough, I can smell the sweetness of your wedding bouquet as you held it so proudly for everyone to see.

I remember being so over enjoyed, when a year later, you gently held my hand to your waist and whispered in my ear that we were going to be a family. I know both our children love you dearly; they are outside the door now, waiting.

Do you remember how I panicked like a mad man when Jonathon was born? I can still picture you laughing and smiling at me now, as I clumsily held him for the very first time in my arms. I watched as your laughter faded into tears, as I stared at him and cried my own tears of joy.

Sarah and Tom arrived this morning with little Tessie. Can you remember how we both hugged each other tightly when we saw our tiny granddaughter for the first time? I can't believe she will be eight next month. I am trying not to cry, my love, as I tell you how beautiful she looks today in her pretty dress and red shiny shoes, she reminds me so much of you that first day we met. She has her hair cut short now, just like yours was all those years ago. When I met her at the door her smile wrapped around me like a warm glove, just like yours used to do, my darling.

I know you are tired, my dear, and I must let you go. But I love you so much and it hurts to do so.

As we grew old together, I would tease you that you had not changed since we first met. But it is true, my darling. I do not see the wrinkles and gray hair that other people see. When I look at you now, I only see your sweet tender lips and youthful sparkling eyes as we sat and had out first picnic next to that small stream, and chased each other around that big old oak tree. I remember wishing those first few days together would last forever. Do you remember how exciting and wonderful those days were?

I must go now, my darling. Our children are waiting outside. They want to say goodbye to you.

I wipe the tears away from my eyes and bend my frail old legs down to the floor, so that I can kneel beside you. I lean close to you and take hold of your hand and kiss your tender lips for the very last time.

Sleep peacefully my dear.

I am sad that you had to leave me, but please don't worry. I am content, knowing I will be with you soon. I am too old and too empty now to live much longer without you.

I know it won't be long before we meet again in that small cafe in Hanover Square.      Goodbye, my darling wife.

     花花长途跋涉从西安赶到上海来参加18号的高口考试，之前短信问她准备感觉如何，她答曰基本作放弃打算，就当趁此机会来上海看我了。话虽如此说，我知道这小妮子也不是全然毫无准备的，而且一向考运颇顺。呵呵，不管怎样，高口促成了我俩自大学毕业后的首次聚首倒是事实。

     17号是个大晴天，和花花开玩笑说她的到来给连续阴雨的上海带来了阳光。正午时分，近在一个报亭两端却朝着手机不停报告方位的两个人，在进行了N次的精确定位后，终于在熙熙攘攘的火车站北广场胜利会师。相视一笑，一切都仍是那么熟悉，头发长了，作淑女状，可言语间还是“本性毕露”，呵呵。可惜她的考场安排在浦东海事，匆匆吃了午饭，稍作休顿，便再次暂别，她奔向浦东，我也走向财大提前熟悉考场。

     考试前的一天，总是觉得不断冒出新的知识点没有覆盖到，既得知识的圆圈越大，无知的圆圈似乎也越大。晚上已经不想看翻译，那些个四字成语、古语之类的是怎么也背不完的，碰到只能智取了；主要听了05年和06年的SD和NTGF，练练手感，保持听力的感觉；之后又把听力教材的听译部分匆匆浏览了一遍（事实证明还是明智的，每年都有题目出自教材的定律屡试不爽），看看时间已经将近九点了，又走马观花的把近两年阅读中做错的题扫了一眼，大致回忆了当时的答题思路和对照答案后的改正，有的依然模棱两可想不通，遂作罢，这个时候刨根究底只是和自己过不去。大凡英语考试，似乎总是得阅读者得天下，然阅读习惯已经养成，不可能有颠覆性的跳跃，每每只是希望临场能在自己思维打死结的答题误区多加谨慎而已。差不多九点半了，我的“专职闹钟”不失时机的及时提醒，该睡觉了：）再次将第二天要带齐的用具检查收好，早早的躺到床上，才接近十点，闭着眼睛，眼睛是酸的，脑子里是已经塞满了似的胀，想要努力的挤进一丝东西只能飘出些断续的单词，可是还不困，不过这已经预见到了，比较大型的考试之前要想倒头就睡对我来说很难。英子mm第二天要考中口，其时正在挑灯继续努力中，我就这样躺着躺着，尝试让大脑处于空白，什么都不想，渐渐的，混沌的也就睡着了。

     18号，闹钟响起之前已经醒了，自觉精神状态还不错，看了看窗外，昨天的好天气已换上了阴沉的面孔。一切收拾妥当，向英子告别，并互祝好运。配上那天的冷风，也许颇有点壮士断腕的味道。在喜年来吃了早饭，谨记不喝豆浆，3个小时的考试是对生理体力和脑力的多重考验：）打车到了财大，看到二教前已经聚集了不少同仁。看看时间，才半点刚过，还有二十多分钟才能入场，不过只有早到才觉安心。一帮人在透心凉的晨风中瑟瑟等待，也许受了冷风的刺激，身体微微颤抖，不禁小紧张起来，想来大大小小的考试也经历了不少，不过临考前的紧张感还是照样存在。人越来越多，考前百态，有还在抓紧时间K书的，有吃早餐的，也有热烈聊天的，我也在芸芸众态中体会着众人的感受。八点到了，终于可以进场了。只见前面的同学掏出准考证在手，似乎要检查之后才可进去，旁边一女生嘀咕：不是考生谁还来受这份罪……进去之后径直冲往二楼，考场见到了小朱，Julian以及其他一些熟悉的面孔。和小朱小絮叨了一下，进restroom时发现已经人满为患，没办法，只有慢慢排队等……

     考试进行中，听力SD，第一空两个词，但是jeopardizing一词首先就让我愣了一下，心下一慌，接下来感觉都很不顺，全然没有了平时练习时的一气呵成和洒脱，当时心下判定今天状态欠佳。我并没有在音乐的间隙填到答卷上，只是在原空上补充完整了，但补充得很没有质量保障。不管了，赶紧调整情绪继续，MC是熟得不能再熟的题型，总算稍稍稳定了下，算是热身进入了做题的感觉，除了新闻最后一则有点迷糊，其他的选项还是比较有把握的。接下来的阅读倒是出乎意料的顺利。眼角的余光感受到周围的mm都在奋笔疾书，想必是先做翻译的。我习惯于按部就班的顺序进行，第一篇就让我眼前一亮，主题是如此熟悉，分明是以前做过的真题文章一个体系的，都是讲英国文学著作流失带来的关注，记得很清楚，当时关于某代表人物的一个选项自己还做错了，而此篇文章大部分是围绕这个代表人物的，一下脉络十分清晰，做题也比较顺利（不过考试结束之后，大家交流，包括网上口译名师的解析，居然都没有提到这篇文章的熟悉度，费解……）。有了好的开头，接下来的阅读也是没有大的阻碍，基本是一路进行到底的，几乎没有回头重读的，接受文字和理解信息同步的比较好，于是在这上时间掌握得很好。最后去啃E-C，先通读一遍，基本知道是关于管理学重要人物的，比较开心的看到了凯恩斯的名字，在以前的翻译中出现过，当时自己还错译了这位经济学大师的名字。然后就马不停蹄的逐句翻译，有很多需要重新组织的结构和措辞，也有些不认识的单词，只能尽量带过或凭常识猜测了。考完看到网上给出的参考版本，发现中心人物的名字又错了：（德鲁克，唉，还是知识面狭窄呐。还有一些难点也有出入，不过大体意思是蛮准确的，我想60%的分数应该是不难的。

     第一卷时间到之前，还有剩余时间浏览一下答卷，很快就到时间交卷了。与小朱遥遥目光接触，小朱作拭泪状，我笑笑，用眼神示意加油。吃了块巧克力，和身旁的考生攀谈两句，已经是工作了，一看身份证，居然85年，呜呜，自己好老呀。第二卷继续，NTGF还是做得磕磕碰碰，关于美国的慈善事业的，虽然话题不陌生，可是文章结构性一点不强，很难把握。听译句子比较难，第一句就有点晕，不过紧接的第二句和段落的第一段都是教材上的原题，其他就尽量写了，细节上肯定还是有遗漏的地方的。我还是很stable不知变通的等全部录音完了才誊到答卷上，这里其实很浪费时间，起码有五分钟吧，如果省出这部分时间，我的最后一题SAQ估计怎么着也能填满，现在那题没来得及做，不过那样的代价是卷面的字会龙飞凤舞，对于卷面的整洁，我有着近乎偏执的坚持，倒不是单纯为了博阅卷老师的欢心。做了两篇SAQ后，自觉时间紧张，只得先做C-E，关于环境保护方面的，整体不算难，但是句式啊用词啊也没时间多琢磨了，反正就是飞快的打腹稿飞快的动笔。等到翻译做完，好像就剩十分钟不到了，我这个人特别不能在很紧迫的情况下镇定的发挥，于是最后一篇做得很潦草，估计很多得分点都没踩到。铃声响起，终于结束了三小时的漫长奋战，走出考场，立刻大大的呼吸了一下空气，高速运转的大脑也可以稍作调整了。

     经历过高口，发现也没有传说中的神秘和高不可攀，其实任何事不都如此嘛，只要身历其中，努力了，过程和结果是同样重要的。