A New Way of Speaking

A New Way of Speaking. Written by Heather Klinkhammer. Illustrated by Felicia Cano.

一种新的说话方式 希瑟·克林克哈默 著 费莉西亚·卡诺 绘

A new school. Raj bites his nails as he and his mother wait in the school office. Today is Raj's first day of school in a new country and he's nervous. His family just moved to the United States from India.

新学校。 拉杰咬着指甲，和妈妈一起在学校办公室等着。 今天是拉杰在新国家上学的第一天，他很紧张。 他们一家刚从印度搬到美国。

The principal, Ms. Alvarez, comes out of her office. Raj wonders if he should stick his hand out as his father taught him. This is how you greet someone in America, his father said. You must be Raj, Ms. Alvarez says. She doesn't extend her hand. Raj feels some relief. He doesn't want to get his first handshake wrong.

校长阿尔瓦雷斯女士从她的办公室走了出来。 拉杰在想要不要按照爸爸教的那样伸出手。 爸爸说，这是你在美国和人打招呼的方式。 你一定就是拉杰吧，阿尔瓦雷斯女士说。 她没有伸手。 拉杰松了口气。 他可不想第一次握手就搞错了。

His mother tells Ms. Alvarez that he earned high marks in English. Ms. Alvarez smiles and says, I can tell he is the apple of your eye. He wonders what Ms. Alvarez means. He has seen no apples in his mother's eyes. You are wonderful like a juicy sweet apple, his mother says to him. Raj feels a smile spread slowly across his face.

妈妈告诉阿尔瓦雷斯女士，拉杰的英语成绩很好。 阿尔瓦雷斯女士笑着说：我看得出来，他是你的掌上明珠。 拉杰搞不懂阿尔瓦雷斯女士是什么意思。 他没看到妈妈眼睛里有苹果呀。 你就像个甜甜的多汁苹果一样讨人喜欢呀，妈妈对他说。 拉杰脸上慢慢绽开了笑容。

A New Friend Ms. Alvarez escorts Raj to his new classroom and introduces him to his teacher, Mr. Washington. Mr. Washington reaches out his hand. Raj shakes it as his father showed him. Welcome, Mr. Washington says. Raj smiles. His first handshake in the United States is a success.

新朋友 阿尔瓦雷斯女士领着拉杰来到他的新教室，把他介绍给他的老师华盛顿先生。 华盛顿先生伸出了手。 拉杰按照爸爸教的那样和他握了手。 欢迎你，华盛顿先生说。 拉杰笑了。 他在美国的第一次握手大获成功。

Sandeep, come here please, Mr. Washington says. A boy with a big smile walks over. Raj, this is Sandeep. He will assist you during the school day. Namaste, Sandeep says. He places his hands together as he bows slightly. The greeting feels like a little bit of home. It is nice to meet another person from India.

桑迪普，请过来一下，华盛顿先生说。 一个笑得很灿烂的男孩走了过来。 拉杰，这是桑迪普。 上学期间他会帮你熟悉环境的。 你好，桑迪普说。 他双手合十，微微鞠了一躬。 这个问候让他感觉到了一丝家的味道。 能遇到另一个来自印度的人真好。