Time to make new friends: here’s how

大学新生手册：交友的艺术

 

 

 

Whether you were the shy one at high school or the most popular person on campus, starting university is a clean slate for everyone.

不管高中时你是腼腆少年，还是校园中的风云人物；升入大学，每个人都是一张白纸。

 

It’s the best time to develop your skills with different people, such as teachers, classmates, and roommates. Your social skills and relationships with people in college will have an influence long after you graduate.

大学是培养人际交往能力的时机，你会同老师、同学、室友等不同人群打交道。大学期间，你的社交技能以及人脉关系将会在你毕业后发挥持久的影响力。

 

Here are some tips on developing your people skills at college.

这里为你提供一些关于大学期间培养社交能力的小贴士。

 

Put yourself out there and meet new people

推销自己，广交好友

 

You’re very likely to make some lifelong friendships at college. But before you get there you have to start by making acquaintances.

大学期间，你很有可能会结交一辈子的挚友。但在那之前，你必须从结交朋友开始。

 

Upperclassmen and the college itself will organize events to introduce you and your peers to each other and the new college environment. For the sake of improving your social skills early on, attend every single one.

高年级学长们和学校都会组织各种活动，介绍你和同学们相互认识，熟悉新校园环境。为了尽早提高你的社交能力，这类活动一项都不要错过。

 

Join clubs that fit your interests. You can meet many people there and it’s a safe bet that you will have something in common.

参加你感兴趣的社团。在那里，你能见到很多人，而且你们几乎百分百能够找到志同道合之处。

 

Being active on social networks, such as Renren and micro blogs, is also a good way to meet people, especially if you’re not so good at face-to-face conversation.

成为人人网、微博这类社交网站上的活跃份子也是个交朋友的好方法，尤其在你不太擅长与人面对面沟通的情况下。

 

Always open yourself to conversation

敞开心扉，融入交流

 

Your chances of making new friends depends on your ability to get a friendly vibe across.

结识新朋友的机率大小取决于你的亲和力。

 

Simple gestures, such as moving your things from a chair when someone is looking for a place in the canteen, can make you seem more open to conversation. You can also take out your earphones when someone asks to share a table with you in the common room while you’re studying.

一些举手之劳便能让你看上去更愿意去与人交流。比如，当有人在食堂中寻找空位时，你可以把自己的东西从座椅上移开；当你在公共教师里自习时，如果有人想与你共享一张桌子时，你可以摘下自己的耳机。

 

Try to get along with roommates

尝试与室友和谐相处

 

Getting along with roommates is a challenge you’d be wise to overcome. You live together, so you will often spend time together without even trying to. It’s important to make sure that dorm life doesn’t make you unhappy.

与室友相处是项挑战，明智之举是去战胜这个困难。你们住在一起，因此连想不都用想，你们大部分时间都会呆在一起。重要的是要确保自己的寝室生活不会让你不开心。

 

You should be cautious about confronting your roommates over any problems, especially if you have only just met. Remember, be polite but firm.

不管与室友就何种问题发生冲突，你都应该格外谨慎，尤其是当你们刚刚相识不久时。切记，态度要礼貌但是坚决。

 

The key is to set expectations and clear boundaries from the beginning. Let your roommates know your life habits, but also observe and respect theirs. Sleeping times and studying schedules, visiting friends and cleaning duties are just some of the topics you should discuss.

解决之道在于，从一开始就要设定好预期和明确界限。让室友知道你的生活习惯，但同时也要了解并尊重他们的习惯。就寝时间、学习时间表、拜访朋友以及打扫寝室卫生都是你们应该讨论的话题之一。

 

Avoid drama and gossip

避免戏剧事件和流言蜚语

 

As you already know from high school, your social life will be much more pleasant if you avoid causing and getting caught up in drama, no matter whether in class, dorm, or elsewhere.

你从高中时便已经知道，不管是在课堂上、寝室里或是任何其他地方，如果能避免引发或卷入戏剧性事件，你的社交生活会变得更加愉快。

 

When it comes to gossip, learn to keep your mouth shut and you’ll avoid trouble. This is especially important if you live in a dorm, where staying away from someone you’ve offended is difficult.

而提到流言蜚语，管住嘴巴就能避免麻烦。如果你住在寝室里，这点尤其重要，因为你根本无法避开那些被你言语中伤过的人。

 

Romance, or not?

爱情，是取是舍？

 

Romantic relationships are usually inevitable in college life. Maybe you’ve just come through a breakup because you and your boyfriend/girlfriend have gone to different cities. Or maybe you are single and you now think you have the freedom to fall in love with whomever you please.

在大学生活中，恋爱通常是不可避免的。也许你刚刚摆脱同恋人各奔东西的痛苦；或许单身的你现在觉得自己有与喜欢的人谈恋爱的自由。

 

It’s possible that you will find the love of your life in college, but take it slow, and don’t get attached to a significant other as soon as you get to college. He or she will become your cruth and you will lose out on meeting other people and potential friends.

你可能会能在大学里找到终身伴侣，但是不妨慢慢来，千万不要刚进大学就恋上某个亲密爱人。他或她可能会成为你的感情支柱，于是你便失去了结识他人和潜在朋友的机会。