1、我在中国第一次讨价还价的经验 郑紫帆 武汉大学 My first bargaining in China Zavertailo Kateryna Wuhan University; 中国有一句俗话“在家靠父母, 出门靠朋友”。2007年我第一次到中国, 从那 时起我才真正体会到了朋友在生活中是多么的重要。 刚到天津时, 我还没有朋友, 连熟悉的人也没有。那时是我第一次一个人出国, 所以我一直记得妈妈的教导, 心里想着, 我必须小心谨慎, 千万不要上当受骗。 开学之前我乘坐从北京到天津的巴士抵达天津。 一下车, 我这个穿着黄裤子的年 轻外国女孩儿, 很快就引起了大家的注意。出租车司机马上围住了我
2、:“去哪 儿?”“跟我走!”“我带你去!”“你到底去哪儿?”我睁大了眼睛, 不敢说话。 虽然那时候我学了两年汉语, 但是我从来没有真正跟中国人面对面打过交道。 现 在那么多人要求我回答他们的问题!我太紧张了!但我得去我的学校呀, 所以我 鼓足勇气问:“去天津外国语学院多少钱?”一听我的回复, 司机都乐极了, 说:“来来来, 八块!”第一次到中国, 我还没有起步价的概念, 还不知道在天 津坐出租车最起码的费用就是八块钱。我心里只有一个偏见:中国人一开价, 我 就必须讨价还价!我非常坚决地说:“八块太贵了, 我给你五块!”司机们都大笑 起来了:“这个外国人真会讲价!不过八块是起步价, 不能改啊!”
3、但我仍毫不犹 豫地坚持:“五块, 就是五块!你们去不去?”围观者嬉笑不止, 出租车司机也觉 得我很可爱, 但他们还是不希望做赔本生意, 所以人群纷纷散了。 只有一个胖胖 的司机叔叔温和地微笑了一下:“那好吧!给我六块钱, 我带你去天外!”但我还 是毫不犹豫地拒绝了。 我一个人孤单地站在街道上, 不知所措。 后来我问了那位最善良的司机:“师傅, 请问, 天津外国语学院怎么走?”“太远了, 你肯定找不到!”“没事, 你只要 告诉我哪个方向就行。”这样, 拖着大大的红箱子、背着背包的我开始顺着司机 给我指的那条街寻找自己的学校。 我的决心和勇气在这座大城市的嘈杂中一步一 步消失了, 但自尊心不让我回
4、到公交车站。 突然我听见了有一个叔叔叫我, 他骑 着摩托车喊:“哎, 老外!”我惊讶地回过头, “什么事儿?”他二话不说, 提起 了我的箱子, 放在他的前面, 简短地回答:“坐!”我再也没有讨价还价, 只是默默地坐在了他的后面。 路上他闲谈, 问我的国籍、 将来的学习和工作打算等等。 原来, 他是我讨价还价场合的目睹者之一, 叔叔还笑我砍价非常厉害。 到了学校 之后, 我意识到了天外离公交车站确实有点远, 给司机八块也值得, 所以我心 里开始责怪自己:你砍价也太狠了一点儿!到学校后, 我非常感激地问叔叔:“太 感谢您了!我应该给您多少车费?”叔叔说:“不用给我钱!我是免费地帮助你!好 好学习,
5、 天天向上!祝你在中国过得愉快!”说完就走了。那时刻, 我非常感动, 套用那句中国俗话:在家靠父母, 出门靠好人! There is a saying in Chinese that one relies on his parents at home and hisfriends abroad.Indeed, it was only after coming to China in 2007 that I really learned the importance of friends.When I rst arrived in Tianjin, I didnt have any friend
6、s or even acquaintances;it was the rst time I had traveled abroad by myself.I kept in mind my mothers teachings and remembered to be careful not to let anyone cheat me. Before the semester had begun, I took a bus from Beijing to Tianjin.As a foreign girl wearing yellow trousers, I attracted a lot of
7、 attention as soon as I got off the bus.Taxi drivers surrounded me, asking where I was going and telling me to come with them.I was at a loss for words.Although I had studied Chinese for two years, I had never spoken it face to face with a Chinese person until that dayand so many of them were asking
8、 me questions at once!I was nervous, but I had to go to school.I gathered up my courage and asked“How much is the fare to Tianjin Foreign Studies University?“The taxi drivers were happy that I nally answered and told me that it would be eight RMB.As it was my rst time in China, I did not know that t
9、here was an initial charge of eight RMB for all taxis in Tianjinthe fare could not have been any cheaper.But I did know that I was going to bargain down whatever price was quoted to me.I resolutely said, “Eight RMB is too expensive.How about ve?“The drivers laughed and said, “This foreigner really k
10、nows how to bargain.But eight RMB is the initial chargewe cant change it.“Even so, I stuck my ground and said, “Five RMB or nothing!“The drivers continued laughing, thinking I was cute but not wanting to lose money;eventually they left.Soon there was only one left, a fat, older man who smiled warmly
11、 at me and said, “All right then.Six RMB and Ill take you anywhere you like.“But I rmly refused his offer. I then stood by myself on the street, not knowing what to do.I nally asked the nice driver, “Excuse me, whats the way to Tianjin Foreign Studies University?“He replied, “Its too far to walk.You
12、ll never make it!“I said, “Thats ne.Just point me in the right direction.“And so I dragged my big red bag and my backpack down the street in the direction he had pointed, searching for my school.In the hustle and bustle of the big city, my resolution and courage had disappeared step by step, but out
13、 of self-respect I didnt let myself turn back towards the bus station.Suddenly I heard a man call me from his motorcycle, “Hei, Laowai!“Laowai, which literally meansold foreigner, is a common colloquial name the Chinese give to foreigners.Surprised, I turned and asked what the matter was.He took my
14、bag, put it on his motorcycle, and told me simply, “Get on!“I didnt try to bargain this time;instead, I silently got on his motorcycle.We had a conversation on the way, and he asked me where I was from and what my study and work plans for the future was.It happened that he was one of the onlookers w
15、atching me bargaining with the taxi drivers.He said with a laugh that I was really a good haggler.Once we reached the school, I realized that it was quite a distance from the bus station and worth the eight RMB that the drivers had asked.I began to blame myself for bargaining too hard.I said to the
16、driver gratefully, “Thank you so much.How much do I owe you?“He replied, “Not a dime!I decided to help you for free.Be diligent in your studies and progress every day.I hope you enjoy your time in China, “and left as soon as he had nished.I was moved and immediately recalled that old saying, but with a slight variationRely on your parents at home, and rely on good people when abroad.
