Yin Needs Help! (#2)

Over the years, as the result of our experience and contact with individuals from other countries, we’ve become aware of their frequent need for help to meet the challenges of daily living. In this column, we try to offer advice to “Yin,” a composite of the many professionals, students, and visitors we’ve encountered over the years.

多年来，因我们的经力加上和从他乡友人的交往，我们感到他们应付日常生活的艰难。我们试探给阴提供建议。阴是我们从多年和其他行业的职员，学生和游客交流后创造的人物。

Yin asks: What can an international traveler do to have a enjoyable trip?

阴问：国际游人如何才能有个快乐的旅程？

Part I: Overcoming the Language Barrier While Traveling

第一部份：在旅程上克服语言障碍

Q: The friend I wrote about last time, who will be coming to Pittsburgh soon for a 3-month professional seminar, is very worried about flying to Pittsburgh because his English isn’t that good. What can he do if he’s having trouble communicating with the people who work for the airline?

问：上次我写的那个朋右要来匹滋堡进修三个月，怕英语不好，很担心坐飞机来。在有困难和航空人员交流的情况下他能做什么？

A: As people who both work for an airline (Ming) and have traveled extensively (Ming & Nancy), we know that a language barrier can make international travel very stressful. However, there are several things that any international traveler can do to make his/her trip more pleasant. The next 3 columns will offer practical suggestions that will help any traveler.

A: 我（明）给航空公司做事，明和Nancy同时也经常去游玩，我们知道语言障碍能使旅程变得非常困难。但是，世界游人能用几个方法来使旅程变得容易一些。今后的三个期刊会提供实际建义来帮助游人。

Airlines are very aware of language barriers, and they offer passengers a couple of special services to help make their trips easier:

航空公司深知语言障碍，他们提供几个特殊服务来帮助使旅程变得容易一些。

1. MAAS (Meet and Assist Service) – When a passenger books a flight (makes his/her reservations). he/she can request this extra service, which is available to any passenger with special needs. MAAS alerts airline agents that the passenger needs assistance, and an agent meets the passenger when they arrive at the airport.

１.　MAAS(接机服务) －当旅客订机票时，可以要求此项特殊服务。任何需此服务的游客都可伸请。MAAS(接机服务) 提醒机场服务员去接机需求此服务的游客。

2. Language Line – Every international airline also offers instant translation of information through Language Line, a telephone service that is available to any passenger upon request.

These special services, which are available to any passenger, should help your friend have an enjoyable trip.

2. 语言线台－每个国际航空公司都使用语言线台提供快速翻译服务。这是提供给需求乘客的电话服务。

(Yin Needs Help #3—How to Avoid Missing Your Flight—will be posted on 2/1.)

(阴需要帮助#3-如何避免误机－会在二月一日登刊。)

If you have any questions or comments about this column—or if you’d like to suggest a question for a future column, please email them to us at: us_chinaconnections@yahoo.com

如对此期刊有问询或评注－或想对以后期刊有提议，请发电给我们，　电址是：us_chinaconnections@yahoo.com。