英國大學新生也有社交恐懼症 Britons dress for the occasion

You might think that Western students are less shy when it comes to mingling with the opposite sex, but the truth is that pupils in the UK can feel just as awkward. Britons are actually quite reserved and being at university can make them feel out of their comfort zone. Everyone finds it difficult to talk to the other gender on campus.

你可能認爲西方國家的學生在面對異性時會更放得開，但事實上在英國，學生們對此也是一樣手足無措。英國人實際上很保守，而大學生活也令他們脫離了自己的“自在區”。所有人都會覺得在校園中與異性交談是件難事。

However, there is a way of dealing with this shyness in Britain, and it is called “Freshers Week”. Freshers Week is designed to help people socialize and lose their inhibitions. It is a one-week long party for first year students to welcome them before lectures and coursework begin.

而在英國，人們找到了克服這種害羞心理的方法，那就是“新生周”。開辦“新生周”的目的是爲了幫助人們進行社交活動，擺脫情感阻力。對於大一學生而言，這是在正式上課之前舉行的一場迎新派對，爲期一週。

I remember my first week at university - it was terrifying. I looked at the schedule for Freshers Week and was amazed at how much was planned. Every hall of residence organizes its own events to help students become friends with the people they live with. My hall was called “Goldney Hall” and the week ahead included a talent show, a comedy night, and themed parties, including one for which we had to dress up as golfers.

我對自己第一週的大學生活記憶猶新，那真是次恐怖的經歷。我盯着迎新周的日程表，驚訝於怎麼會有如此多的活動。每一棟學生公寓都各自組織的活動，來幫助那些同住一個屋檐下的學生們打成一片。我住在“古丹尼學生公寓”，接下來一週的活動包括一場達人秀、一場喜劇之夜演出，以及多場主題派對，其中的一場我們必須裝扮成高爾夫球員。

The first event I went to was a school kids party at which everyone dressed up as if they were in school. This party encouraged me to talk to all the people on my floor. One boy, who lived opposite my room, was very handsome and I felt nervous speaking to him at first. But when we met at the party dressed in silly school outfits, I remember feeling a lot more relaxed speaking to him.

我參加的第一場活動是個校園童趣派對，每個人都要打扮成上學的樣子。這場派對也讓我鼓起勇氣和同住一層樓的人交談。有個住在我對面寢室的男孩很帥，起初跟他說話讓我很緊張。但當我們身着傻傻的校服在派對上碰面時，我記得那時的聊天要輕鬆多了。

It sounds strange, but drinking and dressing up seems to be how Britons overcome their shyness at university. My Freshers Week was hectic, but I managed to forget how scared I was.

這聽起來可能有點怪，但飲酒以及化裝舞會似乎成爲英國大學生克服害羞心理的法寶。儘管新生周讓我忙得不可開交，但卻讓我將那些擔驚受怕拋到了腦後。

One thing’s for sure: nothing helps you lose your inhibitions quite like dressing up as a golfer – complete with a golf club, checked hat and tweed jacket!

有一點可以肯定，那就是：當你變身高爾夫球手“武裝”上高爾夫球棍、格子帽和花呢夾克時，沒有什麼比這樣更能讓你拋卻羞怯感了！