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VOA慢速英语2013 Holiday Stories of Giving; History Told Through Candy

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Holiday Stories of Giving; History Told Through Candy

 

From VOA Learning English, welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in Special English.  I’m Christopher Cruise.

And I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.  This week on our program, we meet some people bringing Christmas spirit to sailors far from home. We also meet volunteers who are helping1 veterans celebrate the holiday. And, later, we visit an unusual candy store that sells not just candy, but pieces of history.

Millions of Christians3 will spend Tuesday with family and friends celebrating the birth of Jesus with songs known as carols, gift giving and meals together. In Texas, members of churches in the Houston area sail up and down the Houston Ship Channel singing carols to workers on ships. The channel is part of one of the busiest seaports4 in the country, the Port of Houston.

Very few crew members are outside at night, but they can often hear the singing even while working inside. Sometimes, they answer the carolers.

“Merry Christmas!”

Ben Stewart is a Presbyterian pastor5.

“We offer our words and ourselves as a gift of peace to the world and a gift of love and a gift of acceptance.”

On this night, some of the seamen6 later came to a party at the Houston International Seafarers’ Center. Most of them were from the Philippines, Russia and Ukraine.

The center has a chapel7 where religious services sometimes attract non-Christians. Pastor David Wells remembers some Buddhists8 from Thailand.

“They came into the worship and they partook in communion, and they were Buddhists. But they did that because they felt connected with the people that were here and that is what they want. They want to feel a connection with other people.”

The pastors9 also bring donated gifts to ships. Hassan, the second officer of a Turkish ship with a Muslim crew, was grateful for the gifts.

“Maybe I will bring something from Istanbul to give to you.”

“Next time we want you to have a visa so you can get off and have some freedom.”

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, international seafarers need a visa to go on shore leave in the United States. David Wells and other pastors from cities with seaports want Congress to make it easier to go on shore for brief periods of time.

The holiday season is a traditional time for giving. Members of a small nonprofit group in northern Virginia are giving their time to military veterans and their families. The volunteers put up Christmas decorations and do other outdoor work to make the homes of veterans look their nicest for the holidays. On a recent day they were at the Spraul family’s home.

Angela Spraul says her young daughters love Christmas.

“It’s really nice to be able to do something fun for them and have the help. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”

She and her husband are both in the military. But her husband, Wes, is disabled with a painful genetic11 disorder12 in his spinal13 cord.

“I think it’s unbelievable that people are so passionate14 in helping other people out.”

Mary Thiebault came to help the Sprauls. Her own son is in the military.

“It’s exciting to see that a family will have such joy for the holiday season.”

Jeff Jones was never in the military. But his father and grandfather were, and he wanted to honor their memory. So he started the group called Decorate a Vet2.

“I think it’s important to clean the outside of the homes and decorate for Christmas because, you know, this is the time of year when people are trying to give back, and it also happens to correspond with the time of the year when houses are starting to look a little sloppy15 with leaf debris16.”

Wayne Parks and a group of people from his work went to the home of a woman with three small children and a husband serving overseas.

“They need all the help they can get, especially when, you know, our servicemen are far away and can’t help out their families back at home. This is just our way of giving back a little bit, best we can.”

One veteran of World War Two died three weeks before volunteers from Decorate a Vet visited his home. The volunteers helped his widow, Carol Keister, decorate for the holidays.

“I’ve always loved Christmas and Christmas decorations and all, so, you know, it’s cheered me up definitely.”

Nine-year-old Megan Clancy was one of the volunteers at the house. She was glad to help.

“I think it’s about just helping people and making them feel at home.”

Decorate a Vet founder17 Jeff Jones says he would like to see the idea spread across the country, and help veterans of other nations as well.

We’ve been talking about groups that sing Christmas songs to seafarers far from home and decorate the homes of military veterans. But what about people who have no homes to go to? At holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, some volunteers help community groups feed the homeless.

Erica Steen is director of community outreach for the Washington DC Jewish Community Center. The center has a partnership18 with the DC Central Kitchen, which prepares meals for homeless shelters in Washington.  

“What we found is that even though there are people who are hungry out in our DC community, they are hungry year-round. But why can’t they enjoy the holiday just like the rest of us?”

Last month more than 500 people volunteered to help with Thanksgiving meals. Al Stenstrup was one of those volunteers.

“The whole idea of the food that we’re providing here today, through the work of the volunteers and the different civic19 groups that are giving back to the community as well, means a lot to those that have either fallen on hard times because of the economy or just simply need a break to get back into the work force and be able to provide for others.”

Volunteering during the holidays is a tradition for Jessica Adler.

“I find it really enjoyable to do this and to bond with other people. And I have been very fortunate and blessed in my life so I find it very important to give back.”

Ciara Simonson and some college friends also volunteered at the DC Central Kitchen.  

“One of my favorite quotes is ‘The greatest thing in life is to love and be loved in return,’ and so if that is something that we can remember in our service and our giving and caring for one another that is the significance of community.”

Beth Erickson brought her daughter Hollis with her to volunteer.

“Which I think is an important part is to help bring younger people along to understand the importance of service and giving back.”

“I think everybody else should give at least a couple hours, if not a couple days, to help those less fortunate or those in need.”

Charles was one of the homeless people who received a holiday meal that the volunteers were making.

“The people are blessed by giving, period. There is a blessing20 to give and to receive.”

The holiday season is filled with sweet treats. Cookies, cakes and candies are a traditional part of the celebration. Susan Benjamin owns a candy shop in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, called Cool Confectionaries.

The town played an important role in American history. A man named John Brown led a violent rebellion there against slavery in 1859. And soldiers fought a battle there in 1862 during the American Civil War. So it makes sense that Cool Confectionaries specializes in historical candy -- like horehound candy, made from a plant in the mint family.

Susan Benjamin also sells hard tack10, a biscuit that Civil War soldiers ate, and treats from the early 20th century.

She explains that some early candy did more than just satisfy a desire for sweets. 

“Because it was hard and not tacky, they would chew it and it would scrape the plaque21 from their teeth, exercise the jaw22 and, some thought, also help them purify the blood.”

The development of sugar cane23 as a sweetener spread from Southeast Asia in the 16th century. Candy made from sugar was mostly a treat for wealthy Europeans. Pan candies were popular, but making them required skill.

“What they would do is take a tiny little seed, or take an almond, a seed or a nut, and they would add layers and layers of sugar to them.”

Another kind of candy, called rock candy, was easier to make. Rock candy was just crystalized sugar. People used it as a medicine or to help preserve food. Rock candy was also used in the rock and rye, a popular drink during the middle of the 1800s.

But rock candies of the time were made from cane sugar processed by slaves.

“Sugar was a big part of the economy of slavery. So, it was highly, highly volatile24. The abolitionists boycotted25 sugar. And they would have beet26 sugar, and they would have maple27 sugar or nothing instead.”

The Civil War ended slavery, and after the war, sugar was readily available. What were known as inexpensive "penny candies," like Tootsie Rolls, became popular.

“Now all of a sudden you see these working class kids who are able to go into stores and take out a few cents and buy candy. They were in a sense entering the middle class.”

Getting historical candy today is not easy. Susan Benjamin has spent years researching recipes and hiring companies to make old-fashioned candy again. She sells a lot of her products to museums, because candy offers an unusual way to look at history.

“It is about slavery. It is about the industrial revolution. It is about commerce. It is about marketing28. It is about who we are.”


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1 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
2 vet 2HfyG     
n.兽医,退役军人;vt.检查
参考例句:
  • I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
  • Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。
3 Christians 28e6e30f94480962cc721493f76ca6c6     
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
  • His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。
4 seaports 22265e136112321fc4d0c90878592e02     
n.海港( seaport的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Airports have joined seaports as ports of entry for the visiting foreigner. 机场和海港一样成为来访的外国人的入境关口。 来自互联网
  • Sanya has 16 seaports, 10 islands and 180km of coastline. 三亚有16个港口、10个海岛和180公里的海岸线。 来自互联网
5 pastor h3Ozz     
n.牧师,牧人
参考例句:
  • He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
  • We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师:教会的事是由五位执事管理的。
6 seamen 43a29039ad1366660fa923c1d3550922     
n.海员
参考例句:
  • Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather. 有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
  • In the storm, many seamen wished they were on shore. 在暴风雨中,许多海员想,要是他们在陆地上就好了。
7 chapel UXNzg     
n.小教堂,殡仪馆
参考例句:
  • The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
  • She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午,她在小教堂的演出,可以说是登峰造极。
8 Buddhists 5f3c74ef01ae0fe3724e91f586462b77     
n.佛教徒( Buddhist的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The Jesuits in a phase of ascendancy, persecuted and insulted the Buddhists with great acrimony. 处于地位上升阶段的耶稣会修士迫害佛教徒,用尖刻的语言辱骂他们。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
  • The return of Saivite rule to central Java had brought no antagonism between Buddhists and Hindus. 湿婆教在中爪哇恢复统治后,并没有导致佛教徒与印度教徒之间的对立。 来自辞典例句
9 pastors 6db8c8e6c0bccc7f451e40146499f43f     
n.(基督教的)牧师( pastor的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Do we show respect to our pastors, missionaries, Sunday school teachers? 我们有没有尊敬牧师、宣教士,以及主日学的老师? 来自互联网
  • Should pastors or elders be paid, or serve as a volunteer? 牧师或长老需要付给酬劳,还是志愿的事奉呢? 来自互联网
10 tack Jq1yb     
n.大头钉;假缝,粗缝
参考例句:
  • He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
  • We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。
11 genetic PgIxp     
adj.遗传的,遗传学的
参考例句:
  • It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
  • Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。
12 disorder Et1x4     
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调
参考例句:
  • When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后,他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
  • It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。
13 spinal KFczS     
adj.针的,尖刺的,尖刺状突起的;adj.脊骨的,脊髓的
参考例句:
  • After three days in Japan,the spinal column becomes extraordinarily flexible.在日本三天,就已经使脊椎骨变得富有弹性了。
  • Your spinal column is made up of 24 movable vertebrae.你的脊柱由24个活动的脊椎骨构成。
14 passionate rLDxd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的
参考例句:
  • He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
  • He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
15 sloppy 1E3zO     
adj.邋遢的,不整洁的
参考例句:
  • If you do such sloppy work again,I promise I'll fail you.要是下次作业你再马马虎虎,我话说在头里,可要给你打不及格了。
  • Mother constantly picked at him for being sloppy.母亲不断地批评他懒散。
16 debris debris     
n.瓦砾堆,废墟,碎片
参考例句:
  • After the bombing there was a lot of debris everywhere.轰炸之后到处瓦砾成堆。
  • Bacteria sticks to food debris in the teeth,causing decay.细菌附着在牙缝中的食物残渣上,导致蛀牙。
17 Founder wigxF     
n.创始者,缔造者
参考例句:
  • He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
  • According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说,罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。
18 partnership NmfzPy     
n.合作关系,伙伴关系
参考例句:
  • The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
  • Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。
19 civic Fqczn     
adj.城市的,都市的,市民的,公民的
参考例句:
  • I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
  • The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。
20 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
21 plaque v25zB     
n.饰板,匾,(医)血小板
参考例句:
  • There is a commemorative plaque to the artist in the village hall.村公所里有一块纪念该艺术家的牌匾。
  • Some Latin words were engraved on the plaque. 牌匾上刻着些拉丁文。
22 jaw 5xgy9     
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训
参考例句:
  • He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
  • A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。
23 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
参考例句:
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
24 volatile tLQzQ     
adj.反复无常的,挥发性的,稍纵即逝的,脾气火爆的;n.挥发性物质
参考例句:
  • With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定,投资冒着很大的风险。
  • His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱,喜怒无常。
25 boycotted 6c96ed45faa5f8d73cbb35ff299d9ccc     
抵制,拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
  • The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程,要宫路下台。
26 beet 9uXzV     
n.甜菜;甜菜根
参考例句:
  • He farmed his pickers to work in the beet fields. 他出租他的摘棉工去甜菜地里干活。
  • The sugar beet is an entirely different kind of plant.糖用甜菜是一种完全不同的作物。
27 maple BBpxj     
n.槭树,枫树,槭木
参考例句:
  • Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
28 marketing Boez7e     
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西
参考例句:
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
  • He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

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