On a wet Tuesday, I am hovering furtively in the fresh produce section of Sainsbury’s. But my absorption in the merits of Golden Delicious and Washington Reds is but a cunning charade. I’m really on a mission. 一个天气潮湿的周二,我在超市的生鲜区域前后逡巡,假装专注的看着那些金冠苹果和华盛顿红苹果,然而这只是我狡黠的诡计,事实上我正在执行秘密任务。 I have just received four hours of tuition in the art of flirting from relationship coach Jean Smith and I’m here to put my skills to the test. 我刚刚在恋爱大师简·史密斯那儿学习了四个小时搭讪的艺术,现在正要验证一下我所学得的技巧。 Spotting a middle-aged victim, I sidle up and deliver the line suggested by Jean to provoke conversation. 这时我发现一个中年目标对象,我缓步走过去,说出了那句简建议我们使用的,用来打开对方话匣子的台词。 ‘Um,’ I begin magnificently. ‘Have you tried that kind of apple before?’ “呃,”我镇重其事的开口说道:“请问你吃过这种苹果吗?” Flirting has been Jean’s specialist subject for more than a decade, after doing a masters degree in social anthropology. Not only has she produced an entire book on the subject (The Flirt Interpreter), but she runs ‘Flirtology’ courses. 简在获得社会人类学博士学位之后,数十年来一直专注于对搭讪艺术的研究。她不仅对这个课题写出了一本专注(《搭讪解谜者》),还在讲授关于“搭讪学”的课程。 |