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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Haipiao, a word used to describe young people moving to Shanghai for versatile1 lives, now has a new interpretation2: Chinese striving in a foreign country facing an uncertain future. Their nomadic3 lifestyle is encouraged by revised visa policies and their desire to develop themselves, usually free from social expectations back in China.
“海漂”，这个词原本是用来描述去上海体验多元化生活的年轻一族，现在它又有了新定义：在海外求生存、前途飘忽不定的中国人。对自我发展的向往以及签证新政的出台使得他们放下国内的“社会期望”，选择了一种漂泊动荡的生活。
A MyCOS survey, among 5,126 college graduates who chose to undertake further study abroad in 2009, found that 43 percent of them planned to stay abroad after graduation, while 31 percent chose to return to China. The rest were not sure what to do.
据麦可思公司的调查显示，在2009年到国外深造的5126名高校毕业生中，有43%的人打算学成后留在国外，31%的人则选择归国，剩下的尚不知何去何从。
“Their enthusiasm to try their luck in a foreign country is partly due to changes in visa policies,” said Wang Qian from Aoji Enrollment4 Center of International Education Ltd.
“他们之所以热切想在国外碰碰运气，多半源于英国签证新政的出台。”澳际教育咨询有限公司的王茜（音译）说。
According to Wang, in 2008 the UK extended the validation5 time for the Post Study Worker (PSW) visa from one year to two years. With a PSW visa, international graduates can stay in the country, look for a job and decide on their future path.
王茜表示，2008年英国留学生毕业工作（简称：PSW）签证有效期从1年延长至2年。获得该签证后，留学生留在当地进行求职，并规划自己的未来。
Changing times
时代的变迁
The US also extended the Optional Practical Training (OPT) period for science and engineering majors to land a job from 12 months to 29 months. If they land a full-time6 job during that period, they can apply for an H1B work visa that grants a maximum 6-year stay in the US.
美国政府也将本国大学理工科专业留学毕业生的实习期，从12个月延长至29个月。如果能在此期间找到全职工作，那他们便可以进一步申请H1B工作签证，最长可获签6年。
Besides, Chinese society’s relatively7 rigid8 expectations of young people have discouraged some graduates from returning after completing their studies, said Li Jinzhao, director of the Center for Diaspora and Transnational Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University.
北京外国语大学跨国移民研究中心主任李今朝认为，中国社会对年轻人的期望值过高是导致一些毕业生学成后不愿归国的主要原因。
“Men in China are expected to be well-established in a career at 30 and women should be worried if they are still single at that age,” said Li, who studied in the US for 12 years before returning in 2007. “To many this seems less attractive than Western culture which encourages more diversified9 lifestyles.”
李今朝曾留美12年，于2007年回国。他表示：“在国内，人们普遍认为男人应当‘三十而立’，而女人则应当‘三十成家’。与国内相比，西方文化提倡多元化的生活方式，这对许多人来说更有吸引力。”
Liu Xiao (a pseudonym), 30, agrees. He graduated with an MA from the University of Edinburgh in the UK and has been working as an engineer at Broadcom Corporation for four years.
30岁的刘潇（化名）对此表示认同。在英国爱丁堡大学取得硕士学位后，他就职于美国博通公司，做了4年的工程师。
He lives in a low-rent room in Edinburgh and is saving for a trip around 10 European countries.
他住在爱丁堡一间租金便宜的房子里，正攒钱计划一次欧洲十国游。
“I enjoy my freedom to make travel plans and take holidays,” said Liu. “If I were to go back to China now, I’d be expected to buy an apartment and a car, which would eat up all my money.”
他说：“在这里，我可以随心所欲地选择去旅游度假。若是在国内，攒下来的钱就会全投在买车买房上了。”
However, a nomadic existence overseas is not free from pressure, according to Li Jinzhao.
但李今朝也指出，海漂们并不是毫无压力。
Pressing decisions
沉重的抉择
Those choosing to stay in a foreign country cannot escape the challenges which face all new graduates, especially when many foreign countries are still struggling with recession and increasing unemployment rates.
当下，国外很多国家仍笼罩在经济衰退的阴影中，失业率高居不下，选择留在国外的人们也是无法逃避这一现实。
Moreover, as foreigners, they have to deal with issues such as visas, cultural differences, and finally to decide when their nomadic existence is going to end. Generally speaking, Chinese graduates with 3-5 years’ work experience in countries like the US and the UK are qualified10 to apply for permanent residence.
作为外国人，他们还要面对诸如签证和文化差异在内的许多问题，并最终决定何时结束他们的“海漂生活”。通常情况下，有3-5年英美国家工作经历的人就可以申请永久居住权了。
Liu dreads11 a “traditional” life path back in China, but he admits that the dilemma12 of returning home or applying for British citizenship13 is looming14.
尽管刘潇对中国传统的生活模式心生恐惧，但他仍然纠结在回国还是移民的问题上。
“I don’t know whether I will settle down in the UK. I have to take family issues into consideration,” said Liu who is single.
还是单身的他表示：“我不确定是否会定居在英国，我必须要考虑家庭因素。”
But another overseas “drifter”, Lin Yanqin, has had a clear plan since graduating from Rikkyo University in Japan with a BA in tourism this March.
但同为“海漂一族”的林燕琴（音译），自打今年3月从日本立教大学取得旅游专业学士学位后，便做好了清晰的规划。
Working as a website editor in Tokyo, the 24-year-old is using her itinerant15 lifestyle to improve her CV.
作为东京的一名网络编辑，现年24岁的她想通过这种漂泊式的生活方式来丰富自己的履历。
“I don’t think I will have a competitive advantage unless I gain work experience here in Japan before returning to China,” said Lin.
林燕琴说：“如果不在日本积累一些工作经验再回国，我肯定没有竞争优势。”
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收听单词发音
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1
versatile
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| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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nomadic
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| adj.流浪的；游牧的 | |
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enrollment
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| n.注册或登记的人数；登记 | |
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validation
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| n.确认 | |
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full-time
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| adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的 | |
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relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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diversified
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| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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dreads
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| n.恐惧，畏惧( dread的名词复数 )；令人恐惧的事物v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的第三人称单数 ) | |
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dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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citizenship
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| n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份) | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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itinerant
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| adj.巡回的；流动的 | |
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