Karen in America

蜂蜜們，《瘋狂英語》雜志要改版了。本期應該就是《瘋狂英語·口語版》的最后一期。自創(chuàng)刊以來，《口語版》贏得了讀者們的喜愛和支持。小編們非常感謝你們的支持和認可。改變是為了迎接更美好的未來，《瘋狂英語》將更加努力，繼續(xù)為讀者的英語學習提供幫助。感謝Karen這些年的來稿分享，使我們對美國有了更深的了解；而隨著中國國際地位的提高，中國在國際舞臺上扮演越來越重要的角色，我們需要更有力地向世界傳播中國文化，促進中國與世界文化的交流。而英語作為目前世界上最多國家使用的語言，是文化交流的重要工具，其重要性不言而喻。因此，讓我們繼續(xù)努力，學好英語吧！

Hello Crazy English Speaker readers！

Since the September 2010 issue， we’ve gotten acquainted and agreed to meet once a month in this very column that has witnessed my years spent in America. As time goes by， this column has been a part of our lives for more than five years. To be exact， this is the 62nd essay I’ve penned for “Karen in America”. For me， it’s quite a remarkable record. For you， I’m deeply thankful for your support all this time.

Just as I’m telling you about America through my eyes， with as much pleasure as you may have had reading about it， I’ve learned that this is the last publication of the column. As the Chinese saying goes， “All good things must come to an end”. I’m sad that we have to part ways but I’m pleased that we are heading for a better future. And so is the future of this magazine.

In the past few years， as part of my observation of American society for my column writing， I also felt the widening impact of China on America， even on the world. The world is getting rounder， or some might say flatter， than any time in history.

One example， when I wrote about “Steve Jobs” （Jan. 2012 Issue）， I realized Apple Inc. sold more iPhones greater in China than in the U.S. for the first time this April. No doubt， what I initially thought a fresh topic in the U.S. may be no longer so in China. Another example， I’ve discussed automobiles three times （Oct. 2011， Jan. 2014 and Aug. 2014 Issues）. These essays showcased[展示] the importance of cars in American life. Meanwhile， China has become the world’s largest car market in the last five years. This year’s Shanghai auto show underlined China’s dominant position. But how can cars not be important to Chinese everyday life？ Don’t the U.S. and China share similarities in this respect？

With the move to ease visa application to the United States， more and more Chinese people are now coming to America and seeing what I see. And they might spread the word about their encounters faster than what I can write. Of course， with the Internet and modern technology， everything that happens far away seems to happen in front of our eyes instantly.

However， as I wrote in the Apr. 2011 Issue， despite the fact that we’re living in an oversaturated[過度飽和的] information age， many Americans know little about today’s China. And the world needs to hear your voice from China. So keep up with your zest[熱情] for learning English. And， above all， speak up！

Very faithfully，

Karen Zhang （in Washington）