一席英语·脱口秀：老外来了

主播：Flora（中国）+ 梅莉（法国）

音乐：All My Life

今天我们要聊的是最近国外比较火的一个挑战——Ice Bucket Challenge （冰桶挑战）！

The Ice Bucket Challenge first originated (开始于) in 2014. But it’s 2025 now—that was over 10 years ago. The Ice Bucket Challenge comes back!

01. Origin & Impact of the Challenge 冰桶挑战的起源和影响

冰桶挑战赛于2014年风靡全球（a global viral campaign），这项活动旨在为罕见疾病渐冻症（ALS, a rare disease）筹集善款并提高公众认知（ raise money and awareness）。

参与者需将冰水浇在自己头上，并点名邀请他人（nominate others）接受挑战。被点名者需要在24小时内完成挑战，或选择向渐冻症研究所捐赠（donate）100美元。

It gained massive participation, including celebrities (名人) like Bill Gates (比尔•盖茨) and Obama (奥巴马), and raised over $200 million—making it one of social media’s most successful charity (慈善) movements.

02. Why Is It Back in 2025? 为什么冰桶挑战在2025年重回大众视野？

Gen Z (refers to people born between 1997 and 2012) 也被称为digital natives (数字原住民) on TikTok has rediscovered (重新发现) the challenge.

如今人们再次发起这项挑战时，加入了戏剧性的慢镜头（dramatic slow motion）、精美的剪辑（aesthetic editing）和配乐，几乎拍出了电影质感（cinematic）。

但不同的是，这次挑战常常缺失了慈善环节。它不再真正关乎渐冻症，而是演变成了一种怀旧（nostalgia）、娱乐和博取关注（get attention）的方式。

03. West vs. China: Different Viral Cultures 中国与西方国家走红文化的不同

In the West, many viral challenges (走红挑战) start with a cause (某个目标) or a message. Whether it’s awareness for a disease, body positivity (身体自信) things like that—这些有趣的活动背后通常都有一个最初的意图 (purpose).

In China, there are viral challenges, too. 比如手指舞挑战、泼水成冰等。But from what we’ve seen, they usually don’t have a deeper purpose. People just do them for fun.

In the West, once something becomes “just for fun” , people often criticize (批判) it. They’ll say that you forgot the point (重点). But sometimes the internet just wants to laugh.

中国网友（Chinese netizens）可能不会太在意它最初的意义，而是更享受“怎么把它玩得不一样（how to put a unique spin on it）”。像最近还流行“冰桶挑战失败合集（Ice Bucket Challenge Fails Compilation）”，就是看大家被泼水之后的搞笑反应（hilarious reactions），完全是为了娱乐（entertainment）。

The original (原始的) challenge had a meaningful goal—raising awareness for ALS. But even now, if it brings people joy, that’s still valuable in its own way.

04. Why Do These Trends Revive? 为什么这些挑战会回归？

The revival (再次流行) of the Ice Bucket Challenge shows that we miss a certain kind of internet—one that was more simple, joyful, and brings people together. And we miss those moments where it felt like the whole world was in on the same thing (全世界都在参与一件事的感觉). 而且是带着幽默、轻松的心态。不需要站队、也不涉及争议。

Even if it’s not “pure (纯粹)”, it’s still creating connection and still has social value. 这些挑战满足了人们“大家一块玩、一起玩”的社交 （social connection）需求。同时它们又带点怀旧感。 It’s rare and special.

挑战本身也在“evolve（进化）”中！Whether for charity or comedy, the Ice Bucket Challenge’s revival shows how social media repurposes content (稍加改变内容) across generations.

欢迎在评论区留言告诉我们：

What is your favorite or most nostalgic internet challenge? 你最喜欢、最怀念的网络挑战是什么？

主播：Flora (中国) + 梅莉 (法国)

片头音乐：Hold Us Together

片尾音乐：Look At Me Now

今天梅莉来给大家分享一句最近在外媒上特别火、同时也很治愈的一句话："Almost forgot this was the whole point (差点忘了这才是重点)."

This is a simple but powerful phrase that keeps popping up (突然出现) on TikTok and Instagram.

01. The True Meaning of "the Point" “重点”的真正含义

When people say "Almost forgot this was the whole point," it’s like—I got caught up (陷入) in stress or noise, and I needed this moment to remember what really matters.

People will usually see it paired with a quiet, beautiful video. 比如说下班后看看日落（watch a sunset），与朋友们安静地坐一会（sit with friends in silence），摸摸狗（pet a dog），或者是沿着海边走一走（walk by the ocean）。It’s those small, peaceful, super real moments. Nothing loud or dramatic.

It feels like this trend is all about slowing down and reminding ourselves of what really matters. 很像我们说的“松弛感（chill vibe）”、“生活感”的状态。 It’s like saying: "Hey, these small ordinary moments? That’s the good stuff."

That’s the beauty of it—it’s not about doing more, it’s about feeling more.

02. The Reason of its Popularity 受欢迎的原因

It feels like people everywhere—both in China and abroad—are connecting with this.

Maybe because life feels kind of overwhelming (令人不知所措的) right now. With AI, fast news, work stress… people just want to breathe. 现在大家都在追求效率、成功、速度……但同时内心也渴望能感受一些平静且真实的瞬间。People are all craving (渴望) something calmer, something that feels more real.

It’s a reminder to be present. Like—not everything has to be productive or aesthetic (有美感的). 只是简单地坐在那里，在这一瞬间，就足够了。It’s true but hard. Because lots of people constantly worrying about the future, or stuck thinking about the past. 甚至有时候看看别人光鲜亮丽的生活也会引起自己的焦虑。

03. Scroll Less, Live More 少刷屏，多生活

几个周之前梅莉删掉了她的社交媒体软件，比如Instagram、小红书一类的。After that, she started reading more, being more present in her life. It’s like she suddenly had space to breathe again.

Most of us just instinctively (本能地) grab our phones whenever there’s a free second. Not even because we’re looking for something—just trying to escape (躲避) reality a little. And then we will look up and realize—"Wait, I just spent 30 minutes scrolling (浏览) and I don’t even remember what I saw."

Flora也有一个类似的经历。Back then in college, she had to study for a big exam, so she turned off her WeChat Moments for a while. 在这之后，她发现她非常喜欢这种状态。It was like finally paying attention to her life instead of tracking everyone else.

直到现在，Flora的微信还是那样设置的（set that way）。She looks forward to the little things—cooking herself a nice meal, buying flowers, decorating her room... It all feels more meaningful. 这些小事情（tiny things）可以带给她非常多的快乐。

04. Pause & Reflect: What Truly Matters in Life 暂停并反思：生命中真正重要的是什么

This whole "Almost forgot this was the whole point" thing—it’s a trend. A trending sound (一种当下流行的呼声). People are using it to post aesthetic videos of sunsets or quiet mornings… which is kind of ironic (讽刺的).

当每个人都在追求这个潮流的时候，就有些迷失重点了。What really matters is our true feeling. Did we feel relaxed? Free? Peaceful?

The point isn’t to film the moment—it’s to actually live it. We need to ask ourselves: are we watching life happen, or are we living it? 我们要成为生活的参与者，而不是旁观者。

It is about focusing on what really matters—connection, peace, purpose. And finding joy that doesn’t need to be posted to be real. 找到快乐不一定要通过分享来实现，它本身就是真实存在的。

这不该只是一个“治愈滤镜”下的热潮，而是我们真正该思考的问题：What really matters to us in life? 什么才是我们生命中真正重要的东西？

There’s an old saying in Chinese: “不忘初心，方得始终 (If you don’t forget your original intention, you’ll find your way to the end)。”

We hope you can rediscover those small but powerful moments that truly make your life meaningful. And if you ever forget what life is really about… just pause. Breathe. And remember—this is the whole point. This is what life is all about.

欢迎在评论区告诉我们：

What brings you joy—not online, but in real life?

在现实生活中而非网络上，什么事情能带给你快乐呢？

主播：Flora（中国）+ Selah（美国）

音乐：Bring It All Back

上次两个主播约节目录制时间的时候Selah突然说要推迟，是因为家里要进行全面的pest control——除虫！这到底是怎么回事呢？

经过Selah解释我们才知道，原来她们所在的地区Arizona（美国亚利桑那州），定期除虫已经是家庭日常啦！那么这一期我们就来聊聊美国家庭的“pest control（除虫服务）”。

01. What happened to Selah’s house?

Pest control is super normal in places like Arizona where it's dry and full of "little friends" you don't want inside. That sounds cute but also terrifying.

Selah shared that recently, she and her husband started noticing lots of little bugs in their home. 起初，虫子只有几个，所以他们没有太担心。 But then they got bigger... and multiplied (变多)!

What kinds of bugs did they actually see?

Cockroaches (蟑螂), earwigs(蠼螋), scorpions (蝎子) and termites (白蚁).

That’s a whole squad (简直是虫子小分队)! They look as scary as they sound—especially scorpions and termites, the ones that destroy your house from the inside.

On that day, Selah spotted (发现) a scorpion... and it was like half the size of her hand! They got so jumpy (心惊肉跳) they had to pack up and crash at (投奔) her parents’ house for a few nights.

幸运的是，几天后他们预订了pest control。Professionals (专业人员) came, sprayed everything down (全面喷洒药剂), and they finally felt safe enough to move back in.

They ended up getting professional pest control.

02. What is Pest Control?

Pest control means getting rid of unwanted insects or animals from your home or yard. It helps keep houses clean and safe. 其实就是除虫。

Actually, pest control isn’t just about getting rid of bugs after you see them. A lot of Americans do it ahead of time (提前)—也就是在问题发生之前就预防它! It's like bug insurance, but less paperwork.

给他们灭虫的工作人员用英语怎么说？

Exterminator (除虫人员).

They're like secret heroes—saving people from all the tiny unwanted guests!

03. Why is Pest Control Common in the U.S.?

In the U.S., especially places like Arizona and Florida (美国东南部的佛罗里达州), the warm climate means bugs are active all year (虫子全年都很活跃).

Plus, many people live in houses with yards—more exposure to nature (和自然接触更多) means more contact with pests. 这么看的话，好像有bugs也比较合理了。

这里很多房子都被开阔的草地（open grasslands）甚至沙漠（desert areas）包围着。So it's pretty normal to have some "unexpected visitors (不速之客)" sneaking in from nature!

其实这是其中一个方面，另一方面是他们也特别重视房屋维护（house maintenance--keeping everything clean, safe, and in good shape）。

People want to protect their homes, especially from things like termites that can damage the structure.

所以这已经是很多家庭的日常习惯（routine）了。

04. How Does Pest Control Work?

First, you schedule an appointment (预约一个时间). The exterminator comes to check your home and yard for signs of pests (害虫的迹象).

Then they spray (喷洒药剂) around the outside and sometimes inside if needed.

如果问题比较严重，他们可能会设sticky traps（粘捕器）。For major issues like termites, they might do fumigation—熏蒸处理—but that’s less common.

The cost all depends on what kind of service you need. It can range from $70 a month to $300 a month (约合人民币500-2000元)… it also depends on what kind of house you have and how serious the problem is.

他们大约需要每月或每隔一个月做一次，具体要取决于他们签订的合同（他们通常会和公司签订除虫合同）。But most people will do it to prevent long term problems and having to worry about creatures in your house, especially if you live in places like Arizona.

其实如果除一次虫就能一劳永逸的话也挺好的，至少以后很长一段时间都不用担心虫子的困扰了。

Are the chemicals they spray harmful to people (喷洒的药剂是否对人体有害)?

Most of the time, they tell you to take your pets and stay out of the house for a few hours. 但你可以留在家里，除非他们要彻底熏蒸（fumigate）。

It kills the bugs and pests within 7-10 days but is not harmful for humans. But it would harm pets at first, so they recommend to keep pets away for 5-6 hours.

Just think of it as giving your pets a little vacation.

05. Every Place Has Its “Wild Neighbors(野生邻居）”

It's like Australians having to share their space with kangaroos and giant spiders-- scary but kinda funny!

Every place has its own “wild neighbors.” In Australia, it's kangaroos and giant spiders. In Canada, it's raccoons digging through trash cans. In Arizona, scorpions sometimes show up! 好像每个地方都有自己的害虫问题（pest problems）！

那么大家，尤其是南方的朋友，你们有没有在家里遇到过什么奇怪的小动物或害虫呢？欢迎留言告诉我们！

Share your wild neighbor stories with us—we’d love to hear them!

朗 读 者 ：Win（美）- 青岛地铁全线英文站名播报员

朗 读 者 ：翩翩（中）

封面人物：一席学生 Camille & Elaine

“人可能舍弃一切，

却无法舍弃

被理解的渴望。”

——史铁生《放下与执着》

“People may give up everything, but they can never give up the desire to be understood.”

朗 读 者 ：Win（美）- 青岛地铁全线英文站名播报员

朗 读 者 ：Flora（中）

封面人物：一席学生 Andy

“高敏感人的幸福清单四：

1. 研磨咖啡豆。

2. 路过街边的广告牌的时候，看看上面关于跳蚤市场的介绍。

3. 想去海边。

4. 想起某位友人，想知道他还好吗。

5. 不断冒出新想法。

6. 看到好的作品会思考创作者的心情。

7. 对感兴趣的东西追求到极致。

8. 向内深度挖掘自己内心的感受。

9. 接纳他人的温柔。

10. 潜心创作作品。”

——武田友纪《高敏感人士的幸福清单》

“A Highly Sensitive Person's Happiness Checklist 4:

1. Grinding coffee beans.

2. Looking at the advertisement on the street when passing by, especially one about a flea market.

3. Thinking about going to the beach.

4. Thinking of a friend and wondering how they are doing.

5. New ideas constantly emerging.

6. Thinking about the creator’s emotions when seeing a good piece of work.

7. Pursuing things you're interested in to the fullest.

8. Deeply exploring your own inner feelings.

9. Accepting the gentleness of others.

10. Focusing deeply on creating your own work.”

朗 读 者 ：Win（美）- 青岛地铁全线英文站名播报员

朗 读 者 ：Emma（中）

封面人物：一席学生 Liz

“高敏感人的幸福清单三：

1. 给朋友打电话。

2. 去一个喜欢的空间安静地坐10分钟。

3. 没有强烈的灯光，只有间接照明的安静的咖啡店。

4. 图书馆。被书包围着会有一种被保护的感觉。

5. 咖啡店的露台和有庭院的茶馆，能看到绿植的座位最佳。

6. 家附近的小河，两岸有并排的樱花树，可以躺在树下。

7. 买好一点的袜子。

8. 用木架子替换彩色收纳盒。

9. 穿舒适的内衣。”

——武田友纪《高敏感人士的幸福清单》

“A Highly Sensitive Person’s Happiness Checklist 3:

1. Calling a friend.

2. Sitting quietly for 10 minutes in a space you love.

3. A quiet café with soft, indirect lighting, without harsh lights.

4. A library. Being surrounded by books gives a sense of protection.

5. A café terrace or a teahouse with a courtyard, preferably with seats where you can see greenery.

6. The small river near home, with cherry blossom trees lining both sides, where you can lie under the trees.

7. Buying better quality socks.

8. Replacing colorful storage boxes with wooden racks.

9. Wearing comfortable underwear.”

主播：Flora（中国）+ Selah（美国）

音乐：Go Again

今天，我们聊聊一个近期引起轰动的话题——tariffs（关税），and how they’re affecting everyday Americans（以及它们是如何影响美国群众的）。

Whether it’s the headlines or people’s conversations, this issue is everywhere! Everyone is wondering—what’s really going on?

So, we thought we’d break it down for you about, first, 关税到底是什么(what exactly are tariffs), and second 它是如何影响人们的日常生活的 (how have they impacted people's daily lives)?

01. A Key Headline and Terms on US Tariffs 一则美国关税的新闻标题和相关关键词

Americans Could Pay More for These Everyday Basics Under Trump's New Tariffs

特朗普政府新关税政策或将导致美国日常必需品价格上涨

——BBC (英国广播公司)

In the article, they mentioned things like clothes, coffee, shoes, alcohol and electronics (酒和电子产品).

When you see headlines like that, it’s helpful to understand some of the key terms that always come up. 它们听起来很 technical (专业)，但却和我们的生活息息相关。

Tariff: 对进口到一个国家的商品征的税

If the U.S. buys something from another country, like China, and puts a tariff on it, that item becomes more expensive.

Trade imbalance (贸易失衡): 当一个国家从其他国家购买的商品比卖给他们的多得多时，这种情况就会发生。

For example, the U.S. imports tons of products from places like China, but doesn’t export (出口) as much in return. It’s kind of like always shopping but rarely selling anything—it adds up over time.

这其实是美国当前的一个现象——进口多于出口。That’s something we hear a lot in the news.

Supply Chain Disruptions (供应链中断) : 商品不能按时到达，或者很难买到某些产品。This can happen when tariffs or other tensions (紧张局势) slow things down.

Basically, when there’s a lot of tariff-related (关税相关的) tension—like if countries start raising taxes on each other’s goods—it messes up the flow of things (扰乱商品流通). Trucks, ships, deliveries... everything gets delayed.

And none of these terms are just words in a textbook. You can feel them in real life. Like when your favorite brand is suddenly out of stock (没有现货), or a product that used to cost $5 now costs $8.

或者当你终于找到你想要的东西时，商店会说“Sorry, it’s on backorder (暂时缺货).” That’s when you know it’s real!

02. Observable Effects on Everyday Americans 对美国群众的明显影响

Selah tells us that one of the most visible (可见的) impacts is the rising prices on everyday goods (日常用品价格上涨). 特别是进口产品，变得越来越贵。

For example, electronics and household items (家用物品) are costing more because of tariffs placed on foreign goods.

Selah has seen stockpiling (屯东西), where people are buying more than usual, fearing that prices will keep climbing. 一般我们屯东西都是怕后面价格上涨 (We’re worried prices will keep going up)。

They’ve even seen out-of-stock signs in stores –– things like food, cleaning supplies (清洁用品), and certain brands of clothing have been flying off the shelves (被抢购一空). From what Selah has seen, people are trying to prepare for what’s to come.

But she is a much more "let’s wait and see (让我们拭目以待)" kind of person. 从她所看到的情况来看，人们只是在为即将发生的事情做准备，更多的只是担心。

03. The "DHgate" Phenomenon (敦煌网现象)

As the tariffs have increased, there’s been a surge in the downloads of China’s DHgate (敦煌网下载量激增).

A lot of people might think that is related to the Dunhuang Museum, but it is actually a Chinese e-commerce platform (电子商务平台). It connects sellers in China with buyers all over the world.

And with tariffs driving up (上涨) the cost of American goods, more and more people in the US are turning to this platform to find cheaper alternatives (更便宜的替代品). 而且在Tiktok你会发现很多中国的商家都在用英文介绍自己的商品。

It’s become a trend, and in some ways, it’s giving American consumers more options to shop for goods at lower prices, even if it means buying from China directly. 他们没有考虑全球贸易政策—they just want affordable, reliable products (价格合理、可靠的产品).

04. The Ripple Effects (涟漪效应) of Tariffs

总之，关税肯定产生了影响。From rising prices to supply shortages (供应短缺), and even leading people to explore e-commerce platforms like the DHgate, we’re seeing big changes in how people shop and what they buy.

And while this situation is still evolving, it’s clear that tariffs are affecting the daily lives of people across the country. 当一个市场发生变化时，它会在全世界产生涟漪（ripples）。

Have you noticed any changes in your area? 你注意到你的地区有什么变化吗？

Let us know your thoughts and experiences.

主播：Selah (美国) + 梅莉 (法国)

音乐：Hiding In the Blue

In recent years, more and more people have started learning Chinese, and the language has become increasingly popular. Both Maelle and Selah grew up in China and speak fluent (流利的) Chinese.

今天让我们来了解一下，当主播Maelle和Selah在外生活或旅行时，会说中文给他们带来了什么好处呢？

01. Professional Perks 职业福利

Job Opportunities (工作机会)

Maelle once got an internship (实习) because she spoke Chinese on top of (超过) English and French. Companies don’t expect foreigners to speak fluent Chinese—so when Maelle does, it stands out (脱颖而出).

Teaching Edge (教学优势)

Selah在大学时常用中文认识国际生，因为她们校园里有很多中国学生。Selah also uses Chinese to help Chinese students adjust in (适应) English-speaking classrooms, making them feel more comfortable and supported.

Academic Benefits (学术好处)

Selah skipped (跳过) two years of coursework (学业课程) and got a Chinese minor (中文辅修课程) after testing out of the classes. Speaking Chinese saved time and boosted her credentials (提升了她的学历).

test out of the classes 通过考试而免修课程

02. Social & Travel Benefits 社交和旅行妙用

Selah’s family once traveled to Italy, they got lost and could not find the way to their destination (目的地). They used Chinese to ask for directions (方向) at a Chinese-owned barbershop (理发店). It was incredible (不可思议)!

When Maelle was living in Spain, she went to get her nails done (做指甲) in a place. The boss and workers were all Chinese. They spoke Spanish with their clients (客户) but she couldn’t help (情不自禁) but speak Chinese to them.

They were very shocked (特别惊讶), and they ended up (结果是) remembering Maelle every time she went back. Maelle chatted (聊天) with them in Chinese and made many new friends.

Speaking Chinese makes it easier to make friends in many parts of Europe and the Americas, since there are large Chinese communities (华人社区) there. It’s like having a secret superpower (隐藏技能) sometimes!

03. Instant Friendships 迅速建立友谊

Maelle once made a close Chinese friend while in France, all thanks to her language skills. They didn’t know each other at first, but a mutual (共同的) friend mentioned to him that there was a French girl who spoke really good Chinese.

He was a bit skeptical (怀疑的) at first. Later, they met at a party, and Maelle immediately (迅速) started speaking Chinese to him.

He was surprised and impressed. When he told her he was from Shandong, she even switched (转换) to the Qingdao dialect (方言) and joked: “下次来青岛玩儿，我们一起哈啤酒吃蛤蜊(ga la)”.

He was completely shocked—and told everyone at the party about the French girl who could speak Qingdao dialect. It was hilarious (搞笑的), and that moment sparked (点燃) a great friendship. For Maelle, being able to speak the local dialect created an instant (立刻的) connection.

Selah often found opportunities (机会) to use her Chinese when she saw lost-looking (看上去迷路了的) Chinese students on campus. She would walk up to (走上前去) them and say, “你是中国人吗？你需要帮助找地方吗？”—and they were always surprised.

The same thing happened at Chinese markets or restaurants, where she would order in Chinese and consistently (持续不断地) shock people with her language skills.

In conclusion, being able to speak Chinese has definitely given them great advantages—professionally (专业地), socially, and even just for fun. 对于她们来说，会说中文就是秘密武器（secret weapon）！

Hopefully our listeners will feel inspired (受鼓舞的) to keep improving both their Chinese and English. The more languages you speak, the more doors open.

如果你也有因为会说中文而在国外经历的趣事，欢迎在评论区分享给我们！We would love to read them!

主播：Selah (美国) + 梅莉 (法国)

音乐：Friends

欢迎大家来到《老外来了》特辑“老外请回答！”第2期！

Q1. “你觉得中式英语该被消灭还是被保护？”

"Do you think Chinglish should be protected or gotten rid of?"

Final answer 1: Instead of trying to 消灭 (get rid of) it, we just need to use it in the right context (在恰当的语境中使用)—like seasoning (调味品). A little bit in the right dish makes it even better.

Final answer 2: 在正式场合我们要注意语言的准确性，但在日常交流中，Chinglish真的蛮可爱的！

For people who’ve grown up in a 双语家庭 (bilingual household) —this kind of language mix (语言混用) can feel really natural.

And sometimes Chinglish is super creative, like “add oil” — a direct translation of “加油”. It's like a linguistic inside joke (语言上的“圈内梗”).

But in formal situations (正式场合)—like school essays or business emails—it’s better to use standard English (标准英语).

Q2. “你们国家有饭前先拍照的习惯吗？”

“Does your country have a ‘take a picture before you eat’ kind of habit?”

Final answer 1: In the US, they call this “my phone eats first.” It’s like... you don’t dare touch your food until you’ve gotten the perfect angle (角度), lighting, everything. Especially if it’s something super pretty—like latte art (咖啡拉花) or a fancy dessert (美味的甜点) or if it’s your first time at a famous restaurant. 美美的食物，当然要先拍照啦~

Final answer 2: It’s become part of modern food culture, not just in the US but globally now.

不过有些人也会觉得这样有点烦。Some people even make rules—like, okay, ONE picture, then phones down. That’s a good compromise (折中办法).

But if it’s something homemade (自制的) and you’re really proud of it, post away, Maelle said. 梅莉觉得自己辛苦做的饭尤其值得在朋友圈或者小红书上晒一晒！

Q3. “如果必须选一个，一年不喝奶茶，还是一年不吃炸鸡？”

“Would you go a year without milk tea or a year without fried chicken?”

Final answer 1: This one is easy for Maelle, “I would choose to give up fried chicken. I just love 奶茶 too much. It’s like my emotional support drink.”

Final answer 2: For Selah, she thinks she eats 炸鸡 more often and in more circumstances (在更多时候), so this would be harder to give up!

Fried chicken is so versatile (百搭的)—it can be part of a meal, a snack, comfort food (疗愈系美食)… And there are so many styles too—美式南方炸鸡、韩式炸鸡、台式盐酥鸡......

04. Meme Sentence Challenge 梗图造句挑战

今天的趣味挑战是——用“泰酷辣”来夸一夸英国菜！To say something over-the-top about British food (用夸张的方式“赞美”英国菜).

“This boiled potato with no salt? 泰酷辣! It’s like… flavor went on vacation!” （这土豆也太原味了，味道去度假了吗？）

“Baked beans on toast? 泰酷辣! Michelin stars could never.”（米其林都做不出来的“神级”早餐～）”

“This cucumber sandwich with exactly one slice of cucumber? 泰～酷～辣！It’s giving… invisible luxury (隐形的奢华).”（只放一片黄瓜，低调到极致）

“A proper cup of British tea with milk? 泰酷辣! Smooth. Classic. Basically emotional support in a mug (柔顺、经典，一杯能抚慰灵魂的奶茶).”

And jokes aside, British food does have its charm. 我们只是用“泰酷辣”的语气来玩个梗，其实还是很尊重英国文化的。British friends, we’re just having fun—no hard feelings (别介意哈)!

我们今天从Chinglish聊到拍照文化，再聊到炸鸡奶茶，还有British food 的“泰酷辣”时刻。 If you had fun, don’t forget to follow, leave a comment, and share the episode with your friends!

欢迎大家留言告诉我们你最喜欢的问题，或者你自己的回答。我们可能会在下一期节目读出你的答案哦！

And if you have a spicy question (有趣的问题) you want us to answer…请在留言区告诉我们，我们下期再见！

主播：Flora (中国) + 梅莉 (法国)

片头音乐：What Makes You Beautiful

片尾音乐：Rather Be

欢迎大家来到我们《老外来了》的全新特辑（brand-new podcast special）——“老外请回答！”

《老外来了》全新特辑——“老外请回答！”

This is not just a regular chat (普通聊天) between the two hosts. We’re taking on YOUR questions (我们要回答网友们的提问)!

每一期节目（each episode），我们会挑选一些超级有趣的问题。Some questions are fun, some are tricky (刁钻的), and some might even make us speechless (语塞的)!

Today Maelle will answer three of them with her own experiences, cultural insights (文化视角), and maybe even some embarrassing stories (让人尴尬的故事) along the way!

This is gonna be fun! Let’s dive into today’s questions!

Q1. 如果必须选一个——一辈子不吃奶酪，还是一辈子不吃火锅？

“No cheese for life or say goodbye to hotpot forever?”

This is such a cruel either/or question (非此即彼的问题). It is like choosing between oxygen (氧气) and WiFi!

We're making her choose between her French identity and her Chinese soul (法国人身份和中国魂)!

Maelle thinks Cheese is part of who she is—they literally have a cheese course (奶酪菜肴) in French meals. It’s sacred (神圣的). They are really fans of cheese (奶酪迷).

Hotpot, for Maelle, is like group therapy (集体心理治疗). Warm, chaotic (热闹嘈杂的), and comforting (安慰的). So it’s hard for her to make the decision.

Final answer: “I pick… CHEESE! Sorry, 火锅!”

Because she just can’t give up cheese. That’s a bold move (非常勇)!

难道法国奶酪真的魅力这么大吗？

In France, they take cheese very seriously—they have over 400 kinds! You could say they are cheese-obsessed (奶酪狂热分子)!

And when winter comes, they love eating raclette (拉克莱特): hot melted cheese poured over potatoes and ham (把融化的芝士倒在土豆和火腿上). It’s like a warm hug from the inside.

拉克莱特（Raclette）是欧洲街头常见的一款地道美食，它的风靡程度在欧洲的大街小巷都能看到。在寒冬来上一份 raclette，拉丝的芝士倒在土豆和火腿上，光听着就让人流口水。现在大家是不是理解他们为什么对芝士这么钟爱了呢？用梅莉的话说：“Good cheese is my ultimate weakness (致命诱惑)！”

Q2. 你们国家有“多喝热水”这种万能建议吗？

“Is 'drink more hot water' just a Chinese thing, or does your country have this magic cure-all (万灵药) too?”

In France, they say things like “Take some paracetamol” (吃点对乙酰氨基酚——一种退烧、镇痛的药), or “Drink herbal tea” (喝点草药茶).

But no one just tells you to drink hot water—this is uniquely Chinese (中国特有)!

When Maelle moved to Australia, she would always use her roommate’s kettle to boil hot water. Her roommates were confused and thought it was weird. Every guest who came over noticed she drank plain hot water (普通热水).

She had to give mini health lectures (健康小讲堂): "It’s good for digestion! It balances your qi...!" (有助于消化，调节气）But no one bought it (没人信).

That’s when she realized she’d officially become that person—the one who recommends hot water to everyone (那个向每个人推荐热水的人). As Maelle says: "Old habits die hard" (旧习难改)—once something becomes part of your lifestyle, it’s really hard to change—even if you move to another country. It’s like muscle memory (肌肉记忆)!

Q3. “第一次用筷子时，最想暗杀哪道菜？”

“Which dish did you want to murder most when you first used chopsticks?”

老粉都知道梅莉是中国长大的，所以她也是从小就用筷子了(She learned chopsticks from a young age)。But still, some dishes are super tricky.

Final answer: “Kung Pao Chicken (宫保鸡丁)!” It’s delicious, but the tiny roasted peanuts? Every time she tries to grab one, it’s like chasing a slippery little ninja (追捕一个滑溜溜的小忍者). They bounce (跳动) around, escape the chopsticks, even fly off the plate!

And when she gets frustrated, she panics (惊慌失措), fumbles (手忙脚乱), and everything just gets worse. It drives her up the wall (让她抓狂)! That phrase means something really annoys you or makes you crazy.

In English, you can use it whenever something keeps going wrong and makes you want to scream. Like, “My chopsticks won’t pick up this peanut—it’s driving me up the wall!”

04.【Fun Challenge】梅莉演技炸裂，一秒变身中国老妈

今天的挑战是——让Maelle模仿中国妈妈的经典语录：“穿上秋裤（Wear your thermal pants）音频10分50秒！”But, she has to do it with the right tone (语气).

Since Maelle has been in China for a while now, we want to test if she can truly capture the essence (精髓) of a Chinese mom! So Maelle needs to summon（召唤） her inner Chinese mother.

Maelle cleared her throat and tried it: “哎呀，孩子！天儿这么冷，赶紧穿上秋裤！”

Go even more dramatic—add some disappointment and worry, like you’re truly heartbroken that your kid won’t listen: “哎呦喂！我真是服了你！不穿秋裤，以后膝盖疼了别哭着来找我！”

That's peak Chinese mom energy (真·中国妈妈精髓)!

Rate Maelle’s performance in the comments! 大家快给梅莉的表演打分吧！

下期我们还会回答更多超有趣的问题，比如——“为什么外国人这么喜欢晒太阳？”

So, make sure to tune in next time! And don’t forget to drop your wildest questions in the comments!