Every day I anxiously wait for you to get to class. I can't wait for us to smile at each other and say good morning. Some days, when you arrive only seconds before the lecture begins, I'm incredibly impatient. Instead of reading the Daily Cal, I anticipate your footsteps from behind and listen for your voice. Today is one of your late days. But, I don't mind, because after a month of desperately1 desiring to ask you out, today I'm going to. Encourage me, because letting you know I like you seems as risky2 to me as skydiving into the sea.
I know that dating has changed dramatically in the past few years, and for many women, asking men out is not at all daring. But I was raised in a traditional European household where simply the thought of my asking you out spells naughty. Growing up, I learned that men call, ask and pay for the date. During my three years at Berkeley, I have learned otherwise. Many Berkeley women have brightened their social lives by taking the initiative with men. My girlfriends insist that it's essential for women to participate more in the dating process. "I can't sit around and wait anymore," my former roommate once blurted3 out. "Hard as it is, I have to ask guys out- if I want to date at all!"
<a hReF=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNiform.html>蘇州吳中作文輔導(dǎo)班</a>
Wonderful. More women are inviting4 men out, and men say they are delighted, often relieved, that dating no longer solely5 depends on their willingness and courage to take the first step. Then why am I digging my nails into my hand trying to muster6 up courage?
I keep telling myself to relax since dating is less stereotypical7 and more casual today. A college date means anything from studying together to sex. Most of my peers prefer casual dating anyway because it's cheaper and more comfortable. Students have fewer anxiety attacks when they ask somebody to play tennis than when they plan a formal dinner date. They enjoy last-minute "let's make dinner together" dates because they not only avoid hassling with attire8 and transportation but also don't have time to agonize9.
Casual dating also encourages people to form healthy friendship prior to starting relationships. My roommate and her boyfriend were friends for four months before their chemistries clicked. They went to movies and meals and often got together with mutual10 friends. They alternated paying the dinner check. "He was like a girlfriend," my roommate once laughed-blushing. Men and women relax and get to know each other more easily through such friendships. Another friends of mine believes that casual dating is improving people's social lives. When she wants to let a guy know she is interested, she'll say, "Hey, let's go get a yogurt." <a hRef=http://www.zequeka.cn/miNifoRm.Html>蘇州初中語文補(bǔ)習(xí)</a>
Who pays for it? My past dates have taught me some things. You don't know if I'll get the wrong idea if you treat me for dinner, and I don't know if I'll deny your pleasure or offend you by insisting on paying for myself. John whipped out his wallet on our first date before I could suggest we go Dutch. During our after-dinner stroll he told me he was interested in dating me on a steady basis. After I explained I was more interested in a friendship, he told me he would have understood has I paid for my dinner. "I've practically stopped treating women on dates," he said defensively. "It's safer and more comfortable when we each pay for ourselves." John has assumed that because I graciously accepted his treat, I was in love. He was mad at himself for treating me, and I regretted allowing him to.
Larry, on the other hand, blushed when I offered to pay for my meal on our first date. I unzipped my purse and flung out my wallet, and he looked at me as if I had addressed him in a foreign language. Hesitant, I asked politely, "How much do I owe you?" Larry muttered, "Uh, uh, you really don't owe me anything, but if you insist…" <a hrEf=http://www.zequeka.cn/MinifOrm.html>蘇州閱讀寫作培訓(xùn)班</a>
Insist, I though, I only offered. To Larry, my gesture was a suggestion of rejection11.
Men and women alike are confused about who should ask whom out and who should pay. While I treasure my femininity, adore gentlemen and delight in a traditional formal date, I also believe in equality. I am grateful for casual dating because it has improved my social life immensely by making me an active participant in the process. Now I can not only receive roses but can also give them. Casual dating is a worthwhile adventure because it works. No magic formula guarantees "he" will say yes. I just have to relax, be Laura and ask him out in an unthreatening manner. If my friends are right, he'll be flattered.
Sliding into his desk, he taps my shoulder and says, "Hi, Laura, what's up?"
"Good morning," I answer with nervous chills, "Hey, how would you like to have lunch after class on Friday?"
"You mean after the midterm?" he says encouragingly. "I'd love to go to lunch with you."
"We have a date," I smile.
1 desperately
adv.極度渴望地，絕望地，孤注一擲地
參考例句：
He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想辦法再見她一面。 He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
2 risky
adj.有風(fēng)險的，冒險的
參考例句：
It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.這可能有危險，但我們無論如何要冒一冒險。 He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里對這項(xiàng)投資的風(fēng)險十分清楚。
3 blurted
v.突然說出，脫口而出( blurt的過去式和過去分詞 )
參考例句：
She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我還沒來得及制止，她已脫口而出。 He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎說出了真相，說是他犯了那個罪。 來自《簡明英漢詞典》
4 inviting
adj.誘人的，引人注目的
參考例句：
An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股誘人的咖啡香味飄進(jìn)了房間。 The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.這間廚房的味道溫暖誘人，使人感到親切溫馨。
5 solely
adv.僅僅，唯一地
參考例句：
Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功與否不應(yīng)只用學(xué)業(yè)成績來衡量。 The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.這座城市幾乎完全靠旅游業(yè)維持。
6 muster
v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，檢閱，集合人員，點(diǎn)名冊
參考例句：
Go and muster all the men you can find.去集合所有你能找到的人。 I had to muster my courage up to ask him that question.我必須鼓起勇氣向他問那個問題。
7 stereotypical
n.常規(guī)
參考例句：
Personas should be typical and believable, but not stereotypical. 人物 角色應(yīng)該是典型和可信賴的，但不是一成不變的。 來自About Face 3交互設(shè)計(jì)精髓 Anything could be stereotypical, so I guess it could be criticism. 任何東西都可以變的老套，所以我猜那就是一種批評。 來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
8 attire
v.穿衣，裝扮[同]array；n.衣著；盛裝
參考例句：
He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他無意改變著裝方式。 Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服裝引起了她的注意。
9 agonize
v.使受苦，使苦悶
參考例句：
Why do you agonize yourself with the thought of your failure?你為何總是對于你的失敗念念不忘而自我折磨呢？ There's no reason to agonize over telling people you're job hunting.沒有理由為告訴他人你正在找工作而感到苦惱。
10 mutual
adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
參考例句：
We must pull together for mutual interest.我們必須為相互的利益而通力合作。 Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害關(guān)系把我們聯(lián)系在一起。
11 rejection
n.拒絕，被拒，拋棄，被棄
參考例句：
He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒絕決定不再去找她。 The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒絕使她陷入了絕望的深淵。
《Will You Go Out with Me?》添加時間：2024-12-14；更新時間：2025-03-09
