学进去

   An old saying goes, “When in Rome (罗马), do as the Romans do.” I learned the meaning of this when I studied in Russia.

One day I ______ some of my Chinese friends to a famous local restaurant in Moscow. My guests and I were excited from visiting Red Square and happy about our meeting. We chatted ______ until the waiter told me that we were talking too loud. We turned our voices lower. But this didn’t last long. The waiter came over to us two more times with the same ______.

How bad an impression (印象) we must have left on the local people! In China, it’s natural and ______ for a host (主人) to make a lively atmosphere (气氛). However, in Russia and western countries, having a meal in a public place means you must ______ your voice low. You need to be polite to others.

I felt ______ about this. Even though we tried our best, it’s very difficult to form a new habit. Russians have their own special habits. My Russian friend, Andrey always looks around and thinks for a while before leaving home. I asked him ______ he did this. “Aha,” Andrey said, “In Russia, people always spend about a minute ______ things and plans in their minds before leaving. So they won’t leave ______ necessary behind.

Finding the differences between ______ is very interesting. I’d like to keep my eyes and mind open.