作者TimHathaway

I returned to America from Xinjiang several weeks ago. Many things about daily life in America have changed that surprise me. Prices have risen which should not be a surprise but I still have sticker shock every time I open my wallet.

几周前我从新疆回到美国。美国日常生活的不少变化都令我惊讶，价格上涨，这不应该令我惊讶，但每次打开钱包我都对“价格标签感到震惊”。

In New Jersey watermelons are 69 cents a pound but they are not as good as watermelon in Xinjiang. Rice is 49 cents to over one dollar a pound. It is imported from California Thailand and Japan. Thai rice is the most expensive. Gasoline costs about ＄2.50 per gallon. I spend ＄30 every time I need to fill up the gas tank in my family’s car. I bought a pair of shoes on sale for ＄60. I was extremely happy to pay this because the only pair of nice western shoes I found in Urumqi that were my size was over 1000RMB.

在美国新泽西州，西瓜６９美分一磅（合人民币５．２元／斤），一磅大约半公斤，而且不如新疆的西瓜。大米价格是从４９美分／磅到１美元多／磅（合人民币３．７元到７．５多元／斤），大米是从加里福尼亚州、泰国和日本等地运过来的。泰国大米最贵。石油是２．５美元／加仑（合人民币４．６５元／升）。每次给家里的车加油要花３０美元。我买打折的鞋子是一双６０美元（合人民币４５０元）。我特别高兴出这个钱，因为在乌鲁木齐市，４５码大的好看的西方产的皮鞋是人民币１０００多元一双。

The cost of goods in general has risen quite a bit over the last few years and the cost of living in New Jersey in particular is quite high. Food clothing transportation and housing are all expensive. A family living on ＄30000 a year will find it hard to save money. This kind of family is not considered poor but they will not have financial security. As for me I have found a good part time job that pays about ＄1800 a month which would have been a good salary 20 years ago but today it is not enough. I cannot afford my own apartment yet and I also need to buy a car because public transportation in the suburbs is extremely inconvenient. By living with my family I am saving at least ＄15000 in my first year back home.

近几年物品大约都涨价了，尤其是在新泽西州生活费用相当高。食品、衣服、交通和住房都很贵。年收入３０?熏０００美元的家庭很难存钱。这种家庭不算贫穷，但达不到经济稳定。拿我来说，我已经找到月薪１８００美元的兼职，２０年前这算好收入，但现在就不够。因此我跟家人一起住。我还买不起自己的房子，而且因为在郊区公共交通格外不方便，我还需要买辆车。今年跟家人一块儿住让我省了至少１５?熏０００美元。

My biggest financial concern right now is not finding a full time job with a high salary. I need to find a job with health insurance. I went to the doctor last month for a routine exam. It was ＄85 without the blood tests and x-ray. My dentist charged me ＄160 for an exam and ＄320 to fill one cavity and fix a chipped tooth. Health services are the most expensive aspect of American life. My salary is simply not enough in case of an accident.

说实话，我最头疼的问题不是找一个高收入的全职工作，而是我必须找到一个提供健康保险的工作。上月去做例行检查，不包括Ｘ光和血常规，费用是８５美元（合人民币６３７．５元）。牙医检查牙和Ｘ光的收费是１６０美元（合人民币１２００元），补一个牙洞及修一个损坏的牙另外收３２０美元（合人民币２４００元）。在美国生活中，健康服务是最贵的方面。如果发生意外的话我的收入简直不够。

I have heard that prices in China have risen in the past year. They still do not compare to American prices but someday they will. The good thing is that salaries will too. 

我听说今年中国的物价上涨了。显然还比不上美国的价格，但总有一天会相当，可喜的是到时候人们的收入也会水涨船高。