There’s a small problem with a working holiday: working. It seems like a fantastic idea. You picture

There’s a small problem with a working holiday: working.
It seems like a fantastic idea. You picture yourself learning a foreign culture, meeting locals and making friends. What you don’t picture is the actual work.
Some people manage to keep a fine balance between working and holidaying. I’ve met plenty of working holidaymakers who are holding high-paying jobs that not only allow them to live in style, but that they also enjoy. Great.
For most working holidaymakers, however, that’s a daydream. You’re not working overseas to further your career — you’re working overseas to further your travelling expenses. And besides, most serious employers will take one look at that year-long visa (签证), and laugh you out of the building.
So you end up doing some of the jobs I’ve done.
Fruit picking. I did mine in the north of Scotland, which wasn’t satisfying, given it’s a place with a summer in name only.
Strawberries are a pain. It’s a case of bending your back for about eight hours straight. Lettuces aren’t much better. Again, more back bending.
Is picking fruit a nice way to spend a holiday? No.
So I became a line cook at a restaurant in Edinburgh. There, because there were no formal training systems in Scotland, I was handed a white jacket and referred to as a “chef (厨师)”. And as a “chef”, I would pull out boxes of frozen chicken tikka masala (冷冻香料烤鸡咖喱), putting them in the microwave until they were just so.
Again, not what you’d call a fun way to spend a holiday.
So when you’re planning a working holiday, it’s worth thinking about what you’re actually going to be doing, since that’s how you’ll spend your time while you’re away.
Is it going to be enjoyable? Will you be able to meet people, make friends? Is it going to allow you the time and money to do other things, see other places while you’re there?
Remember, it’s not a working holiday if you spend all your time working — it’s just work.
12. According to the author, what will happen to most working holidaymakers?
A. They will live in style.
B. They will enjoy their travelling.
C. They can get plenty of good work experience.
D. They may have difficulty finding a good job.
13. How does the author feel about his fruit picking experience?
A. Tiring.
B. Important.
C. Interesting.
D. Eye-opening.
14. What do we know about the author’s job as a line cook?
A. He was trained hard.
B. He found it very difficult.
C. He was doing nothing skilful.
D. He learned how to cook chicken.
15. What’s the author’s advice for those planning a working holiday?
A. To stick to their plan.
B. To know what to expect.
C. To be adventurous.
D. To be hard-working.
【答案】