NATASHA: I don’t know what I’m going to do.
I need to find a job. If I don’t, I won’t be able to stay here next semester.
ERIC: Have you tried university part-time jobs?
NATASHA: What do you mean?
ERIC: I mean in the library, or in some information center.
Often the university hires foreign students for part-time positions.
NATASHA: Yes, I know. I tried that.
They don’t have anything now. So what can I do?
ERIC: Well, since you’re a foreign student, it’s hard.
That’s because it’s actually illegal for you to work in America.
NATASHA: I know that. You don’t have to tell me that. That’s my problem.
I know I have the right to work for the university. That’s legal.
But they don’t have a job for me. And it’s illegal for me to get a job elsewhere.
ERIC: Anyway, there must be some solution.
You know there are many people working illegally in New York.
NATASHA: But I need a pretty decent job.
I need to make enough to pay my rent at least.
ERIC: I have an idea.
NATASHA: What?
ERIC: Since you’re Chinese, maybe you can find part-time work in Chinatown.
NATASHA: I already had that idea.
ERIC: Well, why don’t you go and look down there?
NATASHA: But I don’t know what I would do.
ERIC: It may be part-time work as a waitress or something.
It would be illegal, but sometimes waitresses make a good salary.
NATASHA: Maybe. I don’t know.
ERIC: I will ask my friends for you.
Maybe someone knows a company that needs part-time people.
That’s another thing you should do. Ask all your friends to ask around for you.
You might find something.
NATASHA: I have to find something.
Otherwise I have to go back to Taiwan. I’ll be broke in two months.
娜塔莎：我不知道如何是好。
我需要找一个工作。如果我找不到，下个学期就没有办法留在这里。
艾瑞克：你试过大学的兼职工作吗?
娜塔莎：你的意思是?
艾瑞克：我的意思是图书馆或者一些资讯中心。
通常大学都会雇用外国的学生来做兼职的工作。
娜塔莎：是，我知道。我试过。
他们现在没有任何工作。所以，我该怎么办呢?
艾瑞克：嗯，你身为一个外国学生，是蛮难的。
那是因为你在美国工作是非法的。
娜塔莎：我知道。你不必告诉我那些，那是我的问题。
我知道我有权利在大学里工作，那是合法的。
但是他们没有工作给我。对我来说在别的地方工作又是非法的。
艾瑞克：无论如何，那一定有一个解决之道。
你知道有很多人非法在纽约工作。
娜塔莎：但我需要一个比较正式的工作。
我需要赚足够的钱，至少能付我的房租。
艾瑞克：我有一个主意。
娜塔莎：是什么?
艾瑞克：你身为一个中国人，或许你可以在中国城找到一个兼职工作。
娜塔莎：我已经想过了。
艾瑞克：嗯，你为什么不去看看呢?
娜塔莎：但我不知道我能做些什么。
艾瑞克：或许有兼职的工作像是服务生或其他的机会。
虽然是非法，但有些时候服务生可以拿到不错的薪水。
娜塔莎：或许吧。我不知道。
艾瑞克：我会替你问我的朋友。
或许会有人知道哪一家公司需要兼职的人员。
你还需要做一件事。请你的朋友帮你打听。
你或许会找到事情做。
娜塔莎：我一定要找工作做。
不然我就必须要回台湾。我会在两个月内破产。
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(兼职编辑：段保净）
