陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作了几个月，从美籍华人Mary那里学到很多西方礼节。今天Mary有件重要的事要告诉陈豪，现在正在给他打电话。

(Office ambience, telephone rings....)

(CH's Voice mail): "This is Chen Hao. Leave a message."

M：(After the beep). Hi Chen Hao. This is Mary. Please call me back when you have a minute.

M：(CH passing by Mary's cubicle) Hey, Chen Hao. 来，来，来。 I'm looking for you. I just left a telephone message for you。

C：找我？ 有事吗？

M：有事。But let me tell you first that your telephone greeting sounds too abrupt。

C：不够客气？What's wrong with:"I'm Chen Hao. Leave a message". 我觉得干脆利落，no nonsense.

M：You know that other people will judge you by the greetings you recorded.

C：那你说该怎么说才有礼貌呀？

M：You should have offered a welcome like "Hello" first.

C：噢，这不是很简单吗，加一个词就行了。对，这样听起来是比较客气。

M：你在录音里把自己的姓和名都说了，这很好。But you should have said, "Please leave a message." Saying "please" is a simple but necessary courtesy.

C： OK, Mary, but I got to go, my boss is waiting for me...

M：Hey Chen Hao, I have something to tell you...

C：Hi Mary. Sorry I was in a hurry this morning. You have something to tell me?

M：I have good news. I am leaving ABC company and will start working next week for D&E Company in Beijing as the head of the Human Resources Department.

C：Oh, congratulations! But... it's bad for ME. 我要有问题问谁呀，能打电话给你吗？

M：Sure. 不过，到了D&E我会经常出差的。

C：那我怎么知道你出差了，什么时候才能跟你通话呀？

M：I will record a greeting that says I am away from the office, when I will return and who you can contact if you can't wait for my return. 陈豪，你出差的时候也应该这样做。

C：是啊，有的客户是有意见，说给我打了电话好几天都没有回音。看来，我得先把平时的greeting改成：“Hello, I'm Chen Hao. Please leave a message."

M：That's good! When you're away from office for a few days, re-record the greeting to tell

callers that you are away, when you will return and who they should contact in case they need immediate attention.

C：Oh Mary, I am so happy for you, but I will miss you.

M：Don't worry. We still can have lunch together!