在我这次到中国旅行的时候，我很高兴有机会乘坐火车。第一次是从北京乘火车到青岛，第二次是从武汉到北京。这是我有生以来第一次乘火车旅行，对于有这样的一次经历我感到很兴奋。从这次旅行里，我得出这样一个结论：对于中、短程的旅行，我宁可乘坐火车而不是乘坐飞机。

首先，在火车上我可以自由地使用手机，但是所有的航空公司都不准旅客在飞机飞行的时候用手机打电话，而在火车里使用手机是不成问题的。在旅行的时候能够与家人、朋友在电话里交流，这是无比的享受。

其次，火车行驶得很平稳，不需要象乘飞机时会担心那种激烈的颠簸。火车的进站和出站都很平稳，而飞机的起飞和降落都会使人感到不舒服。如果遇上不好的天气，乘坐飞机会给你有不少的压力。总的来说，乘坐火车比乘飞机更优雅。

第三，在火车里比在飞机里有更多的空间，走动也比较方便。在车厢里，人们不仅可以到处走动，还有地方可以站立，甚至有地方可以伸伸懒腰，而在飞机上你是不可能这样做的。在旅行中可以随意走动、聊天，这真是很惬意的事情。

最后，从时间上来看，对于中、短程的旅行来说，如果乘火车没有比乘飞机更省时间的话，二者至少也是相等的。我这次乘坐的是两次高铁，行程都在五小时左右。对于同样的旅程，虽然飞机的飞行时间只要两个多小时，但是乘飞机所需要的总的时间也差不多。为什么呢？因为通常机场都在离开市区较远的地方，如果堵车的话，至少也得有一个小时才能从市区到机场。而火车站如果不是在市区里，也不会离市区太远。加上对安全的担忧，机场通常要求旅客在起飞前一个半小时以前到达机场。而火车的安检要比飞机的安检简单的多了，旅客也只要提前30分钟到火车站就可以了。包括到机场的时间和在机场等待的时间，乘飞机总共需要的时间也就与乘火车差不多了。当然，这只是对高铁五小时的旅程与飞行二个多小时的旅程来比较。（也就是对不超过1200公里的旅行距离来说。）

我的首次火车旅行给我有很好的印象。在火车里可以观赏沿途的美丽风光。（乘飞机是没有办法得到这样的享受的。）在火车上，我很欣慰地遇到了很多新朋友，也可以与周围的乘客聊天。我期待着再到中国乘火车旅行。

讨论问题：

1.  你是否曾经乘火车或者乘飞机旅行过？

2,  你是去哪里了？

3,  你喜欢以什么样的方式旅行？为什么？

4.  你是否在国外乘过火车？

5.  请比较一下国内的火车和国外的火车区别。（哪一个你更喜欢？）

On my recent trip to China, I enjoyed taking the train for part of my journey. My first train ride was from Beijing to Qingdao. The second trip was from Wuhan to Beijing. This was the first time in my life to ever ride a train and I greatly enjoyed the experience. After reflecting on my travels, I have decided that for short to medium trips I prefer taking a train rather than an airplane.

For one, the train allowed me to use my cell phone while I traveled. All airlines require you to turn your phone off while in the air. Trains have no problem with cell phones being used, and it was nice to be able to communicate with family and friends while traveling.

Second, trains are smooth in movement. There is no need to worry about turbulence. Trains have a smooth start and a smooth ending with a smooth ride. Airplanes have harsh takeoffs and landings. Depending on the weather, airplanes can be quite stressful, especially in rough weather. Overall, trains are gentler in their movement than planes.

Third, trains have more room in which one can move around. Train cars allow for one to get up and walk around and there are places to stand and stretch. Airplanes do not allow for such movement. It was nice to stand and walk about while traveling.

Lastly, trains, on short to medium trips, are either equal or shorter in time than air travel. Both trips I took were about 5 hour trips by the bullet train. Although the plane ride would have been just over 2 hours, the overall time for travel would have been about the same. Why? Because airports are located outside of the city and with traffic it takes about 1 hour to drive from the downtown area to the airport. Train stations are typically in or near the downtown area. With more security precautions airports require that passengers check in at least 1 and a ½ hours before the flight. Trains have less security issues and one only has to appear about 30 minutes before the departure. Considering the traffic and the wait times at the airport this puts the overall time of travel at about the same as trains. Again, this really only compares to trips that are about 5 hours by bullet train or about 2 hours by plane. (Maybe on trips less than 750 miles.)

My first two experiences on trains were wonderful. I enjoyed being able to see the countryside as the train rolled down the tracks. (This is something else you cannot do by airplane.) I enjoyed meeting new people and talking with those around me. I know it will not be my last trips by train and I look forward to traveling in China in the future.

QUESTIONS:

1.      Have you taken a trip by train and/or plane?

2.      Where did you go?

3.      Which way of travel do you prefer? Why?

4.      Have you ever ridden a train outside of your home country?

5.      How did the trains compare? (Which was better?)