I'd Been Treated Like a Friend in Need

I had many travel stories while I was in China and some of them were so heart-warming and unforgettable.
One travel experience where the openness and curiosity of the Chinese people helped to bridge our language and cultural differences was on a boat ride from Shanghai to Qingdao. As I walked around the deck, I'd frequently stop and write in my journal. Being the only non-Asian person on the boat, this drew quite a few curious looks, and finally a small group of people gathered around me and watched me write as if I were a sidewalk artist drawing portraits of passersby. I could tell they were enjoying watching me, so after I paused and smiled at them, I went on with my writing, mainly for their entertainment. But soon I stopped, and using my tiny amount of Chinese and their tiny amount of English, we introduced ourselves and told where we were from and where we were going. They took pictures of me with their friends and families, and I took pictures of them in return. When we arrived in Qingdao, I parted with my deck friends on the best terms and with a bit of advice about what to see and do in Qingdao.
On another trip, after boarding a plane from Xiamen to Beijing, I discovered I'd lost my passport. Without it, I was stuck between two cities, neither of which was my home base. I tried to hide my panic, but I could see that the flight staff and the other passengers on the plane could tell. And maybe that was for the best because, to my amazement, they held up the flight and radioed the airport staff, who searched the airport while the flight staff searched the runway and the shuttle bus. Meanwhile, many of the passengers had begun searching the cabin. I didn't hear a single complaining voice; everyone was willing to help. Finally a police officer entered the plane and began to collect information from me. I was about to despair of finding my passport when suddenly a woman waved the small blue book in the air--she'd found it! The whole plane burst into smiles and applause. I was very relieved and grateful for the kindness I'd experienced from so many people who'd treated me like a friend in need and not just as a foreigner.

Difficult Sentences 
1.    (Para.2) One travel experience where the openness and curiosity of the Chinese people helped to bridge our language and cultural differences was on a boat ride from Shanghai to Qingdao.

Analysis: Where introduces a restrictive relative clause modifying experience. Bridge in the relative clause is used as a verb. Bridge our differences means shortening our difference or making us closer.

Translation: 有一次，在从上海开往青岛的船上，中国人表现出来的坦率和好奇拉近了我们在语言与文化方面的距离。
Example: One experience where I learned a lot about life was in a small village in the south.

2.    (Para. 2) Being the only non-Asian person on the boat, this drew quite a few curious looks, and finally a small group of people gathered around me and watched me write as if I were a sidewalk artist drawing portraits of passersby.

Analysis: Being the only non-Asian person on the boat is a present participle used as an adverbial of cause. As if here introduces an adverbial clause of manner, and subjunctive mood is often required used with it. That’s why were is used instead of was.
Translation: 由于船上只有我一个不是亚洲人，这招来很多好奇的目光，最后竟有一群人聚集在我的周围，他们看着我写东西，就像看一个给过路行人画像的街头艺人一样。
Example: Being the only foreigner in the school, she drew a lot of attention, and usually a small group of people gathered around her and listened to her as if she were a film star speaking to her fans.

3.    (Para.2) But soon I stopped, and using my tiny amount of Chinese and their tiny amount of English, we introduced ourselves and told where we were from and where we were going.

Analysis: Using is a present participle and acts an adverbial of manner. The two where-clauses are the object clauses of the verb told.
Translation:  可很快我还是停了下来，我说一点汉语，他们说一点英语，我们开始相互介绍，谈自己是从什么地方来，到什么地方去。
Example: But soon I stopped, and speaking half English and half Chinese, I told them where I had worked and where I had learned Chinese.

4.    (Para. 2) When we arrived in Qingdao, I parted with my deck friends on the best terms and with a bit of advice about what to see and do in Qingdao.

Analysis: Part is used as a verb meaning separate. On the best terms and with a bit of advice are two prepositional phrases used as an adverbial of manner modifying parted. About is a preposition and takes as its object an infinitive clause introduced by what.
Translation: 船到青岛要分别时，我与甲板上的朋友关系已相当融洽，他们还给我提了一点建议，告诉我在青岛去哪些地方玩。
Example: I left them on bad terms and with a bit of disagreement about what to buy with the money.

5.    (Para. 3) Without it, I was stuck between two cities, neither of which was my home base.

Analysis: without it is an adverbial of condition. Which introduces a non-restrictive relative clause modifying two cities and which itself refers to two cities.
Translation: 没了护照，阻在两座城市之间，人生地不熟。
Example: Without a job, I went to Beijing and Shanghai, neither of which is familiar to me.

6. (Para. 3) I was about to despair of finding my passport when suddenly a woman waved the small blue book in the air ?she’d found it!

Analysis:  Be about to means be just ready to? Finding is a gerund and acts as the object of the preposition of. When means “at the moment” and is a conjunction that introduces an adverbial clause of time.
Translation: 我对找到护照几乎就要绝望时，突然一位妇女用手在半空中挥动着那个蓝皮本子——她找到了！
Example: She was about to leave when she heard someone knocking at the door.

7.    (Para. 3) I was very relieved and grateful for the kindness I’d experienced from so many people who’d treated me like a friend in need and not just as a foreigner.

Analysis: I’d experienced as a foreigner is a restrictive relative clause modifying kindness, with that omitted. In this relative clause who introduces another restrictive relative clause modifying people. Like and as are both prepositions and are of the same meaning “being” and both are used as an adverbial of manner.
Translation: 我松了口气，心里充满感激，我感受到他们的善良，他们把我当成患难中的朋友，而不只是把我当成一个外国人。
Example: I was moved by the kindness I’d experienced from the Smiths who’d treated me like one of the family members and not just as a friend.
Important Words
1.curiosity  n. the desire to know or learn          好奇心, 求知欲
e.g. Curiosity is part of a child’s nature.
He didn’t have any curiosity in observing the stars.
He looks at me with curiosity.
2.cultural  a. of or related to culture          文化的
e.g  All kinds of cultural activities are held on our campus.
From the book you’ll find cultural differences between the East and the West.
3.journal  n. a magazine esp. of a society; a brief account of daily events
(尤指社会团体办的)刊物; 日记
e.g  He subscribed to a monthly journal called Readers.
They made a journal of everything that happened on the ship.
4.portrait  n. a painting, drawing or photograph of a real person 肖像; 画像; 相片
e.g  We saw a portrait of the family on the wall.
The art students are drawing portraits of the model.
5.entertainment  n. the act of entertaining people, esp. the providing of food and drink         款待; 娱乐; 文娱表演
e.g  Various kinds of entertainment are listed in the newspaper.
6.in return   n. as an exchange or reciprocal action 返回；回报，作为报答
e.g  I gave him a present but he gave me nothing in return.
Linda helps me a lot and I hope I can do something in return.
7. on good (bad, equal, friendly) terms : have a good, bad etc. relationship
关系好 (坏、平等、友好)
e.g  We work together on equal terms.
After their argument they are no longer on good terms.
8. hold up  v. to delay           耽搁, 延误
e.g  The traffic was held up by a car accident.
Bad weather held up the building of the road.
9.Complain  v. to express grief, complaint or discomfort 抱怨
e.g  He always complains about the weather.
Mary complained that she couldn’t find a good job anywhere.
10. relieve  v. to lessen (pain, trouble or worry)   减轻, 缓解; 解除
e.g  His mother was relieved to hear that he is safe.
The medicine will help to relieve your pain.
11.treat  v. to act or behave towards; to deal with, to handle   对待; 处理
e.g  This glassware must be treated with care.  
Our teacher treats us like friends