海納百川 Generosity Reaches the Harshest Corners of the World

為著新單位裡面的敘薪，向過去服務播音及譯文的電台、教學過的各個大學請求發出服務証明

Due to the determination of payment level of mine at the current locality where I work, I was asked by the HR Head to collect as much work proof as possible since I've worked at different places. 

過程裡面因為必須出新帶領的學生的考卷，時間變得壓縮

During this entire process, time was quite tense as I would also have to create test paper for these new students who'd welcome their mid-term exam soon.

同時學生們有校內的英語相關競賽需要指導

Meanwhile, there'll be English-related contests students of mine would like to participate; I would have to spend extra working hours instructing them. 

再者，外縣市服務對象中的幾位重要人士到校與我長談

In addition, key persons from other cities went to my school for long discussions with me regarding how we can better benefit more people. 

又，國際友人們與我討論著國外服務工作中繼續的層面時，常常還是忍不住發出「妳怎麼就這樣獨自開始了相關的工作，不仰賴任何組織」的驚歎之聲

Moreover, when my foreign friends are discussing with me about such humanitarian projects I initiated, they would still often claim and remark "How is it possible you began such tasks without being shielded under any organizations?"

當我重新反覆檢視自己的時候，也非常訝異於自己在這些年，作了這些事，而也許呼應著一位長官曾經的稱許：

「和妳相比，我們像白活了一樣」

When I re-examine myself, I am also quite astonished by the scopes of issues I've endeavored to cover--such observation matches with some words said by a senior supervisor I have met along the road.

"To compare with you, we seem to have lived in vain."

這也許對應到的正好是近日去進行教師甄選的過程中，一位資深教師對Hope的觀察：

「我看到妳的資歷的時候，心裡想，對這種優秀的後進，到底要問些什麼問題? 人家已經這麼努力付出了……」

Probably these reflected what an experienced senior teacher's understanding of me. 

"After learning about what you have done, I thought to myself, 'Towards such a person who has reached such high levels in her life by her generosity and industriousness, what kinds of questions can I raise?'"

對我而言，這一切都是主觀認定，一如我自身也有主觀想法與意念，認為自己作得還不夠多，所以必須精益求精、好上加好。

For me, all these are very subjective: they are ideas from the other people. Just like me, I have my own ideals and notions which make me feel that I have not done or tried well enough. As a result, I should do more, a lot more. 

也就在申請這些「服務証明」的過程中，想起那些我所出版的書籍，想起當時非常照顧我的出版社、以及裡面的編輯；想與她在線上說個話時，看到她在自己的社交群組中所留的字：

海納百川，有容乃大；壁立千仞，無欲則剛。

When I was processing the fact of me applying for these proves of my work experience, I began to remember an editor who was quite helpful in the past when I worked for her company. After searching for her inside the social media, I noticed that she put some Mandarin Chinese works from the past on her own page. 

The words are like "Oceans are large as colossal beings contain every single matter; Cliffs are steeple as individuals without desires can be the most steadfast."

我的這一生從何處而來呢? 正如同翁倩玉女士所演唱的「感恩的心」中歌詞言道：

「我來自何方，像一顆塵土……」

One singer used to sing "Like a piece of dusk, I wonder where I came from..." 

As for me, as for all of us, where do we come from?

這樣一個細微的個體，這樣許多的邀約從世界各地而來，於是我的朋友說：

「妳覺得妳需要待在目前的單位才能實現妳的理想嗎? 說不定有其他更遠大的前程正等候著妳。」

For a minute individual like myself, when invitations to work overseas often arrive from all corners of the world, one friend enjoyed asking me, 

"Do you think you would have to stay at one particular place to make yourself more fulfilled? There are so many other options for a person like you!"

我們該如何詮釋這些訴之不盡的歷程在背後所散發的無限可能呢? 也許沒有具體的文字可以形容，所以，就讓我以這段總是無法十全十美的影像檔來訴說這箇中故事吧。

How would I be able to illustrate all these possibilities led by such incredible journeys and experiences? Perhaps no words can really describe anything fully. As a result, I decided that I would have to record a video, which, certainly, cannot be one hundred percent perfect, to tell the story.