生命力的純手工製造 Life---Completely Handmade
This work is presented by Hope Wang. 本文中英語撰寫者王晧璞，由於並非逐步口譯故而中英語並非全然對照。誤植之處敬請見諒。紫色部份為之後添加之處，方便辨識。
The English and Mandarin Chinese used may not be the equivalent, for this is a work of creative process, not word by word interpretation from one language to another. There are definitely typos or other issues; kindly bear with Hope then. Purple would be parts which were added later, easier for the readers to recognize.
By delivering this piece of work, I pray that everyone sees the light in his or himself, and, though I cannot claim myself as a disciple of any religion, kindly allow me to adopt a few verses from the Bible “… grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to distinguish the two.” 透過此文，祈求所有人均能夠看到自己內在的光芒，充滿智慧與勇氣面對及克服最為細小和艱困的不易課題。
I
The Quest 壹 企求
“What do we do with new things popping
into our life?”
「當生活或工作中突然冒出新的物事，我們該如何是好?」
“How should we face new environment, new
people, new knowledge?”
「我們該如何面對全新的環境、全新的人、全新的知識呢?」
Three days ago, I lectured in a session
with my current colleagues working inside the same school—the topic is about
how teachers can enhance their English proficiency. Late in the afternoon
yesterday, I attended a session of English conversation led by my foreign
colleague who just joined our school. Since we have worked together for the
same groups of students whom I often translate what she would like to express
despite of her knowledge in Mandarin Chinese, I naturally assumed the position
of assisting her in the same setting where new vocabularies confronting our
colleagues were produced. I used the digital devices inside that
particular conference room to key-in those unfamiliar English words troubling people.
三天前，應邀在目前任教的校內進行一場教師英語能力增進的課程，由於外籍同事在場，進行了同步口譯的作法，讓有華語能力但尚不流利的對方具體了解我們到底在作什麼。也由於在工作上必須和此名同事作密切的配合，日昨她在另一個場合針對同仁們的英語對話能力表現的討論過程中，我則責無旁貸直接作起她的「助理」，將所討論的字彙放在會議室的頻幕之上，方便教師們的閱讀及運用。
In these occasions, while appreciating my co-workers' English proficiency, I clearly sensed people’s
anticipation or anxiety in something they would like to be exposed, be it
linguistic or cosmopolitan views, while at the same, I could feel this
tremendous amount of warmth stemming from the bottom of my heart. It was as if
my ideology of “Who I Am” did not exist, for it seems I transformed myself into
a tool ready to prepare more people for their brighter future by doing things
that I know.
在這兩場活動之中，我感受到這些教育夥伴們的語言能力之登峰造極，也同時感覺得到人們針對他們所接觸的嶄新物事而產生的期待或者焦慮，同時，我也清楚覺察著自己的「再進化」，彷彿我是一個工具，透過我而使訊息接收者的視角更加遼闊的動機與行為模式，如此清晰。
但覺自己不再是自己，是一個說著其他的人的故事的人，而這些故事的述說，僅僅站在讓更多人受益的角度而為。
II That Canvas 貳 畫布
“So, you booked the tickets to Africa again
for the upcoming winter vacation?” A friend asked.
「所以，妳已經訂好2023年寒假到東非的機票?」朋友問道。
“I have to. Due to the pandemic, I have not
been there for at least two years, which is really too long for me. I would
like to be back to see my ‘family members’ and those wildlife whom I have
considered as my friends.”
「是。因為疫情的關係我至少兩年沒有過去探望當地的「家人朋友」和不是生長在國家公園裡面的純粹野生「動物朋友」了，這個期間也未免太長，長到讓人不舒服……」
“What do you want to do this time?” My
friend pressed on.
「那這次妳要作什麼呢?」朋友這樣問道。
My reply was this: “Despite of the currently pre-existing projects, I feel there is so much
to discuss with the locals before I take any steps further. I would like to
listen to their opinions, their lives in the recent months before making decisions altogether with them on how we shall continue or create new projects aiming at making their lives better as
communities.”
我回應道「除了我們本來既有的、不斷繼續運作的計畫外，要作任何事之前，我想先和以往一樣，與當地人作深入的討論，如此一來，我才知道我們大家可以如何制定共同的計畫或者修正既有的方案，讓他們像過去一樣以社區為整體的方式，往前邁進。」
Deep-down, particularly due to my efforts
in making such people’s lives better, I tend to see places in Africa where I serve,
or, in fact, anywhere I visit for the betterment of communities as canvases
with paints to be borne. In the past, when I heard people saying: “I will go
with the flow. I do not have a plan yet.” I feel these people are
irresponsible.
基於這一連串歷程，我常常感到自己在看待任何界面的事宜時，猶如欣賞一空白的、或者僅有幾筆墨色的畫布，等待更多色彩的加入。
過去，當我聽到人們說「不知道耶，我看看狀況如何再作決定」時，會覺得這些人怎麼這樣不負責任哪?!
“How can people have no plans at all?” I
used to think, while judging those who are like that.
問題是，當我面對到更多無章無法的事件，無從引經據點，亦無法照本宣科時，就像第一次以客人的身份住到膚色比黑夜還黑的非洲人家中時，面對著所謂「浴室」及「洗澡水」的目瞪口呆，到底該如何解釋呢?
他們的「浴室」大約半坪大，四四方方，裡面沒有水龍頭、沒有水槽、沒有浴缸，空空如也。
他們為我從室外有限的水源挑進來的「洗澡水」，是大約一公升寶特瓶裝水的量，靜置於一個小桶子裡面，因為沒有鏡子掛在牆上，連想就著水照鏡子都有點艱難。
My experiences serving those living under poverty levels in the
less fortunate regions have taught me, though, that instead of treating myself
as an agent helping them, we are uplifting each others’ worldviews. For example,
when faced with merely around one liter of water the locals fetched for me from
the outdoor as my “share” of the amount “taking a bath” that particular day
when I finally got the approval to “homestay” with the locals in east Africa,
alone, standing in a small four walled room called “the bathroom” but with
literally nothing—no faucet, basin, bathtub but merely a small window, what do I
do?
這些過程使我發現，與其把自己當作「助人者」，不如把自己當作與他們共同成長的人。
Or, when I was brought into a community hidden inside
bushes from nowhere with no roads, with each household simply bearing no
address, scattered here and there that from the foot of the hill, nothing could
be seen, what do I do?
如果不這麼作的話，我該怎麼面對那在樹叢後面，沒有路的路、沒有街名、沒有門牌號碼、不是觀光客到得了的「住家」呢?
Or, when seeing a student using a tree
branch stirring a big pot cooking the maize and beans for the entire school of two
hundred plus pupils, firewood from other branches sitting and burning underneath
that big pot, what should I do?
如果不能與他們共同學習、共同成長，我該如何看待那拿著一個粗大的樹枝，在一堆其他樹枝所舖的柴火之上的大鍋子，攪拌全校超過兩百名學生中餐的「玉米與豆子」的學生呢?
Gradually I have found the biggest joke in
my life is I slowly discover that by forming one page after another of this
book of my life, I need to improvise, so much so that I do things when I am
needed, and I do not really know how to give people a structure to follow, as I
do not see any formality or steps which should be taken in order to achieve any
particular goals.
慢慢地，我發現上天開我的最大一個玩笑，是在我個人形塑自己的生命之書時，常常必須就地取材、即興演出，因為這樣的關係，我鮮少給予別人具體的執行步驟，因為對我而言，很多事情沒有規則與章法，它們只是一個又一個的試鍊，測試人們在智慧與勇氣上的深度及廣度。
通過試鍊的方式?
沒有公式與標準可言。
The only thing I firmly believe is
kindheartedness and integrity, qualities which do not even have textbooks or
subjects focusing on such, which is amazing that in this lifetime, I could hear
my 7-year-old students tell me,
而我惟一所相信的教條就是良善之心以及正直之舉，這些在一般教科書中難以窺見的寶貴特質。
在這樣的過程中，很開心能夠聽到我所教學的國小二年級學生們對我說：
「老師，我們在妳的課堂裡面安安靜靜，是因為妳告訴我們說，生活就是坐要有坐相，站要有站相，說話要有說話的樣子。」
“Teacher, we behave well in your class
because you have told us that in our daily lives, we should respect ourselves
and the others while being polite.”
當然，我很欣慰，畢竟，這樣的特質帶著我翻山越嶺，從未打斷我與各種不同膚色人士相處、交流的過程與信念。
Gladly I look at them, thinking about such
qualities I have grown to possess so that wherever I go, I have the urge to
make more friends, understand more about different people’s lifestyles, and
discover what knowledge I can share with such people so that we can all have
more colorful lives.
III Our
Self-Image 參 我們的自我認知
I do not know how people look at me; as a
result, I can only get such information from those around me commenting on my
ways of interacting with them.
因為無法得知別人如何看待我這個人，因此，只能從別人對我的評價來一窺究竟。
A few days ago, one of my students facing
her different options in career told me that “To know you, I feel like facing a
coach in life.”
幾天前，一位面對著幾個不同專業工作抉擇的學生跟我說：「我覺得自己在面對Hope老師的時候，比較像是跟我的生命教練對話，談的是生命課程。」
Last night, another adult student said “You
are not like my seniors who are always very subjective. They like to express
their opinions which are just ordinary or even dull. Whereas they do not like choices they make, they live in the life of their choices while lecturing to me what I or we youths should or must do. I feel it is very bad for
them to be like this. On the contrary, you are so flexible. Your world is so
big.”
昨夜，另一位已經成年的學生說：「妳不像我遇到的那些長輩，個個都非常主觀，他們很喜歡發表他們索然無味的長篇大論，但卻又常說自己活得不耐煩而又無趣，他們為什麼要這樣對我們說話呢?! 明明結了婚，卻告訴我們絕對不要結婚。真的很不喜歡這樣。可是老師妳不一樣。妳的世界超級超級大的，想法很多元。」
“I, too,” said me to my student, “have met
so many people who used to say IT CANNOT BE DONE. NO! NO! NO! THAT WON’T HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY. But you know what? Recently when asked by one colleague of
mine about how I could have ventured into the unknown to do things for strangers without any financial support like a foundation, I began to
realize I have yet another new explanation regarding this question raised in front of me countless times. In my life, there have been
numerous times I have bounced back at seemingly destructive or hopeless
positions. Forces of bouncing back are so constructive that again and again, I feel
like I can test myself repetitively. In the end, even when my students or
anyone who is telling me that he or she would like to try something completely different,
I would say ‘As long as you have the determination to make it happen, you will
make it.’”
我跟學生說：「我也是啊，常常會遇見那些跟我說不行、不可能、絕對無法達成的人們，跟我說這個不可能辦到、那個不可能發生，可是，最近當我再度被問到為何沒有金援卻去進行了深度的國際服務工作時，我突然有了另一種想法，我發現自己也許是一次又一次，從幾乎不可能的角落回彈到了可能，於是養成了習慣，覺得天下無難事、只怕有心人般，最後，當有人告訴我說他們想嚐試這、嚐試那時，我都覺得只要對方充滿恆心毅力，天助自助者，自當所向披靡、萬夫莫敵。」
聽來很軍武?
不好意思，平時溫和慣了，偶爾也會有點血脈賁張的感覺。
Reflecting back, I even feel sorry for
those who have suggested the others some simpler roads to take. I wonder
whether it can be the reason that such people fall into the category that my
students in their 20s or 30s feel “DULL, BORING, the kind that I do not want to
become.”
如此想來，對於那些規勸他人採行簡易路途而行之人，反而令人感到心疼，是否他們不曾冒險犯難，所以必須謹小慎微，成為我那些二、三十歲年齡層學生口中所言「無聊的中年大叔和老人家」呢?
然而，是否太過大刀破斧，又會變成匹夫之勇?
這樣的難處，真真可謂生命之謎呀……
不論如何，被青年男女稱呼為是「無聊無趣的中老年人」的人士，卻又如此讓人不禁一掬同情之淚，再怎麼說也是活過，如何活出色彩卻可能不大容易?!
Thus, how we keep challenging ourselves and where we would like to be are truly territories testing both our wisdom in leading a meaningful life and mental health.
走筆至此，我們如何挑戰自我，確然是一門不易探究的生活倫理與心理健康教育啊 !
但當時從初等教育現場辭職的我，如何知道自己會在歷經某些讓人不斷告訴我「太特別」的歷程後，又回到初等教育現場，以英語為其中一個腳本，教授學生「生活課」和「健康課」等等課程呢?
However, since I forsook my role as a formal teacher teaching English in the elementary school level in Taiwan, how would I ever imagine I would return into such an environment with the experiences often too much praised by the others as being "UNIQUE" to teach the younger ones LIFE and HEALTH by combining the subjects with English, a foreign language to the students?
Is this coincidental? These newly developed subjects allow teachers who would like to venture the unknown to truly go into such directions as there are even no established formats yet, let alone formal examinations for the 6 or 7 years old!
這是一種機緣巧合嗎? 這種新型的課程所需面對的學生為低年級，科目並非考科，教師得以悠遊與學生用英語這個非母語來探索課程中的許多層次，因為它連必須融合英語教材的部份都尚稱初步。
更具體地說，我怎麼會料得到，原本回到國內的初心只是進行無償服務，最後，卻回到了我成長過程中的部份時段，曾經待過的某個行政區，像是上天要替我將一些細瑣的事情畫下更動人的色彩那樣?
To be more specific, I could have not anticipated that by returning back to Taiwan, my original intention was to be a volunteer. It turned out, though, with twists and turns, I ended up serving inside this school situated at a region where I used to live when I was a teenager. Seemingly, it looks I am destined to be at this geographic locality to fill in more colors on that canvas...
所以我才會說，我無法制定具體的待辦事項，因為對我而言，隨時隨地都有極大的變數迎面而來，偶爾，甚至讓我措手不及。
Such would be the reasons for my not being able to really formalize concrete plans, for in the life of someone like me, there are always variables taking place, sometimes even very abruptly.
在這個時刻，我會非常喜歡一位國外資深合作夥伴對我的見解：
「是沒錯，一般人喜歡追求穩定，可是，一般人追求的是一種形態上的穩定；但是妳已經變成了一種精神上的穩定，所以妳即便看似在動作，卻更加如如不動。」
At moments like this, I really enjoy the definitions set by a foreign friend of mine who is quite wise.
"Certainly, people chase after settling down, fitting into the norm. They, however, look after the kind of physical steadiness. You, my friend, has that determined mindset which leads you to everywhere doing anything surprising us in the past, as you will keep doing so in the days to come."
IV Confidentiality 肆 保密
“What do you think I can do in the long run
for this LIFE class?” My foreign colleague asked.
「妳覺得在這堂我需要與妳配課的課程中，我應該作些什麼?」初來乍道的外籍同事詢問著我。
“You can do anything you want!” My reply
was. “As long as the themes fit into the lessons we cover
now, it would make sense whatever you’d like to explore.”
「妳可以作任何妳想作的事，只要不超出我們的單元主題即可。」
“Do you think role play is a good idea?”
She pointed out.
她又問道：「妳覺得角色扮演如何?」
“Oh, I love drama, but what can be the
drama with themes we cover at present?” I asked.
「蠻好的呀，我很喜歡戲劇表現，只是，有哪一個劇碼有現在我們所教授的主題呢?」
提出這個問題的我，也快速動著腦袋，就在她陷入沉思時，我回應到：
「何不採用xxxxxxxx這個故事為腳本呢?」
As she was thinking, I had an idea, right
on the spot, in an instant.
“What about XXXXXXXX?!”
「太棒了!」她回應到。
With excitement, my colleague expressed, “Terrific! That will do!”
Happily we started to think about the whole
thing. The next day, our plan expanded; it expanded because we were pondering about it in our respective leisure time after work.
興高采烈的我們開始了愉快的討論，第二天，我們不約而同產生了雷同的另一個想法。
“Not that I am too ambitious,” she said, “but I wonder if you think it’s possible we can make it an event where XXXXXXXX?”
她說：「我真的不想太過好高騖遠，不過，妳覺得我們有沒有可能……呢?」
“Tell me about it! I just talked to XXXXXXX
about certain ideas in relation to this. In fact, I am thinking…”
「好巧呀，我剛剛正好和xxxxxx談過，而且，也在想是否要如妳所說的這樣做呢!!!」
Of course, the rest is truly going to be
history as well as confidential.
當然囉，後面會發生什麼，就請諸位客倌們拭目以待。
One thing for sure is that EVERYONE will be
invited to the show when we make it ^^
這令我想起幾個朋友多年前為我所下的註腳。
I thought about a few friends’ remark years
ago.
「妳不覺得自己很像綠色小屋的安嗎?」他們其中一人說。
“Do you not feel you are just like Anne, from Anne of the Green Gables?” One of them commented.
“Yeah, we all think you look like her, too.”
Another one said.
另一位也提出「我們都覺得妳蠻像她的。」
I never truly figured out how a Chinese by
origin can look identical to a Caucasian; nevertheless, I am delighted that
like this fabricated character, I also teach, and I seem to be creating continuously
things I had never imagined when I was a little girl. For all these, I am more
than grateful and am happy I am still alive so that I can do more.
當然，我弄不清的是怎麼身為黃種人的自己，會和一個杜撰的白種女性扯上關係，不過，就像這個小說中的角色般，我也身為一位教師，而我所創作的空間，似乎仍在擴充，並且，全然是我身為一個小孩時所無法想像的。
深感喜悅同時也感恩的，是自己仍然有著可以行動的能力，能夠執行希望執行的方案。
Definitely, we will have a lot of fun as
long as we stay open-minded by welcoming any possibilities.
自然而然，如果我們總是保持一個開放的胸懷，接納萬事萬物，那麼，這個社會及這個世界，必定更加精采動人。
2023年冬季針對外籍夥伴也許從其他大洲共同前往非洲而制定的行程草案如下，將隨時因當地人士安排及計畫等而有所變動。
This is a suggested format of the journey
in Kenya, where NAMANGA would be the major region of all the activities or
projects involved. Due to the circumstances there, it is the best the timetable
remains flexible so that the locals accompanying outsiders can better arrange different
activities for them.
Thank you very much.
|
1-3 Days |
Nairobi: visiting key government people’s
work places, understanding the nation in general, and taking a look at an orphanage
created by an American couple |
|
1-2 Days |
Kila Kila School in Namanga, created by a
Japanese who married a Kenyan lady |
|
3-5 Days |
Community of Oloilalei where people live
under one USD per person per day: understanding about how people there live,
observing the wildlife, and what has happened after the intervention |
|
3-5 Days |
Communities of Lenkisim and Olgugului
where people live under one USD per person per day: knowing more about the
interior of areas near the Amboseli National Park where wild animals roam |
|
3-5 Days |
Namanga: exploration of the major hub
serving as the foundation of Hope’s service projects |
|
2-3 Days |
Visiting a few other key people playing a
role of making a difference in the region |
|
1-2 Days |
Local functions (like a wedding etc.) |
|
1-2 Days |
Holding any specific events like
discussion forum for the locals or ourselves |
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