ENDLESSNESS 無盡
I was dressing in my very casual clothes at the airport where I met the gentlemen described below. Worse, I was covered by much dust after the long journey to the airport. My suitcases were all with the brown earth. Needless to say, I did not look too fancy myself.
我輕裝便著，身上沾滿了從遠方而來的沙塵，我的行李上也布滿了泥土的顏色；簡言之，我看來應該絕對沒有一些人們會對我說的「妳很有古典美」的感覺。
甚至恰恰相反。
“Just go with us. We’re heading to the business lounge. I
can invite one guest.” One of these new friends I just made from Turkey but
growing up in Germany told me. When he mentioned such words to me, we had
already communicated with each other for around 2 hours or so. I learned that
both of them have their own families; they work together as business partners
and are doing good things by inspecting their projects in person for the
various nations of people in need in Africa.
「我們兩人都有商務卡，請跟我們一起到商務艙貴賓休息室去。擁有此卡者可邀請其他貴賓一起進入貴賓休息室。」
這是兩位我才剛剛結識的朋友們，他們是從小在德國出生、長大，但是身為土耳其的人。
此言是在我與他們在機場辦理登機手續前，已經交換意見長達至少兩個小時之後，他們所發出的邀請。在此段談話過程之中，我對他們有了更多理解，包括他們兩位在業界中的合作背景、他們的妻子兒女在自己國家中等候他們返國，以及他們已為眾多國度的貧困人群施予援手並定期實地堪察現況發展的事實……等等。
Why would I know about their background, for after all, I
merely met them at the airport while leaving Africa as a continent?
為何我會在離開非洲大陸之前，僅僅在機場與他們巧遇，而了解他們如此之多的背景呢?
There were not too many seats around inside such an
airport. After I decided to locate a seat to sit down, I found two gentlemen
occupying the seats next to me. When I noticed one of them was wearing fashionable
hat, scarf, and the color of red as a shirt, I presumed they were
holiday-makers. Around the same time they sat next to me, a group of national
team of sportsmen went towards the check-in counters at almost the same time.
Their outfits were printed with NIKE: with KENYA covering the major parts of
the eye-catching black and red part of their jacket and pants, these people looked
impressive.
非洲大陸的許多機場並不若先進國度，登機程序辦理之前當我找到想坐下的位置時，不久之後，這兩名男士也坐到我旁邊兩個湊巧空出來的位子上。當看到他們其中一位戴著設計新穎的鴨舌帽、圍巾、上衣為耀眼的紅色的那一刻，我不禁揣想，他們應該是到非洲觀看動物大遷徙或者旅遊的，眾多旅客中的兩名男性白種人。
在這兩位白種人男士坐下的同一個時刻前後，也有一群身上標有名品服飾NIKE，以及肯尼亞國家代表隊，黑、紅色整套衣裝相間的選手們，在我們所坐的等候位子前方不遠處，辦理登機程序。
Couldn’t quench my senses of curiosity anymore, I went to
the sports team as if I were still reporting news in the radio station I used
to work inside, with the intention to know more about these people: especially
during my voluntary and professional journeys, I have taught sportsmen.
這個在身上標有國家名稱的隊伍人數不少，登機程序卻也無法非常快速，所以他們出現在我的眼前不短的時間。看著他們一位一位前進的過程中，尤其在我的服務及教學歷程中，也和為數不少的「選手」們「巧遇」於教室之中……至此，我再也無法克制自己的好奇感，接著，就像我仍在廣播電台播音似的，我決定「訪問」他們。
“We will do cross country in Australia. Every nation has
its representatives! It will last for one day only. Our team consists of people
who are the best of the best, chosen from every part of Kenya.” These were the
answers I obtained after talking to them. “We are a combination of contestants,
coaches, nurses and doctors.”
「這是一個將前往澳大利亞、經過嚴格桃選、將進行越野賽跑比賽的國家代表隊，我們的成員裡面有學生、選手、教練、醫護人員等等……」這些是經過和他們的對談及提問之後，我所得到的答案。
Those two gentlemen sitting next to me at the original
spot whom I would later associate with were too far away from me to hear the
content of our conversation.
兩位我所將結交的新朋友此刻坐在離我與國家代表隊成員中數名人士的交談，有一段距離的位置，無法聽見我們的談話。
However, there were two things these two white men did that made me want
to talk to them. One was in their dialogue, I could not distinguish the
language they used. Every person’s linguistic background represents a culture.
A culture is with countless stories which attract a person such as I am. Without
the rough understanding of that culture, a description of them could be too far
to reach.
不過，有兩件事使我決定和這兩名白人開始對話。
其中之一，是我無法辨識他們之間彼此交談時所使用的語言。每個語言使用者的背後，都是那個語言的背景文化，而任何一個文化之中，總有數之不盡的迷人故事，讓我這樣的一個人產生好奇感。
Another was the gentleman sitting next to me was laughing
at himself while conversing with a few of the national team
members.
另一件事，是坐在靠我比較近的地方的男士，在我回到座位重新坐下之後，與幾位同樣來自一個國家代表隊的隊員們談話時，說到：「啊，我不行啊，不能像你們這樣跑步了，看看我的(中年發福狀)游泳圈就知道了!!!」
“Look at me. With my body looking like this, I cannot run
like you anymore.” He was teasing himself by pointing out his body being not
that fit as a teenager or a college student. I often have that feeling when a
person is liberal enough to tease him/herself, it is a good sign demonstrating
that this person can be easily communicated with, no hard feelings.
對於能夠結識大大方方開自己玩笑、調侃自己，但又不是明顯在自我認同上極端地徘徊在正面與負面中的人，我往往感到是個蠻不錯的事，這樣的人會比較好溝通，也比較不會把事情往心裡去。
These triggered my decision to start this one question that
paved ways for many others followed--“What is the language you are using to
communicate with each other?”
這兩個不同角度的觀察，促使我想與這兩位外籍人士談談。所以我的「破冰」提問是：「請問您們在溝通的時候所使用的，是什麼語言?」
They looked at each other, obviously quite delighted that
someone could be curious in their cultural heritage. Meanwhile, their answer
surprised me.
“We are switching from German to Turkish.”
對於有人在他們的文化背景相關事宜上感到興趣一事，他們兩人看來頗為欣喜，而他們的回應也有些出人意表：
「我們同時間以德文及土耳其語交談。」
那麼，究竟是什麼促成他們這樣的語言轉換?
What would be the reasons for their switching from one
language to another?
是什麼使得跟他們交流的人可以找到問題及答案?
What would enable people communicating with them find the
questions and answers?
是什麼使我們的談話可以持續?
How come our conversation would continue?
In such situations, the in-depth understanding really do
not come right away—it is after moments and moments of communications that the
core issues are revealed. I learned that these two gentlemen who are running
businesses handle myriads of individuals and issues inside and outside their
corporate practices, with their reaching out to the needed by building
necessary facilities for those who cannot have the access of water to be able
to reach the water. They also help pupils through scholarships and the construction
of schools. By connecting donors from Turkey, their own nation, and Germany,
the nation where they grew up, they have managed to build a complex
humanitarian system assisting many people from different nations.
在這種情形之下，上述問題的答案無法馬上得知；它們會變成不斷交談的結果，將如同一層一層的薄膜被掀開之後，看到核心的狀態一般。但因為我們的交談流暢，所以慢慢的，我開始理解他們之間的關係。
這兩位男士在生意上是共事的夥伴，他們經營了多角化的事業，掌管著跨洲的幾千名員工，他們也在生意經營的同時希望能夠回饋世界，所以結合了他們從小生長的德國人士，以及他們自己本國人士，共同為一個針對多個非洲貧窮國度的進步事宜相關，複雜的服務系統而付出。
A part of the human history that is hidden behind the
scene which I never heard of began to be unfolded in my ideology. “We are all
Turkish. We grew up in Germany because after WWII, Germany became very terrible
in its economic and political status quo. The nation invited people from Turkey to work
there. Our parents regarded that as an opportunity; therefore, we ended up
knowing each other in Germany.”
What kind of life was that to go away from one’s original
nation to another nation that was defeated in the war, a world war, with no
relatives? This reminds me of the moment when I began that silent battle I have
fought once my conscience told me that I had too many privileges that I should
do more for the others, total strangers in extreme poverty. Identically, I went
to nations which did not consist of people I knew; equally, I could not have
won the support from those around me since no one was doing the same.
On top of all these, why would I be face to face with
some individuals like those whose life would be so different from the fate of
those of my ancestors?
「我們是土耳其人，從小因為父母親在二戰結束後，被當時景況不堪的德國邀請到該國工作，而在德國出生，也在德國認識，長大成人後，回土耳其創業及工作。」這兩位男士如此說明著。
從他們的身上，我看到一個在世界大戰之後，我沒有想像過、耳聞過的世界局勢。
從自己本身的國度，到達一個自己根本陌生的國度，且是在一個世界性質的戰爭之中落敗之國，人生地不熟，語言也不通的情況之下，是一種怎樣的過往? 如何的步履?
他們的故事讓我想到自己在良知覺醒後，了解身處富庶之地的養尊處優，並非人人均能享有，而開始了一個自我進行的挑戰，一個內在的革命，想知道自己到底可以為真正貧苦的陌生人，一樣在海外舉目無親，甚至週邊沒有人在做雷同的事、也談不上支持時，能夠做些什麼……
Encountering such people with contrasting historical and
cultural backgrounds compared with those of mine and my ancestors, what would I
feel? What would I see?
為何我會面對面，用我個人的歷史和文化背景，映照著這樣和我們的族裔命運不同的，其他族裔呢?
與這樣的人群面對面時，到底我有什麼感覺、有什麼見解與看法?
As if answers from Heaven or some mysterious forces have
replied my questions regarding my own efforts of doing something, anything,
good to the other humanity, I look in front of my eyes two individuals doing
something a bit identical to that of my actions taken. Many unanswered
questions raised by myself seemed to be answered through our words, sentences,
their discussions with mine.
上天似乎靜靜給著我，對於我所做的事情的答案一般，讓我終於在這樣的行程之中，和這樣也把陌生的人們的福祉放在心間，並且採取行動的人，有一種絕佳的意見交換角度和契機。就像上天默默無言將我所做的那些微不足道的助人工作，進行一番盤點及檢視一般，我從和這樣的人士們的巧遇之間，看到和我所做的事情有些雷同的人們的步履。
Unlike the tourists or holiday-makers who are seeking
pleasure, or even some other people with the same skin color of that of theirs abusing
women there in Africa, women who are my friends, women who have been taken
advantages of, or even men who are tricked by people of that skin color who
seem to be friendly, these two are really in the motion and notion to do
something decent.
“In certain nations, we have linked the local people with water resources.
However, when we talk to some governments, they do not want to provide the
convenience for their people. They need their people to have just a little to
eat, not too smart, too rich, it seems… Things are not easy.” I was told.
不像其他到當地的度假人士所尋求的是歡樂、刺激、享受，也不像一些和他們膚色相同，但是到達非洲後進行的是非法的交易的勾當，例如，佔我所認識的當地女性朋友們的便宜等等，像這樣的在機場遇見的兩位男士們，竟也是長年真的以行動和決心，進行著關於服務人群多達數國的實質任務。
也許由於我們的心態和方向，頗為雷同，所以，談話之間少有空檔，一來一往之中，我可以更加優質的角度一窺他們所做的服務事項的全貌。
「我們在一些地方幫沒有水資源可用的人們接水，不過，我們也跟一些政府相關單位交涉，表達我們希望幫助當地人接上水源的決心，也可以提供相關的經費，然而，這些政府卻無動於衷，似乎非常希望大家不要吃得太飽、發展得太好……真的蠻困難的。」他們解釋到。
“We always want to visit these nations together. For you,
a female, coming to this land all by yourself… it must not be easy.” The person
dressing in red shirt said. He is the one helping all of us to understand each
other more successfully, especially after his comment of himself.
「我們總希望可以一起前往落後國度，進行相關工作，所以真的很難想像，如果大部份時間妳必須一人隻身前往一些地方，是什麼感覺……應該也相當不簡單。」他們繼續邊討論、邊與我溝通著相關細節。
身著紅色上衣的男士常常代表兩人發言，另一位則相形之下較為沉默。穿著紅色上衣的男士說：「我這位老大哥是我非常信賴的工作夥伴，也是我的老闆，他常跟我說，請把你要說的話通通忘記，馬上去睡覺。為什麼你總像一個女人一樣，嘮嘮叨叨地說這麼多話呢?」
“My business partner here is like big brother to me. He
always says to me, ‘Just stop thinking. Go to bed. You talk like a woman.’”
Indeed, one of them is very quiet, while another very
eloquent. I asked the more quiet one who has become very successful in his
business endeavors, so much so that he said “My own father, in his 60s,
congratulated me for achieving so much.” as why he’s more taciturn.
誠然，他們其中一位真的靜如泰山，而另一位則能言善道。
我請教為何較為安靜的那位，現今狀況如此：「難不成是您的商場背景改變了您的性格?」
「沒有，我天性如此。一件有意思的事情與妳分享，我的父親在他六十歲左右的時候，曾經恭喜過我在事業上的成功。」
“I was born like this.” He said. In reality, my father congratulated me for doing a wonderful job in my business in his 60s. He is quite proud of me."
I pressed on. “Is it not due to the fact of your business
training?”
“No. I am the way I am when I was born. Before, I never
smoked. During COVID-19, when things turned into unexpected situations, I went
back home, spending more time with my bigger family members who are mostly
males and they all smoke. At that time, I began to smoke, too. To smoke is
something that is different about me. Personality-wise, I stay the same.”
「在疫情期間，生意狀況不穩定，大家必須待在家裡，那時，我和父親及其他家族裡面的男性親人們，有比較長的相處時間。因為他們都抽菸的關係，所以在過去從來沒有抽過菸的我，也開始抽起了菸……可是，我在個性上面，其實沒有太多改變。」
I was surprised. “Do many people in Turkey smoke?”
聽聞這樣的訊息而感到訝異的我問到：「在土耳其，抽菸的人多嗎?」
“Oh, yes.” The person in red shirt answered. “People like
to be very efficient. Turkish people are very, very quick. Drivers are
impatient when the others drive too slowly. To me, it is very normal to spend
hours after hours to handle messages from all over the place every day. Now I
am in my 40s. I smoke E-cigarettes. I want to retire in 3 years.”
身著紅衣的男士說：「很多人都抽菸啊! 我也抽電子菸。土耳其人很重視效率，沒辦法忍受緩慢動作的人，在馬路上大家都急急忙忙，看人開車就知道了。像我，年過四十之後事情愈來愈多，要處理的事一件接著一件，我打算三年後要退休。」
“Really? Not even keep working for those overseas projects helping the
others?” I asked.
「真的嗎? 即始那些國際人道救援工作也一樣?」我如此詢問道。
He told me, “It won't be that easy. Our sponsors in Germany are all
females whom we feel responsible for. I also want to keep tracking the
progresses in each and every nation we have reached out during these years…”
這位男士說：「不容易哦。我們在德國的資助者都是女性，而我們總是感到對他們有很重大的責任似的，這當然還包括我們在各國的這些被援助者，他們的生活狀況、進度等等……這些都是需要時間的大工程……」
I totally understand what he’s describing about—these things never come to an end.
我完全可以體會他所想表達的內容，因為這種服務工作，從來沒有盡頭可言。
We exchanged ideas, things we had done, and laughed at
the frustrations we had had encountered during our respective journeys. We talked
about the earthquake shattering a major area of their nation, Turkey. I asked
them about the refugees flooding into their nation. Before we would have to
board the aircraft, they carefully presented me with a gift, after my joyful
stay in the business lounge with them, after I was advised a shower could be
taken before my lengthy journey.
我們就我們所做的相關事務，交換其中有汗水、淚水、笑點的點滴歷程。
我們對於在他們的祖國土耳其所發生的地震災情，交換看法及感想。
在我們登機前，我與他們在商務艙貴賓休息室中持續交換意見；他們也(可能看我身形並非壯碩?)鼓勵我盡量多吃一些，並且告知我這樣的貴賓休息室裡面，有淋浴設備，既然我的轉機時間冗長，也可以去享用那樣的設備。
於登機門前的侯機區等待時，他們兩位逕自於機場免稅商站購買了禮品贈送於我。
“I have not presented you with any gifts.” Embarrassed, I
told them. And I almost always prepare presents for those people whom I have
visited in Africa.
每次到非洲都會準備不少禮品的我，相當不習慣拿到別人饋贈，有鑑於此，我對他們說：「實在汗顏，您們盛情款待了我，但我卻沒有禮品可以現在回贈您們……」
Their reply was “This present is from the two of us. When
we buy such presents, we forget about them right away. For the presents giving
to us, we remember them.”
他們的回應是：「這是我們兩人為妳準備的禮物，請大方接受。我們給出去的禮物，隨後我們就不會記在心上，但是對於我們所收到的禮品，我們卻會銘記在心。」
Before all these, at one moment during our hours of
exchanging of ideas while waiting for the airplane, I expressed to these
friends my gratitude and appreciation of meeting them.
“Will it be possible that one day, the two of you will
travel to Southeast Asia? Can it be likely we can cooperate with each other in
any form possible?” I asked.
One of them, the more taciturn person leading the other
and the rest of their complex business modules explained by pointing out the
table across from us,
“When one person wants to uplift a table like this one,
it may be too heavy. When two have tried, it becomes easier. The more people
join suit, the easier the tasks are solved. I have a dream about what we are
doing now; we shall continue making the dream come true.”
在這所有的事情發生之前，於多個小時的侯機之間，我曾與這兩位我所結識的人們提及，對於與他們這樣的人的相遇的收穫、感恩之意等等。
「有沒有可能未來以任何模式合作? 或者，您們有無到東南亞的可能?」我這樣詢問著。
沉默寡言的那位較為年長的男士，此時指著我們在貴賓休息室圍坐的桌子，開始發話：
「看到這張桌子了嗎? 這一張桌子如果我一個人把它抬起來的時候，可能會太吃力。」
接著，他示意請他的同行夥伴與他一起動作，抬起桌子的另一邊。
「妳看，這樣的話，這個桌子就比較容易抬起來。如果再加上妳的力量，就更能夠順勢且輕鬆抬起來，不是嗎？能夠有合作的機會是很好的一件事。」
Continued, he expressed that “I have a dream. I hope that
in Africa, we will be able to build …” in a rather serious tone.
這位男士接著用一種認真的語調說及：「我有個夢想。我希望在非洲建造出……」
When I think of these people who are angles in my life, they
have reminded me my counterparts in Kenya who, just due to this journey where
many complicated issues occurred, went to the airport to fetch me for three
times, three days in a role; they live quite far away from the airport—out of
generosity, our bond with one another, they drove to the airport just to meet
me in person while bringing me to the place. Despite of the difficulties they
have encountered in life, including that much threatening drought brought by
global warming lasting for around 4 years, they received me wholeheartedly. Just
as they have explained, I am one of them, their siblings, their daughter, and
their aunts.
當我秉氣凝神，思想起這兩位上天派來世間的天使的時候，我也不由自主想起這一次由於旅途上的波折，在服務地點所在地的朋友們連續到了機場三天，每天往返一次，才能接到我；他們離機場的路程相當之遠，卻仍然不辭勞苦，就算當地由於氣侯暖化所引起的乾旱，已經長達約四年之久。
於是，一如他們所言，我就是他們的家人。
於是，他們與我分享著他們的喜怒哀樂。
Moreover, there are well-respected individuals who are
doing quite a few different things to help the others on my homeland who would
like to assist these people in Africa.
尤有甚者，在台灣，一樣有令人敬重的、一直進行著台灣相關服務工作的人士，由於知道我在非洲從事的相關服務，而有心為那裡的人做些什麼。
Further, there are those angels who are guiding me
through all the intricately complex confusions when things are not rosy, when
the silver linings cannot be noticed.
更加重要的，是有許許多多在我看得見或者看不見的角落的善心人士、天使的人，在各處為了讓我的服務工作更加順利，而默默為我做著什麼。
Of course, I keep on encountering many, many different
individuals. Some share with me their stories of life, whereas the others
episodes of their varied chapters signifying their existence. On the connecting
flight, I met two fellow passengers, one from Spain and another from Italy. We never knew one another, either. Since
the flight would be reaching my homeland, Taiwan, and since it is a co-shared
flight by one of them an airline in Taiwan, many other passengers on board of
the same airplane would be my countrymen. I found a few of them staring at us
when the three of us chatted along the flight. As a former cabin crew member, I
understand due to the noise of the aircraft, people would have to talk louder.
I wonder if it was our voice volume disturbing these people. Nevertheless, our
dialogue kept going.
自然而然地，我在各處仍不斷與各國人士相逢，他們與我分享著屬於他們的不同故事、生活中的種種等等。
轉機之後，在前往台灣的班機的路途之上，我有兩位鄰座的乘客，真真彼此都是天涯若比鄰的陌生人士：
一位來自西班牙的女性，一位來自義大利的男性。
該航班由於有兩個航空公司聯航，其中一個是台灣的航空公司，所以台灣乘客特別之多；在其他乘客們安靜坐在位子上看影片、滑手機等的情況下，我和鄰座的兩位異國人士的交談，也許過於不同，也許發出了談話聲，所以特別引人側目? 每每總有台灣朋友盯著我們看一看。
不知道是否由於擔任過國際客艙的服務人員，對於這樣的被盯著看，我也有些不以為意……
I listened to these two new friends expressing ideas
regarding tourism. We discussed about the different situations in their nation,
the opinions of the EURO ZONE, their different professions, their expectations
towards Taiwan and so on.
我聽著這兩位人士就不同的事情發表意見：包括各地的景點、他們自己的國家、歐元區相關事宜、他們的工作、他們抵台後的期望值等等。
While looking at me, with a quite sincere attitude, my
new Italian friend remarked, “No. You absolutely do not look like a person from
Asia.”
義大利男士在我們聊天的過程中，慎審望著我之後說到：
「妳的言行舉止完全不是一個來自亞洲的人! 妳完完全全不是一般的華人。」
Hearing this, a local friend I’ve known for ages told me,
“Tell them you are from Mars.”
當一位台灣的熟識聽到此事時對我說：「告訴他妳來自火星好嗎?」
“Why not Venus, based on that famous book ‘Men are from
Mars. Women are from Venus?’” I said.
「為什麼不說我來自於金星，一如那本中文譯名為男女大不同、或者譯為男人來自火星、女人來自金星的(英文名Men are from Mars. Women are from Venus)的書一般，說我是金星人呢?」
我笑著回應著。
Personally, I laughed at the idea that I am from my own
nation but often cannot be classified by people from the other nationalities as
it is. Even my own friends in Taiwan used to say that I look foreign.
“Hope, you do not look like those from your place. You
look very different. Our Mama says you are beautiful.” My African friends told
me. 「妳一點都沒有那些亞洲人、華人的感覺，我們的母親說妳很有美感。」我的非洲朋友如此評價著我。
Foreign or not, exotic or not, pretty or not, very few know
about stories behind those stories. Each encountering with certain individuals
can be a moment indescribably exclusive and incredible.
對於一些外國人來說如此「非華人」、「非亞洲人」的我，想到這些對話過程和細節，總令人禁不住忍俊一笑。即便我的台灣友人也曾評價過我的「異國風格」。但不論是否異國，不論美醜，這些在服務歷程之中發生的故事，少為人知，對我而言，卻是在時時刻刻精采無比的片斷堆疊。
During my journey this time, I have met people across
from the globe. Sometimes we could communicate well enough; other moments
communications were not necessary, for it seemed we knew what each other was
thinking about.
在此一2023年初的行程之間，我與各地人士在世界不同的角落相逢，有時候我們能夠妥善與彼此溝通，也有些時候默契足夠，談論太多反而不是那麼重要。
Each day is a journey, a learning process: I see people
who are taken advantage by the others, suffering from issues like severe
drought as a result of global warming. Meanwhile, I see those who have grown
trees in Taiwan and Africa, hoping to find solutions towards global warming. I
observe and understand contrasts of humanity always exist, like the good and
evil that situate inside and/or hunt us all.
對我而言，每一天都是一個旅程，一個值得學習的課題所在。
我看到那些並未真的對於全球暖化做出實質動作、卻必須忍受其惡果的人們。
我看到在台灣認真於各地種樹，希望解決暖化問題的善心人士，和那些在非洲做相關努力的人士一樣，如出一轍。
人性，就在這種極度的對比之間，大起大落之間，示現著這個世間的美好與醜惡。
“Why were you not upset, Hope, after such frustrations?
It is because you have a very different personality, after spending so much
time with you through the years by carefully observing you. There is something
in you that is so different from many of us, even those foreigners I have ever
seen…” Maggie told me.
Is it because of such reasons, she and her entire huge
family members have treated me truly like a family member?
Her group of women from the more urban regions, based on
the very minute assistance provided by my part quite a few years ago, managed to purchase a
piece of land in their more “urban” area for the purpose of development. From a
humble beginning, Maggies worked all her way through to be a teacher,
specialized in special education in her own nation, Kenya. She and her husband belong
to that big African family which has chosen to adopt me as a part of their family
members.
「在經歷那些讓一般人絕對受不了的事情的同時，為什麼Hope妳不抱怨呢? 我和妳相處這麼久，我不斷觀察著妳，持續察覺到妳和許許多多人、甚至一些我所相處過的外來人士，極度不同的地方……妳這種人格特質非常少見……我實在是沒有看過。」
應該是這樣，他們慎重地將我當作了家人?
這位在非洲的黑皮膚瑪格，她和她的同鄉多位位處於較都會區的婦女們，多年前經過我少量的資本抑注，而購買了一塊地，這塊地還是個在當地而言，比較「市區」的地，將為她們這群婦女的未來發展作為更佳的據點。
這位非洲瑪格來自貧困的家庭卻吃苦耐勞，不但成為正式教師，還成為一位特殊教育方面的專家，她和其表現優異的夫君都是我在東非巧遇，將我「收納」為一家人的，他們大家族之其中一份子。
These stories cannot come to an end, just like how they
have begun, unless I can apply some necessarily charming tone to interpret them
to do all these people some fair justice. Until then, I would like to stop
here, after around 10,000 word counts of English, my second language, and Mandarin
Chinese, my mother tongue, are used for this piece of work alone, so that I can keep
pondering and polishing myself to be a better person for the purpose of which I
may be able to tell stories in more beautiful ways.
這些故事從來沒有盡頭，一如來處，如此不能明晰一般。
我所要做的，是必須以一種持平而優雅，活潑但不花俏的方式，以深入淺出的方式娓娓道來。
而眼下，在為此行撰寫的近萬字中英文字的創作之後，我必須停筆，靜靜繼續為了做為一個更好的自己。
惟有如此，我才能夠讓這個更好的自己得以使用更佳出色生動的方式，說出更多更好的故事。
這樣一來，方能使得這一個個進入到我的生命當中，活生生的人物，得以被賦予讓他們也感到此生值回票價的，動人的故事。
Can I become better and better every day?
我能否苟日新、日日新、又日新呢?
I am trying extremely hard to do so.
我非常努力地致力於此……
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