綠洲計畫再進化 OASIS PROJECT EVOLVED

This work is with both English and Mandarin Chinese as each other's equivalence; they intertwine to present the facts taking place in east Africa, where I dearly serve, like any other regions I am fortunate enough to step onto. Along the journey lasting for years and years, many troubles and difficulties have occured, sometimes cracking me to the core and making me want to yield completely by doing nothing; nevertheless, fortunately I've never given up, resulting the following stories to be unfold in a way that is not extremely professional, and that is Hope's style. Due to many reasons, editing is totally unlikely at this very moment. Kindly bear with me for any errors occured. And I thank wholeheartedly, with much grace, for all those who beautifully appear in my life, which has no-doubt made my life extremely charming.

本文以幾乎相等的華語及英語方式呈現，期望的是以這兩種語言並進的方式，在我所致力服務的非洲、甚至其他世界不同區塊的樣貌，會以一種美好的姿態，呈現在世人的面前。在這段冗長的助人之旅中，常常我必須與充滿挑戰和難關的現實面對面，常常我也在打落牙而和血吞的情況下，希望自己可以退後一步、甚至轉身而去、不再繼續。不過，我很榮幸自己被賦予了某種奇異而甚至愚昧的意志力和執行力，使我一路過關嶄將至今。這篇作品稱不上是報導名作，只是一篇十足「晧璞風格」的作品，沒有華麗的辭藻，甚至基於種種原因無法編輯就必須呈現在大眾面前，但我想這樣的事實無損於那些以甚至優美的姿態進入到我的生命裡面的人，他們一同呈現的生命力，以及他們為我注入的那源源不絕的靈魂食糧、和鍥而不捨的堅持到底。

 

Prelude 前言

 

PRELUDE A   Those Completely Welcoming Gestures

前言之一  毫無保留的歡迎之姿

“Why do those in East Africa trust me so much that they can welcome me wholeheartedly?” This is a question I have asked myself years after years; in particular, this year, after my experimentation in Asia by teaching high schools and elementary schools students, it seems I can link more at ease with a multitude of leaners in east Africa. Still, why can those faculty members of different public schools entrust me with their bright students for explorations of such students’ leadership qualities, empowerment, art skills, team work and so on? How come everyone is so welcoming as they really enjoy every element of things I have suggested? 

「為何那些在東非的人士為如此全心全意歡迎著我?」

 

這是個我一直以來不斷、不斷詢問自己的問題，尤其在亞洲實驗了大量接觸中、小學生後，

這樣的實驗使得我可以更加有效地服務於非洲在地人士時……即便如此，

我還是對於在地的眾多人士願意對我敞開心胸、接納我所說的幾乎任何建議的事實，

以及各個公立學校可以讓我進出自如、實驗任何我想實驗的課程架構，

感到無比咋舌。

 

無以計數學生們會不時探頭探腦觀察著在室內的我

有些人甚至為了有更好的觀看角度，會爬到窗戶上面，只是為了與我相視一笑……

Many students would be observing me when I am around. Some of them can even climb onto the windows to just peep and smile to me. 

眾多善心人士的捐贈品中的其中一環

以及娜滿加公立中小學校的師生們

這所學校的教職人員知道我喜於茹素、熱愛蔬果

每天一定切一大盤水果及準備蔬菜方面的熟食讓我享用

在像這所學校這樣的地方，許多學生吃不起早餐或者晚餐

對於他們的種種準備我除了感恩之外

也往往選擇到比較僻靜的角落食用

否則數量上無法分享給所有學生們

Teachers and students in Namanga Primary School where I presented some gifts donated 

to them from some kindhearted people. Faculty members inside this particular school are aware I am vegetarian; thus, daily, they'd prepare a whole plate of fruits with such varieties that I found it stunning. Besides, they'd make sure I have some vegetables and the local delicies to enjoy. With much gratitude, I often hide myself from those students while consuming such food, aware that quite a few students' parents cannot afford their three meals 

and what's on my plate would not be sufficient for all. 

下方是隨機抽選，看了會令自己熱淚盈眶的學生自我背景介紹……在他們連三餐都吃不飽、衣著兩三套不到的情況下，仍然異口同聲表示喜歡坐在我的教室、與我學習時，夜闌人靜可以獨處的當下，我往往對於自己的好運，感到無言以對

All the students' works pasted here, at random, would make me want to shed tears esp. during those moments when I am completely alone... Some of these students suffer from hunger on a daily basis while having no proper clothes to wear. Still, they unanimously express how much they'd like to be with me at the same place, learning altogether. I am much humbled by such privilege showering on me. 

Pieces of work above are randomly selected.

上面影像檔學生們的作品為隨機選取

橫跨五個年級不同年齡、性別、和族群的學生在同一個場域裡面跟我進行不同的課室活動的當下所寫出來的作品，從作品的文字當中我們可以看得出來學生們的家庭狀況以及他們是否願意努力的心志意念⋯⋯

絕大多數的學生家裡頭並無恆產，換言之他們的父母必須租賃房屋、或者是把他們交由其他親戚來撫養，也就是某一種不同形式的收養。

經過教育的過程，這些家境清寒，但是平日的學業表現就相對優異的學生，並不覺得他們被挑選出來跟我上課，是因為他們的家境清寒，相反地，

他們相信他們非常特別，所以能夠被挑選出來和我一起學習；

對我個人而言，這就是一種心智上面的開發及陶冶。

The pictures are works written by the students who are learning with me. The students are guided by me to be convinced that to be at the same space allowing me to learn from them, they are very special to be chosen out of the hundreds of students who are their peers. Thus, this is a kind of potential development, which will take away the mark of poverty they may carry on a daily basis.

I’m extremely proud that none of them ever begs anything from me; that shows they are well educated and mannered. Begging is a behavioral pattern lowering a person’s self esteem, pushing any individual away from positive future development, which is really the last choice from anyone…However many in the world, beginning from a much younger age, are taught to ask things from the others.

  

“Madame Hope, we enjoy spending time with you and wish to learn more from you. That is why we stay behind although we are aware you have told us we could have returned back to our classroom.“ These would be the students’ reply when I became so curious about why they could have returned back to their own respective classroom by 11 AM, they still stayed behind until 12:30 or so, the lunch hour with food provided inside the school for them.

The local people enjoy addressing their female teachers as Madame, which makes me feel quite like a royalty:)

「老師，我們不想要回我們的教室，雖然您已經告訴我們，

我們可以在11點鐘的時候回到

自己的教室裡面去。我們之所以會留下來的原因，是我們很喜歡跟您學習，

也喜歡跟您待在同一間教室裡面!」

看著這些學生們，我想起了這些年在台灣及亞洲我任教過的小學以及中學學生們。

我很開心自己在過去這些年，尤其是疫情發威的時候，回到了亞洲，

重新回到了自己故鄉以及故鄉附近的學校和不同的地區去進行更多的探險，

因為這些歷險和了解，使我更加貼近一反成人學習者的心態，

也讓我能夠在像是東非這樣的地方

作上更好的服務，所以我實在是滿懷感恩之心。

I looked at the students, and I started to think about my students in Asia, where I have begun to experiment my own, returning back to the world of elementary schools and high school students world during the pandemic. I’m glad 

that my experimentation has brought fruitful outcome, 

in which I can understand more about students of such age groups like childhood and adolescence, contrary to the adult students I had been teaching in the past years.

 PRELUDE  B   Near-Death-Experience (NDE)

前言之二  瀕死經驗

Many, many people whom I have met find the stories in my life to be unbelievable, regardless of their nationalities, gender, race, skin color, religious beliefs (if any), social-economic status. However, in my eyes, I easily find things I have done are in connection with the anchor in my life, that I am here in this world to help out by linking with the others. Researchers have discovered those who have had Near-Death-Experience (NDE), a kind of experience happening to people who are on the brink of dying or already cease breathing or heartbeat but are back to live a normal life again, tend to be not attracted by materialism, fame, and they become more tender to all; most importantly, they are more aware of the meaning of life lying in things materialism and capitalism cannot offer.

 

Though I have never had Near-Death-Experience (NDE), it seems I demonstrate such traits identical to those with NDE experiences. This makes me wonder whether being altruistic offers underlying benefits which are not yet completely revealed or discovered by the scientific world. Items listed below are fruits after years of helping out without asking things for return. These results remind me of the magic of existence.

 

許多我所認識的不同國籍、種族、性別、宗教信仰、社會經濟水平……等全然相異背景的人們，在聽聞發生在我身上的種種歷程時，會感到不可置信。

 

但對我來說，所有與我相關的人、事、物只圍繞著一個中心觀點打轉，那就是我深信自己來到這個世界的目的，是為了助益他人、他物、他事。

 

專家們大量研究曾有過心跳停止、但重返人間生活的瀕死經驗者後發現，他們對於物質生活的想望極低，不在乎功名利祿，反而顯現出更為溫和、慈愛的天性，並且熟知生命的價值和意義，與資本主義、物質享受等，無法劃上等號。

眾多西方重量級學術機構所做關於瀕死經驗研究之一例 One example of the many scientific research results presentation done by a world-class institute 

(CLICK TO WATCH點擊後即可觀賞)

 

雖然我沒有任何歷經過瀕死經驗的記錄，但我發現自己的格調，那些對於名對於利的淡薄，和那些曾經到鬼門關走一遭的人，十分接近。

 

於是，我強烈懷疑，擁有服務人群及物種的極大值，其具體可以轉化人性、人心的幅度，也許因為仍無過多研究証明可以佐証，卻可能超出我們既有的想像範圍之外。

 

本文的描述是多年利他行為的點滴果實，這點點滴滴提醒著我，那些關於生命的存有其具魔幻之處。

HIGHTLIGHT IN TERMS OF Whom Hope Had Spent Time 

With During Her Visit to East Africa 2024

2024夏天在東非之造訪重點

 

HIGHTLIGHT A   The Original Local Family Members 

造訪重點之一    既有的HOPE非洲家庭成員

非洲家庭成員中，即便疼愛我的非洲媽媽已於2023年辭世，我卻感到她的精神奕奕常伴我側，且她的子子孫孫們也並未由於她已不在世，而對待我的方式有任何變革，反而更為親近。非洲媽媽2023年七月初的葬禮，有幾千名當地人士前往表達哀悼之意，整個家族也並未由於我無法到場，而忘記了我這個異國姐妹，反而慎重將我的祝禱詞放在訃文中。Inside my   African   family, despite of the fact MAMA passed  2023,  I seem to still feel her energy wherever I am. Her children, grandchildren, have not changed the hospitable way they receive me after my MAMA is gone; on the contrary, with MAMA's blessings, we seem to be even closer. Thousands of people attended MAMA's funeral  in 2023. Since I could not be there in person, I wrote an eulogy  which was much valued as everyone there inside the family is convinced I am a part of them. 

因為非洲媽媽已不在世，過去多年總是住在她的屋子的方式必須有所轉變，於是，曾任多所中小學校校長、現任政府官員的大兒子克雷根及妻子帕妮納，為此次接待我的家庭核心成員。和過去不一樣的，是早期這對夫妻接待我時，他們的房舍甚為窄小，如今，他們已經建設了一個超去過去格局兩、三倍的房舍，並且圍起了一個庭院，裡面栽種各式樹木--尤其是樹木，部份也來自於可雷根採納了我的建議，而選擇盡量栽種一些能夠經年累月長成大的如榕、柏等。

In the past years, I almost always sayed at MAMA's  house. After she 's gone, Mr. and Mrs. Sempettah, my brother and sister, had taken me in as their "sister" of honor. Contrasting to the  first few times when I was spending the night at their moderately tiny house, today, they have built a much larger house boasting double or even triple the size of the original one. Koileken, or Mr. Sempettah has put fence   around his newly constructed house so that some gardening can be possible. In particular, after listening to what I recommend, he has begun to grow trees that can evolve into giant ones like the cypress and pines. 

可雷根校長夫婦於家中合影：這位好姊妹帕妮納宣稱她絕對不跟任何其他人士合照，

只肯跟先生，所以，遠在東非，恩愛一樣晒……

Inside their new house, Mr. and Mrs. Sempettah are taking a lovely photo together. My  sister Panina expresses that she would never taken any photo with other men but her husband. 

Their romantic relationship is rooted from long time ago! 

以可雷根校長夫婦新建房舍做放射狀延伸，鄰近是其弟弟、妹妹們的家庭所在地，幅員廣大，慢跑起來如果要涵蓋所有位置，需要花上幾十分鐘光景。

From where   Mr. and Mrs. Sempettah's new house is, Koileken's sibilings, also mine, have lived around the vicinity claming a vast piece of land. To go jogging on that piece of land takes quite some time

由於多年大旱終於在日前結束，他們所飼養的牲畜便可以自由自在食用土地上的植物，牛隻也不像過往那樣餓到骨骸沿路散布……

Due to the fact that the persistent drought ended lately, all those animals they've raised, especially the cattle and goats, would be able to graze freely, unlike in the old times when the skeletons of the cattle would scatter on the roads.  When the cattle are healthy, daily early in the morning, a large pot containing fresh milk just produced by the cows would sit inside the kitchen. The milk would act as one of the main resources, traditionally speaking, of nutrients in these nomadic people's  life because they add lots of milk and sugar into their tea. 

由於牛隻、羊群健壯，每天早上在廚房裡面就會有一大鍋新鮮的現擠牛奶、羊奶供一大家子飲用，尤其那是他們每天必飲的奶茶的主要佐料。

可雷根的親妹妹、也是我的非洲好姊妹芮娜就說到：

「妳看我們這裡的人都又高又壯，很大一隻，是因為我們當真每天都一定要飲用好幾杯奶茶!!! 怎麼辦，我的肚子愈來愈大，妳把妳每天作的運動都教教我好嗎? 我也想要像妳一樣苗條呀~~~」

Koileken's sister, Nepanue, also a beloved sister of mine, has mentioned, 

"Hope! Look at us! We are all so big! It is because we have to drink this kind of tea every day! What am I supposed to do? My belly is  getting bigger and bigger day after day! How can I be as slim   as you? Can you teach me to do those exercises you do every day?"

"Of course I can  share with you what to do to keep yourself fit, but   Nepanue,   don't you think we should open a fitness center or a place where the right kind of nutritions should be taken has to be shared and taught?" I replied. 

「我當然可以分享如何維持健美的體態呀! 不過芮娜，妳不覺得我們應該開個健身房，或者成立個什麼單位，教導大家如何吃才健康嗎?」我這麼回答到。

The big family enjoying the cool air during sunset hours, a bit hardwork, and some tea, the local style, to be prepared in the kitchen. 大家族裡面的人享受著近晚的涼意、加上一點埋頭苦幹的勞力付出、和在廚房裡面正在準備著的奶茶。

"Oh, Hope! You are such a business woman. You never get tired of having so many ideas!"

「我的媽呀，Hope，妳真的很扯，完全就是個商界女性嘛，總是那麼多靈感啊!」

"But Nepanue, you're selling water, which is also a kind of business. I have to catch up with you! Look at you, dressed like a business woman yourself, very pretty!" said I. 

「可是芮娜，妳都在作賣水的生意了，我總是不能輸妳太多嘛!　而且看看妳這位老師，穿得像位實業界工作著的婦女，非常美哦！」我說。

With her voice rising high, Nepanue said, "Really?! Take a photo of me!" 

芮娜的聲音高了八度音：「真的很美嗎? 那幫我拍張相片吧!」

Nepanue's photo taken in her living room, where, alongside the TV, would be an artistically creative work presented to me as a present from Madame Rose teaching in Namanga Primary School. Fearing it can be broken during the flight, Nepanue and I decide the incredible bottle should stay there in her house to attract more genies like guarding angels who can make my service works to the others more thorough.  

我們在芮娜家客廳談話時，為她拍攝的照片，其後方電視牆上一個充滿藝術氣息的瓶子，是在娜滿加中小學校教書的玫瑰老師所贈送的創作品，為了良好保存這個瓶子，並且希望裡面不斷冒出像是守護天使、或者精靈般奇妙物事，來讓我的服務工作可以更加盡善盡美，我們決定把瓶子留在芮娜家，以免舟車勞頓中有所破損! 

一如這樣的場景，在當地，和諸多不同人士的談話無時無刻不在大笑聲中度過，由於芮娜和其夫所建之屋有個門前涼蔭，放著沙發，甚是舒適，家裡又已經架設了多半時間可以正常運作的無限網路，所以我只要得空就步行五至十分鐘，從可雷根家到芮娜家串門子。雖然芮娜因為教書的關係泰半時間要工作，但在她家的長工安琪、以及芮娜和先生的大女兒喜姑卻會在家裡面。但不論有沒有人在家，芮娜總是再三叮嚀我：

「這就是妳家，不用怕! 愛來就來!」

Just like this, many of my conversations between the locals there with me quite often end up in many laughters.  Specifically, I enjoy visiting Nepanue  because she and her husband have built a house with a special area that is quiet with sofa. Moreover, they have made their house under internet coverage although the internet can be unreliable from time to time. The walk between  Koileken's and Nepanue's houses would be around 5 to 10 minutes.  During normal working hourse, Nepanue teaches in a school, while her maid Angela and Nepanue's first daughter Nasieku. Yet, with or without people around or inside their house, Nepanue often states that

 "Hope, feel at home.  Come whenever you want! Don't fear!!!"

安琪由於家中兄弟姊妹眾多，讀完中學後暫時休學先賺學費，因而到芮娜家洗衣、燒飯、作菜等。她是一位芮娜稱其為「黑美人」的當地女性，個子高高的，有很真誠的笑容，也很上進，希望像喜姑一樣把裁縫學好。

Angela is making pancake. 

正在煎蛋餅的安琪。

In Nepanue's kitchen, Angela is making pancake. While talking to Angela, I encourage her frequently to save money  so she can go back to the school  to utilize her  intelligence.

Nepanue's maid, Angela, is a local who stopped going to school after obtaining her high school diploma--there are too many children in her family and she needs to feed herself.  Tall and with her sincere smile, Angela is called by Nepanue as "Black Beauty" of the house  who wishes to learn her tailoring skills well. 

喜姑身為芮娜四名兒女中的長女，和極精明幹練的芮娜一樣，十分有生意頭腦，目前要進入大學的後面學程，預計拿到正式學位，這段時間放假在家等開學。身為少數可以有機會唸讀在地國立大學的人，喜姑已經自己在鄰近的小鎮上開過商店，販售二手衣物，並且長於裁縫，使得附近地區有人慕名而來請她作衣裳。創意無限的喜姑每天都喜歡把菜肴做些新的變化，讓人大飽口福之外，我則常常被芮娜逼著要多吃點飯和菜。

喜姑正在製作當地美食。

Nasieku is making some local delicies. 

Nasieku  has three other brothers and sister. Being the oldest child, Nasieku has a lot of business ideas, including history of opening a shop single-handed to promote used clothing, alongside with her already-mature tailoring skills drawing her clients who wish to have their clothes made by her.  In terms of senses of creativity, it seems that   Nasieku   has  paved her own way to cooking as well, for each and every day, in the different cuisines  she has created,  many can have the pleasure to tasted something delicious. 

喜姑是長女，下面還有兩個弟弟、一個妹妹，十分有生意頭腦的她已經在鎮上開過一家賣舊衣的服飾店，加上她已然成熟的裁縫技術，

時而有人慕名而來請她製作衣物，就連她的廚藝也不同於一般，

有機會作飯、作菜時，總要嘗試創新而可口的作飯作菜方式，令人食指大動。

Nasieku would like to create a chair by using a used tire.  Angela and a person hired by Nepanue attend her needs of different materials now and then. 

喜姑想用一個舊有的輪胎創造出一個座椅，

而安琪和芮娜家中所聘的一位男性長工從旁協助。

芮娜最著名的話就是「Hope妳今天吃了什麼? 有沒有吃?」

或者「不行! 不行! 這樣太少了! 妳多吃點才放妳離開!」

One of the most famous sentence Nepanue says to me would be "Hope, have you eaten today? What did you eat?" 

Or, "No! Absolutely not! This proportion is too little. You have to eat more before you leave!"

芮娜最小的兒子摩西是個鬼靈精怪的小夥子，小學二年級的他每天放學回家的時候，是由一名機車騎士載著他和帕妮納的姪子，一起抵達可雷根及芮娜他們所居住的地帶，因為帕妮納的姪子就住在克雷根家裡面，而且可雷根夫婦不只收留了帕妮納的一個姪子而已，還有另外一名姪子，以及一位和喜姑年齡相仿、性別一樣的瑪拉。之所以如此是由於帕妮娜的兄弟姊妹也很多，而身為教師的她很喜歡把自己的姪子、姪女們帶在身邊教育他們。

The youngest child of Nepanue would be a naughty boy named Moses  who has to play every time when he is taken back  from his school to his home on a motorbike ride, in which, riding on the same scooter would be another  little boy who is Penina's nephew. In fact, as a teacher, Penina enjoys being surrounded by her nieces and nephews; therefore, there are two nephews and one niece who is similar in age like   Nasieku  living under Koileken's roof. 

借住在可雷根家裡面、其妻帕妮納的兩個姪子分別來自於不同的父母，其中一個年紀較長的比較乖巧，因為個性溫和而且在學校裡面的中低年級，所以我拿了幾枝筆送他，過了幾天之後我則以廢物利用的方式，幫他做了一個鉛筆盒，這讓芮娜最小的兒子摩西欣羨不已，也央求我替他製作。

Penina's two nephews are cousins; they share different personalities. The older one, Kelip, is more well-behaved, so one day, I gave Kelip a few pens.  Conscious that he must have no pencil case to hold such pencils, I made him a pencil box out of the wasteful materials. After Moses saw that pencil  box made by Hope as a gift to his playmate, he demanded  I made one for him, too.  In the end, Moses enjoys that "new" pencil box made by Hope tremendously, according to Moses himself.                                      

Kelip is very happy to receive a pencil box I made for him as a present. 

這位帕妮納的姪子非常開心收到了我手做的鉛筆盒作為禮物。

「鉛筆盒」的原貌 

The original appearance of that "pencil box."

The final work of that pencil box.

鉛筆盒最終的模樣

The pencilbox when opened  鉛筆盒開啟時的模樣

Moses' pencil box after his requesting me to make one for me

摩西看到我幫帕妮納姪子作了個鉛筆盒後，也要求我幫他改造鉛筆盒

Above: Its original style 上方是他鉛筆盒原來的樣子

Below: after I worked on it 下方是我改造過後的樣子

Materials: used bras and ties......材料：使用過的女性內衣及領帶

不肯作作業的摩西被我威脅，「如果再不作作業我就回你大舅家，不過來玩了」，

他就立馬坐下來寫作業了……

Naughty Moses finally sat down to work on his homework after I threated to leave...

上面這樣的描述，只是我的非洲媽媽、也是可雷根及芮娜等人之生母，和其夫在世時所養育的所有子女中的一個小小環節罷了；換言之，整個家族之龐大，故事可說到了說也說不完的地步，所以此部份暫且於此小結，留待日後再敘。

All the above-mentioned would be a part of the huge family my African MAMA and her husband created when they're both alive.  Just because the family is large, more stories have to come later, no at this stage. 

HIGHTLIGHT B   The Unexpected Visits 

造訪重點之二    突如其來的其他造訪

ONE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS

Namanga Primary School  

中小學之一：娜滿加中小學校

The outside of the classrooms look shabby most of the time; students inside, 

however, are filled with such thirst to keep learning and to learn more. 

教室的外觀總是一點也不起眼

裡面卻坐滿了認真向學的學生們

Student group activities inside the classroom where I teach them  

在教室裡面由我所指導的課堂討論活動

由我個人所指導的在教室外面的分組活動

Student activities outside the classroom also instructed by Hope 

ONE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS

AIC Primary School  中小學之二：AIC中小學校

The students are discussing, working on their own, and sewing. 

學生們在分組討論、進行自己的作業、以及手縫物件。

ONE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS

Black-Headed Primary School 中小學之三：黑頭學校

Inside this school located a bit inland, students are more shy, with lower self-esteem. Overwhelmed by the students' enthusiam to spend time with me, I did not have too many opportunities to take too many photos, except for this one with one of the best teachers I have ever met there, Sir Peter, and school girls there receiving gifts from overseas, as well as the first one on top of this entire article. 

這所學校較為深山，學生們也較沒有自信，但他們與我相遇時的熱情更為之甚，基於如此，我反而沒有辦法拍攝太多相片，反而只留下這一張有著彼德這位極為優秀的教師、和那些拿著台灣過去的禮物的學生的留影，以及本篇作品第一張小朋友們興奮到無可言喻而不停

「追蹤」我的照片。

彼德是我個人進入東非這些年來，第一位說得出亞太關係、知道台灣在哪裡的東非人，其學問淵博，令人嘆為觀止。「我雖然一直還沒有機會出國去旅行，但家父從我小學二年級開始就帶著我閱讀英語報紙，我也非常喜歡了解各地歷史、政治、經濟狀況，所以閱讀不輟……我希望有朝一日我也可以到各國參訪。」這位謙遜的、擁有校長格局的前副校長如此說到。

而他這樣的描述著實讓我更加對於萬事萬物感到必須師法，而應當謙遜、有禮……

Sir Peter would be the first ever after I have stepped inside east Africa to be able to decribe clearly the Asia-Pacific region and where my hometown is. He told me that "Although I have not stepped outside my own nation, I have begun reading English newspaper since Grade Two, guided by my Dad. I enjoy knowing the history, politics, 

economics of all the different places in the world. 

One day, one time, I hope to travel to different places, too!" 

I am much, much humbled by his words. 

What Hope Had Instructed the Students in East Africa During Her Visit to East Africa 2024

2024夏天在東非之學校中Hope所教授的學生內容

Tie Altogether  全球大串連

In this project, learners' collaborative, artistic, and  independent thinking abilities are cultivated at the same time.   It is the wish that awareness everywhere can be ignited through cherishing what we may have to be shared with the others, and what creative works can be accomplished when wasteful things (like things to be thrown away) with asthetic values can be discovered. 

在此一計畫中，學習者的互助合作、藝文情操、獨立思考等能力漸次啟發的過程裡面，亦考慮資源的濫用及如何珍惜資源等，尤其運用既有資源續而創作時，會產生的火花是什麼呢? 

這是一個從亞洲延伸到非洲、美洲、將再繞行回亞洲的方案，這種募集使用過的領帶和女性內衣的舉動，將持之以恆，創造出更多美好作品，或甚至提供就業可能。

This project goes everywhere in the world. After circling around the globe, the continual collection of used bras and ties will not stop so that there will be more creative works produced or even job opportunitites  resulted! 

Some photos chosen below can demonstrate aspects of TIE ALTOGETHER

關於「全球大串連」計畫的些許照片，或可使人體會該計畫的些許角度和用意

Material preparations across continents after receiving them

接到眾人捐贈之領帶後的跨洲材料及製作準備

剪裁領帶後作為拼布

Cutting ties for patchwork

Make artistic arrangements by using such frabics of ties

以領帶的布料創作美麗的拼布

大家在可雷根家飯廳試作領帶布料拼布

Some're trying to make patchwork by using matierals from ties at Mr. & Mrs. Sempettah's house.

Wishing to participate more, male students from AIC Primary went to Nepanue's house to find me and worked on materials from ties after school. 「縫紉」課裡欲罷不能的一些男學生們，放學後到芮娜家找我，繼續「縫製」

延伸作品

Extended Works

The original style of one bra

一個女用內衣的原型

It has become a bag after some arrangements and needle work.

經過整治、再塑，原本的內衣就成為一個手提小包

Materials: scattered materials from ties after patchwork, very old bra, 

and a part of jeans collected in the waste 

材料：以領帶作拼布時剩下的布頭、非常古早而老舊的女用內衣、

以及被人丟棄的牛仔褲的某一截褲管部份

完成後的小包包 A bag completed 

Materials: scattered materials from bras after some creative work and  ties after patchwork, 

plus a part of jeans collected in the waste

材料：以女用內衣製作作品、和以領帶製作拼布時剩下的布頭，非常古早而老舊的女用內衣，

以及被人丟棄的牛仔褲的某一截褲管部份。

一個護照套就如此完成  A passport cover completed 

What Hope Had Discovered

2024夏天在東非Hope發現了什麼

The Original Roughly 1/10 or 1/20 ACRE of OASIS PROJECT has turned out to be bigger than 5 to 6 acres, with countless species of vegetations of fruits and vegetables grown...

原本只占地幾十坪的「綠洲計畫」，目前已經來到五千坪以上，並且，持續擴展之中……

The idea was from Hope's motivation to shift the nomadic life of these nomadics living in east Africa, so they can eat healthily by consuming fruits and vegetables; furthermore, they can sell these farming produce when there're surpluses. At the current stage, some can enjoy things growing on their land while making a profit from things they've grown. Koileken's family would be one of the best examples.

這個概念來自於多年前Hope期許這些遊牧民族可以發展多元飲食、生活文化，嚐試食用蔬果及葉菜類，使營養均衡，並且或可販售而增加收入。眼下，此情此景成真，而可雷根家族可說是極大的受益者，因為他們是相當早期便開始研究耕種真實層面的遊牧民族。

現在，大家的目標，是「研究研究」花卉的種植，因為全球人均的提升，人們對於送(一束鮮)花及插花等，有了無限的想像空間，而當然「綠洲計畫」的開展，也是從「研究研究」為初始階段……

Currently, our goal is to understand more about growing flowers; just like OASIS PROJECT stemming from doing some research, the FLOWER PROJECT will initially focus on doing some research, too! 

CONCLUSION

這些事情，這種種故事，在我的生命中不斷上演，就在此時此刻，更多故事仍在東南亞地區將揭開序幕，繼續出演相關的社區整體提升工作……

All these storeis have taken place in my life repeatedly. At this very moment, many more elements will showcase in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on the wellbeings of entire, particularly impoverished communities. Mr. Sempettah and the rest of quite a few middle-class living in east Africa have agreed we will do everything we can to promote good health, education, and so on in the regions of theirs by even hosting lectures at his house, surrounding his house. When I am writing this work now, I am also very delighted to express that contrary to years later I would have to learn how the farmers at other regions of his nation handle their crops, today, countless can be invited to study how he and his family members, my brothers and sisters have grown crops there on that piece of land where my heart belongs and my soul sings with.

可雷根夫婦及其他家族裡面的成員，也就是我在非洲的兄弟姊妹們，以及在地的許多中產階級有志之士，已經承諾我們將盡種種之力，讓各個落後社區的生活得以更加提升，不論從健康、教育等任何方向著手。而時至今日，有別於以往我必須個人抵達該國其他真正以農民為主的區塊，了解當地農民的耕作方法，今天，人們已經可以在抵達可雷根及其家族的農地時，徹底學習相關的農耕知識。而這樣一片廣大的、經過開墾的土地，也是我的心之所在，因為我可以如此自由自在於其上，享受任何作物的新鮮、無毒的美好滋味。

 

顯而易見的，我個人所走向的道路是讓人們可以脫離心智上的匱乏，以及物質生活條件上面的不足。這條路走起來當然不是這麼容易，然而在過程當中，我還是可以不斷看到令人驚喜的畫面，就像一群又一群如此貧窮的學生，經過鼓舞之後，可以無比好學。

 

 

所以在這樣的情況下我們必須詢問的一個根本問題，就是怎麼樣可以讓人真的吃得飽，唯有能夠吃飽，人們才有真正的體力可以學習以及從事各種不同的工作。

 

這也就是為什麼當我走在當地的農田裡面的時候，我會感覺到自己是農地的一部分，因為一片廣大的土地上面所栽種的蔬果，可以供給許多人使用、甚至包括我自己的同時，必須思考的是如果在過去這些當地的居民，沒有經過我的鼓勵並且栽種這些蔬果的話，今天這些蔬果不會回過頭來，讓我可以恣意地享受。

Obviously, my determination is to bring people away from the material wise poverty, as well as the spiritual wise poverty. It cannot be very easy. It can also be very troublesome when I am walking on this path, though I am fortunate to see that when people are willing to try, new doors will be opened, creating horizons that are unprecedented in any individual’s views. Therefore, it is always very basic to ask:

 

 How can we possibly feed everybody in the world?

 

That is the only way people can have enough energy to do the things that they would like to do.

 

 

Due to this, when I work upon the farmland over here with the crops grown under my encouragement, years back to begin with, I always feel that I am a part of the world, not only a part of my own country, my own family, my own continent, but a part of the world, a part of this farmland, a part of this piece of land. And the idea is very simple—based on my encouragement, the fruits and vegetables will be able to grow today for me and many to enjoy. From this fact, I understand we are all connected. There’s no one missing in this global family. When we want to become better, we have to help our brothers and sisters everywhere. It is as simple as that.

當這樣的心態非常明確的時候，所有的人都是我的兄弟姐妹，也都是我的家人，又有什麼好區別的呢？

這些年來，常常有人非常的好奇與我的存在。

他們會詢問的問題包含了為什麼你不肯結婚？

為什麼你不生小孩？

我個人覺得每個人都很特別，如果大家像我這樣有機會以及與豫到世界各地，那麼一定也會像我一樣遇見各種各樣不同的人，在遇見這些人的同時有任何族裔或者不同年齡層的人士追求甚至求婚，那是非常理所當然的事情。

不過在這樣的事實的背後，我自己會思考的一件事情是，怎麼樣可以讓自己的服務工作船過水無痕的、並且很順利地繼續進行下去？

在這中間有許多事情必須考量，包括如果現在我答應了某一個求婚對象，請問這個人有沒有這樣的經濟能力和信念，可以放下手邊的工作像我一樣到處的為人服務呢？

Many people across the continents, races, age groups and so on would always be very curious about me.

“Why don’t you get married since there must be suitors?”

or 

“Hope, why don’t you have your own children?”

I would always laugh, then I would consider if today I would have to get married, how is it possible a person would have enough financial means as well as the kindheartedness to be traveling everywhere just like me, and together with me, that we don’t fall into arguments because of our different opinions towards helping others?

If I were having my own children, how possibly can I have such energy and will to take care of the others’ kids and those who are orphaned?

Everybody is very special. When we are special people traveling everywhere, like the case if there’s anybody who also has this kind of opportunity as that of mine, I believe that such people would be able to encounter all those different suitors or proposals, marriage ones, at different parts of the world as well. 

Perhaps I have enjoyed this very much instead of really going into a marriage for that can really pose some threats towards the things that I’m doing right now. That also means I have to be very smart making a choice, isn’t it?

In the end it’s the decision of serving the others the best I can that I have seen heavens in my daily life based on my encountering of so many wonderful spirits. I feel very wealthy and there is really nothing more I can ask for as I am already this fortunate!

畢竟一般來說「旅遊」代表的是「享樂」，不是「服務帶來的受苦受難」……

如果一個人沒有辦法做到這樣的話，所謂的婚姻有什麼必要性嗎？

畢竟我可以在各種各樣不同的場合當中穿梭自如的時候，可以照顧許許多多沒有父母的小孩的時候，擁有自己的家庭或者自己的孩子，是那麼重要的一件事情嗎？

就算我累積了101個人士對我的求婚從來沒有答應的情況之下，我還是會覺得這101個人可以過上他們登峰造極的大好日子，而我自己也可以享受那種服務更多人群的優雅。

所以每次碰到這樣的問題，我自己都會自嘲一番，並且一笑置之，讓旁邊的人也覺得很有意思。

說到底，我認為最有意思的應該還是服務工作的本身，因為服務的關係看到自己的可能、以及別人的潛能，這種千金難買的大好機會實在讓人滿心雀躍不已，也因為如此，我感受到的是極度的豐盈充沛，這樣的充盈使我並不認為自己有任何擁有更多的必要……

I do not know why I have never needed many things like pretty close, shoes, cosmetics, and perfume etc. to make me feel more fulfilled; instead the more human beings or species I have encountered, the more wonderful souls, including those inside various species that I am face-to-face with, the more I feel that my appearance becomes more charming and attractive. It is very hard for me to explain, but such as the feeling I own and such has become the way I am. In particular, I am sure I am in good hands, well taken by our Creator and all the guardian angels who are around me!

說真的，我也不知道自己為什麼一向以來不覺得自己該擁有很多物質上的享受，比方說美麗的衣服、吸引人的香水、化妝品、包包等等，相反地，遇到了越多的人之後，跟他們相處，知道他們在內心深處的不願意讓別人看到的、但是可以讓我一窺究竟的心境，或者看到某種生物在我的近處自在活動之後，我覺得自己更加的充實了。

為什麼會這樣呢？我也不知道！但是已經變成這樣了，那麼就會心一笑，因為我相信一切都是最好的安排，冥冥之中自有天意，我僅僅只是一個讓世界稍稍變得更好的小小的棋子罷了！