我們共同的故事 The Stories We Jointly Weave
Martin Luther King used to say that “Freedom
is not free.”
人權鬥士馬丁路德曾言及：「自由有其必須付出的代價。」
In fact, for every single thing in life,
there is price to pay: even if it is a smiling face, for behind such a smile,
there are many gruesome moments training ourselves to be graceful in the face
of difficulties.
實際上，每件事情都有其所要付出的代價，就算是一個真心的笑容，也在背後需要多年的磨練心性，才能在他人面前就算大難臨頭還展現出那樣的優雅。
在海外被許許多多「當地人自詡為是我的親人的」人群們所照顧，歷經許許多多不同歷程。雖然由於種種原因，無法呈現所有的照片，不過全部的影像都在我心繚繞，讓我得以有更多更寬廣的學習及進步空間，以助益更多人群和物種。
Overseas, I’ve always been taken care of by
“family members” from different territories. Even though no all the photos or
images can be shown, all those wonderful moments linger in my most hidden memories
where I know more spaces of learning and improvements are stored for me to
benefit more humanity and other species.
一群海外的學生們在討論過他們想問的英語，該怎麼表述之後，用英語詢問著坐在後方，同時記著筆記並且靜靜看著他們上課的我：
「老師，妳在寫什麼?」
One group of students, after discussing
with each other how to describe what they’d like to state in English, asked, “Miss
Hope, what are you writing?” when I silently sat behind them while taking
notes.
「我在記錄關於你們的故事。」我說。
“I am writing about you, your story,” said I. Suddenly the classroom fell
quiet, as if everyone was thinking about what Miss Hope’d write about us.
突然之間，教室安靜了下來，好像學生們一個一個開始到無限好奇：
這位異國老師會寫的關於我們的故事，會是什麼呢?
當我離開每一個教室、每一個處所，每一位我所交流過的不同年級的學生們，總是熱切地望著我、充滿喜悅、充滿尊敬。在這種充盈而完滿的魔幻時刻中，我可以理解為何令我尊敬的友人們會有這樣的觀察：
「妳的那些學生們應該是感受到良善的特質，所以認為妳是美麗的。」
When I left every classroom, every space was
filled with students whom I had the privilege to interact with looking at me
wish such enthusiasm, merriment, and respect. In such moments of truth and grace,
I’ve begun to realize what my much respected friends' observation may be
correct, that such students must have felt my kindness so that they would voice
that they consider me to be beautiful.
It's just... How do you or we spread kindness? 只是，我們如何散播良善?
When I know that even under affluent social
economical situations, students may not be able to write or count from A to Z,
should I be cross with them?
當在富裕的社會經濟條件下生活的學生們，無法直接了當說出英語字母到底有幾個、或者從第一個寫到最後一個時，我是否該對他們發怒?
When I see, in front of my eyes, students whom
I taught years before is with English abilities degrading, should I be upset
with who and who?
當我看到自己曾經教過的學生，幾年之後竟然有了可怖的英語能力退步現象，我該對什麼人、事、物感到沮喪嗎?
When I see people around me cannot bear
with certain situations that they become impatient with whoever or whatever, do
I need to fall into such a trap of being impatient as well?
當我看到身邊的人們因為無法忍受身邊的某些人、事、物，而感到不耐煩時，我是否也該掉入相等同的不耐煩的陷阱之中?
Every moment for me is a decision-making
process, due to the tasks I willingly bestow on my own shoulders. The longer I go
through the processes of my life, the more surprised I am that I can be going
away so much from the normal track, but appear to be even more normal.
那所有時時刻刻、分分秒秒的決斷過程裡面，我所必須進行的決策也許雖然不為人知、卻擁有更大的張力，其主因就是我所踏上的服務道途將我從一般「常軌」中幾乎徹底抽離。
For such serenity, I need not only to be
grateful to the Universe, but also to those whom I have met everywhere,
including those cabin crews I have met here and there, on various flights, or
whoever who has come into my life.
於是我的看似正常，似乎是一種絕佳的恩賜，從宇宙中心而來的恩賜，而這種恩賜透過了我所結識的所有的人群而產生，包含了那些我也曾經身為機組人員一環的機組人員們，在天空帶著我們大家飛翔，或者，任何一個在任何時空進入我的生命裡面的人。
I find the most graceful item I can return
back to the world is to be even more patient to face whatever is happening
around me, with the others, so that when the students whom I have not taught in
the past two years come into the same classroom with me to learn more English,
they can secretly reveal what they are thinking,
“We are happy to be taught by you again, so
that we can really learn some good English in a well-behaved manner.”
我發現我能夠回報的、最為優質的部份，就是以更為沉穩和有耐性的方式，來面對一切的一切，一如兩年不見的學生們偷偷告訴我：
「老師，很高興又被妳教到，這樣的話，我們才能夠真正安心下來學一些好英語、好東西，而不是在雞飛狗跳全班像菜市場的環境裡面。」
No, my countrymen have never walked away
from their much determined attitude or even prejudice of judging people from where
they are from and the skin colors of such individuals, but I have chosen to
believe that we are born to be the same, and in the end, we are all equal—these
are the reasons behind my actions of visiting those whom the others may never
visit and assisting those without outside help.
誠然，我的同胞們從來不曾遠離以膚色來衡量他人的態度，只是，我選擇相信我們最終總會步向平等，這當然也是為何我必須採取實際行動，應對那些無人協助的窮困地區人口(乃至於物種)的主因。
“Don’t you feel frustrated when you see
that they live in dilapidated environments?” One person asks.
「那些生活在破破爛爛的地方的人，難道不曾讓妳感到挫敗、受不了嗎?」有人這樣問我。
My answer is that “I am there to learn
their resilience. Also, I am there to understand how from such environments,
they can still retain their senses of happiness or achievements.”
「我在學習他們何以如此有韌性，以及在那樣的環境裡面，他們如何達到喜樂及滿足的境界……」
Another remarks “These people (living in such
poorer regions) are so reckless when they drive or ride motorcycles on the roads.
Moreover, they are so superstitious. I do not feel attracted by these two
aspects.”
另一位人士說及「這些(生活在相對貧困地區的)人真的太不尊重生命了，開車、騎車都橫衝直撞。而且他們真的很迷信!!! 我真的覺得他們沒有任何一個地方吸引著我!」
I think for a while and reply
“Have you not found people everywhere can be reckless when they drive or ride motorbikes?
Do people from rich nations really respect their own lives?
And how many groups of people in this world are not superstitious at all?
Very often we weigh on a
scale marked ‘THE OTHERS ARE IMPERFECT’ instead of looking at our own defects…”
我想了一想後說：「難道先進國家和地區的人都人人尊重生命了嗎?
而這個世上有多少族群的人士，可說是真正不迷信、沒有偏方?
我想，我們常常用一種有色的眼光去看待他人，但是忘卻了我們自己和他們，無分軒致……」
除了耐性，我還在訓練自己的搞笑能力……當可以把一群又一群在先進地帶的學生們，弄到笑得人仰馬翻時，我相信我在落後地帶可以做的事情，可以更加多元。所以，當幼齡學生下課時看到我會笑個不停時，我知道，自己離這個目標，有點點靠近了……
Aside from patience, I am also training
myself to be funny (with more senses of humor). When groups and groups of students of mine can laugh inside
classrooms where we learn together in the rich nations, I understand what I can
do in the poor regions globally can be more diversified. Hence, when my little
kids see me during the break and laugh out loud, I understand that I am closer
to this goal…
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