台籍善心人士離開後小記 Notes After Visitors From Taiwan Have Left
從自己開始
From Hope
Every person is doing wonderful things each and every moment as we do not commit crimes, feed our families, work with dedication in our profession, and so on. Sometimes opportunities arise for us to do things for others, like knowing more about them and/or sharing knowledge with other individuals. In my case, the latter have taken place while I find such opportunities hard to resist: this is one of the reasons I keep going back to communities living under poverty levels, since I have learned that it’s through the very eyes of the others that I can be privileged to remind myself of what to do to make sure that the world is a better place, with me also advancing in it.
每一個嶄新的日子裏，我們每個人都在協助自己和他人，不論是把自己的工作作好、照顧家人、或者不作奸犯科；
於此同時在我們之間，有些人會遇到一些可為他人做一些事情、乃至於分享一些知識的機會，而我正巧十分幸運得以碰到這樣讓我自己得以與人分享所知，並透過這種分享不斷審視自己、使自己在或者可以越變越好的世界裡，不斷學習與進步的機會。
在時不時因為沒有鋪上柏油而塵土飛揚、連鞋子都因為不小心帶到透氣功能較佳而不斷進沙的世界裡面，與那些忍不住一直看著我的東非當地居民和小孩面對面，甚至常常必須成為第一位進入這些居民生活圈裡面的外國人，我有什麼感覺嗎？
In a world where dusts are all around without paved roads, until my sneakers are filled with sands, with the locals in east Africa, young and old, staring at me with wonder based on the fact they may have never seen any foreigners so close in person, what do I feel?
一種全然的受寵若驚往往油然而生。
Completely, I am flattered.
A local person whom I’ve been working here told me,
“When I see how you handle things, I feel you are a very good wife!”
一位在地合作夥伴中的人士如此這般跟我說到：
「看妳處事的方式，我覺得這才是一位賢妻應該具備的條件。」
I laughed at this comment, knowing well that through a pair of culturally diverse eyes, perspectives can be varied.
對於這樣的評斷當然我忍不住會心一笑，心知肚明在不同的文化中，不同的想法應運而生。
整體來說，我完完全全沒有追悔自己至少到當下為止，選擇單身的途徑，所以心力可以放在許許多多世上不同社區中人民的生活、甚至動植物的生態等；因為這個世界上有太多或者年長、或者年幼的群眾，無人關切。然而如若天涯若比鄰，那麼我們每個人都是彼此的鄰里、好友、兄弟姐妹—有這種認知的我，於是完全沒有感到孤單寂寞的意念，因為時時刻刻我的這種自我發起的服務生活，都被不同的人事物所包圍。
Overall, I am pleased I’ve, so far, chosen to be single; this allows me to care for the others but myself or those very close to me. The truth is there are many who are left alone, yet, with the notion every single person can be another’s brother and/or sister, that we’re all connected, I never really feel lonely when I migrate from place A to B etc. for my self-initiated humanitarian voluntary activities, simply because I am often surrounded by many.
“Free will and destiny are complimentary, not contradictory.”A famous writer wrote.
一位知名作家曾如此寫道：「個人所選擇的道途和命運之間的關係是互補而非相斥的」。Constantly we are changing our future due to our current decisions and actions.
我們時時刻刻都刻畫著自己下一步的命運，命運也因為我們的行動和決定不斷發生變化。
在我們的世界裏，很難想像任何一所公立學校可以只有簡單的校舍小小一棟、鄰近地區居民的孩子們報名入學、一兩位正式官派教師，連電力都沒有，便就成立。在這種情況之下，之前和在寸草不生的區域合作的過程中，贈送電腦使學校得以向政府申請架構電力設備、集結在地婦女團體的力量使社區發展呈現活絡狀態、不斷進步導致當地民眾開始離開牛糞製造的屋舍而改建磚瓦房、其他善心及外籍人士等協助學校建設、捐贈圖書館……等等，均使種種資源陸續進駐。這種合作模式或者給予其他當地偏鄉新建公校更多想像空間，於是，得到像我這樣的外籍人士的理解當地的狀況，時不時變成在地幅員廣大的地方居民的大事，自然，這是種受寵若驚的歷程，也是種使命感不斷提高的經驗。
In our society, or in the developed world, it’s difficult to imagine how a public school can be established without even the basic facilities like electricity or other necessary infrastructure like buildings; however, it is what has happened—a public school is established even with only one or two formal teachers dispatched by the government. Based on the records in the past, schools I’ve worked with have benefited not merely the schools themselves in terms of attracting more funds for buildings but also the nearby communities where females are empowered so that they are more engaged in community activities. When small schools and communities in other regions learn about these, their wishes of me visiting them are strong. By the time the decision is made for me to visit them, the school authorities and representatives from the communities can have lengthy, discreet discussions about how to prepare the “event” of my visit.
Here in the region, when I am face to face with constant tea I need to drink and many conversations I need to conduct in order to get myself more prepared for a better utilization of the limited resources I am able to collect and provide, as a former cabin crew, frequently, I wonder where those passengers occupying those full aircrafts have gone to. Moreover, I wonder when people see the real locals, face to face, like the way I view the world, how each and every person would receive and respond to a very different worldview.
在此，當因為受到招待而必須飲用喝也喝不完的茶、以及必須將手邊有限資源作必要配置而參與幾乎沒有終點的討論或會晤時，身為一位曾任空姐的女性如我，常常不由自主想起一些事：
那些客機全滿時所載的乘客，都到哪裏去了呢？
以及，
如果他們像我一樣有這樣的殊榮，能夠與當地居民真正面對面接觸，那麼，大家的宇宙觀會產生怎樣的變化呢？
合作
Collaborations
In East Africa, particularly in Kenya,
Why is it important to work with public schools?
在東非
尤其是肯亞
為何必須與公立學校合作？
Students from all families go to public schools; it’s easier to spot the needed individuals.
義務教育使所有該國學生都可進入公立學校
在這樣的環境裏
容易找到優秀但缺乏資源的學生
Faculty members hired are mostly well trained through the government. These teachers are fluent in English, making it possible for me to effectively communicate with the locals.
公校教師必須經過正式訓練與甄選
英語水平優化的能力，使晧璞與當地各種階層溝通無礙
Communities surrounding schools are large, with many whom we can communicate with and learn from.
學校鄰近多個社區促成的廣大民眾群
使得理解當地民眾和與他們學習
並非難事
為何在東非的學校、一如其他任何（落後）地方，如此喜歡看到來訪者？
Why do schools in such (remote) areas enjoy foreign visitors so much?
沒有任何旅行者會花時間駐足在這些地方。
No foreign tourists would linger at such places.
因為如此
看到外籍人士時
大人小孩都非常開心
越為內陸
越是如此
When locals who live in the interior see foreigners, they are excited.
旅行可以被賦予的意義
變成「可以與當地居民具體溝通
徹底了解當地文化
進而思考自己旅行的過程與意涵」
Due to such, traveling becomes something with different meanings embedded: it can be elevated to a higher level in which understanding of the local cultures through the eyes of the existing residents becomes very possible.
圖為部份收受善心人士捐贈的貧窮、好學學生
開心的模樣以及他們的校園
The images contain a school environment and certain students receiving school fees from outsiders.
For schools that are very remote, working with them boost the visibility of such schools, attracting more attention from their own government as well as other foreign resources, as reflected by my previous experience, done even by just one female like me at first.
對於非常偏遠的學校
與他們的合作
以過去的經驗來說
有效造成這些學校在他們國家政府眼皮底下、及其他外籍人士眼中的能見度
促進學校和校區人士集合更多資源
使學習者與附近社區全體受惠
即使這些事情初始也只有一名外籍女性（如我）進行
I’m not all powerful. I’m simply doing what I can do on the paths of righteousness.
我並非全知全能
我僅僅只是盡一己之力
行可行之康莊大道
Gradually, I have learned I’m not TEACHING anyone; in reality, I’m learning with everyone and anyone in this huge campus we refer to as LIFE and/or LIVING.
逐漸我發現
我並非「教授」或「教育」任何人
我們只是在這個生命運轉的過程中
相互尊重與學習
誠然
許多年前第一次進入蠻荒地帶的各個學校、
看到相對沮喪的教職人員時
我也不知如何是好
必須絞盡腦汁想方設法驅使更多正面思考與行動力的同步增生
也必須將這些當地居民的福祉不斷放在心上
更必須與當地教職人員勉力合作
When I stepped into the first small, remote school seeking for community development, I Doubtlessly faced gloomy conditions where faculty members were depressed. Through actions taken and many collaborations produced with the local communities as well as the faculty members inside the schools, more positive future prospects became evident.
但是
當第一所正式協助的如此荒涼的學校
發展成為大校、吸引外資協助、促成醫院建立時
我發現自己可以鼓勵其他被調往荒涼偏僻地方的校長們
採取與當時的合作單位一貫的合作模式
如此這般
促進社區榮景
By the time such schools can be developed into larger ones accommodating more parents to send their children for educational opportunities, attracting more foreign supports, and major hospital(s) to be built right there, I’ve learned those head teachers or principals transferred to such remote schools can be encouraged as long as we forge roads ahead altogether.
入睡時
我總是睡得很沉
醒著時
我總是提醒自己增加微笑
原因十分簡單：
這些過程的進程中
我看見自己的轉化、他人的轉化、所有人的轉化可能
於是我開始篤信
即便是一場短短的旅行
只要我們願意
都可以被賦予不同的意涵
By the time I fall asleep daily, it’s a quick process and I sleep soundly; During the moment that I am awake, I urge myself to smile more and think positively—The reasons are simple: those who are with me and I have been transformed by going through all the moments mentioned beforehand. That is the reason I have begun to trust that even in a short journey, as long as we are willing, we can define the trip with completely different perspectives and movements.
As one newly promoted Headteacher or principal currently situated at a quite inland interior left me with his heart filled with joy and aspirations based upon my sharing of stories with him and my encouragement, I will sleep even better with more beautiful dreams involved!
當與某位剛剛走馬上任、被派遣到蠻荒之地的當地校長，被我所鼓勵而心滿意足與我道別時，我知道自己的睡眠不但品質會更加完善、甚至還可以好夢連連！
助益他人的方式非常多元，
一個人進入蠻荒地區與每天人鈞一美元以下的人群互動，是什麼感覺？
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