我的中國故事:我眼中的中國新一代

I have lived in China for eleven years, with some brief breaks to go to back to New Zealand for family weddings. I now wish I had kept a detailed dairy of my time in China. I did not intend to remain here so long. I am still in China. My dream in China is yet to be completed. It is to go into a country area of Jiangxi and set up an early childhood school there. I know the exact place I want to go to, but it will take time to develop.

我在中國已住了11年，除了回新西蘭做短暫的停留，參加幾場家庭婚禮外，我一直待在這個國家。我希望我能用日記詳細地記下這段中國時光。我沒想過要在這兒待這麼久，但我現在仍然住在中國。我在這裏的夢想還沒有完成：我要去江西的鄉村地區並在那兒創立幼兒教育學校。我清楚我想要去的地方，但一切都要慢慢來。

It all began on the Oct 17, 2002, I remember it all very clearly. I arrived at Beijing Airport to be met by a Chinese student from Nanchang. This was my first experience of Chinese friendliness and hospitality. We spent the evening together walking around Tianamen Square.

故事開始於2002年10月17日。當時的一切仍然歷歷在目。我抵達北京機場時，遇到了一名來自南昌的中國學生。從她那兒我第一次體驗到中國人的友好和熱情。我們晚上一起圍着天安門廣場散步。

The next day I was taken by her to the Beijing Railway Station to board the train to Nanchang, I was on my own, and only had had 24 hours in China on that journey of 22 hours on the “K” train. I was cared for by an elderly Chinese couple, neither of us spoke each other language, but to got to know each other very well.

第二天她帶着我我來到北京火車站，幫我搭上了去往南昌的列車。當我獨自一人坐上那輛22小時旅程的“K”字快車時，我的中國之旅才滿24小時。在車上一對老夫妻倆很照顧我，雖然我們都不懂對方的語言，但彼此很默契。

The following eleven years have been a replica of this experience, Chinese police have also been very helpful and considerate, I got lost in Shenzen one time and they gave me a ride in their car to where I was to go to. Another time I did not let them know I had changed my place of residence during Spring Festival. They waived the fine for me. I have made friends and been given their kindness in Nanchang, Shanghai,Tianjin, Guangzhou and otherplaces as well. I taught English in these cities.

在種種這般愉快溫馨的體驗中，十一年過去了。中國的警察也一直很熱情，很貼心。有一次我在深圳迷了路，他們載着我去目的地。還有一次，在春節時我沒有告知他們我已經搬了家，他們免除了我的罰款。我在南昌，上海，廣州以及其他地方都交過朋友，都受到他們的熱情對待。我也在那些城市教過英語。

I am now in my China “hometown” Nanchang voluntarily, helping my Chinese friend in this Traning School and others who seek my help.

我現在在我的中國“家鄉”南昌，義務幫助我的中國朋友在這所培訓學校工作，以及其他需要幫助的朋友。

I have lived for a number of years with a Chinese family, that’s the best way to really get to know the people.

我和一戶中國家庭一起住了很多年了，這也是深入瞭解這一方地理人情的最好方式。

Other experiences of Chinese kindness are from ten years old girl who gave me her only possession, an English/Chinese dictionary as gift. A father of one of my students while visiting her family in Ganzhou gave me a limited edition of Chinese currency, worth 2900rmb, inappreciation for helping his daughter. The value of the present is not important to me. It’s the thought that counts.

其他有關中國熱情友好的印象來自於一位10歲的姑娘把她唯一的財產——一本英漢字典作爲禮物送給了我。我去贛州一位學生的家裏拜訪時，她的父親給了我一套限量版的中國貨幣，價值2900元人民幣，感激我對他女兒的幫助。這份禮物價值如何不重要，這位父親的心意纔是最珍貴的。

Going back to New Zealand to be with my family is not easy, even though some of them have been to Nanchang to visit me. They have a clouded view of China. They don’t really understand the size and immensity of China and its people.

回新西蘭和家人團聚不是件易事，甚至他們也到南昌來看過我。家人對中國的印象很模糊。他們沒能真正理解中國的地域廣闊、人口密集。

I have taught about 4500 students during my time in China. They are basically hard workinga nd show me respect as their teacher and friend. I have enjoyed many wonderful occasions with them. Having class on Quingsang Lake in Nanchang in a boat. Going to the riverside near Juijiang and cooking sweet potatoes Hangi style on the riverbank. Being taken to West Lakefor Spring festival. These are but a few of happy times I have had.

我在中國呆的這些年共教了差不多4500名學生。他們大都很勤奮並且把我敬爲他們的良師益友。我們一起遊覽了青山麗水。在南昌青山湖的船上上課，在九江湖畔遊玩，在河牀烤紅薯，還被帶去西湖過春節。這只是我快樂時光的一些片段，還有很多這樣的美好記憶。

One question that remains in my mind is this.

我腦海中遺留的一個問題是：

Does China have a future in its younger generations?

中國的未來能否寄託於這年輕的一代？

When I go to class and look around the students, some are very good entrepreneurs, others just content to do their best for their future. They are all individuals. One young female student in Tianjin was running her own Language School in Beijing while attending University.

當我去上課時，環顧坐在下面的學生，在我看來，他們有的是非常優秀的企業家，其他的學生都一心一意地儘自己最大的努力爲未來奮鬥。他們每一個都是那樣獨特。一個天津姑娘在大學期間，在北京開辦她自己的語言學校。

The answer to my question , China does have a future in its younger generation. I wish them all every success in their future endeavors in making China a stronger and better nation.

我對這個問題的答案是肯定的，是的，中國的希望就寄託在這樣年輕的一代。我祝願他們所有人都能前途似錦，努力創造一個更強更好的中國。