個(gè)人簡(jiǎn)介:
Name : Daniel Louis Mayers
姓名:Daniel Louis Mayers
Country of Origin : United Kingdom
國(guó)籍:英國(guó)
Occupation : Student
職業(yè):學(xué)生
Years in China : 2 years
在華居住時(shí)間:2年
How did your journey in China begin?
你的中國(guó)之旅是怎樣開(kāi)始的?
I moved to Xiamen to settle here with my girlfriend, (we met as she was studying in the UK), and began studying my undergraduate degree at Xiamen university.
我和女友在英國(guó)讀書(shū)時(shí)相識(shí),之后我跟隨她搬到廈門(mén)定居,并在廈門(mén)大學(xué)攻讀本科學(xué)位。
What do you like most about your city and China as a whole?
你所在的城市,哪一點(diǎn)最吸引你?你最喜歡中國(guó)的什么呢?
After having grown up in London, Xiamen has enough of a metropolitan feel to be comfortable, whilst simultaneously offering a peaceful ‘countryside’ pace of life at which to enjoy the heavenly weather and majestic scenery. The list of conveniences of life in China is quite extensive, so it is hard to choose which one I appreciate most of all. I would have to say the reception from the Chinese people after being able to talk with them in their own native language is the greatest and most rewarding aspect of living in China, regardless of where you are, and has opened doors to unimaginable (and sometimes bizarre) adventures with some exceptional individuals.
我在倫敦長(zhǎng)大,廈門(mén)也是一座大都市,所以我感覺(jué)在這比較自在。同時(shí),這里的天氣宜人,景色壯麗,還能讓人感受到一種平靜的鄉(xiāng)村生活。在中國(guó)生活有很多便利,很難選出我最喜歡的一點(diǎn)。不得不說(shuō),學(xué)會(huì)中文可以和中國(guó)人交流之后,他們對(duì)我的歡迎是生活在中國(guó)最有意義的事情。無(wú)論你身在何處,你都可以和一些特別的朋友開(kāi)啟一段冒險(xiǎn)甚至是奇異之旅。
What is your unique China story?
你有什么獨(dú)特的中國(guó)故事?
I spent one month as a volunteer in Xi’an. Half of the time I taught English in rural schools nearby, (in and around Weinan city), and the other half at Xing Xing Jia Yuan, a disability centre located in the heart of Xi’an.
我在西安做過(guò)一個(gè)月的志愿者。其中,有一半的時(shí)間是在渭南市及周邊的農(nóng)村學(xué)校教英語(yǔ),另一半時(shí)間是在西安中心的星星家園殘疾人中心服務(wù)。
My experience as a teacher felt rewarding. The children were so excited to see us, so energetic and playful, it was easy to be swept up by such high energy and the time really flew by. However, it was spending time at the disability centre which really left the biggest impression on me.
當(dāng)英語(yǔ)老師的經(jīng)歷讓我覺(jué)得很有收獲。孩子們看見(jiàn)我們后都非常興奮,他們充滿(mǎn)活力、十分有趣,我們很容易就被這種氣氛感染,幾乎察覺(jué)不到時(shí)間的飛快流逝。然而,在殘疾人中心的服務(wù)時(shí)光讓我印象更為深刻。
Not only were there a few other international volunteers helping at the disability centre, but also a few Xi’an locals would regularly come to lend a hand with cooking or sparing a few hours to help out, bringing snacks, toys and books to the centre. Everyone who came to the centre had nothing but compassion and warmth in their hearts.
在這里,不僅會(huì)有一些國(guó)際志愿者服務(wù),也會(huì)有西安當(dāng)?shù)厝硕ㄆ谶^(guò)來(lái)幫忙,做飯或是抽幾個(gè)小時(shí)協(xié)助,帶一些零食、玩具和書(shū)籍等。每個(gè)來(lái)這里的人心中都充滿(mǎn)了愛(ài)心。
I remember one time; a troupe of young teenagers came to visit the centre to help out for the afternoon. One of the children at the centre, who we affectionately called ‘Clappy Boy’, was unable to talk, so his communication was limited to body language only (subtle pushing, or smiling, especially clapping!) This afternoon in particular, he had been standing still until one of the girls gave him a small pack of biscuits to eat. Suddenly, he began his episode of happy bouncing and clapping, but also letting out a loud howl of excitement. The noise was loud and so sudden that the girl and some of the nearby teenagers were shocked and I guess a little afraid as they had not become used to his behaviour. I just explained to them it was his way of showing his gratitude, and instantly I could see the change in their eyes with the way they viewed him. Gone was their fear.
中心有一個(gè)男孩不能說(shuō)話(huà),只能通過(guò)肢體語(yǔ)言(如輕微推動(dòng)或是微笑,尤其是拍手)與人交流,我們親切稱(chēng)他為“拍手男孩”。記得有一天下午,一群青少年來(lái)中心幫忙,男孩一直安靜地站著,直到其中一個(gè)小女孩給了他一包餅干。突然,他開(kāi)始?xì)g快地蹦跳、拍掌,并激動(dòng)地喊叫。這個(gè)聲音又大又突然,很明顯女孩和周?chē)钠渌嗌倌甓挤浅s@訝,我猜他們還有一些害怕,畢竟還沒(méi)有習(xí)慣“拍手男孩”的行為。我解釋道,這只是男孩表達(dá)感激的方式。很快,他們眼中的恐懼消失了,眼神也變得溫和起來(lái)。
My best friend in London is physically disabled and uses a somewhat heavy electric wheelchair to get around (the chair and battery alone weigh 200kg!). Travelling with him around London sometimes had its difficulties, but almost everywhere was accessible. Naturally, during my time here I always have an eye contrasting European country’s accessibility and public attitudes with the situation in China.
我在倫敦最好的朋友有身體殘疾,需要推著電動(dòng)輪椅才能走動(dòng),輪椅有些沉重,光是椅子和電池就有200公斤!雖然和他一起在倫敦旅行時(shí)有些困難,但我們幾乎可以去任何地方。待在這里,我會(huì)下意識(shí)地對(duì)比中國(guó)和歐洲國(guó)家對(duì)待這類(lèi)特殊人群的公眾態(tài)度以及相應(yīng)的無(wú)障礙舉措。
Despite the real-life situation being less than desirable for anyone travelling around in a wheelchair, I was surprised to learn that China’s laws concerning rights for disabled citizens are superbly comprehensive and world class, owing in large part to the diligent efforts of former leader Deng Xiaoping’s son, Deng Pufang. After becoming paraplegic, he dedicated his efforts to improving the lives of those with disabilities, beginning with the founding of the China Welfare Fund for the Disabled in 1984.
盡管現(xiàn)實(shí)生活并不適合坐著輪椅旅行,但我卻驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn),中國(guó)有關(guān)殘疾人權(quán)利的法律非常全面,可以稱(chēng)得上是世界級(jí)的,這很大程度上要?dú)w功于鄧樸方(鄧小平的兒子)的不懈努力。鄧樸方在截癱之后,一直致力于改善殘疾人的生活,并于1984年成立了中國(guó)殘疾人福利基金。
After leaving Xi’an, I came to realise that in larger cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, there would be of course a much greater emphasis on rolling out accessibility changes for their citizens, Xiamen will inevitably be a little behind. So, as I am continuing with my studies in China, I am also looking for opportunities where I can add to the greater work that has already been laid down in Chinese law for disabled citizens. I hope I can be a little catalyst to get the ball rolling at a local level wherever I am within China, and provide whatever help I can to transform Deng Pufang’s dream of an inclusive society from paper to reality.
離開(kāi)西安后,我開(kāi)始意識(shí)到,在北京和上海這樣的大城市,人們會(huì)更加重視為市民提供無(wú)障礙環(huán)境,而廈門(mén)相對(duì)而言會(huì)落后一點(diǎn)。因此在中國(guó)學(xué)習(xí)的同時(shí),我也在不斷尋找機(jī)會(huì),希望能為完善中國(guó)殘疾人法貢獻(xiàn)自己的力量。我也希望,無(wú)論在中國(guó)的哪個(gè)地方,我都能起到一點(diǎn)推動(dòng)作用,盡我所能,將鄧樸方包容性社會(huì)的夢(mèng)想變?yōu)楝F(xiàn)實(shí)。
Those are big boots to fill, but thankfully, I still have two more years before graduating to figure out the details!
當(dāng)然,這項(xiàng)工作還有很多漏洞需要去填補(bǔ),好在我距離畢業(yè)還有兩年多時(shí)間,我能慢慢地專(zhuān)注細(xì)節(jié)、積少成多。
Some background on his?hometown:
介紹一下Daniel的故鄉(xiāng):
Bushey Park, local to where I grew up in London, has wild deer living in it. You can visit almost all year round for amazing photos (in West London’s suburbs).
我住在倫敦的布希公園(Bushey Park),那里有很多野鹿。不論你在哪個(gè)季節(jié)過(guò)來(lái)旅游,幾乎都可以在倫敦西部郊區(qū)拍到驚艷的照片。
作者:Daniel Mayers 翻譯:鄧忠悅
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