作者：FAITH BAUTISTA
翻譯：潘澤彬
校對：Luz、Zuzana、Joanne
I am a diplomat. And with postings in Vienna, Brussels and Berlin, I considered myself “Eurocentric”.
我是一名外交官，曾在維也納、布魯塞爾和柏林任職，那時認為歐洲是我的工作中心。
Coming to Xiamen was a difficult choice. But this is my last foreign posting and I wanted to be where my siblings could easily visit me. Also, I was so curious about China – and why I heard so many negative things about it.
來廈門是一個艱難的抉擇。這是我最后一次出國工作，所以我想去兄弟姐妹們容易看望我的地方。再者，我十分好奇——為什么關于中國的負面消息鋪天蓋地？
With much prodding from the then Philippine Consul General in Xiamen and from former assignees, I chose Xiamen over Berne. Still, when people heard that I would proceed to Xiamen for a foreign posting, they quipped, “Why China?”. But China (Xiamen) it is. I flew in with my family, armed only with “nihao” and “xiexie ni” from months of learning Mandarin.
在時任菲律賓駐廈門總領事和派駐人員的勸說下，我選擇前往廈門工作，而不是伯爾尼。他們得知這一消息的時候，打趣道：“咋是中國？” 沒有原因，就是中國（廈門）。我和家人一起飛往廈門，學習漢語幾個月后，我們只會講“你好”和“謝謝”。
Landing at Xiamen Gaoji International Airport, I told myself “Ah, this looks like Europe”. I saw order and efficiency. The tall buildings were impressive. Transportation was efficient. The big parks were attractive. I was told that Consulate people who have children settled in Shangli area, near the Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS). Aided by an English-speaking real estate agent and our solicitous local hires, we found an apartment near the sea and close to the mountains. Wow!
飛機著陸于高崎機場時，我不由得驚嘆：“哇，這里簡直是歐洲?！睙o不體現著秩序與效率。高樓大廈令人贊嘆，交通運輸高效迅速，大公園風景怡人。我得知有些領館工作人員和他們的孩子住在上李，馬尼拉廈門國際學校 (MXIS) 附近。在一位會講英語的房地產中介和熱心腸的當地領館員工幫助下，我們找到了一處山邊公寓，鄰近大海。太棒了！
Xiamen, of course, became my home ground. With the Philippines being Guest Country of Honor of the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) for two consecutive years, the sprawling Xiamen International Convention and Exhibition Center became my playground (although still confused between XICEC Hotel and Seaside Hotel). In between works were walks by the seaside and culinary outings.
廈門顯然成為了我的主場。菲律賓連續(xù)兩年成為中國國際投資貿易洽談會 (CIFIT) 的主賓國，龐大的廈門國際會展中心因此成了我的游樂場（但我仍然分不清廈門國際會議中心酒店和廈門國際會展酒店）。在工作的間隙，我會沿海邊散步，外出探店尋找美食。
Xiamen is my home away from home. Shoppping malls SM and Robinson’s made sure that I still get the “Malling feel” which I am so used to when we were in the Philippines. Bench (Philippine retail brand) is in Xiamen. There is a Filipino doctor in Guanren for our medical concerns. I hob-nob with Filipino professionals and Chinese with businesses in the Philippines.
廈門是我的“家外之家”。SM 和羅賓森購物中心帶給我的“購物感受”，與在菲律賓一樣，那么的親切自然，逛廈門奔趣（服裝品牌）時也是如此。至于醫(yī)療問題，官任有一位菲籍醫(yī)生為我們解決。我的工作就是與菲籍專業(yè)人士以及在菲做生意的中國人打交道。
Xiamen gave me my two intraocular lens (IOL) after the removal of my cataracts at the Xiamen Opthalmology Center. There was a series of consultations and cross-referencing using ultra-modern machines from all parts of the world. Thanks to Nurse Qu Yu Hui, I need not worry about communicating in “zhong wen”. The operations were swift and efficient. Dr. Zhang had the hands of an angel, and finished the operations before I could end my prayers.
我在廈門眼科中心做了白內障摘除手術，然后植入了兩顆人工晶體 (IOL)。當時醫(yī)生進行了一系列會診，使用來自各國的超現代儀器進行交叉參考。多虧了屈玉慧護士，用中文交流問題也不會感到困難。手術過程快速高效，張醫(yī)生用他那天使般的巧手，在我結束祈禱之前就完成了手術。
A visit to Xiamen, as they say, would be incomplete without a visit to the Island of Gulangyu. This pedestrian-only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, with its breath-taking sea vistas, tree-shaded winding streets, high elevations, and a medley of architecture including magnificent mansions of rich Filipino-Chinese, captivates.
俗話說，如果不去鼓浪嶼，廈門之行將是不完整的。鼓浪嶼是聯(lián)合國教科文組織世界文化遺產，島上只能步行。它以美得令人窒息的海景、綠樹成蔭的蜿蜒街道、高聳的巖石，還有風格迥異的建筑，包括菲律賓華裔富豪的豪宅，令游客流連忘返。
Being the Political and Economic Officer of the Consulate presented me with the chance to visit areas under our jurisdiction. My first big engagement outside of Xiamen, the “Familiarization Tour of West Fujian and Ganzhou” sponsored by the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office in September 2019, took me on a “Red Tour”. The tour was not only informative. The places we’ve visited were breath-taking. I loved seeing the Star of Ruijin by day and the Jichuan Gate at night. The story of the “Red Well” was a lesson in leadership.
作為領館的政經官員，我有機會訪問我們的轄區(qū)。我在廈門以外參加的第一個大型活動，就是 2019 年 9 月由廈門市外辦主辦的“閩西贛州熟悉之旅”，這是一次“紅色之旅”。這次旅行令我增長了許多知識，所參觀的地方都讓人嘆為觀止。白天我喜歡參觀瑞金之星，晚上則喜歡游覽濟川門。“紅井”的故事是領導能力的體現。
The Mazu Island in Putian is my favorite. I believe that Mazu (known in the Philippines as Ma Cho) called me to Xiamen. I have already met the sea goddess while still in the Philippines. On a visit to Our Lady of Caysasay Church in Taal, Batangas, I found her inside that Church. I was later told that in La Union and Taal, some folks believed that Our Lady of Caysasay and Mazu/Ma Cho are one and the same. And in certain parts of the year, the two images are brought together so their people can venerate together.
莆田的媽祖島（湄洲島）是我最愛的旅游勝地。我相信是媽祖（在菲律賓稱為 Ma Cho）召喚我來到廈門。我在菲律賓的時候就已經拜謁過這位海神了，參觀八打雁省塔爾的凱薩賽圣母教堂的時候，我就發(fā)現了媽祖。后來有人告訴我，在拉烏尼翁和塔爾，當地人認為凱薩賽圣母和媽祖是同一個人。有些時候，這兩座神像會放在一起，方便信眾一同敬拜。
Jiangxi is unforgettable, not only because it is home to the famous Oishi (Shanghaojia) brand which made goods in China since 1984 but also because of Mt. Lushan – majestic, tall, spectacular with lakes, cliffs and waterfalls – perfect setting to imagine a Buddhist Monk in meditation.
江西也是難以忘卻，不僅因為它是著名的上好佳品牌的誕生地（該品牌自 1984 年以來在中國欣欣向榮），還因為這里有雄偉、高聳、壯觀的廬山，還有湖泊、懸崖和瀑布，這是想象中僧侶打坐的完美境地。
But the real charm of China (Fujian and Jiangxi) which leaves a lasting imprint in one’s heart is its people. Hardworking to a fault, the Chinese people are loving, kind and sincere. I understand the importance of “guanxi”. I appreciate long dinners and “ganbei”. I am surprised to find drivers and managers eating at one table. I am amazed at the refusal of tips even when service is good.
但是，中國（福建和江西）真正的魅力所在是人民，他們在我心中留下了難以磨滅的印記。中國人勤勞到了極點，他們富有愛心、善良真誠。我明白了“關系”是多么重要。我喜歡長時間飯局和“干杯”。飯局上我驚訝地發(fā)現司機和經理坐在同一張桌子上吃飯，熱情周到的服務員拒收小費，也令我感到震驚。
I salute the men and women in Fujian and Jiangxi who toil each day to nourish the relationship between China and the Philippines. The Filipino expatriates, the overseas Chinese with businesses in the Philippines, the Chinoys (Filipinos of Chinese origins) expertly navigating Chinese and Philippine systems and even the ones who have never been but yearns to visit my country.
我向那些生活在福建和江西的、每天都在為保持中菲之間的良好關系而努力工作的人們致敬。他們中有菲律賓僑民、在菲律賓做生意的華人、十分了解中菲制度的 Chinoy（華裔菲律賓人），甚至包括那些從未去過菲律賓，但渴望探訪菲律賓的人。
Most of all, I am genuinely thankful of my go-to friends who are always around to lend a helping hand. Take Baolian – our Chinese former employee, who, after retirement, still regularly pops up at the Consulate to check on all of us. A medicine to buy, a visit to the Bank, Chinese food she’d like us to taste, a delivery to be picked up, or simply to accompany us to unfamiliar places we’d like to go – all done in the name of friendship and love.
最重要的是，我真心感謝我的朋友，他們總能陪在我身邊，在我需要的時候伸出援助之手。寶蓮曾是我們領事館的中國員工，她退休后，仍然經常來領事館，問候我們。她會幫我們買藥，去銀行辦事，取快遞，也會給我們帶中國菜，陪我們去向往的陌生地方——所有這些事情都是出于友情和關愛。
I still miss Europe (my eldest lives there) and cherish the memories made and friendships gained. But far from being Eurocentric now, I have become a Chinese-believer. And I will, one step at a time, continue to nurture the relationship between our two great nations.
我還懷念歐洲（我的長子住在那里），珍惜在歐洲的記憶和友誼。但我的中心已經不在歐洲了，我已然成為中國的“信徒”。我將一步一個腳印，繼續(xù)為保持我們兩國之間的關系出一份力。
