個人簡介：
Name :?Marytha Johnson
姓名：Marytha Johnson
Country of Origin :?USA (United States of America)
國籍：美國
Occupation :?Teacher
職業(yè)：教師
Years in China :?About four in total
在華居住時間：大約4年
Hey Everyone! Welcome to my story. Be prepared for wonder, miracles, and unnecessary flamboyance. So, how did I get to China ehhh? Well, I came two different times for two very different reasons.
嘿，大家好！歡迎聆聽我的故事。這是一個精彩而又神奇的故事，我會講的天花亂墜，請你們做好準備。我是怎么來到中國的呢？好吧，我來過中國兩次，每次來的原因都不同。
The first time I came to China, I was in college. Ohhh, young me was so cute! She had a big adorable smile, eyes unfettered by the world’s woes, practical step-by-step dreams, and a goofy uncontrollable laugh. Got to love her! Anyway, I went to a really small, middle of nowhere, liberal arts college – so naturally, it was full of students from all over the world. You should know my college really loves to gloat about two things: its commitment to “mentored undergraduate research” and its noble mission to develop “independent minds within a global community.” All that first gloat means is that your senior year is a non-stop library reel with an occasional cut scene of your bed.
我第一次來中國是在大學時期。哇，我年輕的時候好可愛！笑得多么燦爛可人，眼神里看不到世俗的紛爭，止不住地傻笑。我還有許多切實的夢想，想要一步一步地實現(xiàn)。你們一定會喜歡上我的！總之，我上了一所非常小的、偏僻的文理學院——當然，那里有許多來自世界各地的學生。你知道我母校真的很喜歡夸耀兩件事：致力于實行“導師指導本科生研究”制度，肩負“為全世界培養(yǎng)獨立思想”的崇高使命。第一件事意味著，你整個大四時光都得圍繞圖書館不停地轉(zhuǎn)，偶爾才有片刻時間休息。
The second gloat, though, is the magic carpet I flew to China on. You see, my school encourages every student to travel abroad, and they really lay it on thick. At first, I was nonchalant about the whole thing – too at home to see my blessings. Luckily by the lure of free food and those tiny little cakes, I got suckered into the barrage of travel fairs. Convinced by the finger foods and cool stories – I planted my Wooster flag and finally decided to TRAVEL THE WORLD!
然而第二件事就像一張魔毯，指引我飛往中國。你看，我的母校鼓勵每個學生出國旅游，他們真的很重視。起初，我并沒有關(guān)注這件事——只立足國內(nèi)，忽略了這等好事。但幸運的是，我參加了許多旅行展會，因為那里有免費的食物和小蛋糕。我被那些小食和很酷的旅行故事吸引了——行李插上伍斯特學院的旗幟，我決定環(huán)游世界！
Those unfettered eyes wanted to see everything and go everywhere, shiny things over here, yummy food over there, history, splendor, you name it! I was all in now, and I wanted it ALL, but I only had one semester worth of don’t get stranded in a foreign country because you are broke money. The utilitarian in me wanted to make the most of this chance, so I thought, “what would be the hardest place, if I didn’t go right now, to go to later in life?” At the time, my college self thought: I only have a couple of friends from China, it’s so far away, they speak another language, they didn’t even use letters, all of those digits for that plane ticket, and it’s probably crazy crowded with all those people. Yep, I definitely will not go there later. And TADA that’s how I decided to go to China!
那雙無拘無束的眼睛想領略一切，走遍任何地方。這里的東西耀眼奪目，那里的食物令人垂涎，還有燦爛的歷史，無盡的輝煌，應有盡有！我現(xiàn)在全力以赴，我想要一切，但我只有一個學期的資金，所以不想要身無分文而被困在國外。從功利的角度出發(fā)，我想充分利用這個機會，所以我想，“現(xiàn)在不去，以后很難有機會再去的地方是哪里？”當時，還在上大學的我想：我只有幾個來自中國的朋友，但是他們太遠了，還說著另一種語言，甚至不使用字母，機票上的數(shù)字告訴我，這太瘋狂了，我要去到處都是中國人的地方。是的，我以后絕對沒有機會再去中國。當當當當！這就是我決定去中國的原因！
And that’s it! I was in Beijing the following semester studying Chinese language and history. Oh yeah, the second time was much more straightforward. I knew I was ending a 10-year long unhealthy and codependent relationship. In this process, I asked myself, “if you could be doing anything in the world, what would you be doing?”. Guess what I said… “teaching English in China.” My inner skeptic came out with a “hmmm really.” I was serious, and now I am here in Xiamen teaching English. It’s a Spring Festival miracle!
就是這樣！接下來的一學期我在北京學習漢語和中國歷史。沒錯，第二次要直截了當?shù)亩?。我知道我將要結(jié)束一段長達 10 年的不正常而且相互依賴的關(guān)系。在這個過程中，我問自己，“如果你可以隨心所欲，你會做什么？”猜猜我說了什么……“在中國教英語。”內(nèi)心帶著些許懷疑，我最終覺得“嗯，這個選擇沒錯”。我是認真的，現(xiàn)在我在廈門教英語。一個全新的開始！
I am from Louisville, Kentucky. You can find fast horses, mint juleps, and big hats at the Annual Kentucky Derby. Louisville is also home to the Muhammad Ali Center and Louisville Sluggers – the world’s most popular bat for breaking car windows.
我來自美國肯塔基州路易斯維爾。在一年一度的肯塔基賽馬會上，你可以欣賞快馬、品嘗薄荷酒和試戴大帽子。路易斯維爾也是拳王穆罕默德·阿里中心的所在地和路易斯維爾棒球棒的起源地——世界上最受歡迎的可以擊碎車窗的棒球棒。
作者：Marytha?翻譯：潘澤彬
If you would like to contribute your story, feel free to contact us.
Email: luz@mts-tech.com
Home away from home?is a collection of the unique stories written by foreigners in China and compiled by MTS. Join us on this journey of exploring 100 different stories showcasing what it truly means to live in China!《家外之家》是一本外國人在中國的獨特故事集，由外國人撰寫，精藝達公司征集匯編。歡迎外國朋友積極參與，和我們一起探尋100個不同的故事，展示生活在中國的真正意義！
It has been?5 months?already since the “Home Away from Home” essay contest began! We appreciate all the foreign friends who have participated writing?55 unique stories?about their experience as expats in China.?On October 31st, the voting system closed, and after thorough counting of likes, reads and votes, today is the time to announce the?5 winners! Drumroll please...感謝大家?5 個月以來對《家外之家》征文比賽的關(guān)注！開賽至今，我們一共征集到了?55 篇外國人在華故事，我們非常感謝此次積極參與征文活動的外國朋友。2021 年 10 月 31 日，網(wǎng)站投票通道也已關(guān)閉。通過計算社交媒體點贊數(shù)、閱讀數(shù)、以及網(wǎng)站投票數(shù)，經(jīng)過激烈角逐,?5 名參賽者最終脫穎而出
