A Shareable Journal in a Private Language
在抵達芝加哥國際機場的第一天早晨，我搭輕軌前往市中心。這次不再是奔馳在公路上，遠遠看著一座城市從地平線緩緩冒出、漸漸靠近，而是隨著站名播報距離縮短，列車潛入地下，窗外的陽光消失了，好像在序幕拉開前的黑暗裡那樣屏息等待，埋在一群摩天大樓的下方，準備一賭它們的風采。出站時，乘著手扶梯往上，等速緩緩升至地面，從傾斜被遮蔽的角度到能夠完完全全將它們攏進自己的視野，短暫定格幾秒，仰望著它們高聳林立的氣派模樣，再跨開腳步加入快速流動的人潮和車輛。
入夜前的天空藍。沒有太多的霓虹，只有暖色系的星星。
出發前，爸爸送我到機場，下車前他提醒我，時間和地點都能夠對得上而聚在一起的人，隨著年紀增長會越來越難，要好好珍惜。我想到「一期一會」這個源自於日本茶道的用語，「一期」指的是一生，「一會」是指僅有一次的機會，意思是每一次的相會都無法重來，不論是什麼樣的角色，都要各盡其誠意。突然之間，覺得自己心的源頭被撥正了，旅途本身就是人生的縮影，有著各式各樣的事情發生，還是要時時對自己謹慎，像只有一次機會那樣謹慎，不要因為一時的負面情緒就否定其他好的部份。有溫柔的心情，才能看見細微的美。
Most of my life, I have been afraid of facing changes in my living circumstances, especially moving to a new place. Two years ago, all my fears came true as my family moved from Taiwan to Richardson, Texas. My world turned upside down. Not only did I experience a change in my living situation but also a change in language, climate, friends and food. It was really a challenge for me, I needed to learn to cope with all the changes at one time. I started going to a high school called J.J.Pearce, but I only lasted one week. During that week, there were too many difficult problems that I could not deal with. By the end of August, I made a firm decision to return to Taiwan.
一直以來，我都是一個害怕環境改變的小孩。兩年前，當我們全家搬去德州時，我的害怕成真了。我的世界瞬間宣告失控，不只語言不同，德州的天氣，我的朋友們，還有食物都變得完全不一樣。要在同個時間點接受這麼多事情，真的是一個很大很大的挑戰。我去了那邊的高中讀了一個禮拜的書，在這一個禮拜中，遇到的困難越來越多，令我束手無策。然後在八月底，我毅然決然返回台灣。
After going back to Taiwan, I still had to face the reality that one day I would have to go back to the United States because my mother and my sister remained there. This was really a huge obstacle to me. I knew I must face these new things in my life sooner or later.
即使回到了台灣，我還是逃不掉這件事情：有一天我必須再去美國，因為我媽和我姊都待在那裡。這是我最害怕的事，我知道遲早有一天我得面對它。
The one who helped me face my fears is my father. He told me a story about himself. About twenty years ago, he graduated from the university in Taiwan and applied to a graduate school in Northern Illinois. He had never been to the United states before. But he and my mother were brave enough to come to America and drove a car from the West Coast, with only a package, a map and five hundred dollars. He was still a little afraid and did not know what would happen. However, he just kept a mood of “Enjoy those!”. He enjoyed seeing a big new world, where he met new people, chatted with strangers, and marveled at wonderful sceneries. He knew clearly that whatever circumstance he met, he must get through it. He was young, and youth is the richest time of life.
開始改變我這個想法的人是我爸爸。他告訴我一個他自己的故事。二十年前，他大學畢業並且申請到北伊利諾的研究所。在這之前，他從來沒有去過美國。但是他和我媽兩個人夠勇敢夠瘋狂地，只帶著一件行李，一張地圖，口袋裡裝著五百塊錢，就從美國東岸開車一路北上北伊利諾。當然，他還是有點害怕不知道會遇到什麼事情。但是他說，他心裡只想著「享受這些吧！」享受去看見一個新世界，遇見沒有遇過的人，遇見沒有想過的事。他清楚地知道，不論如何，他一定可以衝過去，因為那時候的他很年輕，年輕就是本錢。
My father’s story encouraged me: Life is a journey. Now it is time to make this journey wonderful and colorful. This requires me to be brave to try new things and never turn my back on difficulties, also learn to love new things and enjoy the challenge I meet. When you enjoy them, you will find the bright side of them.
我爸的故事告訴我：其實人生就是旅行。而現在就是時候去讓這趟旅行變得華麗。變得華麗需要夠勇敢去接觸新的事物，遇到困難時決不退縮。當你試著去喜歡它們時，就會看見他們美好的一面。
I could choose to stay where I am familiar with until I die, but the world is full of amazing and interesting aspects; it would be such a pity if I never touched them. There are thousands of kinds of people in every corner of the world. We should contact them to know what their lives are, and broaden our horizons. Life, is to enjoy, to be happy, to relax.
我可以選擇一輩子當在我熟悉的地方，但是啊，世界很大，如果不願意去看看它摸摸它真的很可惜。世界上有千千萬萬種人在不同的角落，應該去試著認識他們的生活，讓自己所看見的世界變大。生活，就是輕輕鬆鬆地去享受。
Therefore, I moved to United States about two months ago. When taking off from Taiwan, I was filled with courage and expectation of my new life. And I made a promise with my friends in Taiwan, we must pursue our dreams. Next time when we meet again, we have to return from a rewarding journey. Although there must be some hard and painful things, I knew clearly that whatever way I go has its own wonderful gifts. I try to keep a mood just like my father, “Enjoy those in new life!”. I knew I can be optimistic to solve my problems and relax!
兩個月前我來到了美國。當飛機起飛的那一刻，我發現自己對未來充滿期待，還有力量。還有，我和我的好朋友有了約定：我們要義無反顧地追求夢想，下次見面的時候，要滿載而歸。雖然那些令人討厭而且不適應的事情是一定會有的，但是啊，我知道我將要走的任何一條路都會有它獨特的禮物。也許就是我爸那樣的心情，「享受新生活吧！」然後積極並且樂於解決眼前遇到的一切困難。
SLOW IT DOWN 