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    May 05

    A module

    To choose Stylistics would never be a good ideal for me, a non native speaker of English, actually I didn’t want it at first. But since all the other modules were full, I had no other options.

    Today I marked the end of this module with an exam. Not bad, I would say. Looking back, I’m so happy about what I have gained from it: for the first time, I understand language can be manipulated by people’s thought, which is similar with the meaning of a semi funny ‘maxim’ in the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland trying to tell-words can mean whatever you want they to mean.

    I clearly remembered last year when I went to London for the first time, I wanted to visit Royal Observatory Greenwich but it’s really a shame that I didn’t know how to call it correctly. When I popped out of the tube, I asked a person by saying ‘could you tell me the way to a building used for watching stars!’ OMG, I was shocked by my creativity and eye popping talent on paraphrasing. To my surprise, he understood me very well. During my visit in the observatory, again I was looking for the ‘prime meridian line’. I asked the staff ‘do you know how I can get to the zero degree line’. Without any doubt, he precisely pointed out the direction. The same stories occur nearly every day in my life. I speak the English according to my on way, which is stemmed from my thought and my thought is well bred by the Chinese culture and the people around me. Such fact is set, and no one including myself can change it. But I really wish that I could gradually understand the British culture, not now but ten years from now.  I think Stylistics may give me the key of stripping out the language per se and allowing me to know the information around me better.

    April 26

    Stream of consciousness

    I finally finished my assignment for the Strategy Management about Toyota, I got relaxed the moment I handed my copy to the business deanery office. Again I couldn’t download the module coversheet and had to fill a form with the related module information. I wish I can soundly chill myself for maybe two weeks, but more work needed to be sorted by my side. The final lap is always dragging, and I’m quite used to that.

    Less than two weeks, I will leave Liverpool. I remembered I joked with Josy I would adopt Scouse accent and get assimilated with the local culture at the beginning of this semester. But I have to admit that it is more comfortable to live on my own culture and my own way of thinking.

    The good weather in England always makes me positive: dogs, blossoms and the clear sky. And nothing would be more enjoyable than spending 20p to grab a copy of daily star in a sunny afternoon.    

    April 16

    what the hell

    I wish I could learn from my mistakes, but I feel every time I get trapped by the hole that I dig by meself. Then I strive and climb out, yet unfortunately fall into another hole which might be even deeper. Can human beings really learn from their past? I doubt.  

    February 25

    Wine seling in plastic cup

    Last Saturday I popped into Home Bargain, a chain store which is largely aimed at poor people in UK.
    Entering the shop, I was puzzled by a number of plasitc cups filled with red or wihite liquid, on the top of which were sealed by plastic paper. Picking up one of them eagering to identify what it is, I was so astonished to find those transparent liquid is wine from Australia. This tiny goods managed to set up a chain of reactions in my mind. Wine, not from the old world but from the new world, means very good value for money. However people tend to consume wines in a very lovely environment, say in a family run restaurant with wines and exellent food on the table. There is nothing wrong if someone coming up with the idea selling soft drink like this, but what is the point of selling wine in this funny way. Can't help laughing. While I was pouring scorns on this product, two local people finding those wines as well. 
    'look at that!' One woman speaking loudly can't conceal her excitement, 'what is this?'
    By looking at the lable on the top, she soon realise it was wine in cup.
    I was standing by, hoping to find how they reacted.
    'It is handy, isn't it. We can take it to picnic, can't we.' She said to the woman next to her.
    'Yeah, but I am afraid I might have more than one cups at a time and get drunk.' And without hesitation, they popped a few into their baskets.
    Let me bring this this story to a conclusion, that is we need always to think out of the box.  
     
     
    December 16

    英国的早晨

    晚上发烧,早上退烧,今天早上9点左右,窗外已是大亮。观朝霞错落有致,粉红色的,淡蓝色的,很是漂亮。翻身起床,把昨天晚上的碗洗好,把刚刚湿透的衣服洗净搭在暖气片上。

    出去看一看包裹到了没有,结果今天不开门。

    好久没有早晨出去过散步了。三五人慢跑,五颜六色的汽车驶过,树上的叶子现在也落去很完全。当然除了那些常绿植物,我依旧想去拥抱他们十分美丽的绿。

    枯枝也并非全然没有活气,偶而会有喜鹊或者是乌鸦从一根树枝上顺势跳去另一枝。

    要是现在在公园还会有很多狗和松鼠。

    November 14

    Poker Player

    I met D yesterday in the library, his hair is sooo damn long, like those  lads in Beatles. He is busy with playing on-line poker now luckily not involved with money.

    I told him I played poker with my hallmates with chips these days.

    'Okay I  will give you three tips, listen.' He grabbed a chair sitting next me. ' Tip one, considering the possibility. Say if your first two cards are 10 and Jack both in diamond, then there are three possibilites. First you may go straight with 9, Queen and King, or the diamond flush, or big pairs. In this case never fold. Tip 2 if you get a pair of 7 for your first two cards, don't think you are big. Other players may get a pair of King or something. Tip 3 if you get really boss cards don't throw all your money in at the beginning, since other players may fold. Always 'check' first and let the other players raise the bet. Understand?'

    'Yeah, I'll try those tips next time I play poker. By the way do you drive to school every day?'

    'No I sold my car?'

    'Why?'

    'I played poker.'

    'Oh you said you didn't play with money.'

    'I mean my girl friend. The first one is a bitch, she spent all my money. This one is more or less the same type.'

    'Oh, good for you.'

    'Like play poker, I think I bet all in on my girl friend. Shit! I lose my car and I have to jog back home. Alright then, I'm gonna back to fuch my girl friend, see you.'

    '....'

    October 29

    My hallmate

    When I was writing an essay, someone knocked on my door.

    'How are you?' He always used that phrases as the opening. 'I'm very well.' I replied with politeness towards that newly moved-in hall mate Tamiode from Nigeria. The first time I saw him was while I was cooking something in the kitchen. He asked me in a polite way ' Do you have a dust bin in your room?' I said yes. 'But I don't get any.' I pointed at the dust bin in front of his room door told him that was his. He couldn't follow my strange accent at first, then I spoke word by word ' that belongs to you, because the guy used to live here left it outside when he left.' He finally understood me and took it in with simle.

    My next time having conversation with him was yesterday. He was cooking. He saw me and Fazal and stepped outside the kitchen.

    'Hello, how are you?'

    'Yeah and you?' I asked.

    'Very well.' He asked something about my major and he told me his was religion. I thought his module may be not easy to learn. He said currently he couldn't 100 percent understand the tutor but he believed if he put his heart in, the language barrier wouldn't be a huge difficulty for him. Our conversation last maybe ten minutes then he was back to kitchen and me and Fazal were about to leave. But there was some problem with him to use the cooker in the kitchen. His pan was still very cold. The truth is that he only used one screw and didn't remember to switch another screw to 'hob' position.

    'I think I told you one time yesterday.' Fazal spoke with a friendly way.

    'Oh sorry. Do teach me again.' Finally he got it. From this I knew that his country is not a very rich oneand this equipment is not into everyday use there. I suddenly doubt if he could get used to the life here in England. By the way what he ate is very simple just beans-boiling beans in a pan and adding some salt on it. 

    Then let's went back to the beginning of today's entry. He knocked on my door and said 'How are you?' And went 'I am fine.'

    'I'm so glad you are here. There is something that I tried to show you this afternoon, please follow me.'

    And I follow him into the kitchen.

    'Please read this first.' He pointed at a notice on the door,which is gernerally saying that it is not cleaners responsiblity to clean off all the thing in the sinking. If some one has used dishes, he is not expected to just lean them in the sinking and he should wash them right after using.

    'Finished?' He asked.

    'Yeah.' I nodded.

    'Please read this one.' This one more or less means the same thing but the language stlye has changed through wording, obviously into a sort of coercive and threatening manner. ' IF ANY PANS OR PLATES ARE LEFT UNWASHED FOR A LONG TIME WE WILL REMOVE THEM AWAY.'

    'May I asked is it your plate?' He pointed one unwashed plate with smash potato on it.

    Obviously that's not mine. 'No, because I never have fork and knife.'

    'Oh sorry so you use chopsticks?' 'Yeah, I'm Chinese.' 'Oh, sorry. But do you see what I mean.'

    'Yeah, actually I have done my part. If everybody could make the public places clean that would be good for all of us.'

    'Yes that's what I'm trying to say.' Then I was back to my dorm.

    Here in England. Loads of local students just messed up everything in the kitchen. However cleaners never throw anything away from it. Everyone including me took those unwashed plates as usual. But he actually knocked on everyone's door try to tell everyone what should be the right way.  I don't know what will happen to him. Maybe he will continously asked everyone to maintain the cleaness in the kitchen or maybe he would take them as granted just like me.

    October 27

    27 Octorber

    My tutor said in today's seminar he would use English only in academic writings and would choose his mother-tongue to write something more emotional and more creative. He went 'I wrote my travel log in Bengali which is not because I can't do it in English. It's only because I can express my emotion better through my own langauge background.'
    Maybe that's the case since I'm struggling in writing my travel log in English. Till now I haven't even finished my stay in Venice which is the first stop of my wonderful adventure.
    From time to time I think Chinese is the language that could really convey my thought and my feeling. No one should pose doubt on this statement simply because I was born and bred as a Chinese. Sometimes to write in a foreign language proves to be a painstakingly moment because my flow of thought is often disturbed by wording and structuring. In the process of write and pause and think and rewrite again, maybe half day has passed and I couldn't go any further, just few lines.
    However I'd like to do so, since I want to use English. Not as some people that I know who simply taking a glimpse of triky words and expressions then quickly using them, I don't have any talent on learning a language. But I'm really the type who want to optimize the things that I learnt. I've learnt English for more than 10 years, since I have gone this far, why not go any further? Maybe I was driven by this force and finally came out that crazy thought about writing my travel log in English. I know it is possible simply because I have done many things that I dare not to even look at before. Looking back and reflect on that journey, my back-paker friends and I overcame a lot of difficulty. So why not write those wonderful experience down, and more challenging in English, a language that I use less efficient than Chinese. It would probably be another wonderful advanture of my life when I look back later.
    October 21

    A wonderful dining in night

    I never thought any speech addressed in any dining in night could be a useful one. However I was wrong. Dining in night is not always a night for prepaid dinner and chatting with friends.

    Tonight a very kind white-hair old man addressed in front of us. I didn't take his speech serious at the begining because I never cared about the things talked before meals. What he said at first I didn't hear. But when the speech aproaching to its end, he spoke something really inspire me. 'Never plan your life so full, leaving some spaces and always be prepared for surprise.'

    I'm a trying person who try to perfect himself. One way to achieve that unrealistic goal is to make plan. The ideal situation for me would be within a  24-hour-day, I could map it into great detail. Such as 'to get up at 7:30am, to finish the reading of  chapter three and review the notes of international business.' I thought a well planned day would be wonderful simply because it's goog to know where to go and what to do. Just sitting alone stupidly in the dormitory is a waste of life.  To achieve a 100% control over my life by inner force or outer force, because I might refuse to think and reflect. If something works for one time, then I should carry it on and on and on.

    However most of the plans that I had made couldn't be finished, my heart would be dragged by pain and frustration. 'Shame on you.' some voices appeared from no where laughing at me. I tried to shout back but just can't figure out who should I target at. That's really funny isn't it. Because it's me who made those plans and it's also the same person to undertake those pain brought by them. To make things more clearly, I'm the trouble maker of myself, how ridiculars is it!?  Insead of plan the life, I think I may need more time to reflect and think, to reflect my behaviour and think about the enviroment. Is you can't change with the time what's the use of plans then? I doubt plans could lead me any further if I don't know my mission. I think a English idiom will be good for me which is 'don't paint yourself into a corner'. I might be cornered by myself for some time but I believe I can set myself free in the most situation.

    October 05

    英语的未来,汉语的未来

    最近在看一些讨论语言的书,感觉语言很伟大。它承载着意义,而意义又能达到某些功能。比如说广告语,其功能为诱导和劝说;比如说战争动员演讲,其功能为鼓舞士气;再比如文学,其功能在于给人美得享受亦或令人反思生活。总之语言功能万千,变化莫测。

    高中时主攻自然科学,天真认为数学,物理和化学才是人类智慧的结晶和绽放。英语课堂上老师规定不让看其它语言的书。我则固执的拿出一本数学研究。东窗事发,老师过来镇压。我则故作聪明的随便打开一页,说‘你看哪里有汉字’。我说的没错,那一页的内容是三角函数,里面除了阿拉伯数字和sin,cos之类的记号外什么都没了。我当时大概是为我的举动感到自豪的,因为数学无需太多文字的说明,那是纯逻辑的舞动。

    现在的我则更为社会科学感到惊叹。吾观东周列国志,八百诸侯虎斗。一国之师压境叩关,武将愿请精兵退敌,此时总有一位大臣站出来说‘臣愿凭三寸不烂之舌让来者无功而返’。这些谋臣有精于辞令挽狂澜于即倒者,比如张仪;也有贻笑于后人者,比如三国演义里的蒋干。孙子说兵不血刃而胜者为至强;古语亦云‘攻城为下,攻心为上。’何以功心,语言是也。语言学,作为社会科学的一门重要分支,可以粗略定义成研究语言的学科,其左右自然不言而喻了。

    鄙人在此方面略有些思考,现在大胆的写出他们。望批评。思考集中在两门离我最近的语言,汉语和英文。以下便是对两门语言的分析以及个人狂妄的想法。

    英语已经成为了世界语,这一点毋庸置疑。我在壮游游欧洲大陆的时候,英文标示随处可见,英语流利的人数不胜数。会当地语言能为旅行增色不少,但是即便不会倒也不会‘落魄潦倒’,一样会玩得精彩。英文之泛可见一斑。为何如此呢?

    当今大势为全球化。以此为背景,分析会变得容易。全球化要求国与国之间的交流,如何交流。两种方案。A所有的人掌握全球2000多种语言。B所有人除母语外掌握同一种语言。简单说就是‘all or one’。稍微有常识的人就会否决A方案。那么全世界人该学什么共同语言呢?即使你再不愿以面对,答案已经出来了-英文。凡事该问个为什么。Why English? At the right time and in the right place. Then how? How English become outstanding at the right time? Why when you look for a language as the ligual Franca, English has already been there?

    有的人认为英文易学。有人说英文的进化是一种‘堕落’(corrupt)。启蒙运动时期,英国的许多语言学家试图规范英文,他们或参考法语和拉丁语来纯化语言;或批判莎士比亚,说他乱写胡用。只是历史车轮滚滚向前,英语还是我行我素的‘腐败了’。失去了复杂的词语变格,失去了无用的词缀。这样一来,比较起德语英文似乎容易了一些。可是英语容易,也不是一学就好。德语虽难,精通词语的人大有人在。回头看看昔日的世界(欧洲)语,拉丁语(之后是法语),难道他们容易吗?你随便翻开一本英文书,看看他的读法和拼法,杂乱无章。相对于德语,西班牙语等语言会读就会写,或者说会写就会读。,这不是英文的一个最大缺点吗?由此观之某种语言的难易似乎无法决定此语言的世界性。

    英语今日的地位归功于两大国,大英帝国和美利坚合众国。早期的英帝国殖民扩张为英语传播的第一阶段。北美,澳洲,非洲某些地方,东南亚的某些地方,人民开始讲英文了。英文甚至变成了其中很多国家的母语,本地土著语言随之灭亡。此一时,彼一时。太阳都要落山,日不落帝国也成了昔日的遗梦。大英帝国注定已经腐败了,可是他们的语言确乎‘不朽’了。这得益于美国。

    美国的称霸才让英语成为真正的世界语。如果说以前殖民地人民讲英文取决于霸道的语言政策,那么现在很多有主权的国家(比如说中国)却把英国列为必修外语国。这并非政府卖国的举动,之后不乏对个人和国家利益的考虑。小而言之,美国梦是很多人学习英文的原动力。大而言之,国家间商业往来离不开英文。不懂英文的人,从中国走私两条烟在伦敦街头卖还是有可能成功的。可是每天有18兆的物质商品或服务在全球流动,想做这笔大买卖,不懂英真不行。最后流行的文化,又为英语贴上了时尚,有型,自由的标签。综上所述,在中国学英文的人前仆后继。

    我的问题是英文能维持多久这种地位?中文可不可以成为新的世界语?

    如果你在中世纪说拉丁语会死,会退出教育阵线,稍有常识的都会嘲笑你。可是拉丁语还是死了。如果你在启蒙运动时说法语在欧洲大陆不会风靡,别人也许会不以为然。但风水轮流转,原本在角落的英文超过了法文的流行地位。中国人精于风水,那么语言的风水会不会转到中国来呢?汉语会不会成为世界语呢?

    谁也不敢给出绝对的答案,但是我们还是可以尝试推理。

    首先世界语只有一种。外国人说英文的数量说早就远远超过了以英文为母语的人数。那么他们的英文从哪来,不是与生俱来的,是习得的。习得需要什么,时间和金钱。如果两世界语共存的话,国家的负担就很重了。毕竟不是所有国家都和加拿大一样富有。再则跨国公司的成本会增加,因为所有的文件都要用两种语言写,语言方面的出资就增加一倍。有人会说联合国五门语言一起上,那么同联合国这样拿钱不做事的单位又有多少呢?如果这种逻辑没错,汉语能否成为世界语的问题就变成了两个问题:1中文如何广泛传播。2英文如何大面积溃退。

    语言的角力就也是综合国力的角力。综合国立包括政治,军事,经济,文化四大块。

    政治方面:中国在此点绝对领先的是人口。中国可以输出人口啊。可以出国狂生啊。有个新东方老师好像说,只要中国人在美国再这样生下去,反客为主的一天就快到了。希望他的理论能够成功。这招叫做釜底抽薪,通过人海繁殖策略改变一个国家的语言环境。但是他忽略了一点,当时非洲奴隶的人口多于白人,为什么后来美国不说非洲语?中国人当然可以狂生,可是生出来的小孩能不能进入主流社会?可以,但是有条件,条件就是说一口流利的英语。这样看来中国人的努力反而壮大了敌人的势力。所以说在人口方面中国的数字并非优势。

    军事,这点不言而喻,尚有差异。美国至今是视界武器制造业的龙头老大,无论从数量还是质量上都有优势。中国神7成功发射,但几十年前,美国人就在月球上漫步了。还拿个稿子念‘One small step of human beings.....'之类的句子。另外美国的军事基地太平洋上面到处开花。路漫漫其修远兮。中国还要加油。

    经济,经济是国人最自豪的一点。的确中国在经济方面异军突起。上海港的吞吐量十分惊人。可是吞吐的东西有待提高。中国出口的产品较为低端,且多加工制造业。廉价的劳动力成为经济的原动力。常常看到以此势头再发展五十年,中国将称霸的句子。问题是中国能否还能这样。人的工资迟早要长,环境不能无限污染。

    文化。美国的文化为自由,也就是中国常常批判的’堕落‘。中国文化,除非有新的文化的出现,许多都是强调和谐规范和社会秩序的。那么哪种文化更容易推广呢?个人以为自由化更容易。就好比’性解放‘的思想,摧枯拉朽风靡全球。如果你对此嗤之以鼻,唯一能做的就是洁身自好。如果这个时候跳出来去来宣传贞操道德估计市场不大。例子不巧当,但中国文化偏好秩序,一种受外在强力规范的秩序。而美国文化则更多的是在个人最大限度追求自由无法实现转而退而求其次变为对他人的尊重从而保障个人利益的文化。

    综合以上几点,可以看出中国的综合国力存在弱势,汉语的推广短时期内不会在全球范围流行。可是谁知道呢?也许中国利用了现在的经济危机,经济成功转型,而美国从此一蹶不振。也许中国在科技方面如同奥运会金牌榜,迅速攀升,夺下了教育界世界语的地位之后再吞噬其它方面最终取代英文。也许全球政治重新洗牌,中国的广阔市场和低廉劳动力外加上日本的资金和技术让东方重新崛起。更也许若干年后,科技进步,语言翻译机问世,任意两种语言能够自由互译,那么世界语就消失了。

    October 01

    Some Sort of Resolve, if you like

    So, it is the 1 st of Octorber. And like many of my past blog entries, I have come to a resolution.

    I resolve

    to improve my English.

    I know, I know. I've done this before. And it's not the best type of resolution-for it's not measurable. Then pardon me. Can I try again. 

    This time I will try to make it more specific and more approachable. I resolve to read more English books, at least 4 hours per day. There we go.

    In the meantime, it is the National Day of China. I stand for China. Every bit and very part of it, since it is my country. Surely you are not a perfect country and I do not want to be a citizen of a perfect country, because there is nothing that we can learn from there. But  I really wish our country could become more and more open, not only in the field of market. 

    September 28

    问题

    时间过得太快,快得让人体会不过来。写上篇东西的时候是暑假,转瞬间开学了。英国的夏天原来可以如此凉爽而美好,我最欣赏的季节-秋也绚丽如期而至。

    下学期将会是很有挑战性的一年。常常自嘲‘养兵千日,用兵一时’。掐指算来,从大一到目前的三年里,本人似乎养了千日多的兵了,也该系统的努力‘一时’。

    课值得期待:首先我很敬佩明年的一位老师,很有学问。再加上这个国际大环境-英语继续成为世界语以及在经济一体化助推下的全球一体化,下学期的课大概不会同‘屠龙术’一样,学来全然无用吧。

    挑战亦很多。

    首先我这个酸腐书生还是想继续读下去。那么读什么,哪里有得读,怎么读...诸如此类最核的和问题答案还不清晰。

    其次就是时间的充分利用问题。本学期我的课在每周的头三天完成,有点吃紧。其次上课的时间很多在中午而我爱午休。于是届时如何不在‘全球化’讲义的大潮中睡着也成了问题的关键。

    最后就是生活问题,这里就不再赘述了。

    July 22

    It remains to be a mystery to me

    My friend Jay has practiced Kendo(the way of sword) for more than 3 months and he really throws himself into it I reckon, for every night when he takes a shower I could hear his exiting shouts from the bathroom ‘mennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn(striking on face), co te(striking on heads), tsu ki(stabbing throat)’

    He successfully exerts an influence on me, my interest toward Japan is lighted up by him again. Luckily the university of Liverpool held a Japanese festival yesterday morning which was a really good opportunity for those who want to know something about Japan. We popped into there and really had a good time. When I entered the main hall I was shocked by the tai-ko performance (tai gu in Chinese). All the players dressed up in the Japanese traditional costume. Couldn’t that be fascinating? When they completed a section of performance they would bow as deeply as they could. Just like those Japanese as I saw on telly.

    During the opening ceremony, the Japanese ambassador would like to address in front of us. Needless to say, his English adhering a strong Japanese accent but that’s comprehensible anyway. He praised Liverpool employing every beautiful word that he could imagine ‘wonderful city, European capital of culture, splendid culture and etc.’.

    If you want to say how deeply you like a city the best way would be to worship the celebrities from it. Liverpool has successfully claimed many famous people as Scouce. Liverpool born and Liverpool bred, the Beatles never fail to represent the whole city even not every Liverpulidians appreciates their music. As a sort of routine the ambassador spending loads of time in talking about how Japanese like the Beatles, how himself became interested in English and English culture after hearing ‘LOVE LOVE ME DO’.

    Two national flags hanging right above him, one is the Union Jack and the other on is the hi no maru (Japanese flag). Under the flags he said ‘The Anglo-Japanese relationship has been nourished for more 150 years after the two governments signed XXX treaty.’

    I have no idea about what was in his mind at that moment. However his feeling should not be hard for me to trace down. For 150 years ago it’s about the time of the end of edo period in Japan and also the last few years of Qing dynasty in China. In the arena of nations, only the stronger could survive and the weak would find it impossible to flourish. It was not until early 1920s that Japanese government finally ceased the last unequal treaty with those western nations. Therefore 150 years ago the time that two governments signing the treaty, Japan was an underdog in the global arena and struggling to make its voice heard. With no doubt, that ambassador knew these historical facts, there is no point he didn’t feel sad by mention them. However the sadness would certainly quickly be airbrushed out of his mind, because he was giving a speech 150 years later after the signing of that treaty and Japan is not yet the underdog surprisingly it has stood by their won feet for more than one times. 150 years ago the majority of Chinese people had lived under the illusion that China is somehow superior to other nations. However the truth is that our nation was continuously falling and falling before it could grasp something to stop that fall. At the end China probably had reached a bottom line that it cannot fall anymore and mysteriously bounces up again. However that’s not enough. At least the economic success in China is only part of the whole picture. Many things could change all of a sudden: the collapse of Soviet Union, the collapse of the US economic before world war two and the collapse of military government in South Korea few years ago, there should be many things for us to learn from those lessons.  

    As a Chinese saying goes there is no point for any nation to become strong without any reasons. Any successes should be backed up by many factors. It has always been a mystery to me why Japan can become the No. two power in this world based upon such tiny islands. I think I will spend more time on reading around it in order to get the answer.

     

    June 28

    见闻

    昔人已乘黄鹤去,该走的也都走了,同来英国的现在只有我和Jay了。自从洗碗宗师乘机离去后,本人受命于危难之间,挑起洗碗的重任,迩来二十有二年矣。系上围裙,戴上手套站在成堆的碗山面前,我想到了岳飞,想到了王安石,也想到了北方的农民......不好意思,废话太多,其实什么也没想。
    突然一个外国waiter西蒙进来送单,发现我站在碗池面前,他突然诡异笑了起来。许是在笑我昨天还在楼面为何今日就与碗为伍了呢。英国人还真幽默,明明知道本人洗碗还问‘Oh Andy Are you a chief today?'(你今天是厨师吗?)我摆出一副不以为意的表情说'No mate, dish washer today.'
    'Oh is it?It sounds great.'
    'Yeah, it's nice, isn't it.'
    你们这些英国人鄙视洗碗吗?这钱你们不赚我赚。
    突然想到一个在电台听到的笑话
    ‘Well the immigrants in UK always do the things that the British citizens don't want to do. For example cleaning the toilet, washing dishes and score more than 20 goals in the premier league.'翻译过来大概是 ‘来英国的移民通常干一些英国公民不屑一顾的事情,比如说刷厕所,洗碗还有在英超联赛中打入20多个球’。说的好!这说明我们移民有韧性有骨气,虽然我还不是移民,哈哈。
    厨房的气氛很和谐,和厨房的人谈笑也是乐事。他们说话高深,又好打比喻。当然比喻总和人体构造有关,而且大多是女性的构造。每次他们都喻事于‘理’,之后哈哈大笑,又良心发现似的说‘我们会不会教坏了这个中大的学生哥啊?!’另一个人马上说‘我们长辈当然有义务教他这些东西,要不然怎么繁殖后代啊’真是微言大意,虽然我到现在也想不明我的后代和他们有什么关系。在他们新式的教学法下,本人也取得了不少进步,比如说看到了一篮子新洗的蒜丝就会往其下放一个盆子,预防水沾湿桌面,如此等等,不在话下。
    时间长了,聊的话也多了,他们有时也讲讲家事。感觉他们了不起,为了小孩,选了一条难走的路。有个同事,在国内曾经还开了一个小厂,收入也还不错,听说有机会来英国还是毅然出来了。他是合法过来的,如果呆上六年便可以拿到英国公民的身份。我问他出来的原因时他说‘还不是为了小孩,在国内听说别人都把小孩送出来,打听一下一年要几十万,等我小孩大了不知有没有这个钱,哎呀,反正就来了。’他今天已经来了八个月,还有十年的合同等着他。值得安慰的是,厨房另有两个人已经给他树了榜样,一个来了十年,一个来了十六年。两人的小孩一个在英国排名第四的大学学数学,一个在做药剂师。这年头假的多,空的也多,似乎只有选择和行动才有用。
    明天又要去洗碗,六个小时,不长不短。只可惜出粮之后钱又要拿去交房租了。
    May 30

    苏格兰

    出游两天平凡逢雨。夏天的苏格兰同冬天的英格兰一样冷,至少是在我去苏格兰的那几天里。去年圣诞节本人去了英格兰的首都伦敦,今年的初夏来到了苏格兰的首都爱丁堡。伦敦给我的感觉是阳光,而苏格兰灰色的石子路,灰色的古建筑怎么也秀不出活力。爱丁堡给人的感觉更像是苍劲的汉字。那些字是在毛笔缺乏墨汁的情况下写出来的。

    在网上查资料的时候发现苏格兰的一大旅游特色是‘鬼之旅’。于是我们也花了9英镑参加了。我快要睡着了。那个鬼之旅并不是借助什么声光电等等的高科技来吓唬人。一群人入夜后走在阴森的小道上,导游的嘴皮子给你惊恐的体验。那个导游的确幽默,富有激情。在他强硬而有磁性的声音里,不少美国美眉折服了。他们抱在一团,很惊恐的宛如小鸡。而我们中国人则很坦然。这倒不完全因为我们不怕鬼,问题的关键是我们听不太懂导游的英文。他在一圈石头前讲了一堆故事,本来就疲惫的我就听懂了半句'The 3 year old daughter'。可惜啊,就连谓语都没有听到,所以我拼命在想一个三岁小女孩会怎么样。当身前那两个美国女孩已经在喃喃自语‘Oh my god...Oh I'm a sissy...'的时候,我还没有进入状态。也好,这也能跟他们留下中国人胆大的印象。

    顺便提一下,苏格兰的口音也难懂。如果说利物浦口音是粤语,那苏格兰口音就是闽南语。英国虽小,口音也多。苏格兰的词语很有意思。loch就是lake;kirk就是church;kist就是chest。北欧入侵后英文词汇的变化在这里完美体现。

    回来的时候我在爱丁堡waverly 火车站的取款机里提钱,里面出来的都是苏格兰英镑,很是新奇。这是我头一次见到这类纸币。本人开始还担心这些纸币在英格兰流通不了,后来大佬用这些英镑在利物浦请了我们一餐。60镑全部花光,吃的很爽,我的疑虑也全部打消了。嗯。苏格兰果然很有权利,自己说自己的英语,用自己的词汇,印刷自己的钞票。对了他们还有自己的议会,制定自己的法律。民主的英联邦。不过今天的自治也是昔日坎坷斗争的结晶。

    May 20

    中国人

    我是中国人,这令我无比的自豪。我们的民族有一种打不倒的魂魄,他是从上古时期一直延续下来的。面对灾难,我看到了伟大的中国精神。每次在电脑前看着对灾区的报道,双眼都会朦胧。时势造英雄,那些原本平凡的人在关键的时候闪烁出的人性深深的感动着我。我感到自己的渺小,同时也觉察到希望,自己的希望,有一天,如果有国家需要我,我也会尽力去做。自己的梦想总让自己感到茫然。现在总算明白原因,因为自己的理想没有能和大的利益结合在一起。

    那天去公园,在湖旁边呆坐了一个下午,微风拂面,鸭子和天鹅在恬谧的游荡。有个很美丽的英国小女孩在我身旁将面包投向那些生灵们,天鹅聚拢来,十分的可爱。整个画面十分的悠然,外加湖面粼粼的波光和暖暖的和风,令人不忍离去。那时我在沉思,现在我虽然在一个安逸的环境,但我内心一定要燃起一团火,这团火才是动力的源泉。未来的路还长,困难重重,心中这团火就是为未来的斗争和奋斗准备的。当我的命运召唤我的时候,我要有足够的勇气来承担自己的责任和义务。

    温家宝是我们的好总理,记得他在救灾的前线说要对‘人民和历史负责’。他是中国的领导的,就担起了这个责任。我是一个学生,也有很多责任等着我去担负,现在我承担着父母亲人对我的期望,我的爸妈省吃简用,让我留学西洋,无非就是希望我的未来更有希望,可以做出点事业,可以好好的生活。我的爷爷奶奶对我的期望也很大,我的爷爷老对我说‘你姓陈,你就是我唯一的一个孙子。’尽管他的观念比较落后,但他依然希望我能好好的开心的过下去,如果有希望的话,为陈家添一点光彩。 以前看一个电视节目,中央四台的,讲福建的一个小村子,姓陈的村子。陈水扁的祖籍就是那里,尽管陈水扁上台后做了很多烂事,但他上任的第一件事就是送了个匾给那个村子,并且托人告诉那个村子的长老‘你们的后人现在在台湾当总统啊。’他是炫耀也好,开心也罢。不过其中多少也反映了点中华民族的心理,我们对自己血脉还是很敬仰的,总希望为之增加一点光彩。自己是一个平凡人,也不求什么大富大贵,大权大义,只求家人平平安安,自己实实在在。当然自己现在努力的话,也不排除以后能够做出点什么的可能性。

    地震让很多人的生命霎那间消失,死者长已已。生者的悲痛才是无法释怀的。温家宝对那些幸存的孤儿说‘既然活了下来就要勇敢的活下去。’

    而我既然选择了出国留学这条路就要勇敢乐观的走下去。

    May 13

    初夏野游

    日暮之中,天黑将至,出游于野。初夏,满目生机盎然,只惜心无赏景之意。岂不悲哉?

     

    相契相阔两如梦 为雨为云今朦胧

    日暮清霞杨柳送 野凫岸芷浅湖中

    小桥无为前路过 艳花有意眼旁红

    天光渐暗疏影淡 虫寂鸟归人语稀

    阑珊少年彷徨过 独步举头嘲月明

    独独背影抚孤木 剪剪凉风刺肠心

    May 01

    头疼

    论文又衰掉了。老师说我是屡教不改的人。我这人可能意识的慢一点,可一旦改起来就会很彻底。我对未来还是很有信心的。

    高三的时候,在图书馆一个很不显眼的角落我发现一本书叫‘自然与人生’。作者名叫德富芦花,仅仅看名字,就想到我家后溪边的芦花。

    当时随便翻开,看见一篇描写日落的文章,十分震惊其中的美。文章的原句完全忘却,只是读后的感觉永远留在脑海中。古代日本人的感官似乎为自然而生,对四季的变化十分敏感,春天的樱花,夏天山谷的流萤,秋天满山的红叶,冬天白雪皑皑的富士山,在他们心中有不灭的美感。万事万物都是有灵性的,心底的波澜都由自然而生。石头缝的小草,会让人莫名感动,纷飞的雪花,另人惊喜。

    后来看到川端康成的散文‘我在美丽的日本’。其中大量引用了日本的古歌。‘明明皎皎明明月,皎皎明明月儿圆’,忘了是出自哪个僧人的感悟。当时读来只是觉得有趣。可现在渐渐品出其中的滋味,有时一个人从图书馆回来,突然抬头,很惊叹当空的明月,它是如此皎洁,这个句子同时也闪现在脑中,不自觉会心一笑。自然的美可能只有静下心来才能感觉到吧。

    中国的诗歌也是光芒万丈的,李白的豪放令我在沉闷的时候感觉到力量和希望,这几天有些许沮丧,可昨天看见李白的诗句‘弃我去者昨日之日不可留,乱我心者今日之日多烦忧’顿生若合一契的感觉,于是思路随着诗人神游,‘长风万里送秋燕,对此可以酣高楼’悲哀的心情一扫而空。然而开朗是暂时的,惆怅稍微离去又会赶上。于是便有‘抽刀断水水更流,举杯消愁愁更愁’的感慨。但李白永远是自由的,今天哀愁,那么明天就‘散发弄扁舟’吧。浮与尘世,沧海一粟,人如此渺小,和不难得糊涂,潇洒一回。逍遥游中的大椿,八千岁为春,八千岁为秋。人生又算得了什么呢?

    可人活着又是无比的幸福,应为这个世界有美的存在。这几天校园的花开了。满树都是,灿若朝霞。

    回头想想,学校花怒放的时间还真不同。天寒地冻时,金黄的水仙怒放,红梅也在学校的一角绽开。待到花落之时,春樱接踵而来,素洁如处子,浪漫如黄昏。漫步其下,乐意无穷。雨打风吹过,落樱旋舞,柳树又赶紧发芽,桃花,梨花争先斗艳。目前学校主楼后不知名的花又开放了。有时看到这些花,从心底涌起一阵感动。

    昨天看中国学校的纪录片。在一所平民小学里,有一个很可爱的小姑娘,父母离婚后把她弃给爷爷,从此爷俩相依为命。她的爷爷教她读书认字,她上学后又经常来看她。爷爷擅长书法,便也顺便帮学校写写标语。一派乐观的样子令人感叹,感伤,更是感动。我脑中老是浮现出她爷爷在镜头前说‘看见她活泼的样子,我就高兴,有活力就行。’反观自己,衣食无忧,那么哪里会来这么些烦恼呢?可能真是吃饱了撑着......

    前阵子,我也许说错话了,但是说的也算是真话。我也许听到了不想听的东西,可细细想想,我还是我,我的身体还是自己的,我依然是陈陟。那么又有什么好烦恼的呢?我既然说错了话,对别人造成了伤害也没法弥补了,自己何必耿耿于怀,别人恨我那也自然。别人的话虽然很刺耳,就当它是一阵飓风涌进一个巨大的山谷吧,产生了巨大的回响,可是风过之后,不是什么都没有发生吗?

    也许终究有一天会发现那个人的美然后彻底批判自己的恶心,可一切已经不重要了。