喜悅總是多于失望

文/Edwin Maher（艾德文·馬厄）

譯/張曉

我的中國故事MY CHINA STORY

喜悅總是多于失望

文/Edwin Maher（艾德文·馬厄）

譯/張曉

本文作者艾德文·馬厄

編者按:

本刊邀請在華的外國朋友回顧他們在中國過去五年的工作與生活，分享他們的工作進展和他們關注的中國現(xiàn)象。本期特刊登曾在中央電視臺擔任主播的艾德文·馬厄和英國大使館文化教育公使艾琳的文章。

在澳大利亞電視臺做天氣播報員時，給觀眾解釋氣壓的高低很關鍵。什么帶來了持續(xù)的高溫或者嚴寒？為什么我預報了艷陽高照卻下雨了？

回顧我過去5年在中國的生活，和天氣變化有些相似，有高潮，也有低谷。

當然，高潮總是要多于低谷，喜悅總是多于失望。畢竟這里是中國，發(fā)展迅速，總是有很多事情值得去體驗。

2012年，我非常榮幸獲得了中國綠卡，從2003年來到中國，我終于拿到了這個資格，這意味著真正的歸屬感。

As a weather presenter on Australian TV, it was essential to explain the highs and lows of air pressure when giving the latest forecasts to viewers. What was causing the prolonged heat or cold? Why did it rain when I had promised sunshine?

Looking back over my past fi ve years in China, there have been similar elements, just like those changes in the weather.

The highs vastly outnumber the lows－after all this is China where things move quickly and there’s always something memorable to experience.

2015年9月3日，我受邀出席在天安門廣場舉行的紀念抗日戰(zhàn)爭勝利暨世界反法西斯戰(zhàn)爭勝利70周年閱兵，這又是一個令人難忘的經(jīng)歷，令我想起了2009年中華人民共和國成立60周年國慶閱兵后的群眾游行，當時我乘坐了外國友人彩車，真是令人興奮。

2015年2月，我在中國寫的第二本書——《找得著北——央視洋主播的新生活》在中國人民大學澳大利亞研究中心舉行了新書發(fā)布儀式。

時間飛逝，轉眼我在中央電視臺英語頻道播報新聞已經(jīng)13年了。我決定，是時候去追求一些媒體領域的其他興趣了。

2016年11月，我最后一次離開央視大樓，希望自己避免莎士比亞的那句名言“離別是如此甜蜜的凄涼”，而只是帶著那些美好的回憶。

看一看北京之外的中國，就像是探險。過去5年，我和中國朋友們一起出游，足跡遠至新疆、青海，那些令人難以置信的美景將永存于我的腦海。

在這片遼闊的土地上，總有很多地方值得去看，流光溢彩，千姿百態(tài)。

盡管飛機很方便，我也從不錯過乘坐高鐵的機會，高鐵線路幾乎聯(lián)通了整個國家，舒適又可靠。

在北京，我喜歡騎上我的捷安特自行車，逛逛這個城市，這給我?guī)砹瞬灰粯拥臉啡ぁ?/p>

這輛車是我的兒子阿德里安送我的禮物。2008年奧運會時，他與我一起在北京，之后他送了這輛車給我。

9年來，我四處騎行，尤其喜歡騎車去北京西部的山區(qū)。我經(jīng)常漫無目的地騎著車子到鄉(xiāng)間，新鮮的空氣，探索的自由，突然間發(fā)現(xiàn)自己已經(jīng)遠離了北京的喧囂。

這些都是我生活中的高潮，那低谷呢？我已經(jīng)聽到你在問了，請繼續(xù)讀。

在中國，我遇到過一些外國朋友，他們和很多中國人一樣有一個共同之處：自行車都曾“消失”，或“被借走了”，還是直接說吧，就是被偷了。

但14年來，我的兩輛車都沒有“消失”過，直至兩個月前。

共享單車的時代，我還有點得意—— 我這個老伙伴的鎖壞了，我也不必再費心修理了。

上個月一天，跑步的時候，我決定和朋友一起吃晚飯。我得騎車從北京友誼賓館到附近的人民大學地鐵站，然后乘4號線地鐵與朋友見面。我把車子停在地鐵口，知道它會在此等我回來。

晚飯時，我和朋友們聊起了共享單車的火爆。我還說，我從沒騎過共享單車，因為我有自己的自行車。我還說：“即使鎖壞了，我也不擔心，騎一輛共享單車很便宜，誰還會去偷像我那輛一樣老舊的自行車呢？”

Being invited to attend China’s 70th V-Day anniversary parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3 2015 was another unforgettable occasion, recalling the excitement of actually being on the foreigners’ float in the PRC 60th anniversary parade and pageant in 2009.

In February 2015, my second book written in China, Caught on CCTV, was launched at the Australian Studies Centre of Renmin University.

Times change, and after 13 years anchoring bulletins around the clock at the English channel, CCTV News, I decided it was time to move on to pursue other media interests.

In December 2016, I quietly left the CCTV tower for the last time, hopeful of avoiding Shakespeare’s famous words: ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow’, but taking fond memories with me.

Seeing China beyond Beijing is always an adventure, and in this fi ve year period I have been lucky enough to go with Chinese friends to places as far as Xinjiang and Qinghai, where scenery beyond belief will never be erased from my memory.

And there is so much more to see of this vast land, an everchanging quilt of stunning shades and textures.

While air travel is convenient, I never miss an opportunity to use high speed trains which link so much of the country, providing comfort and reliability.

Here in Beijing, I have found special enjoyment exploring the city on my trusty GIANT (brand) bike－a “thank you” gift from my son Adrian, after staying with me during the 2008 Olympic Games.

For nine years I rode it in all directions, especially to the hills west of the city. Often I would just cycle into the countryside without any destination in mind. The fresh country air and the freedom to explore was always an adventure, fi nding myself in villages a world apart from Beijing’s bustle.

So much for the “highs”. What about the “l(fā)ows” I hear you ask? Please read on.

I have met several foreigners in China who share a common link with many local Chinese－their bikes have gone “missing”, either “borrowed” or－let’s face it－stolen.

But in the 14 years living in China, neither of the two bikes I have owned here, had disappeared. That was, until two months ago.

2012年艾德文在新疆

我想你已經(jīng)知道了后來發(fā)生什么事情。

回到人民大學地鐵站，我從電梯上來，走向出口的停車處，迎接我的老朋友。足足五分鐘，我沿著幾列自行車走來走去，一眼望去，一片單車的七彩海洋，小黃車、小藍車、摩拜，但是我的那輛黑色捷安特，它更大一些，車前還有我的金屬質地的購物籃，卻找不到了。

我想起了剛才和朋友們的玩笑，我不需要一把新鎖，我的心沉了。我知道，它丟了。

第二天上午，我又去了同一家捷安特自行車店，離我住的賓館很近，2008年阿德里安就是從這家店把這個忠誠的老朋友帶給了我。在許多彩色自行車中，我發(fā)現(xiàn)了一輛，就像我之前的那輛，一樣是黑色，但更結實，當然也更貴。

簡短的騎行后，我決定買下來，我還買了一把更大、更好的鎖來防盜。

我很喜歡這輛新車，但每次經(jīng)過人民大學地鐵站時，我都不禁掃一眼那一排排的自行車，為失去這個老朋友而傷心。

也許有人還會把它放回來，算了，我覺得這不太可能。我只希望它能原諒它的新“主人”，給他帶來同樣的歡樂，就如它曾經(jīng)帶給我的。

In this era of the hire-bike phenomenon, I had become somewhat complacent, not bothering to repair the broken lock on my cycling “companion”.

Last month I was running late and decided to cycle from my apartment at the Beijing Friendship Hotel to the nearby Renmin University Station and travel by subway along Line 4 to meet friends for dinner. I parked my bike near the entrance, knowing it would be easy to fi nd when I returned around 10 p.m.

During the meal our group was talking about the popularity of hire bikes and I mentioned that I never used them because I had my own bicycle. I told them even though the lock didn’t work, I wasn’t worried. “These days”, I added, “hiring a bike is so cheap, why would anyone want to steal an old one like mine?”

I think you know what’s coming.

Returning to the Renmin station, I climbed the escalator and walked out to greet my GIANT friend, parked close to the exit, knowing it would be easy to fi nd.

For five minutes II walked up and down the lines of twowheelers looking into the sea of colourful Ofos, Bluegogos and Mobikes, for my larger black bike with the metal shopping basket fi rmly attached to its front. But I couldn’t see it.

Then I remembered joking to my friends just a few hours earlier that I didn’t need to get a new lock. My heart sank. Who could resist a bike that needed no unlocking? I knew the answer. It was gone.

Next morning I walked the short distance from the Friendship Hotel to the same GIANT store where my old faithful friend was bought by son Adrian in 2008. Standing out among the modern multi-coloured bicycles was one that looked just like mine - the same black color but more sturdy and of course, more expensive.

After a quick test-ride around the showroom, I decided I had to have it. I also bought a bigger and better lock than the old one -virtually steal-proof.

I am proud of my new bike, but whenever I pass the Renmin University subway station, I still glance along the rows of bikes, feeling sad for a second or two for the loss of my departed friend.

Perhaps the same person will put it back one day. Somehow I don’t think so. My only hope is that it forgives the new “owner”and provides the same pleasure it gave to me.

The Highs Vastly Outnumber the Lows

a Chinese Green Card, a symbol of real belonging within a community I fi rst joined in 2003.