A Time to Say Hello

　　The year began softly. The weather in Southern China was warm and so were the students. The unexpected events of the year to come began to unfold, much too soon to become only an innocent treasured memory. Something precious should be held tight and not let it go. It was to be a year of surprises and a year of love. The Chinese have an expression for it, “Yuan fen”. A westerner would only question why and how. With your permission let us share the experience together.

　　He sat at the front of the classroom looking anxious but attentive. In those first few days, his eyes bright with anticipation sought approval from me, his teacher. He claims now that he understood very little content in the lessons of the first few weeks. However, he successfully managed to give the appropriate illusion of understanding well. He made me laugh and his peering was also delighted in his sense of humor. He dressed with attention to detail, and his neat appearance, whether in jeans or current fashion, was distinct, a cool guy! There was always something enchanting in his smile, he was charming and handsome and he knew it! Moreover, he was a gentleman. His eyes revealed so much when they crinkled with laughter, the mask removed, or conversely remained inscrutable like still pools of liquid chocolate, containing only a hint of belief.

　　His first writing assignment revealed the fact that he liked me and that he hoped we could be friends, “very good friends”. At that time neither of us suspected just how true that prophecy would eventually become. Inwardly, I just laughed. This was the first of several laughs that showed how little I understood. His presence permeated my classroom and my world.

　　About a month later our lives began to intertwine and the delicately woven pattern of our lives began to become more intricate in the coming year. Relationships occur on many levels. Layer upon layer must separate in order for us to speak of inner feelings. It is up to the individual to analyze the variety of feelings at each level.

　　As time passed, we shared our viewpoints and feelings through conversation while chatting over tea and coffee, arousing the emotion deep in our hearts.

　　One day flowed smoothly into another. Familiar experience for me proved to be exciting and stimulating for him. Western festival celebrations like Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day provided an avenue to celebrate together, to share warmth and good times. Traveling to new places introduce me to an enticing new world.

　　Every day there was laughter and underlying cares that carried both of us along to some degree of happiness. We learned together English and learned about life that year. Strangely the gap in our ages did not create any barrier for our friendship, he young and vital, and I was feeling young again.

　　He offered his assistance, whenever I needed it. He offered his company for comfort, when death visited my door. What did he drive from this agenda, but a few paltry words in a foreign language? May be it was all worthwhile, maybe it will open a window wide and provide a pass port to a new world for his future.

　　Time continues to slip by as a rushing river. You no longer inhabit my daily world, only my memory. From a distance your voice informs me that you are continuing to learn, you are growing. Some days you are happy, others not quite so much.

　　However, here around me, there is nothing, only a ghost-like figure, waving from your window and a familiar waft of fragrance as I stand alongside your newly occupied desk. There is nothing and yet there is everything. My mind remains idle, with only fragments of images drifting in and out. I can no longer be absolutely certain whether this was only a dream.

　　We no longer occupy the same space, but I remind myself that we still occupy the same world. When we chance to meet, hands reach out; hearts embrace, and once again confirm the same magic feeling. Such friendships come rarely in a lifetime. Thereby, I feel blessed and lucky.

　　相知相識

　　這一年悄然開始了。在中國的南方，氣候溫暖宜人，學生們熱情有加。來年中那些意想不到的事情開始展現出來，很快，又會變成清純美好的回憶。應當把握真情，不言放棄。那是一年的驚喜，一年的愛意。對此，漢語里有個說法叫做“緣分”。西方人可能只會問為什么，怎么了。要是你愿意的話，那么就請與我一起來分享這段經歷吧。

　　他坐在教室的前面，看起來有些焦急憂慮，但很專心。最初的那幾天，他那明亮的眼睛里，充滿了得到我這個老師認同的渴望。現在，他承認，對于頭幾個星期的課程，他幾乎沒聽懂。然而，他卻設法裝成了理解得差不多的樣子。我禁不住感到好笑，他那很有幽默感的凝視也顯露出高興的樣子。他的穿著很注意細節，外表整潔，不管是牛仔褲還是時裝都別具一格，簡直酷極了。他的微笑總是那么迷人。他英俊瀟灑，討人喜歡，他自己也深知這一點。而且，他也是紳士。他有時瞇著眼笑的時候，就拋掉了所有的掩飾，有時又故作神秘，像一杯平靜的熱巧克力，叫價難以捉摸。不管怎樣，他的眼睛都流露出他的紳士風范。

　　他第一次寫作業，就表露出他喜歡我，并希望我們成為朋友，“非常好的朋友”。那時，我們都沒想到這個預言最終會變成現實。我只在心里笑了笑。那是表露我毫不知情的幾次笑聲中的第一次。從此，他出現在我的課堂和我的生活里。

　　大約一個月后，我們的交往變得密切起來。這種精心培植的生活模式，在新的一年中變得更加微妙。關系涉及到諸多層次，只有把各個層次分開，我們才能說出內心感受。我們必須按各自的觀點去分析在每個層次的不同感受。

　　隨著時間的流逝，我們快樂地在一起交談，一邊品茶、飲咖啡，一邊聊天，述說自己的觀點和感受，在我們內心深處涌動著熱烈的情誼。

　　不知不覺中，日子一天一天地過去了。我所熟悉的那些感覺竟然也使他興奮、激動。像萬圣節前夕、圣誕節和情人節這些西方的喜慶節日，為我們提供了在一起慶祝的機會，共享溫馨美好的時光。我們還到一些新的地方旅游，把我帶入一個迷人的新世界。

　　每天的笑聲和深情的關懷，使我們總是生活在幸福之中。這一年，我們一起學習英語，也學習如何生活。很奇怪，我們的年齡代溝沒有給我們的友誼帶來一點障礙。他年輕，充滿活力。我也感覺自己年輕了。

　　無論我何時需要，他都能提供幫助。當死神光顧我的時候，他陪伴我，給我安慰。從這些事情中，他得到了什么呢?僅僅為了幾個微不足道的外語單詞?也許那就足夠了，或許會為他的將來打開一扇窗戶，為他提供一種通往一個新世界的手段。

　　時間像奔流的江水，不停地逝去。你不再出現在我每天的世界里，只留在了我的記憶中。從你遠方傳來的聲音里，我知道了你在繼續學習，不斷成長，有時快樂，有時也并不如意。

　　然而現在，我身邊空無一物，只有一個夢幻般的身影從你的窗戶里翩然而至，還有那每當我站在你的新課桌旁時那熟悉的氣息。一無所有，但又擁有一切。我頭腦空空如也，進進出出的都是那些映像的片斷。我再也無法肯定這是否只是一場夢幻。

　　我們不再擁有同一片空間，但我清楚，我們依然擁有同一個世界。倘若還有機會相遇，我們會伸出雙手，真心擁抱，再次重溫這奇妙的感覺。真誠友誼，終生難求。對此，我覺得很幸福，很幸運。

　　

　　A Time to Say Hello

　　The year began softly. The weather in Southern China was warm and so were the students. The unexpected events of the year to come began to unfold, much too soon to become only an innocent treasured memory. Something precious should be held tight and not let it go. It was to be a year of surprises and a year of love. The Chinese have an expression for it, “Yuan fen”. A westerner would only question why and how. With your permission let us share the experience together.

　　He sat at the front of the classroom looking anxious but attentive. In those first few days, his eyes bright with anticipation sought approval from me, his teacher. He claims now that he understood very little content in the lessons of the first few weeks. However, he successfully managed to give the appropriate illusion of understanding well. He made me laugh and his peering was also delighted in his sense of humor. He dressed with attention to detail, and his neat appearance, whether in jeans or current fashion, was distinct, a cool guy! There was always something enchanting in his smile, he was charming and handsome and he knew it! Moreover, he was a gentleman. His eyes revealed so much when they crinkled with laughter, the mask removed, or conversely remained inscrutable like still pools of liquid chocolate, containing only a hint of belief.

　　His first writing assignment revealed the fact that he liked me and that he hoped we could be friends, “very good friends”. At that time neither of us suspected just how true that prophecy would eventually become. Inwardly, I just laughed. This was the first of several laughs that showed how little I understood. His presence permeated my classroom and my world.

　　About a month later our lives began to intertwine and the delicately woven pattern of our lives began to become more intricate in the coming year. Relationships occur on many levels. Layer upon layer must separate in order for us to speak of inner feelings. It is up to the individual to analyze the variety of feelings at each level.

　　As time passed, we shared our viewpoints and feelings through conversation while chatting over tea and coffee, arousing the emotion deep in our hearts.

　　One day flowed smoothly into another. Familiar experience for me proved to be exciting and stimulating for him. Western festival celebrations like Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day provided an avenue to celebrate together, to share warmth and good times. Traveling to new places introduce me to an enticing new world.

　　Every day there was laughter and underlying cares that carried both of us along to some degree of happiness. We learned together English and learned about life that year. Strangely the gap in our ages did not create any barrier for our friendship, he young and vital, and I was feeling young again.

　　He offered his assistance, whenever I needed it. He offered his company for comfort, when death visited my door. What did he drive from this agenda, but a few paltry words in a foreign language? May be it was all worthwhile, maybe it will open a window wide and provide a pass port to a new world for his future.

　　Time continues to slip by as a rushing river. You no longer inhabit my daily world, only my memory. From a distance your voice informs me that you are continuing to learn, you are growing. Some days you are happy, others not quite so much.

　　However, here around me, there is nothing, only a ghost-like figure, waving from your window and a familiar waft of fragrance as I stand alongside your newly occupied desk. There is nothing and yet there is everything. My mind remains idle, with only fragments of images drifting in and out. I can no longer be absolutely certain whether this was only a dream.

　　We no longer occupy the same space, but I remind myself that we still occupy the same world. When we chance to meet, hands reach out; hearts embrace, and once again confirm the same magic feeling. Such friendships come rarely in a lifetime. Thereby, I feel blessed and lucky.

　　相知相識

　　這一年悄然開始了。在中國的南方，氣候溫暖宜人，學生們熱情有加。來年中那些意想不到的事情開始展現出來，很快，又會變成清純美好的回憶。應當把握真情，不言放棄。那是一年的驚喜，一年的愛意。對此，漢語里有個說法叫做“緣分”。西方人可能只會問為什么，怎么了。要是你愿意的話，那么就請與我一起來分享這段經歷吧。

　　他坐在教室的前面，看起來有些焦急憂慮，但很專心。最初的那幾天，他那明亮的眼睛里，充滿了得到我這個老師認同的渴望。現在，他承認，對于頭幾個星期的課程，他幾乎沒聽懂。然而，他卻設法裝成了理解得差不多的樣子。我禁不住感到好笑，他那很有幽默感的凝視也顯露出高興的樣子。他的穿著很注意細節，外表整潔，不管是牛仔褲還是時裝都別具一格，簡直酷極了。他的微笑總是那么迷人。他英俊瀟灑，討人喜歡，他自己也深知這一點。而且，他也是紳士。他有時瞇著眼笑的時候，就拋掉了所有的掩飾，有時又故作神秘，像一杯平靜的熱巧克力，叫價難以捉摸。不管怎樣，他的眼睛都流露出他的紳士風范。

　　他第一次寫作業，就表露出他喜歡我，并希望我們成為朋友，“非常好的朋友”。那時，我們都沒想到這個預言最終會變成現實。我只在心里笑了笑。那是表露我毫不知情的幾次笑聲中的第一次。從此，他出現在我的課堂和我的生活里。

　　大約一個月后，我們的交往變得密切起來。這種精心培植的生活模式，在新的一年中變得更加微妙。關系涉及到諸多層次，只有把各個層次分開，我們才能說出內心感受。我們必須按各自的觀點去分析在每個層次的不同感受。

　　隨著時間的流逝，我們快樂地在一起交談，一邊品茶、飲咖啡，一邊聊天，述說自己的觀點和感受，在我們內心深處涌動著熱烈的情誼。

　　不知不覺中，日子一天一天地過去了。我所熟悉的那些感覺竟然也使他興奮、激動。像萬圣節前夕、圣誕節和情人節這些西方的喜慶節日，為我們提供了在一起慶祝的機會，共享溫馨美好的時光。我們還到一些新的地方旅游，把我帶入一個迷人的新世界。

　　每天的笑聲和深情的關懷，使我們總是生活在幸福之中。這一年，我們一起學習英語，也學習如何生活。很奇怪，我們的年齡代溝沒有給我們的友誼帶來一點障礙。他年輕，充滿活力。我也感覺自己年輕了。

　　無論我何時需要，他都能提供幫助。當死神光顧我的時候，他陪伴我，給我安慰。從這些事情中，他得到了什么呢?僅僅為了幾個微不足道的外語單詞?也許那就足夠了，或許會為他的將來打開一扇窗戶，為他提供一種通往一個新世界的手段。

　　時間像奔流的江水，不停地逝去。你不再出現在我每天的世界里，只留在了我的記憶中。從你遠方傳來的聲音里，我知道了你在繼續學習，不斷成長，有時快樂，有時也并不如意。

　　然而現在，我身邊空無一物，只有一個夢幻般的身影從你的窗戶里翩然而至，還有那每當我站在你的新課桌旁時那熟悉的氣息。一無所有，但又擁有一切。我頭腦空空如也，進進出出的都是那些映像的片斷。我再也無法肯定這是否只是一場夢幻。

　　我們不再擁有同一片空間，但我清楚，我們依然擁有同一個世界。倘若還有機會相遇，我們會伸出雙手，真心擁抱，再次重溫這奇妙的感覺。真誠友誼，終生難求。對此，我覺得很幸福，很幸運。