the root / 尋根

圖攝於和平島
photo taken in Herping Island Park

日前為了繼續我的義大利計畫，衝著媽媽在旅行中說過的一句話，我想無論如何，我都得去一趟外木山。

Last weekend, to continue my project on the trip to Italy, I had to pay a visit to Waimushan simply because of something my mom had said on our journey.

圖攝於和平島

photo taken in Herping Island Park

雖然我久居台北，我的故鄉其實是基隆，不過小時候的記憶多以褪去，留在記憶裡的是無法用文字解釋的喜好和渴望，例如說，我聞到鹹鹹的海水味時，便有股再熟悉不過的感覺湧上心頭，像是誕生最初的味道；還有，對我來說，基隆的食物才好吃，即使住在台北多年，被我定義為美食的小吃只存在於狹小的海港城市。如果要從我身上問出有關基隆的細節，這些人最終會感到挫折，因為我對她的認識是很私人的。

Those who don't know me well have the idea that I was born and have lived in Taipei all my life. As a matter of fact, I come from Keelung (a small harbor city to the north of Taipei). Yet, I don't remember the details about the roads and streets anymore. What stays in me is some preferences and longings beyond the description of words. For example, when I smell the salty sea air, I would become so thrilled as if it were the smell of birth. Besides, the food in Keelung is uncomparable. Even though I have lived in Taipei for about 20 years, what I define as authentic and sublime food only exists in the narrow sea city. If you would like to find out any detail about Keelung, you will feel very frustrated. My knowledge of the city is very personal.

圖攝於和平島

photo taken in Herping Island Park

為什麼要去外木山呢？我們在北義旅行至五地中的一小海港Vernazza時，媽媽便驚嘆那就是義大利的外木山，但是我已經不記得外木山的樣子，所以我和媽媽的經驗是相反的，她把台灣島的經驗反映在國外的某個風景，而我則是從義大利追回到台灣，用「尋根」兩個字作為標題挺適合的。

Why did I have to go to Waimushan? As we traveled to one of the sea harbors included in Cinque Terre in Italy, Mom exclaimed that it is just like the Italian version of Waimushan. But I didn't recall what the latter looked like. My experience is exactly the contrary of my mom's. She related a small town in Taiwan to a piece of scenery she saw abroad. For me, I traced the whole thing from Italy to Taiwan. Thus, it is quite proper to give the post the title "The root."

圖攝於鼻頭角
photo taken in Bitojiao

我的尋根之旅相當特別，我記在心裡義大利小海港的樣子，但是同行的父親母親並不像我腦海中有幅圖，因為連媽媽也忘記了，所以爸爸一路從和平島開到鼻頭角再開到外木山，就只為了找一幅和我心中圖樣類似的海景。漸漸地，很多小時後的回憶都回來了，我或許忘了方向，卻很清楚記得去沿途每個地方的當天，或許是游泳的夏天，或許是看彗星的黑夜，那一切都是二十多年前的事了。

My root-seeking trip was rather one-of-a-kind. I never forget how Vernazza looks, but unlike me, my parents didn't have an image in their mind. (Ah, you probably have some doubts about my mom's memory, and I have to say that you are right about that...) My father drove all the way from Herping Island to Bitojiao to Waimushan just in search of the townscape in my mind's eye. Along the way, I came to retrieve many lost memories. I might have forgot the direction, but I remember well the story behind every place. It might be a hot summer day for a beach swim, or it might be a dark night for watching the comet. It was easy and hard to believe that all this took place more than twenty years ago.

圖攝於外木山

photo taken in Waimushan

到了外木山，我終於能夠了解媽媽為何說那句話，同時更令我驚訝的是，我居然忘了自己小時候曾到過外木山，不過這一次，我應該不會忘記了。「出生在她方」的喬安娜因為研究漢學的父親，小時候住過台灣幾年，後來雖然搬回歐洲，對於兒時的異國經驗始終難以忘懷。我一直住在台灣，卻心不在焉地像生活在國外，應該要感到羞愧。不過反過來說，常常去旅行反而會給我認識台灣的機會吧！

When we got to Waimushan, I could finally make sense of mom's words. To my bigger surprise, I had been to the beach when I was little, but this time my memory was all blank. After this trip, I'll bear it in mind for a long long time. The author of the book Née Quelquepart, Johanna, lived in Taiwan for four years in her childhood because of her dad, who majored in sino studies. Although her family moved back to Europe afterwards, she always had nostalgia about the experiences in Asia. I've lived in Taiwan almost all the time, but I am always so absent-minded. I should feel ashamed of myself. On the other hand, traveling abroad regularly gives me opportunities to learn more about my own island.

為了一小幅漫畫，我撿回了人生的一大段空白，很特別的一趟小旅行。

For a small strip of comics, I found back a lost part of my life. This was a very special outing.