Expansion / 拓展

今年年初宇珍拿了一袋小紙條讓我抽今年的生活課題，我拿到了「拓展」，如今過了八個月，讓我想想我是否有朝這個方向前進。

Early this year Olivia made me draw a slip from her bag of fortune. I got “expansion.” Eight months have passed by, and let me think if the word does reflect my life direction.

為了迎接新學期的開始，我剪了頭髮，換了造型，並且發現自己不再是最年輕的教師之一，辦公室裡已經有我當年的學生和我同坐，除了這明明白白的事實，當新進的教師認真地討論教學活動和學生反應時，我卻興高采烈地和老鳥們說著我新購的配件和衣服，這樣應該也算是一種拓展的表現吧？不過認識我的人應該都知道我這輩子沒花甚麼時間為學生單字拼錯而苦惱。

To welcome the new semester, I had my hair cut for a brand-new style. I realized that I am no longer one of the youngest teachers. One of the incoming teachers was my student many years ago. Apart from this shocking fact, when new teachers were seriously discussing teaching activities and students’ feedback, I was busy chatting about my latest accessories and clothes with other old hands. This should be a good example of expansion? But those around me should know that I hardly worry about my students’ misspelled words all my life.

好吧，說點嚴肅的話題，雖然我好像沒甚麼前進，在各方面也沒有甚麼實質的收穫，可是我的視野似乎又那麼寬了一點，可以接受和欣賞的尺度又打開了些，例如說，我之前不是很懂華裔澳籍繪本家陳志勇充滿深度的作品，最近突然很著迷，他的書就變成我送給自己的生日禮物之一，這應該也是種成長吧！

Seriously, it seems that I have not moved forward much, and I can’t name any actual gain. But I seem to have broadened my horizons, able to accept more people, more possibilities. For example, I didn’t understand the profound and beautiful works of Shaun Tan, a Perth-based Australian artist, but lately I’ve been so obsessed with his images. So his book became one of the birthday gifts I bought for my birthday. This should be a kind of growth.

我的生日不是今天，是9月8日，但是我習慣在之前或之後放煙霧彈，所以我身邊的人也都自由自在，大家從八月底就開始隨意地選日期送給我祝福，感覺我過了至少半個月的生日派對，總之我打從心底謝謝你的好意。今天的畫紙就是遠從英國帶回來的生日禮物！

My birthday is not today. It’s the eighth of September, but I am used to posting pictures and words before or after. My friends, influenced by my carefree attitude, choose any date they prefer beginning from the end of August and send me greetings on their favorite days. It feels like I am having a long birthday party lasting at least 2 to 3 weeks. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The paper I used for the picture today traveled all the way from Britain!

有人和我說，生日應該要為母親慶祝，所以最近我一直在謝謝媽媽，送給我渾然天成的自然捲，和開朗快樂的性格，這是我一生最寶貴的資產。

Someone told me, I should celebrate for my mom on my birthday, so I’ve been thanking her for giving me natural curls that never stop arousing people’s jealousy and very outgoing personalities, which are actually my most precious assets.

我希望我能夠趁今年結束之前，繼續拓展我的生活，卻不放棄總是伴隨我的堅持和毅力，就像圖裡的我，即使旅館光線不足，我就是趴到陽台前都要為小方畫明信片，我要一直愛著自己和照顧別人，為自己和家人朋友和學生寫故事，誠實地面對自己。

I hope I can keep expanding my life before this year ends without giving up my persistence and perseverance. Like me in the picture, because of the dim light in the hotel room, I decided to kneel in front of the balcony to draw postcards for Von. I want to love myself and others, draw stories for everyone, and be honest with me always.

如果你因為我的生日也快樂，那就是我的獲得了。祝你快樂！

If you are happy because of my birthday, that’ll be a lovely birthday gift for me!