Saturday, August 31, 2013

La strada / 天生我材必有用


前兩週去參加台大植物標本館的麵包果節,現場請了好幾位老教授來開場,其中一位教授可能是因為能重回講台的緣故,說著說著就把其他教授的時間用完,主持人忙著進入下一段節目,但李學勇教授激昂的言詞讓他贏得一分鐘的發表,老先生中氣以不足,卻用無比的笑容和力氣說到一件讓我耳朵豎起來的事,他說是他發現桃花心木的花其實是假兩性花,因為他一直強調,於是我回到家趕緊搜尋桃花心木。

   I participated in the bread-fruit tree festival held by TAI Herbarium of NTU two weeks ago. Some retired professors were invited to give introductory talks. One of them was probably so thrilled to be back in the limelight that he rambled on. His speech was so long that the host had no choice but to skip the last professor's talk. However, Dr. Li Xueyong didn't want to let go of the precious chance. Despite his hoarse voice, he mustered all his strength, speaking with so much energy and passion. He kept mentioning his discovery about the flowers of the mahogany tree, which aroused my curiosity. People used to believe that the flowers are bisexual, but according to Dr. Li's discovery, it's one of two flowers that "pretends" to be the female. (About this part of the explanation, I am still doing research about it, so  please bear with my really poor translation.) 

        某天穿過台大回家時,遇見了路邊的大葉桃花心木,又上網讀了和它相關的資訊,它的種子散播媒介是風,從種子爆開到遠行的過程都很有趣,所以我的學習明信片做了好幾天桃花心木花和種子的特輯。

   One day when I was walking through the campus of NTU, I came across the big-leaf mahogany trees, and it prompted me to look for more information online. The seeds are spread by means of the wind dispersal. How the seeds come out of the fruit and how they travel far to start their new lives intrigue me, so these topics become the theme of my learning postcards for days. 



        我最喜歡的部份是:樹媽媽為了讓孩子能成長,不會因為掉落在媽媽的樹冠下得不到陽光而死亡或被吃掉,種子有螺旋槳的構造,等到葉子都掉光,風一吹,孩子會被送到遠方開始自己的新生命。

   My favorite part is about how the mother tree, in order to make the seeds grow into well-developed plants, send them on flights with the help of the wind because if they fall under the canopy of their mother, the seeds will die because of lack of sunlight or they'll be eaten by other creatures. The seeds are structured like helicopter rotors, which makes them spin and fly in the wind. 

        作者在這段介紹中用一段很動人的話語結尾,光看大葉桃花心木的構造,可以發現每個設計都是有目的的。觀察植物再再讓我學到,宇宙有它運行的方式,而每個人都有自己的路,有時候我懂這句話,卻不能真正了然於心,可是大自然不斷地提醒我這個道理,我不需要緊張也不用擔心,我常常以為找不到的答案就在宇宙中。

   The writer of the webpage ends the introduction with really wise words: By studying the structure of the big-leaf mahogany tree, we can learn that every part of the plant serves a specific kind of function. Likewise, there's a purpose behind every design of the world, and I recall the life lesson I have learned again and again: Everyone has his or her life journey. I don't have to worry or play God, and often the answers I can't find are in the universe. 

        開學了,我要修正上學年的態度,我的小種子有一天會離開我,我不需過度保護,相反地,我應該要順著它的翅膀,讓他們飛到自己想去的地方。

   The new semester has started. I have revised my teaching concepts and methods. I know one day my small seeds will leave me. I shouldn't overprotect them. On the contrary, I should focus on how to make them fly better so that they'll go somewhere they dream of in the future.

No comments: