老大的交換學生生活,從她到達的那一刻即已展開,全新的生活形態,完全陌生的學習環境,無數相異的文化衝突,也正等著她去挑戰與磨

合。

接待她的家庭,是一個 “很” 美國的家庭,自己沒有小孩,但領養了兩個中國女孩,一個十歲,另一個七歲,雖然長得一副中國娃娃臉,

卻是十足美國小孩的樣子。想想,這真是件有趣的事,原來環境能讓一個人變成完全不同的性格啊!因為從小就是跟著美國的養父母長大,

因此一句中文也不會說。除此,家裡也養了幾條狗和貓,屋子外面有著大大的翠綠草皮的院子,還有一個結實的彈簧跳床。

以下是剛到的時候,  她的Home 家給她的接待與感覺,看得出來她認為自己很幸運因此很感恩。


(很抱歉,她現在所寫的日記都是用英文的。我原來還很擔心她從來也沒補英文,就靠台灣學校的英文教育,這一去,不就要“鴨子聽

雷”?沒想到這小姐,竟然才去個三天,就告訴我,她的中文退步,無法再用中文寫日記。嗄?是怎樣?美國的水是有被下過符咒嗎?啊不

然怎麼還沒去上學就突然中邪,英文這麼溜啊?雖然,文法還是有錯,不過還是很佩服她,這麼願意嘗試新的挑戰,不怕難也不怕錯,當然

更懷疑她甚麼時候英文學得這麼好啊!對不起,我的標準很低,她能這樣我就很滿足了。感謝附小,感謝德光和忠孝國中,也感謝台南女中,看吧!台灣的學校英文教育也很不錯吧!)

   The First thing I’m going to say is that I have an excellent host family. They are extremely nice to me and love me, just as I’m a part

of their family.
 
We went to the beach on Sunday, and that is the first time I put bikini on as a bathing suit. I didn’t go to the beach often in Taiwan, and

not like that long. We’ve been there about six hours! It’s really a long time but Angela told me that they went to the beach about eight
hours every time. American children are very lucky that they have times and they are allowed to play a lot, not like any Taiwanese kids.

Kayla and Katarina took me to build castles and dig the pools something like kids’ stuff, and I am so glad to play with them because I

didn’t have those experiences during my childhood. It’s really a great time with my host family at the beach and I just found the

happiness that I was missed.
 
The trembling is also awesome. Kat asked me all the time just like, “Irene, do you want to go on the trembling?” Though sometimes I

was tired, I will go with my sisters because I like their smile when I jump on the trembling with them. Today, we put the sprinkler near the

trembling and we put on our bathing suit, and jump in the water! That was so fun to get wet during the hot summer.
 
I really have an excellent family. Even though Angela always told me that she worried about everything, I feel so good that someone in

the United States cares a lot about me. They told me that I can do everything and ask everything whatever I want, I’m so thankful for

these. For example, Angela said sorry to me just because she forgot to bring a glass of water to me tonight. She treated me like her

daughter all the time, and I really appreciate it. I love them, they are like the second family in my life.


從她的日記裡,我們真以為她從此要過著幸福快樂的日子了呢!

不過,她不是童話世界裡的公主,當然不會就這麼一帆風順囉!

第二篇日記寄來給我的時候,距離上一篇已經是五天後的事了,到底發生什麼事呢?


I thought this was the first culture shock for me. I felt really bad today, since Angela asked me if I post Kayla and Katarina’s photos on

the internet. I said yes, but the time I was really upset because I’ve never thought of this could cause a problem. It is not a big deal to

post anyone’s pictures on the internet in Taiwan, and we don’t even ask the people who are on the pictures whether we can post

them on the internet or not. Because of the problems happened, I started to think of the privacy and the protection of children in two

different cultures. In the United States, the children protection is very important. Kayla told me that they are not allowed to be at home

alone since their ages are under fourteen years old. So Americans have a job that we don’t have in Taiwan, babysitter.



總是樂於分享的她,一得知接待家庭的狀況,就急著將她的快樂分享給台灣的好朋友們,於是之前home家寄來給我們家的照片,以及到了

美國之後,全家帶她到海邊玩的照片,都po在她的部落格。

這樣的事情對所有台灣人而言,實在沒什麼了不起,甚至也還受到鼓勵,因為,我們不認為別人的照片,我們需要注意與尊重。

但是,在美國,14歲以下的孩子是受到嚴密保護的,她不是爸爸媽媽的個人資產,他們是屬於國家的,因此,為保護這些孩子的隱私與安

全,必須嚴格禁止擅自將他們的照片po在公共的媒體或資訊上頭。

甚至在日記裡頭,她也提及接待家庭的大妹妹跟她說,14歲以下的孩子不能單獨在家或外出,必須有大人陪伴。(看到這裡,感覺好罪惡啊!我還和先生跑出去旅行,都把小孩丟在家裡哪!)


當盧逸告訴我這件事時,我的心當然是受到震撼的,因為我也不曾想過這樣的問題。

因此,不僅盧逸上了一課,我想,我也是。

雖然我們沒有存心不良或惡意將這些照片曝光,但是,大多時候我們卻忘了詢問當事人或是孩子的監護人,是否願意讓我們上傳照片?尤其

現在網路的訊息傳播快速,天曉得,未來會有什麼事發生呢?

還好,Home 媽只是站在告知的角度,並沒有責怪她,只是,女兒自知理虧,也覺得沒事先搞清楚,很過意不去。

這是第一課,不偏不倚,就這麼輕輕的飄了過來,然而,卻給了我們重重的反思。入境問俗,學會尊重不同的文化與規則,這是我們一直都

得學習的功課。我們理所當然該要謝謝給我們上課的人哪!

 

     第二課,那才叫震撼,哈哈,敬請期待囉!


 

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