30.12.15

「國際觀」/ Global vision


最近在Facebook上讀了一篇關於「國際觀」的文章,上面引述了一個博客主在其他文章中讀到的一個故事。一個曾在曰本工作的女孩,嫁到韓國去,請了日本的社長/社長夫人來參加婚禮而社長夫人卻是她人生中第一次出國,去到韓國也吃不慣那裹的飲食,還要自備醬料。

然後那博客主用她自身融入外國生活的經歷來詮釋一方面的「國際觀」。讀完那篇文章之後,我想,「國際觀」,對我來,究竟是什麼?

I read a post on Facebook recently about “global vision”; the blogger used a story from another article she has read.  A girl, who spent some time working in Japan, married a Korean.  She invited the Japanese company’s boss and his wife to her wedding.  It’s the boss’s wife’s first trip aboard, she’s not used to the Korean diet, and had to prepare some of her own food ingredients. 

The blogger then used her own experiences in integrating into local life whilst studying in the US to illustrate what was “global vision” to her.  After reading the article, I asked myself, what is “global vision”?

大概一兩年前香港的新聞充滿了「通識科」和「國際觀/國際視野」這些字眼。大部份指年輕一代的香港人「國際視野」狹窄,只顧身邊的事,對周邊/世界的事不聞不問,影響香港的競爭力。事實上,當時我並沒有對「國際觀/視野」有什麼想法

A couple of years ago, “general studies” and “global vision” took the centre stage of Hong Kong’s media.  They mainly talked about how Hong Kong’s younger generation lacks “global vision”, given their struggle in the newly introduced “general studies” O-Level exam, and how it hinders Hong Kong’s competitiveness.  To be honest, I didn't really think much about it back then.

所謂的「國際觀」是指知道世界各地的一些冷知識嗎?相信大家都有可能認識一些伶牙利齒,喜歡地理冷知識的小朋友,被他們矯正「巴西的首都是巴西利亞而不是里約熱盧」之類的情況吧? 我們可以這些小朋友有「國際觀」嗎?

The so call “global vision”, does it mean knowing some trivia about different countries?  I’m sure we all know some kids who know an encyclopedia inside out, telling us something along the lines of “Brazil’s capital is Brasilia, not Rio de Janeiro”.  Can we class these kids have “global vision”?

曾到外地旅行、留學或工作? 雖然自助旅行或背包旅行比以前普及,但我想大部分出國旅遊的人仍然是參加旅行團。只是隨團去過一些名勝景點,這就是「國際觀」嗎? 

How about having been to abroad sightseeing, studying or working?  Despite the increasing popularity of backpacking/self-organized trips, I imagine most people still use organised tours or package holidays when they sight-seeing abroad due to cost and convenience.  So, does visiting landmarks with a tour equals to having “global vision”?

那位博客主也指出有很多留學生大部份的時間都是跟著華人混在一起事實上我自己也曾經有一段時間是這樣的。而且,有很多在中國餐館或唐人街工作的人也一樣,在外國以中式的生活為主,生活在華人的小圈子中,這有什麼國際觀可言?

The blogger herself also pointed out a lot Chinese oversea students spend most of their time with their Chinese peers, isolate themselves from the country they live in.  In fact, I was like that at one stage.  Not only students, it’s also how most people working in Chinatown or in Chinese restaurants live.  What “global vision” can one cultivate when Chinese hanging out with Chinese and living like Chinese?

當然也有許多人到外國留學或工作,認識的都是外國人,完全的融合當地生活,把自己變成一個「徹頭徹尾」的外國人。雖然這是把「入隨俗」四個字進行到底,而且對於世界時事的認識都是由所在地的「國際媒體」的報導,例如在美國的看CNNBloomberg、在英國的看BBCSky News在日本的看NHK。這樣的「外國觀」就是「國際觀」嗎?

Of course, on the other hand, there’re a lot of people integrate fully into the country they’re in and live a local.  All they know are stories fed to them by their “international media”, such as CNN and Bloomberg for US, BBC and Sky News for UK or NHK for Japan.  Are these “foreign visions” equal to “global vision”?

我認為「國際觀」是對於世界的一些時事、地理和政治有一定程的認識,從而對其他的文化有一定程度的了解。能明白和尊重其他的文化與思考模式和我們自己(香港,台灣或中國大陸)的不同。

“Global vision” to me is having a good degree of understanding in geography, people, traditions and politics of different places, in order to have some understanding of different cultures.  Able to understand, respect and appreciate the differences between other cultures and our own (whether it’s Hong Kong, Taiwan or Mainland China).

我相信自助/ 背包旅行和工作假期是一種很好的方法去感受不同國家的生活,和不同種族的人溝通,對不同的文化進行認識。從而建立自己有根有據的「國際觀」。

I believe both backpacking and working holidays are good ways to experience different life in different countries, to communicate with different people, and to understand different cultures.  Therefore enable us build our own “global vision” from our own knowledge and experience.

事實上我對自己的定位是介乎於「外國觀」和背包旅行之間。我盡量的去融合外國生活,但沒有就不同的文化進行過一些深入的思考。看來是時候花一些時間在這方面了。


I see myself as someone who has some “foreign visions” and enjoys backpacking.  I integrate with British life and try to observe cultural differences when I travel; but haven’t been thinking that much about their deeper meanings.  Perhaps it’s time to put some effort into this.

20.10.15

蕃紅花城 (1) - 對它的第一印象 / Safranbolu (1) - First impression

「少為人知」的蕃紅花城 / The “little known” Safranbolu

土耳其是一個頗受英國人歡迎的旅遊地點,我的朋友和同事中不乏去過土耳其旅遊,甚至在土耳其擁有房子。但提起蕃紅花城,他們的第一反應是「這是什麼地方?」。我第一次知道蕃紅花城,是在「背包客棧」上看到了其他的背包客的遊記,這是一個非到不可的地方。

Turkey is a popular holiday destination for the Brits, many of my friends and colleagues have been to Turkey, even own properties there.  But their first responses to Safranbolu mostly are “What is this place?”.  The first time I heard of Safranbolu, it’s from travel blogs on a Taiwanese backpacker forum, describing it as a “must visit” destination.


蕃紅花城是在土耳其中北部的一個小鎮,它以舊地區保留得很完整的鄂圖曼建築馳名於世。由伊斯坦堡乘巴士前往需要6-7個小時,而由土耳其首都安卡拉出發的話大約要三個小時。


Safranbolu situates in central northern Turkey, it’s famous for the well preserved Ottoman houses in its old town.  It takes 6-7 hours from Istanbul by bus, or 3 hours from Ankara, Turkey’s capital.

稍為了解一下蕃紅花城,也就明白為什麼英國的朋友並不認識它。因為相對多雨和潮濕的氣候,陽光與海灘是不少英國人選擇旅遊地點的重要條件。所以他們對土耳其沿海的城市算是相當熟悉,但對相對「陸」的蕃紅花城則一無所知。

Knowing this, I now know why my British friends don’t know about Safranbolu.  Because of UK’s rainy weather, the sun, beaches and resorts are important criteria in choosing holiday destination.  Therefore, they know quite a lot about the cities by the sea, but nothing about this relatively in-land town.


「世界遺」蕃紅花城 / Safranbolu the "World Heritage" site

蕃紅花城是在1994年被聯合國教科文組織認定為世界遺,它的舊城區保留了鄂圖曼時期的建築群被認定為文化遺。漫步城中,猶如置身於以中世紀為背景的電視劇中。

Safranbolu was put on the list UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994, because of its well preserved Ottoman houses and architecture.  Walking in its old town, it feels like time has stepped back to the Middle Ages.

當時在蕃紅花城時並沒有想太多,但經過數星期在土耳其旅行,發現土耳其對它的「世界遺」似乎很「自豪」。每逢到達「世界遺」的地點都有標示告訴人們這是世界遺,其中以蕃紅花城的最為明顯,可能這能增長旅遊吧⋯⋯

I didn’t think much about it at the time, but after several weeks in Turkey, I’ve found the Turks seem quite “proud” of their “World Heritages”.  There’re big signs to tell people it’s a “World Heritage”, and Safranbolu being the most extreme, perhaps it helps with its tourism…









 

21.9.15

角落的晚餐與「體驗生活」和「活在當下」/ Dinner in the corner and "experiencing life" and "live in the moment"


習慣了一個人去旅行,也習慣了一個人用餐,雖然不喜歡但也習慣了每次去餐廳都是被派坐角落、門口或廁所位。

I'm used to travel solo, used to dining by myself, despite how much I don't like it, also used to being seated by the corner, door or toilet.



雖然明白餐廳想盡量空出一些大一點的空間給可能出現的多人數聚餐,不想因為一個人而損失數個人的生意。但我覺得除非餐廳日日滿座,這個理由其實是不成立的。

I know restaurants want to save the bigger tables for the potentially bigger group of diners, don't want to turn a group away because of one person. But I think unless the restaurants get full houses every single day, it's an unsubstantiated argument.

所謂「雙鳥在林,不如一鳥在手」,為什麼要因為可能存在的客人而得罪現成的客人?

"One bird in hand is better than two in the wood", why treat existing customer badly because of "a group of phantom customers"?

曾經試過因為被派坐廁所位而選擇離開,其後侍應把我派到一個好一些的坐位,令到大家都頗為尷尬,何苦呢?

I once said I was going to leave because I was seated next to a toilet, the waiter gave me a better seat afterwards. It became so awkward for both of us, what's the point?

今天在角落位又再思考這個問題。我們背包客經常說「體驗生活」和「活在當下」。

I again started to think about it in the corner today, and came up with 2 concepts "experiencing life" and "live in the moment".

「因為一個人而被不平等對待」是生活的一部分,雖然難受,但那其實是一種不錯的體驗。所謂「人生不如意事十常八九」,習慣面對一些平常的小挫折,我認為對面對真正的挫折時有所幫助。

This "single person discrimination" is part of life, it might be bitter, but I think it's got its merit. Life isn't going to be plain sailing, and facing small frustrations in daily life will help us to face real downfalls.

而「活在當下」,我們背包客體驗的異國生活不就是在不熟悉的環境嘗試那不熟悉的生活嗎?

"Live in the moment", isn't that what we backpackers do? To taste the different life in a different environment, here and now.

返回主題,餐廳的「一個人角落位」不就是「活在當下」的反面教材?

Anyway, go back to today's subject. Isn't the practice of "corner seating" in restaurants the exact opposite of "live in the moment"?

⋯越是思考這個問題,越覺得自己在「鑽牛角尖」。寫完這篇文章之後我也把再次坐角落位的悶氣都發洩出來。希望下次可以分享一些開心一些的經驗。

... The more I toyed with the thoughts, the more wound up I became. Though I now feel better after writing this post. I hope I can share some happier experience next time.