作者：FAITH BAUTISTA
翻译：潘泽彬
校对：Luz、Zuzana、Joanne
I am a diplomat. And with postings in Vienna, Brussels and Berlin, I considered myself “Eurocentric”.
我是一名外交官，曾在维也纳、布鲁塞尔和柏林任职，那时认为欧洲是我的工作中心。
Coming to Xiamen was a difficult choice. But this is my last foreign posting and I wanted to be where my siblings could easily visit me. Also, I was so curious about China – and why I heard so many negative things about it.
来厦门是一个艰难的抉择。这是我最后一次出国工作，所以我想去兄弟姐妹们容易看望我的地方。再者，我十分好奇——为什么关于中国的负面消息铺天盖地？
With much prodding from the then Philippine Consul General in Xiamen and from former assignees, I chose Xiamen over Berne. Still, when people heard that I would proceed to Xiamen for a foreign posting, they quipped, “Why China?”. But China (Xiamen) it is. I flew in with my family, armed only with “nihao” and “xiexie ni” from months of learning Mandarin.
在时任菲律宾驻厦门总领事和派驻人员的劝说下，我选择前往厦门工作，而不是伯尔尼。他们得知这一消息的时候，打趣道：“咋是中国？” 没有原因，就是中国（厦门）。我和家人一起飞往厦门，学习汉语几个月后，我们只会讲“你好”和“谢谢”。
Landing at Xiamen Gaoji International Airport, I told myself “Ah, this looks like Europe”. I saw order and efficiency. The tall buildings were impressive. Transportation was efficient. The big parks were attractive. I was told that Consulate people who have children settled in Shangli area, near the Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS). Aided by an English-speaking real estate agent and our solicitous local hires, we found an apartment near the sea and close to the mountains. Wow!
飞机着陆于高崎机场时，我不由得惊叹：“哇，这里简直是欧洲。”无不体现着秩序与效率。高楼大厦令人赞叹，交通运输高效迅速，大公园风景怡人。我得知有些领馆工作人员和他们的孩子住在上李，马尼拉厦门国际学校 (MXIS) 附近。在一位会讲英语的房地产中介和热心肠的当地领馆员工帮助下，我们找到了一处山边公寓，邻近大海。太棒了！
Xiamen, of course, became my home ground. With the Philippines being Guest Country of Honor of the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) for two consecutive years, the sprawling Xiamen International Convention and Exhibition Center became my playground (although still confused between XICEC Hotel and Seaside Hotel). In between works were walks by the seaside and culinary outings.
厦门显然成为了我的主场。菲律宾连续两年成为中国国际投资贸易洽谈会 (CIFIT) 的主宾国，庞大的厦门国际会展中心因此成了我的游乐场（但我仍然分不清厦门国际会议中心酒店和厦门国际会展酒店）。在工作的间隙，我会沿海边散步，外出探店寻找美食。
Xiamen is my home away from home. Shoppping malls SM and Robinson’s made sure that I still get the “Malling feel” which I am so used to when we were in the Philippines. Bench (Philippine retail brand) is in Xiamen. There is a Filipino doctor in Guanren for our medical concerns. I hob-nob with Filipino professionals and Chinese with businesses in the Philippines.
厦门是我的“家外之家”。SM 和罗宾森购物中心带给我的“购物感受”，与在菲律宾一样，那么的亲切自然，逛厦门奔趣（服装品牌）时也是如此。至于医疗问题，官任有一位菲籍医生为我们解决。我的工作就是与菲籍专业人士以及在菲做生意的中国人打交道。
Xiamen gave me my two intraocular lens (IOL) after the removal of my cataracts at the Xiamen Opthalmology Center. There was a series of consultations and cross-referencing using ultra-modern machines from all parts of the world. Thanks to Nurse Qu Yu Hui, I need not worry about communicating in “zhong wen”. The operations were swift and efficient. Dr. Zhang had the hands of an angel, and finished the operations before I could end my prayers.
我在厦门眼科中心做了白内障摘除手术，然后植入了两颗人工晶体 (IOL)。当时医生进行了一系列会诊，使用来自各国的超现代仪器进行交叉参考。多亏了屈玉慧护士，用中文交流问题也不会感到困难。手术过程快速高效，张医生用他那天使般的巧手，在我结束祈祷之前就完成了手术。
A visit to Xiamen, as they say, would be incomplete without a visit to the Island of Gulangyu. This pedestrian-only UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, with its breath-taking sea vistas, tree-shaded winding streets, high elevations, and a medley of architecture including magnificent mansions of rich Filipino-Chinese, captivates.
俗话说，如果不去鼓浪屿，厦门之行将是不完整的。鼓浪屿是联合国教科文组织世界文化遗产，岛上只能步行。它以美得令人窒息的海景、绿树成荫的蜿蜒街道、高耸的岩石，还有风格迥异的建筑，包括菲律宾华裔富豪的豪宅，令游客流连忘返。
Being the Political and Economic Officer of the Consulate presented me with the chance to visit areas under our jurisdiction. My first big engagement outside of Xiamen, the “Familiarization Tour of West Fujian and Ganzhou” sponsored by the Xiamen Foreign Affairs Office in September 2019, took me on a “Red Tour”. The tour was not only informative. The places we’ve visited were breath-taking. I loved seeing the Star of Ruijin by day and the Jichuan Gate at night. The story of the “Red Well” was a lesson in leadership.
作为领馆的政经官员，我有机会访问我们的辖区。我在厦门以外参加的第一个大型活动，就是 2019 年 9 月由厦门市外办主办的“闽西赣州熟悉之旅”，这是一次“红色之旅”。这次旅行令我增长了许多知识，所参观的地方都让人叹为观止。白天我喜欢参观瑞金之星，晚上则喜欢游览济川门。“红井”的故事是领导能力的体现。
The Mazu Island in Putian is my favorite. I believe that Mazu (known in the Philippines as Ma Cho) called me to Xiamen. I have already met the sea goddess while still in the Philippines. On a visit to Our Lady of Caysasay Church in Taal, Batangas, I found her inside that Church. I was later told that in La Union and Taal, some folks believed that Our Lady of Caysasay and Mazu/Ma Cho are one and the same. And in certain parts of the year, the two images are brought together so their people can venerate together.
莆田的妈祖岛（湄洲岛）是我最爱的旅游胜地。我相信是妈祖（在菲律宾称为 Ma Cho）召唤我来到厦门。我在菲律宾的时候就已经拜谒过这位海神了，参观八打雁省塔尔的凯萨赛圣母教堂的时候，我就发现了妈祖。后来有人告诉我，在拉乌尼翁和塔尔，当地人认为凯萨赛圣母和妈祖是同一个人。有些时候，这两座神像会放在一起，方便信众一同敬拜。
Jiangxi is unforgettable, not only because it is home to the famous Oishi (Shanghaojia) brand which made goods in China since 1984 but also because of Mt. Lushan – majestic, tall, spectacular with lakes, cliffs and waterfalls – perfect setting to imagine a Buddhist Monk in meditation.
江西也是难以忘却，不仅因为它是著名的上好佳品牌的诞生地（该品牌自 1984 年以来在中国欣欣向荣），还因为这里有雄伟、高耸、壮观的庐山，还有湖泊、悬崖和瀑布，这是想象中僧侣打坐的完美境地。
But the real charm of China (Fujian and Jiangxi) which leaves a lasting imprint in one’s heart is its people. Hardworking to a fault, the Chinese people are loving, kind and sincere. I understand the importance of “guanxi”. I appreciate long dinners and “ganbei”. I am surprised to find drivers and managers eating at one table. I am amazed at the refusal of tips even when service is good.
但是，中国（福建和江西）真正的魅力所在是人民，他们在我心中留下了难以磨灭的印记。中国人勤劳到了极点，他们富有爱心、善良真诚。我明白了“关系”是多么重要。我喜欢长时间饭局和“干杯”。饭局上我惊讶地发现司机和经理坐在同一张桌子上吃饭，热情周到的服务员拒收小费，也令我感到震惊。
I salute the men and women in Fujian and Jiangxi who toil each day to nourish the relationship between China and the Philippines. The Filipino expatriates, the overseas Chinese with businesses in the Philippines, the Chinoys (Filipinos of Chinese origins) expertly navigating Chinese and Philippine systems and even the ones who have never been but yearns to visit my country.
我向那些生活在福建和江西的、每天都在为保持中菲之间的良好关系而努力工作的人们致敬。他们中有菲律宾侨民、在菲律宾做生意的华人、十分了解中菲制度的 Chinoy（华裔菲律宾人），甚至包括那些从未去过菲律宾，但渴望探访菲律宾的人。
Most of all, I am genuinely thankful of my go-to friends who are always around to lend a helping hand. Take Baolian – our Chinese former employee, who, after retirement, still regularly pops up at the Consulate to check on all of us. A medicine to buy, a visit to the Bank, Chinese food she’d like us to taste, a delivery to be picked up, or simply to accompany us to unfamiliar places we’d like to go – all done in the name of friendship and love.
最重要的是，我真心感谢我的朋友，他们总能陪在我身边，在我需要的时候伸出援助之手。宝莲曾是我们领事馆的中国员工，她退休后，仍然经常来领事馆，问候我们。她会帮我们买药，去银行办事，取快递，也会给我们带中国菜，陪我们去向往的陌生地方——所有这些事情都是出于友情和关爱。
I still miss Europe (my eldest lives there) and cherish the memories made and friendships gained. But far from being Eurocentric now, I have become a Chinese-believer. And I will, one step at a time, continue to nurture the relationship between our two great nations.
我还怀念欧洲（我的长子住在那里），珍惜在欧洲的记忆和友谊。但我的中心已经不在欧洲了，我已然成为中国的“信徒”。我将一步一个脚印，继续为保持我们两国之间的关系出一份力。
你相信人可以重获新生吗？我相信。我叫 Julian Quander（杰酷）。2010年，我获得了一个千载难逢的机会，将改变我的人生……
我一直对融合菜和混合菜情有独钟：味道的融合或者多种材料的混合，我感觉自己一直局限在民族文化的小小角落里。因此，为了在我比利时生活的焦糖里面加少许盐，我有了到“别处”游历的想法。
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