小哭注：从去年搬到芝加哥到今年再搬家，这一年之内，完成了孩子的两次转学。第一次我对孩子充满了信心可是效果并不怎么理想，第二次我也没有太多的期待但是效果却是出奇地好。自认为是这一年来去的教会，里面的负责青少年的年青牧师起到了至关重要的作用。本来这点事留在心里偷着乐就行了，可是，自从读了百草关于小留学生的系列，还有近来帮一个小留学生换接待家庭受挫的经历，还有万维征文中那个关于女儿是母亲心脏的癌的文章后，我觉得大人们说得多不如做得对，关键的是对错的标准实在是太难掌握了。应着文轩一贯的奉献精神，回应着心桥那么多心理学老师笔记的奉献，我也把孩子这个寒假的几篇英文作文传上来吧。也许只是耽误了人家的几分钟时间，也许可能就给哪个家长提了个醒什么的了呢？Susan不是那种传统意义上的优秀学苗儿，我对她的目标也一降再降，到目前为止，我觉得只要她能够本着她文中所流露出来的思维和思想，走在她当行的路上，永不偏离，就是最好的了。
Moving….for, like, the tenth time in my life now?
Moving is hard. This year, moving was even harder than last year, physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. I surprised myself by how sad I felt on my last day at Brooks Middle School. I mean, I’ve only been here for a year, so how can I feel the same level of regret as I did when I moved from a school I’ve been going to for three years? After pondering that for a few days, I got my answer.
When I moved from Malden last year, I was expecting a better school, a better environment. I had no idea how much I’ve lost until I’ve already lost it. Because of that, moving last year was only half sad for me. This year, as I was about to leave, it’s as if I was looking at my school through a filter. I realized that a whole year at Brook have established me a good reputation that would not be waiting for me at the other school I would be going to. I saw how easily I could joke around with the teachers and classmate, and I knew that it would be another year before I would feel that way. I saw how great and loyal my friends are, and I regret the fact that I would be losing them. All those thing I didn’t give a thought about last year, but haunted me all throughout the last day at my school.
Based on that discription, I should be horribly mournful right now, but I’m not. Along with the negative experiences I’ve gained, I also have positive ones. I now know that it is not impossible to have close friends that aren’t Asian. I realized that I can get along perfectly well with people who have different values than me. After only a year at Brooks, I’ve earned myself rights and reputations that took me three years in Malden. After only a year, I have a “welcoming” crew waiting for me in the morning and friends who would truly miss me. That gave me hope, and if I can do that in just one year, by the time I’m in highschool, I’ll be surrounded by a ring of friends again.
Another thing I noticed was that no matter how “finished” I feel, there’s always more to go. I thought after two years in Malden that I’ve achieved the highest “rank” in school that I could, but after three year I realized that’s not true. After a month at Brooks, I thought I’ve tried the hardest I could and school would never be as good as it was in Maden. Turned out I was wrong. A year later, I’m almost as comfortable in Brooks as I was in Malden. That realization made me less sad. If I hadn’t realized that, I would’ve though Ugh! Right after I’ve reached the top, I have to start all over again. Right now, I’m thinking Great! I’ve reached a few ledges, now I’m ready to climb to the real tip of the mountain.
I arrived and started school in Oak Park exactly a year ago. If you had asked me then whether I would move back to Malden if given a choice then, I would’ve replied with an immediate “YES!” If you had asked me that half a year ago, I would’ve said “Eh…I’m not sure. I’ve found a great church here…..I don’t think I would want to go back.” If you ask me now, though, I’m gonna replie with an immediate “NO!” What accounted for that change? Well, I guess it had something to do with the friends I’ve found at my school, and the bonds I’ve formed at the church. Thank god I’ll still be able to go to CBCOP (Chinese Bible Church of Oak Park) after I move this time.
Churh has helped me a lot. There are a lot of things I would like to thank the Lord for. Without him, I don’t know what I would’ve done. I found God just in time, and looking back on the past year, he helped me through a lot. There were days when I was lonely, and I found comfort in the fact that God understands me. There were days when I was angry, but wanting to live like God, I restrained myself from doing something I would regret. My three closest friends met me by chance, but there’s no doubt in my mind now about who arranged them to sit at that same table I sat in. Knowing that the Lord is with me through all that, and will be with me still, really gave me courage, and I know that I’ll do the right thing.
Anyway, now that all the excitement is over, I’ll have to clean up. After every party, the owner has to clean up, and moving seemed like a big party to me. I’ve got boxes and boxes of books and papers to organize, not to mention organizing supplies for my new school. Oh, and did I forget to say something about that gigantic pile of clothe I have to hang, new expectations for winter vacation, a winter retreat that’s coming up, a cold that’s already here, and trying to adapt to living inside a house after a whole life of apartments? Huh, guess I’ve said it now. Moving isn’t all about sentimental feelings, you know. There’s a bunch of “physical labor” waiting for me every time I set foot in my room. Well, adios amigos!
百草，我刚搬完家 ，还没有收拾完。昨天本来写了一半介绍，想上传女儿的作文，可是后来被什么事打断了，最后太累了就睡觉了。现在我把文章传上来了，至少是要给你看看孩子的进步。我从你诸多的文章中受益颇多，你最近关于留学生的文章，我也深有体会，帮着一个小留学生换接待家庭倍受挫折。
去年搬家，到了第三个月孩子觉得交友一直不顺利，这次搬家，除了第一天，孩子觉得新学校明显比原来的学校要好。不知道是孩子本身进步了，还是有的时候确实要看遇到什么样的环境。
女儿的作文都是随手写的，也不修改，加上我时间太紧，也没有时间翻译，所以，可能有的网友就读不出来其中的味道了。不过我相信百草会读懂小女孩的心思的。
虽然知道你忙，可是我还是等着你交这份天上砸下来的作业：）
| 予微 (2013-01-13 04:41:28) |
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小哭，为你女儿感谢神！她写的很顺畅，少年人的感觉和心情，不做作！ |
| 百草园 (2013-01-13 17:12:31) |
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小哭，怎么又搬家了？读了你女儿写的文章，能理解她的心情。Susan的年龄会很留恋那些已经交下来的朋友，她的文章里也写出了她的心态。这个年龄的孩子还不会理解，人生其实总是一个结束连着一个开始。还没读你后面贴的几篇，从这篇看，你应该多花一点时间跟Susan。跟她讲，从Malden到OakPark， 她做的非常好，相信下一步她会做的更好。现在的世界很小，有电脑、有网络，她会在keep老朋友的同时，交到更多的新朋友。新的学校，当然也要她努力去打一个新的天地。但以后的人生，大家都会去新的高中、新的大学、接受新的工作，她有了这个适应新环境的经验，以后会比别的孩子处理得更好。 |
| 阿朵 (2013-01-15 06:42:11) |
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看完这这篇作文，首先感觉你女儿的文笔非常流利，把自己的内心的感觉表达的恰如其分，很有写作天赋。 搬家，换学校，适应新环境，对大人来说都不容是，更何况孩子。不过，经历了，体验了，孩子就成熟一些了，以后遇到问题也就handle得更好了，从这点上讲，你女儿已经做到了。 孩子认识神，是蒙福的事，祝福她！ |
| 周小哭 (2013-01-15 13:47:27) |
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谢谢予微！！她的这一系列，让我感觉得帮她找几个她信任的基督徒聊聊了。可是不等我安排好，她上周末崇拜结束后，突然间就问我，觉得她受洗怎么样？不等我有时间想想回答她，她就跑去和负责青少年的牧师沟通好了，下周开始上受洗班的课。我于是除了支持，已无话可说，感谢神！！！ |
| 周小哭 (2013-01-15 13:52:57) |
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这次搬家，估计是会安定下来了，至少我希望一辈子都不要再搬了。可是一想出国前的最后一次搬家，也是这样的想法，所以，我也真的不知道，未来的日子会如何。我有花时间跟Susan讲，如何理解环境总是要不断地变化，日子也因此才越来越丰富。不过，她和老朋友的交流确实挺少的，总是在我的提醒下才打电话，我都怀疑，她留恋的到底是哪个人，还是那个集体？前天问过她，说是这次搬家距离不算远，还可以回去找朋友，也可以请朋友来家里，不想她竟然说：可是老师呢？还有学校呢？这下我们说，那你必须得面对，原来的那个校园生活，你再也不会有了，你已经开始了新的校园生活了。 我会把你的关心和祝福告诉她。多谢百草：） |
| 周小哭 (2013-01-15 13:59:47) |
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好阿朵，你那么忙还上来留言，真是让人感动不已。我也觉得她现在要面对的一些困难，都将是她人生的一笔账富。她能够通过思考认真神，让我激动不已。这也是我那么急于把这个系列传上来的原因，也许只能帮到一个人，但是，都足够了。国内的一些朋友，在教育孩子时的观念有时和我很不一样，我知道是大环境导致了很多无奈，不过，如果无奈多到自己实在接受不了的时候，换个思路也许会有帮助。所谓人的尽头是神的开始，但愿孩子的这个系列作文能够从孩子的角度给家长一些启发。 Susan现在的思想状态，让我内心非常平静，我觉得她走在一条正确的道路上，方向已经不成为问题了，高度取决于赋予她的才能，多高都可以接受了。 |