＊ 愛坡里 ＊

四月十日被訂為移民公義權的重要日子 美國這個被稱為 melting pot 的文化熔爐，承載了成千上萬移民者的美國夢 (American Dream)，但是，她真的享有「自由、富庶、機會平等」的title (頭銜) 嗎！？

教授真有效率，我今天一早趕出來的兩頁報告，今天上課她就發回來了。This assignment 是要寫一篇自傳，內容必須涉及文化，我節取這篇自傳的部份內容是為了要傳達身為台灣人的自我認同不足和在德州讀書還要被邊緣化的悲哀。
A Taiwanese with Chinese Mindset

我參加校內第一屆國際特赦組織文學獎的競賽。Guess what？今天收到email，我得到第三名！我要感謝Dr. Franklin 和 我的美國朋友 Wilma奶奶 為我校稿和指導；活動發啟人- 我的會話課老師/朋友Karim Perine 的鼓勵，我試著將我的原文作品和得獎通知翻譯成中文讓大家一起分享我得獎的喜悅：
STREET CHILD
The street is where I live,
I feel lonely on the street.
When winter comes, the only song is sung by the wind.
When summer comes, my heart melts in the blazing heat.
I am homeless and I wander the streets.
Stray dogs are my friends, and a shooting star would be my wish.
I play with my shadow and stare at myself in the window.
I am an angel without wings.
The people who pass me are busy and fretting,
their faces are tense or expressionless.
Rainwater and tears run down my face.
No body cares about a street child.
No body listens to my desperate voice.
I feel threatened; I fear I may be beaten.
I am forsaken in this world.
You look through me as if I were not there.
My flesh is cold.
Only your caring can cure my soul.
I wish I could have some steaming hot milk.
I wish I could sleep in a safe snug bed.
I wish I could see a warm smile on your face.
I wish someone would be my friend.
I wish the darkness would go and the brightness would come.
I wish,
I wish.
I know my dream will come true one day.

Date：July 7, 2003 & July 8, 2003 Time：9:00 ~ 11:20a.m.
Children：14（6~10 years）
I never knew I had a chance to read stories to children till I walked into the door. I saw many books set up on the tables. A lady asked me to read stories to children. One 8 years old little girl whose name is Susie sat beside me. I let her choose any books she was interested in and read to her. But it didn’t take a long time. Maybe my speak tone was not attractive or maybe the story was boring. Susie just couldn’t pay attention; therefore, I asked her to read to me. When she fatigued I read next turn. After that, I realized that reading should be fun, and it shouldn’t be like what I did. I should try to take it easy rather than just like teaching a class. Next day, I read to two younger girls, it seemed better. I would stop and ask about the pictures and about what is happening in the story, or just chatted with them. In my opinion, the most important is arousing children’s interests to help them learn reading.

拉開窗簾，陽光只有一種顏色———題記
拉開窗簾，陽光只有一種顏色
不論你喜歡
赤橙黃綠青藍紫
當然情感無罪
但它好像變色墨鏡
把整個世界
染得非喜即悲
把所有面孔扭曲
給你看
於是無知的你伸出指頭
“這個醜，那個美”
別總給理智放假
如果感情像霧
那麼當心它遮住了
真理的彼岸
如果感情像月光
那麼要知道
它剽竊不了太陽的光線
不是說感情總在欺騙
只是它總有失真的一面
時常擦拭你的雙眼
別讓理智離開身邊
拉開窗簾
你是否看得清暗礁
如果是
那麼撐起帆
起風了，你看那是岸

【A】
「absolutism」絕對論：沒有什麼是絕對的，because of 愛因斯坦的相對論。
【B】
「bureaucracy」官僚政治：一種制式的、非理性組成的表面功夫，在媒體前，每一抹深深的微笑，每一句話，都只是作作秀、隨口說說而已。