To Chin2333 participants in 2010 (05)

Dear Chin2333 attenders, For the lecture of Week 05 (topic: Exoticism, Foreignization, and Domestication; Love), please do Assignment (05). The source text has been posted below for your convenience. You may click here to use it (please translate the highlighted part).

呱呱呱 / Croak, Croak, Croak

呱呱呱 金雨田	Croak, Croak, Croak Jin Yu Tian
環保流行，收集箱置放各處，每回經過，總要瞧一瞧。周邊大都是瓶罐殘食，引來貓狗翻盤，鳥儿啄食。	WITH “environmental protection” becoming a buzzword, one can see special containers installed everywhere to collect recyclable materials.  I would take a look whenever I pass one, but frequently I would find a litter of cans, bottles and leftovers around the collection bin, with dogs, cats and birds scavenging for food in the piles.
有那麼多丟垃圾的人，就差了那麼一丁點，再走一步，不就把垃圾喂進箱腹了嗎？兩個青綠筒箱，四周垃圾零散，本為環保，倒變成了污染。	The many litterbugs won’t bother to take a step – just a step – further to dump the garbage into the bins.  Ironically, with rubbish scattered about, those green cylindrical containers meant to protect the environment have served to aggravate pollution.
在東海岸公園，兩對小情侶，手握汽水罐，試着對箱口丟罐，像在遊樂場里玩遊戲。四個罐子，只有一個瞄準，三個落空，年輕人好玩，落空的撿起來再丟進去，不就可以了嗎？眾目睽睽下，四個竟嘻嘻哈哈打情罵俏地搖擺而去。	Once in East Coast Park I saw two courting couples – all teenagers – competing to shoot their soft drink cans into the opening of such a container as if they were playing a game in an amusement park.  The score: one hit, three misses. The youngsters’ little mischief for fun would have been excusable if they had then picked up those unsuccessful cans and put them into the bin.  Yet, despite the many eyes fixed on them, the lovers just swaggered away, laughing and bantering.
路過的人，沒有搖頭，更沒有人嘆息。環保箱只不過是另一個美化了的垃圾桶。本來也就是個垃圾桶，就當作垃圾桶用也好，這四個家伙，全無公德心可言。	The passers-by expressed no disapproval, neither shaking their heads nor letting out a sigh.  The bin was seen as another garbage can – a prettier version. Yet, even as a garbage can it should have been used properly, I argued inwardly.  Those teenagers seemed to have no sense of civility.
這句話听起來好像很酸腐，看着環保箱周圍的瓶罐殘食，原來都是“無心”人的作為，“再走一步”的期許，根本就是空白話。呱呱呱，那隻象徵環保的大肚青蛙，啊！本來就是不會說話的。	Saying so, I may sound outdated and impractical, given all the rubbish about those collection bins – a mess left by so many who care little for social ethics.  Exhorting them to “take a step further” would only sound hollow and futile – like the “croak, croak, croak” of that big green frog symbolising the environmental protection drive. Oh, yeah, the frog – it just can’t talk.
	(Translated by Allen Zhuang)
[原載新加坡《聯合早報》(2000)；收入《不着地族 / A Lift-Off People》(潘正鐳著、Allen Zhuang 英譯；Singapore: All Publishing House, 2002)]

歌聲人生 / Songs of My Life

歌 聲 人 生	Songs of My Life
電台節目「品味黃昏」訪談節錄 郭位	Interviews with “Flavours of Dusk” on RTHK (Synopsis) Way Kuo
去年8月31日至9月4日一連五天，我接受香港電台訪問，在「品味黃昏」的「驛動人生」環節選了五首喜愛的歌曲，同時分享我的成長經歷，心路歷程，還有我對本港大學發展的期望等，以下謹與各位網誌上的朋友分享訪談的摘要。	FROM August 31 to September 4 last year, I gave RTHK a round of five daily interviews during the “Pulse of Life” section of “Flavours of Dusk”, a regular programme on the local Radio. I shared with the listeners five of my favourite songs in life and how I felt about them while growing up as a young student. Also, I talked about what I expect of today’s university students in Hong Kong. Here’s a synopsis of those interviews, which I’d like to share with fellow bloggers.
我在台灣長大，台灣的雨季很長，春天、夏天、秋天都有雨，所以我對雨特別有感觸，也喜歡跟雨有關的歌曲。	I grew up in Taiwan, where a lengthy rainy season almost spans spring, summer, and autumn. So, scenes in rainy days would stir up some special feelings in me, making me a lover of songs about rains.
在國立清華大學，我讀的是理工科目。同學大多偏向於理性，所以對瓊瑤小說談論不多，倒是對歷史、哲學談論得較多。我不怎麼看瓊瑤小說，可是取材或取意於這類小說的歌曲，我覺得都很羅曼蒂克，令人回味再三。《煙雨斜陽》就是一首非常羅曼蒂克的歌曲。	I studied science and engineering subjects at the National Tsing Hua University of Taiwan. Psychologically, most of us students there had more sense than sensibility, and so we didn’t talk much about those sentimental stories by Ms Chiung Yao, a famous novelist then. Instead, we discussed topics of history and philosophy more often. I didn’t read much of the romances by the authoress, but I came to find many of the songs based on her stories were quite romantic and would bring up sweet memories long afterwards. One of such romantic songs is “Drizzles in the Setting Sun”.
如果是雨天，特別是春雨綿綿的季節，一邊聽著《煙雨斜陽》，一邊讀書，或是聊聊天，我都覺得很好。聽著這首歌，讓人產生很多感觸。讀書時如果能有這樣的歌曲伴隨，是一點也不會感到寂寞的。	Through rains, especially fine drizzles during those lingering wet days of spring, that song became a great companion to me while I was either reading a book or having a chat. The soothing tune evoked lots of thoughts in me. You would never feel lonely even when studying alone so long as there were songs around like this to keep you company.
我還喜歡另一首傾訴雨天情懷的歌，那就是《濛濛細雨憶當年》。即使今天想起這首歌，我就會憶起年輕時在台北的歲月。	Another lovely song I enjoyed, which also put me in a cheerful mood in rainy days, has been “Misty Rains in Bygone Days ”. Even to this day, the very melody of it would bring me back again to the happy youthful years I spent in Taiwan.
台灣和香港一樣，都被海包圍，也可以說海被我們包圍。其實，我們與大海已融為一體；所以我還喜歡一首歌《聽海》，由張惠妹用她原住民清新響亮的歌喉唱出來，特別美，這也會令我懷念台灣，回憶當年。	Like Hong Kong, Taiwan is surrounded by seas or – you might say – the two places embrace the seas between them. In reality, both places have become merged with the seas around them. That’s why I’ve loved yet another song – “Listening to the Seas”, which is all the more touching when sung by Ah Mei in her aborigine’s fresh and clear voice typical of the native Taiwanese. It makes me think of Taiwan, of my years there.
還有一首歌會讓我想起舊日時光，那就是尤雅唱的《往事只能回味》。我在清華讀大學的四年，可以說是很豐富的四年，很多事情值得回味。我在大學有兩年是校刊主編，結識了很多好朋友；為着校刊的工作，我訪問了很多歷史上的重要人物，今天回想起來，好像對我後來的很多經歷都有啟發。	Then, there’s a song that never fails to bring back to mind my youthful years gone by – “What’s Past Just Lingers in Hearts”, which would be best if sung by Miss You Ya, a famous singer. It makes me recall the most rewarding four years I spent at Tsing Hua, where lots of things and events still linger in my heart. For two years there I was editor of the university journal, during which time I met many of my good friends. Then, as part of my editor’s work, I interviewed quite a few people who now hold their niches in history. Looking back on it, I see that period of my youth has inspired me greatly in my later years.
《往事只能回味》最早是尤雅唱出名的，後來成了她的招牌歌曲。正如許多流行曲，這首也是情歌，訴說少女如何懷念逝去的美好戀情。這首歌也讓我們懷念自己少年時代經歷過的事情，所以是有一點深度的。這首歌，經尤雅柔柔地唱出來，特別感人。	“What’s Past Just Lingers in Hearts” became popular as You Ya’s first hit, and it has remained her signature song. Like many pop songs, it is about love and romance, voicing a girl’s yearnings for her first lover long ago. Yet, to a listener, it also brings to mind whatever happened that’s worth cherishing in memory during his own early years. It goes deep down in one’s heart. The song is particularly moving when crooned gently in You Ya’s soft voice.
我如今跟城大的同學談天，常常勉勵年輕人珍惜在校園裏度過的歲月，多結識一些朋友，這其實比單純讀書本強過千百倍。廣交益友，可以彼此切磋，大家都有很多收益。	Nowadays, when chatting with students of CityU, I would urge them to treasure their university years, making more friends on the campus. That would prove to be much more valuable than merely learning from books. Good company of soulmates helps young people learn from one another, and everybody will benefit from it.
我一直認為，「讀書」不只有一個解釋，讀書不僅是從書本上學習。我們身邊無數的人、事、物，也都是書。一個學生讀了幾本書，只是學到千分之一、萬分之一的知識而已。回想當年同學中間，只做到成績好、把書讀得很精的人，事實上後來還真的不是很成功。	I’ve always believed that there’re more ways of “studying” than learning from books. All things, all events and all people around us can be our sources of learning. A student would get only a thousandth of knowledge available if he did nothing but reading. In retrospect, I can see that the smartest scholars among my fellow students, who managed to score terrific marks, have not turned out very successful in their later lives.
我常常說，香港有很多非常成功的人並沒有什麼學位；他們自謙沒有學問，其實不是沒有學問，只是沒有學位而已。有學位而不成功的人太多了，但是真有學問而不成功的恐怕很少。學問包括我們待人處事的能力，這不是一紙文憑所能夠衡量的。人的創意跟思考的活躍，要比只讀幾本書、獲得幾個分數更重要。	There are quite some successful Hongkongers who hold no academic degrees, as I’ve often mentioned. They would modestly admit to little learning, but in reality what they lack is degrees, not real learning. There are too many degree-holders who fail to succeed in life, but probably fewer people with real learning who end up nowhere. Genuine learning includes the ability to handle situations wisely and deal with people properly, which is more than a degree could bring or prove. Creative ideas and active thinking are worth far more than all the books read or marks scored.
即便是聽歌，也可以發揮創意。有一首歌，在華語世界有非常多的人喜歡，表面上聽來是情歌，但留心一下也可以聽出帶有政治意味。這就是《何日君再來》，尤其是由鄧麗君唱出來時。我倒是覺得，這首歌可以表達遊學海外的人期待回家的心情。這首歌可以有很多種解讀，聽歌的人可以有不同的感觸。	Creative thinking can play a role even when you’re enjoying songs. There’s one particular song widely popular among the ethnic Chinese everywhere, which seems to sing of love but can also carry a political message to the discerning ear. Here I’m referring to “What Day Will You Return?” – especially in the version sung by the late Teresa Teng. To me, that song could well speak the minds for young people studying abroad who’re longing to return home. So you see the same song is capable of multiple interpretations, as listeners can feel about it in various ways.
留學在海外，特別是在美國，容易有身處異鄉的感覺。當年，我除了讀書跟朋友聚會以外，就聽聽這些成了古典的舊時老歌，排解鄉思，調節心情。就是在那時聽《何日君再來》，聽出了特別的意味。	Chinese youths abroad, especially when studying alone in the US, would suffer from loneliness in a foreign land. In those years, when not studying or hanging around with friends, I would listen to some golden oldies like those I’ve just mentioned, to keep off the sad homesickness and stay in a happier mood. It was in such a milieu that I came to sense a different flavour in “What Day Will You Return?” when listening to it.
時代在進步，一代人比一代強，我覺得今天的青年非常多樣化、非常活潑，比我活潑多了。現代人也相當進步，但如果說有些不足，就是今日香港本地的學生，或者說兩岸三地的學生，對中華文化瞭解比較少，不如上一輩人。當然，他們對現代科技進步瞭解很多，很有活力。	Times are progressing, and each generation is sure to surpass the previous one. Young people today, as I find, are very active and diversified in their thinking, much more active than I was then. Young people today are advanced in many ways. One of their weaknesses, if any, is their lack of knowledge of Chinese culture, as found in students of Hong Kong or even those from mainland China and Taiwan as well. In this field, they know less than their parents do. Of course, the young are more active-minded and very knowledgeable about modern technology.
這一缺陷是教育、社會的偏差所造成的。一方面，教育體系對傳統文化的傳播鼓勵比較少；另一方面，社會強調現代科技、商業競爭，讓青年覺得那是唯一出路。所以，在熏陶人的文化素養方面，社會可以加強努力。	That weakness is caused by inadequacies in our education system and society in general. On one hand, our education system is not doing enough to impart or boost our cultural heritage. On the other hand, our society in general emphasises modern technology and business competition, apparently presenting these as the only way out for the young. So there is much to be done to bring up a young generation with stronger cultural awareness.
我在美國待了三十四年，但覺得還是應該保持中華文化。如果沒有中華文化，只學西方的文字或者科技，就像只披上一層虎皮，我會有另一種遺憾。	Despite my 34 years’ stay in the US, I remain sure that a Chinese heritage is well worth treasuring. Without our own heritage, knowledge of Western languages or technology alone would make us resemble sheep dressed in tiger’s skin. Loss of my heritage would make me feel regretful in an otherwise wonderful career.
我不擔心中華文化寶藏的光芒會失色。中國在「文化革命」時打倒孔老夫子，可是如今孔子在中國大陸又復活了。孔子講的話，其實還是有生命力的。我可以跟大家再舉個例子，美國很多官員或者高級行政官員（即CEO），都會讀《孫子兵法》，這已不是秘密。孫子也是中華文化的瑰寶。	I have no worry that Chinese culture would lose its charm and splendour. The so-called “Cultural Revolution” in mainland China in the 1960’s and 1970’s did overthrow Confucius and his teachings, but now these have come back to life in China. Many of Confucius’ teachings remain alive and valid today. One more example of Chinese culture’s value is the wisdom in The Art of War by Sun Tzu, an ancient military strategist. It is no secret now, I can assure you, that many government officials and CEO’s in the US would study the strategist’s treatise. Like Confucius, Sun Tzu is a gem in the treasury of Chinese culture.
我想，中華文化會慢慢回來。「何日君再來」呢？我們再聽這首歌時，也許會有不一樣的領悟，會以那歌聲來自勉，保持希望，多加努力。	Chinese culture, I’m sure, will gradually return to its glory. Perhaps, while listening to “What Day Will You Return?” today, we can get yet another fresh message – an urge for us to cheer up and exert ourselves further to revitalize our heritage. (Translated by Allen Zhuang)
[源文與英譯文刊於香港城市大學網頁之“校長網誌”(2010-02-08). / Source text along with its English version was posted on “Way to Kuo Blog” of City University of Hong Kong website (2010-02-08). ]

車奴 / A Car-Slave

車奴 金雨田	A Car-Slave   Jin Yu Tian
找修車師傅，爲的只是車在奔馳時，發出些許擾人聲響，其實不留意也聽不到，留神時它就刺進耳鼓。遇到阿昆，駕一輛跑車，這已是他一年內第五次拜訪陳師傅了。	BECAUSE of a little disturbing sound from the car in running, I visited Mr Chen, a repairman, though the noise hardly stirred my eardrum unless I listened attentively.  At the garage, I met Ah Khoon, who arrived in his sports car.  That was the fifth visit in a year that he had paid to the repairman.
每一次車子這兒那兒發出一點些微噪音，他就渾身不舒服。花十多萬元買一輛跑車威風，他當然要求完美、完美、完美。	Each time a slight noise was detected somewhere about the vehicle, Ah Khoon would feel terribly ill at ease.  Since the symbol of prestige had cost him more than $100,000, certainly he would expect perfection, full perfection, and nothing but perfection.
他對陳師傅信心十足，有一回，新車上路不久，不經意間車盤底總傳出一兩小聲響，像我這類人，壓跟兒就沒有那種敏感度，陪他上路，他聽了直呱呱叫，我怎麽傾耳，就是聽不清楚。即使代理商車廠的電腦也解決不了。還是他心血來潮，找上老師傅，憑數十年經驗，一聽就解決了。	Ah Khoon has complete confidence in Mr Chen.  While his car was still new on the road, I was once beside him at the wheel.  Unexpectedly, a soft click or two came from under the chassis.  That was enough to rouse the driver to a hue and cry, although it failed even to touch my listening ear, given my far inferior sensitivity.  Even the car dealer’s computerised equipment couldn’t spot the problem.  At last, with a sudden inspiration, Ah Khoon turned to Mr Chen.  With decades of experience, the repairman fixed the glitch straight away.
阿昆可十分佩服陳師傅這塊老薑，但陳師傅一見阿昆，總是笑笑說：“車奴又來了！”	That’s how Ah Khoon became a great admirer of the veteran mechanic.  Yet, whenever Ah Khoon returned, Mr Chen would say, jokingly, “Here comes the car-slave again!”
說的也是，跑車和阿昆，誰是主人？	Surely, he has a point there.  Who is the real master, after all – the sports car or its owner? (Translated by Allen Zhuang)
[原載新加坡《聯合早報》(2000)；收入《不着地族 / A Lift-Off People》(潘正鐳著、Allen Zhuang 英譯；Singapore: All Publishing House, 2002)]

To Chin2333 participants in 2010 (03)

Dear Chin2333 attenders, I’m glad to see your finished Assignments (02) now look good in the printouts. The source text for today's assignment has been posted here below. You may click here to read and use it. Hope you’ll enjoy doing assignments the online way.

To Chin2333 participants in 2010 (02)

Dear Chin2333 attenders, Our Chin2333 course has entered its 2nd week. I hope you’re getting used to some of its features, such as weekly Assignments. Exercise is crucial. You’re expected to do weekly Assignments and hand in your work when coming to classes. To help you save time, a blank template (in soft copy) has been sent to you. And source texts, when possible, will be posted on this website (but given artificially early dates to make them stay “far down below”). This week’s source text has been posted here. You may click here to access the text, copy the highlighted part and paste it to your template, and start translating. Then you can produce your finished work in neatly printed-out hard copies. Hope you’ll enjoy doing assignments the online way.

To Chin2333 Participants in 2010 (01)

Dear Chin2333 attenders, Welcome to Chin2333! You are now starting a dozen weeks’ study and learning together here. The Chin2333 area of this website is meant for your use – just click on 回應/Feedback below, and you can communicate among yourselves or with the lecturer. Also, here you can find many examples of translation (more Ch-Eng pieces than Eng-Ch ones), and find various online tools and resources that will help you do translation more effectively, either for your coursework or for your jobs later on. Enjoy using the online tools. (Please click here for details. )

To TRA222 Participants (2009_14)

Dear TRA222 attenders, Online tools After a few months’ practice in business translation, you may need further sources of data and information that you can use for your class work and perhaps for your future jobs as well. Here are some such online tools: xxx (1) 香港投資者學會大專投資教育部 ( http://td.hkii.org/investu/search.php) search engine. You can search in both Ch-to-Eng and Eng-to-Ch ways. For example, you can key in “債券”, and get not only the English equivalent of “可換股債券” and “定息債券” but also detailed explanations (in Chinese) about these terms. Xxx (2) 英漢證券期貨及財務用語匯編 provided by 香港證監會 (SFC) ( http://www.sfc.hk/sfc/html/TC/inutilbar/glossary/glossary_3rd_edition_2004.html ). This is particularly useful when you need a term’s variant translations in mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. For example, under “第I部：證券、期貨及財務用語”, you find the term “Bear” with its mainland China translations “看跌者；拋空者；空頭” alongside its Hong Kong equivalents “看淡股市者；淡友；拋空投機者”. xxxx (3) 香港貨幣銀行用語匯編 provided by “香港政府一站通” ( http://www.info.gov.hk/hkma/gdbook/chi/index_c.htm ). This is useful when you need to understand a term in its Hong Kong context. For example, under “十一劃”, you find “貨幣供應 (money supply)”, with explanations about how “廣義貨幣” M1, M2, and M3 are defined in Hong Kong. xxx Enjoy using these tools for your TRA222 work, in addition to those you've already started using (see To TRA222 Participants 2009_04 posting). Also, please try using these online tools (see this posting), though they are not directly related to business translation.

出國留學的境界 / Studying abroad, but what for?

出國留學的境界 郭位	Studying abroad, but what for? Way Kuo
不久前在古城西安應邀餐敘，席間談起子女出國留學的事，很有感觸。有一位同桌，講到有個朋友家住鄉下，務農為業，兒子剛從大學畢業，要去美國留學。農家子弟能如此出色，前程似錦，令眾人讚嘆稱羨；然而做父親的幾句教子贈言，更令我心生敬佩。	NOT LONG ago, at a dinner gathering in Xi’an, China, I heard a chat about children studying abroad, which set me thinking. A guest at the table talked of a friend of his, a farmer in the countryside whose son, a fresh graduate, was about to leave for the US for further studies. That farm boy with his success and bright future ahead at once drew praise and admiration from all those present, yet it was the daddy’s wise advice to his son that touched me and impressed me the most.
他對兒子說，出國去留學，要緊的不在乎讀多少書、得甚麼學位，那些東西在國內也可以學到，也可以得着。到了外國，要緊的是學習人家做事的方法，看看人家有甚麼長處，要把外國人為人做事的精神學過來。	What really counts in studying abroad, the father told him, as was related at the table, is not how much you’ll learn at school out there or what degrees you’ll get – those things you could have within China as well. What’s important, while studying abroad, is for you to learn the way other people handle and manage things, to emulate their strengths, and to pick up the way foreigners behave and work in various situations.
這位老爸雖是農夫，其見識卻高於不少文化人。以我在教育界的經驗來看，那做兒子的若能謹遵庭訓，其留學境界必然會高，而他日的成就，也大有可能勝過許多但求考試及格、論文通過以便學位到手的留學生。	Though an ordinary land-tiller, the father showed deeper insights than many better-educated people can. Judging from my experience as an educator, the son is sure to benefit greatly from studying abroad by acting on his daddy’s words, and very probably will achieve more than those who aim no further than just passing exams and finishing theses to get a degree.
平心而論，讀書求學位的境界已不算低，這樣留學還是認真的。另有一些人出國，是留而不學，但求居留而不在乎學甚麼，甚至可以甚麼都不學，而有人果真留下了，在美國可見到不少這樣的人。再有一類人連留居國外也嫌辛苦乏味，原本就不樂意去，怎奈老爸要面子，硬要子女出國。子女甚麼也不學，留了一陣子學回來了，在老爸的公司或店舖裏幫手，會講一點英語應付外國客人，算是學有所成。此類人在香港頗有一群。老爸當初要他們出國，講明了只是要他們學說些洋話而已。	To be fair, those who study abroad for the sake of a degree have set their goals high enough, and at least they would study seriously. There are others who go abroad caring little about studying. They seek to stay abroad for good by means of attending school there and studying anything as they must – or nothing, if they can. Some of them did manage to stay, as one can find in the US. Others, again, don’t even want to stay, hating the hard and boring life in a foreign land. Indeed, they even wouldn’t have gone abroad if not pushed by their face-conscious parents. Then, having done little or no studies, they return from abroad and end up in daddy’s store or company. Now they can speak some English to foreign clients, the only attainment to show for having been abroad. Such youngsters now form a small subspecies of hongkongers. After all, their parents had only expected that they would pick up a foreign tongue.
出國留學而境界最下者，學得的只是連外國正派人也不屑的某些行為作風，結果只成了一個社會渣滓，且勿論其最終是留或不留。	Of those studying abroad, the most unworthy have acquired nothing but certain ways and behaviours that even decent people in foreign countries would loathe and despise. They have degraded themselves to the dregs of society, either eventually staying abroad or not.
身為教育工作者，我總是認為，出國留學，不僅是出去讀洋書，更是身心成長、人格完善的一個過程。僅以中國內地為例，青少年多是獨生子女，自幼享受父母家人呵護，若能藉出國留學之機學會生活自理、獨力辦事，已不失為一項人生收穫。事實上，來香港求學（算不算是留學？）的內地學生談個人體會，不少人都說，吸取了香港同學比較善於獨立思考、自主辦事的長處，自己也學會了獨立生活。	As an educator, I’ve always believed that studying abroad not only involves attending school in an overseas milieu, but it is a phase in one’s maturity of body and mind, or the building of his personality. Take the youth of mainland China for example. Most of them are their family’s only child, ever sheltered with care and love from parents and relatives. If they could just learn how to take care of themselves while studying abroad, that alone would be a gain in personal development. In fact, many mainland students in Hong Kong – is that studying abroad? – would testify that they have picked up strong points from local students who are more independent in thinking and action, and have become confident of living by themselves.
秉此心態，若是遠渡重洋，前往文化背景迥異的外國留學，收穫豈不更大更多？出國留學的境界之高下，乃至他日成就之大小，大半取決於既定的目標何在。那位西安農夫的見識，很值得深思。	With such willingness to learn, should they travel farther, perhaps across oceans, and study in a culture widely different from their own, wouldn’t they benefit even more from the experience? For them, success in studies and achievements in their careers later on would largely depend on where they set their goal before they start. The fatherly advice from that wise farmer in China can make excellent food for thought. (Translated by Allen Zhuang)
[源文與英譯文刊於香港城市大學網頁之“校長網誌”(2009-10-07). / The source text along with its English version was posted on “Way to Kuo Blog” (2009-10-07), City University of Hong Kong website. ]