組屋居民相見不相識 / Why Neighbours Feel Like Strangers

組屋居民相見不相識 梁文寧	Why Neighbours Feel Like Strangers Liang Wern Ling
搬離舊家已十四年，但當年在15層樓高長長的公共走廊上的溫馨回憶，卻依然清晰地印在腦海裏。	IT HAS been 14 years since my family moved out of our old flat, but I still cherish a vivid and sweet memory of life in the long common corridor high on the 15th floor.
除了小孩們（當然也包括筆者）把走廊當球場的嘻笑玩鬧，還有主婦們隔著鐵門的閒話家常。 偶爾一陣香味飄過，隔壁鄰居已笑臉吟吟地站在門外，“來，試試我剛在聯絡所學會的咖喱魚頭。”	That was where ball games were played among kids of the many families – myself included, of course – and where the housewives engaged in chitchats across their iron grilles. Occasionally, an aroma wafted our way and presently we saw our next-door neighbour outside our flat. “Come have a taste of my curry fish-head,” said the auntie, smiling. “I’ve just learnt how to cook it at the community centre.”
小時候，媽媽跟外婆出國旅行，相隔了好幾個單位的羅阿姨，每晚還特地多煮些菜，溫暖了我們的肚子和心房。	Once my mother was away on a trip abroad with my grandma. Auntie Loh, who lived several doors away, prepared some more dishes for us children every evening, which filled our stomachs and warmed our hearts.
同一層樓共有12個單位，除了兩戶人家，其他鄰居我們都曾上門拜訪，相熟程度比一些遠方親戚還高。	There were 12 units spread along the corridor on our floor. We kids were guests to almost every one of these neighbouring homes. We knew them better than we did some relatives living far way.
如今住在一層只有四個單位的點式組屋，認識的鄰居大減，更別說上鄰居家坐坐。	Today, in the point block where I live, only four units share a level. The average HDB resident knows much fewer of his neighbours now, let alone visit their homes.
建屋發展局日前公佈的調查就顯示，國人認識的鄰居數目有下降的趨勢。為了增加居民碰面的機會，該局正考慮在樓高40層的組屋的一些樓層（比如第20層）設辟社交空間，讓居民不須下到地面層就可與鄰居們溝通交流	The sample household survey released recently by the Housing Board shows a downturn in neighbourliness among Singaporeans. To help people meet one another, the Board is considering the idea of mid-level void decks in the forthcoming 40-storey blocks. With the special space on the 20th floor, fellow flat-dwellers are expected to socialise with their neighbours more easily.
當局採取主動，設法在讓居民有隱私（所以不再建長走廊的組屋）的同時，提高人們見面的機會，確實值得鼓勵；然而，那增設的空間作何用途，才是具影響的因素。	To provide greater privacy for HDB residents, the government has stopped building blocks with long common corridors. Now, to curb the loosening of community bonds, it is encouraging people to meet one another more often. All these efforts are praiseworthy. Yet it is the actual use of the proposed mid-level void deck that matters.
如果只是擴大電梯等候廳，或是辟設露台，恐怕也發揮不了甚麼作用。暫時撇開條例限制，當局或可在這些社交空間設置印有棋盤的桌子，座椅當然更少不了，還可24小時播放輕音樂。	The space would not help much if it were just an expanded lift lobby with balconies built around. The Housing Board would do well to allow tables with chessboards and accompanying chairs to be installed on the level. Besides, light music may be played around the clock for a relaxed atmosphere.
建屋局也不妨重新考慮，把咖啡店和便利店帶回組屋底層。儘管一些人可能會覺得吵雜，但相信也有不少人會喜歡更有生氣的居住環境。	Moreover, the Housing Board may consider allowing coffee-shops and convenience stores to come back and operate on the ground floor of the blocks, that is, the void deck. While some residents may dislike the hustle and bustle, not a few will love to see the surroundings full of life.
硬體固然重要，軟體卻是關鍵。	The hardware is important, but the software is crucial.
患上“鄰居冷感症”的，多數是上班一族，退休人士、家庭主婦大部分時間都在組屋周圍活動，所以還較有可能跟鄰居打交道	Those who feel frigid towards their neighbours are mostly the working people. By comparison, retirees and housewives are more sociable, as they spend more time about the housing estates.
跟從前比較，現在的人呆在家的時間確實減少許多，一些人還自嘲地說“家跟酒店沒分別”。	Working people spend much less time at home today. Indeed, some even find little difference between their home and a hotel.
可是，生活忙碌不該是“對面不相識”的藉口。夜晚、週末或假日，在家樓下洗車、遛狗、帶小孩到遊樂場玩耍，平時在巴士車站等車、到附近小食店買東西吃，都有機會碰到左鄰右舍。	But being occupied with work should not be reason for treating one’s neighbours like strangers. One still has lots of opportunities for meeting fellow residents in the evening, on weekends or holidays when taking his kids to the playground, walking his dog, washing his car, or buying titbits at the corner shop.
碰歸碰，碰了卻有如碰到牆壁，連牽牽嘴角都嫌麻煩或不好意思，那再碰上個10年，這些熟面孔也只不過是組屋生活的活道具。	Some, however, may be too shy or too lazy to show a bit of smile when meeting people. To them, familiar faces seem to be mere living props in the drama of HDB life.
沒有共同話題嗎？孩子、汽車、歐洲杯、組屋垃圾、天氣、蔬菜價格、郵差派信時間……這些生活話題本已掛在嘴邊，就看你要不要開口罷了。	No common topics? Life itself has provided a lot to chat about – the weather, one’s children or car, the European Football Championship, garbage in the neighbourhood, vegetables’ prices, the mail delivery time. One just needs to start a conversation.
國人真如此“靦腆”嗎？如果鄰居在電梯裏跟你打招呼，除非心如鐵石可以視若無睹，不然一定會至少報以微笑回禮。	Are Singaporeans so shy that they shun a conversation with a neighbour? Not really. If one person would greet another in the lift, at least the other would smile back, unless he has a heart of stone.
說到底，其實是個人主動與否的問題。	After all, it is a matter of taking the initiative.
笑一個，會死很多細胞嗎？問聲好，要很多力氣嗎？一次生，兩次熟，這道理簡單易懂。可惜，懂了不做，是太多國人的通病。	A smile costs nothing, and a greeting takes little effort. Strangers the first time, acquaintances the next, as the saying goes. But it is easier understood than done. Understanding without feeling like acting upon it – that is the problem with many Singaporeans.
即使知道禮多人不怪，有些人卻礙於不知道該以什麼方式來“示禮”而情願無禮。就用你覺得最自然的方式吧：點頭、微笑、做了糕點敲敲鄰居的門，隨你便。	Many understand well that one can’t be too courteous but still choose to remain uncouth just because they find it hard to display courtesy. In fact they might try any way they feel natural: a nod, a smile, or an offer of the cake you have just made, or any other way you like.
別依賴居民委員會起帶頭作用。要是你連打個招呼都辦不到，恐怕也不會下樓參與什麼“居委日”還是中秋節慶祝會。	Don’t rely on the Residents’ Committee to start you up. If you grudge a greeting, then you won’t be enthusiastic about the RC Day or Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations held downstairs.
反倒是本已認識的鄰居，可以充當“媒人”。有一次筆者回家時經過組屋底層，就聽到一名熱心的鄰居對另一人說：“你要買車啊，那個住11樓的林先生就是賣二手車的，我帶你去找他。”	Neighbours one already knows well may act as a go-between, though. Once I overheard one fellow resident giving a tip to another: “You’re buying a used car? Well, Mr Lim on the 11th floor is an agent. I’ll introduce you to him.”
俗語有云：遠親不如近鄰，如果跟鄰居關係融洽，日常生活就能互相照應、諒解，進而免除許多不必要的問題和糾紛。	A near neighbour is closer than a distant cousin, as they say. If fellow residents know one another well, there will be more mutual help and understanding among them, and many problems can be averted.
此外，家的舒適自在感也會隨之擴大，一走進自己的鄰里，處處都碰到熟人，親切感油然而生。家，並不局限在四堵牆以內。 [作者是《聯合早報》記者]	The comfort of home will expand into the neighbourhood when you meet acquaintances everywhere around where you live. After all, home is not confined within the walls of one’s own flat. [The author is a correspondent of Lianhe Zaobao.] (Translated by Allen Zhuang)
[ 原載新加坡《聯合早報》2000-07-03社論/言論/天下事 (Bilingual Section)]