去年在土耳其遇到的德國男孩美德，寫信告知近況。簡短的信中清楚的涵蓋許多訊息，用字遣詞也算流暢，雖然才在中國上了一年的大學，就能如此信心滿滿的使用中文，尤其現在又在學日文，令人覺得很不可思議，這個德國年輕人可以這麼優秀，大學還沒畢業就已周遊各國，不但視野廣，又擁有德、英、中、日四國語言能力。想當年自己這年紀，連出個家門，爸媽都要三交代四交代，深怕有什麼危險發生，彷彿除了家裡之外，到處充滿危險與惡人。如此溫室中長大，匆匆幾十年頭，幸好一路走來也無風也無雨。
溫室固然安全，但是如果狂風暴雨來襲，溫室的花朵躲得過災難嗎？美德年紀輕輕，就已走過大江南北，交友天下。我對他認識不多，但我可以確定的是他的人生既豐富又有趣，世界上再大的經融風暴，應該也嚇不著這個優秀的年輕人。
最近讀到一篇文章，寫的是我們的升學制度從小到大都是在培養學者教授人才，但現實社會絕對不可能大家都做學者專家，這些只會念書考試的年輕人，畢業後到底能做什麼？難怪企業不愛，高不成低不就，人生才起步卻挫折無限。相對之下，美德既擁有一技之長，日子又充滿樂趣，不同的國家，不同的命運，台灣的年輕人注定只能有慘白的青春與不確定的未來嗎？
以下是美德的來信
碧華， 你好！
不好意思那么长时间没有给你联系过。就是因为我最近比较忙。最近有很多活动而 且我还应该写一个论文。因为我从下个星期开始呆三个礼拜在日本（参加活动，看朋友们），所以为论文工作的时间比较短。。。
除了比较忙以外我们还是很愉快的（不过参加活动，过不无聊的生活也是比较愉快的事）。我现在跟我的女朋友住在一起因为我妹妹去新西兰，去一年。所以我的这里的房子还有空的一间房间。
我的地址还是一样的（Holdersteig 12
- D-78465 Konstanz）。一定还是到明年夏天可以用。虽然我明年春天打算去日本学习多一点日文，但是那时候我女朋友，我妹妹还住在这里，所以邮件还是终于可以到我自己，哈哈）。
希望你们都还是很好！希望你的儿子也不用担心由于金融危机所以下岗！希望你们一切都顺利，开心！
祝都好！
美德Frieder Meidert
上海百樂門門口
-----------
An Outstanding Young Man
I received a letter from Frieder a few days ago. Frieder is a German boy whom we met in Turkey last summer when I accompanied Shyi-Dong to attend a conference there. I was very impressed with his letter which was written in Chinese. Even though Frieder spent only a year studying in a local university in China, he expressed himself very well in Chinese. We were interested to hear that he had started taking lessons to learn Japanese and would visit Tokyo soon. It is really amazing that Frieder is just a college student, but he knows at least four languages: Chinese, Japanese, English and German. In addition, he has traveled a lot and has experienced a variety of cultures since he entered a college. Compared with his life, mine was so different when I was his age. I remember that my parents always warned me how dangerous the world was and how cautious I should be if I was away from home. I was like a flower well protected in a green house; and the storm never could hurt me through my young age.
It is certainly nice and comfortable to grow up in a green house, but I wonder whether I could ever survive any storm without a green house. Frieder is just a college student but he has seen the world and has made many friends through the traveling. His life seems to be full of joys and excitement and he is well prepared for any challenges coming his way.
Recently I read an interesting article, The Tail Wiggles The Dog. It is about the current education system which seems more likely to prepare students to become professors or researchers than dealing with the challenges in the real life. Most students were not ready for the job market when they graduated and they complained that they couldn’t find a decent job or the pay was too low. Their lives were just about to start, but it was as if they were finished when they stepped into the work force. On the contrary, Frieder enjoys his life with great confidence and he seems not to worry about the world economic crisis at all. It seems that each different country gives its young generation a different fate. I wonder why Taiwanese young people can’t have a similar life to Frieder’s?
留言列表
