Written by Henry Sorren / Edited by Sherry Sorren
Part 2/2
清晨六點，農場主人用豐盛的早餐款待我，我大口吃著麵包、細細啜飲著溫熱的奶茶，雖然時間還早，但我的心已經被他們熱情的招待填得滿滿滿。吃完早餐後我迅速地套上他們提供我的黃色雨靴，因為想給農場主人們很好的第一印象，所以我用跑白米的速度完成出發的準備工作。接著坐上其中一人的摩托車後座 (這次我沒有用雙手環抱他的腰，而是自信滿滿的向後抓著把手支撐自己)，風從我的耳邊呼嘯而過，小鎮也漸漸甦醒。市場充滿著積極叫賣的小販和精打細算的婆婆媽媽們；小學生牽著爸媽的手漫步到學校準備上課，我可以感覺到充滿活力和人情味的台灣文化，來到台灣是我這輩子做過最好的決定之一。
My day began at 6am, and I was greeted at the dinner table with some bread and warm milk tea. I stuffed my face and drank the tea and quickly put on my yellow boots for the farm, I didn’t want them to think I was lazy or didn’t care about the work, i really did. I got onto one of their motor scooters and they drove me to the farm, (this time I held onto the back of the bike, like you’re supposed to). The whole town was just waking up, shops were opening, students were walking to their classes in their uniforms. I could see how the town worked and the beautiful Taiwanese culture coming to life before my eyes, it was really amazing.
他們載我到一個擁有上百上千棵芭樂樹的農場，教我如何用透明的塑膠袋細心的包覆住小芭樂，提醒我要小心地爬上三腳梯注意安全，接著便讓我一個人開始熟悉工作。我很享受在灑滿陽光的芭樂園裡，每天工作的時間約 6 到 9 個小時不等，通常我會帶著我的 iPod，邊聽廣播邊照顧一顆顆小芭樂。在農場的時間過得飛快，我的中文也在每天的日常對話中進步許多。
They took me to the farm, where I saw hundreds of guava trees in lines. They handed me plastic bags and explained to me how to wrap the tiny guavas. I began my work, using a triangle ladder to reach all the growing fruits. It was simple work, and I enjoyed spending time in the sunny farm. I even brought my iPod and would listen to podcasts for hours. The days passed by quickly, and my Chinese improved. I would work 6-9 hours everyday and I loved it.
有時候他們會要求我做些別的工作，像是修剪枝葉或施肥等等，在芭樂園工作非常不簡單，即使我已經在這裡待了一個禮拜，還是無法做的跟農場主人們一樣到位。每天工作完回到家，我的身體都累到不聽使喚。但是他們總是會煮很多菜來餵飽我的肚子，替明天的工作儲存滿滿的體力，隔天一早又有精神繼續照顧滿園的芭樂樹。
Sometimes I would wrap the guavas, trim trees or use a drill and dig holes to put fertilizer in. I’ll admit sometimes I had a hard time doing it, it wasn’t easy work, even the older farmers always did better than I did. Every night I would be so tired and sore from the day, but they would always cook a lot of food for dinner for me, and in the morning I felt ready again.
兩個禮拜很快就結束了，我也即將開始我的中文課程。我滿懷著感謝跟農場夫婦道別，他們給了我三大袋的芭樂讓我在想念農場生活時可以吃。他們載我到公車站牌等車，一個階段的結束就是另個階段的開始，我在前往逢甲大學的公車上，默默的幻想起接下來學習中文的生活，隨著公車不規律的起伏，我沉沉的睡去。
The two weeks were over, and now I was ready to start my classes. I said goodbye to the family, and after they gave me 3 bags full of guava, I hopped onto a bus and made my way to Taichung, where I would begin my classes at Fengjia University.
我不得不說，在芭樂園工作的兩個禮拜是我人生中最簡單快樂的時光之一。有時候生活太過複雜，你越無法真正享受人生。在芭樂園的生活是如此簡單美好，當我回想起那段時光，臉上總掛著滿足的笑容。
It was quite honestly some of the best times of my life, because it was so simple. The more complicated our lives get the less we can enjoy them, here I was in Taiwan, working on a farm for two weeks. It was a simple beautiful life, and something I will always think about with joy.
Note from Henry:
“I am an illustrator, photographer and traveler! For more of my own work please visit http://muumao.com“
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