photo source: AIT Facebook Page
我沒想到會被這封信感動到......
不就是外交辭令嗎？怎麼這麼真誠，真誠到我覺得自己身為台灣人都不見得曾經這樣去理解自己對台灣的感情。
酈處長的英文誠懇樸實明確，很有節奏感。（感覺中文翻譯是有多那麼ㄧ點「華麗」......）
是時候好好再來練習英文，學生字學用字，還有修辭表達。
As my time as xxx draws to a close…….
隨著我擔任美xxx的日子即將畫下句點
It is not an exaggeration to say that……
這麼說一點也不為過：
fulfillment of a career-long aspiration
實現長期職業生涯中的抱負與理想
Taiwan became synonymous for me with the ideas of exchange and understanding, exploration and adventure
台灣就成了交流與理解、探索與冒險的同義詞
It felt appropriate for me to……
真是再適合不過了
have such a fondness for
這麼喜歡......
be struck by….
I am immediately struck by the many ways Taiwan has advanced as a society
我都對台灣社會在各個方面日新月異的進步感到驚艷不已
Taiwan’s democracy grows more mature, its economy more prosperous, its environment more cared-for, and its arts and culture more vibrant.
台灣的民主更臻成熟，經濟益加蓬勃，環境保護更受關注，藝術文化發展也生生不息。
Taiwan society is remarkable for its stability and cultural continuity. Taiwan’s people, despite their relative wealth and stature, continue to be modest and unassuming.
台灣的社會穩定和文化傳承依舊令人欽羨佩服。儘管生活充裕且形象良好，台灣人民卻依然謙虛樸實、平易近人。
Taiwan exemplifies the intersection of shared interests and shared values.
台灣正是共享利益與共享價值交集的典範
Our partnership is about making sure our economies are beneficiaries rather than casualties of technological development and ensuring that technological development advances rather than undermines our principles. (不容易翻譯的ㄧ句）
美台夥伴關係的重點在於確保科技發展能夠嘉惠、而非傷害我們雙方的經濟，科技突破則應被用於鞏固、而不是破壞我們的原則。
Our shared values of freedom, diversity, equality, and transparency inspire our efforts to build the resilience of democracies around the world.
美台之間自由、多元、平等及透明等共享價值，時時激勵我們努力在世界各地打造民主社會的韌性。
This friendship has expanded and flourished over the past 40 years.
美台的情誼在過去40年來不斷拓展與茁壯
xxx touched my life
I will remember all the ways big and small that you, the people of Taiwan, touched my life and the lives of my family.
讓我的生命更加豐盛美好（這就是華麗翻譯的一個例子.....）
形容台灣/台灣社會/台灣人民的關鍵字（以後跟外國朋友介紹台灣時的字彙庫）
- exchange and understanding, exploration and adventure
- disorienting foreignness and unexpected opportunity
- kindness and generosity
- dynamism and constancy; progress and preservation; innovation and tradition
- mature democracy
- prosperous economy
- cared-for environment
- vibrant culture
- stability and cultural continuity
- modest and unassuming
- freedom, diversity, equality, and transparency
- hope, promise, and growth
(promise翻譯為光明？認真查字典：真的有這意思啊～）
the idea that someone or something is likely to develop successfully and that people expect this to happen
（成功的）跡象，徵兆；（有）出息，（有）前途
如果是形容詞promising就了解到「光明」的感覺
新單字
- disorienting 迷失方向 => 文章中翻為眼花繚（撩）亂
- rudimentary 初級的，發展未完全的 =>文章中翻為粗淺
- cared-for 關心的
- stature 身高、聲譽
- unassuming 謙遜、低調
- culmination 頂點，全盛
常常搞錯的介系詞
- serve as the top U.S. diplomat to Taiwan
- my career took me to other places, but mostly still in the China region
- explain my affection for and professional fascination with Taiwan
- come back to a few themes
- set the benchmark for
- is remarkable for
全文在此：
A Farewell Letter from AIT Director W. Brent Christensen
"As my time as AIT Director draws to a close and I prepare to leave Taiwan, I want to take this opportunity to tell you what this experience has meant to me. It is not an exaggeration to say that this has been the honor of my life and the fulfillment of a career-long aspiration.
The first time I left my hometown at age 19, it was to come to Taiwan. From that early age, Taiwan became synonymous for me with the ideas of exchange and understanding, exploration and adventure. Taiwan represented both disorienting foreignness and unexpected opportunity, as I tried new food – like shuijiaos and qiu doufu – and learned to navigate my way through streets crowded with bicycles and scooters. And struggled to make myself understood with my rudimentary Mandarin. But all the while discovering the kindness and generosity that welcomed me wherever I went.
It felt appropriate for me to serve my first tour as a U.S. diplomat in the place that first sparked in me a lifelong interest in Asia – and in Taiwan in particular – and in cross-cultural understanding and shared purpose, or in other words, diplomacy. After that, my career took me to other places, but mostly still in the China region. But the memories of my experiences in Taiwan stayed with me. And finally having the opportunity to serve as the top U.S. diplomat to Taiwan was the culmination of all the years that came before. It is clear that I have a lifelong connection to Taiwan, or “yuanfen,” that has led me to return again and again.
People often ask me why I have such a fondness for Taiwan. “Isn’t it obvious?!” I always think. But when forced to explain my affection for and professional fascination with Taiwan, I usually come back to a few themes.
First, dynamism and constancy; progress and preservation; innovation and tradition. Every time I return to Taiwan, I am immediately struck by the many ways Taiwan has advanced as a society. Taiwan’s democracy grows more mature, its economy more prosperous, its environment more cared-for, and its arts and culture more vibrant.
Taiwan’s industry continues to set the benchmark for global innovation in some of the most sophisticated technologies, but at the same time, Taiwan society is remarkable for its stability and cultural continuity. Taiwan’s people, despite their relative wealth and stature, continue to be modest and unassuming. Taiwan’s most ancient traditions are alive and well. Cultural and historic sites are restored and preserved. Young people may learn calligraphy techniques handed down for generations, but then share their work on Instagram.
Second, for the United States, Taiwan exemplifies the intersection of shared interests and shared values. Our partnership is about making sure our economies are beneficiaries rather than casualties of technological development and ensuring that technological development advances rather than undermines our principles. Our shared values of freedom, diversity, equality, and transparency inspire our efforts to build the resilience of democracies around the world. And we continue to find new ways to contribute to global problem solving, both because it benefits our own peoples and because we share the belief that this is what it means to be a good neighbor in the 21st century.
Finally, I associate Taiwan – and the broader U.S.-Taiwan relationship – with hope, promise, and growth. This friendship has expanded and flourished over the past 40 years; I believe every person who has done this job walked away knowing they left this partnership better than they found it. I will similarly leave AIT with a sense of accomplishment and success, knowing that the U.S.-Taiwan partnership is deeper and stronger than ever, and feeling immensely proud of my small role in getting us there.
But more than any of these things, I will remember the ways that Taiwan has touched me personally. I will always remember my first Christmas in Taiwan – and my first Chinese New Year. I will remember the warmth of Taiwan friendship, the faith of my fellow church members, the taste of a mango bing on a hot summer day, the echo of “Fur Elise” from the recycling truck, the fragrance of jasmine blossoms in village alleyways – these are just some of the memories I will treasure. I will remember the long dinners with dear friends, full of laughter and stories. And I will remember their many kindnesses. I will remember all the ways big and small that you, the people of Taiwan, touched my life and the lives of my family. And for that, I thank you.
I may be leaving Taiwan, but Taiwan will never leave me. "
--- AIT Director William Brent Christensen
留言列表
