Friday, August 15, 2008

Install your language packs.

Well everyone, the days are counting down till I am back in the States. The end of the quarter has been keeping me busy. I have been spending most of my time hitting the books, doing more Chinese reading, writing, and speaking. Don't really have much to report since the last blog. But I did want to share something with you guys. The story below is not of my own creation, but I did write it in Chinese. I present my version of Snow White to the blogger verse. You don't have to read Chinese to know how the story goes, but if you do read Chinese, I encourage thoughts and criticisms. Just remember in the end, Snow White and her Prince, lived happily ever after. I will see you all soon enough when my own fairy tale here in Taipei comes to an end. But keep an eye out for one more post before I get home. Just a final recap while still on the beautiful Island Formosa.



從前有一個國王和王后,他們生了一個女兒叫白雪,她小時候,母親就過世了。後來國王又結婚了。他的新婚妻子是一個邪惡的人,她很討厭白雪,希望白雪當她的僕人。幾年以後白雪長大了,她又高又瘦,皮膚白白的,眼睛大大的,非常美麗。有一天一位王子騎馬經過,看到白雪在工作,他馬上就愛上白雪了。

王后也很漂亮,頭髮黑黑的,眼睛也很美。她覺得自己是世界上最美的女人,於是每天對著魔鏡問:『魔鏡,魔鏡,世界上最美的女人是誰?』 『是您,我的王后』 魔鏡每次都這樣回答。但是說也奇怪,有一天魔鏡說:『最美的女人是白雪。』 王后聽了以後,氣得要命,就叫了一個獵人把白雪帶到森林裡殺掉。不過那個獵人很同情白雪,於是對白雪說:『王后要殺你!我求你趕快逃到森林裡去吧。』

白雪就跑進森林裡去,跑了很久跑得累極了。這時候,她看到森林裡有一間小房子,裡面有七張小小的床,她心想:『我累得不得了,我就在這裡休息一下』她一閉上眼睛,就睡著了。她睡覺的時候,住在這裡的七個小矮人回家發現白雪在他們家裡。他們覺得該讓這個美女睡覺,不要打擾她。白雪起床以後告訴他們她的情況,七個小矮人聽了以後說:『你可以住在這裡,只要幫我們洗衣服,做飯就好了。』白雪聽了就說:『一言為定』。可是第二天那邪惡的王后又問魔鏡:『魔鏡,魔鏡,世界上最美的女人是誰?』,魔鏡還是回答『 最美的女人是白雪』魔鏡的回答讓王后非常生氣,所以她決定化裝成一個老婆婆到小矮人的房子去給白雪一個又紅又大的毒蘋果吃。

有一天小矮人都要出去工作,出門以前對白雪說:『我們到山上去挖金子,你在這裡等我們回來,千萬別讓人進來。』 不久以後,白雪聽到有人在敲門,她從窗戶偷看是誰,發現在外面站著一個老婆婆,雖然小矮人說別讓人進來,可是她心想:『這是一個看起來很誠實的老婆婆,再說她拿著一個又紅又大的蘋果看起來很好吃,請她進來吧』。白雪走過去把門打開來,原來站著一個有鷹勾鼻,駝背的老女人。老婆婆目不轉睛的盯著白雪說:『美女你好嗎,請吃吃看這個又紅又大的蘋果吧!』 可是白雪吃了一口以後,就一直昏睡。

當天七個小矮人回家以後,發現白雪昏迷不醒 。七個小矮人都覺得她已經死了,於是做了一個玻璃棺材把白雪放在裡面。轉眼過了一個月,有一天那個愛著白雪的王子騎馬走進森林,走近一看嚇了一大跳,躺在棺材裡的女孩就是他心愛的白雪。他心想:『不管她是不是死了,我都要親她。』 所以王子抱起白雪親吻了她,結果白雪慢慢地張開了眼睛對王子說:『我在做夢嗎?原來是我的王子,謝謝你救了我,我愛你。』 從此他們就過著幸福快樂的日子。 結束

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Jake,

Looking forward to seeing you again!! Can't wait to hear more about your experiences when we see you at our next Gill gathering.

Your life's adventure will continue here in Milwaukee as you study and decide what your next move will be.

Have a safe trip home!!

Love,

Aunt Judy

Anonymous said...

Whoa Jake, succinct and visually stunning collection of Chinese characters to retell the tale of beauty and worthiness shunned, discovered, celebrated, doubted and ultimately realized.

You've come a long way in your use of the Chinese language both written and spoken. I keep thinking back to that day not so long ago, when you came downstairs at home and said you wanted to practice your first speech for Chinese class.

We were stunned then and still, and will always look on your past year as proof positive that devotion to a pursuit, task, dream or notion can open avenues of thought and action that are amazing and transformational.

Many times when we return from even a short time away, we are curious to see what has changed in our absence. With your sojourn, it is you who has undergone big changes and your new perspective will continue to shape things to come, for as one of your heroes (Yoda) said, "Always in motion is the future" and yours is looking mighty active and exceptinally good.
- Dad

Anonymous said...

Hi Jake,

I have enjoyed all of your posts and the window to another part of the world you opened, even though it will soon close.

Even as I have gone through some transformations and enlightenment of my own, I still have a way to go before they take root and grow while yours seem to have taken root and have begun to grow.

The hardest part of your journey still lies ahead, taking the roots of wisdom and knowledge you now have, transplanting them in another pot and keeping them alive in the process.

Knowledge may be something that no one can take away, but it is something that we can forget when neglected, choose to ignore or view a different way in another, distant, time and place.

May the roots of your knowledge travel safely home with you and may they flourish and grow as you find your way on the paths of your journey.

Stay safe and take care,

Carrie