喜悦总是多于失望

文/Edwin Maher（艾德文·马厄）

译/张晓

我的中国故事MY CHINA STORY

喜悦总是多于失望

文/Edwin Maher（艾德文·马厄）

译/张晓

本文作者艾德文·马厄

编者按:

本刊邀请在华的外国朋友回顾他们在中国过去五年的工作与生活，分享他们的工作进展和他们关注的中国现象。本期特刊登曾在中央电视台担任主播的艾德文·马厄和英国大使馆文化教育公使艾琳的文章。

在澳大利亚电视台做天气播报员时，给观众解释气压的高低很关键。什么带来了持续的高温或者严寒？为什么我预报了艳阳高照却下雨了？

回顾我过去5年在中国的生活，和天气变化有些相似，有高潮，也有低谷。

当然，高潮总是要多于低谷，喜悦总是多于失望。毕竟这里是中国，发展迅速，总是有很多事情值得去体验。

2012年，我非常荣幸获得了中国绿卡，从2003年来到中国，我终于拿到了这个资格，这意味着真正的归属感。

As a weather presenter on Australian TV, it was essential to explain the highs and lows of air pressure when giving the latest forecasts to viewers. What was causing the prolonged heat or cold? Why did it rain when I had promised sunshine?

Looking back over my past fi ve years in China, there have been similar elements, just like those changes in the weather.

The highs vastly outnumber the lows－after all this is China where things move quickly and there’s always something memorable to experience.

2015年9月3日，我受邀出席在天安门广场举行的纪念抗日战争胜利暨世界反法西斯战争胜利70周年阅兵，这又是一个令人难忘的经历，令我想起了2009年中华人民共和国成立60周年国庆阅兵后的群众游行，当时我乘坐了外国友人彩车，真是令人兴奋。

2015年2月，我在中国写的第二本书——《找得着北——央视洋主播的新生活》在中国人民大学澳大利亚研究中心举行了新书发布仪式。

时间飞逝，转眼我在中央电视台英语频道播报新闻已经13年了。我决定，是时候去追求一些媒体领域的其他兴趣了。

2016年11月，我最后一次离开央视大楼，希望自己避免莎士比亚的那句名言“离别是如此甜蜜的凄凉”，而只是带着那些美好的回忆。

看一看北京之外的中国，就像是探险。过去5年，我和中国朋友们一起出游，足迹远至新疆、青海，那些令人难以置信的美景将永存于我的脑海。

在这片辽阔的土地上，总有很多地方值得去看，流光溢彩，千姿百态。

尽管飞机很方便，我也从不错过乘坐高铁的机会，高铁线路几乎联通了整个国家，舒适又可靠。

在北京，我喜欢骑上我的捷安特自行车，逛逛这个城市，这给我带来了不一样的乐趣。

这辆车是我的儿子阿德里安送我的礼物。2008年奥运会时，他与我一起在北京，之后他送了这辆车给我。

9年来，我四处骑行，尤其喜欢骑车去北京西部的山区。我经常漫无目的地骑着车子到乡间，新鲜的空气，探索的自由，突然间发现自己已经远离了北京的喧嚣。

这些都是我生活中的高潮，那低谷呢？我已经听到你在问了，请继续读。

在中国，我遇到过一些外国朋友，他们和很多中国人一样有一个共同之处：自行车都曾“消失”，或“被借走了”，还是直接说吧，就是被偷了。

但14年来，我的两辆车都没有“消失”过，直至两个月前。

共享单车的时代，我还有点得意—— 我这个老伙伴的锁坏了，我也不必再费心修理了。

上个月一天，跑步的时候，我决定和朋友一起吃晚饭。我得骑车从北京友谊宾馆到附近的人民大学地铁站，然后乘4号线地铁与朋友见面。我把车子停在地铁口，知道它会在此等我回来。

晚饭时，我和朋友们聊起了共享单车的火爆。我还说，我从没骑过共享单车，因为我有自己的自行车。我还说：“即使锁坏了，我也不担心，骑一辆共享单车很便宜，谁还会去偷像我那辆一样老旧的自行车呢？”

Being invited to attend China’s 70th V-Day anniversary parade in Tiananmen Square on September 3 2015 was another unforgettable occasion, recalling the excitement of actually being on the foreigners’ float in the PRC 60th anniversary parade and pageant in 2009.

In February 2015, my second book written in China, Caught on CCTV, was launched at the Australian Studies Centre of Renmin University.

Times change, and after 13 years anchoring bulletins around the clock at the English channel, CCTV News, I decided it was time to move on to pursue other media interests.

In December 2016, I quietly left the CCTV tower for the last time, hopeful of avoiding Shakespeare’s famous words: ‘Parting is such sweet sorrow’, but taking fond memories with me.

Seeing China beyond Beijing is always an adventure, and in this fi ve year period I have been lucky enough to go with Chinese friends to places as far as Xinjiang and Qinghai, where scenery beyond belief will never be erased from my memory.

And there is so much more to see of this vast land, an everchanging quilt of stunning shades and textures.

While air travel is convenient, I never miss an opportunity to use high speed trains which link so much of the country, providing comfort and reliability.

Here in Beijing, I have found special enjoyment exploring the city on my trusty GIANT (brand) bike－a “thank you” gift from my son Adrian, after staying with me during the 2008 Olympic Games.

For nine years I rode it in all directions, especially to the hills west of the city. Often I would just cycle into the countryside without any destination in mind. The fresh country air and the freedom to explore was always an adventure, fi nding myself in villages a world apart from Beijing’s bustle.

So much for the “highs”. What about the “lows” I hear you ask? Please read on.

I have met several foreigners in China who share a common link with many local Chinese－their bikes have gone “missing”, either “borrowed” or－let’s face it－stolen.

But in the 14 years living in China, neither of the two bikes I have owned here, had disappeared. That was, until two months ago.

2012年艾德文在新疆

我想你已经知道了后来发生什么事情。

回到人民大学地铁站，我从电梯上来，走向出口的停车处，迎接我的老朋友。足足五分钟，我沿着几列自行车走来走去，一眼望去，一片单车的七彩海洋，小黄车、小蓝车、摩拜，但是我的那辆黑色捷安特，它更大一些，车前还有我的金属质地的购物篮，却找不到了。

我想起了刚才和朋友们的玩笑，我不需要一把新锁，我的心沉了。我知道，它丢了。

第二天上午，我又去了同一家捷安特自行车店，离我住的宾馆很近，2008年阿德里安就是从这家店把这个忠诚的老朋友带给了我。在许多彩色自行车中，我发现了一辆，就像我之前的那辆，一样是黑色，但更结实，当然也更贵。

简短的骑行后，我决定买下来，我还买了一把更大、更好的锁来防盗。

我很喜欢这辆新车，但每次经过人民大学地铁站时，我都不禁扫一眼那一排排的自行车，为失去这个老朋友而伤心。

也许有人还会把它放回来，算了，我觉得这不太可能。我只希望它能原谅它的新“主人”，给他带来同样的欢乐，就如它曾经带给我的。

In this era of the hire-bike phenomenon, I had become somewhat complacent, not bothering to repair the broken lock on my cycling “companion”.

Last month I was running late and decided to cycle from my apartment at the Beijing Friendship Hotel to the nearby Renmin University Station and travel by subway along Line 4 to meet friends for dinner. I parked my bike near the entrance, knowing it would be easy to fi nd when I returned around 10 p.m.

During the meal our group was talking about the popularity of hire bikes and I mentioned that I never used them because I had my own bicycle. I told them even though the lock didn’t work, I wasn’t worried. “These days”, I added, “hiring a bike is so cheap, why would anyone want to steal an old one like mine?”

I think you know what’s coming.

Returning to the Renmin station, I climbed the escalator and walked out to greet my GIANT friend, parked close to the exit, knowing it would be easy to fi nd.

For five minutes II walked up and down the lines of twowheelers looking into the sea of colourful Ofos, Bluegogos and Mobikes, for my larger black bike with the metal shopping basket fi rmly attached to its front. But I couldn’t see it.

Then I remembered joking to my friends just a few hours earlier that I didn’t need to get a new lock. My heart sank. Who could resist a bike that needed no unlocking? I knew the answer. It was gone.

Next morning I walked the short distance from the Friendship Hotel to the same GIANT store where my old faithful friend was bought by son Adrian in 2008. Standing out among the modern multi-coloured bicycles was one that looked just like mine - the same black color but more sturdy and of course, more expensive.

After a quick test-ride around the showroom, I decided I had to have it. I also bought a bigger and better lock than the old one -virtually steal-proof.

I am proud of my new bike, but whenever I pass the Renmin University subway station, I still glance along the rows of bikes, feeling sad for a second or two for the loss of my departed friend.

Perhaps the same person will put it back one day. Somehow I don’t think so. My only hope is that it forgives the new “owner”and provides the same pleasure it gave to me.

The Highs Vastly Outnumber the Lows

a Chinese Green Card, a symbol of real belonging within a community I fi rst joined in 2003.