[playlist ids="3173800"] 這次參加了一個Work and Travel Program，目的地是美國一個叫Old Orchard Beach 的小鎮，這小鎮位於Maine。每當我跟朋友講的時候他們都說：「Maine是哪裡？」地圖我不太會看，美國右上角就是了。 I joined a "Work and Travel Program" in this summer and went to Old Orchard Beach, Maine. My friends usually asked me where was Maine, here it is! 去美國前還真的有點擔心，不是擔心不習慣，而是美劇裹的人都很自由，又很會享受生活，所以我在想：「萬一太舒服人變懶怎麼辦？」 Before I went to USA, I had a concern. I knew that the lifestyle in America is casual, enjoyable and crazy according to US series like 'flash'. So, I was worrying what if I enjoy too much and become lazy when I get back HK. 朋友就有這些擔心：「美國種族歧視很嚴重，你這華人外表很容易被欺負」 Besides my concerns, my friends also afraid that I would encounter racist. 「你住汽車旅館(motel)？槍殺案都發生在裹面呀！」 ' You live in motel? This is where people usually killed by guns!' 我根據我對美國的認識，對他們說：「如果有人在美國種族歧視，他可能面臨嚴重的後果。而且在香港，有人歧視會黑人，有人不會，難道因為部份歧視的人，而說香港人都種族歧視嗎？」 According to my understanding to America, I told them, ' You can have serious consequence if you discriminate others. Even in Hong Kong, some people think they are more superior than black while some doesn't. Are you going to generalize the whole population as racist just based on some cases? 「若說住motel不安全的話，那跟外國人說香港地鐵會有人放火、有人會跳樓壓死你有什麼分別呢？」 (其實我並沒有這樣講，因為對方是長輩) 'Some foreigners also think that there are firebomb attack in MTR in HK, or someone will jump from skyscraper and kill you. What is the difference between this saying and the notion that motel is not safe?' 去之前有太多想法，太多問題想要答案。終於，到了美國後，我以第一身的體驗，去探索和思考答案。別人塞什麼就吃什麼，沒有思考到底是否真相就相信的話，那就會跟《千與千尋》那兩只豬一樣，笨笨的。 There were too many questions in my mind and the only thought that I have was to explore this country by myself and find the answer through first hand experience. What comes to my mind if a person believes in whatever they hear is the 2 pigs eating everything in front of them in "spirited away". 帶著一腔熱血跟疑問，我到達了波士頓機場！當時有三件事想要做：去old orchard beach，吃，睡！ Finally I arrived Boston Logan International Airport. My agenda was, going to OOB, eat and sleep. Caption:在機場看到美國國旗太興奮，有幾個美國人看到我後在笑。 I was too pumped when I saw this flag. Some Americans were looking and smiling to me when I take this. 由於時間不早，所以我在Boston待了一個晚上。這是我第一個住的地方，美國人的家。在電視看到漂亮的獨立屋，想不到終於可以住一個晚上。 Beautiful house that I stayed in my first night in Boston. The house from television becomes reality! 第一天就告一段落，以下是幾個第一天就可以解答的「迷思」。 Here are the answer to a question. Q：美國人都是那麼外向的嗎? Q: Are all Americans outgoing? A：當然不是所有都是，但外向的比例和程度都比香港要大。比如，當我站在地鐵的路線圖不到一分鐘時，有位叔叔走過來問我要去哪，然後教我轉線。他們大都很願意跟陌生人聊天，甚至在你救助前，已經主動過來幫你。 A: Not everyone apparently, but the extent and degree is larger than that in HK. To give a brief example, when I was frustrated looking at the map in Boston, an uncle came and asked what he could help me with. They are mostly very willing to talk with strangers. 下次會講講Old Orchard Beach 的衣食住行，還有不可以在那裡做的事。 Next time I will talk more about my experience, the Do's and Don'ts in OOB.
