點滴6 Sharing 6: 見家長 (4) Meeting the Parents (4)

Moritz身在香港...

Moritz in Hong Kong...

在晚飯前，我跟Moritz再次重溫我教他的廣東話，主要是對人的稱呼，因為等一下他便會跟我家人見面。我教他應該稱呼我父母"世伯伯母", 如果只見到我爸就是"世伯", 我媽就是"伯母", 但緊張起來只見到他們其中一個他都會說"世伯伯母"，但現在他知道兩者分別。

Before heading to dinner, I reviewed the Cantonese phrases, mainly how to address my family, with Moritz because he will meet my family finally. I taught him to call my parents "Sai-Bak Bak-Mo" Uncle & Aunt in Cantonese. When there is only my dad, it would be "Sai-Bak" and say "Bak-Mo" if he meant my mom. When he was nervous and tense, he will use "Sai-Bak Bak-Mo" even only either my dad or mom is present. But now he knew the difference. 

正式見面我知道Moritz很緊張，因為他拿著手信送給我媽時，雙手在抖震，可能我之前告訴過他我父母性格古怪，好像我一樣捉摸不定，令他特別步步為營。

I understood Moritz was so anxious to meet my family the first time because when he handed the gift to my mom, his hand trembled. I told him before that my parents are as weird as I do, you cannot understand what we are thinking. Maybe because of that, my words scared him.

點滴5 Sharing 5: 見家長 (3) Meeting the Parents (3)

過去的戀情都不存在見家長環節更不會告訴他們我的感情世界，所以當我要對父母說男友是德國人加上我們的認識緣於旅行，那種壓力大於要獨自到南美或等待派發終期成績表。其實有壓力是怕得不到父母認同跟支持，這我能理解，突然出現一個遠在他方的男子是女兒男友，我能否跟他溝通？

None of the guys in previous relationships have met my parents and I never tell my parents anything about my relationship.  Therefore,  I was under pressure to tell my parents my boyfriend is German and we met when we travelled. There was so much pressure which was higher than to ask me to travel to South America alone or waiting for the result of the end-term test.  The pressure was from my parents because I was really scared they did not agree and support my decision.  I can understand how they feels when a gwailo (chinese slang for white guy) lived not in Hongkong but far away there said he is the boyfriend of the daughter.  The main problem they concerned is communication.

也許是我對這份情的認真，和希望為Moritz 留下好印象，特地在離開德國前教Moritz說幾句廣東話，為的是想拍一條短片給父母看認識他，知道他不是壞人。

Perhaps I took this relationship seriously and hope Moritz could give a positive impression to my parents,  I taught Moritz some Cantone

點滴4 Sharing 4: 守時與德國 Punctuality & Germany

德國人經常被喻為守時的民族，所以約了德國朋友，我都會守時應約。那德國的U-bahn守時嗎？

German was known as the nation of punctuality.  When I have an appointment with German friends,  I will be on time. How about the U-bahn in Germany?

在慕尼黑的日子，出門前都會先查看鐵路時間表，因為德國鐵路班次不像香港般頻密，有的路綫十分鐘一班，有的可以二十至半小時一班，錯過了有機會在車站呆等數十分鐘，所以預先計劃很重要！

In Munich,  it is important to check the train schedule before leaving home because the railway in Germany is not as frequent as that in Hongkong.  Some route provided service every ten minutes while some of them could be every twenty to half an hour for one.  If you missed the last train,  you could wait at the platform for ten to twenty minutes.  Thats why planning is important.

有次我和Moritz在車站等著，時間到了還沒有車到達，月台上其他乘客也在等著，所以我們應該沒有錯過預定U-bahn,結果列車遲了二十分鐘。

One time,  Moritz and I waited at the platform on time as other passengers did. We were sure we did not miss the U-bahn.  And the train came 20 minutes late.

還有次Moritz在寒冬下等U-bahn 上班，結果居然遲了一小時才到達！！那種心情真無奈，離開又怕下一秒列車到達，留守又不知道要等多久。德國列車可以很準時，但不準時的話的確很遲。

Another time Moritz waited for the train in winter to work and the train arrived an hour late!!! It was so helpless at that point.  If you left,  the train may arrive the next second.  If you stay,  you don't know how much longer you should wait.  The train in Germany is always on schedule,  but if there is delay,  it could be miserable.

如果事件發生在香港，不消15分鐘乘客已經開始鼓譟，網民拍照貼facebook, 向港鐵投訴，傳媒又會大造文章，絕不會像德國人那麼和平。

If the above happened in Hongkong,  with less than 15 minutes,  passenger started to grumble , took pictures and uploaded on social platform,  complained the poor service,  media reported in the news.  The result would never like the German. 

世界杯 FIFA World Cup :*:‧\(￣▽￣)/‧:*‧ 第100篇 100th POST

第一次到歐洲是2010年，當時正值舉行世界杯，碰巧是荷蘭國家隊比賽。橙色是荷蘭的國色，所以看到許多瘋狂擁躉（註：球迷）頭戴橙色頭巾、型型式式的帽或浮誇羽毛頭冠，身穿同色系球衣在街上狂歡或在酒吧外聚集。只要全身是個橙，他們都當你是朋友自己人跟你打成一片。

The first time I visited Europe was year 2010 which was the year of World Cup. It was the Holland team for the game. Bright Orange is the national color of Holland, so lots of crazy fans wore orange headbands, creepy hats or extravagant feather crowns, matched with the same tone sport shirt, cheered on the street or gathered up outside the pub. As long as you became an orange, you were friend of them already.

4年前在荷蘭  4 years ago in Holland (2010)

點滴3 Sharing 3: 見家長 (2) Meeting the Parents (2)

在Moritz 老家留過三日兩夜，見過他父母，姐姐Anne和她男朋友Oli, 還有差不多整條村的居民，大家都知道Moritz 那年到香港認識了香港女生。

I stayed at Moritz's hometown for 3D2N, met his parents, sister Anne and her boyfriend Oli, and almost all the citizens living in the town. Everyone knew Moritz met a Hong Kong girl when he visited Hong Kong.

這兩天跟Dieter 和Annette相處，發覺他們不單親民還很有教養，有其父母必有其子，所以教得Moritz那麼懂事。一起用餐的時間就是他們跟Moritz聊天的時候，因為Moritz 這幾年都離開老家住在大城市，見面小了，他們都很珍惜相聚的時光，這也是讓我和他們彼此了解的機會。還記得Annette在吃早餐時問我之後回香港有甚麼打算？會甚麼時候搬到德國？還替我思量我在德國可以做甚麼工作？Moritz看我愣住便知道我根本沒有答案，這事情現在去想也太快了，他便替我解釋然後帶過話題。

I spent lots of time with Dieter and Annette these two days. I found that they are not only nice but also very well-educated. In Chinese saying, "the kind of parents will have the kind of kids". That's why Moritz is such a polite and gentle person. The time having meal together was the time to chat with each other, they love talking to Moritz and knew more about him.  Moritz left home to the big city for more than 4 years. They seldom see each other, it was one of the precious moment to catch up. It was also the opportunity for me to know more about them or for them to know more about me too. I still remember Annette asked what was my plan after back to Hong Kong? When will I move to Germany? She even thought about what job suit me in Germany. Moritz probably saw some question marks on my face and I did not have answers on those questions. He explained to his mom and switched the topic.

點滴2 Sharing 2: 見家長 (1) Meeting the Parents (1)

Mathias問：去見Moritz的父母，你有否感到緊張？

我想想說：沒有。為什麼要緊張？

Mathias asked: Are you excited to meet Moritz's parents?

I thought for a second and said: No. Why should I be nervous?

***現在想想 "Excited" 在中文可解作緊張和興奮，明顯地當時我覺得他是指緊張，可能我潛意識是緊張的。

***The English adjective "Excited" can be translated as "nervous and anxious emotionally" or "feeling overwhelm". I was thinking the former meaning and maybe I was really nervous in subconscious.

我說得這麼輕鬆不是因為我不重視他父母，而是因為我經常從Moritz口中聽說他父母的事情，了解到他們都是很和藹可親的人，Moritz也已經告訴他們我們的關係，他們都對我有一定的認知，我更得知他們跟我一樣期待著這次見面，我的興奮比緊張為多。

I said "No" as nothing was not because I did not respect his parents.  I heard a lot about his parents from Moritz and I knew that they are very nice German. His parents also knew about our relationship as Moritz has informed them. They also knew something about me and we all looked forward to meet each other. I was more like looking forward to meet than afraid to meet.

Moritz老家   Moritz Home

好像童話故事中的糖果屋  Its like the candy house in the fairy tale