From China to USA 客舍当家

无论海角与天涯，大抵心安即是家。(唐·白居易《种桃杏》)

We were young, once upon a time
Not lacking in dreams and aspirations.
But no house, no means of transportation,
Not even residence registration.

Adversary
Taught us, and we moved on.
From Shima to Xiamen, on a single bicycle
Children and us, and luggage, and furniture.

Then the Pacific ocean came in between.
As children grew up, your hair turned gray.
Eventually you joined me here, one by one.
We have our home, our yard, and our cars.

曾何几时，我们也都年轻过，
也曾豪情满怀，壮志未酬。
然而居无屋，出无车，
人无户口。

逆境，
使我们清醒，逼我们长进。
一辆旧脚踏车，从石码到厦门，
载过我们一家四口，和行李，和家俱。

终于大洋远隔.....
头发渐白，因为孩子大了。
然后是签证的痛苦，接机的喜悦，
又有了家--自己的家，自己的园，自己的车。

(Click the picture to see a larger one. Click on the link to go to the specific page.
击打图片可见放大相片；击打文字可到相关网页。)

We were young, once upon a time.		曾何几时，我们也都年轻过
1976 photo showing malnutriton		1976年，人有菜色
front gate of Longhai First High School where we taught and lived.		一家四口在我们任教和寄住的龙海一中校门口
a single bicycle (top photo is Yannan in about 1970, bottom photo is Hong in about 1990)		一辆旧脚踏车 (上图是燕南于1970年间；下图是庄宏于1990年间)
		一辆旧脚踏车 (上图是燕南于1970年间；下图是庄宏于1990年间)
Xiamen University, 1980		一九八０年在厦门大学
As children grew up, your hair turned gray		头发渐白，因为孩子大了。
Eventually you joined me here, one by one		然后是签证的痛苦，接机的喜悦
We have our home		又有了家--自己的家
our yard		自己的园
our cars		自己的车。