(又來水皮翻譯版 :p )
Yo Bonnie，近來好嗎?希望一切還好。我知道你喜歡旅行，所以我想跟你分享一個小故事。準備好未?
我記得我第一次坐飛機的時候只有八歲，那是我第一次來香港。我不知幾興奮!那天我還獲「恩准」向學校請假一天。我們把行李都放到車上，然後爸爸駕車載媽媽、姐姐們和我到希斯路機場。兩小時左右的車程，對我來說並不陌生。我最期待的只是上飛機!
我不太記得在機場或者過關時發生的事，但是我記得爸爸對地勤人員很不滿，因為他們說非吸煙區已經滿座，所以媽媽、三個姐姐和我要坐到吸煙區。談判了一會，英航終於也同意不應該讓小孩子吸二手煙，所以讓我們升級到商務艙!我想說其實那次真是浪費，因為那印象沒有好好印在我腦裡，而我自此之後就從沒被upgrade過。無論如何，要跟爸爸揮手說再見的確很難，我幾肯定我當時是有哭的。
等上機仍然是很難耐。我不肯定當時媽媽是怎樣一個人帶著我們四個小朋友，但她總算做到了。可能她有的是聖人的能耐。當我們終於可以上機的時候，我在接駁橋上又奔又跑，一邊轉過頭跟媽媽說﹕「快d，媽，我覺得我好似被人推上去咁呀，快d啦!」現在回想起來，不禁會心微笑，因為我現在通常都從從容容的走那段路。
你看，我從小開始就想飛，最初是想當超人或者小鳥，但之後希望的是駕戰機和珍寶客機。不幸地，時差的問題打消了我的志向，而我現在天天坐在電腦前按鍵維生。話說回頭，那程機很長，亦因為我在機上完全沒有睡過而顯得它更長。我真的太興奮了。
我記得最清楚的是降落的時候。你應該也知道，降落香港的舊機場要飛得很近那些高樓大廈，甚至飛得比它們還要低，是對機師們的挑戰。整個降落過程我好像興奮得沒有眨過眼!我有幸我有過在這世界知名的機場降落的經驗。
然後，我看到了很多不同的事情，根本就是去了另一個世界一樣。我終於來到香港了。以前我聽過許多關於香港的故事、看過許多照片、跟許多親友聊過，但就從來沒有親自來過。不過，我的感受不太深。
我們住在上水圍，所以我開頭幾天極掛念我長大的英國也是無可厚非。這裡相比英國髒、屋內的陳設都很簡單、露天的溝渠有點臭，而我的早餐也不再是粟米片、麥片。那時正值仲夏，也就是說，我還要面對那不斷上升的高溫。這一切對於一個八歲的小朋友來說都是很大的考驗。
有趣的是，十八年後，我發現自己已定居香港，而且是住在我第一次來港時踏足的那條村、那間屋，好像我的人生已經是一個滿圓，其實很多方面也是這樣，而我亦很高興自己有這樣的機會。當然，假如我沒有移居香港的話我就不會跟你做到朋友!
這就是我故事，希望你喜歡。照顧自己，還有，請你也跟我分享一些你心內的故事吧!
All the best,
文彥
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(原文)
Yo Bonnie, how’s it going? I hope you are keeping well. I know that you enjoy traveling, so I wanted to share a little story with you. Are you ready?
I remember the first time I took an aeroplane; I was just 8 years old and it was going to be my first time visiting HK. I was so excited! I was even allowed to take the day off school. We loaded the car with our luggage and my dad drove my mother, sisters and me down to Heathrow. The car journey would have taken about 2 hours, but I was familiar with that. I was most looking forward to boarding the plane!
I don’t remember much about the airport, or going through customs, but I do recall my dad getting angry with the ground staff. They said that non smoking seating was full, and were going to put my mum, 3 sisters and me into the smoking section. After some negotiation, BA agreed that they shouldn’t expose young kids to passive smoking, so we got upgraded to business class! I must admit, it’s a bit of a waste as the experience has not stuck in my mind and I’ve never been upgraded since. Anyway, waving goodbye to my dad was quite tough and I’m pretty sure I must have cried.
Still, the wait to get onto the plane was excruciating! I’m not sure how my mum managed to put up with 4 young kids, but she did somehow. Maybe she has the patience of a saint. When we were finally allowed on, I was running to and fro along the bridge to the plane, saying to my mum, “Quick, mum, it feels like I’m being pushed onto the plane! Hurry!” Looking back now, it makes me smile, as now I tend to take my time on that walk.
You see, from a very young age, all I ever wanted to do was fly. First as superman or a bird, but later my ambitions would turn me towards fighter jets and jumbos. Unfortunately, jet lag put me off this dream and now I push buttons on a computer for a living. Anyway, the flight was long, much longer because I didn’t sleep for a minute! I was far too excited, after all.
What I do remember very clearly, was the landing. As you’ll know, HK’s old airport was a challenge for all pilots, as they’d end up flying very close to and below the level of some high rise apartments. I’m not sure if I blinked throughout the approach! I feel priveliged to say that I got to experience one of the world’s most renowned airport approaches.
Next, my eyes were opened to something totally different, literally a world away. I’d finally arrived in HK. I’d heard so many stories and seen so many photos and spoken to so many relatives, but had never been. But, I was not too impressed!
Living in Sheung Shui Wai, it’s fair to say that the home comforts I had grown accustomed to in England were sorely missed during my first few days. It was dirty in comparison and furnishings were basic. Open gutters meant that it was a bit smelly and suddenly I was no longer eating cereal for breakfast. Being the height of summer also meant that I had to deal with soaring temperatures too. It was all very tough for a wide eyed 8 year old.
It’s funny, really, that after 18 years, I find myself living in HK permanently, in the very house and village I first set foot in on my maiden voyage. It’s almost like my world has come full circle. In many ways it has, and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been offered. Of course, I’d never have made a friend out of you if I hadn’t relocated!
So, that’s my tale, I hope you enjoyed reliving it. Look after yourself, and please share with me something close to your heart too!
All the best,
Mun Yin
