你會為這樣的孩子驕傲嗎?
05/30/2010
休斯敦地區華人中間流傳著這樣一個故事,一個在美國土生土長的華人孩子,把自己獲得的1500美金的獎學金,毫無保留地全部捐獻給了玉樹地震災區。
在海外生活時間較長的華人家庭往往都有一個遺憾,這就是,自己的孩子無法象自己那樣,對祖國有著那種割捨不斷的、說不清理還亂的故鄉之情,那種無論走到天涯、永遠是一顆中國心的愛國情操和一個至死不渝的「中國胃」。尤其是海外出生的華人孩子,對遙遠的中國故鄉的認識,只是一個來自父母的「夢」,來自父母每日里喋喋不休的「傳說」。
休斯敦這位「香蕉人」ABC(American Born Chinese,美國出生的華人),是如何把中國視為自己的故國,做出這樣「驚天動地」的壯舉的呢?
5月27日,中國駐美國休斯敦總領館為了表彰孩子的義舉,特地在領館駐地舉辦了一場短暫而又有記念意義的捐款儀式,筆者有幸到了現場。
故事的主人翁叫吳博捷,英文名字:Patrick Wu,是休斯敦市最好的私立高中St. John』s School十一年級的學生,他除了學習優秀,還是學校美式橄欖球隊隊員。在美國,華人子女學習好的比比皆是,但學習好同時體育又好的華人後代就鳳毛麟角了,尤其在美國人主宰的橄欖球王國里,鮮少有中國人的影子,高中橄欖球隊隊員,絕對是女孩子們崇拜的偶像。
當我第一眼見到吳博捷爸爸,他就開心地對我說:「我認識你,我們在一起打過藍球。」爸爸是個開朗的人,長得身高馬大,吳博捷遺傳了爸爸的基因,無愧於校橄欖球運動員,小夥子西服領帶,彬彬有禮,落落大方,難怪爸爸這樣自豪呢。1500美金可不是一個小數目啊,雖說是孩子得的獎,但羊毛出在羊身上,孩子未來上學,還是要老爸承擔大部分費用的啊,孩子的舉動,無疑是父母待人處事的一個寫照,為這位老爸鼓掌。
吳博捷這次獲得的獎項,是休斯敦華夏中文學校年度大獎。華夏中文學校和休斯敦首都銀行聯手設立了這個獎項,其宗旨在於鼓勵海外華人的子女學習中文,傳揚中國文化。目前,就讀於休斯敦華夏中文學校的學生有2000多人,中文學習已經成為海外華人希冀自己的子女保持中華文化一個最直接有效的手段,為此,華夏中文學校和首都銀行設立了這個獎項,候選人條件非常苛刻,除了中文成績好,在美國學校其它學習也要出色,另外,還有一個硬指標:候選人必須是在華夏中文學校堅持學習中文8年以上的學生。吳博捷就是在這樣的甄選條件下脫穎而出的優秀學生,獲得了年度大獎第一名。
美國高中階段的孩子,還是一個玩心很重的年齡階段,他們經常會和「狐朋狗友」們聚會而向父母伸手,也會為趕一場自己喜歡的音樂會或是體育盛會,不惜把多年的節省揮霍一空,所以,當吳博捷獲得這樣一個大獎后,父母問他如何花掉這筆錢,他突然有了一個想法:我應該讓更多的人和我一起分享我的喜悅。
玉樹地震的新聞,讓吳博捷體會到了中國震區百姓的痛苦,雖然地震過去了很久,但那幅悲景依然留在了孩子的心中,他主動向父母表示,願意將這1500美元的大獎,捐給災區,讓更多的同齡人,能夠享受到應該享受的生活。父母毫不猶豫地答應了,於是,就有了上述領館安排的捐贈儀式。
吳博捷還是世界YFU(Youth For Understanding,年輕人了解世界)大獎獲得者,他將在歐洲度過今年的暑假,所有費用由大獎組織者承擔,這個項目是讓世界各地的年輕人能夠到陌生的環境中去了解世界,學會獨立生活。全世界有數十個國家參加這個項目,中國也是其中一員。
吳博捷,為你驕傲,同時,也為海外青出於藍勝於藍的華人子女們驕傲!
你們,將會比你們的父母更出色、更有成就,你們必將了卻第一代海外華人移民曾經遺憾的夢!
賓主友好交談
爸爸一說到兒子,自豪驕傲感溢於言表
17歲的孩子,站在這樣的舞台,除了自豪和驕傲,還有什麼可以描述的呢?
孩子有自己的賬戶呢
從左至右:孩子中文學校老師、吳博捷、周鼎付總領事、吳父(James)、儲開閔僑務組長
父子倆個頭都高,1米8以上呢,不過,兒子更帥氣哦
老師好開心
周鼎副總領事代表領館贈送畫冊,希望孩子能把中國游遍
年輕人鶴立雞群,未來是你們的
附:華夏中文學校理事唐藝傑老師轉來的吳博捷同學寫的英文信
My name is Patrick Wu and I am in the 11th grade at St. John』s School in Houston. Every weekend, for the past 10 years, I have been taking Chinese language and culture lessons at Hua Xia Chinese School, at which several thousands of students attend from all over the Metropolitan Houston area including Houston, Katy, Sugarland, Clear Lake, Tomball, Cy-fair, Pearland, Friendswood and as far as Galveston. This year, I graduated from my Chinese School and won 1st place in the Hua Xia Chinese School-MetroBank scholarship. Having achieved the first place title in this scholarship competition, I also received a monetary prize of $1500. Instead of using this prize money on myself, though, I thought about putting it to better use. Former President Bush passed the No Child Left Behind Act for the United States, but I want to extend the idea of 「no child left behind」 globally as well as to extend it to different dimensions. Last month, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the YuShu County in the QingHai province of China. Almost all the buildings and residences collapsed, including schools, depriving numerous students of an education. I would like to assist in the rebuilding of schools and buying of text books, pencils, and other school supplies to allow students to continue their education. Following the ex-president』s theme, I believe that all children should have equal opportunities to go to school and receive an education because this is just the first step towards the goals they have in mind. We can』t leave them behind; we need to help them. For a remote, rural area in China, the financial difficulties are the ultimate issues for them to restore education. Hence, I would like to donate all my scholarship money to the students for a quick recovery. Though I know I need this money for my college, those students in China are in a more desperate need of this financial sustenance. For me, I can earn the funds for my college because I have various opportunities such as through my future work, other scholarships, etc. I believe that my contribution to this effort brings these students in China one step closer towards their goals.
I would like to ask Consul General of the Consulate General of the People』s Republic of China in Houston to help me deliver these funds to the students in the damaged area of YuShu County.