First, the basic rules for eating spaghetti is to circle the food with your hands but your elbows cannot be put on the table.
  Second, when you wind/twist the spaghetti with fork, help of a spoon is unallowable.  Fork only.
  Third, never cut the spaghetti with knife or fork. The length of spaghetti is 10 inch.
  Fourth, keep silent as possible as you can when chawing it.
  Fifth, keep the sauce from splashing and never put the napkins in your chest unless you are little kids.   

        I played a joke with my students. Before the class time, I entered the classroom through the back door and chose a seat where I could be easily ignored by everyone in the classroom. Maybe some students were aware of a stranger in their classroom but they would simply regard me as a certain member of other class.  therefore, more and more students came in, talking, laughing,  kiding with each other and having breakfast.  This happy, warm scene reminded me of my life on campus so much that when I stepped to the platform and naturally interrupted their noise, I really felt sorry for them.
      Later I told them I am 25 years old and there was a kind of "Ah...."  spreading among students.  I shrugged and said my face is given by my parents and I had no choice.  We had a really good time during class.
      All right, no matter how much I don't look like a teacher, I am your teacher. It is true.

      One of my best friends got married the day before yesterday. It was drizzling and the gray sky pressed lower than any time. The whole wedding was formly and hastily so simple that my friend was just a stiff model. Maybe that is the true to all the brides in chinese traditional weddings for modern, not so traditional people. The only true feeling she conveyed was her drunk. She cried loudly as if she would lost all the beloved ones. I knew what kind of hard times she had ever gone through and so I understood why she cried so heartily. 
    Anyway, my best friend, friend since junior school, got married. She married because she wanted to be someone's wife for the whole life, so I hope her husband will treat her well enough, as a wife for the whole life.

     This is a fresh morning. I can see the mountain and even Wenfeng Tower in distance clearly. In breeze, my memory of the dream last night awoke. It was sweet because I dreamed of someone funny, someone very interesting. It is strange because I even didn't know him well enough. As the psychologists say, dreams reveal a lot to you, especially something you will not believe or admit. Maybe my life lacks some fun or recreation that this dream appeared to make it up.
    I followed Desperate Housewives all the time but now I decided to stop. The whole plot became farfetched in the third season. Each family has a dirty laundry----it is true, but that doesn't necessarily mean each family has to be related with violation of the law. This whole story just becomes criminal movies. Girls are bored by criminal movies, actually.

     I heard the neighbour girl crying loudly and sadly this morning. When I was brushing teeth, her cry with some ambiguous words just ran into my ears, such as "Late... why not tell me early...I am bad...". I guessed that something sad had happened to her.
      One hour later, she told me that, her beloved grandma passed away for heartattack. I felt sorry but failed to say anything to comfort her. Even though I had experienced the sadness of losing some family members, I still have no idea how I can get through it or help others in the same situation to get through. Maybe it is so different from other difficulty, or every real sadness only belongs to oneself. When you feel heart-broken, the easiest way is to hide in your own cave and lick wounds yourself, just like any little animal will do.
      On the way home from supper, a little book-mark attracted my eyes. It was in light purple and the words in it went as "Life is precious stone given by God and to be carved by ourselves.  "
I decided to take this to her as a little gift. Not to comfort her only, but to look for the way of explaining death in a soft way.

     Mr. Feng Youlan once wrote, "chinese people are too concerned about philosophy to care the religion". They have so much, in philosophy, consciousness and so little in religion. They find the being transcending the existing world in philosophy instead of philosophy and still express and appreciate the value of that being in philosophy. Through philosophy life, they learn this value transcending ethics and morality.
    As a matter of fact, I vaguely think he is right but I have no idea what he is really talking about. 

   强烈推荐张远山的<寓言的密码>.以下是他做的序言中的前两部分.

 

一

　　儒家天真，道家率真，墨家认真，名家顶真。
　　政治上天真的儒家，在生活中一点也不率真，所以多是伪君子。生活中率真的道家，在政治上一点也不天真，所以多是真隐士。宗教上认真的墨家比儒家虔诚，他们把鬼神当真，因此避免了儒家的虚伪。知识上顶真的名家比道家真诚，他们把真理当真，因此避免了道家的虚无。
　　然而帝王专制需要政治上天真幼稚的儒家，因此儒家战胜了墨家，宗教信仰在中国成了民俗游戏。帝王专制需要生活上率真随便的道家，因此道家战胜了名家，客观真理在中国成了海外奇谈。
　　所谓真实，可分为真际与实际两部分。中华民族是个很不认“真”而颇为务“实”的民族。名、墨两家专注于真际，儒、道两家专注于实际。因此墨家和名家的中道覆灭，在中国历史一成不变的务实轨道上，几乎是逻辑的必然。名、墨两家的中道而绝，使真际文化成为绝响；儒、道两家的阴阳互补，使实际文明绵延久长。中国文化对“真实”的接受程度，以道家颇为务实的率真为最后界线。在率真的限度内，一定程度的狷介放达，成了中国文化最高的审美内容。作为对令人窒息的专制文化的必要调节，作为对高度紧张的脆弱神经的适度松弛，道家式的率真狂放，有时甚至可以表现为对帝王将相的某种不恭和傲慢。但任何狂士一旦越过了这个最后界线，就会遭遇灭顶之灾。
　　　
二

　　儒者弱智，道者狡智，墨者奇智，辩者大智。
　　儒者标榜仁义，贬低智慧，因为他们非常弱智。道者批判仁义，绝圣弃智，却自称大智若愚，然而若愚之智并非大智，只是老奸巨滑的狡智。墨者非难儒、道两家，无私无畏地神道设教，颇有惊天地泣鬼神的奇智。辩者跳出世俗政治的污秽樊笼，冒天下之大不韪地叩响真理之门，故有空谷足音的大智。在公孙龙的超绝智力面前，所有先秦诸子的智力都显得相当平庸。因此，当墨、辩之智成为绝响之后，中国文化从此就与真正的智慧永远绝缘──直到西方智慧进入中国以前，只有道家的狡智和禅宗的冒牌智慧──弱智的儒家信徒无不对取代了良币的劣币心悦诚服。
　　由于真正的智慧在中国文化中的缺席，于是智力水平连普通几何题也解不出的江湖骗子，就敢于自封智者。徐光启服膺西方文化，是从翻译欧几立德的《几何原本》开始的；康熙皇帝敬畏西方文化，也是从解几何题开始的。我敢断言，凡是贬低西方文化的人，都是读初中时解不出几何题的人。反过来也一样，凡是拜倒在西方文明现有成就脚下，却对产生这些成就的原因一无所知的人，也是读初中时解不出几何题的人。柏拉图学院门口之所以大书“不懂几何者免进”，就是为了预防弱智者成为以“超级智者”唬人的江湖骗子。众所周知，中国自古至今都盛产这样的江湖骗子。我认为，凡是会解几何题的人，就不会被禅宗式的江湖骗术蒙得晕头转向。我敢说，惠能以及所有的禅宗大师，他们的智力都不足以解几何题。不会解几何题并不可羞，因为他或许是个能够打破唯理主义的逻辑思维定势的艺术奇才（比如庄子），但艺术家不该冒充哲学家──正如不懂诗的哲学家不该冒充艺术家。

      I was so busy those days that my telephone seldom stopped ringing. I have planned in such a long time for a day off any work or connection with anyone. Therefore, after a nap at noon, seeing the beautiful sun,I decided to go out without it.
     When I came back with great satisfaction, I found my telephone with no change at all. No missed log, no information, no short message, even no any gossip or weather precasting spreaded by the information station. It was a little bit disappointment, I admitted. I realized that I was  not so important as I imagined, actually far away from that.
      Everybody wants to be important, at least important to certain people or things. That's why we always imagine ourselves more helpful or meaningful than we are. The subconsciousness always plays this trick on us. The problem is it never fails. Human beings have to live with it as long as we can live.

       A little path can be found from behind the dinning hall to the college gate. It is usually decorated with some purple hibiscus. The delicate purple angels are always flying into wind and falling down to the earth. Today, however, my eyes were attrated by the trees beside because a sweet smell struck my noses on the path. I knew it is sweet-scented osmanthus, but could not find the resource. Their little buds hides within the wood, letting off whiff only. The path was bathed in the fragance.
       Is it the flavor of Autumn?
       One friend once wrote to me about the Autumn in Beijing, "warm, limpid, lovely and golden".  I admired him because the Autumn in Chongqing is too short to be felt, just a little gap between summer and winter. It is often dry and windy. I never feel something like golden in Chongqing's Autumn.
        However, I smelled the flavor of Autumn. It is not only the fragance of plants, totally beyond my words. It is an atmosphere created by all lives together.
  

          I had a very special friend, a friend sharing the same interest with me. She recommended me the book, Six Chapters of Floating Life, which became my favorite as soon as I finished the first chapter. We studied German together but I could always learn something from her because she simply does something to her liking while I do for being forced to. She always keeps, in her old blue pencilbox, some pieces of paper, in which fully written down any information, questions, resources or just daily chores she will deal with; now I get into this habit. I once listened to her singing a song of Michale Jackson when a teardrop running down her cheek. I was usually surprised by seeing her so quiet in daily life but so energetic, excited and eloquent in expressing her unique ideas, in meeting of minds,in the field of astrology, theology, religion, philosophy and humanity, etc.
      We are both shy persons, so shy that we prefer living our own life respectively even though we were in the same class. Strangly, when we are doing something together, we never feel uneasy in long time silence. The only reason is we can understand the importance of silence to each other.
      Sometimes we keep on discussing on certain topics for several hours and then will not hear from each other for one and a half year. We are the same person, fear to trouble others and be troubled. I never try to keep contact with her but I am sure we will exchange the romance locked in heart whenever we meet. To me, she may be not so important in reality of life, but she is unreplaceable for ever.

         There is an interesting explanation for the famous cigarette, Marlboro. Each letter of

the name represents one word and the combination goes like "Man always remember ladies

because of romance only." or "Man always remember love because of romance only." Maybe it

was just one of the advertisement tactics but it really provides affectionate imagination

for users as well as their parteners.  To some degree, it weakened women's hatred for

smoking. Who'd like to think themselves not lovely, not romantic, or unattractive?
       Another one is Häagen-Dazs, the famous ice-cream. It is said the most emotional one is

" Love her, buy her Häagen-Dazs."  I can even imagin how many girls will enjoy, in ecstacy, 

the moment when their lovers produce this icecream for them.
        Can I find someone who will buy Marlboro or Häagen-Dazs just for me? One day.

        I spent nearly 10 days busy filling tables. Tables for personal information, for application for Labour's Institute, for teaching schemes that should be uploaded, for learning experience and plan of some programmes I never knew.  I wanted to ask someone why I had to do this, but failed. Because there are only two kinds of people, who were told to make tables and who were told to fill tables, at present. When we are labeled with all kinds of information, numbers, ranks in previous tables, we find easier to fill more. Is it another way to be "institutionalized"? 
       If I try to believe what in the tables are myself, I will lose myself in the table gradually.
 

      I didn't realize how late it was until my window system corrupted suddenly. Another reason was I was listening to the song Green Sleeves. I liked its melody when I was a little child, but today one friend told me about the romantic sad love story hidden in the song and I was fascinated about it once more. The translation version and the original English:

我思断肠，伊人不臧。　　Alas my love, you do me wrong
弃我远去，抑郁难当。　　To cast me off discourteously
我心相属，日久月长。　　I have loved you all so long
与卿相依，地老天荒。　　Delighting in your company
　
绿袖招兮，我心欢朗。　　Greensleeves was all my joy
绿袖飘兮，我心痴狂。　　Greensleeves was my delight
绿袖摇兮，我心流光。　　Greensleeves was my heart of gold
绿袖永兮，非我新娘。　　And who but my Lady Greensleeves

我即相偎，柔荑纤香。　　I have been ready at your hand
我自相许，舍身何妨。　　To grant whatever you would crave
欲求永年，此生归偿。　　I have both waged life and land
回首欢爱，四顾茫茫。　　Your love and good will for to have

伊人隔尘，我亦无望。　　Thou couldst desire no earthly thing
彼端箜篌，渐疏渐响。　　But still thou hadst it readily
人既永绝，心自飘霜。　　Thy music still to play and sing
斥欢斥爱，绿袖无常。　　And yet thou wouldst not love me

绿袖去矣，付与流觞。　　Greensleeves now farewell adieu
我燃心香，寄语上苍。　　God I pray to prosper thee
我心犹炽，不灭不伤。　　For I am still thy lover true

     Today I went into a small all-things-for-one-yuan store and met a girl whose face had been so thickly painted that I could not figure out her original one. I felt not comfortable to see her but her expression retained as "I am comfortable myself, and it is good". I never make up, but I admire her.
     Someone once said, women's faces are not exhibitions of cosmetics. This idea has been held in esteem for long in such a swiftly chaning society. All information-carriers boost their natural, fresh and original styles or their "way" to return to the original purity and simplicity.  However, if we have no enough colorful painting on a paper, how can we cherish the purity of paper in the way they deserve?
      The girl's face is conveying  "I am trying this." She is the brave one, totally confident for her choice. At least she is doing what I cannot do at present.
      One day, maybe, I will paint my face in a way all my friends or relatives are not able to accept. Then just try to trust my choice if one day really comes.  

      How many examinations do we have in the whole life?
      This evening there held an examination for sophomores. It is setted, as leaders say, to supervise and urge students for good learning habit. I hope this does work because it is hard for most students to accept such a sudden test at the very beginning of a semester.
To my surprise, students came into classroom and took exam quietly and peacefully. What I can read from their faces is "I have taken it for granted." 
      It reminds me of the film, The Shawshank Redemption. The old Jack lived a happy life in prison, feeding little birds, cleaning rooms and managing the little library. But he killed himself after a few days because there is no hope any more. He has been institutionalized.  "First you hate them ,then ,you get used to it ,enough time passes…you get so ,you depended on them , that is institutionalized".  How about us? For most chinese students, 12 to 20 years are spent in preparing for or taking examinations. This is the only goal we are to achieve or the only way we live by.
     It is true that some students commit suicide for grim exams they cannot face. I just wander, will the number decrease or increase if there is no exam?

       Campus was full of new-comers the two days. Curious, excited, anxious and tense, new-comers wandered around the campus, too impatient to wait for the formal ceremony. What are they thinking of this university? I am also a new-comer here, but what makes different is our attitude, not identity. Whatever one's personality, it is hard to adapt oneself to a whole new world. It is no wonder, "umheimlisch" in German means fear. Yes, fear happens in any place at any time. When we have to face some strangers in work, when we enter a new society, when we get away from the world we are familiar with, when we doubt about some relations with others, when we are pushed to solve embarrassments and when we realize our change in mind, fear awakes from the bottom of our hearts.
       Fear or insecurity will be very helpful for one's maturation as long as you don't fear fear itself. Therefore, as a new-comer, enough courage and open mind is what he only needs. We all need this, the new students and me.

      In this evening,I had an unexpected visitor. Well, the so-called "unexpected" just means I had expected for a night alone to do something trifling, i.e. preparing for lessons, listening to some new melodies in latin style and thinking about some petty matters. However, a phone call disturbed all. Unable to refuse her visit for "casual chatting", I suddenly realized that my dream for a peaceful night was gone forever.
        My premonition was proved all right. She entered my room and brought a flood of casual chatting, not to my liking at all. From the very first minute, I regretted my timidity to say no to something I ought to say.  I have but one feeling, try to say no is much difficult than yes.

        I love my room, especially its window. Actually it is not my home, just rented dormitory arranged by our university. However, it is to my liking because of the window with view. Sometimes I just imagine I am within the famous English film, A Room With View, chatting with Rose, the heroine, about her life as well as mine.
       Different scenery visits me at different moments. 
       A fresh morning usually gives me some birds' sing and drops of sunshine jump onto the narrow windowsill and knock my window steathily. My orchid lowered her head with dew last night, lightly sighing with joy for another day. Then the roads convey nothing to me but cleanness, quietness and tranquility. Some walkers wander slowly and talk gently, merging into the morning whisper . Mountains in distance also wake up.
      In the day, people are too busy to notice any scenery with various faces, but my window records them all for me, by temperature change in windowsill, by fine, naughty sand  hidden in frames playing here with wind, by dried clothes and by wet glasses.
      Night is my favorate and so is my room's. Cool breeze comes to share my reading, some sounds from nature are sent to my ear and slight plants' fragnance glides in through window. When the moon surprises me with glistening white, I am totally bathed in the peace of night, feeling not lonely any more.
     Welcome to my room. It is a room with view and with life.

            Finally, the scorcher passed away. Yes, it passed away, no matter how many sweet or bitter memories we have had in scorching sun. Days will move on, so will us. Although it is reported as the hottest summer in a century and the hysterical media declared loudly, all over the world, the heat would kill people, I survived. Fortunately I survived with air-conditioner, with exercise, with latin music, with hard decision made for future, with one step out of so-called safe zone, and with meditation.
          New semester, new beginning. I will recommend students the following song, which always reminds me of summer.

                   Sealed With Kiss 
           Then we gotta say goodbye for the summer
           Darling I promise you this 
           "I'll send you all my love everyday in a letter 
           Sealed with A Kiss"
          Guess it's gonna be a cold lonely summer 
          But I'll fill the emptiness
          I'll send you all my dreams everyday in a letter 
          Sealed with A kiss
          I'll see you in the sunlight 
          I 'll hear your voice everywhere 
          I'll run to tenderly hold you
          But darling you won't be there 
         I don't wanna say good bye for the summer
         Knowing the love we'll miss
        OH, Let us make a pledge to meet in September
        And sealed it with a kiss

     可能是最后一次在学校的电影院看电影了，所以选了一个很老的影片。《诺丁山》。
     以前看，最喜欢主角那个可爱可恶的室友，现在看，还是最喜欢他。因为他首先是个人，
然后是个男人。最可爱的一点在于，他没有廉耻的概念，因此，也没有虚荣心。
     我想，现实中，这样可爱的人是不存在的吧。自尊心，虚荣心，廉耻心，功利心，这四样从来都是彼此纠缠不分你我的。
     也很天真的希望自己是这样的人，做不到，于是天真的希望自己能够找到这样的人陪伴一生，也找不到。今天又看了一遍电影，打心里承认，他只能存在于影片中。

       我又要毕业了，三年之后。三年可以发生很多事情，是的，如果我没有在这里呆三年呢？
也许会在现实中认认真真地做一个梦，也许会在生活中磨练出一身的盔甲，也许会在无聊的日子中将生命的蔓腾缠绕住墙壁的呼吸。
     不过，我始终还是在校园中呆了三年，花三年时间了解到自己根本就不适合正在做的事情。唯一给我带来乐趣的就是柏杨的《中国人史纲》，比较偏激但是很好玩。希望以后可以介绍给我的学生们，作为历史扫盲读物。

     看了一期很有意义的《流金岁月》，许多已年逾花甲的配音演员讲述她们衷爱一生的事业，他们的敬业精神，让人潸然泪下。主持人问一个女孩子：你最希望拥有他们谁的声音？她说：“是XXX的声音，太甜美了。”
    我想起有一次和别人讨论翻译大师们。他说最喜欢许渊冲和杨宪益的翻译，因为他们已经有了成熟的风格。在这方面，我是很模糊的，说不出所以然来。今天突然有了一些想法。太甜美的声音可能适应的角色应该不多吧，正如太有风格的译者不可能适应多种类的翻译。理想中优秀的译者不应该只是文学功夫文字功夫的拥有者和组织者，而是配音演员，是传声筒，是玻璃。他在树立风格与忠实传递之间游游离离，在原文灵魂与面孔偏离的钢丝上摇摇摆摆，在文字与内容之隙偏偏斜斜，让原文的光泽闪闪烁烁地透过本国树叶斑驳地洒在读者身上。
   所以，如同配音演员一样，译者要具备一切素质，但是要彻底忘掉自己。能够具有这种品质的译者自然是少而又少。也难怪那句话，A good translator is born, not made.