This year, our Christmas gift is a trip to
Ok, please wait until we are back home, and I will share our travel to one of the world’s great Wonders that we have seen…
We wish all of you ‘FELIZ NAVIDAD’ (Spanish: Merry Christmas), and welcoming a Prosperous New Year!
今年我们的圣诞节礼物是到秘鲁旅遊。秘鲁是南美洲西部的一个国家，官方语言是西班牙语，秘鲁民族有印第安人原住民，这民族不知是不是我很久前读历史课印象中的印第安人？当然这次的旅遊，不是去看人，而是去参观世界新七大奇迹之一的马丘比丘，一个著名的前哥伦布时期時印加帝國的遗迹！
好，等我们回来后，再细叙所见的伟大世界奇迹之一的游记…
祝大家FELIZ NAVIDAD（西班牙语: 圣诞节快乐），迎接新的美好一年！
The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation started in
Recently, we found a Tzu Chi center in
By the way, I’ll share a little part of one of the stories shared in the study group. It was about a Tzu Chi group that went to
佛教慈济开始是发展于台湾，但现今已扩佈世界各大城市成立会所。在马来西亚也有慈济，我之前在槟城因投入心理辅导义工行列，虽然知晓槟城慈济会所，但从没分身参与慈济的行列。不过，我常常赞叹慈济义工的利行慈善救助贫困灾难者、医疗、教肓等的伟大精神。
最近我们知晓在St. Louis也有慈济会所，我们走进去，慈济义工们即热情的招待，该会所其中一负责人竟是马来西亚华人，她已定居美国多年。我开始参与他们目前进行的两周六一次读书会。美国这么大，不是很多城市都有慈济会所，我很感恩可以接触到这些善知识！
顺便提一提在读书会的其中一个分享，关于慈济团队到海地（Haiti）发放食物，据说当地人民用泥土制成饼充饥，泥土也没了，人饥饿得都失去礼仪。慈济团队到那里，因为了自身安全，都只好用丢食物的方式给当地人民…
Once, an Angel was sent to hell to interview Hate.
Angel said, “How are you?”
Hate said, “I am in pain! I get punishing everyday; life is sick. “
“Why has this happened to you?”
“It’s my boss, Thought, who harms me.”
“What has Thought done?”
“Thought assigned a project to me, Revenge and Murder. Although we were successful, the result is hell!”
Angel was also sent to heaven to interview Happy.
Angel said, “How are you?”
Happy said, “I am good, I am joyful everyday!”
“How do you do that?”
“Well, I think the reason is that I have a good boss – Thought.”
“What about your boss?”
“Thought always encourages me to work together with Forgive and Free, and we have become very close co-workers and friends!”
Angel wrote a report about the interviews, before it was sent to Angel’s boss (can you guess who the Angel’s boss is?), Angel wrote a little conclusion at the end:
‘Please be a good boss!’
有一次，天使被派到地狱访问怨恨，
天使: “你好吗？”
怨恨: “我苦得很！每天都在受刑，没好日子过。”
“你怎么会遭受到这苦刑？”
“都是我的老板 – 信念害了我。”
“怎么信念会害你呢？”
“都是因为信念要我、报复和仇杀去做一项行动，虽然我们成功了，但却落得如此下场！”
天使也被派到天堂访问喜悦。
天使: “你好吗？”
喜悦: “我很好，每天都欢欢乐乐！”
“你是怎么做到的？”
“我想是因为我有一位好老板 – 信念。”
“信念是怎样的一个老板？”
“信念常激励我、宽恕、和自在一起工作，我们已是很好的同事兼好朋友！”
天使记录了这两个访谈，在呈交给天使的老板（你猜，谁是天使的老板？）前，天使在这访谈记录的结尾做了一个小总结:
‘请做个好老板！’
Sense of smell, take in a deep breath, energy picks up
Sense of hearing, perk up the ears, searching for the direction
Sense of sight, focus on the object, appearance catches the eyes
Sense of touch, start to move, fingers and teeth acting
Sense of taste, chew up and swallow, sounds loud
Sense of feeling, flow over around, wow satisfaction
That was
When a burst of aroma, a burst of aroma came from the kitchen
嗅覺深吸住 抖擻精神
聽覺豎立起 尋覓方向
視覺眯瞄着 色色狼狼
觸覺提動啟 五爪張牙
味覺嚼溶掉 嘖嘖有聲
感覺疏流遍 哇塞满足
那是
當厨房飄着一陣香 一陣香
Heart burst into Memory’s home.
Memory says, “What’s up?” Heart says, “I feel bored! I came to visit you and entertain a little while.”
“My house is full of stuff; I’m afraid I don’t have any place for you to sit.” “Oh…that doesn’t matter, I wanted to look around your home to see what good stuff you have.”
“Hey…don’t simply touch my things! Some of them are in a terrible mess or in a state of utter confusion or entanglement; some of them have been covered in dust for a long time…. Err!” “Ahh…why don’t you reorganize them?”
“I am busy! I am busy collecting things to bring back home everyday; new things coming in and I still like to keep the old things!” “How can I help you?”
“How can you help me?” “Mmm…I don’t know yet. I will see what things I can learn!”
“Ha…learning? Don’t take away my things!” “No, I couldn’t take away your things!”
“Then what are you attempting to do?” “I will try to help you reorganize or realize some things that you didn’t recognize or some things very complicated or confused you since you collected them.”
“What’s the fun?” “It isn’t fun? So, why do you want to collect new things everyday, huh?”
“I mean a thing is still a thing after you look at it again. What will be different, huh?” “When you re-examine it, and if you know how to transform and give it a new definition, you might appreciate the things you have.”
“Mmm…it is none of my business. I just like to collect them! Ah…if you are interested in reorganizing them, then you just do it!”心闯进记忆的家。
记忆说，“你来干嘛？” 心说，“我很闷呀！来看看你及解闷一会。”
“我家装满了很多东西，恐怕没地方招待你坐。” “噢…没关系，我就是来看看你家有什么好东西的。”
“嘿…可别乱碰我的东西呵！有些东西乱七八糟的、纠缠交结的、尘封已久的…唉！” “啊…你怎么不整理整理？”
“我忙得很呀！每天都忙着收东西进家，新的进来旧的却不舍得丢掉！” “那你须要我的帮忙吗？”
“帮我什么？” “嗯…我也不知道，就看看什么是可以让我学习的！”
“哈…学习？你可别把我的东西带走！” “不，我可带不走你的东西。”
“那你有何企图？” “我可以尝试帮你整理或认知一些东西，比如你收集了的东西，很复杂混乱的或你不明白它是什么的，重新再去审视它。”
“这有什么好玩？” “不好玩吗？那干嘛你每天要收新的东西？”
“我想你再审视后，东西毕竟还是东西，会有什么不同呢？” “当你再审视时，如你懂得如何转化及给它新的诠释，你可能会欣赏感激你所拥有的东西。”
“嗯…这不关我的事，我只喜欢收集它们！啊…你有兴趣整理就去整理吧！”
I have several good friends, and I admire their moral characters. One of the characteristics I’ve noticed is that they praise and talk other people’s good points. They rarely gossip or criticize others. I shall learn from my friends!
Normally, for a Chinese-Malaysian wedding, the couple will go to register their marriage before the wedding day. If they are financially ok, they will go to have their wedding pictures taken before the wedding in a bridal studio, so the pictures will be ready on the day of the wedding. The bridal studios offer several expensive packages that include rental of the wedding gowns and groom’s suits for the pictures, wedding ceremony, and reception. Normally, a new couple will select a day to have a traditional wedding ceremony and a reception with relatives and friends. Weddings are a big, busy project, so they do it over several days.
For American weddings, the bride will normally go to buy a wedding gown before the wedding day, and it is considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride in the gown before the ceremony. The wedding day is to have the ceremony, register the marriage, have wedding pictures taken, and have a reception with relatives and friends. Weddings are a big, busy project, so they do it in a whole day.
马来西亞华人结婚，通常都先到注册局签署结婚证书。若经济许可，他们通常会先到婚纱摄影室拍摄结婚照，有很多价钱高昂，各类的配套，可供选择，及租出新娘新郎的服装。结婚照将会于结婚日前准备妥当。新人通常另择结婚日举行风俗仪式，及宴请亲朋戚友。结婚是一件大忙事，所以得分阶段办理！
美国人结婚，新娘先到婚纱店购买婚纱装，如新郎在结婚日前先看到新娘穿婚纱装，这是对他不吉利的。结婚日当天举行仪式及签署结婚证书，当天拍摄结婚照，当天宴请亲朋戚友。结婚是一件大忙日，所以得用整天办理！
I don’t know who wrote this story, but I felt touched when I read it, and want to share it:
“It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.
He said he was in a hurry, as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry.
The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
I inquired as to her health; he told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease.
As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are'?
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'
I had to hold back tears as he left. I had goose bumps on my arms and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life'.
True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be...The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.
Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain!”
我不知谁写了这个故事，读后我很感动，所以我将它翻译与你分享:
“那是一个忙碌的早上，大约八点半，一位八十多岁的老先生来做他的拇指脱线。
他说他须赶时间因他九点有一个约会。
我拿了他的血压体检的记录，并请他坐下，我知道那可能要超过一小时后那人才能见到他。
我看他注视着他的手表，即然我不是很忙着处理另一位病人，我决定先检查他的伤口。
从检验中其疗愈良好，所以我与其中一位医生谈之后，拿了必须器具为他脱缝合线及修治伤口。
当我在处理他的伤口时，我问他这么赶时间，是否他这早上还有另外的医生预约。
老先生对我说，不是，他是须要去护院与他的太太用早餐。
我询问她的健康情况; 他对我说她得老人痴呆症已有一些时日。
我们谈着，我问是否她会不高兴如他迟到一些。
他回答说她已不知道他是谁了，五年至今她已不认得他。
我很惊讶并问他，‘你每天早上还是去见她，即使她已不知道你是谁’ ？
他微笑拍着我的手说，“她不知道我是谁，但我知道她是谁。”
我须忍住淚至到他离开。我的双手臂冒起如鸡皮般及念头浮起，‘在我生命中我要的就是这种爱’ 。
真爱不是肉体也不是浪漫思想。真爱是接纳一切所有的，能拥有的及不能拥有的… 最幸福的人未必每件事都是最好的; 他们只是每件事都做得最好。
生命不是如何在狂风暴雨中生存，而是如何在雨中跳舞！”
The
A friend, TLing, was sad and talked about some people surrounded by bad news. I was empathetic, and I encouraged her to think more positively.
A Malaysian friend, CH, chatted with me and talked about
When a situation is unchangeable by one’s own ability, if we think more negatively, it will get you down even more. Why not change your mind and thoughts, and just spread positive and good energy out! I think this can also circulate…
Let’s start every single morning, by saying to ourselves, “This is the beginning of a new, great day!”
美国经济恶化，这当然会是种全球系系相扣循环，有些人民直接受影响，失去职业，有些人民间接受影响，担忧前景…
朋友TLing很感概的几次谈起这些周遭人不如意的事，我也知道同理，不过我还是要鼓励她，多往好的方面想。
马来西亞的朋友CH问候我之后说，马来西亞的市场很不景气，…但自己不能改变市场经济。我对他说，有一点是他可以改变的，改变自己的思想…
当情况是个人能力无法改变的话，与其往负面的方面想，令自己更低落，何不改变自己的思维想法，用正面的能量散播出去！我想这也会是种心灵系系相扣循环…
就从每天早晨对自己说，“新的美好一天开始了！”
“Why did the leaves change color? Several days ago they were green, and now they have changed to red!”, the little squirrel asked his dad. The little squirrel was always curious about everything, and sometimes even his dad didn’t know the answer. Dad thought a little while and said, “The leaves got sunburned...”
“叶子为什么变了颜色呢？前些时候是绿的，现已变红了！” 小松鼠问松鼠爸爸，爸爸被这对什么都好奇的小松鼠问得有时都不知如何解答，爸爸想了想说，“叶子被晒焦了啦...”
Ya-hoo… Oh, I suppose should yell Google! My promise was done! What promise? Laa… I said when I received the first check from Google, I intended to donate it. In May, I represented all of you, and donated US$50 each to the 
In the last two days, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak won the presidency of the UMNO party, uncontested by virtue of being the only candidate having the necessary nominations from the party divisions to qualify for the election, even though he is facing some issues and has yet to answer to the public. But the UMNO president will become Prime Minister, as before.
Tomorrow, Steve will go to vote for the candidate whom he wants to be the next President. Mmm…American voters can vote who will be the President? The
This year, the election for the
前日马来西亚巫统署理主席纳吉不战而胜，成功当上巫统新任主席。虽然纳吉有许多悬而未决的问题，民众尚未得到解答，而根据常规，巫统主席将担任马来西亚首相。马来西亚是采取议会制。
明日Steve就会投选他心目中的人物，嗯…美国选民可以选要那位当总统吗？美国总统大选是采取选举人团的制度。
今次的美国总统大选让举世瞩目，谁会是总统老大？奥巴马还是麦凯恩？
We were visiting Steve’s mom on Saturday. As normal, we stayed overnight there until Sunday morning. After we had breakfast, we said goodbye and left.
Before we headed home, we stopped at Sue’s (Steve’s sister) house, as she had invited us to join a birthday party. 
Who’s the birthday girl or boy? Ah ah… it was a surprise birthday party for mom (two days ahead of her birthday). When she saw us and Joan (Steve’s sister from Ohio), who flew in a day earlier than mom expected, she knew we were sneaky.
We always love to see mom have a happy party, and we know she is happy with her family and friends!
星期六我们去拜访Steve的妈妈，如往常般我们在那过了一晚，至星期天早晨，用了早餐就告别离开。
我们在回家前，应邀去Sue（Steve的姐姐）家，参加一个生日会。
谁是寿星呢？
呀…给妈妈惊喜的生日会（提前两天的生日）。当她见到我们及预料迟一天才会到来的Joan（从Ohio来的Steve姐姐），她才知道我们悄悄的为她庆生。
我们都知道她喜爱与家人及朋友的快乐时光，
高兴看到她有一个快乐的生日会。
