2.Foreign Door---「地球後面彼扇門」英文版

Foreign Door by Lee Hsiu

1. The key of flowers

Indian poet Rebindranath Tagore who won the Nobel Prize in 1913, said, “Pluck this little flower and take it. Delay not! I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust.” He wanted all people with high aspirations to have this consciousness of time. It is true, heartless time seems like never – ending flowing water, if you don’t pay attention, you will unexpectedly find your energy fading away and your buddies gone.

My son has the motto, “Seize the day, and make life extraordinary.” He asks for his parents to have the same idea as well. This year, he was accepted into the University of Victoria to study the MBA program. I am also ready for a summer vacation, so he suggests a trip to eastern Canada.

But his father doesn’t want to move anywhere, since he just arrived in Vancouver for six months, He feels dispirited about the suggestion, because he hasn’t had enough living in Vancouver yet. However, I am so excited that I say, “It is a good idea. We are planning to go to Ottawa to visit Timothy, who gave me his promise that he will correct my translation works.”

Since I started studying the English language, I have had the wish to do a translation of poetry from Chinese to English. I first think about Chang Te-Pen, who is a Taiwanese poet. His poetry also has a consciousness of time, with words such as “Time is ruined by togetherness. Time exists through coming apart. Space is time’s ally”. In the same way, Tagore wrote the following words, “Give me a day I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous.” This means, as long he is given enough time, he will change the empire from majestical to nonsensical. Tagore and Te-Pen have the same sense of shame about hypocrisy.

Accordingly, we will quickly gather flowers, to avoid the wind plundering them first. So, after two years in Vancouver, we three take a trip to Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, and I bring my poetry translation works for my son’s friend Tim to look at.

2. Water, rock and ions

Canada is the second-largest country in the world, stretching over 7700 Kilometers from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic seacoast. Flying from Vancouver to Toronto takes approximately five hours. The time difference is three hours. Looking into the distance from a high place I see a lot of fresh water, rivers, mountain streams, and lakes. It is a vast area on the earth about 277 times the size of Taiwan.

We travel across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to our first stop, the capital of Ontario, Toronto, which has the highest landmark - CN Tower, the longest city street - Yonge Street and Canada’s most important business district. The city of Toronto is not only both typically English Canadian and North American, but it also serves as the economic center for the entire country.

The First Nations was the first racial group to arrive in North America. The source of the name of Ontario is “the rock stands among the waters”. The famous Niagara Falls, where Lake Erie overflows into Lake Ontario at the rate of 14 million liters of water per minute, has always been the most celebrated feature of the escarpment. The original current of the river that meets the Falls seems like a mild-mannered tranquil young girl. On the other hand, there is a group of a hundred million horses that gallop and splash when they go over the vertical line of the falls. The most popular and perhaps the best way to approach the Falls is on the Maid of the Mist. Wearing hooded raincoats, we are boated up to the table rock scenic tunnels under the Falls for a spectacular experience under the water of the Falls. I feel like I am dreaming that I have entered the Geography Book I studied in high school.

Niagara Falls stretches between the American and Canadian borders separated by Goat Island. However the spectacular part of the Falls is in Canada. The American Falls are boring. Similarly, the Rocky Mountains of western Canada are the fantabulous part, whereas the American Rockies are not so interesting. For this reason, I consider God has been a little prejudiced about the assignments of the beautiful monuments.

Since the terrorist attack on the USA, some of the peace-loving Americans have moved north to Canada. This situation is similar to the 1776 American War of Independence when many who preferred to stay loyal to the British crown started to move north and develop a new life in Canada.

Ontario is an important manufacturing industrial area. Surrounding the west coast of Lake Ontario is a succession of industrial cities known as the famous Canadian Golden Horseshoe. Reto, who is my son’s friend in Toronto, refers to “Hamilton” as the ugliest city in Ontario.

“Wow, it is really heavily polluted. It is as bad as our hometown Kaohsiung Linyuen industrial district,” I agree.

“The automobile industry pollution also wafted up from Detroit, so this double pollution is the reason you guys feel more uncomfortable,” Reto explains.

Even though the city’s steel mills and other heavy industries have given Hamilton a grim image in the minds of many, there is history wherever you decide to look for it. For example, Hamilton installed the first telephone exchange in the British Empire - the eighth in the world - in 1878, only four years after Alexander Graham Bell invented the device. It was at his parents’ home in nearby Brantford that Bell dreamed up his invention. Because I worked for the Telephone Company in Taiwan, it is exciting to find out the background of the telephone inventor.

In fact, the water of Lake Ontario is good enough to balance Toronto’s steel environment. Moreover, in the middle of the lake is a fantastic place - Toronto Island. It juts out into the city’s harbor and is only about 19 minutes away by leisurely ship, so we ferry the lake to walk around the silent trees and the quiet shore of the lake. Like the meeting of the seagulls and the waves we meet and come near.

My heart sings with the touch of the water and my thoughts shimmer with these shimmering leaves; my life is glad to be floating with all things into the clarity of space. Actually, I had these feelings about Canada’s great beauty since I landed in this maple country - Canada. However, I have no idea how to stop the regret in my heart because I think about my beautiful home country Taiwan whenever I enjoy being here.

Recently I read a report entitled “Meteor - Psychology” and seemed to find some answers. “Meteor-psychologists are concerned with how the weather affects the behavior of people. One area of their concerns is ion-balance”. Indeed, ions are electric charges that exist in the atmosphere, in the air that we breathe. As a result, the weather and environment affects human being’s behavior; hence, if ions (positive and negative ions) go out of control, this will affect people’s physiology and psychology. Each time I turn on the Taiwanese TV news, my compatriots’ behavior frustrates me. Is this related to ions?

3. Restless tiny shuttles weaving golden carpet

Toronto and Ottawa are the most important cities of the province of Ontario. The nation’s capital, Ottawa, is the seat of the Federal government. Canada has three levels of government: federal, provincial and municipal. Although Ottawa is Canada’s capital, the airport isn’t a big one. The people come in from Europe, mostly by way of Toronto or Montreal.

We fly from Toronto to Ottawa in one hour. Along the road near the airport, we also face a twelve kilometer long river – the Rideau Canal, which runs through the town center. Its function is not only for transportation, but is also the pulse of the city. Created in 1937, its design emphasizes the area’s natural beauty and molds the city around it. Pleasure craft wend their way through the downtown center’s parks in summer, yet winter turns the same Rideau Canal route into an ice-skating rink.

On the other side of the city is the elegant Ottawa River. Because of its national stature, Ottawa has more cultural resources and political systems, such as the Parliament buildings, the residences of prime ministers, governor-generals and foreign ambassadors.

Unfortunately, even though there are over 50 embassies, I do not see the name of Taiwan. In this world sometimes a solid name exists but an unwarranted reputation keeps it invisible, just as air is actually omnipresent, but you cannot see or touch it.

Luckily, there is someone who upholds justice. There is a report “Taiwan exists in Canadian never-never land” by Jeffrey Simpson. He said, “Canada ought, in theory, to be supportive of Taiwan. Taiwan is democratic; China is not. Taiwan respects human rights; China does not in all instances…” He also proposed that Taiwan respects human rights more than China. He regrets that the Chrétien Government yielded to China’s big market and neglected the acknowledgement of Taiwan’s existence, resulting in Taiwan being only present by “representative” not “embassy” in Canada.

We stare at the “Centennial Flame” in front of the Parliament Buildings which was ignited on July 1, 1967, never to be extinguished; indeed, according to The British North America Act in 1867, England’s government recognized Canada as a Dominion on July 1, 1867. A hundred years passed before the Centennial Flame was ignited. For this reason, the Centennial Flame is floating in water. It seems like a permanent reminder of the unbounded optimism of the Centennial Year.

There are Gothic styles of architecture, including the Peace Tower, the Senate Chamber, and House of Commons. The sandstone architecture of the Parliament Building governs the entire Canadian government affairs. Canada is a member of the British Commonwealth and a constitutional monarchy country. The governor general, as the highest chief executive, represents Queen of Elizabeth the second. In fact, the governor general is only a symbol and hasn’t any real power. Some Canadians oppose this kind of unwarranted reputation, yet some people are glad that the Queen is a kind of spiritual symbol.

The statue of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) stands in front of the Parliament Buildings. England had the biggest empire in the world during the reign of Queen Victoria, who was Queen Elizabeth’s great grandmother. She chose Ottawa as her capital in Canada. I have no idea if she is the Queen of England or Queen of Canada. It confuses me as a newcomer. Looking back at history, indeed, England tries to create Canada in her own image. The city itself is stately, a miniature of an old English town. For example, we can watch the ceremony of the Changing of the Guards that originated in 19^th century imperial England.

Besides the Parliament Buildings, the Supreme Court is another part of the capital’s highest political organ and is also where our friend Timothy has his office. Supreme Court Legal Counsel Timothy Ross Wilson, who is not only good at law, he taught English and French at the University of Ottawa. He took a business trip to Vancouver last year. He had a chance to read my translated Chinese-English work, “The Scenery of the City When you Left” which is one of Chang Te-Pen’s poems. Then he showed promise as an editor for me. His encouragement to me is like a window and a lighted lamp, but there is a big job behind it. As a result, it entices me into this journey.

“You handle affairs of the Canadian people. Your job is very important in Canada,” I say when he is drawing up documents between the First nations and Canadian law.

“No. Law is guided by the people. We only follow the people. Perhaps in your country this job is a high position, but it isn’t here.”

It is true, the canal humbles to think that rivers exist solely to provide water. In fact, it does not only supply both sides with connection through its bridge, but it also beautifies the appearance of the city.

The Supreme Court Building was constructed in 1941 where it is located on the left side of Parliament Hill. The maple flag to the west is hoisted daily. The other flag flies only when the Court is sitting. Holding a court session, there have nine members to administer it. Their decisions are distributed throughout the whole country. By law, at least three judges are appointed from Ontario, two from the Western Provinces, one from the Atlantic Provinces and one Chief.

How to judge a criminal? How to keep guard over the country? It should take many people’s painstaking care and wisdom. There are these words on the sofa in Timothy’s office, “Old lawyers never die, they just lose their appeal.” It seems to be a teasing message but seriously suggests that vigilance is important.

The main idea of this trip is to discuss my translation works with Timothy after he is off duty. Therefore, most of the time when he is on duty we are immersed in the arts centers of Ottawa. For example, the foremost gallery in Canada, made primarily out of glass, “The National Gallery” was built in the 1880s. It retains a series of the most important collections, such as works of art from the age of carving, silver tea sets from the 16^th century and the new wave art of 1950s, from the renaissance to the impressionist art movements and the modern works; from the 18^th European painting to the Group of Seven; from integration to disintegration and breaking of logic, etc.

Sunlight dances on this city making political, legal and humanistic ripples like restless tiny shuttles weaving a golden carpet. The capital of Canada, Ottawa, seems the quintessence of English Canada.

4. The weight of history and the liberation of homosexuality

We take a Greyhound Bus for two hours from Ottawa to Montreal. In fact, we are staying in Hull in Timothy’s home before we go to Montreal. Hull is a typical small Quebec City. The Ottawa River is the boundary between Ontario and Quebec. Traveling across the Alexandra Bridge, built in 1941, signifies not only crossing the Ontario-Quebec border, but also the cultural borders within the country.

Canada is a bilingual country. On Alexandra Bridge, languages suddenly change. Now that we are in Quebec, French is the first language. Indeed, on the bridge we are confronted with the reality of Canada’s “two solitudes”. Even though they are politically connected with Canada, Quebec people still consider themselves more connected to France than Canada. Thus they were in a ferment to achieve independence several times, but the strong Canadian desire to achieve a united nation defeated the campaigns for Quebec’s separation from Canada.

In fact, the ancient animosities between England and France have been going on for several centuries. The weight of history was upon new world Canada from its inception. North America was a battleground for the English and French to pursue imperial war. In Canada the French colony was established in 1700. They tended to settle along the banks of the St. Lawrence, in the area now known as Quebec. At the same time, the English also established themselves farther inland, initially in the Great Lakes region. Both countries’ resistance finally ended up with a decisive victory and defeat in 1759, with England defeating France. However, the history of resistances still continues in Quebec.

Take the case of Montreal City Hall, which has a more turbulent history than its peaceful façade suggests. It was from its balcony that French President General de Gaulle uttered his famous “Vive le Quebec libre!” (Long Live Free Quebec) during a state visit in 1967. The truth of liberation exists only on the periphery of Quebec people’s lives, but they have an intrinsic sense of freedom. The Quebec people regard themselves as French; thus they have a dual personality that feels both the Canadian and French . Consequently, people do not learn about themselves in their history, they struggle up through it. Perhaps this is humanity’s common destiny.

My son soon learns General de Gaulle’s declaration and says, “Long Live Free Taiwan!” Actually, Taiwan is already a democracy, yet there are both inside and outside difficulties - outside from China’s armed threat, inside from different political conflicts. Therefore, Taiwan truthfully still needs to struggle to be free.

Human history goes forward in taking the place of the fallen. Residents settle down according to ancestors’ path and they also outline the path of time. One hundred years, two hundred years, four hundred years…Quebec people regard the significance of the number, so they maintain diligently their sense of history and they actually present their achievements in front of each visitor.

For instance, the Canadian Museum of Civilization is located at nearby Alexandra Bridge. There are actors on site who portray the immigrants from Europe that settled in Quebec, showing their lively perspective. The Museum presents the next generation of pioneer being born in Canada. We visit the steep Norman type architecture of their villages. It seems like we are living back in 17^th or 18^th century. We also experience the end of 19^th century immigration of the Chinese who struggled in a hard-working laundry life; indeed Canada successfully retains many cultural heritages.

Surrounded by the waters of the St. Lawrence centering on the mountain and penetrated by a maze of subterranean shopping plazas and passages, Montreal is an unusually three-dimensional city. Moreover, Old Montreal is the living witness of Canadian history.

The first example is the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History which opened in 1992. In front of the Museum, Place Royale relives its glorious past as a meeting place, with outdoor activities even in winter. Here, there is an 18^th-century Public Market. We have a unique experience, combining fun and history, high technology and treasures from the past.

It is true, we have a vision of how the ice-age ancients were striving along Saint Lawrence River step by step to explore this big new land. Now we curiously trace the period of the ancient. After many centuries passing, we will become the ancient to the next generation as well. There is a glass cabinet on an antique stone, I find out that inside the glass are displayed our most popular things at this time, such as jeans, computer, furniture blueprints of building styles…and so on. In fact, it is good for the future to provide information to our generation after generation of descendants.

Another example is a major gathering place and entertainment site in Old Montreal where we enjoy street artists and relish the French atmosphere as we drink a cup of coffee in Place Jacques Cartier who first discovered Montreal. We wander through the old streets with me again feeling like a leading character of a textbook, because here there is the important cultural heritage of the Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization of the United Nations. We linger over whether there is an Eastern or Western fine art high-quality works which we read about in our text books in Taiwan. Now we can actually see it through our own eyes; we also kneel down in North America in the most beautiful church (Notre-Dame Basilica).

Is it possible to find a country where the beauty, the history, and the variety in the scenery are combined in such perfect harmony? My son came to Montreal seeking a university to study at last year. This city with its extraordinary personality attracted him so deeply it was as if he had lived a previous life here. As a result, he is like an old horse who knows the way; his parents can have a smooth trip and visit many special small places.

Finishing our visit to Montreal brings an end to our trip. The day of World Pride is just when we want to leave Montreal. It is true that there is love without borders, the struggle of millions of individuals across the globe for self-fulfillment for the possibility to be who they are and to follow their heart and their identity. However, many people are too busy doing good so they find no time to be good, because they consider homosexuality is bad for society and they are absolutely in opposition to homosexual behavior.

Even though people should hold an open view to the sex role and doctors have already confirmed that homosexuality is from birth, most people still submit to the traditional attitude of intolerance. Compare U.S.A. with Canada, and we will see which has more freedom. As an example, the issue of same-sex marriage is illegal in the U.S.A. Yet this issue is legal in Canada. O Canada! Our home and native land! With glowing hearts we see thee rise. The True North strong and free!

5. Inner Shrine

Returning from east to west, my footsteps lithely slide in the time track. My new home Vancouver is praised by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, “Want a long life? Move to Vancouver.” According to a census of twenty-eight metropolises as presented to the OECD, the mean life expectancy of Vancouver residents is 81.1 years. The world’s longest lifetime of Japanese which is 81.2 years is almost equally matched. The rest can be deduced accordingly: Calgary 80, Quebec 79.8, Ontario 77.3, US 76.8, and Ireland 76.7, etc. How is this calculated? It is a complicated issue because there are many inner and outer factors.

Fortunately I am living in the most colorful land of the earth; red in autumn, white in winter, light green in spring, and dark green in summer. Now I am content with my life and I have plucked the numerous colorful flowers that I want. Nevertheless, while I bring in a harvest, I also have a heavy heart. I ponder long and deeply over the matter of whether my dear passed away parents are used to their daughter moving so far away to another country, because they spent their whole life on that special island - Taiwan. In fact, memories of my laughter, anger, sorrow, and happiness are wholly inscribed in the land of Taiwan; indeed, through the satisfaction and sadness of all things I hear the crooning of the Eternal Mother. My son teases me that I seem like some red maple leaf that results in excessive sensitivity. The autumn has not arrived yet she changes color early.

The movie “Eternity and a Day” is a story of the time when a Greek poet is born in Italy and he decides to use his mother tongue to write. Therefore, he returns to his motherland to spend money to buy back the sentences. He has been kidnapped by the space and time, so that the mother tongue went far away from him. Here is Taiwanese poet Chang Te-Pen writing about time sensitivity. I translate it like this,

Time is ruined by integration.

Time exists by disintegration.

Space is time’s ally.

His works are not only being dialectical but they also have the beauty of symmetry. Yet Timothy alters to his words like this,

Time is ruined by the integration.

Time exists through coming apart.

Space is time’s ally.

The significance is invariable no matter which words are chosen, yet the beauty of the Chinese is reduced a lot.

We complete forty-three translations on this trip. We discuss how to achieve really perfect translation. Sometimes, Timothy persists in the western terminology, but I am partial to the retention of the special rhythm of the Chinese condition.

“Ways of expressing logic totally differ between English and Chinese. But, even though the poetry is difficult to translate into another language, you can still eventually overcome it. To touch the main idea is good enough,” my son says.

I fell in love with English in Taiwan a long time ago, and I also trained at Vancouver Community College for 4 years. This is one of the strictest language schools in B.C.

I fear that one day I will not be able to write an article in Chinese or Taiwanese. Do I need to spend money to buy it back like that Greek poet in the “Eternity and a Day”?

Indeed, I am only a passenger on earth’s surface. The passenger has to knock at every foreign door to come to his or her own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.