Translated…
Back then, I’d come to Taipei to continue my education after high school, my classmates were from all over the nation, north, central, south, only I was from, the east, from Yuli, Hualien. And, we’d spent a long time together, and we’d become, closer, and had gone to out meals after our classes; when everybody is finished with the meals, as the waiter brought us the bills, I’d always felt the impulse, to get the tab, at which time, my classmates from the north would stop me, “Let’s go Dutch. Pay our own tabs separately.” With that stubbornness in his tone, because I’d not wanted the atmosphere to become unpleasant, and so, I can only agree.
Actually, I hadn’t gotten used to how the friends or classmates gathered for a meal, but ending up paying on our own, I’d believed, that if we share this affinity with each other, and, we’re willing to eat together, it wouldn’t matter, who’s paying, but my friends from the northern regions who’d carried the beliefs of “keeping all the assets separated even if we’re related” had deeply, impressed me.
from the papers…
A few short days ago, my college classmate, T had a birthday, because she is a vegetarian, we’d met up at a vegetarian restaurant. In the meal, we’d chattered with each other about work, about life, and everything else that’s going on with us, as we’re ready to leave, T stopped me, from treating the group, she’d still smiled and said, “Go dutch”.
Although, we’re all, past midlife, we’d become, more open, toward a lot of the things, but apparently, some habits, they, never change. And, since the birthday star insisted on paying for herself, I’d obeyed her decisions, it’s just, that I’d felt, somewhat, regrettable.
A short while ago, I was able to find my childhood playmates on Facebook, and, returned for my elementary school reunion; we’d not seen one another for forty years, and, we were all, very worked up, and we’d carried on in conversations about the goings on in our separate lives in the last forty years, and we’d managed to, reminisce our shared moments of the past together, some of us even cried the tears of joy too. After we’re all full and satisfied, everybody started fighting over the bill, everybody wanted to be the host or hostess of the reunion, and I was, moved by the passions, as well as the generosities of everybody who was there that day.
and no, still NOT my photo…
Yesterday, my daughter and her classmate came home from their trip to Singapore, they’d brought back the famous sponge cake from Singapore for me to bring it to school to share with my students. As I saw the look of satisfaction on my students when they were eating the cakes, I was overcome, with that sense of sweetness too. Being able to share, it’s such an amazing thing, I truly hope, that my classmate, T, will one day, be able to, allow me to treat her out, so she could enjoy this happiness of sharing too.
So, this, is all based off of the feedbacks that one gets from the interactions with the environment, whether or not we fight over the bills, and, the woman who insisted on going Dutch probably believed that it’s the right thing to do, or that she doesn’t feel proper, to owe someone a favor, but, they’re friends, and, friends shouldn’t nickel and dime about who gave whom what…
Life, the Obstacle Course 