Imogen Page Jarrett – Dec 2014
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当我们转过拐角，一块松软的红地毯映入我们的眼帘。名流荟萃，星光闪耀，他们队伍的人站在我左边，准备迎接到访者。穿着丝绸、戴着珠宝的嘉宾与我们互相表示敬意和欢迎。
向五队排最后的人深深鞠躬之后，我向宽敞的大厅里走进了一步。高达拱形天花板在水晶吊灯重压下摇摇欲坠。一片愉快的嘈杂声向清脆的水晶飘上去。大厅的边缘站着北京市最优秀泰国饭店的小吃摊。大厅中间的大舞台等着嘉宾的光临。我们的名字在泰国国王87岁圣诞节派对的客人名单上之列。那天的活动还庆祝泰国国庆节日。
正当我们小心翼翼地走到酒吧拿起一杯冰香槟酒，有人咳了一声好引起大家的注意。
“我将以骄傲的姿态欢迎女士们先生们参加今天晚上的活动…”。我们排在西服、民族服装、军服的旁边，举起杯来，为了泰国国王普密蓬·阿杜德的健康喝了一杯。
在世界各地的驻华大使、军官、大公司代表之间来来往往，我禁不住感到自己的渺小和微不足道。我们跟罗马尼亚大使边喝泰国香味的椰子汤，边听他个人当大使个人经历，而且他下次派驻亚洲哪个国家，哪个国家会带来最多的机会。我们决定泰国和韩国都是明智的选择。大使的生活好像是永不安分的生活，因为每四年他们都必须搬到新的一个国家，在陌生的环境并文化找到自己立足之地。对我来说，大使的夫人和孩子生活的故事更有意思。大使的亲人应该做出很大的牺牲。我突然想起几周前英国驻华大使所言的话：他夫人觉得在国外找到亲密的朋友圈子和爱好特别难。而且孩子得转学，交新朋友，学新语言。并且，他似乎对我们在北京留学的原因很感兴趣，问我们北京学生的生活过得如何，还问我们为什么选择中文这个专业。
我们回答在中国前途是一片光明。那天的活动非常有助于职业的机会。我感觉自己很幸运在中国上学，我在这里的第外远远超过我在英国曾经体验过的。因为我是西方人，我在中国经常体验过特别的招待，并对我母语的需求很多。我在家乡肯定不会感受这种招待。回家路上口袋里揣着一名企业集团的首席执行官的名片，我再次想起在中国关系的超然能力。
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
We Request the Pleasure of Your Company…
As we turned the corner, a soft red carpet unveiled itself before our eyes. To our right, a procession of glittering individuals stood ready to welcome us. Attired in silks and jewels, we paid obeisance to one another in welcome and thanks. Bowing deeply for the final time, I took a step into the broad room. The high vaulted ceiling bowed under the weight of chandeliers. Up towards the tinkling crystals, the hubbub of voices drifted. Around the edge of the space stood food stands from Beijing’s most exceptional Thai eateries. In the centre, a large stage awaited the presence of honoured guests. We were on the guest-list for the King of Thailand’s 87th Birthday Party, coinciding with the National Day of Thailand.
We cautiously stepped up to the bar to take a flute of ice cooled champagne from the bar, just as a cough brought everyone to attention.
“I am proud to welcome you, ladies and gentlemen, to this evening’s event…”. Among the rows of suits, national dress and military attire we stood and raised a class to the health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej himself.
Moving between the world’s ambassadors to China, military officers, company representatives, I could not help but feel rather small in comparison. We spoke to the ambassador of Romania over a bowl of fragrant Thai coconut soup. We spoke of his personal history as an ambassador, and where to be posted next in Asia; which nation would bring about the most opportunities. We decided both South Korea and Thailand would be strong choices. The ambassador lifestyle seems an uprooting one; having to up sticks every four years and begin afresh in a completely new environment and culture. Personally, I feel the spouses and children of ambassadors reveal a much more telling tale. The immediate family must make great sacrifices. I recalled the words of the British ambassador at the British embassy a few weeks before, that his wife found it difficult to find a circle of friends and interests in a foreign country. Children are forced to change schools, swap friends, learn new languages. In contrast he seemed inquisitive as to our reasons for studying in Beijing, what the student experience was here, why we had chosen Chinese.
Our answers of course included the invaluable career opportunities here. The event was a key place to make contacts for such purposes. I felt extremely lucky that as a student in China, my status greatly surpassed any I had ever stood in the UK. As a Westerner, I have often experienced special treatment and great demand for my mother tongue. It is certain I would never find myself at such an evening as this at home. Walking home with the business card of a conglomerate CEO, I realised anew the almighty power of “guanxi” (personal relations) in China.