A Bowl Of Sorrow Noodles 一碗悲哀的面

Singapore - Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Kopitiam)

新加坡 — 陈笃生医院（咖啡店）

Recently I frequent the hospital because an elderly in the family was hospitalized.

最近频往医院跑，事因家里长辈住院了。

During this period, meals can only be settled either in the eateries in the hospital or surrounding restaurants.

这段期间餐食也就只能在医院的小食店或周围的餐饮店解决了。

I prefer noodles, so it is natural to quench my hunger with noodles.

本身偏爱面食，所以很自然的多数时间都是以面裹腹。

Encounter a bowl of weird noodles and call it a bowl of sorrow noodles.

遇到一碗奇葩的面；管它叫一碗悲哀的面。

How sorrow was it?

怎么个悲哀法呢？

Usually the soup of ban-mian (noodles) is clear, but this bowl was turbid

通常板面的汤是清澈的，但这碗却显浑浊。

Next is the egg, which is also the essence of a bowl of ban-mian.

再来是鸡蛋，也是一碗板面的精华。

A bowl of perfect ban-mian, the egg has to be intact.

一碗完美的板面，其鸡蛋是完好无损的。

The degree of boiled egg depends on the preference of the noodle-eater, and will swallow it at the appropriate time.

那鸡蛋的生熟度就看吃面人的喜好，自己在时机成熟时把它给吞了。

This bowl of ban-mian, egg was tortured till the soul was scattered and fragmented.

这碗板面，蛋却是被凌迟至魂飞魄散支离破碎。

Never expect to have the standards of Michelin or five-star restaurant in terms of colour, aroma and taste, but it did not even possess the most basic attractive hue of food.

没指望拥有米其林或五星级餐馆的色香味俱全标准，但这连食物最基本的诱人色相都没有。

It was like a bowl of abstract painting.

简直就像一碗抽象画。

Life Journey 人生旅途

Singapore

新加坡

Last week received a call from a student’s parent, one of my students chose a path of no return due to depression.

上周接到一位学生家长的电话，我的一个学生因为忧郁症选择了一条不归路。

Too shocked, still very young and in his early 20s.

太震惊，还很年轻才20出头。

When I rushed to the hospital, what reflected in my eyes was a unresponsive dead body.

赶到医院时，映入眼帘的已是一具没了反应的尸体。

Eyes could not help burst into tears. 

眼泪也不由自主的夺眶而出。

I treat every student like my own child.

我把每一个学生当自己的孩子。

Taught him for ten years.

教了他整十个年头。

He was one of the few students who was very close to me.

他是几个少数跟我很亲的学生。

From a mischievous lad to a mature young guy; the biggest transformation was to see him became more grateful.

从一个“大炮仙”的小毛头，到一个成熟的年轻小伙；间中看到他最大的蜕变就是懂得感恩。

He was also the only student who had travelled abroad with me.

他也是至今唯一一个跟过我出国旅行的学生。

What impressed me the most was the dinner he invited me to during the trip; he asked to give him a chance to thank me for teaching him over the years.

印象最深刻的是他在旅途中请我吃的晚餐；他要求让他有机会感谢我这些年对他的教诲。

I remembered when he said that he treated me as an uncle/parent figure, really felt the meaning of teaching and the pride of being a teacher.

记得当时他说把我当叔叔/父辈看待，真心的感觉到教书的意义以及身为老师的骄傲。

Every time I saw him, he appeared cheerful but did not expect that there was a terrible depression hidden behind that smile.

每次看到他都是个开朗的样子，没想到那笑容背后隐藏着可怕的忧郁症。

Everyone’s life journey is different with glory or shame.

每个人的人生旅途因荣耀或耻辱而不同。

But when the end comes before you, you have to stop; no matter how beautiful the scenery is, you cannot hold on to anything because everything just returns to nil.

但当终点来到眼前时，就要停步；尽管风光再美好，也不能依恋万事都成空。

Now that he has completed his short life journey, hope that he will become a happy angel in the pure land without pain.

如今他也完成了他人生的短暂旅途，希望他到一个没有痛苦的净土化为快乐的天使。

P/S: If you find anyone with suicidal intention, advise them to call the SOS counseling hotline 18002214444.

注：大炮仙（福建话）爱讲大话。若发现有人觉得生无可恋，建议他们拨打SOS辅导热线18002214444。

One Year On 一周年

Singapore

新加坡

Everyone has more or less accustomed to this new norm one year on the circuit breaker.

阻断措施实施一周年，大家或多或少也已经习惯这新常态。

The circuit breaker included a ban on dining in at eateries, curbs on people leaving their homes except for essential reasons, and the closure of workplaces and schools.

阻断措施包括禁止堂食、非必要原因禁止出门，以及关闭工作场所和学校。

Restrictions have since been eased gradually.

此后，限制逐步得到缓解。

With 1.05 million individuals have received at least one dose of vaccine and more than 468,000 have received their second dose and completed the full vaccination regimen.

已有105百万人接种了至少一剂疫苗，超过46万8千人已接种了第二剂疫苗并完成了完整的疫苗接种方案。

As more people are vaccinated, hopefully life will return to before the epidemic soon.

随着更多人接种了疫苗，希望很快地生活能回到疫情前。