比較是痛苦的根源

人生的前25年，除了台灣我一個國家都沒去過
然而卻在25歲的那年，一個月內去了美中兩大強權國家
前者飽受次貸所苦，是個正在沒落的帝國
後者則是正邁入後奧運時期，一個眾所矚目的新興市場

在一個月內體驗兩國，前後間隔僅一星期
所造成的個人內在感受衝擊實在不可言喻
也讓人深深體認到
身在國外是重新思家鄉意義的絕佳契機

如果從去兩個國家的動機來看
去紐約是短期旅行
來深圳卻是長期工作(或者是做工!)
兩者本身差異極大，但這不影響對於環境的客觀體認
New York is a chaotic city where there is still some orders.
Shenzhen is also a chaotic one, but that's a different story.
And what makes the differences is whether there is culture or not.

If I'd never been to NY, I wouldn't know how ugly Taipei is.
If I'd never been to SZ, I wouldn't know how lovely Taipei is.
That's the most important and costly thing I learn for the first week here, Shenzhen,
where I have to convince myself I love.

From now on, I'll shout out loud "I love SZ" instead of "I love NY."
Wish me luck