夏恩老師Paul：在教書的這些年，看到學生日漸成長和成熟讓我感到欣慰，同時也視他們如同自己的家人。即使在最辛苦的時候，總有學生說出或做出一些讓你流露出笑容且振奮精神的事。
As I reach the end of my fifth year in Taiwan working for Shane I can look back on so many things that I have done and yet at the same time there is so much left unexplored and undiscovered. This feeling sums up just how much is crammed onto this relatively small island.
身為台灣夏恩的員工已經第五年了，這些年來，我體驗很多台灣生活，但也還有不少事物尚未探索。總歸來說，這種感覺就說明了在這個相對小的島嶼上，擠滿多少事物等人發掘。
The first thing that anyone who has spent any amount of time in Taiwan will tell you about is the food. It ranges all the way from humble street vendors with delightfully cheap and delicious snacks, all the way up to fine dining matching the most incredible dishes you will find anywhere in the world.
任何在台灣待過的人都會談到的第一件事就是食物。從街頭充滿人情味的美味小吃到世界各地的特色菜餚都可以找到。
The centrepiece of Taiwanese food culture are the night markets which are full of life and energy every day of the week and offer not only food but sell all kinds of goods and you can even try your luck at a variety of carnival-style games. There are local dishes catering to every taste from simple beef noodles or braised pork rice to dishes such as stinky tofu which only the more adventurous would go near given the foul smell that follows you down the street. Food is the thing that brings friends and family together, exemplified by hot pot and BBQ restaurants that offer all you-can-eat feasts.
台灣飲食文化的核心是夜市，那裡充滿了生機和活力，不僅提供食物，還有販賣各式各樣的商品，甚至可以在像園遊會一樣的遊戲攤位中碰碰運氣。夜市裡有很多在地小吃，從常見的牛肉麵、滷肉飯、到只有勇於嘗鮮的人才會靠近的臭豆腐，等等各式各樣的食物都有。尤其是臭豆腐，又臭又濃的味道真的可以散播到整條街。食物可以讓朋友和家人們聚在一起，像是有許多提供吃到飽的火鍋店和燒烤店可以選擇。
With all the eating that can be done it’s lucky that Taiwan also has some of the most incredible landscape to explore where you can regularly find towering mountains lined up against the coast. Even within the dense metropolis of Taipei, where I have spent my time, hiking trails can be found in all directions within easy reach using the extensive public transport. Even the easiest climbs such as Elephant Mountain offer picture postcard views of Taipei 101 while more challenging routes can be found in Yangmingshan National Park which also offers a chance to escape the heat in the sweltering summer months. Outside of Taipei the options are even more varied with high altitude peaks, beaches and mountain villages all within easy reach of the city. The High Speed Rail can take you most of the way down the west coast within a couple of hours with each city having its own highlights and local vibe on offer to match your mood.
很幸運能夠待在台灣這個美食天堂，這裡也有一些壯麗的景點值得探索，你會發現高聳的山脈與海岸相映成趣。在繁忙且人口密集的大台北地區，也可利用四通八達的大眾運輸交通工具輕鬆到達很多健行步道。還有台北最好爬的山 – 象山，那裡可以欣賞到如同明信片般美景的台北 101 ，而更具挑戰性的路線則是陽明山國家公園，這裡是個可以逃離酷熱夏天的好去處。台北以外的選擇會更加多樣化，高海拔山峰、海灘和山林田野都近在咫尺。台灣高鐵可以在短短兩個小時內帶你到西部海岸線的各座重點城市，每座城市都有自己的亮點和當地特有的氛圍，讓你隨心選擇。
The pandemic has limited international travel in the last couple of years as Taiwan maintained a successful zero-COVID policy that saw the whole population come together to limit the spread of the virus and allow almost uninterrupted life to continue within its borders. Now as the country moves to open up to the world again it provides an almost perfect base from which to explore Asia. Flights can be found relatively cheaply and take you quickly to any of the incredible nations on Taiwan’s doorstep. Having used this benefit to visit the likes of Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia previously there are many more on my list for the coming year as the opportunity arises again.
近兩年，台灣成功維持新冠病毒本土零確診的政策，但這波疫情也限制了出國旅遊的機會，疫情期間我也看見台灣政府及全台人民團結起來對抗病毒的力量，讓大家能夠安然的在台灣生活。現今，隨著各國陸續對外開放，也讓我有機會繼續探索亞洲，可以買到相對便宜的航班，馬上帶你飛往台灣鄰近的國家。之前，趁著地利之便，到訪過日本、越南、柬埔寨和馬來西亞等國，隨著國門開啟的機會漸漸來臨，我想是時候履行我的旅遊清單了。
The people of Taiwan are incredibly welcoming to new arrivals and as the country is looking to become bilingual in the coming years that will only further reinforce this. Even the garbage truck driver in my neighbourhood goes about his work with a smile on his face and waves to everyone as he passes each day. Politics is hotly debated in public and people are wildly proud of their democratic system, press freedoms and progress of equal rights for all.
台灣人民其實很歡迎新住民，政府規劃在未來幾年讓台灣成為雙語國家的政策也正好推波助漲這樣的氛圍。就連我家社區的垃圾車司機每天都面帶笑容在工作，並和每個人揮手致意。大家也都會熱烈的討論政治議題，人民為他們的民主制度、新聞自由和人人權利平等的進步感到無比自豪。
The teaching has definitely been one of the highlights of life here. Children, in general, are highly motivated to learn and get good grades in school and there is a culture of respect for teachers that was rarely seen back in the UK. Even as they arrive in the cram school after a full day at their regular school they are full of energy, have endless questions and will make every day unique. Seeing students grow and mature over the years I have taught them has been hugely rewarding and they can become something of a surrogate family at times. On even the toughest day there will always be a student who says or does something that will bring a smile to your face and lift your mood.
教學向來都是台灣生活中一個精采又重要的部分。普遍來說，孩子們在校的學習態度很積極，會努力考取好成績，也很尊敬老師，尊師重道的文化在英國反倒很少見。即使孩子們在國小上了一整天的課，到了補習班也還是充滿活力，有無窮無盡的疑問需要解答，每一天都過得特別充實。在教書的這些年，看到學生日漸成長和成熟讓我感到欣慰，同時也視他們如同自己的家人。即使在最辛苦的時候，總有學生說出或做出一些讓你流露出笑容且振奮精神的事。
It’s been an unforgettable experience to date and anyone who comes equipped with an open mind will have an abundance of opportunities socially and professionally in a place that is always changing and offering something new and better.
在台灣的生活迄今都是一個難忘的經驗，任何擁有開放思想的人都將在這片總是不斷變化，並提供創新及更美好事物的土地上擁有豐富的社交和展現專業能力的機會。
