日本小学难忘的一天

A Memorable Day

文/陈小牧

原载《海外生活征文》（2000年3月第25卷第三期）「中英文版」

春暖时节，我所在的大学组织的各国留学生去当地某小学作见学（实习）一日体验。据说这一活动每年例行一次，今年已是第六个年头了。

隆重的欢迎仪式过后，分别由各班派出两名代表前来领我们去班级。我被分到了三年二班。

一进教室，我不禁被眼前的情景所感动：教室里用彩带装饰得异常漂亮，黑板上写着欢迎我的字……

接下来我便开始回答孩子们提出的各式各样千奇百怪的问题。甚至有人问我，中国有树吗？有车吗？透过那一张张纯真无邪的小脸，仿佛让我又看到了自己孩提时的影子。

不知不觉间已近中午。孩子们开始准备午餐。午餐是在教室进行的，几个值日的小家伙，不知在什么时候已戴上了白围裙、大口罩、大帽子，开始按座位分发着餐具、食物，忙忙碌碌一派滑稽的模样。

吃饭前大家都双手合十，默默地，像是在祈祷着什么，然后静静地开始吃饭。

伴着又一次祈祷，午餐告一段落。

午餐过后，有一段休憩。这时孩子们又恢复了活泼。甚至有一个顽皮的小孩竟然趴到女老师的背上，给老师做起了按摩。我正惊奇看着这一幕时，他竟然把注意力移向了我，也给我做起了颈部按摩。别看他小小的年纪，手劲还蛮大的呢！痛得我不禁咧了一下嘴，他忙停手，把脸凑近关切地问道：痛吗？

下午的第一项活动是去操场做游戏。游戏是在两个班之间进行的，是我儿时熟知的“打沙包”。只不过在这里沙包换成了“塑料球”。看来世界各国的孩子在游戏这点上，永远是能够找到共同点的。

游戏过后，是大扫除的时间。这时女老师便问我是在操场扫除，还是去教室，或是走廊？没想到孩子们竟鼓噪起来：“陈老师，来操场吧！”“陈老师，去教室吧！”……一个柔柔弱弱的小女孩，扬起她那纯真的小脸，细声细气地用几近哀求的语调：陈老师，和我一起去走廊吧！这种情形下，着实让我为难。真恨不得能有分身之术，来满足孩子们的各种要求。最后还是女老师给我解了围：那么，陈老师就几处轮流来吧！

在教室用抹布抹地时，日本人独到的“抹地术”，我却怎么也学不会，只能按照自己的方式。这时旁边的孩子不解地问我：“陈老师，你怎么这样抹地啊？”我回答说：陈老师身体太大，不能像你们那样灵活跑动。没想到他们便开始问起了我的体重。当我告诉他们：对于女性来讲，年龄、体重是个人秘密时，他们便七嘴八舌地猜起了我的体重。有一个小男孩，竟然凑到我的面前，神秘兮兮地小声对我说：陈老师，你偷偷告诉我，我保证不说。是否有一百二十吨？望着他那一脸的诡谲，真让人哭笑不得。

一阵喧闹过后，终于到了分别的时刻。不知是哪个小家伙率先拿了本子让我签名。于是乎，哗啦一下子，我的周围挤满了“渴求得到我芳名”的小家伙。一时间自己仿佛真的变成了名人，好不得意。

最后还有一项是向我赠送礼物。班主任拿出五颜六色的折纸发给孩子们。不知是谁说过这样一句话：孩子永远是创造的天才。

果然不消一会儿的功夫，那一张张折纸便在孩子们灵巧的手上，变成了千纸鹤、金盏花、钢琴等许许多多活灵活现的东西。然后这一件件“纸工艺品”被放到了一个预先准备好的精致的纸盒中，连同那份纯真，一起交到了我这个异邦人的手中……

谢谢你们，小家伙！谢谢你们让我度过了难忘的一天！

A Memorable Day

英文对照版tr.by Scott Williams

One warm spring day,the university at which I was studying in Japan arranged for all of its foreign students to spend a day observing classes at a primary school in Fukuoka.These observations were arranged annually,and that year marked their sixth year.

After the formal welcoming ceremony was completed,each of us was led to the class we were to visit by two representatives of that class.I had been scheduled to visit the Number 2 third-grade class.

I was warmed by what I saw when I entered the classroom-it had been decorated with colored ribbons and someone had written“Welcome Ms.Chen”on the blackboard.

The children had all kinds of interesting and bizarre questions for me.One even asked me if there were trees and cars in China.That pure and guileless face seemed to turn time on its head;I seemed to be looking at a childhood image of myself.

In no time at all,it was almost noon.The children began preparing for lunch,which they ate in the classroom.The couple of children who were on duty donned white aprons,masks and hats,then began busily and somewhat comically serving out silverware and food among the rows of students.

Before the meal,the children all put their hands together as if they were praying and were silent for a moment.Then they quietly began to eat.

The meal ended with one more prayer.

When they were finished with their food,they rested for a little while.Afterwards,they were their lively selves once again.One naughty little boy even climbed up on his teacher′s back to massage her neck.While I still looking at this scene with surprise,the little boy turned his attention to me and gave me a neck massage,too!Though just a youngster,his hands were large and strong.But when I winced in pain,he immediately stopped,put his head close to mine and asked with concern,”Does it hurt?”

The afternoon′s first activity was a trip to the athletic field,where they played something very similar to what I remembered from my own childhood.It seems that no matter where one goes in the world,there are always similarities to be found in the games children play.

After the game,it was time to tidy up the school.The children′s teacher asked me if I would prefer to help tidy the field,the classroom,or the halls.I didn′t expect the children to fight over my help!”“Come to the field with us.Ms.Chen!”“Come to the classroom with us,Ms.Chen!”One fragile little girl raised her innocent little face towards mine and softly,almost pleadingly,asked,”Ms.Chen,you′ll come with me to help with the hallways,won′t you?”Ireally didn′t know which way to turn.I wished I could split myself into three parts so that I wouldn′t have to disappoint any of them.Finally,their teacher came to my rescue by suggesting to them that I would spend a little time with each group.

Wiping down the floor in the classroom with a cloth,I found I

couldn′t master the unique technique employed by the Japanese and could only muddle along in my own way.A nearby child noticed and wonderingly asked,“Ms.Chen,why are you wiping the floor that way?”I answered,”Ms.chen′s body is too large.I don′ t have the agility that you do.”It never occurred to me that they would then begin to ask me my weight.When I told them that a woman′s age and weight were her secret and not to be talked about,they began noisily trying to guess how much I weighed,Speaking in a conspiratorial whisper,one little boy said to me,”Whisper it to me,I promise I won′t tell anyone.One-hundred-twenty tons,right?”Looling at the odd expression_r on his face,I didn′t know whether to laugh or cry.

After a bit of raucous play,it was time to go.

I don′t know which of the children first asked me to sigh his notebook,but there was a scramble and I was surrounded by a bunch of kids“dyiing for my autograph.”For a moment,I was a star(and I thoroughly enjoyed the sensation).

Before I left,they gave me a gift.Their teacher passed out colorful sheets of origami paper for the children to make their gifts with.

I don′t recall who it was that said that children are always creative geniuses……

Just a moment′s work of their skillful little hands turned the paper into cranes and marigolds and pianos and all kinds of things.Each of these was placed in a delicate paper box along with all their childish sincerity,and then placed into the hands of their foreign visitor.

Thank you,children!Thank you for giving me an unforgettable day.