When I was 19 十九岁的时候 I legally immigrated to the USA. 我非法移民到了美国 I left my country on Mother's day 1963. 1963年的母亲节,我离开了故土 Circumstances were such that 我的处境如此糟糕 I for a short time 有一小段时间里 became homeless 我无家可归 but then found a job 后来我找到一份工作 in East Los Angeles. 在旧金山东部 I was able to live in one of their staff houses, 我在他们提供的一间宿舍住下 went 3 hours to school each night. 每天晚上花三个小时的时间走去学校 I had very little money 我几乎没什么钱 but felt abundant . 却感到十分富足 Mother's Day 1964 arrived 1964年的母亲节到来了 and I needed to call my Mom in Germany. 我想给远在德国的母亲打个电话 I had a little paper sack of quarters 我只有几个硬币,用纸包成一个小包 for $12. 总共能凑齐12美元 It was a LOT of money for me. 这对我来说已经是很大一笔钱了 I walked up 2 streets 我走过了两个街区 to a phone booth. 才找到一个电话亭 It was a pretty hot day. 那时一个十分炎热的日子 Anyway 无论如何 I dialed the operator: 我接通了接线员 'How may I help you?' 您需要什么服务? I said 我说 I like to call my Mom in Germany. 我想给在德国的母亲打个电话 She said 她说: '$ 12 for the first 3 minutes.' 最初三分钟12美元 I fed the phone all the quarters I had. 我把手中所有的硬币都倒进了电话机里 A.s.a. that happened 刚把硬币扔完 I heard the phone ring. 我听到了电话提示音 It was my Mom who picked up. 是母亲拿起了电话 She was extremely excited 她兴奋极了 to hear my voice for the first time in a year. 一年以来,还是第一次听到了我的声音 We talked fast and excitedly. 我们快速说着话,都很兴奋 After a while she said: 过了一会儿她问 'Child this must be very expensive?' 孩子,这很贵吧? I had forgotten time and space. 我已经忘记了世间和空间 We talked on and on. 我们继续交谈下去 The call ended 通话结束 and all my quarters tumbled out again. 我的硬币却都弹了出来 I was stunned. 我感到惊讶极了 We had talked for 45 minutes 我们谈了45分钟 and this kind operator gave us such amazing present. 这个善良的接线员给了我一份这样好的礼物 Thank you. 谢谢你 It was only 1 of the many kindnesses I have experienced 我曾体会过许多种善良,这只是其中一种 in this wonderful country. 在这个神奇的国度 I never asked for anything. 我从不曾奢望什么 But because I worked and studied hard, 但因为我一直勤劳的工作和学习 people seeing it supported my effords. 看到我的努力的人们都来支持我 |