又中又英 | In a reflective mood | 褚簡寧

　　By the time you read this, Hong Kong will be out of sight for me because I left last week. I am now in Taipei, which feels like my third home. But Hong Kong can never be out of mind because I am Hong Kong-born. The expression "out of sight, out of mind" means to quickly forget about people or things that are no longer part of someone's life. Childhood school friends can be out of sight, out of mind if they don't keep in touch. Friends often ask if Hong Kong or the US is my first home.

　　That question always puts me in a reflective mood. If you are in a reflective mood, it means you are thinking carefully and quietly about something. I grew up in Hong Kong, went to school there, and worked for many Hong Kong media organizations. Hong Kong will always be a part of me even though it has changed a lot in recent years. The US is a part of me because I spent many of my adult years living and working there. Most of my closest relatives live in the US.

　　I am often in a reflective mood trying to decide if I should spend my final years in Hong Kong or the US. I was thinking about that when I headed to Cathay's newly-opened The Bridge lounge before my Taipei flight. It is a huge, comfortable lounge with different food sections and shower rooms. I sat at a quiet corner near an impressive bar. It had windows with a view of arriving and departing planes. Where I sat is a hidden gem, which means a pleasant place not many people know about. I was in a reflective mood at this hidden gem drinking wine and watching the planes.

　　當你讀到這裏的時候，我已完全看不見（out of sight）香港，因為我上星期已離港了。我現在身處台北，這就像我的第三個家。然而，我卻永遠不能忘掉（out of mind）香港，因為我是香港出生的。習語"out of sight, out of mind"是「眼不見，心不念」，當人或事物不再是某人生命的一部分，就迅速忘掉，不作多想了。兒時同窗好友如果沒有保持聯絡，也可以是眼不見，心不念（out of sight, out of mind）。朋友們常常問我，到底香港抑或美國是我的第一家園。

　　這道問題常令我在一個reflective mood之中——若你是in a reflective mood，意即你在靜靜地沉思、反思着某事情。我在香港長大、讀書，為許多香港傳媒機構工作過。香港永遠是我的一部分，雖然她近年轉變了許多。美國是我的一部分，因為我成年後有好些年都在那兒生活和工作，我大部分最親近的親戚也在美國生活。

　　我常常沉思（reflective mood），嘗試決定我到底應該在香港抑或美國度過我的晚年。我乘搭往台北的航班前，當我前往國泰新開的逸連堂貴賓室之際，就在思考着這件事情。那是一個偌大又舒適的貴賓室，有不同的飲食區域以及淋浴間。我在那令人印象深刻的酒吧附近一個靜靜的角落坐下，它旁邊的窗戶可以看到升降的飛機。我坐的地方是個hidden gem，意即鮮為人知的好地方。我在那個有如隱藏寶石的好地方（hidden gem）喝着葡萄酒，看着飛機升降，靜靜沉思（reflective mood）。

[email protected]  
中譯：七刻
Michael Chugani褚簡寧