【往期回顾】
【本期内容】
I Moved Back to My Hometown
我搬回了我的家乡
Returning to your hometown can seem like the end of the road, but I believe it can be the beginning of something beautiful.
回到家乡似乎是路的尽头，但我相信这可能是美好的开始。
My hometown of Macon, GA, while charming, never served as the backdrop for the future I imagined for myself.
我的家乡佐治亚州梅肯虽然迷人，但从来不是我为自己所想象的未来的理想去处。
At age 18 I left to pursue education and experience (as so many of us do) and was wide open to the adventure that life would show me. My journey took me from Macon to Atlanta for undergrad, from Atlanta to rural Illinois for graduate school, and from Illinois to a small Moroccan village with the Peace Corps. I imagined my time in Morocco would be the spring-board for an international life. But when my two years there came to an end, the pull I had always felt to go abroad had unexpectedly shifted – back to the states, back to the South, back to Macon.
18岁时，我离开家乡去继续深造、积累经验（就像我们中的许多人一样），并敞怀拥抱生活中即将出现的冒险之旅。我的旅程把我从梅肯带到亚特兰大读本科，从亚特兰大带到伊利诺伊州农村读研究生，从伊利诺伊州带到和平工作团所在的一个摩洛哥小村庄。我想象我在摩洛哥的时光将成为国际生活的跳板。但当我在那里的两年结束时，我一直觉得出国的吸引力出乎意料地转移了——转回了美国，转回了南方，转回了梅肯。
After ten years of being a nomad, the idea of something familiar, something like home, was compelling. I craved a language I knew without effort, a place I could take back roads blindfolded, home cooking that gave me comfort, and a community I could participate in as a native. I craved Macon.
漂泊了十年之后，对熟悉的东西的想念，比如家，是很吸引人的。我渴望一种我毫不费力就能掌握的语言，一个我可以闭着眼睛走在小路上的地方，一个能给我抚慰的家常菜，一个让我作为本地人参与的社区。我心向往梅肯。
And so I did it. I returned to the one place in the world I never thought I’d end up: my hometown.
于是我就这么做了。我回到了世界上一个我从未想过会了此一生的地方：我的家乡。
As I approach three years of living here this spring, I see how returning to my hometown was the best decision I ever made. Returning to one’s hometown can seem like the end of the road, but I believe it can be the beginning of something beautiful. Here are seven lessons I learned (and am still learning) from this homecoming that may aid you if your journey is taking you home, too.
今年春天，我在这里生活了三年，我意识到回到家乡是我做过的最正确的决定。回到家乡似乎是路的尽头，但我相信这可能是美好的开始。以下是我从这次返乡旅程中学到的七个感悟（现在仍在学习）；如果你也正在回乡的旅程中，这些感悟可能会对你有所帮助。
1. We all deserve a second chance.
我们都应该得到第二次机会。
One of the most stressful parts of returning to my hometown was knowing I would run into people from my past and that their ideas about me were based on my younger self. But these renewed connections also presented an opportunity: If ever I made a bad impression, I’m grateful for the chance to show how I have changed and grown.
回到家乡最令人紧张的部分之一是知道我会遇到过去的人，他们对我的看法是基于我年轻时的自己。但这些恢复的联系也提供了一个机会：如果我给人留下了不好的印象，我很感激有机会展示我是如何改变和成长的。
In the same way that I deserve a second chance to show who I have become, so do those I used to know. I have to remember that folks from high school might have changed as much as I have. The lesson here is simple: be open. Let people show me who they are now. Who knows? Perhaps I’ll find an unlikely friend.
就像我应该有第二次机会展示我已经成为什么样的人一样，我以前认识的人也是如此。我必须记住，高中时的人可能和我一样改变了。这里的感悟很简单：保持开放态度。让人们想我展示我他们现在是什么样的人了。谁知道呢？也许我会找到一个意想不到的朋友。
I’ve realized my hometown deserves a second chance, too. Maybe as an angsty teenager it seemed like the worst place on Earth, but maybe I would have felt the same anywhere. Challenging myself to try new places helps me look at the town with a fresh perspective. If you are struggling, try exploring the town with a friend who has never been there before. They will see things you might have never noticed. Even in the most familiar places, there is always something to see with fresh eyes.
我意识到我的家乡也值得第二次机会。也许作为一个焦虑的青少年，这里似乎是地球上最糟糕的地方，但也许我在任何地方都会有同样的感觉。挑战自己去尝试新的地方有助于我以新的视角看待这个城镇。如果你正在挣扎，试着和一个从未去过那里的朋友一起探索这个城镇。他们会看到你可能从未注意到的事情。即使在最熟悉的地方，总有一些东西可以用全球的眼光去看。
2. Everyone knowing everyone can be an advantage.
大家都彼此熟悉可以是件好事。
When you move back to your hometown, especially if it’s a smaller town or city, anonymity isn’t an option. Not a day goes by where I don’t run into someone I know. Whether I’m in the grocery store, at the gas station, out to eat, or even stopped at a red light, familiar faces are everywhere. And while this can certainly feel a bit claustrophobic and like people are in your business, knowing everyone – and everyone knowing you – can be an advantage. The whole town or city becomes your personal network. Use it.
当你搬回家乡时，尤其是如果它是一个较小的城镇或城市，匿名不是一种选择。每一天我都会遇到我认识的人。无论我是在杂货店、加油站、外出就餐，还是在红灯前停下，到处都是熟悉的面孔。虽然这肯定会让人感到有点幽闭恐惧，就像人们在你的生活中一样，但认识每个人——每个人都认识你——可以是件好事。整个城镇或城市都成为你的个人网络。用好它。
This network can help connect you when you are looking for a place to live or a new hairdresser. If you need to hire a consultant or a caterer, it will be easy to find someone you trust who can share their experiences with you before you sign a contract. As this network grows, it can even link you to job opportunities you might otherwise not have known about. A community-wide network might mean you risk running into someone while hung-over and in sweatpants running a quick errand Saturday morning, but it can also impact your life for the better in a long-term way.
当你正在寻找居住地或新的理发师时，这个网络可以帮助你与其他人建立联系。如果你需要聘请顾问或餐饮服务商，你很容易就可以找到你信任的人，他们可以在你签署合同之前与你分享他们的经验。随着这个网络的发展，它甚至可以将你与你可能不知道的工作机会联系起来。一个社区范围的网络可能意味着你有可能在周六早上宿醉不醒、穿着运动裤快速跑腿时遇到某人，但从长远来看，这也会更好地影响你的生活。
3. Seek and you shall find.
寻找，你就会找到。
When I first moved back to Macon, I had no idea where to go or what to do. I reached out to a local nonprofit for an informational interview, and the rest is history. Through this one meeting, I got plugged into professional opportunities, community events, workshops, job openings and even friendships. I went from empty weekends to rarely having a lazy weekend to myself thanks to my packed calendar. The opportunities are there; finding them is a matter of seeking them out. Attend a networking event alone, join a club, volunteer with a nonprofit, audit a or ask for an informational interview.
当我第一次搬回梅肯时，我不知道该去哪里或做什么。我联系了当地的一家非营利组织进行信息采访，接下来的事情大家就都知道了。通过这次会议，我接触到了职业机会、社区活动、研讨会、职位空缺，甚至友谊。由于日程安排紧凑，我从空荡荡的周末到很少有懒散的周末。机会就在那里；寻找他们，就能找到他们。独自参加社交活动，加入俱乐部，在非营利组织做志愿者，旁听课程或要求信息面试。
4. There is room for your passions.
你的爱好还有空间。
When I moved to Atlanta at 18, I began teaching myself guitar. As fate would have it, I ended up becoming friends with several musicians whose careers were just taking off. Watching them, it was clear that music was their life. For me, playing and singing was something I enjoyed but had no intention of pursuing as a career, so it didn’t seem worth investing time and energy into this creative hobby when I was so busy trying to get by in a big city. The music scene in Atlanta was lively but competitive, and I didn’t see a place for me in it.
当我18岁搬到亚特兰大时，我开始自学吉他。正如命运所安排的，我最终与几位事业刚刚起步的音乐家成为了朋友。看着他们，很明显音乐就是他们的生活。对我来说，演奏和唱歌是我喜欢的事情，但我无意将其作为职业追求，所以当我忙于在大城市生活时，似乎不值得在这个创造性爱好上投入时间和精力。亚特兰大的音乐场面很热闹，但竞争激烈，我在其中找不到自己的位置。
When I moved to Macon, I was able to have a full-time job and still find stages upon which to perform. In smaller towns and cities, hobbies have room to develop and shine without having to be a full-time pursuit. Whether it’s music or visual art or furniture building, your passions can find their place.
当我搬到梅肯时，我能够有一份全职工作，并且仍然可以找到表演的舞台。在较小的城镇和城市，爱好有发展和闪耀的空间，而不必成为全职追求。无论是音乐、视觉艺术还是家具建筑，你的爱好都能找到自己的位置。
5. People are more friendly than you think.
人们比你想象的更友好。
Returning to the states, and my hometown, had me back at square one. Truth be told, I had few friends from my younger years in Macon, and in many ways it was like starting over with nothing. I would meet people who seemed interesting to me, but I would shy away from initiating friendship. Assuming they already had their set social circle, I thought an invitation would be ignored. Once I finally started reaching out, I was surprised at how open people were.
回到美国和我的家乡，让我回到了起点。说实话，我在梅肯年轻时几乎没有朋友，在很多方面，这就像从头开始。我会遇到一些我觉得有趣的人，但我会回避建立友谊。假设他们已经有了固定的社交圈，我以为邀请会被忽略。当我终于开始接触时，我惊讶于人们有多开放。
When you meet someone you connect with, ask them to lunch! And more importantly, follow through. As adults we don’t have the same structure that college provided and we have to be proactive in cultivating friendship. Being intentional is not difficult, it just takes a bit of effort.
当你遇到与你有联系的人时，请他们吃午饭！更重要的是，坚持到底。作为成年人，我们没有以前大学所提供的精心安排，我们必须积极培养友谊。有意并不难，只是需要一点点努力。
6. Grassroots are gold.
基层是金。
As our country struggles to find common ground on many fronts, it is imperative for people to invest in their communities. Beyond voting, contacting my senator, or giving money and time to candidates I believe in, I have little say in the national narrative. But I can actively live out my convictions on a daily basis in my community. I can directly impact food security by serving at a food bank, help eradicate transportation barriers by volunteering with a bicycle co-op, or participate in education improvement by reading to kids at an elementary school.
随着我们的国家在许多方面努力寻找共同点，人们必须投资于他们的社区。除了投票、联系我的参议员，或者给我信任的候选人金钱和时间，我在全国宣讲中几乎没有发言权。但我可以在社区中每天积极践行我的信念。我可以通过在食物救济处服务来直接影响粮食安全，通过在自行车合作社做志愿者来帮助消除交通障碍，或者通过在小学给孩子们读书来参与教育改善。
Opportunities to push your community in the direction you hope for are around every corner. Being in your hometown, you will have a unique insight and perspective that organizations need, and you’ll see the effects of your efforts in real-time. There’s no better feeling than knowing you’re actively making your town or city a better place for everyone.
将你的社区推向你希望的方向的机会无处不在。在你的家乡，你将拥有组织所需的独特见解和视角，你将实时看到你的努力的效果。没有什么比知道你正在积极地让你的城镇或城市对每个人来说都是一个更好的地方更好的感觉了。
7. Patience is required.
需要耐心。
It is easy to get frustrated when things don’t go the way we want as fast as we want. Every lesson I learned from this homecoming journey is the result of trial and error, commitment to this community, and a whole lot of waiting for things to bloom. There is no formula, and patience is paramount. When you get discouraged, just remember, “all things in good time.” Your hometown will be home again before you know it.
当事情没有像我们想要的那样快地按照我们想要的方式发展时，我们很容易感到沮丧。我从这次回家之旅中学到的每一个感悟都是试错的结果，是对这个社区的承诺，也是等待事物绽放的结果。没有公式，耐心是最重要的。当你气馁时，只要记住，“一切都会好起来的。”你的家乡会在你不知不觉中再次变得亲切起来。
【Source】www.livability.com
【Translated by】Spark Liao (廖怀宝)
【Illustration】From Bing
