The clock is wound, the City is waiting,
Ready to begin its day before dreams have ceased;
Slowly the sun rises, the City is waiting, eagerly hovering, Breathe held, counting down…
时钟在缠绕，城市在等待，准备在梦想停止之前开始一天；太阳慢慢升起，城市在等待，急切地徘徊，屏住呼吸，倒计时……
- Breathing dew into the air
- Winding the engines of the city
- Gathering the bird’s songs
- Rays of light ordered to the windows
- Breath let out, it begins
For some, thinking of “my tribe” may bring forth hearty images of relationships, laughter, meaningful conversations; all in the city you now call home. Yet, for others, it is also possible that the very term implies an isolation from said tribe, for an abundancy of reasons. It could spark images of loneliness and confusion, more times spent alone than preferred, feelings of homesickness for what you once had or longing for what you wish could be. Even Goethe once wrote, “The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone who thinks and feels with us…this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.”
对一些人来说，想到“我的部落”可能会带来人际关系、欢笑、有意义的对话的动人形象；所有这些都在你现在称之为家的城市。 然而，对其他人来说，由于多种原因，这个词也可能意味着与上述部落隔绝。 它可能会引发孤独和困惑的形象，独处的时间比喜欢的多，对你曾经拥有的东西感到想家，或者渴望你希望成为什么。 甚至歌德也曾经写道：“如果一个人只想到山脉、河流和城市，世界是如此空虚；但认识一个与我们共思考和感受的人……这让我们的地球成为一个有人居住的花园。”
Moving to China from a city of 10,000 people, to Nanjing, a city of almost 10 million people, I became miniscule as I fumbled to live in Nanjing’s day. Whether from a city of equal size to Nanjing, or from a city smaller than my own, the longing to connect with others eventually makes an appearance. While many foreigners want to, the questions on how to find some kind of tribal connection with the locals lies in surpassing language barriers, physical differences and cultural clashes. Coming from a city with only two main streets, to a city with a 24-exit subway stop, I latched onto the question, “Is it possible to make this place feel like home?”
从一万人口的城市搬到中国，搬到近1000万人的城市南京，我摸索着生活在南京的日子里，我变得微不起。 无论是来自与南京一样大的城市，还是来自比我自己小的城市，与他人联系的渴望最终都会出现。 虽然许多外国人想，但如何与当地人建立某种部落联系的问题在于克服语言障碍、身体差异和文化冲突。 从一个只有两条主要街道的城市，到一个有24个出口的地铁站的城市，我抓住一个问题：“有可能让这个地方有家的感觉吗？”
Take a deep breath, for it certainly is, and simpler than you might think. Where do you live? Think beyond the city, but closer to home. In which area do you live? Walking to work in Maqun, do you see the same woman selling “baozi” (包子) every morning? Buy one. Going home to Laomendong, do you see the same store clerks standing outside their stores? Give them a smile. Passing by the group of elders watching a movie on the steps outside of HPC on Xuezelu in Xianlin? Join them. While it is possibly less stressful to avoid putting ourselves in situations where our ears may be greeted with questions we do not recognise, the gain from interacting with the local tribe just might be worth it. For what is a tribe? Is it defined by our ability to verbally express our deepest selves to another? Sometimes. Is it a simple act of recognszing individuals we become accustomed to seeing, with a simple smile or nod? Sometimes. Whether your Mandarin skill can take you on a journey to express the depths of your soul, or can simply help you to say hello, both actions are significant. Reflecting on my first year in China, it is the faces of my local tribe who initially answered my question.
深呼吸，因为它确实如此，而且比你想象的要简单。 你住在哪里？ 超越城市，但离家更近。 你住在哪个地区？ 在Maqun步行去上班，你每天早上看到同一个女人卖包子吗？ 买一个。 回家老门洞，你看到那些店员站在他们的店外吗？ 给他们一个微笑。 路过仙林学泽路HPC外台阶上看电影的一群老人？ 加入他们。 虽然避免将自己置于耳朵可能被我们不认识的问题所迎接的境地可能会减轻压力，但与当地部落互动的收益可能是值得的。 部落是什么？ 它是由我们用语言向他人表达最深的自我的能力来定义的吗？ 有时候。 这是一种简单的行为，用简单的微笑或个子来识别我们习惯看到的个人吗？ 有时候。 无论你的普通话技能可以带你踏上一段表达你灵魂深处的旅程，还是仅仅帮助你打招呼，这两个动作都很重要。 回顧我在中國的第一年，最初回答我問題的是當地部落的面孔。
Stepping onto the road which recognises the beat of my stride, “the milk-tea lady smiles”; turning the corner, “the egg guy” gives a no-smile nod; looking both ways to cross, “the walking-lady” gives a thumbs-up; reaching for a peach, “the fruit-lady” gives an encouraging punch on the shoulder; stapling the tests, “the printer-guy” invites me to a Christmas Eve dinner. With no words uttered, my tribe was formed. Start local, strive for consistency, the building up of a tribe takes effort, but the reward is high.
踏上路，认出了我的步伐，“奶茶女士微笑”；转过街角，“鸡蛋人”不笑地点了点头；向两边看交叉，“走路的女士”竖起大拇指；伸手去拿桃子，“水果女士”在肩膀上打了一拳；用钉住测试，“打印机的家伙”邀请我参加平安夜的晚餐。 没有说话，我的部落就成立了。 从本地开始，争取一致性，建立部落需要努力，但回报很高。
