悠然回想起大概三年半前，我孤身隻影來到了這個陌生的地方 — 堪培拉。

當初那位帶著興奮心情去探索世界的少年，如今已經快要戴上四方帽畢業了。經過這三年多西方教育的洗禮，我的人生閱歷的確豐富了很多，遇到了來自不同國家的人，學習他們的語言，同時也聆聽他們背後的故事。三年半的時間，不多也不少，但足以讓我體會到書本上學不到的人生百態。我非常慶幸自己能夠在一個舒適的環境下讀書，也非常感恩一路走來有我的朋友陪伴著，記得那些晚上我跟朋友通宵達旦地一邊打麻將一邊談心事，當然也少不了那段日以繼夜埋首苦讀的日子，與志同道合的朋友一起參加歌唱比賽等等的往事。我無悔做過這麼多瘋狂的事，因為沒有這些經歷，我的大學旅程便不會圓滿。

在茫茫人海中，確認過不少的眼神，我遇上過很多對的人。「在家靠父母，出外靠朋友」，這句話亦讓我深深體會到這三年來我是怎樣走過來的。在我為學業擔憂或遇到挫折的時侯，有些人攙扶我及給我鼓勵，亦有些人會在你背後搬弄是非和冷嘲熱諷。所以除了書本上的知識外，與人相處之道亦是大學生涯中的必修科。每個人修的課程內容都各有不同，不能言喻，只能體會。

開心過、傷心過、笑過、哭過、對過、錯過，百般滋味都在堪培拉一一嚐過。如果你問我，在堪培拉讀書和生活中最大的得著是什麼？我會告訴你，在這裡我更深入地認識了我自己。在成長的過程中，你會發現很多事情都未必如想像中的順利和美好。也許你會為一份不合格的測驗而沮喪; 也許你會為失去一段感情而悲傷; 也許你會為當初未盡力而遺憾。不要緊，這一切的障礙都是在為你加添成長之重量，為了成就將來更堅壯的你，去迎接一段段屬於你自己的獨家回憶。

讀者們，尤其是剛來到的新生們，不要懼怕那些撲面而來的種種考驗，在這敞旅程中，嘗試放慢腳步去享受你在大學的匆匆時光，因為他日驀然回首，你會發現你在堪培拉流過一點一滴的汗水和淚水都是值得的。

堪培拉的日與夜，盛載著你和我的平凡小故事。

*****

The Days & Nights of Canberra

I cast my mind back somewhat pensively to three and a half years ago when I arrived as a solitary figure to this strange and unfamiliar place – Canberra.

At that time I was but a youth, spurred on by my passion and excitement to go and explore the world, and yet now I already find myself about to don the mortarboard and graduate. Having gone through the baptism of a Western education these past three or more years, my life experience has been truly enriched in so many ways. I have encountered people from diverse countries, studied their languages and listened intently to their stories. Three and a half years is not really a very long time, and yet not that short a period either, but it has been sufficient to allow me to experience much that cannot be gained from textbook learning. I am extremely glad that I have been able to study in such comfortable surrounds and grateful to have had my friends accompany me along the way. I recall those all-night sessions playing mah-jong while pouring out our hearts to one another, those many days when we buried our heads deep in study around the clock and those times when some friends and kindred spirits joined together in singing competitions and such. I have no regrets for such frenetic adventures. Without experiences such as these, my progression through university would not have enjoyed such fullness.  

I have encountered some very fine people whose glances I first met from with within this vast and surging sea of faces. As the Chinese proverb says:

When living at home, rely on your mother and father.

When you have left home, rely on your friends.

This proverb made me realise how I have managed to get through these last three years. Whenever I was anxious about my studies or encountered any setbacks, it was these friends who supported me and gave encouragement, yet there were others who told tales or mocked you behind your back.

Outside of any book learning, the one compulsory university course you must also take is a course on how to interact with others. The materials for this ‘course’ will be different for each person. You cannot put them into words. You can only realise them through your own experience.  

Happiness and broken-heartedness, laughter and tears, right and wrong, I have tasted all of these in Canberra. If you asked me what my greatest achievement in both my studies in Canberra and my life would be, I would answer that it was here that I was able to know myself deeply. In the process of growing up you realise that many things do not go as smoothly as expected. Perhaps you failed to get the grade you wanted in an exam. Perhaps you are broken-hearted after a failed romance. Perhaps you have some regrets about not performing your best.

Do not worry about them because these obstacles add weight to your growth as a person and become an integral part of your memories as a person.

So readers, in particular those of you have just arrived in Canberra, never be afraid of these tests as they emerge.

You and I will always be a main character of our own story that vitalizes the days and nights of Canberra.