純粹真實的自我

Barbara & Jenna Bush 寫給歐巴馬女兒的信
文中有說明這項傳統及個人的見解，我不懂美國文化，但覺得這種儀式還挺好的呢!

其中兩個advice我覺得挺棒的~

-- Surround yourself with loyal friends. They'll protect and calm you and join in on some of the fun, and appreciate the history.
(多結交忠實的朋友。他們會保護你們、安慰你們，跟你們一起分享某些快樂，並珍視歷史。)

-- Cherish your animals because sometimes you'll need the quiet comfort that only animals can provide.
 (愛惜你們的小動物，因為有時你會需要只有動物才能給予的安詳的舒適感。)

去google了一下中譯，以下為全文。
By JENNA and BARBARA BUSH (布希兩千金致奧巴馬女兒的信)

Sasha and Malia, we were seven when our beloved grandfather was sworn in as the 41st President of the United States. We stood proudly on the platform, our tiny hands icicles, as we lived history. We listened intently to the words spoken on Inauguration Day service, duty, honor. But being seven, we didn't quite understand the gravity of the position our Grandfather was committing to. We watched as the bands marched by -- the red, white, and blue streamers welcoming us to a new role: the family members of a President.
(薩沙、瑪利亞：當我們敬愛的祖父宣誓就任美國第41任總統時，我們兩個只有7歲。我們自豪地站在臺上，小手垂得筆直，見證著歷史。我們認真聆聽總統就職日上演講的字字句句--服務、責任、榮譽。不過由於只有7歲，我們並不是很明白祖父即將擔任的職位有多麼重大。我們看著樂隊行進而過--紅、白、藍色的彩帶將我們迎入了一個新的角色：總統的家人。)

We also first saw the White House through the innocent, optimistic eyes of children. We stood on the North Lawn gazing with wonder at her grand portico. The White House was alive with devoted and loving people, many of whom had worked in her halls for decades. Three of the White House ushers, Buddy, Ramsey, and "Smiley", greeted us when we stepped into her intimidating hallway. Their laughter and embraces made us feel welcome right away. Sasha and Malia, here is some advice to you from two sisters who have stood where you will stand and who have lived where you will live:
(那時，我們還首次以孩童無邪、樂天的眼光看到了白宮。我們站在北草坪上，驚奇地盯著那些高大的柱廊。白宮裏到處都是忠實且慈愛的人，許多人已經在那些大廳裏工作了數十年。當我們進入它那令人生畏的走廊時，白宮的三位傳達員--巴迪(Buddy)、拉姆西(Ramsey)和斯邁裏(Smiley)問候了我們，他們的笑聲和擁抱讓我們立刻感受到賓至如歸的溫暖。薩沙、瑪利亞，這是兩位曾在你們將要生活的地方生活過的姐姐給你們的一些建議。)

-- Surround yourself with loyal friends. They'll protect and calm you and join in on some of the fun, and appreciate the history.
(多結交忠實的朋友。他們會保護你們、安慰你們，跟你們一起分享某些快樂，並珍視歷史。)

-- If you're traveling with your parents over Halloween, don't let it stop you from doing what you would normally do. Dress up in some imaginative, elaborate costume (if you are like us a pack of Juicy Fruit and a Vampiress) and trick-or-treat down the plane aisle.
(如果萬聖節的時候你們正跟父母一起旅行，別讓旅行妨礙你做你平常會做的事情。穿上富有想像力的、精心製作的服裝（我們曾裝扮成一盒口香糖和吸血鬼的模樣），在飛機過道上玩“不給糖就搗蛋”的遊戲。)

-- If you ever need a hug, go find Ramsey. If you want to talk football, look for Buddy. And, if you just need a smile, look for "Smiley."
(如果你想來個擁抱，去找拉姆西。如果想談論橄欖球，去找巴迪。還有，如果需要微笑，就去找斯邁裏。)

-- And, a note on White House puppies--our sweet puppy Spot was nursed on the lawn of the White House. And then of course, there's Barney, who most recently bit a reporter. Cherish your animals because sometimes you'll need the quiet comfort that only animals can provide.
(有關白宮裏的狗狗們：我們可愛的狗狗“斑點”常在白宮草坪上活動。當然，還有“巴尼”，它最近咬了一位元記者。愛惜你們的小動物，因為有時你會需要只有動物才能給予的安詳的舒適感。)

-- Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties, and play Sardines on the White House lawn. Have fun and enjoy your childhood in such a magical place to live and play.
(嘗試在日光浴室的樓梯扶手上滑滑梯、兒童棒球、游泳聚會，還有在白宮草坪上“躲貓貓”。在這樣一個神奇的生活和休閒的地方盡情玩耍、享受你們的童年時光吧。)

-- When your dad throws out the first pitch for the Yankees, go to the game.
(當你們的爸爸為紐約洋基隊投出第一球時，該去看比賽了。)

-- In fact, go to anything and everything you possibly can: the Kennedy Center for theater, State Dinners, Christmas parties (the White House staff party is our favorite!), museum openings, arrival ceremonies, and walks around the monuments. Just go. Four years goes by so fast, so absorb it all, enjoy it all!
(實際上，去做任何你們可以做的事：甘迺迪中心的戲劇表演、國宴、聖誕聚會(宮的員工聚會是我們的最愛！)博物館開幕式、歡迎儀式…有在紀念碑周圍散步。多走走。4年時間一晃而過，所以要充分利用它、享受它。)

For four years, we spent our childhood holidays and vacations in the historic house. We could almost feel the presence of all the great men and women who had lived here before us. When we played house, we sat behind the East sitting room's massive curtains as the light poured in illuminating her yellow walls. Our seven-year-old imaginations soared as we played in the enormous, beautiful rooms; our dreams, our games, as romantic as her surroundings. At night, the house sang us quiet songs through the chimneys as we fell asleep.
(那4年時間，我們在這幢有歷史意義的房子裏度過了我們孩童時代的節假日。我們幾乎可以感受到那些曾在這裏生活過的所有偉大的人們就在我們面前。當我們玩辦家家酒的時候，我們會坐在東區起居室的大帷幕後面，陽光照射進來，映亮了它黃色的牆壁。當我們在那些寬敞、漂亮的房間裏玩耍的時候，7歲的我們會插上想像的翅膀；我們的夢、我們的遊戲和這些房子周圍的一切一樣充滿浪漫氣息。夜晚來臨，歌聲穿過煙囪靜靜地伴我們入睡。)

In late December, when snow blanketed the front lawn, all of our cousins overtook the White House. Thirteen children between the ages of two and 12 ran throughout her halls, energized by the crispness in the air and the spirit of the season. Every room smelled of pine; the entire house was adorned with thistle; garlands wound around every banister. We sat on her grand staircase and spied on the holiday dancing below. Hours were spent playing hide-and-go-seek. We used a stage in the grand ballroom to produce a play about Santa and his reindeer. We watched as the National Christmas Tree was lit and admired the chef as he put the final icing on the gingerbread house.
(到每年12月底，當大雪覆蓋前草坪時，白宮就被我們的堂兄表妹們佔領了。我們13個年齡在2-12歲之間的孩子在白宮各個廳裏跑來跑去，空氣中洋溢著愉快的氛圍和節日的氣息。每個房間都散發出松柏的清香，整個白宮到處裝飾著薊枝，每處欄杆上都纏繞著花環。我們坐在白宮寬大的樓梯上，偷偷地看下面正在舉行的節日舞會。我們還花上幾個小時來玩捉迷藏遊戲。我們在舞會大廳裏的一個舞臺上上演聖誕老人和他的馴鹿的劇碼。我們還觀看國家聖誕樹點亮儀式，當白宮大廚為薑餅做的白宮模型澆上最後一勺糖霜時，我們對他充滿了仰慕。)

When it was time, we left the White House. We said our goodbyes to her and to Washington. We weren't sure if we would spend time among her historical walls again, or ever walk the National Mall, admiring the cherry blossoms that resembled puffs of cotton candy. But we did return. This time we were 18. The White House welcomed us back and there is no doubt that it is a magical place at any age.
(當離開白宮的時刻來臨，我們跟它、跟華盛頓道了再見。我們當時不知道以後還會不會再有機會在它的那些歷史建築裏度過一些時光，或者會不會再在國家廣場一帶走過，欣賞那些彷佛棉花糖般爛漫開放的櫻花。然而我們真地又重返白宮了，在我們18歲的時候。白宮對我們的歸來表示歡迎，而那裏無疑是一個神奇的所在，對任何年齡段的人都是如此。)

As older girls, we were constantly inspired by the amazing people we met, politicians and great philosophers like Vaclav Havel. We dined with royalty, heads of states, authors, and activists. We even met the Queen of England and managed to see the Texas Longhorns after they won the National Championship. We traveled with our parents to foreign lands and were deeply moved by what we saw. Trips to Africa inspired and motivated us to begin working with HIV/AIDS and the rights of women and children all over the world.
(隨著年齡的長大，我們不斷地被遇到的傑出人物所激勵，從政界人士，到哈威爾(VaclavHavel)這樣的偉大思想家。我們在這裏跟皇室成員、國家元首、作家、社會活動家等各種人物一同用餐。我們甚至還見過英國女王，還想辦法見到了獲得全美橄欖球冠軍的德克薩斯大學長角牛隊。我們跟隨父母到國外各地旅行，所見所聞深深打動了我們。在非洲的經歷激發我們開始參與防治愛滋病、保護全球婦女兒童權益的努力。)

Now, the White House ballrooms were filled with energy and music as we danced. The East sitting room became a peaceful place to read and study. We ran on the track in the front lawn, and squared off in sisterly bowling duels down in the basement alley.
(這時，當我們在白宮舞廳起舞的時候，大廳裏充滿了音樂和活力。東區起居室已經變成一個讀書學習的安靜場所。我們在前草坪的小路上跑步，在地下室的保齡球場上相互對抗。)

This Christmas, with the enchanting smell of the holidays encompassing her halls, we will again be saying our good-byes to the White House. Sasha and Malia, it is your turn now to fill the White House with laughter.
(這個耶誕節，當令人陶醉的節日氣息彌漫在白宮各個角落，我們再次準備跟白宮道別。薩沙、瑪利亞，現在輪到你們來到白宮、用笑聲充滿這裏的時候了。)

And finally, although it's an honor and full of so many extraordinary opportunities, it isn't always easy being a member of the club you are about to join. Our dad, like yours, is a man of great integrity and love; a man who always put us first. We still see him now as we did when we were seven: as our loving daddy. Our Dad, who read to us nightly, taught us how to score tedious baseball games. He is our father, not the sketch in a paper or part of a skit on TV. Many people will think they know him, but they have no idea how he felt the day you were born, the pride he felt on your first day of school, or how much you both love being his daughters. So here is our most important piece of advice: remember who your dad really is.
(最後我們要說的是，成為這個團體的成員未必總是那麼容易，雖然這是一種榮譽，而且這裏充滿非凡的機遇。我們的父親像你們的爸爸一樣，是一位慈祥且正直的人，一位總是把我們放在第一位的人。他在我們眼裏與我們7歲時一樣，仍是一位深愛我們的爸爸。我們的爸爸每晚會為我們念書，教我們如何在棒球比賽中得分。他是我們的父親，不是報紙上的素描或電視滑稽節目裏的某個角色。許多人會以為他們瞭解他，但他們不知道他在你出生的那個日子有什麼感受，在你上學第一天是多麼驕傲，也不知道你們兩人對作為他的女兒感到多麼自豪。所以，這是我們最重要的一個忠告：要記住你們的爸爸究竟是怎樣一個人。)

Jenna Bush is a writer and educator, the author of the book 'Ana's Story' and the co-author, with her mother Laura Bush, of the picture book 'Read All About It.'
(本文作者詹娜布希(Jenna Bush)是位作家兼教育工作者，曾撰寫《安娜的故事》(Ana's Story)，還與她的母親蘿拉布希(Laura Bush)合作編寫圖畫書《ReadAllAboutIt》。)

Barbara Bush works for a public health-focused non-profit, Global Health Corps, and previously worked for The Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.)
(芭芭拉布希(Barbara Bush)現在公共健康非營利組織Global Health Corps工作，之前曾任職于史密森尼博物館(Smithsonian)的庫珀-休伊特國立設計博物館(Cooper-HewittNationalDesignMuseum)。)