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從2004年踏上云南大理白族自治州喜洲鎮(zhèn)那一刻起,林登的人生就和云南大理這片土地再也分不開(kāi)?，F(xiàn)在,當(dāng)?shù)卮迕裼H切地稱(chēng)他為“洋村長(zhǎng)”。他總是笑著說(shuō),我最重要的工作就是做好中國(guó)文化的傳播者。
Since 2004 when he set foot in Xizhou Town, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Linden's life has been bonded to this land in west Yunnan province. Now, locals call him the "foreign village head". “My job is to be a good communicator for Chinese culture,” said Linden with a smile.
林登出生于上世紀(jì)60年代美國(guó)芝加哥的一個(gè)藍(lán)領(lǐng)家庭。1983年,正值青年的他白天在一家地毯清洗公司做兼職,晚上在社區(qū)大學(xué)上課。
Brian Linden was born in 1960s in a blue-collar family in Chicago, USA. During his teenage days in 1983, Linden worked part-time in a carpet cleaning company in the day, while having classes at the community college at night.
一次偶然的機(jī)會(huì),他從一位芝加哥教授那里得知了中國(guó)政府會(huì)給國(guó)際留學(xué)生提供獎(jiǎng)學(xué)金的消息。在教授的鼓勵(lì)下,林登抱著一線(xiàn)希望,撥通了聯(lián)系電話(huà)。
By chance, he learned from a Chicago professor that the Chinese government offers scholarships to international students. Encouraged by the professor, Linden made a phone call to China with a glimmer of hope.
那年8月,他順利來(lái)到中國(guó)。
In August 1983, he came to China.
求學(xué)、拍電影、赴南京大學(xué)繼續(xù)深造……林登在中國(guó)的人生可謂豐富多彩。后來(lái),他到斯坦福大學(xué)攻讀博士學(xué)位,又入職了一家瑞典公司,在許多國(guó)家做國(guó)際教育項(xiàng)目。
Linden's life in China was enriched by learning, film making, a further study tour at Nanjing University…. Later, he went to Stanford University for his PhD and worked for Swedish company, doing international education projects in many countries.
第一個(gè)孩子出生后,他覺(jué)得應(yīng)該換個(gè)不那么奔波的工作。
Following the birth of his first child, Linden felt like changing to a job with fewer business tours.
他心里對(duì)中國(guó)有特別的情愫,也希望為中國(guó)做點(diǎn)什么。
With China recurring on his mind, he hoped to do something for this country.
2004年,他賣(mài)了在美國(guó)的房子,籌集了60萬(wàn)美元,帶上妻子和兩個(gè)兒子直飛中國(guó)。
In 2004, Linden sold his house in America at the price of $600,000, and he flew directly to China with his wife and two sons.
在中國(guó)各地考察了一圈,喜洲鎮(zhèn)征服了他。他說(shuō),這里的文化是活的,這里的人非常包容,他在這里找到了家。
After a tour around China, he chose to settle down in Xizhou Town. “Traditions here remain as alive as ever, and locals treat me like family, especially those living in Xizhou,” said Linden.
在大理政府的幫助下,林登租下當(dāng)?shù)氐囊粭澝窬印獥钇废嗾?還聘請(qǐng)了100多位當(dāng)?shù)毓と藢?duì)這個(gè)老宅進(jìn)行修繕,將其改造成了一個(gè)精品客棧,取名喜林苑。
With the help of Dali government, Brian restored a traditional Bai-style house into the most popular local tavern for foreign tourists. Now the house is known as Linden Centre hotel.
客棧步入正軌以后,林登開(kāi)始和歐洲、美國(guó)的學(xué)校合作各類(lèi)國(guó)際教育項(xiàng)目。這些項(xiàng)目使小小的喜洲成為了外國(guó)學(xué)生了解中國(guó)的窗口。
Since the hotel was put into service, Linden has been re-engaged in international education projects by European and American schools. These projects have turned Xizhou into a window for foreign students to learn about China.
比如,上海美國(guó)學(xué)校的學(xué)生需要每人選一個(gè)村里65歲以上的老人,與他們一起生活,最后給老人拍一段視頻;美國(guó)明德大學(xué)的學(xué)生會(huì)在這里拍攝紀(jì)錄片,每個(gè)學(xué)生還會(huì)完成一本和喜洲有關(guān)的書(shū)……
For example, Linden Centre allowed students in Shanghai American School to live with a rural folk over 65 years old and take a video for the seniors. And Linden will invite the students of Middlebury College to Xizhou, who are expected to shoot documentaries here and each write a book related to the town....
目前,喜林苑和美國(guó)西德維爾高中、上海美國(guó)學(xué)校、普林斯頓大學(xué)、耶魯大學(xué)、印第安納大學(xué)凱利商學(xué)院等學(xué)校都有類(lèi)似的教育項(xiàng)目。
So far, the Linden Centre hotel has forged cooperative ties with Sidwell High School, Shanghai American School, Princeton University, Yale University, Indiana University’s Kelly Business School and others.
林登說(shuō),這些學(xué)生來(lái)自一些美國(guó)最好的學(xué)校,他們未來(lái)有可能成為各領(lǐng)域的領(lǐng)袖。在中國(guó)學(xué)習(xí)和生活5個(gè)月的經(jīng)歷可以讓他們較為全面地了解中國(guó),有一份中國(guó)情懷。
Linden said that these students come from some of the best schools in the US, and they are potential leaders in various fields. Their five-month learning tours in China allow them to understand the country in an all-round manner.
2008年之后的10年間,林登又相繼接管了同在當(dāng)?shù)氐?個(gè)院子——寶成府和楊卓然院。隨著事業(yè)的不斷做大,他將更多的力量投入到教育、扶貧、農(nóng)業(yè)等公益項(xiàng)目中。
Since 2008, Linden took over another two local residences, the Baocheng House and the Yang Zhuoran Courtyard. With a thriving business, he devoted himself more to public-welfare projects in education, poverty relief and agriculture.
十幾年來(lái),喜林苑接待了超過(guò)20萬(wàn)中外客人,其中不乏各國(guó)駐華使節(jié)、企業(yè)家、學(xué)者、藝術(shù)家、諾貝爾獎(jiǎng)獲得者等。
In the pastten plus years, Linden Centre has received over 200,000 Chinese and international visitors, including envoys, entrepreneurs, scholars, artists, Nobel laureates and more.
“中國(guó)文化很有吸引力,我希望把中國(guó)的魅力和她真實(shí)的樣子分享給世界?！绷值钦f(shuō)。
"The Chinese culture is amazing, and I’d like to share with the world the charm and true picture of China," said Linden.
