克城消息

Blossom音樂會

   自2005年,克里夫蘭管絃樂團常任指揮,Blossom音樂節的音樂總監林望杰先生,要離開克里夫蘭出任聖地亞哥交響樂團音樂總監時,我當時想這么一位華人就這樣離開克利夫蘭,我希望能讓這位藝術家留下美好地回憶,伊利華報就組織了一場吿別活動。

   那是2005年8月7日晩,華報來了不少讀者,尤其我還邀請了林指揮特別好的朋友一起來與她吿別,記得那天林指揮十分激動,在中午排練的時候,不小心從指揮台上摔下了,那天也眞的很傳奇。
   時光很快,一晃10年了,雖然林指揮去聖地亞哥交響樂團,但每一年夏天他都會再來Blossom演出,而我的美國媽媽每一年都邀請我去再度欣賞林望杰瀟灑的指揮。
    2015年8月9日,我的美國媽媽帶了一個特別的客人MAREIKE,她來自德國,2年前19歲的她,到我美國媽媽在芝加哥的女兒家去做服務生,二年後她再度來美國,看完美國媽媽的家人並且在克利夫蘭律師樓學習,我們三人在Blossom,美國媽媽與MAREIKE講德文,雖然我聽不懂,但我能感到鄉音的感染力,我們不是只要有華人聚會就自然開始講中文,講家鄉話。這份情結就像根一樣深在心里。

   MAREIKE 今年21歲,陽光獨立,她在19歲的時候來美國打工賺錢,回德國繼續學業,當我問她想不想留在美國,她説不想,因爲家人男朋友都在德國,但她説了她願意到世界各地走走。
    MAREIKE,她英文説的非常好,她吿訴德國小學五年級開始學英文,她説英文説的好是因爲她到美國19歲那年,在美國家庭天天可以説英文。我感受到MAREIKE的聰明與能力,同時我也想到從中國來美國求學的學生,先不説他們的獨立與能力,父母都委託我找中國人的家庭,他們的孩子可以吃到可口的中國飯菜,也許這就是文化不同吧!

MAREIKE
After completing 13 years of public schooling in her native city of Osnabrueck in Germany,Mareike decided to sign up for a one year immersion program in a foreign culture as an au pair,since she hadn’t decided on a career path yet.? She chose the United States of America, specifically,San Francisco, but was placed, by mutual consent, with my daughter’s family ?in Naperville near Chicago.
Mareike was 19 years old at that time, taking care of my three granddaughters, while their parents worked.
During that year we enjoyed several family visits, celebrated Thanksgiving together at Oma’s house here in Solon, Ohio, and enjoyed a Disney cruise with all our grandchildren’s families to celebrate Granddaddy’s 80th birthday.? Since then Mareike has completed 3 of the 7 years of Law School in Germany and has returned once more to the United States, this time to Cleveland, for a comparison study between the German and the American jurisdiction. I, Christa, am hosting her this time for one month, as Mareike observes Cuyahoga courts in session.
CHRISTA
My grandchildren call me “Oma” but my first name is Christa. ?Like Mareike, my origin of birth also is German.
I arrived in Boston as a 16 year old to finish high school on Cape Cod, where my uncle ran a restaurant business.
After I received my teaching degree from the University of Massachusetts, I taught High School English and German.
It is a pleasure to host Mareike in my home because we converse in our native tongue while I am learning new expressions that did not exist in my youth. We are exploring several cultural venues in our great city like the Art Museum, where several wedding parties gathered for photo shoots by the Oval Pond, quaint Chagrin Falls and its Popcorn Shop overlooking the Falls, the Westside Market and, of course, Blossom, where we picnicked on the lawn during a great concert with JahJah Ling back from San Diego. You see us with Ying Pu, editor of the Erie Chinese Journal, toasting three generations with a glass of Chardonnay.
YING PU
How do we know each other?
When Annie Ying Pu, a new immigrant from Shanghai, who lived in Twinsburg, signed up for English as a Foreign Language, I (Christa) was assigned to be her tutor!? Our friendship has deepened ever since to this day!It’s such a treasure to become immersed in different cultures! ?Such a mix of different nationalities strengthens the American way of life in most neighborhoods. This is the secret to how we can learn from each other and appreciate our differences, while acknowledging that we have the same needs as human beings. My prayer is for world peace which starts with individual relationships! Traveling is such a good way to accomplish this!
Before Mareike returns home, she will meet her parents in New York City, her boyfriend in Boston a week later and then travel by rental car through New Hampshire to Quebec City in Canada, then farther north hiking through pristine forests and camping near crystal lakes.
Bon Voyage, Mareike! Auf Wiedersehen, dear friend!親愛的朋友再見！
Both or you, dear friends, have filled my heart with joy!