載於2010年8月3日自由時報
初次在越南放孤鳥，從河內機場搭７號公車轉９號要去還劍湖。不是很確定要在哪一站下車。掏出旅遊指南，指著地圖，用英語試著問剛上車的大學生。這時，坐在我另一邊的少年對我打手勢，要借我的旅遊指南一觀。
我留意他們那群人很久了。他們活力四射，表情豐富。盡打手勢，但卻不發一語。我將旅遊指南拿給少年後，雖明知越南手語與美國手語不同，但仍試著用美國手語問他們是不是聽障？他們居然看得懂。很驚喜地問我怎麼會打手語？我「說」我學過一點。他們可樂了，一直要跟我「聊」。只一學期的半瓶醋很快就辭窮。小姑娘拿出筆記簿，寫了些越南文給我看。我的越南文可比我的手語還破，就請教我問路的那位大學生。他說她在問我的名字。我很後悔沒把我的電郵也寫上。這時我們抓到了竅門。她們寫，讓旁邊的大學生們口譯成英語，再寫越文給她們看。跟我借書的少年很會耍寶，自稱七十歲。我就配合表演，向他膜拜。小姑娘就洩他底，說她們都才十五。
「聊」的雖都是些瑣事，但卻有「他鄉遇故知」的感覺。大家都很興奮。手語教授說過：聽障人士覺得，聽人們肢體語言跟面部表情都太單調。我那時才體會到教授的意思。我明確地感受到她們散發出來的熱情。她們再三地「說」：「很高興遇見你。」我也很慶幸與這些忘年之交有緣。我們就這樣一路瘋到還劍湖。
延伸閱讀：
「我拿你們當人看」的安可曲：2009年聽奧開幕式
Ngoc Son Temple/玉山祠
Van Mieu/Temple of Literature/文廟
Polish Assholes/波蘭混蛋
Where Have All the Flowers Gone? Right Here!/花兒不見了？抵家啦！
The Hanoi Water Puppet Show (Vietnam)/越南河內水上傀儡戲
Hienky/軒記
On board #9 bus en route to Ho Huan Kiem, Ha Noi, Viet Nam, October 19, 2009
I am looking for these angles. If you know anyone of them, please kindly ask them to contact me by leaving a message on this blog. Thanks.
I was going to Ho Huan Kiem area from the airport. I wanted the trip to be a cost effective adventure, hence I decided to take the city bus. I got on to #7 bus. I was not sure which stop to get off, so I tried to get help. Although they are eager to provide their hep, not many Vietnamese speak English, so I was in a bit of tight spot. A young lady approached me, and asked if I were Chinese. She is a Yao people from Guangxi province of China. She asked around and figured out the transfer for me.
I was told to get off at the last stop of number 9 bus. As a geek, I always like to get a second opinion. When I noticed the bus stopped at a university, I pulled out my travel guide book, and asked the young man sitting next to me. A boy sitting across the aile noticed my book, and signed to ask for a look of that book. I passed my guide book to him.
I have been paying attention to his group for some time. They are silent, yet extremely energetic, passtionate, and radiant. They signed to each other instead of talking. So I tried to use the little American Sign Language to ask them if they were deaf mute. They were dumb struck for a moment, and signed the confirmation right back. I signed back that I learned signed language.
And so, the party began.
We all became very exited. I finally understand a lesson from my sign language professor: deaf mute consider hearing people dull, as they do not fully utilize their facial expression and body language.
I had only spent one semester learning sign language. It was the effort, instead of my language skill, that ignite the fire within these angels. Soon, I could not keep up any more. These kind angels immediately pulled out a pen and a note book. Too bad I could not read Vietnamese either. So I seeked help from the young man I asked for direction. He told me they wanted to know my name. Here is the ass hole part kicks in. The ass hole is no other but myself. Why the heck did I not take the chance to write down my e-mail address?
The university student sitting next to the girls joined in to offer his help. The girls write to him, he translate the message between English and Vietnamese in writing. For more than three times, they said they were very happy to meet me. Thanks God I still remember how to sign "Nice to meet you". We pulled out our weapons, cameras, and began shooting at each other.
That bus ride has been a glimsp of heaven to me.
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