中国青年准备好了， 我们呢？ (China youths are ready, are we?)

当我手握北京奥运火炬的那一刻，内心充满着感动和骄傲。

虽然我们参加的只是火炬传递友谊赛，但在我们手中的却是真正的北京奥运火炬。奥运圣火没经过新加坡，因此我们当下觉得能够如此近距离接触奥运火炬，比许多新加坡青年都幸运。

At the moment when I was holding the Beijing Olympics torch, I became overwhelmed with pride. Although all we took part in was the torch relay friendly race, in our hands we had the real Olympics torch. The Olympics torch relay team did not pass by Singapore, hence at that instant, we felt that being able to come so close into contact with the torch indeed makes us more fortunate than other Singapore youths.

　　火炬传递友谊赛是今年中国—亚细安青年营的活动之一。上个月，亚细安各国应中国全国青年联合会邀请，各派约20人到广西和广州出席中国—亚细安 青年营。我身为新加坡全国青年理事会的理事，受委为新加坡代表团团长，所带领的新加坡团队包括大学生、年轻企业家、年轻艺术家和青年事务工作者。

The torch relay friendly race was one of the activities held in the China-ASEAN youth camp this year. Last month, ASEAN countries responded to China ACYF's invitation and sent 20 members each to Guangxi and Guangzhou to represent them in the China-ASEAN youth camp. I, as part of the council of NYC, was asked to represent Singapore as the delegation leader, and my delegation members consisted of university students, young entrepreneurs, youth artistes as well as youth officials.

　　此行除了能够近距离接触奥运火炬，另一大收获就是有机会亲自和中国的优秀青年交流，了解他们如何为面向世界做好准备，感受他们的自信。

For the trip, other than coming close into contact with the Olympics torch, another huge rewarding factor is that we had the chance to interact with china's outstanding youths, understand how they prepare themselves for the world, and feel their confidence.

　　早在我们抵达前，主办单位就已经花了许多时间挑选负责接待我们的大学生义工，并给他们提供培训。这些学生义工除了能讲英语，有的还会说马来语、泰语、越南语等，因此他们和亚细安代表们都能交谈自如，一路上给我们介绍各地方的历史背景和特色。

Long before we arrived, the organizing committee has already spent some time in choosing the university student volunteers responsible for welcoming us, and also gave them training. These student volunteers not only were able to speak english, some also know malay, thai, vietnamese etc, hence they can communicate well with the ASEAN delegates, giving us numerous introductions to their history as well as culture.

　　虽然我们这些出席者都是青年领袖，不是什么国家大人物，但是全国青年联合会作为主办单位，却依然对我们非常重视，让我们觉得宾至如归。无论是在 机场的接送或是行程的安排，一路上总有一群幕后工作人员在四处奔波，确保一切顺利，环环细节都照顾得非常周到。参加者只需专心参与活动，不必为行政事务操 心。

Although our delegates were all youth leaders, and not "big shots" (lol), the ACYF organizing committee still held us in high regard and allowed us to feel extremely at ease. Be it receiving us at the airport or any part of the schedule, there are always people running around to make sure everything is ok, and every last detail is taken care of. Delegates only need to concentrate on attending the activities and need not worry about administrative stuff.

　　例如在防城港，我们住的是一家较小的酒店，服务也比较有限，但有一批义工在酒店大厅站岗，负责协助团员们把行李搬入房。离开那天，我们一退房， 义工们便到各间客房为团员再检查一遍，结果发现其中一名团员在退房时遗漏了一条电脑电线，即刻赶在我们的巴士开动前给我们送来。

For example, in Fang Cheng Gang, we stayed in a slightly smaller hotel, so services were more limited, but a bunch of volunteers will always be around to help with moving the luggages into the room. When we checked out, there would be volunteers to check each and every room, and they actually found one of our delegates' adaptors which she (me 0_0) had forgotten to pack. They brought it to us just in time before the bus left.

　　一名越南团员在访问中途发生了盲肠炎，义工们立刻将他送入当地医院，之后在医生的建议下把他送上飞机，回国动切除盲肠手术。这整个过程中，其他活动依然如常进行，丝毫不惊动其他参加者。若不是越南团长事后亲口告诉我们，我们还不知道发生了这么个状况。

One vietnamese delegate suddenly developed appendicitis during an interview, hence volunteers immediately rushed him/her into a local hospital, and under the doctor's advice, sent him/her on the plane back to Vietnam for an operation. During the whole process, the other activities carried on smoothly, without alarming the other delegates. If not for the vietnamese delegation leader who told us what happened, we wouldn't have known about the incident.

　　另一个国家的好些团员把回程机票给弄丢了，主办当局也派人来回跑了几个地方，为他们搞定了。

Another countries' delegates lost their return tickets, hence the organizing committee made trips for them and finally settled the matter.

　　在防城港，当地政府准备了个大型露天舞台，让当地青年和亚细安青年通过文艺表演进行交流。我们这些参加者都是没经过专业训练的"演员"，但在当局的周详安排下，演出非常成功，还在地方电视台播映。

At Fang Cheng Gang, the government prepared a huge stage for china and asean youths to interact through cultural performances. We were untrained "artistes", but under the excellent preparation on their side, the performances went smoothly, and was even broadcasted on their television channels.

　　新加坡代表金益文(26岁)说："我们下午经过舞台时，看到那里还是空荡荡的，但是在短短一两个小时内，一切舞台设备和布置都准备妥当，可见他们的效率有多高。"

Singapore delegate Lawrence Kim said: When we walked past the stage in the afternoon, we saw that it was still rather empty, but after 1-2 hours, all the preparations and decorations for the stage were completed. This showed their efficiency.

　　那一夜，璀璨的烟花覆盖了防城港的夜空，中国—亚细安青年营全体参加者随着最后一支歌曲"We Are Ready"热情起舞，全场沸腾起来，把气氛带到最高点。

That night, the pretty fireworks covered Fang Cheng Gang's skies, participants of China-ASEAN youth camp, together with the last song "We are ready" went crazy, bringing the atmosphere up to its highest with dancing.

　　We Are Ready这首北京奥运倒计时主题歌，歌词是这么写的："……一天一天的等待，心情更加澎湃，创造最大的舞台，最豪迈的时代。这片土地已经准备好，打开梦 想起飞的跑道，让全世界的目光，降落在我们的怀抱……漫天灿烂的烟花，在骄傲的盛开。这个民族已经准备好，带着笑容来向你问好……"

We are ready is the theme song for the 100day countdown to Beijing Olympics, and the lyrics goes like this: Day after day of anticipation, feelings surged, creating a biggest stage, the best of times. This land is ready to open up the path of dreams, let the world's eyes rest on us.... The brillant fireworks are being shot into the air. This race is ready, to bring a smile and ask about you..... (argh the lyrics are difficult to translate)

　　任何活动都难免出现临时状况，但是这次的中国—亚细安青年营，让我一再看到中国青年如何处变不惊、临危不乱，从容地解决问题。从这些国家未来栋梁身上，我感受到他们的热情、自信、成熟、稳重。因此，他们能够自豪地大声说"We are ready"。

Any activity will meet hiccups during operation, but China-ASEAN youth camp has let me seen how youths in china face problems with calm and in an orderly fashion, to solve the problems. From these future leaders, I felt their warmth, confidence, maturity. They can very proudly say "we are ready"

　　但是，反观自己，我们准备好了吗？一些新加坡青年到了中国，这才发现自己对中国的文化、历史、语言等都缺乏认识。

However, looking back at ourselves, are we ready? Some singapore delegates reached china only to find that they are lacking in knowledge of china's culture, history and even in the language.

　　新加坡管理大学四年级生张鸣恩说："我们总说新加坡人是双语人才，但到了中国，我才发现自己的华文华语根本不行。我虽然是华人，但和中国青年沟通时竟然得用英语。这让我感到非常羞愧。"

Singapore Management University's Samuel said: We always say that Singaporeans are effectively bilingual, but after coming to china, I realized that my mandarin standard is not up to mark. I may be chinese, but I actually used english to communicate with chinese youths. This makes me feel shameful of myself.

　　新加坡依然能够梦想成为中国和世界的桥梁吗？就凭我们的英文比较强？恐怕那还不够。一方面，许多中国青年的英文英语能力已经在迎头赶上。另一方面，在和亚细安其他国家代表的交流过程中，我也深切体会到要和其他国家交往，英文的强弱并不是最重要的。

Can singapore still dream of becoming the bridge between china and the world? Just because our english is stronger than others? I'm afraid that's still not enough. On one hand, lots of china youths have already caught up with their fluency in english, on another hand, while interacting with other asean delegates, I felt that fluency in english is not one of the factors for interacting with them.

　　在国内，我不时会听到一些新加坡人因为英语比邻国人民来得强而产生优越感，以为肯定通行无阻。这种想法大错特错，因为友谊的桥梁是用心而不是用口来建立的。即使大家都在用英语交谈，但基于文化上的差异，不同国家的代表对所讨论的课题的诠释与接受程度都不一样。

In china, from time to time I will hear some singapore delegates feeling that they are above other asean delegates because of fluent english. This is a very serious mistake, because friendships forged and bridges built are based from our hearts, and not from the mouths. Even if we all communicate in english, every countries' delegates have different views/opinions on the topics discussed due to the existent cultural differences.

　　新加坡讲求高效率，英语也说得很快，但话说出口了并不表示对方都听明白了或者全盘接受了。反观参与活动的中国青年，英语虽然未必讲得像新加坡青年那么流利，但因为他们把速度放慢了，加上带有亲切的微笑，反而更容易被其他国家代表理解和接受。

Singapore talks of high expectations, even when speaking in english we have to be fast, but we can speak does not mean that the other party will understand or that they will accept what we've said. But when observing the chinese youths, even though they may not speak as fluently as us, their slower talking, together with a sincere smile, makes it easier for the other asean delegates to understand and accept them.

　　是否真挚待人；是否够主动踏出第一步；是否有足够的EQ去应付各类社交场面，这些都是我们的青年在课本中没学到的。在活动过程中，我看到新加坡青年一天天在学习，学着踏出新加坡的小圈圈，学着如何与其他文化的人沟通。

Whether we treat others sincerely, whether we can have initiative and make the first step, whether we have an EQ high enough to deal with all social situations, these are what our youths do not learn from textbooks. Through activities, I see singapore youths learning day by day, learning to step out of small singapore and learning how to interact and communicate with youths of other culture.

　　不少新加坡人往往要等到走出国门，才发现世界原来很大，自己原来还没做足准备。这些青年通过这次访问活动，开拓了视野，但更多的本地青年是否仍只忙着啃书本呢？地球不断地在转动，世界变化的步伐很快，新加坡青年准备好了吗？(洪艺菁)

A large part of singaporeans will wait until they step out of singapore before they realize that the world is huge, that they have not prepared themselves well. These youths, through the interview sessions, widened their horizons, but do even more singapore youths just busy themselves with studying? The world is moving, the speed at which it changes is fast, but is singapore ready? (Ang Yih Ching)


Been doing a little translation work for some stuff lately and it only makes me appreciate chinese all the more :) It's so hard to get the correct degree/level/expressions of the meaning when turning it frm chinese into english! Chinese is awesome =D