浙江的一切讓我折服

我來自美國中部印第安那州的安德森市，一個人與人之間相處非常友善的城市。為商談我的家鄉安德森市和浙江杭州市余杭區建立姐妹城市，我已經兩次訪問余杭。今年10月，我將第三次訪問浙江省。訪問浙江的經歷給我留下了難忘的記憶。

熱情好客的浙江人

我曾遍訪中國的許多地方，像廣州、北京等，但我可以說，我最喜歡的地方肯定是浙江！這里的人民、政府官員和商人對我敞開心扉，十分友好。雖然我不會講中文，但是外出購物或者就餐時從來沒有遇到障礙，總是會有人幫助我與他人溝通交流、對我微笑，這一切讓我感覺到我在這里非常受歡迎。

我曾經訪問過浙江的許多企業，每次我都被這些企業的規模、清潔的環境和高效的運作所震撼。無論是紡織行業還是汽車相關行業，都表現出浙江工業產業的多樣化，顯示出浙江經濟強勢發展的內在動力。在美國，我們的許多商品都是“中國制造”。現在我終于明白了，“中國制造”是建立在一整套高效的生產體系基礎上的。我相信，浙江省正沿著推動國際經濟發展的道路穩步前進。

我在浙江經歷了許多第一次。我曾第一次在一個環境優美的旅館和度假勝地休閑， 第一次在西湖上泛舟，第一次購買上好的絲綢，第一次坐竹筏漂流江上，第一次乘牛車漫步鄉村，第一次參加圓桌晚餐，品味異國風味的美味佳肴，第一次品嘗清香誘人的茶飲和炒甘栗，還有第一次游覽風格各異的博物館。

許愿徑山寺

在這些經歷中，訪問徑山寺是我最難忘的。

我沿著崎嶇的山路盤旋而上，沿途峰回路轉，卻有驚無險，山道兩旁竹海幽深，綠茶滴翠，遠處山巒重疊，云霧繚繞，令人心曠神怡。突然，車子轉了個大彎，一座神秘的寺廟聳立在山峰中。進入寺廟，我立刻被眼前宏偉的金色佛像所吸引。我跪在佛像前不由得思緒聯翩。

我出生在一個天主教的家庭，自然信奉天主教，而我在這個寺廟中所感受到的不僅僅只是宗教。這里隱藏著一種生活的力量，一種輕而易舉便能使自然萬物歸依和諧、平靜和美好的力量。看到寺廟的和尚身著簡樸的長袍和便鞋，我仿佛覺悟了什么是返璞歸真；看到他們臉上浮現著寧靜安詳的笑容，我體會到也許只有他們才能真正參悟到生活的真諦。我點燃了一炷香，讓這炷香挽留我更長久地停留在那里，陪伴我的思緒無盡地延伸。

我在一潭泉水前看到有個小女孩往臉上潑水，她對我說著什么，而我卻聽不懂。我們的翻譯解釋說：“她讓你往臉上潑水并且保持愉悅的心情。”于是，我學著她的樣子把水潑在自己的臉上，那個小女孩朝我點點頭露出了微笑。或許是她那雙撲閃的大眼睛，或許是我的想象，又或許是這水真有神奇魔力，我只知道在那個時刻我的快樂無法形容，能和這個可愛的小女孩一起分享這一刻的愉悅是多么的幸福。在寺廟的一側我在一塊竹片上許了愿，并且和其他人一樣，把這小小愿望系在一面許愿墻上。不知怎的，我只希望在我離開后，這塊小竹片仍能將我與這片土地緊緊地維系在一起。

一個每天都在思念你們的美國人

穿梭在這古色古香的建筑群中，我被這些杰作的年歲久遠所深深折服。在美國，100年的建筑就可以稱為“古建筑”，但在中國，尤其是在徑山寺，“古”這個字就意味著上千年哪。在這一刻，我為自己能成為歷史和歷經千年滄桑古文化中的一部分而興奮不已。探訪徑山寺這段經歷，留給我從未有過的最難忘的記憶，它將永遠成為我生命的一部分，并一生永存。雖然我訪問了世界許多地方，但我還是要堅定地說：浙江最棒！

每每想起我在浙江的經歷，一股溫暖之情油然而生，微笑總會浮現在我的臉上。我想對浙江人民說，請記住，在地球的另一端有一個美國人每天都在思念你們。

鏈接：琳達·道沃森，美國印第安那州安德森市經濟發展部執行主任，曾獲得為杰出商業女性頒發的ATHENA獎。

Eyes on Zhejiang

By Linda Dawson

In October， 2010 I will make my third trip to the Zhejiang Providence for the purpose of building a mutually beneficial relationship between our City of Anderson， Indiana， USA， and our Sister City， the Yuhang District and businesses in the Zhejiang Providence. I come from the central part of the United States which is a very friendly region of our country so not many place’s hospitality impresses me but your wonderful providence definitely has left a lasting memory for me.

Having visited all over China from Guangzhou to Beijing， my favorite is definitely Zhejiang. The people， government and businesses have opened their hearts and treated me with extreme kindness.I have no fear of venturing out to shop or eat even though I do not speak your language.There is always someone that offers to help me communicate， smiles at me and makes me feel welcome.

While visiting companies I was very impressed with the size， cleanliness and efficient operation. The wide variety of companies from the textile industry to the auto related industry shows how diversified your region is and that will keep Zhejiang’s economy strong.In the USA a large portion of our products are “Made in China” and now I understand why with the capable production system that has been established in your area.The Zhejiang Providence is most definitely on its way to becoming a leader in the global economy.

I have enjoyed so many first time experiences in your Providence including relaxing at fabulous hotels and resorts， boating West Lake， shopping for wonderful silk products， bamboo rafting a river， riding a water buffalo cart， delicious round table dinners with exotic foods， sipping aromatic tea and eating roasted chestnuts at a mountain tea house， and visiting interesting museums.

But my favorite experience was visiting the Buddha Shrine at Jingshan Temple.The trip up Jing Mountain was thrilling with the winding road and mountainsides of tea plants and bamboo trees. Occasionally you catch a panoramic view of the mountain ranges that takes your breath away.Then you turn the corner and are surprised to see the mystical temple grounds setting on top the misty mountain. When I entered the temple my eyes were stunned by the huge majestic golden Buddha that towered over me.I kneeled on a bench to pay my respect and meditate a few moments.I was raised a Catholic and still retain some Catholic beliefs but there was something I felt in the temple that was larger than a mere religion.It was a force of life that simplified everything into harmony， peace and goodness.I was humbled by the simple robes and sandals worn by the monks and I was jealous of the happy peaceful smiles on their faces for I knew they had found some secret in living. The incense that was lit to pay respect filled the air with a fragrance that beckoned me to stay longer and enjoy this moment in time.As I approached a spring fed water fountain a young girl was splashing water on her face and saying something to me I could not understand.Our translator said “she tells you to put water on face and be happy”.So I splashed my face with water as the little girl nodded and smiled.Maybe it was her sparkling eyes， maybe it was my imagination or maybe the waters have some magical powers， I do not know but I do know at that moment I felt incredibly happy and truly blessed to be sharing this simple act with this wonderful little child. In another area of the temple grounds I wrote a wish message on a bamboo piece to hang on a wall with everyone else’s.Somehow my hope is this small token will connect me with this area long after I leave. Walking around the ground taking in the unique architecture， I was in awe of the age of this masterpiece.In the USA buildings that are 100 years old are considered “old”， but in China and Jingshan Temple “old” means over a thousand years.It struck me how very wonderful it must be to have such a history and know you are part of a culture that has stood the test of time for thousands and thousands of years.My trip to Jingshan Temple was the most memorable experience I have ever had and will be a part of me forever.

To the people of Zhejiang please know on the other side of the world there is an American that thinks of your community every day and those thoughts makes me smile with warm， exciting memories that will last a lifetime.After traveling all over the world I can truly say Zhejiang “Rocks”.(“Rocks” is an expression used in the USA meaning the best， most unique， number one， etc.)