2011年3月初，拖著行李回到達拉斯的家中，映入眼簾的，是那台熟悉的鋼琴。它靜靜地座落在客廳一角，已經五個月沒感受到我手指的溫度了。這五個月中，我一個人帶著一隻行李箱，走走停停，繞了世界一周：講課、跳舞、品美食、看名勝。拿了杯茶，坐在白沙發上，想起了95年第一次出國的五味雜陳，想起當時我在心中埋下的那顆種子。  

「我一定要再出來看看這個世界，在那一天來臨前，我要學會能和世界溝通的語言！」

那是在科展結束後，回國的飛機上，我在心中許下的承諾。  

高一下學期，代表北一女去參加科展，幸運獲選，代表台灣。所有國際科展參賽作品，都要寫成英文。剛上高中的我，除了課本上教過的字，其他的都不會。沒有資源的我，只能拿著中英字典，逐字逐句地把作品翻成英文。作品完成後，教育部安排我去台大見一位數學系教授。

「你這什麼狗屁不通的英文！誰看得懂啊？別笑死人了！」教授鄙睨地看著我說。

教授這些話，打得我兩頰發疼，胃如刀絞，更無力反駁。我那土法煉鋼式的英文，的確難登大雅之堂，更遑論代表台灣。參賽期間，有口難言和詞不達意的窘境，深深定格在我腦海。我明白學習一個新語言，得日積月累，如同磨杵成針，功夫必得下得深。  

回國後，我不斷自問，要怎樣才可以學好英文？ 補習班？家教？但我負擔不起。到底有什麼不花錢的方法？ 最終，我找到解答：卡帶隨身聽和英英辭典

於是，每晚七點， 英文雜誌上的人事物，乘著載波，走過隨身聽， 進了我那方書桌，當起我的老師。  新朋友和老朋友，也在辭典的來回奔走下， 與我建立了聯盟關係。   每天兩個小時，我就這樣和英文交朋友，直到大學聯考前一天。

種子發芽了，固然可喜，日後的灌溉，更是關鍵。

上大學後，在有限的條件下，我盡力去尋求英文環境。課後的家教，我以英文授課 。白天的空堂，去駕訓班當英文口譯。到外國人多的咖啡廳打工，接待國外來的交換學生。研究所畢業後，在眾多的科技公司中，我選了一家公司，一家需要英文溝通，也需要半導體知識的外商公司：德州儀器。

在德儀達拉斯工作四年後，我走出了實驗室，從工程師轉職，翻開嶄新的生命頁章：成為講師，巡迴德儀各國分部。講課的空暇，我用雙腳，走過那隨身聽帶我遊歷過的地方。 美食陪伴，獨自旅行的我，留下溫度或高或低的足跡。 探戈環抱，身處異鄉的心，舞出一場又一場的悸動。

二十八歲的秋天，我開始採收那耕耘了十二年的果子，用腳寫下走看世界的篇章。

坐在家中的白沙發上，日本311大地震的畫面，一遍遍的衝擊著我。無法相信在不久前，停留過六週的那片土地，竟已被海水無情地噬成碎片。感嘆著生命的無常，更感恩著自己身處的平常。感恩一路幫我累積知識的師長，感恩給我工作機會的學生家長、駕訓班、和咖啡廳，感恩錄取我的德儀長官和共事的同僚。   因為他們，我的種子，得以成長茁壯，開花結果; 因為他們，今時往後，成果的甜美，將為我的生命更添色彩。

One day in early March 2011, I arrived at my home in Dallas after a long trip from overseas. I laid my fingers on the keys of the piano sitting at the corner of the living room. It hadn’t felt my touch for the past five months. During that time, I traveled around the world: giving lectures, tasting exotic cuisines, visiting places, and dancing tango. Sitting on the white sofa, I recollected my first experience going abroad in 1995. I remembered the seed I planted in my heart back then: “Go out and see this world."  

It was in high school that I became aware of my poor English. That year, I was selected to represent Taiwan to participate in the international science fair. All entries needed to be written in English. I borrowed a random Chinese-English dictionary and slowly translated my work into English.

Later, the Ministry of Science and Education arranged for me to meet a math professor from National Taiwan University to review my work. After some long minutes of reading, the professor looked up and said, “What kind of nonsense is this! No one can understand your English! Don’t be a joke!"

It was gut wrenching and I had nothing to say but agreed with the professor’s honest words. I did not measure up to the task and had to use all means possible to improve my English. During the competition, I realized my shortcomings. I told myself: “I want to go out and see the world again. Before that day comes, I will learn the language.”     

Coming back home, I bought an Oxford English dictionary and a Walkman (yes I am not that young). Magazines were my beloved teachers. Every night at seven o’clock, new places, new stories, and people from the magazines turned alive on my desk through that Walkman. My “Oxford” companion was there to make the introductions.  

In daily life in university, I took every opportunity to create the English environment to prepare myself: worked as an English interpreter in local driving schools; tutored math lessons to English speaking students; worked in the cafes where foreign visitors were frequent diners. By the time I should obtain a full time job, I chose one company: the only company in Taiwan requiring strong English communication skill and semiconductor know-how: Texas Instrument.   

After working in TI Dallas for four years, I left my engineer position and walked out of the laboratory. I turned a new page in life: becoming an engineering course instructor and touring TI sites around the world.

I stepped foot on the different cities and places where my “Walkman” used to take me in my early years. “Oxford” didn’t have to make the introductions this time. I could explore and experience all those cities had to offer, a tango of delicacies and cultural novelties. At age of twenty eight, I started to harvest the fruits of my hard work and write the new chapters of my world.      

Sitting on the white sofa at home, I watched the news of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami on TV. I could not believe the land I just visited went to ruin. Reflecting on the impermanence of life, I was very grateful for my sound and comfortable days. I appreciated all the teachers who helped me to accumulate knowledge along the way. I was grateful to the parents of my pupils, the driving schools, and places that offered me the part-time jobs. I was thankful to my supervisors and colleagues in TI for all the experiences I’ve gained. It is to them that I owe what I have today. Thanks to all of them, my seed was nourished and had grown to bloom and bear fruits. From now on, I can enjoy the fruits and write more colorful chapters to my life.