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A Jour ney
that Changes
∼專訪連加恩醫生∼
撰稿人：朱宜琪老師 英文編譯：婁修于、吳允馨、林綺文
一般而言，當兵是一件考驗體力與耐力，同時又耗費青春 的義務，許多人視之畏途，卻又無法逃避。然而連加恩醫師跳脫了一般人的思維，申請前往非洲擔任外交替代役，從事醫療服務，意外地將這件「苦差事」譜成了生命中寶貴的經驗。試想，一個世界排名第三貧窮、氣溫45℃年雨量不及颱風襲台的一次雨量的國家－布吉納法索，沒有完善的交通、乾淨的飲水，垃圾袋滿天飛，愛滋病肆虐導致國民平均壽命只有四十五歲。想要幫助這樣的國家，該從哪裡著手呢？
連加恩醫師在「改變的旅程」演講中妙語如珠，幽默生動的話語不時獲得同學們滿堂喝采。最動人的是每張照片背後的小故事，在在都展現了連醫師的創意與智慧。誰能想到發放舊衣服竟會是一招清除滿天垃圾同時解決布國人民穿衣的妙計？專注於醫療工作之餘，誰有膽識想要鑿井解決布國人民飲用水的問題，去憂慮失怙失恃的孤兒需要一個安身的居所？
「愛」是人類最寶貴的情感。兩小時的演講，連醫師為我們開啟了認識非洲的一扇窗，同時也激發了我們服務人群的熱忱。怎樣才能成為一個真正的世界公民？連加恩醫師是值得我們效法的模範。以下是實中園地編輯小組提出的訪談問題，希望藉此讓同學們更進一步認識連加恩醫師，同時也期勉這些內容對我們的人生有所啟發。
Dr. Jia-En Lian dedicated himself to helping
the people in Burkina Faso during his active service in Africa.
Yet in a land without proper transportation, medical aid, and
even clean water, where did Lian decide to start? In his
captivating "A Journey that Changes" speech, Lian talked about
his ideas that helped change the lives of many in Burkina Faso.
The following are some interview questions we posed to Dr. Lian
about his experience, and we hope that through his answers, we
will not only get a better understanding of Lian as a person,
but also be further inspired by his work.
Q1.您的人生裡，有哪些人對您產生影響？哪方面的影響？（答案不限一個人）
我的爸爸是牙醫師，他是個很大方、很慷慨的人。還記得小的時候，曾經有一群盲人學校的學生，他們因先天性白子而失明，到爸爸的診所來看牙的時候，他們雙手搭著前面同學的肩膀，排成一列人龍，原來是等著爸爸幫他們義診，這個畫面對當時的我來說，真是太震撼了，至今仍歷歷在目。此外，爸爸也經常帶著我們「上山下海」，到台東、到澎湖、到蘭嶼、到六龜的孤兒院，去幫小朋友免費治療牙齒。當時隨著爸爸到處去做醫療服務是很好玩的事，然而無形中也讓我體驗了不同於城市的生活風貌與習慣。在我們家中，媽媽嚴格規定我們不能說「負面的話」，例如：我累死啦，書讀不完啦，考試會考不好啦……等等。她認為一個人的話語會影響他的思想，如果我們常說負面的話語，那麼做事情時就不免受到消極的思想影響。因此面對困境，即便很難應對，很難堅持，只要秉持著這樣的態度，我就能用正向的態度面對。我是個喜歡看書的人，尤其是人物傳記。我發現成功的人物，他們的思想和一般人不大一樣，他們從事一件事情或是一件工作，所投注的熱情與堅持的態度，都是非常強烈的。好比日本的細菌學家野口英世，在去歐留學之前就立下宏願「若不得志，絕不重返此地」。
我的家庭教育和閱讀的歷程，在無形之中給了我點點滴滴的影響，讓我面對人生能有多元的思考，同時抱持著熱情與積極的態度生活。
Q1:Who are the influential people to you in
your life time? How did they influence you?
A:My father was dentist ,
and he had a generous, affable character. I remember when I was
young, I saw a group of blind students line up in my father’s
dental office with their arms draped across each other’s
shoulders as they waited for my father to provide them with free
examinations and treatment. I was extremely shaken by the scene,
which is still carved in my memory today. My father also often
offered voluntary treatment to orphans in remote orphanages. It
was fun for us to tag along, because we got the chance to tour
and to experience diverse suburban areas. My mother prohibited
us from talking negatively. For example, sentences like: “I am
tired to death”, “I can’t finish the homework”,or “I have no
confidence in the upcoming test”, were not acceptable. She
thought that negative expressions would influence our behavior.
Negative tones would create negative thoughts and attitudes, and
people with negative attitudes will not be able to face hard
times and overcome difficulties. Inversely, talking positively
will induce positive attitudes. I like to read, especially
biographies of people. Through these readings, I found that all
successful people share the common distinction of perseverance
and passion toward the things they want to achieve. For example,
a famous Japanese bacteriologist swore to himself before leaving
for Europe, “I will not come back to Japan until I succeed in
the field of bacteriology.”
I was influenced by my parents and the books I read; now I am
able to enjoy the world from multiple perspectives, as well as
to accomplish goals with fervor and optimism.
Q2.您在忙碌的生活中，如何繼續耕耘您的社會服務工作？
受限於人力及時間的不足，目前非洲方面的工作，主要仍是依靠教會的幫忙，而許多關切非洲的朋友也會透我們教會，給我們支援。國內比較多的是演講活動，很多志工頒獎典禮、或是評審，還有天下雜誌推動的閱讀活動，都有找我出席參加。而最常邀請我演講的是學校團體，現在多元入學方案鼓勵學生多多參與社會服務，只要是時間允准，我都很樂意分享自己的經驗。
Q2:How do you find time for charitable social
services through your demanding schedule?
A:Limited by manpower and time, my voluntary
work towards Africa was mainly assisted by the church I belong
to. Many friends, who care about Africa, provided me with their
help through the church. In Taiwan, I often provide speeches,
participate in award-giving ceremonies for volunteers, judge for
volunteer awards, as well as attending reading activities
conducted by magazines. Now that many schools encourage students
to participate in community services and voluntary social
activities, I am often invited to share my experiences with
students at various schools, which I love to do as long as my
schedule permits it.
Q3.身為學生的我們，可以怎樣幫助非洲的人？是否可以告訴我們一些相關的資訊或機構。
同學們可以上網查詢「世界展望會」或是「紅十字會」。無法下鄉或是出國服務的人，可以透過捐款或是認養小朋友做公益，認養名單裡的小朋友有國內的，也有其他國家的小朋友。接受認養的小朋友，他們都會寄卡片給認養人，同學可以看到自己奉獻的成果。
個人基金會的募款與教會的募款機制不同，政府管理單位也不同，目前我是依靠我們教會的行政機制和人力來維持我在非洲的事業。未來我考慮可以結合更多的資源與人力，讓更多人有機會參與非洲的服務。
Q3:As students, how can we help those in
Africa? Can you give us some information?
A: Students can go search up World Vision or
Red Cross online. If one can’t serve abroad, one can still help
through making donations or “adopt” a child by sending in money
regularly. The list of children includes those both in and out
of Taiwan, and adopted children send cards to their adopters, so
students can see the differences they’re making. Private
organization and churches collect donations through different
methods, as do governmental organizations. Currently I rely on
the church and manpower to maintain what I’ve started in Africa.
In the future, I’m considering combining resources and manpower
to allow even more people help out those in Africa.
Q4.非洲之行，對當時剛從大學畢業的您來說，產生了什麼樣的衝擊與震撼？對您之後的人生規劃，有沒有什麼影響？
學生時期，時間的規劃很自由，沒有家庭與工作的牽絆，所以我鼓勵年輕人求學時期可以出外闖一闖。到非洲服務，對我最大的影響就是開闊了我的視野，在我人生的十字路口，面對抉擇時我給自己有更多的選項。去過非洲，我體認到感染醫學、旅遊醫學的重要性，現在我在疾病管理局服務，這是我目前最主要的研究內容。
Q4: As someone just out of college, how did
your trip to Africa shake you up? Did it affect your life plan
in any way?
A: As a student, I was free to managing my
own time however I wanted, with no work or family obligations to
factor in, so I encourage students to take advantage of that
freedom. The most changing thing about my journey to Africa was
that it broadened my horizons greatly. As I was at a crossroads
in my life, it gave me more options. Traveling to Africa, I’ve
seen the importance of Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine
knowledge. Right now at my job at the Centers for Disease
Control, this is my number one research priority.
Q5.請與我們分享一些發生在非洲的「獨家」趣事。（書本及演講中未曾提及的）
剛到非洲的時候，有一個當地人，他說如果我把機車借給他，他可以幫我拍很多珍貴的照片。我聽了以後很開心，就把車子和我SONY的數位攝影機給他。剛開始，他真的幫我拍了一些珍貴照片，但不久後，他常向我要錢，有時候說要加油，有時候說我的SONY攝影機故障了，他可以幫我拿去修（小鎮上有SONY專賣店？），有時則說他祖母過世了，希望我能給他一些錢幫助他（他的祖母還不止一位？）。終於我知道自己竟然為了非洲珍貴照片而上當了！
Q5: Please tell us some of the interesting
experience you had in Africa.
A: When I first got to Africa, there was a
local man who said he could help me take some valuable pictures
of Africa if I would lend him my motorcycle. I was really
excited, and so I lent him both my motorcycle and my Sony
camcorder. At first, he did indeed take some really great
pictures, but he started asking me for money constantly
afterwards. Sometimes he said he needed the money for oil,
sometimes he said that my camcorder was broken and that he would
fix it for me (as if there were Sony stores in town!), other
times he would say that his grandmother passed away and that he
hoped I could help him out. I finally realized I was tricked
when he used the “grandmother” trick more than just a few
times--illustrating that one needs to be street smart in Burkina
Faso.
Q6.您對我們學校－實驗中學有什麼樣的印象？
我覺得實驗中學的同學很有國際觀，在Q&A的部分，很多同學問我的問題，都展現了他們的深度，例如：「他們可以為非洲做什麼？」「非洲的經濟問題有哪些解決之道？」「將西方的觀點帶入非洲是福？是禍？」目前第三世界國家需要援助的不只是醫學，農業、工業建設、教育等等方面，都需要有國際的專家協助。我希望實驗中學的同學能發揮自己的能力，將來出國闖一闖，尤其是到一些國際性的機構工作，例如：WHO,
World Bank等等，多多參與國際事務，這樣我們才越有能力改善這個世界。
Q6: What impression do you have of National
Experimental High School?
A: I think NEHS students have a very broad international
view. Questions that came up during in the Q&A (“What can we do
for the people in Africa?” or “What are some possible solutions
for the economic issues in Africa?” or “Is it more positive or
negative to bring western culture into Africa?”) all demonstrate
the knowledge of the students. Right now, third world countries
don’t just need aid in medical, agricultural, industrial, and
educational fields; they also need much help from international
professionals. I hope that NEHS students can fully utilize their
potentials and abilities, and take up positions out of the
country, especially in international organizations such as the
WHO or the World Bank. We gain the ability to help improve the
world by familiarizing ourselves with international issues.
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