First Colony Brench Library was Closed

Oct. 21, 2008

今天本來想帶 Kevin 到 First Colony Brench Library 去唸書, 沒想到門口前坐了一位服務人員, 告訴我們說: 因為 Ike 颶風將圖書館的屋頂都掀了, 裡面還漏水, 可能要關閉休館到明年二月. 哇咧! 那時候都回臺灣了, 那這個離我們最近的圖書館不就完全沒用到了, Kevin 一聽又跳又鬧地說要到另一個 Missouri City 分館去寫功課, 我估計了一下要 10 Miles, 本來不想答應他, 可是又柪不過, 只好再驅車前往 Missouri City 分館了, 一到那裡就發現當天有很多 (應該說是全部才對) 非裔美籍的盛裝人士在另一個市政廳有活動, 或許是 Obama 的造勢活動也說不定, 我才突然想起來: 每次來這個圖書館幾乎都是非裔美籍的人士在唸書, 看來美國最喜歡上圖書館的非裔美籍應該都住在 Missouri City 了吧! 那這裡應該算是非裔美籍的最高水準地區了, 難怪每次來都覺得這些人其實氣質與談吐都很不錯, 原來是受到圖書館的薰陶, 可能多少也受到 Obama 的影響吧! 看來臺灣的圖書館要加強宣導了, 讓大家多多看書與借書, 應該都是要很便利才是, 這一點看來美國的圖書館應該比臺灣要友善多了.

我安頓好 Kevin 後, 又跑到入口前去找舊書, 想看看有沒有便宜的舊書可買, 結果我找了以下幾本:
1. The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids: 專門解說如何走非常人走的路來玩迪士尼樂園.
2. America: A Narrative History (Vol. 1): 美國的口述歷史, 我很有興趣, 很想知道當初 102 位英國清教徒 Pilgrims (Puritan) 如何在 1620 年乘著五月花號 (Mayflower) 歷經千辛萬苦, 遠渡重洋移民新大陸, 這塊新大陸如何爭取從英國獨立, 甚至與英國之間引發美國獨立戰爭 (American War of Independence；1775—1783), 如何透過 Louisiana Purchase 向法國人買取大批 Mississippi River 到 Rocky Mountain 之間的大片土地, 如何透過美墨戰爭將美國領土擴展到西岸, 摩門教徒如何長途跋涉跑到猶他州鹽湖城去自立門戶, 以及如何引發南北戰爭等的歷史等, 應該有很多可以讓我們這些活在現代的苦命台灣人當作歷史殷鑑.
3. Look out/Look in: Interpersonal Communication: 探討人與人溝通技巧的書, 應該可以做為溝通與表達的課程參考. 其中 Dorothy Law Nolte 有關 Children Learn What They Live 的幾句話也讓我學了不少:

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

這些話對於家中有小孩的人來說, 應該頗為受用, 這樣的教育理念也很讓人朗朗上口, 頗富教育意義, 聽說美國人喜歡將這些話貼在冰箱上, 隨時提醒自己與小孩. 因為: It takes a village to raise a child. People likes parents, teachers, coaches, counselors, clergymen, babysitters, and neighbors all influence your child to some degree.
後來我上網找才知道原來 Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D. 生前是美國著名的 Parenting Poem 作家, 還有完整版

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

4. Art Techniques from Pencil to Paint: Sketch & Color: 教人如何素描與著色的書, 很有美感與藝術價值，
5. Understanding and Sharing: 也是人文方面的書啦, 教人如何互相了解以及分享.

每一本書都又厚又重, 自行投幣, 也沒有人會去檢查你投的錢夠不夠, 不過一本才 50 cents, 也就是大約台幣 16 元而已, 而且狀況都很好，如新的一般實在太划算了, 所以我就多投了幾塊美金, 算是贊助圖書館吧! 只是我怕太多了帶不回台灣，看來如果帶不回台灣, 我想就乾脆在美國把它們看完吧! 只是我接下來還有很多事還待完成, 真不知道能不能抽出時間來, ...I wish I can.