布什姐妹致奧巴馬姐妹的一封信(雙語)
The daughters of George W Bush have written an open letter to Sasha and Malia Obama as they prepare to leave the White House.
美國前總統小布什的兩個女兒在奧巴馬一家即將離開白宮之際給奧巴馬的女兒薩莎和瑪利亞寫了一封公開信。
President Barack Obama’s time in office ends on 20 January.In the letter, Jenna Bush-Hager and Barbara Bush say they will be "rooting" for the Obama sisters in their "next chapter".They also lived in the White House for eight years, 2001 to 2009, and moved on to university and jobs.
奧巴馬的總統任期將於1月20日結束。在這封信中，小布什的女兒珍娜和芭芭拉說她們要“力挺”奧巴馬姐妹翻開人生的新篇章。2001年到2009年，她們也在白宮度過了八年時光，然後上大學，就業。
Here’s the letter in full, published in Time Magazine
這封信刊載在《時代週刊》上，以下是全文：
Malia and Sasha, eight years ago on a cold November day, we greeted you on the steps of the White House. We saw both the light and wariness in your eyes as you gazed at your new home.
“瑪利亞、薩莎：8年前的11月份，寒冷的一天，我們站在白宮的臺階上迎接你們的到來，看到你們用閃亮而拘謹的眼神盯着自己的新家。
"We left our jobs in Baltimore and New York early and travelled to Washington to show you around. To show you the Lincoln bedroom, and the bedrooms that were once ours, to introduce you to all the people—the florists, the grounds-keepers and the butlers—who dedicate themselves to making this historic house a home.
“當時，我們從工作的巴爾的摩和紐約來到華盛頓，帶你們參觀白宮。帶你們瞻仰林肯的臥室，看我們曾經的臥室，把你們介紹給大家——介紹給花藝師、外場看管員和管家——他們投入的工作讓這座充滿歷史感的建築成爲舒適的家。
"The four of us wandered the majestic halls of the house you had no choice but to move in to. When you slid down the banister of the solarium, just as we had done as eight-year-olds and again as 20-year-olds chasing our youth, your joy and laughter were contagious.
“我們四個漫步在白宮宏偉的大廳裏，搬到這裏居住你們別無選擇。當你們像我們八歲時來到白宮和二十多歲再次來到白宮一樣，從日光室的樓梯扶手上滑下來的時候，你們歡樂的笑聲感染了整個大廳。
"In eight years, you have done so much. Seen so much.
“八年來，你們經歷頗豐、眼界大開。
"You stood at the gates of the Robben Island cell where South Africa’s Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades, your arms around your father.
“你們挽着父親站在羅布恩島牢房門口，南非前總統尼爾森·曼德拉曾被囚禁在這裏幾十年。
"You travelled to Liberia and Morocco with your mom to talk with girls about the importance of education - girls who saw themselves in you, saw themselves in your parents, saw who they could become if they continued to study and learn.
“你們和媽媽來到利比里亞和摩洛哥告訴這裏的女孩子教育的重要。你們是她們的榜樣，你的父母也是他們的榜樣，她們知道了不斷學習會有怎樣的成就。
"You attended state dinners, hiked in national parks, met international leaders and managed to laugh at your dad’s jokes during the annual Thanksgiving turkey pardon, all while being kids, attending school and making friends.
“你們參加過國宴，在國家公園裏遠足，和各國領導人見面，還得在一年一度的感恩節火雞赦免儀式上聽爸爸講笑話，還得笑出來，與此同時你們還要上學，交朋友。
"We have watched you grow from girls to impressive young women with grace and ease.
“我們看着你們從小姑娘長成了漂亮、優雅、從容的淑女。
"And through it all you had each other. Just like we did.
“這一切經歷，你們和我們一樣，都有彼此陪伴。
Now you are about to join another rarified club, one of former First Children - a position you didn’t seek and one with no guidelines.
“如今，你們即將成爲另外一個不常見的羣體的一員，成爲“前第一孩子”——一個自動加在你們身上且只能自行探索的職位。
But you have so much to look forward to. You will be writing the story of your lives, beyond the shadow of your famous parents, yet you will always carry with you the experiences of the past eight years.
“然而，你們也有很多美好的憧憬。你們會擺脫父母的光環，開始書寫屬於自己的人生故事，雖然過去八年烙印會永遠與你們相伴。
Never forget the wonderful people who work at the White House. Our greeter as seven-year-olds at our grandfather’s inauguration was Nancy, the White House florist, who ushered us in from the cold.
“千萬別忘記那些在白宮工作過的精兵強將們。我們七歲那年參加祖父的就職儀式，是白宮的迎賓員兼花藝師南希，把我們從寒冷中迎進白宮。
She helped us make colourful bouquets of winter flowers for our grandparents’ bedside. Twenty years later, Nancy did the flowers for Jenna’s wedding. Cherish your own Nancy.
“她幫我們製作了多彩的冬花花束放在祖父身邊。二十年後，南希爲珍娜的婚禮佈置鮮花。珍惜你們的南希吧。
We stay in touch with our secret service. They were part of growing up for us: there for first dates, first days and even an engagement and a honeymoon.
“我們和特勤人員還保持着聯繫。他們是我們成長的一部分：第一次約會，熱戀期甚至訂婚和蜜月都有他們的身影。
We know it wasn’t always easy - the two of you and the two of us were teenagers trailed by men in backpacks—but they put their lives on hold for us.
“我們知道有時候這也挺難受的——我們和你們是被一羣揹着揹包的男人尾隨的孩子——但他們在用生命保護我們。
Enjoy college. As most of the world knows, we did. And you won’t have the weight of the world on your young shoulders anymore. Explore your passions. Learn who you are. Make mistakes - you are allowed to.
“享受大學時光吧。顯然，我們就是這樣做的。大學階段，你們還不必用稚嫩的肩膀承擔俗世之重。釋放你們的激情吧，瞭解自己。可以犯錯——這個可以有。
Continue to surround yourself with loyal friends who know you, adore you and will fiercely protect you. Those who judge you don’t love you, and their voices shouldn’t hold weight. Rather, it’s your own hearts that matter.
“繼續和那些瞭解你們，喜歡你們，並且爲你們挺身而出的死黨們在一起吧。對你們評頭論足的人並不愛你們，他們的話無足輕重，你們的心才重要。
Take all that you have seen, the people you have met, the lessons you have learned, and let that help guide you in making positive change. We have no doubt you will.
“帶上你們所有的見識、人脈和教訓吧，讓這些指導你們前進。相信你們會這樣做的。
Travelling with our parents taught us more than any class could. It opened our eyes to new people as well as new cultures and ideas.
“跟隨父母遊歷的收穫勝過任何課堂，它讓你們開闊了眼界，看見別樣的人羣、別樣的文化和別樣的思想。
We met factory workers in Michigan, teachers in California, doctors healing people on the Burmese border, kids who lined the dusty streets of Kampala to see the American president, and kids with HIV waiting to get the antiretroviral drugs that would save their lives.
“我們見過密歇根的工人，加利福尼亞的教師還有緬甸邊境治病救人的醫生，坎帕拉滿是灰塵街道上排着隊等着看美國總統的孩子，攜帶艾滋病病毒等待抗逆轉錄病毒藥物救命的孩子。
One tiny girl wearing her finest lavender dress looked young, which she was not.
“一個穿着她最好的淡紫色裙子的小女孩，看起來很小，實際上不是。
She was little because she was sick. Her mom admitted that she might not live to see these drugs work, but her brothers and sisters would. After meeting this girl, Barbara went back to school and changed her major, and her life’s path.
“她長得小是因爲生病。她媽媽說她也許活不到這些藥物起作用的時候了，但是她的弟弟妹妹會。見過這個女孩，芭芭拉回學校改了專業，從而改變了自己的人生軌跡。
You have lived through the unbelievable pressure of the White House. You have listened to harsh criticism of your parents by people who had never even met them.
“你們經歷過白宮中高壓的生活。你們也聽過那些甚至沒見過你們父母的人對他們的苛責。
You stood by as your precious parents were reduced to headlines. Your parents, who put you first and who not only showed you but gave you the world. As always, they will be rooting for you as you begin your next chapter. And so will we.
“當你們親愛的父母成爲佔據新聞頭條的大人物時你們在身旁支持他們。把你們擺在生命第一位的父母爲你們展現了一個世界，也賦予了你們一個世界。他們會一如既往地“挺”你們，迎接人生新的篇章。我們也會。”
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