#27 Pamela | Farmer in New Zealand

前言: 由奧克蘭飛到基督城嘅內陸機，我身邊有一位笑容可掬嘅年老女士，差唔多落機前半小時掙扎左一陣如果訪問佢會唔會嚇親人。最後我出動打招呼，邀請呢位坐係我旁邊嘅有緣人做訪問。

1. Do you mind sharing with us about your work?

Sure. I have been working on a dairy farm for 34 years. My husband owns the farm and we both work there. Our neighbour next door helps to raise and milk the cattle.

2. Do you and your family live in Christchurch?

My husband and I live in Carew, a small settlement down south of Christchurch. This place is simple, free and easy. It is quiet and there are no shops around.

K: I guess you enjoy the tranquility there right?

Yes. I like it to be remote while my 2 daughters moved to Auckland.

K: Have you been to Hong Kong?

No.

K: Hong Kong is on the opposite. It is a compact city and is very busy. We can get what we need very quickly.

3. Have you ever considered moving to another place?

I guess it’s hard for us to move after living and working here for a long while but since my 2 daughters are in Auckland, we may move to join them in the near future and I’m sure we will take time to adjust. I can see my daughters enjoy township but at the same time, they have their horse as buddy here in the farm.

P(1): How about you? What makes you put forward your travel plan?

I just feel like I’m too shallow as a Geography teacher and I want to explore the world more. I don’t only want to teach Geography from the textbook, I wish to share more of my own experience to my students.

P: That’s a good experience right?

I’m enjoying the break now but it was a tough decision as taking a gap year is not a common practice in Hong Kong and some people ask why I’m not studying a master degree.

P: Experience is a great wealth of knowledge isn’t it?

Yes. That’s what I tell myself too.

4. Do people in New Zealand emphasise work-life balance a lot?

I guess different people have different standard. People living in the city may have a different perception. I always think there are work that have to be done and you can choose when to do it and do it in a way you feel comfortable.

P(2): Have you ever thought of what to do if you are not teaching?

In the past, I always think I only know how to teach and nothing else. After a few years of teaching, I recognise more teaching as a profession and not everyone knows how to teach.

And compared with office jobs, I don’t think I’m “working for a job”. It’s more like talking with kids and sharing my passion and love about nature with them.

P(3): How long does it take for you to reach an open space or parks in Hong Kong?

Actually not very far if we want to find a park but sometimes the size is not large and very often I observe foreigners and their kids are using the open space more as Hong Kong kids are usually asked to study and attend different classes.

P: Are they so motivated to learn?

Some may and some are forced to learn.

P: We can never understand as we have so much green space in our home.

That’s why sometimes I go out to have field trips and picnic on grassland with my students in Hong Kong.

P: What makes you having that idea? Did your teacher do the same?

Actually none of my high school teachers brought me for picnic but I had one experience when I was having my university field trip in Italy. The professor brought us to a grassland and we did discussion there with some red wine and cheese.

P: That’s memorable isn’t it? That’s why you are now “doing the opposite” as a high school teacher! Good for you.

後記: 從來不太有預設題目做訪問嘅我今次由一個訪問變左互相訪問，從言談間大家都感受到環境同文化差異，今次亦係我第一次比較詳細向外國受訪者講自己嘅教學。落機前，我送左第一張 post card 俾 Pamela，向佢介紹香港嘅夜景。