Track One
Beijing has been my home for the past seven years
北京过去七年都是我的家
And no matter how far it is from Scotland it definitely feels like my home
不论这里离苏格兰有多远,我的确觉得这就是我的家
Beijing has a sense of community
北京有种社区感
Even in the most developed areas you can still find these wee nookets – places where people have lived here for generations
即使在最发达的地区,仍然可以找到这些"wee nookets",当地人世世代代都居住在这里
They are in the streets, in the shops and local businesses
他们存在于各种街道中,小商店以及本地商业点
You really feel at home because people are so welcoming
你真的有宾至如归的感觉,因为人们是如此热情好客
Eager to engage with you no matter where you are from and ask you questions
不论你来自哪里他们都渴望了解你,与你熟络,问你许多问题
That is what makes me feel at home
这就是使我感觉很像家的地方
Also the winter because I am Scottish and I love the winter
还有冬天,因为我是苏格兰人,我喜欢冬季
I came to China, the first time by train – all the way from Moscow
我第一次来中国是乘火车来的,一路从由莫斯科过来
I took four weeks – my last stop was Beijing – it was in 2008 – I only had four days
我花了整整四周—最后一站才是北京—那是2008年了—我却只待了四天
After 4 days I said to myself "There is something really special here – I will have to come back and find out more"
四天之后我对自己说"这里真的有一些特别之处,我一定得再回来,好好地了解她"
It is just a magical situation – pulling up at the train station – the chaos – trying to get a taxi to wherever we were staying – my friend's sofa at that time
这真是个有魔力的经历—到达火车站—进入喧嚣的洪流—拦出租车到达我们的住所—那会儿就是我朋友家的沙发
It was just so exciting – people were so helpful – people were so curious
但这一切是如此令人兴奋—人们都如此友善好客,如此对我充满好奇
There was such a great feeling about the city and excitement
对这个城市有一种很棒的兴奋的感觉
It was 2008 – the year of the Olympics – the World was talking about Beijing and here I was after traveling across the continent
在2008年,就是奥运会那一年,整个世界都在谈论北京,穿越大洲,跋山涉水,我来了
So the following year I moved out
因此接下来的一年我把家给搬了过来
You do not read the Sunday Post? There was a two-page spread all about 'Beijing 2008'
你没读周日邮报吗?它有两页专门报道北京2008
We were all talking about it – we were all fascinated about it – what was going to happen
我们都在谈论它—我们都为它着迷—接下来都会发生什么?
Just the feeling and I am sure the Olympics was part of that
就是这种感觉,而且我确信奥运会是其中一部分
There were certainly only blue skies – I had no idea about pollution then – that was just a rumour
那时当然只有蓝天—我跟本对污染没有概念—那些只是谣言
Track Two
There is something about Beijing – anyone who lives here would just agree
有些关于北京的事是任何生活在北京的人都会认同的
It is a city that captures your heart – your attention – easily becomes your home if you give it a chance
那就是:这个城市轻而易举地俘获了你的心—你的全部注意力—只要你给它一个机会它就会很容易地成为你的家
You haven't lost the affection; you haven't lost the interest after all these years?
经历这些年之后,你还没失去对这里的感情和兴趣吗?
Definitely not – every day when you wake up in Beijing you never know what you are going to see
当然没有—当你每天醒来,你永远不会知道今天将会看到什么
I love getting on my bike every day – carefully although I have been described as though I cycle like a maniac
我喜欢每天骑上我的自行车,小心翼翼地骑着,尽管我被形容得骑得像疯了一样
Getting around Beijing – the streets – the crazy traffic – it is just the element of surprise every day
在北京城里四处溜达,街道,疯狂的交通,都是每日令人惊奇的元素
You do not know when your door knocks who is going to be there – what is going to be happening – who you are going to encounter
你永远不会知道下一秒谁会来敲你家的门,谁会站在门外,即将要发生什么,你会遇见谁
It never ceases to stop – in one week in Beijing you can have enough stories for a lifetime
一切从不会停止,在北京一周你就会拥有足以诉说一生的故事
This is why I take my camera with me every day – there is always something
这也是为什么我每天都必须带上我的相机--这里总会有故事发生
Whether it is the delivery men with their electric bikes all gathering together – or a guy sitting on his pedicab outside the Opposite House hotel
不论是快递员们和他们的电动自行车停在一起,还是一个人坐在他的停在瑜舍酒店外的三轮车上
There is always something
这儿总有故事发生
It could be a 'nouveau riche' girl with the latest smart phone
或者是有个暴发户女孩儿拿着她的最新款的智能手机
It is just that whole array of things that we see in Beijing that keep it the vibrant city that it is
就是我们在北京所看到所有一系列的城市风景使得这个城市充满了清新的活力
I have got two dogs – that just opens into another community here in Beijing
我有两只狗,它们刚刚在北京替我打通了另一个社区
Two pugs – that all Chinese people know – they love that me the foreigner have got these two Chinese dogs
两只哈趴狗,所有中国人都知道,他们喜欢我作为外国人养两只中国犬
I am very involved in the dog community in the area that I live in
我很好地融入了我小区里的"狗狗社交小区"
That opens up a lot of doors of meeting different people and hearing their stories
那也为能见到不同的人,聆听他们的故事打开了许多方便之门。