I always answer: Fresh air。
我總是回答:清新的空氣,。
Five years ago,, as I step off the plane from China, and left the terminal at Dallas Airport,。 I was ready to put on one of my five face masks,, but when I took my first breath of American air。 I put my mask away,。
五年前,,從中國來的時候,我準備了5個口罩,。從飛機上下來,,離開達拉斯機場候機樓時,我正準備戴上口罩時,,吸入了第一口美國的空氣,,然后我將口罩收了起來。
The air was so sweet and fresh,, and oddly luxurious,。
這里的空氣是那么的清新甜美,顯得格外的奢侈,。
I was surprised by this,。 I grew up in a city in China, where I had to wear a face mask every time I went outside,, otherwise,, I might get sick。
我深感意外,。我在中國的一個城市長大,,從小出門都得戴口罩,,否則就會生病。
However,, the moment I inhaled and exhaled outside the airport,。
然而,在機場呼吸到這里空氣的那一刻,。
I felt free,。
我感受到了自由。
No more fog on my glasses,, no more difficult breathing,, no more suppression。
我的眼鏡上不再有霧,,呼吸不再困難,,也沒有了壓抑。
Every breath was a delight,。 As I stand here today,, I cannot help, but recall that feeling of freedom,。
每一口呼吸都是愉悅的,。今天我站在這里,仍然忍不住回想起那種自由的感覺,。
At the University of Maryland,, I assume feel another kind of fresh air for which I will be forever grateful — the fresh air of free speech。
在馬里蘭大學,,另一種清新的空氣也令我感懷不已——言論自由的空氣,。
Before I came to United States, I learned in history class about the Declaration of Independence,, but these words had no meaning to me— Life,, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness。
來美國之前,,我在歷史課上學到了獨立宣言,,但“生命、自由和追尋幸?!边@些詞句對我而言毫無意義,。
I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades。
我僅僅是背下這些詞句以期在考試中取得好成績,。
These words sounded so strange,, so abstract and so foreign to me, until I came to University of Maryland。
這些詞句顯得那么古怪,,那么抽象,,那么陌生,直到我來到馬里蘭大學,。
I have leaned the right to freely express oneself is sacred in American,。
我終于明白,言論自由在美國是多么神圣,。