你在哪儿，便在哪儿发光
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老桑说
2017.11.25
不管你在哪里，你都要相信自己可以有所作为。如果你远离家乡，那么你可以选择为你所在的地方做出贡献。如果你还在家，那么便可以根据你自己的情况，做出最好的选择。
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崂山
游记
「 朋友，你好，我是老桑。 」
△ 崂山风景
1
青岛之旅
崂山茶园
每一次青岛之旅都令我十分难忘，历史悠久的古迹，气候宜人的沙滩，还有四周围绕的美丽风景，都体现了这座城市别具一格的魅力。
当然，还有那些美味的海鲜餐厅。
除了讲座之外，我还花了一天时间在中国最北端的茶区——崂山茶区。
崂山绿茶具有独特的豌豆的味道。 在崂山，人们还生产具有该地区特色的黑色和茉莉花茶。
在参观茶农场时，我们尝试了茶叶不同的泡制方法，收获了很多奇妙的体验。
It was a full trip（这一趟旅程真是不虚此行。）
青岛崂山
迦南美地
2
千难万难
不离崂山
当地人与我分享了一句谚语，“千难万难，不离崂山”。
一直以来，崂山都没发生过诸如洪水和地震的自然灾害，因此当地居民们十分感谢大自然的祝福。
大自然的这一恩宠让当地的老百姓们可以更好地农耕、养鱼，均能够取得巨大的成功，同时也产生了许多当地的特色，比如茶叶、山泉、海参和大馒头等。
这些特色是由于当地独特的条件而产生的。
实际上，就像崂山一样，我们每个人都可以更好地利用我们周围的资源，帮助我们取得成功。
俗话说 “靠山吃山，靠海吃海”，这启发我们要着眼于周围现有的资源，但如果我们一直盯着远处，或者就会对周围宝贵的财富视而不见了。
不管我们家乡在哪，那里一定都有丰富的资源等着我们去挖掘，一方水土养一方人。
崂山美食
海鲜3
崂山茶水
家乡的味道
我在崂山的朋友们都说崂山的茶叶只有在用崂山水冲泡时才会最为可口。
当他们离开崂山后，无论去哪，总会觉得生活中缺失了什么——海鲜，茶叶和水都不再是家乡的味道。
我十分能够理解他们的心境。
我从小在康涅狄格长大，当地最有特色的食品是thin-crust pizza（薄皮披萨）。
长大后，虽然在其他各个地方我都能吃到披萨，但是它们始终没有“家乡的味道”。
在费城，我们当地的特产是cheesesteak（牛肉芝士三明治）。
其实在全世界各地都可以找到费城的牛肉芝士三明治，但是只有几家费城的餐馆才能做出真正的味道。
参观崂山茶园
品尝崂山红茶
4
每个人都是家乡的产物。
每个人身上也都留下家乡的烙印。
然而，生活中的不同站台可能会把我们带到不同的地方。
我们的工作可能会把我们带到一个我们并不太喜欢的城市；为了读书，我们或许会去到一个离家很远的省份或国家。
每到一个新的地方，我们可能会有一个难熬的适应期，挣扎着去适应这个充满陌生和新奇的地方。
其实，我们的家乡不仅仅是一个“地理位置”，更是我们内心中所认为的“舒适区”的隐喻。
如果我们远离了生活中熟悉的“家乡”，我们可能会因不习惯而不愿意探索新的环境，从而难以更好地体会当地的价值所在。
更会导致我们忽视身边新的资源和机会，沉浸在对过去生活的怀念之中，难以向前。
但是，请不要抱怨你没有的东西，而是要对你所拥有的心怀感激。
相比于渴望新鲜的事物（无论是身体上还是精神上），为什么不充分利用你手头的资源呢？
即使你觉得自己处于一个不太理想的状态，你也可以让自己变得更好，成为其中的亮点。
5
你在哪儿
便在哪儿发光
Bloom where you are planted（你在哪，便在哪儿发光）。
不管你在哪里，你都要相信自己可以有所作为。
如果你远离家乡，那么你可以选择为你所在的地方做出贡献。如果你还在家，那么便可以根据你自己的情况，做出最好的选择。
My friend，你的家乡既是一个地方，也是一种心境。
当你身体上或精神上处于自己的“舒适区”之外时，你依然有机会改善自己，积极地影响自己。
你在哪，便在哪儿发光。
我相信，倘若你能够正确地面对自己的处境，充分利用现有的资源，你终会为自己而自豪，会成为家乡的骄傲，更会对身边的人带来积极的影响。
崂山
迦南
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谢谢收看《老桑说》。
给你启发，激励你上进，陪伴你坚持。
敬请期待下一集。
Bloom Where You Are Planted
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「 Hello, my friend,
I’m John Smagula. 」
I recently spoke at China Ocean University and Qingdao University law schools. I always enjoy visiting Qingdao, as the historic area, beaches, and surrounding landscapes make it such a beautiful city. And of course, the seafood restaurants are wonderful!
I also spent a day in the Laoshan tea region, which is one of the northernmost tea growing regions in China. Laoshan green tea has a unique garden pea taste. They also produce black and jasmine teas with flavors that are characteristic of the area. While visiting the tea farms, we tried different brewing methods to get different results. It was a full trip.
The locals shared with me a saying, “Laoshan is safe from natural disasters.” Laoshan has been free from floods and earthquakes, and thus the residents are grateful for the blessings of nature. This favor has allowed the locals to farm and fish with great success, giving rise to many regional specialties such as tea, spring water, sea cucumber, and giant steamed rolls.
These specialties came about due to the local conditions. Like those in Laoshan, we can all make use of the resources that are available around us. “Those living on a mountain live off the mountain; those living near the water live off the water.” If we are focused on what is far away, we may not see the riches around us.
No matter where we are from, there are rich local resources. Each place has its own way of supporting its own inhabitants. My Laoshan friends said that Laoshan tea tastes best with Laoshan water. Whenever they leave Laoshan, they feel that something is missing, that the seafood, tea, and water just isn’t as good as it is back home.
I can understand. I grew up in Connecticut, where the specialty food is thin-crust pizza. I can have pizza anywhere else, but it never tastes the “same” as back home. In Philadelphia, our local specialty is cheesesteak sandwiches. Philly cheesesteaks can be found all over the world, but there are only a few Philly restaurants that claim to have the best.
We are products of our upbringing, and our hometowns leave a stamp on our identity.
But different stations in life may bring us to different places. Our work may bring us to a city we do not really like. School may bring us to a province or country far from home. When in a new location, we may have a hard time adjusting, longing to be some place familiar.
Moreover, our hometown is a physical place, but it is also a metaphor for what we perceive as a comfortable place in life. If we are away from a familiar “home” in life, we may be reluctant to explore our new environment and appreciate its value. We may neglect the resources and opportunities at hand, yearning for the past and thinking things were “better” then.
Rather than bemoan what you don’t have, it’s better to be grateful for what you do. Rather than longing to be somewhere else (physically or mentally), why not make the most of what you have at hand? And even if you feel that you’re in a place that’s not very desirable, you can be the bright spot that makes it better.
Bloom where you are planted. No matter where you are, you can make a difference. If you’re far from home, make a contribution to your new location. If you’re still at home, become the best version of yourself, given your circumstances.
My friend, your hometown is a place, but also a state of mind. When you are outside of your physical or mental comfort zone, you can still improve yourself and make a difference where you are. Bloom where you are planted. You’ll serve yourself well, bring pride to your hometown, make a positive difference to those around you wherever that may be.
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Thank you for watching me to inspire, encourage, and accompany you.
See you next time.
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John Smagula
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