作者： 蔡昇達
Author: Sheng-Ta Tsai
國高中讀地理、歷史，知道美國是著名的移民國家、民族的大熔爐、自由世界的燈塔，自己實際住了一年後，才有較深刻的感受。
In high school geography and history classes, I learned that the United States is a famous immigrant country, a great melting pot of nations, and a beacon of the free world. However, it wasn’t until I actually lived here for a year that I truly grasped its significance.
Photo 1： 自由女神雕像，是西元 1886 年法國送給美國的禮物. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to the United States in 1886.
自由女神島的旁邊，有個埃利斯島(Ellis Island)，是早期移民管理局的所在地，來自世界各地的移民皆在此進入美國，現在已改建為移民博物館，保留了當年移民面試的大廳、窄小的上下舖，更記錄了許多移民的故事。
Next to Liberty Island is Ellis Island, which once housed the early immigrant inspection and processing station. Immigrants from all over the world entered the United States through this facility. Today, it has been transformed into the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, preserving the registration hall where interviews took place, the cramped bunk beds, and countless stories of immigrants.
Photo 2： 埃利斯島(大樓前方的小島). Ellis Island (the island in front of the high buildings)
Photo 3： 移民睡的窄床，上下舖. Dormitory with small beds.
Photo 4： 移民面試的大廳，當年可是滿滿的排除人潮. Registration hall for interview.
最讓我動容的是下面這個展區，分析人們為什麼離開自己的家園，如 1975 年越戰結束後，許多難民逃離赤化的越南，照片即是有名的「越南船民(Vietnamese boat people)」，許多是華裔，北越的執政者(越共)知道他們較有錢，拿走他們的黃金後，把他們送到船上，在海上漂泊，有的人被救到外國、也有許多人死亡。這個大展牆記錄了全世界的苦難，讓我佇足良久。
The most touching exhibit for me was the section analyzing why people leave their homelands. For example, after the Vietnam War ended in 1975, many refugees fled communist-controlled Vietnam. One famous case is the "Vietnamese boat people," many of whom were of Chinese descent. The ruling North Vietnamese government knew these people were wealthier, so they confiscated their gold before sending them out to sea. Some were rescued by foreign countries, while many died. This large display wall, documenting global suffering, left me standing in contemplation for a long time.
Photo 5： 為什麼離開？ Why people leave?
移民抵達美國後要想辦法生存，在美國的各個角落努力，這一年期間，我也聽了許多前輩們的移民故事，真的是一部部的血淚史。現在在全美排名第一的醫院，妙佑醫療國際(Mayo Clinic)，也遇到從中國、中南美洲、非洲、中東、東歐……等來的醫師、研究員，每個人皆非常努力，拚盡全力想要留下來，改變自己的生活。
After arriving in the U.S., immigrants must find a way to survive and work hard in all corners of the country. Over the past year, I’ve heard many immigrant stories from my predecessors—each one a tale of struggle and hardship. At Mayo Clinic, the No. 1 ranked hospital in the U.S., I have met doctors and researchers from China, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and beyond. Each person is working tirelessly, doing everything they can to stay and transform their lives.
Photo 6： 跨國生活. Transnational lives
Photo 7： 元宵節的台灣文化表演，電音三太子. Taiwanese Lantern Festival in 2025.
Photo 8： 來自埃及的朋友，相當努力，每天工作到半夜. My friend, Elgohary Mohamed, an Egyptian, works very hard at Mayo Clinic
Photo 9： 適應生活後成為美國人. Becoming American
幾個月前亦讀了 NIH 的同事，資料科學家、同時也是名作家，Kristen Levine 的書，Little Rock (改編自 阿肯色州小岩城的事件)，談 1957 年代的種族隔離，對於在單一民族國家長大的我而言，完全無法想像有這種事情，看了書很感動，找作者簽名。
A few months ago, I also read a touching book by a colleague at the NIH, Kristen Levine, who is both a data scientist and an author. Her book, The Lions of Little Rock, discusses the racial segregation events of 1957 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Growing up in a country with a single ethnic majority, I could not fathom such events happening.
Photo 10： 名作家 Kristin Levine，同時也是美國國家衛生研究院的資料科學家. A famous author and an excellent data scientist at National Institute of Health
每天送小孩去幼稚園，皆會看到不同膚色、族裔的家長，彼此幫忙打開門、溫暖寒暄，真的是民族的大熔爐，我想這應該是美國所以強大的其中一項原因吧。
Every day when I drop off my child at preschool, I see parents of different ethnicities and skin colors, helping each other hold the door open and exchanging warm greetings. It truly is a great melting pot of cultures, and I believe this is one of the reasons why America is so strong.
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