Dictation: Zhang Youmin Editor: Xiao Fan said emotion.
One sunny winter day, I arrived at Wellington's Bird and Flower Market. The cheerful chirping of birds was heard in my ears, and the smell of flowers wafted through the tip of my nose. That's when I noticed a special figure – Lidia.
She has curly blond hair, a bright red scarf, a black coat, and is picking flowers. Curious, I stepped forward and said hello.
I told her that I was from China, and that I was looking for writing material in the area. She responded to me with a smile and said she welcomed me to New Zealand.
She asked me what kind of profession I was engaged in and if I came with my girlfriend, and I said that I was working full-time and was single so far. She smiled and talked to me about self-a**.
She said she has a lovely daughter who is picking flowers. She snapped a finger. I looked in the direction of her finger and saw a little girl dressed in red. She said that the mother and daughter are very passionate about doing self-a**, and now they take some works every day and upload them to the Internet.
I was curious, so I talked to her about some parents, such as how to get along with neighbors, New Zealand's divorce rate, New Zealand's education, and so on.
She said that in New Zealand, neighbours often visit each other, as well as friends and family. When talking about the divorce rate in New Zealand, she said that the divorce rate in New Zealand is quite high, but the parenting culture is very developed and the education model is also very good. There is also a British education in New Zealand.
We talked about the contrast between traditional Chinese culture and New Zealand's traditional culture, and also compared the gap between the two cities, GDP and GDP per capita. She said that New Zealanders have a good impression of Chinese, and there are probably hundreds of thousands of Chinese tourists in New Zealand.
We talked about other topics such as school hours in New Zealand, how many classes a day we have, whether there is homework, and so on. She said primary school students in New Zealand start school at 8 a.m. and leave school at 3 p.m., with five classes a day and homework.
We chatted very engagedly and had a great time, and we shared our experiences and stories with each other. She told me that her daughter loves to draw and dance and has participated in some competitions. I also showed her my self-**work and travel**.
We were talking about a lot of loose topics, and I then asked her for personal information. Through the exchange, I learned that Lidia is an illustrator and a person who loves life.
She has lived in Wellington for many years and this flower and bird market is a place she frequents.
During the interview, I asked Lidia a lot of questions about family. She told me that she has a lovely daughter, Sera, and the two are very close. She also told me that she is an illustrator by profession and that she loves it because she can bring beautiful images to life.
I told her with a smile that artificial intelligence is becoming more and more developed, and sooner or later, the profession of illustrator will be replaced by artificial intelligence, and I asked her if she was worried about this. She said seriously that in the long run, artificial intelligence may indeed replace the illustrator industry, but it should not threaten her job in the short term.
She also told me that she had experienced many interesting things while studying, working and living in New Zealand. These experiences have made her cherish life more and love her profession more.
During our interview, Lidia's daughter, Sera, came over with a smile on her face. Sera has slightly curly blonde hair, a purple scarf, and wears a red sweatshirt. She walked over with a bottle of carnations. Lidia had a warm smile on her face when she saw her daughter.
Sera handed the flowers to her mother and asked her how the bouquet was. Lidia thought it was good, so they bought the vase of flowers and prepared to leave the flower and bird market.
I left the flower and bird market with them, and on the way I thanked them and tried to invite them to dinner. Lidia hesitated for a moment, then exchanged ideas with her daughter, and Sera gladly accepted my invitation.
On the way to find a restaurant, we talked a lot, including how the mother and daughter were growing up. As a self-a**, this topic is what I focus on.
In the conversation that followed, I learned that when Sera was very young, Lidia liked to draw simple patterns for her daughter to color. At that time, Lidia discovered that Sera had a particular sensitivity to color and line. So, every day, Lidia would accompany Sera in the garden, in the streets and alleys to find inspiration, and then walk into the studio together to sketch the world as they see it on a blank piece of paper.
As Sera grew, she also gradually showed a keen interest in the art of illustration. Lidia encourages her daughter to be brave enough to express her thoughts and is silently supportive and encouraging by her side. Sera's paintings gradually took on a unique style and gradually became loved and noticed by those around him.
But there are always ups and downs on the road to growth, and Sera has also encountered setbacks and difficulties. Once, one of her works was eliminated due to a problem with the rules of the competition, which made her feel very disappointed.
Lidia did not blame and blame at this time, but hugged her daughter into her arms and gently told her: "Growth is like this, there are constant ups and downs, but the important thing is not to give up and keep doing what you love." ”
Whenever Sera encounters difficulties or confusion, Lidia is always by her side and uses her life experience to guide her. She told her daughter that she needs to learn to accept failures and setbacks on the road of life, because these are stepping stones to growth.
Over time, Sera's paintings gradually became more recognized, and she also participated in various art competitions at school, achieving some excellent results. At the same time, Lidia continued to pursue her illustration career, experimenting with new creative styles, constantly exploring and breaking new ground.
We talked as we walked, keeping an eye out for the restaurants on both sides of the street. When I asked Lidia and Sera about their preferences for the type of restaurant, they both expressed different opinions.
Lidia suggested trying a new Japanese restaurant, saying that she and Sera both love sushi and sashimi, and that the restaurant is highly rated in reviews. However, Sera says she prefers to eat pasta because she loves the cheese and noodles.
After listening to their advice, I left the decision to them. We looked around the University of Wellington for a while and noticed a roadside restaurant with a sign that read "Delicious Italy".
There are several red lanterns hanging on the exterior wall of the restaurant, giving it a very intimate feeling. Sera pointed to the restaurant and said, "Look, there are a few lanterns hanging in front of the restaurant, it looks like a Chinese restaurant, but it doesn't look like the name, let's go in and have a look." ”
Lidia and I exchanged glances and nodded slightly. We entered the restaurant and the smell of pasta greeted our noses. The interior of the restaurant is simple and welcoming, and the walls are covered with Italian-style paintings, giving it a romantic atmosphere.
We picked a window seat and started browsing the menu with the help of the waiter, but we all left the task of ordering to Sera, and in the seat next to us, a young man sit. He tastes a pizza alone. He noticed me and smiled and nodded at me, and I gave him a faint smile back.
While waiting for the food to be served, I curiously asked Sera what her hobbies were, to which she replied that she was painting and dancing, that she wanted to be a painter or a dancer, and that she also considered her mother her idol.
I was touched by Sera's seriousness and persistence. I told Sera that if she wanted to be an artist, she had to work hard to learn Xi and practice Xi. Art requires talent and hard work, and only by constantly learning Xi and practicing can you constantly improve your level.
Sera nodded solemnly, and she told me that she had been trying to learn Xi to draw and dance, and that she had participated in some competitions. She also showed me some of her work and I was amazed.
At this time, Lidia asked me: "You just said that you are a self-a**, are you a full-time self-a**?"I nodded in the affirmative.
Lidia then asked, "How about your self-income?"I hesitated for a moment and told the truth: "Actually, the salary is not very high, but I enjoy this job because I can express my thoughts and feelings freely." ”
Lidia smiled and said, "It's hard work, but if you really like the job, you should stick to it." ”
Our dishes were served, and Sera's children's meal was pasta, and she asked for an extra fruit salad. Lidia's salad has vegetables, fruits and nuts and is very healthy.
We ate and chatted about New Zealand's education, culture and way of life. Lidia told me that New Zealand is a very tolerant country with a lot of respect for all cultures. She also told me that the New Zealand education model is very much focused on the cultivation of practical and innovative skills, which is something she really appreciates.
We also talked about traditional Chinese culture and Xi, and Lidia expressed great interest. She told me that she had learned some of China's traditional culture and Xi customs through the Internet, but that she still had a lot to learn Xi. She also asked me some details about Chinese culture.
Lidia and I then talked about parenting. I'm interested in the New Zealand education system, so I'd like to hear what Lidia has to say.
Lidia told me that in New Zealand, homeschooling and schooling are equally important. Parents play an important role model in their children's development, encouraging them to express their ideas and developing their independent thinking and problem-solving skills.
She said schools in New Zealand have a strong focus on nurturing students' creativity. There are many opportunities for interactive discussion in class, encouraging them to express their opinions and respect the opinions of others. At the same time, the school will also organize a variety of arts, sports and other activities to allow students to develop in an all-round way.
Although she is married and I am still single, Lidia and I both have similar views on parent-child education, and we both believe that family and school education complement each other, and that we can better cultivate children's comprehensive qualities by cooperating with each other.
While we were chatting passionately, a fragrant pizza was served on the table, giving off an enticing smell. The three of us were so captivated by its deliciousness that we couldn't help but start tasting it. The pizza has a fluffy and crispy crust and is topped with rich cheese and a variety of brightly colored toppings.
While we were enjoying our meal, the young man next to us also took the initiative to strike up a conversation with us. His name is Mike and he is a traveler from the United States. He heard us talking about parenting and expressed his opinion.
Mike said that in his hometown, there is also a high level of emphasis on parent-child education. He believes that parents should be friends and mentors to their children, guiding them on the right path. He also shared some funny stories he came across during his travels that made us laugh.
The three of us had a lovely dinner time in the restaurant. Lidia and Sera then shared their illustrations, and Mike showed us the beautiful landscapes he photographed**.
In this way, more than an hour passed, and we had eaten all the food and drinks, and I asked the mother and daughter if they wanted to add food, and they shook their heads and said that they were full, and expressed their gratitude to me.
I would like to thank the mother and daughter for accepting my interview. After we left each other***, we waved goodbye outside the restaurant. I went back to my hotel and started to put together today's interview.