来源：美国在台协会脸书
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郦英杰处长给台湾人民的道别信
“随着我担任美国在台协会处长的日子即将画下句点，我也即将离开台湾，我想藉这个机
会和大家分享，这一番历练对我来说的意义是什么。当我说担任AIT处长其实是我这辈子
的荣幸，也让我得以实现长期职业生涯中的抱负与理想，这么说一点也不为过。
我19岁时第一次离开家乡，就是来台湾。对年轻的我来说，从那时起，台湾就成了交流与
理解、探索与冒险的同义词。台湾不仅有着让人眼花撩乱的异乡风情，也代表着意想不到
的崭新机会。我在这里尝试新奇的食物，像是水饺和臭豆腐，并且学习如何在挤满自行车和
机车的大街小巷穿梭自如。一方面，我努力用我粗浅的中文，让别人听懂我说的话；但同
时我也发现，无论走到哪里，迎接我的都是满满的亲切友善与热情好客。
因此，在成为美国外交官后，能够以台湾作为我派驻海外的第一站，真是再适合不过了。
毕竟，是台湾首先点燃了我对亚洲、尤其是台湾的毕生兴趣，也激发了我对跨文化理解和
共享目标——也就是外交工作——的终身热忱。此后，我也曾派驻其他地点，多数是在大
中华区域，但我的台湾经历与回忆始终常存我心。最终我能以美国驻台最高层级外交官的
身分回来这里，可说是我多年职涯的高峰。显然，我这一生注定与台湾有着深刻的连结，
或者也叫作“缘分”吧，才会让我一次又一次不断地回到台湾。
常有人问我，为什么我这么喜欢台湾。我总觉得：“答案不是很明显吗？”不过如果一定
要我从个人与专业的角度，解释我对台湾的喜爱与敬佩之情，我通常会提到以下几个领域
：
首先，台湾兼具活力与稳定、进步与延承、还有创新与传统。每次回到这里，我都对台湾
社会在各个方面日新月异的进步感到惊艳不已。台湾的民主更臻成熟，经济益加蓬勃，环
境保护更受关注，艺术文化发展也生生不息。
台湾在许多最先进的科技产业上持续为全球创新树立标竿，但与此同时，台湾的社会稳定
和文化传承依旧令人钦羡佩服。尽管生活充裕且形象良好，台湾人民却依然谦虚朴实、平
易近人。在台湾，最古老的传统薪火相传、历久弥新。文化和历史古蹟受到妥善的修复与
保护；年轻人也可以学习代代相传的书法技巧，接着再把作品秀在Instagram上。
再者，对美国来说，台湾正是共享利益与共享价值交集的典范。美台伙伴关系的重点在于
确保科技发展能够嘉惠、而非伤害我们双方的经济，科技突破则应被用于巩固、而不是破
坏我们的原则。美台之间自由、多元、平等及透明等共享价值，时时激励我们努力在世界
各地打造民主社会的韧性。而我们也持续寻求新的方式，为解决全球问题做出贡献，这么
做不仅是因为能够造福我们自己的人民，也是因为我们相信，身为21世纪敦亲睦邻的好伙
伴，就是该这么做。
最后，每当我想到台湾、以及整体美台关系，我总会想到希望、光明和成长。美台的情谊
在过去40年来不断拓展与茁壮。我相信每任处长都会同意，他们离开台湾时的美台伙伴关
系，比起他们刚上任时都更上一层楼。同样的，当我向AIT告别的那一天，我的心中将充
满肯定与成就感，因为我知道，美台伙伴关系比以往都更加深刻和强健，我也对自己能为
美台关系今天亮眼的进展小有贡献，而深感骄傲。
但是，比起这些事情，我想我更难忘的是台湾在我生命中所留下的深刻印记。我永远会记
得我在台湾度过的第一个圣诞节，还有第一个农历新年。我永远会记得台湾朋友的真挚与
温暖、教会同伴坚定的信仰、炎炎夏日来一碗芒果冰的沁凉、资源回收车沿街播放《给爱
丽丝》的回音，还有巷弄中扑鼻而来的茉莉花香，这些都会是我毕生珍藏的美好回忆之一
。我也会记得好友间的餐聚、充满欢笑和故事的夜晚、以及一路以来我受到过的无数的善
意与关怀。我更会永远记得，是各位台湾朋友们，你们以各种不同的方式，让我和我家人
的生命更加地丰盛美好。对此，我要衷心地谢谢大家。
虽然我将离开台湾，但台湾不会离开我。”
— 美国在台协会处长 郦英杰
信件全文亦可至AIT官网查看：https://bit.ly/2TSkLDF
A Farewell Letter from AIT Director W. Brent Christensen
"As my time as AIT Director draws to a close and I prepare to leave Taiwan, I
want to take this opportunity to tell you what this experience has meant to me
. It is not an exaggeration to say that this has been the honor of my life an
d the fulfillment of a career-long aspiration.
The first time I left my hometown at age 19, it was to come to Taiwan. From t
hat early age, Taiwan became synonymous for me with the ideas of exchange and
understanding, exploration and adventure. Taiwan represented both disorientin
g foreignness and unexpected opportunity, as I tried new food – like shuijiao
s and qiu doufu – and learned to navigate my way through streets crowded with
bicycles and scooters. And struggled to make myself understood with my rudim
entary Mandarin. But all the while discovering the kindness and generosity th
at welcomed me wherever I went.
It felt appropriate for me to serve my first tour as a U.S. diplomat in the pl
ace that first sparked in me a lifelong interest in Asia – and in Taiwan in p
articular – and in cross-cultural understanding and shared purpose, or in oth
er words, diplomacy. After that, my career took me to other places, but mostl
y still in the China region. But the memories of my experiences in Taiwan sta
yed with me. And finally having the opportunity to serve as the top U.S. dipl
omat to Taiwan was the culmination of all the years that came before. It is c
lear that I have a lifelong connection to Taiwan, or “yuanfen,” that has led
me to return again and again.
People often ask me why I have such a fondness for Taiwan. “Isn’t it obviou
s?!” I always think. But when forced to explain my affection for and profess
ional fascination with Taiwan, I usually come back to a few themes.
First, dynamism and constancy; progress and preservation; innovation and tradi
tion. Every time I return to Taiwan, I am immediately struck by the many ways
Taiwan has advanced as a society. Taiwan’s democracy grows more mature, its e
conomy more prosperous, its environment more cared-for, and its arts and cultu
re more vibrant.
Taiwan’s industry continues to set the benchmark for global innovation in som
e of the most sophisticated technologies, but at the same time, Taiwan society
is remarkable for its stability and cultural continuity. Taiwan’s people, de
spite their relative wealth and stature, continue to be modest and unassuming.
Taiwan’s most ancient traditions are alive and well. Cultural and historic s
ites are restored and preserved. Young people may learn calligraphy techniques
handed down for generations, but then share their work on Instagram.
Second, for the United States, Taiwan exemplifies the intersection of shared i
nterests and shared values. Our partnership is about making sure our economies
are beneficiaries rather than casualties of technological development and ens
uring that technological development advances rather than undermines our princ
iples. Our shared values of freedom, diversity, equality, and transparency ins
pire our efforts to build the resilience of democracies around the world. And
we continue to find new ways to contribute to global problem solving, both bec
ause it benefits our own peoples and because we share the belief that this is
what it means to be a good neighbor in the 21st century.
Finally, I associate Taiwan – and the broader U.S.-Taiwan relationship – wit
h hope, promise, and growth. This friendship has expanded and flourished over
the past 40 years; I believe every person who has done this job walked away kn
owing they left this partnership better than they found it. I will similarly
leave AIT with a sense of accomplishment and success, knowing that the U.S.-Ta
iwan partnership is deeper and stronger than ever, and feeling immensely proud
of my small role in getting us there.
But more than any of these things, I will remember the ways that Taiwan has to
uched me personally. I will always remember my first Christmas in Taiwan – a
nd my first Chinese New Year. I will remember the warmth of Taiwan friendship
, the faith of my fellow church members, the taste of a mango bing on a hot su
mmer day, the echo of “Fur Elise” from the recycling truck, the fragrance of
jasmine blossoms in village alleyways – these are just some of the memories
I will treasure. I will remember the long dinners with dear friends, full of
laughter and stories. And I will remember their many kindnesses. I will reme
mber all the ways big and small that you, the people of Taiwan, touched my lif
e and the lives of my family. And for that, I thank you.
I may be leaving Taiwan, but Taiwan will never leave me. "