Muskoka Speaks
The Chinese translation of Muskoka Lakes is “Honeymoon Lakes”. Although I don’t know how the translation happens, it does accurately express this area of Ontario. No matter spring, summer, autumn or winter; regardless of sun, wind, rain or snow, as long as you are here, your feeling will always be so sweet like honey.
When I was a child, there was an article, “In Memory of Bethune,” in the school textbook. Through this article, I knew Canada, and I knew there was a Canadian who was very friendly to the Chinese people. The author of “In Memory of Bethune” is Mao Zedong, the founder of New China. Because this article was put into the student textbook, Bethune’s name is well-known in China, and everyone knows his story.
The article said Bethune is a man with a spirit of internationalism, and he is completely selflessness and altruistic. “A person’s ability may be great or small, but if he has this spirit, he is already a noble person, a pure person, a moral person, a person who is free from vulgar interests, and a person who is beneficial to the people.”
When China began to reform and open up, Chinese people could apply to immigrate overseas. Canada, the country that nurtured Bethune, naturally attracted me. Since I was a child, I have had a deep admiration for Bethune in my heart. After I came to Canada, Bethune’s hometown has become a place that I must go. I wanted to discover the place that nurtured such a great person as Bethune.
I visited Bethune Memorial House, learned about Bethune, and my admiration for him has become much deeper. Bethune was a great humanitarian. He is a figure of historical significance to the Chinese people, the Canadian people, and people all over the world.
There are two different experiences: visiting Muskoka or living in Muskoka. In the past four years, I have lived here and felt everything here: the natural beauty and the people.
The natural beauty here: I have observed the spectacular sky, land, water and rocks, the gentle rain and breeze, the multicolored seasons, the distinctive flowers, grasses and trees. Fish are swimming, birds are singing, bears are roaring, frogs are chirping…
The people here: Getting close with my neighbors, Mary, John, Randy, Martin, and others, seeing their love for life, enthusiasm for people, contributions to the community, care for the environment: all of these show the spirit of the people in Bethune’s hometown.
Human life is rich with emotions. If people meet the beauty of natural scenery and they are also touched by humanistic emotions, it will be even more attractive.
Nature is speaking. People are expressing.
In nature, there are rocks and water, trees and flowers; there are birds and fish, bears and frogs… Just imagine, if there was only rocks and no water, only trees and no flowers; if there were only birds and no fish, only bears and no frogs… how could it be vibrant and prosperous in this kind of nature?
In human society, there are different races, different cultures; there are different customs, different languages. Just imagine, if there is no respect and only discrimination, no learning and only self-importance, no cooperation and only fighting, no love and only hatred: where is the warmth and happiness in such a human society?
There is a saying in China: “The unique environment gives distinctive character to its inhabitants.”
There are three big lakes here, three big towns here. Bethune was here, now you are here.
“Tao Te Ching” said three begets all things; all things are in harmony.” Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three begets all things. All things carry Yin and Yang, and they interact and achieve harmony.” (Chapter 42)
This is Muskoka. Mother Nature has blessed the land for prosperity. The environment here is culturally rich for nurturing outstanding people.
Muskoka speaks！
I love Muskoka！
Kong Xiangchun (Celeste)
