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Mandela's Garden
曼德拉的菜園
Nelson Mandela
納爾遜·曼德拉
In early 1977, the authorities announced the end of manual labor and arranged work for us to do in the courtyard, so we could spend our days in our section. The end of manual labor was liberating. I could now spend the day reading, writing letters, discussing issues with my comrades, or preparing legal documents. The free time also allowed me to pursue what became two of my favorite hobbies on Robben Island: gardening and tennis.
1977年初，當局宣布結束體力勞動，給我們安排了一些院內的工作，這樣我們可以在自己這片區域里打發時間了。結束了體力勞動就像解放了一樣。現在我每天可以讀書、寫信、和我的獄友討論問題，或者準備法律文件。時間上的自由還讓我得以繼續從事在羅本島上培養起來的兩大愛好：園藝和網球。
To survive in prison, one must develop ways to take satisfaction in one's daily life. One can feel fulfilled by washing one's clothes so that they are particularly clean, by sweeping a hallway so that it is empty of dust, by organizing one's cell to save as much space as possible. Just as one takes pride in important tasks outside of prison, one can find the same pride in doing small things inside prison.
為了在獄中生存，你必須設法使自己在曰常生活中得到滿足。你可以通過把衣服 洗得特別干凈，把門前過道打掃得一塵不染，或把自己的牢房整理出盡可能大的空間這些方法使自己感到充實。同一個在監獄外的人為完成重要任務而感到自豪一樣，監獄里的人也可以為完成一些小事而同樣感到自豪。
Almost from the beginning of my sentence on Robben Island, I asked the authorities for permission to start a garden in the courtyard. For years, they refused without offering a reason. But eventually they gave in, and we were able to cut out a small garden on a narrow patch of earth against the far wall.
幾乎從剛在羅本島服刑時起，我就向獄方提出申請，允許我在院子里開墾一塊菜園。多年來，他們沒有給出任何原因，卻一直拒絕著我的請求。但最終他們讓步了，這樣我們能夠在遠處墻根下一塊狹長的地面上劃出一小片地方來作為菜園。
