The Night and the Stars
(Baonghean.vn) - Writer and translator Nguyen Bich Lan is not only known as a "farmer in the field of words" with over 20 translated books, including "Slumdog Millionaire" which helped her become a member of the Vietnam Writers Association, but is also known as an inspirational person, an example of extraordinary willpower to overcome fate.
On the occasion of the New Year, Nghe An Newspaper had a conversation with her.
- Dear writer and translator Nguyen Bich Lan, the incurable muscular dystrophy at the age of 13 robbed you of so many dreams, so much innocence, and so much dreaminess of a young girl specializing in literature. Could you share your feelings about those moments and days? And how did you overcome them and dream again your life's dreams?
- I fell ill at the age of 13, the age when, as people say, just having a pimple on your face is already miserable. While I was healthy and running around happily, I suddenly felt like my limbs were tied up by an invisible force, falling over and over again. Even when I was forced to drop out of school and drag myself to dozens of hospitals, I still didn't understand what was happening to me. The world seemed to have turned upside down, all the doors seemed to be closing in front of me. It's hard to describe in words the feeling of my friends going to this school or that school, while I was stuck in four narrow walls, not knowing what to do to kill time. If I had let that empty state continue, I wouldn't have been able to survive for long. Luckily, I found English as a lifesaver, first of all to "kill" time. From the first letters and English words I "picked up" from my brother's textbook, with all my will I searched for every word I could find through self-study to get to where I am today.
- “The night comes and leaves behind the stars” - that is the impressive slogan on the cover of your autobiography “Never Fall”. What do you say about this, is it a “happy ending” for the endless efforts, the hopes, the dreams, the love that cannot be extinguished?
- An important part of my self-study process is reading literature. I remember I read all the works of the French writer Victor Hugo. If I remember correctly, in his novel "93" there is a sentence that roughly means "What has sown darkness in us, can leave stars in us". Ever since I read it, I believed that adversity is not all black. Adversity also has a positive side, it gives us the opportunity to find the answer to the question, what do we live for. The foundation of adversity and its motivation also give us the opportunity to train our will, to develop into a unique, different person, to live a meaningful life. Those could be the stars that Victor Hugo mentioned. I have experienced the dark night of adversity, and I have found the stars, or at least seen the glimmer of those stars.
- Can you tell us where your “strength” comes from, what makes it, and share about the books you have translated, especially "Life Without Limits" and "Never Give Up Your Dreams" by Australian man with no arms or legs Nick Vujicic, as well as your meeting with this character in Vietnam...
- I think my personal strength started to be built or truly nurtured since I experienced a challenging life, or in other words, since I had to live with a terminal illness. But since then, that source of strength has also been constantly nurtured by the unconditional love I received from my family and loved ones.
When I started translating books that I thought contributed a little to the spiritual development of readers, I also felt stronger, more resilient, and more secure about myself. Every year I translate 3 books. I like to translate literary books with historical and cultural content, bringing to our country's readers explorations of the outside world of lands, as well as the inside world of lives and characters.
In addition, every year I spend time translating a book about education, or “real people, real events” books about people who overcome special challenges to live and work like normal people, even better than normal people. That is why I have translated 4 books by the speaker with no legs or arms Nick Vujicic. Because readers enthusiastically received Nick’s autobiography, the organizers were determined to invite him to Vietnam. It was also an unforgettable memory for me when I represented my readers to welcome Nick, giving Nick a hug of admiration, sympathy and love. Meeting people like Nick makes me see that life is not without challenges but also full of miracles. From those experiences, I wrote a poem called “Living” with the following lines:
“I have met indomitable people.
Quietly rise up against ironic fate
Like green trees they are busy living
Thank life with passionate love".
- Last year, it was known that you completed your 35th translated work. Which is more important to you, translation or writing? Do you have any plans for this new year? Readers also want to know about your current life?
- I have just completed the translation of my 35th book, a particularly impressive autobiography of an American girl. I must confess that I am more interested in translating literature than in writing, although I wrote short stories before I started translating books. Literary translation allows me to use my literary talent, my English, and what I have accumulated through my long-term reading experience in a comprehensive way. It is a type of work that requires a high level of knowledge, sensitivity and patience, but it is very interesting because it always makes me feel that I have to mobilize all my inner resources and always need to continue learning more and more.
My current life has nothing to complain about. Actually, I have long learned to live without complaining about my difficulties. I accept all the challenges that life brings with a calmness that has been cultivated through time and circumstances. Every day I work from 8 to 9 hours, in between working hours I relax by watering plants, planting trees and doing chores when my health allows. I call myself a plowman in the field of words, quietly planting and caring for words and waiting for my “brainchildren” to be born with excitement and hope.
- What can you say about the sparkling of the "stars" after the dark night on this New Year's Day, when everyone at this moment wants to look back on the past year and is excited about new plans?
- We all wish our lives were always peaceful and happy, but real life is not always like that. I believe that everyone's life sooner or later will have difficulties and challenges. Courageously accepting those difficulties and challenges is the first step to open the door to life change, new opportunities, and pleasant surprises.
On the occasion of the New Year, I wish all readers of Nghe An Newspaper good health and strength to welcome the joys and challenges ahead!
- Yes, thank you for the conversation and I wish you good health, inspiration for life and creativity ahead!
