| H: Your friends still have some things to say. J: How can they have more to say than me? Film clip: Man in red shirt talking: All I know about his childhood days was that firstly, his home environment was really not good. Secondly, his father left them very early as if he passed away while very young. I feel that the most valuable thing that came out of all this was that he never turned bad. In fact, we discussed this before that in the process of his growing up, all he was concerned about was to be able to take care of himself Girl talking: While he was studying at a very young age, seemed like he had to change schools quite often so he felt his studying days were not that smooth. From the outside looking in, it seems cool. But among students, it’s easy to cause some friction. Man in glasses talking: Everyone knows he came from a very, very poor family. Already at the point of “very” already that it is hard for us to imagine. That’s why he strives so hard today compared to other people, it’s because he has a deeper understanding of these things. It is also because ever since he was small, he only had his mother and I think an elder sister. That’s why he always has had this feeling that he needs to protect his family. Even to the death he still will do it. Once I saw him inside the bar wearing earphones. I wanted to say, it’s work hours and not the time to be listening to music. When I went over to take a look, it was an English dictionary. He was listening to an English instructional tape Back to Studio: H: Do you think they know you well? J: Yes, because even before I came to be known, they saw me go through my earlier years up to what I am now. Right… they talked about… I don’t know, all of a sudden, I feel sad, because it made me remember my past … H: While you were studying … just a while ago, the first of your friends, the one who helped you write your book, called… J: JIAO ZI H: JIAO ZI said that your not having turned bad is already a rarity in itself, right? J: Right. H: Why did he feel… because your personality gave him the impression that you are very tough, when you have something to say, you say it out. When angry, you immediately vent it out. It’s really a wonder you did not turn out to be a bad person. Were you always on the verge of such a struggle? Thinking of wanting to become the big brother, or the sense of justice we talked about a while ago? Acting in accordance with justice.. Later on, looking back at yourself, your family problems, the time your parents spent together… J: There would be. There would be a time… right. Among friends, it’s possible … right H: In the aspect of the family, you have a very, very good relationship with your mother J: Right. I treat my mother as a younger sister. What I mean is, I don’t wish… I always do not wish for her to feel old or something. That’s why I often play with her. We play together, then… H: How do you play with your mother? J: We don’t really play, it’s just that I always pinch her cheeks when I get home. Like this.. it’s like…you know how…for example, I would catch her like that ( he brings out his left arm and curls it toward him, as in a hug and rubs with the right) and let her feel that she is still very young because I am worried about her being all alone by herself at home. H: While you were studying, how many schools have you moved to? You didn’t study well? J: Actually, while studying, I did well. . H: You did well? J: Right. Didn’t I tell you a while ago that ever since I was small, I was class president.. Sometimes I advanced to higher levels; but because of the conditions at home, I had no choice but to go to work. H: How early did you start to work? J: It was probably when I was grade 5 when I started to work. H: But at Grade 5 what kind of work could you possibly do? J: Youth labor, like packaging H: Really? J: Of course, it’s true H: Like piece by piece, you get paid by the piece. J: Right. At that time, I remember, it was like 500 NT per month. At that time, 500NT wasn’t so bad because we were youth labor H: At that time, it was necessary for you to earn money? J: You can say that, right. H: At this time, I feel that your process of growth … J: Then why … Let’s put it like this, why is it… there was this instance when was in a program, the host asked me: “…since you are so unhappy in your career, why don’t you leave it.” I said I don’t agree. The reason I disagreed is because I know how far I have walked from my past. Its like what I said before, maybe I wanted to go to college, but the circumstances at that time were not good, and could not allow me to study. Then at that time, I wanted to learn… did you know I really wanted to learn to play the piano? At that time I also felt, I had the interest to learn so many things. When I was small, I actually wrote poems, let’s just say it was another kind of interest. But there was never any time to learn the right… H: You did not have the environment… J: Right, the environment. So ever since I was small, my impression was to continue studying and to continue working. But my work took up a lot of my time. Did you know how tragic it was then? At that time, when I was studying vocational high school… because my home was in Tao Yuan while I studied in Taipei, everyday at dawn, I had to take a public transportation which would probably take me 3-4 hours back and forth. Try to think about it, adding on to this, after class, I still had to go to ATT. At that time, I was at ATT working at the bar. I usually got off work just before 10p.m.and when I come home, it’s already very late. And because I was moved up to higher classes, and also class president, I had big responsibilities. At that time, it was already very… I hardly slept. Then, I felt, why I… Shows scenes from the next interview: Back at Studio: J:… And because I was moved up to higher classes, and was also class president, I had big responsibilities. At that time, it was already very… I hardly slept. Then, I felt, why I… right. It was very hard. (Jerry’s eyes are starting to fill up with tears as all the past feelings of helplessness came back to him) H: Can I give you a hug? Come, let me give you a hug. ( she leans over to give him a hug with a pat on the back. He sniffs in her arms.) |