爱华网As the saying goes, three women together make a story. When I,someone from China, Emely, who immigrated to US from Puerto Ricowith her mother as a little girl, Mary Beth, who is mixed blood ofBritain, Germany and Italy, Monica, who came to US from Mexico withher family when she was five, and Vessela, who immigrated to USwith her sister from Bulgaria when she was in High school, decidedto come together and make a story, you can bet your life on it thatit will be an awesome story.
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心理医生洞察人心的能力有上下之分，但能在这一行一直坚持走下去的心理医生一定都具备超出常人的抗压和解压能力，或者至少是拥有一帮懂得帮他/她抗压和解压的朋友。
Not all therapists are competent in the perception department.However, as long as he or she keeps on going in the mental healthfield, he or she must have outstanding talent in handling andreleasing stress, or at least a group of friends who know how tohelp him or her to get there.
九月十六日，星期五。在七月就一起安排好了这个周末计划的我和我的四个同事Emely,Mary Beth,Monica和Vessela无比期待地准备在下班后直奔我们在北加州Kernville河度假城租的房子，开始我们疯狂有趣的周末小假期。
On 09/16/2011, Friday, me, Emely, Mary Beth, Monica and Vesselacould not wait to go on our dream trip, which we started planningsince this July, in our rental house in the city of Kernville riverin Northern California, to spend a crazy and fun filledweekend.
Monica和Vessala一起提前几个小时下班就先驱车前往我们的度假小屋了。MaryBeth和我周五一下班先直奔Emely住处和她碰头。这几个月我们每个人都连续超负荷地工作，每天下班后往往感到心烦意乱，精疲力尽。MaryBeth一下车就“累倒”在了Emely家门口的草坪上，一边等Emely，一边缓口气。
Monica and Vessela headed towards the destination a few hours aheadof us on Friday after work. Mary Beth and I met up at Emely's placeafter work. Since all of us have been working insanely during thesemonths, we all felt super cranky and exhausted every day afterwork. The moment Mary Beth got off her car, she just "fell" overthe grass in front of the house.
虽然我们三人晚走了3、4个小时，但幸运的是，我们一路交通顺畅，3个小时后，我们于晚上八点半安全地抵达了目的地。下图是我们这个周末租住的度假小屋的客厅（客厅里的壁炉是真的，第二天晚上我们五个人还点燃了里面的柴火，围坐在客厅里夜聊）。
Even though we three took off 3 or 4 hours later, we were luckyenough to avoid all the traffic and arrived at 8:30 pm safely. Thefollowing picture is the living room of our rental house (thefireplace is real and we even used it the second night when we hadour pillow talk).
在车里坐了那么久，MaryBeth一进门就等不及舒筋活骨了。
Having been sitting in the car for so long, Mary Beth could notwait to stretch her body the moment we walked in.
虽然我们都没见过房东（关于租房子的一切交流过程都是在网上进行的），但是从屋子里的各种细节上可以处处感受到房东夫妇二人的温馨和可爱。下图是客厅电视机旁边的小书架。
Even though none of us has met the landlord couple (all thecommunications have been done online), we could sense theirhospitality through all the sweet details in the house. Thefollowing picture is a book self next to the TV in the livingroom.
我们一路辛苦的司机Emely
Our hard working driver for the night-Emely
渗透着中国元素的通向卧室的走廊
The hallway to the bedrooms, with Chinese decoration
在我卧室卫生间里为我们准备好的浴巾
In my bedroom, the towels were ready foruse.
在屋里转了一圈，我又迫不及待地跑向屋外。头上的星空如此灿烂，连银河都显得那么伸手可及。
Having finished the indoor tour, I ran outside to the yard. I havenever seen stars this bright. Even the milky way seemed soapproachable.
房东夫妇在屋外栏杆上点缀的彩灯为我们的夜晚增添了更多节日的气氛。
The decoration lights around the outside patio from the landlordcouple added more excitement to our night.
回到室内，打开冰箱，发现比我们早几个小时到的Monica和Vessela已将冰箱填得满满的了。
Coming back to the house, I noticed how stuffed the refrigeratorhad already become with the food from Monica and Vessela, whoarrived a few hours before us.
没有酒精的假期是不完整的假期。冰箱里除了塞满了足够我们五人吃三天的食物以外，还有一格专门用来存放我们带来的啤酒、香槟、葡萄酒和伏特加。
It's never a real vacation without alcohol. Besides the foodsufficient for five of us for three days, we also stuffed a selfwith beer, champagne, wine and vodka.
为了保证我们每天都有足够的维他命摄入量，Monica和Vessela还准备了如此丰盛的水果拼盘。
To ensure everyone's daily vitamin intake, Monica and Vessela alsoprepared awesome fruits for us.
我们周五当晚的调酒师之一，祖籍保加利亚的Vessela
One of our bartenders for the night, Vessela, originally fromBulgaria.
另一个调酒师就是墨西哥裔的Monica。就在周五当晚，我们五个人干掉了Monica手中的那一整瓶伏特加......还有啤酒，白葡萄酒......和香槟。
The other bartender for the night was Monica, originally fromMexico. On the same night, we finished the whole bottle of Vodka inthe following picture...and beer, wine...and champagne.
既然不会调酒，我就不在厨房瞎掺合了。跑到客厅，跟MaryBeth练瑜伽，舒展舒展筋骨，为我们当晚即将开始的夜生活做准备。
Since I have no idea how to mix drinks, I decided to come to theliving room to join Mary Beth for Yoga...in order to prepare forour night life with a fully stretched body.
在客厅电视机下面，房东夫妇为客人们准备的DVD里找到了《50部经典恐怖片》我和显然对恐怖片不感冒的MaryBeth分享我的喜悦
I found this "50 Horror Classics" in the landlord couple's DVDcollection prepared for their guests in the living room. I couldnot wait to share my excitement with Mary Beth, who apparently hasa totally opposite taste in movies.
酒调好了，五个有着完全不同文化、种族背景的女人为我们的友谊干杯！=）
The drinks were ready. Five of us, with totally different culturaland ethnic backgrounds, cheered for our uniquefriendship!=)
整天要跟孩子打交道，所以我们五个心理医生不仅会玩儿，而且都是经过“游戏心理学”专业培训，带着高智商、高趣味的专业玩具一起玩儿。
Since we spend everyday in playing with kids, we, five therapists,are not only good at having fun, but also professionally trained in"Play Therapy", and have some pretty intelligent ad awesome gamesto play together with.
月上枝头，临近午夜，我们的零食时间到了
It was close to mid-night. Time for snacks.
趁着大家不注意，我先尝尝鲜，结果却被抓拍=）
I thought no one was watching when I went for my first bite.Apparently, someone noticed and caught me in my crimescene.=)
享受过美味的零食后，我们的“睡衣晚会”开始了。大家纷纷换上睡衣重新来到客厅继续狂欢。
Having enjoyed the snacks, we decided to throw a "Pajama Party".Everyone rushed to the bedroom and got changed in order to comeback to the living to rock and roll...in our PJ's.
“睡衣皇后”们
Pajama Divas
既然是“睡衣晚会”，那就干脆关上灯，在黑暗中狂欢吧
Since we were all in our PJ's, might as well just turn off thelights and party in the darkness.
Vessela专门带来了她收藏的一整套CD专辑，成为了我们当晚当之无愧的DJ。下图是在黑暗中穿着睡衣肆无忌惮跳舞的我们。
With a whole personal CD collection, Vessela was nominated to beour DJ for the night. In the following picture, we were dancinglike nobody was watching.
MaryBeth说，没有打过“枕头仗”的我的美国经历是不完整的。于是，在她一声喝令下，大家拿着枕头在黑暗中向我扑来......因为我忙着反攻，没有机会拍照，现在就拿下图“示范”一下“枕头仗”的场面吧。
Mary Beth said, my American experience was not complete withouthaving a "pillow fight". Following her suggestion, all of them ranto me with a pillow in their hands in the darkness...since I wastoo busy defending myself, I did not take any pictures. But Ibelieve the following picture provided a goodillustration.
打完“枕头仗”，我们的夜并没有结束，相反变得更加疯狂。虽然没有电影里那么极端无厘头，但只要你看过美国电影HangOver（《宿醉》），你就应该能猜个八九不离十......
Our night did not end with the "pillow fight" and it actuallybecame even crazier. Even though it was not as extreme as it was inthe movie, I believe, the movie Hang Over should help you figure outwhat we might have done during the rest of the night...
周五晚上我们都不记得自己后来是怎么爬到床上的。下图是周六早上我醒来后给我的卧室拍的照片。
No one could recall how we crawled back to our beds on Fridaynight. The following picture was taken in my bedroom on Saturdaymorning.
床头柜上的装饰
The decoration on the night stand in my bedroom
Mary Beth给大家准备早餐
Mary Beth was preparing breakfast for us.
在清晨坐在门前眺望远方美景的Vessela
Vessela, sitting on the front patio, looking at the amazing viewafar, on Saturday morning
门前房东夫妇给所有客人留的问候语
The greeting to all the guests from the landlord couple
后院一角
A corner in the backyard
后院
Backyard
一个声音无比动听自然的风铃
A wind chimes that makes some very pleasant and naturalsounds
后院的灯
（这间度假小屋里处处渗透着中国元素，因为这对夫妇的姓是西方人的，我们都在猜，可能房东的妻子是中国人）
A light at the backyard
(There are Chinese decorations everywhere in the house. We couldnot help but wondering whether at least the wife is Chinese, sincethe couple's last name is Western.)
早餐准备好了
Breakfast is ready.
丰盛美味的早餐
Yummy breafast
坐在早餐桌旁，眼前窗外的美景
The view in front of our dining table
房东夫妇还给客人们准备了望远镜
The landlord couple even prepared a telescope for their guests bythe living room window.
早餐结束，除了我，大家都还宿醉未醒，于是决定在客厅继续休息放松
After the breakfast, except me, everyone else was still sufferingfrom their "hang over" so we decided to take a longer break in theliving room.
中午时，Emely给大家做了美味的墨西哥餐
For lunch, Emely cooked delicious Mexican food for us.
整整休息了一早上，下午大家终于有精神去找寻一条传说中的天然“水滑梯”。驱车一个半小时，再步行20分钟左右，我们终于找到了这条隐藏在森林里的天然“水滑梯”。
After the long break in the morning, everyone felt energetic againto look for a natural water slide in the forest. Having driven foranother hour and half, we walked for about 20 minutes before wearrived to the hidden water slide.
Monica第一个下水，去感受天然“水滑梯”的刺激
Monica took the lead and jumped into the water slide.
Mary Beth也已迫不及待
Mary Beth followed.
我们当天的两个无畏的“女英雄”
Our two fearless "heroins" of the day
不会游泳的我只有在水边羡慕的份儿
Since I don't know how to swim, I did nothing but sitting by thewater, feeling super jealous.
和“女英雄”们合影
Me & the "Heroins"
感受过“水滑梯”的刺激，我们一行五人步行前往Sequoia国家公园去看那里的“巨人树”。
Having experienced the excitement of the natural water slide, fiveof us headed towards the Sequoia National Park to look for"Giants".
在路上
On the way
山里的气温真是不可预知。离温暖的“水滑梯”40多分钟远的Sequoia国家公园居然是寒气逼人。一下车我们就纷纷穿上大衣，或是披上毯子。
The temperature in the mountain area can be very unpredictable.Even though the Sequoia National Park is 40 minutes away from thewater slide, it felt freezing cold. The moment we got off the car,everyone reached for their winter coats or blankets.
冻得“发抖”互相取暖的我和Mary Beth
Me and Mary Beth, trying to keep each other warm
Sequoia国家公园“巨人树”公园入口
The entrance to the "Giants" at Sequoia National Park
在“巨人树”旁无比“渺小”的Emely和MaryBeth
Emely and Mary Beth looked so "insignificant" next to the"Giant".
“巨人树”前的我
Me, in front of the "Giant"
如此巨大的古树，就是有十个我也抱不住
The "Giant" was so enormous, I don't think even ten of me couldform a circle around it.
有些古树如此巨大，里面居然还有“一席之地”可以供人进出
Some of the "Giants" even provide a cozy room for us to stay in andout.
站在“巨人树”里面向外看
Looking out from the inside of the "Giants"
周六一天的冒险回来，轮到我给大家准备晚餐了。我希望大家会喜欢我的素煎饺。
Having had our adventures of the day on Saturday, it was my turn toprepare dinner for everyone. I hope they all like fried vegetariandumplings.
晚餐上桌-生菜沙拉，素煎饺，全麦面包-既健康又美味=）
Dinner is ready-salad, fried vegetarian dumplings,&whole wheat bread-healthy and yummy=)
因为第二天大家都要工作，周日一大早我们就准备就绪，离开了温馨可爱的Kernville河度假城，在返程的路上，我们专门找了这样一个美丽刺激的地方进行我们最后一次的野餐。
Since we all have to work the following day, we left early onSunday. On our way home, we found such a beautiful and excitingspot to have our last picnic.
悬崖边上我和Monica的最后一张合影
The last shot of me and Monica on the edge of the rocks
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此行不仅让我们五个人都渡过了一个轻松愉快的周末，还让我们在无数次的交谈中对彼此有了更深的了解。我们每个人都是带着完全不同的背景、故事和经历来到了彼此面前。在分享我们的故事的过程中，我渐渐意识到了，不是每个人生来就有趣的，很多有趣的人之所以有趣是因为后天的经历。这些经历很多是美妙的、与众不同的，但更多的是让人痛彻心扉、死而后生的。在生活中，照片里，我们五个人的笑容都很灿烂，那是因为我们都穿越过很多大多数人没有穿越过的生命中的黑暗峡谷。回想着她们每个人分享的那些故事，我突然想起多年前看到的一句话--
这个世界是公平的，以一种你理解的，或者不理解的方式。
During this weekend, we did not only have tons of fun but also gotto know each other on a deeper level. We learned that we all cameto each other with completely different backgrounds, histories andlife experiences. As we shared our stories with each other, I beganto realize that not everyone was born interesting; in fact, themajority of us became interesting as we experienced differentthings in life. Some of our experiences were amazing and uniquewhile the most of them broke our hearts and forced us to transformover and over again. In life and in the pictures, five of us allhave the brightest smile. However, those smiles came from thedarkest valleys we all have been through at different times in ourlife. Reflecting on the stories they shared during this weekend, Iremembered something I read a few years ago-
Life is fair, in a way you understand or not.
