09/19/2018 在波蘭首都華沙
in Warsaw, Poland’s capital city
This evening, I attended the first bachata dance class in my life. And I think you should do it, too.
今天傍晚，我參加了人生中第一堂拉丁舞蹈課 – bachata。強力推薦你也要試試看！
Yes, I paid for the lesson while traveling, and tonight I made a decision that I will do the same in every city ( if the price is reasonable, of course.) It’s one of the best way to meet the locals, and yes, you will have great fun and might be invited to some dance parties to make more friends while traveling.
是的，我在旅行途中竟然付錢上舞蹈課，但今天上完課之後，我決定以後到每個城市都要上個舞蹈課，(當然是如果價格可接受的話)，因為這是一個認識當地人的好方法，同學們在課後也很有可能會跟你說最近的舞蹈party在何時，這也是在旅行中認識更多人的好機會。
photo credit: link
6:00 p.m. 在華沙市區一間叫 salsa clasica的舞蹈教室
At salsa clasica in Warsaw downtown
I find myself in a intermediate bachata class. But it’s only the 3rd time I dance it. I am having great fun but not sure if the guy in front of me has fun.
Men and women pair up and form a circle, you dance with one man for several 8-counts, and then men rotate, change to next one. Yes, I stand here and 12 men make their own shift in front of me, and yes, I hold hands with 12 polish men tonight.
在好不容易把紐約的時差調回來之後，決定要嘗試比較動態的活動，然後我來到舞蹈教室，bachata進階課。(此舞源自多明尼加共和國)。這是我第三次跳bachata這種舞，我跳得很開心，但我不確定眼前共舞的這位男士他有沒有開心。
教室裡12個男人圍成一個大圓圈，每個人面前都有一個女伴，跳幾個八拍後，老師一聲令下，順時鐘換舞伴。是的，我就站在這裡，有12個波蘭男人，輪流來給我牽手。
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You will hold hands with 12 local men (or women), individually, for 1 hour. It’s getting so close that you can smell their cologne.
今天晚上的一個小時，你會跟12個男人(或女人)手牽手共舞，一個一個輪流來，而且距離近到可以清楚聞到他們身上的古龍水/香水味。
I think dancing is good. Especially for women who are always so opinionated and strong willed. Sometimes, you need to learn how to let go, and just go with the flow.
如果你認識一個superwoman，她總是很有自己的想法、走自己的路、無時無刻認真、一刻都無法放鬆，那就叫她來學跳舞吧。如果妳就是這樣獨立的女人，什麼都習慣自己打理，學跳舞會是一個很奇妙的體驗，整個過程就是要讓你學會放鬆、專心體會、接受帶領。
First time? Feel the connection and follow the flow.
第一次嗎？感受彼此的交流，然後跟著身體的感覺走。
The first time I danced bachata is with a very sweet man who is the real representative of bachata, after all, it’s from his parents’ country – Dominican Republic ( he is an American, born and raised in USA) But still, when bachata/ salsa/ merengue music is played at dinner table and everywhere in the household, you just gotta listen to them.
“ You don’t lead, I lead.” he said. That moment I realized: I am not in the leading roll as I usually am and should really be relaxed and follow. ( which I really need to learn) ( also many of my superwomen friends. )
第一次跳Bachata，就是跟天生好手跳，畢竟這舞是源自他的祖國 – 多明尼加共和國，雖然他是在美國出生長大的美國人，但如果有人跟你說「我們家吃飯的時候都是聽bachata/ salsa/ merengue的音樂，其他時候也幾乎都是聽這種音樂。」那你就要相信他，這些舞蹈不跟他跳的話，要跟誰跳？(可能他爸也行！)
「現在是我帶領你，不是你帶領我！」第一次學跳bachata時，高手對我說。在那一瞬間，噢，好吧！我只能放鬆、被帶領。這對於一向習慣自己決定方向的我，真的很難呀！於是我走向吧台，點了一杯酒，並將之喝下。我的superwomen朋友們，你們也試試看！
Perhaps, body language is the most pure form of communication.
或許，肢體語言才是最純粹的溝通方式。
Back to the dancing class, right now in Warsaw, I feel language is not so necessary when you understand everything by body language and facial expressions. And perhaps, that’s the most pure form of communication.
And it also reminds me of teamwork and leadership at workplace and in life. The leading part matters so much, but if you want to get the task done beautifully, then it’s also about following correctly.
思緒回到舞蹈教室，此時此刻，在華沙，語言完・全・不・通，但又如何呢？透過兩位老師的肢體語言和表情，都大概可以明白他們在說什麼，或許肢體語言才是人類最純粹又簡單的溝通方式吧。
在這一進一退之間，我想起職場與人生中許多的領導與跟隨，好的領導能力真的很關鍵，但當然，知道如何跟隨與順服也是團隊合作中很重要的一環。
photo credit: link
Leading 領導:
Best to be led by the experienced – you see a professional manner, an accumulation of deliberate practice in it. I find myself dance like a pro with a great flow if having a great lead. But some other times, I don’t know what I am doing and I feel I suck at dancing.
As a leader, make sure you send clear messages and be assertive. Otherwise, you confuse others, everyone looks ugly and you don’t know what’s wrong.
如果可以被經驗豐富的高手帶領，那真的是很幸運！尋找那些專業、經過無數練習的人來帶領你。在這一個小時，我發現遇到很會帶的男士，每個女生都可以變得很會跳，而且跳得又順又美；但如果遇到不會帶的，就會兩人滿臉尷尬，還讓女生懷疑自己是不是不會跳舞。
當你要帶領別人的時候，確保你傳達出來的訊息明確、態度肯定，不然不僅看不到想要的結果，還會讓大家都又挫折、又困惑。
Following 跟隨:
If you are in a following role, pick a good leader and follow whole-heartedly as if there is a strong belief in it. Then you will do things which amaze yourself while enjoying the process.
如果今天你要扮演的是跟隨者，那就要挑一個好的領導者！挑上了之後，就心無旁騖、像是有堅定的信念一樣專注。好的帶領是種藝術，會讓你做出你從沒想過的美好成果。
Back to reality again, after stepping on 8 men’s feet while imagining my arms and hips would flow beautifully like a butterfly just as same as the instructor. I decided to come back in 2 hours and take the beginner’s class.
Class ended, now before I leave, one couple is dancing so smoothly that I can’t take my eyes off from them. “I want to be like them, but how long it will take? ” as I am wondering, the woman hit the man’s armpit when he tried to turn her by pressuring her upper back. “I think I’ll manage, just have to hit some armpits first.” See you in 2 hours.
思緒再次回到舞蹈教室，我以為經過多明尼加的天生舞蹈高手加持後，我的肢體就可以像女老師一樣優美的舞動著，叱詫進階班，但就在踩過第八個波蘭男子的腳後，我決定先去吃飯，兩小時後回來上基礎班的課。
離開前我看著一對舞姿真的很進階的進階班同學，曼妙又動感的舞著，心想到底要何時才能跟他們一樣厲害，在這個有點喪氣的瞬間，我看到男人轉女人時，女人的頭撞到男人的腋下，噢！我不禁欣慰，「我也可以學好的」只要多撞幾次腋下就是了。
Notes 筆記:
1.
These 12 polish men are all quite charming, why? Is it because men who can dance are usually charming?
這12位波蘭男人都挺有魅力的，為什麼呀？還是說會跳舞的男人都挺有魅力的？
2.
These men all smell so good. How come? I thought at least someone will smells after sweating heavily…
這些男人都很好聞，怎麼會？我以為在流了50分鐘的汗後，至少在最後十分鐘會有人是臭的…
3.
I’d better buy antiperspirant or not wear sleeveless… sorry guys…
最好等下就去買止汗劑，或是至少下次不要穿無袖 (濕腋下會被碰到)…抱歉了男士們…
4.
Women, be tipsy ( but still able to dance safe) if you can’t let go or it’s too difficult for you not to lead.
女人們，如果你是無法放鬆肢體或思緒、很難放空被帶領，那就喝點小酒再去跳吧！(還是要可以安全舞動喔！)