又中又英｜Out of mind

There are several things I do whenever I go out. I check my pockets to make sure I have my wallet and mobile phone. I also make sure I have a small container of hand sanitizer. I developed this habit during the 2003 SARS outbreak. This habit stayed with me even after SARS. I learned many lessons during SARS, such as frequently washing my hands, wearing a facemask properly, and discreetly using hand sanitizer after people shake my hand. These lessons were useful during the Covid pandemic. I studiously avoided shaking hands. To studiously avoid doing something means to avoid it in a careful and intentional way.

I would instead do an elbow bump, put my palms together in an Indian-style handshake, or bow like the Japanese. An elbow bump is touching your elbow with another person's elbow. I have attended many social events since returning to Hong Kong for a short visit. Many people shook my hand at these functions. Covid seems to be out of sight, out of mind for them. The expression “out of sight, out of mind” means to quickly forget people or things if they cannot be seen. Covid is “out of sight” because most people no longer wear facemasks. It is “out of mind” because Covid is infecting far fewer people.

Most Hong Kong people have either been vaccinated or have already caught Covid. But Covid is still infecting hundreds of people daily. There is no media coverage of this. I think Hong Kong people should still avoid shaking hands and attending large gatherings. They should wear masks on public transport. I still do that.

每当我外出，都总会做几样事情：检查衫袋，确保我带了银包和手机；我也会确保我有一小支酒精搓手液。自从二零零三年爆发沙士以来，我便已建立起这个习惯。这个习惯即使在沙士后也伴随着我。沙士期间，我学到许多功课，例如要经常洗手，正确戴口罩，以及每次跟人握手后，要谨慎地使用酒精搓手液。这些功课在新冠肺炎疫情期间都很有用。我 studiously avoided握手——to studiously avoid doing something是指周密和刻意地避免做某事。

取而代之的，我会来个碰肘礼（elbow bump），又或是印度式的双手合十礼，甚或像日本人的弯腰鞠躬。An elbow bump是跟对方碰撞手肘来互相问候。自从我回港短游以来，出席过许许多多的社交场合。许多人都会在这些活动期间跟我握手。对他们来说，新冠肺炎似乎是 out of sight, out of mind——习语“out of sight, out of mind”的意思是「眼不见，心不念」，当看不见某人或某事，便很快忘记，不作多想了。新冠疫情是“out of sight”、看不见的，因为大部分人早已不再戴口罩；它也是“out of mind” 、被忘掉了的，因为少了许多人感染新冠病毒。

大部分的香港人不是接种了疫苗，就是已经感染过新冠病毒。然而，每天还是有数以百计的人受到感染，但已经没有传媒报道。我认为香港人还是应该避免握手和出席大型聚集。他们使用公共交通工具时，应该戴上口罩。我自己也还是这样做的。

[email protected]
Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻