I always answer： Fresh air。

我總是回答：清新的空氣。

Five years ago， as I step off the plane from China， and left the terminal at Dallas Airport。 I was ready to put on one of my five face masks， but when I took my first breath of American air。 I put my mask away。

五年前，從中國來的時候，我準(zhǔn)備了5個口罩。從飛機上下來，離開達(dá)拉斯機場候機樓時，我正準(zhǔn)備戴上口罩時，吸入了第一口美國的空氣，然后我將口罩收了起來。

The air was so sweet and fresh， and oddly luxurious。

這里的空氣是那么的清新甜美，顯得格外的奢侈。

I was surprised by this。 I grew up in a city in China， where I had to wear a face mask every time I went outside， otherwise， I might get sick。

我深感意外。我在中國的一個城市長大，從小出門都得戴口罩，否則就會生病。

However， the moment I inhaled and exhaled outside the airport。

然而，在機場呼吸到這里空氣的那一刻。

I felt free。

我感受到了自由。

No more fog on my glasses， no more difficult breathing， no more suppression。

我的眼鏡上不再有霧，呼吸不再困難，也沒有了壓抑。

Every breath was a delight。 As I stand here today， I cannot help， but recall that feeling of freedom。

每一口呼吸都是愉悅的。今天我站在這里，仍然忍不住回想起那種自由的感覺。

At the University of Maryland， I assume feel another kind of fresh air for which I will be forever grateful — the fresh air of free speech。

在馬里蘭大學(xué)，另一種清新的空氣也令我感懷不已——言論自由的空氣。

Before I came to United States， I learned in history class about the Declaration of Independence， but these words had no meaning to me— Life， Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness。

來美國之前，我在歷史課上學(xué)到了獨立宣言，但“生命、自由和追尋幸?！边@些詞句對我而言毫無意義。

I was merely memorizing the words to get good grades。

我僅僅是背下這些詞句以期在考試中取得好成績。

These words sounded so strange， so abstract and so foreign to me， until I came to University of Maryland。

這些詞句顯得那么古怪，那么抽象，那么陌生，直到我來到馬里蘭大學(xué)。

I have leaned the right to freely express oneself is sacred in American。

我終于明白，言論自由在美國是多么神圣。