Cityscape of Beijing I / 北京風景 I

Beijingers' creativity / 北京人的創意

Beijingers in My Postcards / 明信片裡的北京人

這個星期內大家都聽說過我的明信片故事了，去到北京和天津三個郵局，每個郵局行員對於我太有創意的明信片可不可寄的問題答案皆不同，不過幾乎所有的郵件都送到了收件人的手中，我想我應該要對中國的自由度有多點信心。

This week everyone must have heard about the twist and turn of my postcard story. I got different answers to the question whether my self-made postcards are send-able or not in three post offices I visited on the trip. Fortunately, almost all the mail reached the addressees. My conclusion is that I should have more faith in the freedom of speech in China.

明信片貧乏的地方，讓我看到自製明信片的必要性，每個國家用他們獨有的方式激勵我，這是此趟旅行最大的收穫吧！

A place that lacks in the variety of postcards stimulates me to create my own postcards. I can only say, every place inspires me in their one-of-a-kind way, which is the biggest lesson I’ve learned from this trip.

Hotel life in Beijing / 北京的旅館生活

又去了一次北京，冬天和夏天的景致天南地北，連我的心境也迥異，其實應該要去巴里島的，但早早買了機票，只好硬著頭皮，教自己用去小島度假的心情在中國第一大城遊覽。

Surprisingly, I took another trip to Beijing after a short interval of four months. The cityscape in winter and summer differs greatly. So was my mood for the two trips. To be honest, I should have gone to places such as Bali Island, but my early purchase of the plane ticket made the choice irreversible. Thus, I persuaded myself to travel to the big city at a slow and leisurely pace.

這次看到古蹟名勝以外的北京，一樣的高樓大廈、一樣的柳樹、一樣的車輛，一樣的人們，當我對現實中一成不變的風景感到無聊時，想像力反而開始活躍，而去到哪裡都不重要了，我每天花上大把小時在旅館裡畫畫，身心都得到紓解。

I got to see the real-life Beijing apart from renowned historic sites. The tall buildings, willow trees, cars, and people all look the same. When I began to be bored by the monotonous views, my imagination was immediately liberated. It didn’t matter anymore where I went. I spent hours drawing in the hotel room, which helped me to release pressure mentally and physically.

Fast forward / 時間快轉

才從北京回來，工作又開始了，媽媽的手術剛好撞期，萬事擇同日發生的星期一，讓我有些昏眩。

Things happened at a whirlwind pace in my mid-July. Work followed at the heels of my return from Beijing, not to mention Mom’s surgery. With the big clash of so many responsibilities, my heart and head span.

在醫院裡，媽媽說時間過得好慢，我邊畫畫邊和她聊天，這樣的片刻有著整天裡我最求之不得的清閒，我們談著離開醫院的期待、我的大心願，雖然我不喜歡醫院，卻覺得身體病痛某方面可以給人激勵，去嚴肅地想之前自認為不可能的事。

In the hospital, Mom said time passed by so slowly. I chatted and doodled with her, and that was the most leisurely moment I had within the crazy day. We talked about my dream and our expectations. I am the last person to take a liking to hospitals, but I can’t help but admit that illness stimulates people in a way that positive energy isn’t capable of. It makes us consider what we thought of as impossible.

時間不要快轉，因為有腳步不穩的星期一，來到了星期二，我覺得自己又有面對一切的勇氣和活力，而媽媽今天就回來了。

I don’t want time to go fast forward. Because of the Monday typhoon, I find myself able to face life again on Tuesday. And Mom will be home very soon…