Live and learn / 學習吧！

早上八點半出門時，雖然太陽都要曬到屁股，宿舍卻一片寂靜，很像台北的清晨六點多，在這裡當學生是無敵幸福的事因為沒有九點半以前的課。我和嘉蕊趕著搶動畫課的名額，很早就趕到倫敦傳播大學，不過今天的講師是個年輕男子，看起來像昨天沒睡覺，十點開始的課約十點才到，和前兩天的熱血教師很不一樣，嘉蕊說因為芭芭拉是義大利人比較熱情，有道理，我也是外國人，也充滿熱情，應該是本國人的問題。

When I was about to go out at 8:30 am, the sun had risen high in the sky. Yet again, silence reigned Brooke Hall. I felt like being in the early morning of Taipei. Well, all of you should know what a blessing it is to be a student here because courses start pretty late. Jazel and I fought to make it to the animation workshop this morning, so we had to be the early birds. However, the lecturer today was a young man, and it looked as if he hadn't gone to bed last night. He didn't arrive until almost 10 am though the class was supposed to start about then. He is different from the lecturers of the previous two days, who were full of love. Jazel said that foreigners have more passion than the Brits. For example, Barbara is Italian. I think her words make sense since I am also a foreigner here, but full of passion.

難得今天看到比較多男孩，和電腦有關的課會吸引多一些男學生。講師佛立安是動畫設計師，但其實他做的東西涵蓋所有視覺美術，他說要在三小時之內把一年才教得完的課程濃縮，只能讓我們牛刀小試，可是坐在我們身旁的小男生都還蠻興奮的。

It was unusual for us to see more boys today. We figured that courses related to computer technology attract them. The lecturer Florian is an animator, but what he does includes almost all fields of visual art. He said that it's mission impossible to compress courses that span a whole year into three hours, so he could only give us a taste of the 3d software Autodesk. But I could tell the boys that sat next to us were rather excited.

我不是對電腦很有興趣的人，可是在這裡老師不會逼學生，所以如果我自己不積極點，我的基本功可能上不了檯面，而我不想就這樣回去。老師一邊示範，有些時候我跟不上，我想就是他說中文，我可能還是會落掉，但如果我沒來上課，我就不會自我強迫要學新東西，有不會的，我就問旁邊的年輕人。我的右邊坐了拉斐爾，他主修大學部插畫，我們週一一起上了印刷課，他也是一副滿腹野心，就是要來表現的樣子，老師讓大家用動畫軟體設計一個藝廊，拉斐爾很高興地設計起房間，裡面有床和枕頭等等，我們繼續學新東西時，他畫了一個人體，然後轉過頭來問我：剛才老師在教什麼？

I am not that into computer, but here teachers don't push students. If I do not take the initiatives, I won't be able to make progress in basic techniques. And I don't want to go home with nothing learned. When Florian demonstrated for us, sometimes I couldn't follow. In fact, I guess I would have fallen behind if the teacher had taught in mandarin. However, I was glad that I went no matter what. If I hadn't been there, I wouldn't have forced myself to learn new things. When I had questions, I turned to the young people sitting next to me. The boy on my right side was Raphael majoring in BA illustration. We were in the printing workshop on Monday. He gave me the impression of being very ambitious with a lot to show to the world. Florian had everyone design a gallery with the 3d software, but Raphael was happy designing a room with a bed and a pillow. When we carried on with more new lessons, he drew a human skeleton, and after he was done, he turned to me asking, "So what did the teacher say?"

同時嘉蕊喊肚子餓，希望老師早點放大家下課，好讓我們去吃今天很特別的午餐。

Meanwhile Jazel said her stomach was singing, so she prayed that Florian would let us go for our very special lunch today.

開學之後我們都得帶午餐上學，所以這個星期是試驗期，今天的三明治是我負責的，是番茄生菜燻牛肉火腿佐培根蛋美乃滋。這兩天倫敦秋老虎來訪，我們就坐在豔陽下，一邊想著如何可以改進口感，還有什麼新的菜色可以嘗試，我連飯糰都放進週六校外教學的菜單，雖然得早起準備午餐，但學生的生活就是如此，也沒什麼好抱怨的。

After the term starts, we have to bring lunch to school, so this week serves as the experimental period. I was responsible for the sandwiches today--salami with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber slices and mayo of bacon and egg flavor. These two days we've experienced Indian summer in London, so at noon we sat under the sun thinking how to improve the sandwiches and designing new menu items. I even considered making rice balls for our coming trip this Saturday. Though I have to get up earlier to prepare lunch, there's nothing to complain about the lifestyle of students. 

嘉蕊負責生菜部份，雖然我不是很喜歡吃紅蘿蔔，但不能辜負小女生的愛心。

Jazel was responsible for the salad. Though I am not particularly into carrots, I knew better than to break a young girl's heart. 

飲食這件事可以考驗一個人的適應力，我很喜歡亞洲的外食文化，不過在這裡餐廳的食物不便宜，也不一定好吃，如果不做點調適，就沒辦法過得好。

Eating can test a person's adaptability. Much as I enjoy the dining-out culture in Asia, restaurant food here, for one thing, is pricey, and it isn't necessarily scrumptious. If we do not manage to make some change, we won't lead a good life. 

下午搶不到攝影課，我們就去參加免費的英式下午茶派對，一定是上帝聽到我昨天呼喊愛的感覺，送給我們一群宣傳上帝之愛的使者，從來沒有白人這麼想要和我們講話，看起來陽光到沒有陰影的愛丁堡妞蘿西不停地和我們說：改天我們一定要一起喝杯茶！身旁還有另一個用華語傳教的大陸妞，最後我們還是聊到烹飪，真的很有家庭主婦的fu。

Since the photography lesson in the afternoon was totally packed, we opted for going to a free British afternoon tea party. God must have heard my calling for love yesterday, so he sent our way a team of ambassadors of love. Over the past three weeks, no British people have wanted so much to talk to us. Rosie from Edinburgh gave me the impression of being so sunny that I couldn't see any shadow behind her. She kept saying to us, "We have to get together to have a cup of tea some day!" There was another Chinese girl next to us promoting sermons given in mandarin every weekend. Well, our topics revolved around cooking still. In every way I felt so much like a housewife. 

在這裡捨不得買書，要閱讀就拿學校砸大錢印的紙品，離開之前我又抱了一袋回家。今天讀到山繆爾強森的一段話：如果一個人厭倦了倫敦，他就是厭倦了人生，因為倫敦有一切人生能給的美好。

Here I don't have extra budgets for buying books, so if I feel like reading, I can bring home a handful from school. Before I left, I found a bag of readings. Today I came across a quote by Samuel Johnson: When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford. 

feeling of love / 愛的感覺

溫蒂在臉書上留了教師節快樂的訊息給我，說大學的英文課沒有愛的感覺，這四個字讓我很驚訝，雖然教書的時候總是很開心，卻不知道自己給人這樣的印象。

Wendy left a message on Facebook wishing me a happy Teacher's Day. She said that she doesn't feel any love in English class in university. I was surprised by her description. Though I enjoyed teaching, I wasn't aware that I left on students such an impression. 

因為溫蒂的提醒，今天看到PK又在外面撿昨晚孩子們的煙蒂和垃圾，我心想等一下得和他說說話。下午繞去辦公室時，有人可以和他聊天讓他心情大好，今日主題是亞洲和英國教育比較，他和我說了三個孩子的成長過程等等，說實在，來到這裡兩個半星期，那些表面的打招呼點頭都不是問題，但是要說進入英國人的人生或聽到他們的故事並不容易，所以儘管他講了好一陣子，我完全不介意時間流逝。

Because of Wendy's reminder, this morning when I saw PK pick the cigarette butts and litter left by kids from last night, I planned to talk to him later. As I went into the office in the afternoon, it placed him in a good mood to have someone to talk to. Today's topic was the comparison between Asian and British education. He also told me about his three children. To be honest, I've been here almost three weeks. I can say I am good at greeting and nodding at new acquaintances, but it's by no means easy to enter the Brits' lives or hear their stories. Despite his long rambling, I didn't mind about time passing by. 

雖然現在變成了學生，但我還是要抱著愛的感覺生活。看下午的太陽那麼大，我打算不再讓那些英國孩子獨占中庭吸煙喝酒，去買雜貨時順便買了起司蛋糕，要邀請嘉蕊一起作日光浴喝下午茶。後來下午茶變成了晚茶，我把餐巾紙和叉子拿到我窗戶前總是被佔據的空地，吃著吃著，一邊討論別人到底是怎麼交男朋友的，一邊抬頭往天空我大叫：有星星！其他群的西方人被我嚇到了。每次嘉蕊總是嚷嚷著要交男友，最後說要去哪做什麼還是會說：有你啊！

Even though I've become a student again, I want to live with the feeling of love. Seeing the bright sunshine this afternoon, I determined to occupy a corner of the courtyard as well. On my trip to shop groceries, I bought two slices of cheesecake for my picnic with Jazel. Then the afternoon tea was put off and turned into evening tea. I took napkins and forks to the vacant lot in front of my window. While we were savoring the sweets, we discussed how others find boyfriends. Meanwhile, I raised my head screaming: Stars! Other groups of British kids were scared by my excitement. It's funny that Jazel always grumbles about wanting a boyfriend, but whenever I mention where we are going or what we are doing, she will turn to me saying, "I've got you!" 

最近又多了個年齡小我一半的小朋友，是隔壁棟的印度小弟，每天要出門或回家經過我的窗前總會停下來和我哈啦，前幾天還說我們改天應該要出去玩，我暗自覺得他以為我只有十九歲，所以看到他誠懇的樣子，有點不好意思，可是我會是很好的朋友。

Lately I've had a new addition to my limited circle of friends. It is the Indian boy who lives in my neighboring building, and he's half my age. Every day on his way in and out of his room, he'll pause to chat with me. He even suggested hanging out together some other day. I secretly think he thinks I am only 19, so I feel kind of bad about not revealing my real age to him. But I can be a very good friend...

上瑜和大方攝 / photo taken by Phoebe and Mars 

不管我身邊現在有的是誰，那種愛的感覺是很大的支撐力量，以後我回頭看都還是會衷心感謝他們。

No matter what companions we have at this moment, that feeling of love between us can lift us up. When I look back in the future, I will always thank them from the bottom of my heart... 

如果你身邊沒有人，就來喝點熱熱的英國茶吧！（這真是很爛的轉場，因為我要介紹每日一品了。）

If there is no one around you, then have some hot English tea! (What a lousy transition. Please bear with me because I am about to introduce the object of the day.) 

每日一品─來杯熱茶─一套兩本手作札記─16頁附中間伸展頁─11.5 cm x 15 cm 

object of the day--a cup of tea--a set of two handmade notebooks--16 pages (unfolded large page in the middle)--11.5 cm x 15 cm 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82738886/a-cup-of-tea-set-of-2-handmade-16-page?ref=pr_shop

spring in autumn / 秋天裡的春天

在秋天的倫敦，我常有季節上的錯覺，每天早上起床迎接我的盛陽，讓我強烈感覺生命的美好，反倒沒有我預期的蕭條。

In autumn in London, I am often confused about seasons. The dazzling sunshine that welcomes me at the beginning of every day makes me so appreciate the beauty of living. Instead, the sentimental feel of fall hasn't settled in. 

我的學習大作戰持續中，本來嘉蕊覺得我每天早一個小時到去搶課有些誇張，但是到了第二天大家都知道要早到這個小秘密，果然書本裝訂課沒多久就額滿，接下來幾天要更早起才行。

My learning battle continues. Jazel found it exaggerating to arrive one hour early to sign up for courses, but by the second day this week, more and more people were aware of the competitiveness of these workshops. So the vacancies of the bookbinding course soon filled up. Oh, it looks like I will have to get up even earlier during the coming days. 

今天的講師是珍，她其實是芭芭拉多年前的老師，珍的風格非常溫柔細心，幫我們把所有材料都準備好了。

Today's lecturer was Jane, who was actually Barbara's teacher many years ago. Jane appears to be a very nice and considerate person. It can be judged by the material bag she prepared for everyone. 

這個星期上完每一堂課，講師們都會發學生會設計的課程回饋表給學生填寫，看來這裡的教育真的是服務業，不過我帶著東方溫良恭儉讓的美德來上課。

After each course this week, the lecturers give out feedback forms designed by the student union for students to fill out. I can tell that education here totally belongs to the service industry. Fortunately, I am from Asia, born with the virtues of politeness, respect, kindness and everything you can imagine. 

其它人安靜地工作時，我和嘉蕊邊做邊用中文聊天，很像歐巴桑在做手工藝品，這孩子也挺有趣的，常和我說藝術做得開心就好，我會語重心長和她說：你是要走這一行的人，從現在開始要改變觀念，不然以後會找不到工作。明明兩三個月前我和他是一樣的想法，這中間到底發生了什麼事？

While others were quietly stitching their books, Jazel and I chatted happily in Chinese like two middle-aged ladies making handicrafts at home. She is certainly a very young and innocent child. She told me: Art is all about doing what pleases you. I reply: If you are going to stay in this field, you have to think differently from now on. Or I am worried that you might not be able to land a job. Strangely, I shared her thought two or three months ago. What had happened? 

上了兩天的課，看到幾張重覆的臉孔，有些女孩一看就是那種非常開心、活在自己世界裡的愛蜜莉。而且大多數學生都有種不食人間煙火的美麗，不是特別亮眼，但長得真好看。

I saw some familiar faces which had also appeared in the printing workshop. Some girls appear to me the doubles of Amelie. I feel at first sight their pure joy of life and they certainly have their secret worlds in which imaginary creatures abide. Most art students have a kind of unworldly beauty. They are by no means eye-catching among crowds, but if you look long enough, you'll find them really good-looking. 

做完簡單的一本書，珍說其實重要的是書本裡的內容。

After we finished a simply-stitched handmade book, Jane said that what matters is the pictures and stories we put inside the book. 

書本裝訂雖然屬於小眾藝術，但當我想到這世界上有人如此努力在研究如何創造更多形式的書本，不禁覺得很感動。

Bookbinding isn't really a popular form of art, but when it occurs to me that there are people who spend their lives researching and inventing creative forms of books, I can't help feeling moved. 

在這裡美術材料不便宜，所以從學校帶回家的紙張，我都要好好珍惜。

Art supplies are far from cheap here, so I cherish all the paper and materials I bring home from the school. 

話說回來，我發現並不是每個人都像我這麼小家子氣，學校的某個角落有一堆外面每本售價四點五磅的精美雜誌，居然被隨意丟棄在地上。

On the other hand, not everyone is as "careful" as I am. On one corner of the school was a stack of exquisite magazines, each of which costs 4.5 pounds if you buy it. And they were strewn like trash... 

雖然下課後其他女孩紛紛去參加南岸的旅遊導覽，仲秋的午後我和嘉蕊決定回家煮晚餐。前幾天薆文問我定下來了沒，我想我好像進入不同於前兩週的新階段，生活作息很清楚，不會動不動就往外跑，沒有之前那樣興奮，不過身體因此得到休息。

After the course, other girls invited one another to join the tour of Southbank, but Jazel and I decided to go home for dinner on a sunny afternoon. A few days ago Ai-wen asked me if I had "settled down." I think I have entered a new phase. Now I have a fixed schedule, and I do not go out so often. Though I am not as excited as when I first came, my body is thus able to relax. 

傍晚，孩子坐在外頭聊天，我在書桌前寫書法，好久沒寫了，早上努力研究Illustrator的電腦字體理論，晚上我要練習真實的寫字。剛寫完看不清楚，以為自己寫得歪歪扭扭的，過了一會兒看還不錯。

In the evening, kids sat and talked outside. I was practicing calligraphy at my desk. I hadn't written it for a long time. In the morning I was reading the theory of typography and how to use Illustrator, but the evening time should be reserved for the real handwritten work. Right after I finished, I couldn't tell if these words were well-written. In fact, they seemed kind of slanted for me. But they are actually not so bad... 

要開始覺得有點寂寞時，想到要把空白的手工書畫一畫，涼爽的秋夜裡，我有外面的青春的喧鬧聲，電腦傳來的廣播電台音樂，還有筆畫在紙上的咻咻聲。這一年我會因為畫圖這件事，把我從一個人的苦悶裡拉出來，轉換到心境愉快的寧靜。

When I was about to fall into the trap of loneliness, it dawned on me to draw in the blank handmade book. On a cool autumn evening, I had the company of young people's partying din, radio music from the computer and the whizzing sounds of my pen on the paper. I believe that this year, the act of drawing will pull me out of the pit of being alone and taking me to a serene hill where I am bathed in the joy of my humble yet colorful existence. 

這本叫作「我」的無字書是為小方而寫的，只是很簡單的草稿。

This wordless book titled "ME" was inspired  by Von. It is only a very simple sketch for the time being. 

其實我根本只是為了寫左頁這句話。

My biggest motivation was actually to write the sentence on the left page: for my beloved Von and Kai. 

親愛的你不管在哪裡，也祝你秋天裡有著春天的心情。

My dear, no matter where you are, I wish you a lovely spring in autumn. 

Worth it! / 值得！

這一個星期開始是所謂的新生週，倫敦藝術大學的六個分校開出各種課程，我們可以自由選課上。但其實從昨天晚上就有迎新酒會，雖然從出生就跟著我的中年人個性很不喜歡那種昏暗又吵雜的場合，年幼的嘉蕊一直嚷嚷沒有朋友，我只好當她的伴遊，陪小姐交新朋友去。

From Sep. 26 on, we have a week of Fresher's Festival. Basically, six colleges of University of the Arts London offer various workshops and courses for new students to choose from. However, last night there was a welcome party. Born with a middle-age mindset, I never care for a dark and noisy occasion like that, but young Jazel kept grumbling about having no friends. To expand her social circles, I had no option but to escort her to the party.

出門時我一身運動打扮，嘉蕊覺得我很不進入狀況，果然去到倫敦傳播大學，參加的東方西方女孩們都小小裝扮，不過男孩數量真少，而且裡面至少有一半是愛男孩的，讓我們感到頗無耐。我們倆未買酒前，呆呆地站在吧台前，即使有可愛的男孩女孩和我們攀談，最後都走到沒話聊的盡頭。那不如喝點酒助興好了，誰知這一喝，走過來的是兩名中國同胞，其中一名怪怪的，都跟他說了我們可以講中文，他還是很投入地繞著英文，旁邊的音樂如雷，我們很辛苦地聊了一陣子，利用上廁所的藉口趕緊遁逃。再度復出時，我雙頰已紅到不行，所以當嘉蕊提議跳舞時，我毫無異議和她在空曠的舞池裡搖擺，連我都不敢相信那是我了。儘管人潮隨時間越晚越擁擠，大家都還是和自己的友人鬼混，我們兩個人最後的活動就是學習如何辨識同性戀，還一邊學習他們優美的姿態。回家的路上，我們覺得要向外發展，所以我們的計畫之一就是到牛津街的酒吧探險，不過在那之前我們要好好練習美姿美儀，還要研究談話內容如何發展。

Jazel found me really out of the loop when she saw my sportswear. When we arrived at LCC, we did encounter nicely-dressed Asian and European girls. But there were so few boys, half of whom probably love boys. Before buying any drink, we stood in front of the bar counter, kind of at sea. Even though some really cute girls and a boy tried to strike up conversations with us, we ended up in silence after three or four questions. We then decided to resort to alcohol. Right after we each bought a bottle of beer, two Chinese students came our way. One of them appeared rather desperate. Though we both understand and speak mandarin, he was rather committed to speaking English all along. With the background music blasting, we had a hard time communicating, so in the end, we came up with the excuse of going to the toilet room for a break. When we made our comeback, my cheeks were red and I was floating in the air. I didn't even oppose as Jazel suggested dancing. We shook and swung on the empty dance floor, and I DIDN'T MIND! I could hardly believe that was me. With time passing, more and more people crowded into the room, but most of them stuck to their own friends. We two ended up differentiating gays and learned their elegant postures. On our way home, we came to the conclusion--not to waste the year(s), we have to expand our circles beyond art schools. One of our plans is to explore bars and clubs downtown such as on Oxford Street. Before that, we have to work on our carriage and practice our pickup lines and conversation topics.

其實我暗自高興很早回到宿舍，因為我看好週一的環保印刷工作坊，只開放十個名額，所以那些孩子們玩到半夜兩點吧！我計劃很早就要去搶空位，這可比認識什麼可愛的弟弟重要太多了！

In fact, I was secretly happy about coming back to Brooke Hall early because I had my heart set on a green printing workshop on Monday, and it was open only to 10 students on a first-come first-serve basis. Kids, play as late possible. I'd be there very early for the openings, which is so much more important than meeting any cutie!

想當初我申請碩士，面試的教授說我的作品技術層面太簡單，當場開網頁展示在學學生的作品給我看，她說：你看，這有絹印的技巧，是不是很讚？抱著這口怨氣，其他人覺得這一個星期還可以放大假，我怎麼樣都要開始回收高額學費的價值。

As I applied for MA in illustration, my interviewer said the techniques involved in my works are too simple. She immediately logged onto the university's website and showed to me the students' works. She said, "In this image, you can see screen printing. Isn't it beautiful?" With this in mind, while others consider this week to be another week of holidays, I am more than ready to earn back the value of the exorbitant tuition fee. 

早了五十分到，居然前面已經有兩個人報名，工作坊的主持人是個金髮、穿著輕便的老師，她對簽了名說：去喝杯咖啡，到處逛一逛，十點半再回來，迷路也好啊！聽到最後一句話，我的心裡對於這個人默默有了定見。

I arrived 50 minutes early, but two students were ahead of me. The lecturer of the workshop is a blonde, casually-dressed teacher. She said to those who had signed, "Go get a cup of coffee, take a look around. Get lost!" On hearing the last sentence, I began to get a general clue of what this lady is like. 

時間到了，冒出來的學生超過十個人，芭芭拉不忍心拒絕沒有登記的人，好不容易開始上課，她先自我介紹，她是義大利人，本來只是來倫敦念三個月的英文，結果就進入倫敦傳播大學，一路修習下來，轉眼間在倫敦住了十二年。接下來每個人簡單介紹自己，大部份都是要修廣告傳播、織品設計及插畫的年輕孩子，但有一位華裔英籍的東方先生，他說：我應該是這裡最老的學生，我四十歲，之前本來是公務員，因為媽媽生病先暫停工作，可是母親過世之後就失業了。他原本想申請坎貝爾分校的繪畫，不過被拒絕了，只好進倫敦傳播大學的書本製作藝術。此時芭芭拉說，被拒絕並不是壞事，那代表上帝為你準備更好的選擇，她舉自己為例，本來她在義大利讀的是建築，念了六年還是沒讀完，原本一直覺得有遺憾，但後來走上視覺藝術和設計。才短短的幾分鐘，我覺得上的不只是印刷課，我見識到各種人生。

When the class was about to begin, more than 10 students popped out. Barbara was too kind to turn down those who hadn't registered. It took us a few more minutes to start. She first gave a short self-introduction. She is Italian. At first she came to London for a three-month-long English course, but she stayed and studied in London College of Communication. She went further up, and now she has lived in London for 12 years. Next it was everybody's turn to introduce themselves. Most of the students today were young people majoring in advertising, media, textile design and illustration. There was a British Chinese who really impresses me. He said, "I am probably the oldest student here. I am 40." He used to work in the public sector, but he took leave after his mother fell ill. When his mom passed away, he couldn't find a job with recession kicking in. He applied for BA in painting in Camberwell, but he was turned down, so he ends up studying book art in LCC. At this moment Barbara went on to say, "Being turned down is not necessarily a bad thing. It means God has a better choice for you." She took herself for example again. She studied architecture in Italy for six years without finishing it, which she thought of as regret, but later she switched her major to design and graphic art. Within 20 minutes, I had the feeling that this was more than a printing workshop. I had the honor to hear so many life stories. 

介紹完各種印刷方式之後，芭芭拉為我們選了乾筆印刷，並且開給我們一個主題，她要我們畫想像的城市一景，最終的目標是把大家的圖全部印在一張大海報上。

After telling us about all sorts of printing methods, Barbara decided for us the technique of dry point. She  gave us a topic--draw a building or a scene in an imaginary city. The ultimate goal was to print everyone's city on a large poster at the end of the day. 

連這些機器都歷史久遠，生產於西元1860年代，所以下午我們正式進入印刷時，芭芭拉說：每一次印出來都有不同效果，這間印刷室聚集的靈魂如果喜歡你們，就會保佑你。

Even these printing machines have a long history. They were made in the 1860s. So in the afternoon when we were printing, Barbara said, "Each print comes out different, but if the souls in this room like you, they'll bless you." 

我的假想城市裡有大樹攀爬到美好的境地，可是我的雕刻不夠深，墨色也沒有控制好，不是好作品，芭芭拉卻說，現在不好的作品都是為將來的某個好作品鋪路。有一次她因為沒做好把作品撕了幾片，發現那樣的撕痕反而替她找到了解答。

In my imaginary city, a huge tree takes us to a lovely land, but I didn't cut deep enough. Nor did I control the ink well. It was far from a good work, but Barbara said, "A bad work will lead to a good one at some point in the future." Once when she was about to tear up a piece of work, she realized that the tear created an excellent effect. 

在這樣的上課氛圍裡，我們很自然地稱讚別人的好作品，我甚至都因為自己的平庸感到開心，但是會想要更努力，好好學習。

Surrounded by such a positive atmosphere, we complimented on others' good works naturally. I was even ok with my own mediocre creation, but I do feel like working harder. 

芭芭拉倡導環保印刷和使用回收資源，因此她使用的上色顏料包括咖啡、菠菜汁等等，她之前的主修又是書本製作藝術，課程最後她和我們分享她的手工書，她強調我們要不斷地去圖書館或在網路上找視覺圖像作研究，隨身帶著速寫本，不停試驗各種想法。

Barbara advocates green printing and use of recycled materials, so she uses paints such as coffee or spinach. Since her major was book art, she shared with us her handmade books at the end of the workshop. She emphasized that we have to go to libraries or seek online visual images when doing research. Also, we have to turn to our sketchbooks all the time and experiment with all kinds of ideas. 

芭芭拉說有一次走在路上撿到兩張往巴黎的車票，她便開始想像是怎麼樣的兩個人一起去旅行，途中發生了什麼事，於是就幫這兩張車票作了一個家，有點像可以拉開的小故事書。

Barbara told us that once she picked two tickets to Paris on the road, she couldn't help imagining the two people that went on the trip and what happened on the way. She thus made a home for the tickets. It is sort like a small folded storybook that can be opened into a long strip of paper. 

其實芭芭拉只是管理印刷室的技術人員，我看到的是很澎湃的人生，全心投入創作，充滿人文精神，熱情與人分享，愛惜身邊的資源，我在倫敦的第一個老師是個簡單但散發著無窮生命力的藝術家。

In fact, Barbara is the technician in the printing room, but what I see is a very passionate life totally devoted to creating. She's full of love for the world, eager to share and treasure all resources. My first teacher in London is an artist that is simple but full of life force. 

上了芭芭拉的課，去了夢幻般的圖書館，又走到這一片牆前，這是渴望進倫敦藝術大學的申請者做的明信片，左邊的大字道盡了我的心情：但願你在這裡，我已經來了！今天的我想的已經不是我自己有多少天份，而是被這股巨大的力量包覆著，就算被淹沒，我也感到非常幸福。

After Barbara's class, I visited the fantastic library. Then I found this wall, on which postcards made by applicants for foundation studies are posted to show their desire to get into the programs. The big words on the left fully express my thought: I wish you were here. I am. Today I no longer thought about how much talent I have. Even if I am drowned in this huge force which envelopes me, I feel very very blissful. 

如果用現在這一點的心情看將來要離開的那一點，我已經開始捨不得了。

If now I have to envision the point when I have to leave, I think I have already felt heavy nostalgia...