Camberwell in the daytime / 白天的坎貝爾

今天大清早起來，回顧昨晚和法學教授吃飯感覺真像一場夢，我下了新的決心：那就是無論如何，我今天一定要搞定開戶頭這件事！因為外國人開銀行戶頭，需要學校的正式文件說明我的合法身份，所以我堅決展開從宿舍走到學校的坎貝爾社區之旅。

This morning when I looked back on yesterday's dinner with the law professor, it was like a dream. But another new day was awaiting me, so I made a resolution: Today's mission is successfully opening a bank account. For foreign students like me, I need a formal document from the school stating my legal status in the UK. Thus I set out my walking tour from Brooke Hall to Camberwell School of Arts to explore the Camberwell community. 

沿路經過一所中學，還把人家上課的情況看得清清楚楚，突然有種很懷念的心情。

I passed by a junior high school on my way, and I could see everything that was happening in the classroom. I suddenly had an attack of nostalgia. 

馬路的另一邊是異國式的教堂，這個圖騰讓我覺得，不管我做了什麼決定，太陽都是站在我這邊的。

On the other end of the road is an exotic church. The totem gave me the feeling that no matter what decision I have made, I'll always be able to look on the bright side. 

到達學校之前會經過另一座教堂叫St. Giles Church，秋日裡兩位女子的背影特別動人。

Before arriving at the school, I'll pass by another church named St. Giles' Church. The two ladies' backs on a clear autumn day form a wonderful picture. 

在等候註冊組小姐時，身旁有一位穿著粉紅主色調的小女生也一起等著，看她讀的英文參考書是中文，便好奇問她打哪來，原來是內地人，我又達到一天一位新同學的量額。她問我是不是要進研究所，我善良地回答：以我的年紀是應該要念研究所，但我和你一樣要念基礎學位。註冊組的櫃台前面放眼望去都是二十歲左右的小妞，我不禁想，她們會不會想這大嬸在這裡做啥，假如我也是個二十歲的女孩還有可能會對自己說：以後你千萬不要這麼老了還來和大學生瞎攪和。事實上，我卻很勇敢地跑來，這樣就算沒有天份，多少可以得到勇氣獎吧！

While waiting for the lady at the enrollment office, a young girl in pink was waiting together with me. Glimpsing at her English reference book written partially in Chinese, I asked her where she came from with curiosity. She turned out to be a Mainlander. Haha, I'd reached the quota of making a new friend a day. She asked if I am going to graduate school here. I replied in a very nice way, "Well, I should given my age, but the thing is, I am a foundation degree student like you." When I looked around, all the girls at the counter are no more than 20 years old. Maybe they'd wonder to themselves, "What is this old lady doing here?" If I were in my early 20s, I would say to myself, "You'd better not do the same thing when you are in your 30s." However, I am right here without any bit of shame. Even if I don't have much talent, I can at least get the consolation prize right? 

說來奇怪，明明大家都事先警告我英國人沒有特別友善，但我來到這裡五天，不時地受到幫助，連我自己也都覺得神奇。本來小姐告訴我要五天才能拿到認證信，我很誠懇地和她說，我也非常希望能夠儘快繳清學費，想不到他居然和我說十分鐘內就把信給我。我覺得英文說得好不好很有關係，孩子們，要好好學英文喔！

Strange to say, a lot of people had warned me about British people's not being especially friendly. Yet I have been helped in many many ways since my arrival. Even I myself find it amazing. Gladys originally told me that it takes five days to get an official letter, but I tried to persuade her to believe my sincerity in wanting to pay the full tuition fee asap. Then she said, "OK, I'll give it to you in ten minutes." The only possibility I can think of is that I can communicate with them. Kiddo, don't overlook the importance of English! 

我以為只有蘭嶼有飛魚，侃貝爾街上也有飛魚餐廳！

I thought there are flying fish only on the Orchid Island in Taiwan, but we have a flying fish restaurant in Camberwell too! 

現在我已經患重度寫部落格的上癮，但我的讀卡機很不爭氣，為了能每天將這些亂七八糟的小故事送到網路上，根本無法想像沒有辦法將相片輸入到電腦的日子，所以我趕緊在街上找電子用品店，中亞人的老闆最愛用的台詞是：這個讀卡機本來賣十五英磅，但你看起來是個好人，所以賣你十磅。其實在台灣寶島只要一百元啊！接下來他又用同樣的說詞要賣我便宜的手機，不過我一天燒的錢是有限額的，所以和他哈拉一陣中國和台灣和泰國的問題之後就走人了。

Now I am seriously addicted to writing blog posts. My USB reader was probably overused by me. However, I can't imagine not being able to upload the photos and stupid stories on a daily basis. I found an electronic device store on the street. The owner, who's from a visa-free country neighboring China (please let me know the answer if you do because I told him that I am going to Google it), has a typical line, "This should be 15 pounds, but you look like a nice lady, so I am  going to sell it to you for 10 pounds." Only if he knew that it costs less than 3 pounds in Formosa Taiwan. Next he went on to promote a cheap cell with the same line. Well, I can only burn a limited amount of money a day, so after I chatted with him about Thailand, Taiwan and China, I took off. 

下午帶著我的官方信去找小帥哥多明尼克，接下來的故事就是可悲的中年婦女被逗得心花怒放，他問我覺得英國人怎麼樣，我說人都不錯，他一副不可置信的臉，還問我有否聽過英國人一般的風評；我說今天不管怎樣一定要辦成新帳戶，我還是用我的美國腔，他居然說：你才來五天，說話怎麼也開始英式英調了。可能我們聊得太開心了，後面的幾個黑人女士很不悅地衝進來說，到底是有完沒完？你沒看到排隊的人群嗎？也對，他明明應該要對英國同胞好一點的，居然對外國人較友善，為了不惹事生非，我很低調地拿著新帳戶的資料趕快離開事發現場。

In the afternoon I took my official document to meet with Dominic. The following story can be summarized into a pathetic middle-aged woman flirting with a young bank representative. He asked me what I think of Britons. I said that they are really nice. He looked at me in disbelief, asking if I had heard about the stereotype about British people. I told him that I have to get a new account by hook or by crook. I was still talking with my American accent, but he made the comment, "You've been here only for five days, and you've picked up the British accent?" We talked too happily so that some African British ladies barged in lecturing him, "When will you be done? Didn't you see the queue?" Right, he should be nice to his British fellows, and it doesn't make sense for him to be so friendly toward a foreigner. Anyway, not to make matters worse, I fled with the papers of my new account. 

從銀行出來，雨停了，天空又變晴朗，去公園走走，看看周圍的人群，我有點忘記自己不是要來競選坎貝爾里長，要慢慢靜下心來畫畫啦！

After I came out of the bank, the rain stopped and the sky cleared. I took a stroll in the park and observed people around me. I kind of got carried away, forgetting that I am not here for political campaigns. It's time for me to calm down and draw...