my lively little room / 熱鬧的小房間

入住小房間的第一天，書桌上放著兩個包裹，昨晚打開來仔細瞧瞧，才知道這是學校的幾十樣見面禮，有很多活動的簡介和小零食，雖然我年紀有點大，在冷冷的周日傍晚我的心因此溫暖了起來。

On the first day I moved in, there were two packets on my desk. I didn't have time to open them for a closer look until last night. I found them to be scores of first presents from the school, postcards, brochures on all kinds of activities and snacks included. Though I am not a young girl, they warmed my heart on a chilly and cloudy Sunday evening. 

同一棟的學生共用一個小小的郵箱，到達之前我已經有信件了，所以信箱裡有張通知單等著我，想著可以領郵件，我的週一挺高昂的。

The students in the same hall share a small mailbox. Mail for me had arrived before I did, so there was a notice waiting for me. Thinking that I had something to look forward to, I wouldn't have any Monday blues. 

才剛簽完名領了來自義大利的生日禮物，宿舍維修人員Tom手上又抱著一包，這是來自台灣快捷的另一份生日禮物。

After I had just signed for my birthday packet from Italy,  the maintenance guy Tom held another packet also for me from Taiwan. 

謝謝凱特琳娜！

Great thanks to Caterina! 

謝謝曉寧！

Great thanks to Ning! 

小房間開始有了風景，這些都讓我覺得自己是深深被祝福的人。

My little room has started to take on its own personalities. You make me feel that I am someone who's tremendously blessed... 

一旦心情好了起來，好事就會跟著發生。才走出小房間遇到的第一個同學和我打招呼，是來自里茲的黑捲髮小男生叫喬伊，主修繪畫，其實很多人會經過我的窗前或在我窗前抽煙，要聊天應該不是太難。

Once we are in a good mood, wonderful things will happen one after another. Right after I walked out of my little room, I made my first friend in the hall. It is Joey from Leeds with black, curly hair. He majors in drawing. As a matter of fact, a lot of people pass by or smoke in front of my windows, so it shouldn't be hard to catch up with them. 

去銀行開戶時，負責接待我的小帥哥看了我的申請文件，不解地問：什麼是插畫？我說：你看過昆丁布雷克的書嗎？他是英國最有名的插畫家，結果小帥哥居然說：那我比較喜歡勞達爾。我說：最近我剛看完「詹姆士和大桃子」，他皺皺眉說：我沒有很喜歡那一本。連水果攤的小弟也被迫一直看到我，只好和我打招呼。人在不一樣的地方有不同的人格，我在國外的人格好像是更活潑的。真擔心再這麼下去，這整個社區的人都會變成我的朋友。

When I went to the bank to open an account, the young and handsome customer rep looked at my documents, asking, "What is illustration?" I replied, "Have you read Quentin Blake's books? He is the most prestigious illustrator in the U.K." Dominic went on to say, "Hmm, then I prefer Raul Dahl." I told him that I had read James and the Giant Peach. He frowned and answered, "It's not my favorite." Even the young man working in one grocery store was forced to say hello to me because I kept walking up and down the street, apart from buying some apples from him yesterday. I knew a long time ago that I have different personalities when living in different places. I tend to be more sociable when living abroad. Well, now I am worried that I'll have too many friends in the Camberwell neighborhood. 

所以親愛的朋友家人，請不要擔心我，我是個大女孩了，而且多變的英國天氣讓我明白我也要一直自我調適，每天早上起床都抱著新的決心和希望，讓這一年充滿美麗的故事。

So my dear family and friends, please don't worry about me. I am a big girl now, and the changeable British weather teaches me to adapt myself constantly. I will wake up with new determination and hope every morning and fill this year with as many beautiful stories as possible. 

祝大家中秋節快樂，也祝我中秋節和農曆生日快樂，現在有一位十一年沒見的朋友在天空飛著，趕回倫敦在今晚和我共度中秋節大餐。

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to you all, and happy lunar birthday to me as well. Now a friend whom I haven't seen for 11 years is flying back to London for a dinner date with me this evening. 

待續‧‧‧

to be continued...