Madeleine / 瑪德蓮

好幾天沒有寫部落格，不是交男友去了，也不是心情不好，因為前兩天晚上要吃晚飯時，嘉蕊妹妹就跑來敝人的房間，我們共進晚餐之後便進行幾小時的熱唱，等他回去我也差不多要睡覺了，我一直懷疑隔壁沒有住人，因為如果有的話，我想他一定快瘋了，因為另一邊的查理周五凌晨音樂開整夜，大姐我只好在早上五點穿著睡衣頂著亂髮去糾舉他，結果我同一天傍晚和嘉蕊晚上唱到十點，宿舍生活說來也挺熱鬧的。

I didn't post any new entry for a few days, not because I'd got a boyfriend nor because I was in low spirits. During the past two evenings, when I was about to have dinner, Jazel would come down to eat with me. After dinner, we started our karaoke session for hours, and after she went back to her room, I was ready to hit the sack. I've always had the doubt that nobody lives in the room next to mine. If there is, this mysterious person would go nuts soon. On the other side, Charlie played techno music for a whole night into the morning on Friday. I, for the first time, decided to take some action. Imagine my going to him at 5 am in sleepwear with tousled hair. On the same day, Jazel and I shouted our heads off until 10 pm. Well, in other words, the dorm life is certainly bustling. 

雖然被查理吵到沒辦法睡覺，我在不用上學的周五還是早起讀書，邊重謄筆記邊上網查資料，窗外卻看見愛理打扮地漂漂亮亮要出去速寫。

Though Charlie's music disrupted my sleep, I still got up early to study on Friday as it was a self-study day. I rewrote the notes and looked up more information online whereas I saw beautiful Elie going out on her way to do sketches. 

說到速寫，最近真是睡覺前也畫，起床也畫，吃早餐也畫，出門也畫。某一天被少女維琪看到札記本的某頁，她問：還有其他速寫可以看嗎？但是因為前面有很多都是寫字的記錄，她一副很失望的臉，這個圈子裡要贏得別人的肯定就是要有一本厚厚的速寫本。

Speaking of sketching, I've been doing it before going to bed, after getting up, while eating breakfast and  on my daily trips. One day Vicky in my class saw a page in my journal, and she asked, "Are there other pages to see?" The journal was filled with words, not purely images. She appeared rather disappointed. In this circle, if you want to win others' recognition, a fat sketchbook is the admission ticket. 

助教星期四和大家說，他們要大家回到基本點，再會畫圖的人也一樣，我想他們要學生先放下自己的風格，不要那成為我們的框架，我亂塗亂畫時漸漸感受不受束縛的自由，是非常快樂的。

The tutors told students on Thursday that they want everyone to go back to the basics. It's the same with those who have very good drawing skills. I guess they want us to put aside our styles for the time being because it might hamper us. I could gradually feel the liberating force when I was doodling. I was extremely satisfied during those moments. 

除此之外，這星期看了別人的速寫本之後恍然大悟，我居然沒有定期出去速寫！連著名的王子繪畫學校都有開倫敦市景速寫的課程，我卻浪費了一個月，而且天氣越來越冷，再不出去畫畫冬天來了就沒有機會，所以周末連著兩天我都跑出去畫圖。

Apart from the above-mentioned reason, it occurred to me that I should go out for sketching after looking at others' sketchbooks this week. Even the famous Prince's Drawing School offers courses on sketching in London in the daytime and in the evening. I have wasted a whole month without making it a habit to do so. It's getting colder and colder. If I do not seize the time, I won't have the drive to sketch outdoors in winter. Thus I went out during the two days on the weekend. 

星期六冷到我有點受不了，而一如往常，身邊又被情侶們包圍，剛好傑哥又在台北請吃喜酒，回家看了婚宴的照片還真是有點受刺激，我們家只剩我沒有對象耶！ 雖然我許了離開之前一定要和一個像樣的傢伙周六晚上出去約會，我內心強烈地覺得這非常困難，大家要替我祝福啊！

Saturday was freezing cold. And as usual, I was surrounded by couples. Jei, my brother, held his wedding banquet in Taipei on the same day. I was green with jealousy when I saw his wedding photos. I am the only person in my family that isn't seeing anyone! Though I've made the wish that I am going out with a "decent" guy on a Saturday evening before I leave here, I strongly feel that it's very difficult. Please send me your best wishes everyone:) 

還好晚上嘉蕊帶來了一朵玫瑰，是我在倫敦收到的第一朵花，周六晚上很多人都出去了，我們在家吃我胡亂煮的燉飯，用激昂的歌聲溫暖寒冷的夜。

Luckily Jazel brought me a white rose, which was the first flower I received in London. On Saturday evening, many people went partying. We stayed home to eat my self-invented rice and warmed the chilly night with our passionate voices. 

因為工作過再回來讀書，而且是讀自己很喜歡的東西，每天上課時我都感受到和老師同學之間的小火花，我知道對於我和那些年輕的孩子，過了這兩年，這些火花都會不見，也許工作時有不同的火花，但是要像現在這樣是不可能的，太清楚美好都只能留在當下，我迫切想充份利用每一刻，可是每天時間總是不夠。

Because I come back to school for something I really love after having worked, I feel the beautiful sparks of fire between me and the teachers and my classmates. For me and for my young friends, the fire will be gone in two years. It might come in other forms when we start working, but the sparks I see and feel now only stay at a certain moment. I am desperate to make use of every minute, but every day I complain about not having enough time. 

為了送給艾登書法紙和宣紙，包括有寫字在上面的，我告訴自己這個週末一定要寫書法，從星期六拖到星期天，外面下著小雨，我就在房間裡磨墨練字，這兩天的確需要平靜一下心情。

To give Aiden calligraphy paper and Chinese mountain and water paper, including the pieces with Chinese words written on it, I told myself to write calligraphy this weekend. I kept putting it off from Saturday to Sunday. It was raining outside, but I was grinding the ink and writing in my room. I was in need of remaining zen these two days. 

這個週日本來是空著的，不知發生什麼事，突然出現三個約，我選擇去科芬園見從里茲來的佳瑜。

I was originally free this Sunday, but somehow three appointments popped out of nowhere. I chose to meet Chia-yu from Leeds in Covent Garden. 

走著和佳瑜走散了，我坐下來速寫，這是我今天最愉快的一刻，想像我畫畫當時，後面有美妙的女高音和交響樂流轉著，人群不斷從我眼前走過，我完全不在乎，寂寞的時候畫畫是最好的陪伴。

Then I lost Chia-yu in the crowds. I sat down to sketch, which was my most wonderful moment today. Imagine, while I was drawing, there was a soprano singing in back of me, and later followed grand symphony music. Streams of people flowed by in front of my eyes, but I didn't care at all. When I feel lonely, drawing is my best companion. 

下午進城時，在公車上太無聊，把速寫本拿出來看到有趣的形狀就畫下來，來不及畫完也不管，我想這樣一定也可以組成一張圖，回家的途中繼續這個活動，沒畫多久有個金髮的小女孩坐到我身邊，她問我在畫什麼，我把遊戲解釋給她聽，她一邊看公車外的風景，告訴我可以畫什麼。

On my ride to downtown this afternoon, I was so bored that I took out the sketchbook to record the funny shapes I saw along the way. Even if I couldn't finish drawing it, it didn't matter. I bet a picture could be formed in this way. On my way home I continued the activity. Soon a blonde little girl sat down next to me, asking me what I was drawing. I explained the game to her. She thus looked at the scenery outside the window and told me what I could draw. 

小女孩的爸爸說，她喜歡畫畫，但很怕畫錯。我和她說我要送她一個小禮物，昨天跑去泰德現代館上廁所時又順便畫了一張明信片，我在明信片背後寫：親愛的瑪德蓮，你要一直畫下去，畫錯沒有關係，慢慢就會進步。我簽了名之後瑪德蓮問我怎麼念，我們一起念了好幾次我的名字。

The little girl's dad said she loves to draw, but she is afraid of not getting the right shape. I told her that I'd like to give her a small gift. I did another postcard when I went to the toilet in the Tate Modern yesterday. The father asked me to sign, and I wrote on the back: Dear Madeleine, keep drawing. It's ok to make mistakes because then you'll make progress. After I wrote my name, Madeleine asked me how to read it. We went through my name several times. 

我說：你知道我最愛的童書就叫「瑪德蓮」嗎？她答：我有「瑪德蓮」全集，我們一邊討論最喜歡哪一集，接著她又告訴我在學校學了什麼科目等等。我要下車時，她用很傷心的表情看著爸爸，很像我說要離開時小方臉上的表情。

I said, "Do you know my favorite picture book is Madeline?" She replied, "I have the whole collection as one year's birthday." We started to discuss our favorite ones. Madeleine went on to tell me what subjects she learned at school etc. When I was about to get off the bus, she looked at her father in sadness, which reminded me of Von's look when I bid him farewell. 

今天心情有點走下坡，還好上帝送給我瑪德蓮，溫暖我冷冷的心房。不知道瑪德蓮缺不缺繼母喔！

I wasn't in a very cheerful mood today. Luckily, God sent Madeleine my way to warm my chilly heart. I am wondering if Madeleine needs a stepmom:) 

明天要和男孩女孩們去大英博物館冒險，大家敬請期待！

I am going on a superb adventure with boys and girls to the British Museum. There should be stories to tell!