Sunday, December 11, 2011

British kind of life / 英式人生

來到這裡都還未體驗人家口中的英式早餐,想到我的時間一分一秒在流失,最近想要抓住當下的領悟更強烈了,於是今天早上出門和同學溫蒂吃早午餐去。我們約在牛津街附近夏綠蒂廣場十三號的蘭特娜,本來我都查好要怎麼去,但是倫敦的交通運輸系統非常不可預測,地鐵線常常在施工中,今天牛津街整條封街,公車到不了。這種時候我都只能自我安慰我在這個城市得到的太多,這些小事不足掛齒。

I hadn't tasted what others call "British breakfast" since I came here. Thinking that my time is drifting by, I have a stronger desire than ever to seize the day. This morning my classmate Wen Dee and I planned to meet up for British brunch at Lantana 13 Charlotte Place near Oxford Street. I had looked up the route, but the mass transportation in London is known for its unpredictability. The underground lines are often closed for construction. Today there were all sorts of activities going on on Oxford Street, and the buses couldn't go there. At moments like this, I have to tell myself that I have gained too much in this city and that these hassles are nothing compared to its beauty.








這家溫蒂查到的店店面不大,但是擠滿了人,我們點了各式香腸配荷包蛋和香蕉麵包佐藍莓醬,雖然看起來不多,但這兩盤加上飲品就花了我們22.5磅,住在台北也是很幸福的啊!

This restaurant, which Wen Dee found online, isn't large, but it was packed with people. We ordered a savoury plate with assorted sausages and a sunny-side up egg and a sweet dish with banana toast and blueberry yogurt sauce. They weren't much in quantity, but the meal together with beverage cost us 22.5 quids. It's pretty nice to live in Taipei as well! 

聖誕節要到了,牛津街的人潮根本就是倒出來的,但是假日到了也有好處,馬克史賓塞百貨的超市提供各種試吃的食物,冷冷的天來上一小杯熱葡萄酒,配上一小塊梅子乾蛋糕,簡直就是人間仙境!

With Christmas around the corner, the crowds on Oxford Street were drowning me. But the plus was that there were all sorts of sample food in Marks and Spencer. On such a freezing day, it was heavenly to try body-warming mulled wine with a small piece of prune cake! 

不過今天的重點是下午我要和貝絲和勵雯去做一件很特別的事。我們在下個月要交的報告裡,必須有第一手、第二手和第三手的研究資料,既然我們的主題是古巴海報,老師要我們親眼看到一張海報,很幸運地,我在網路上找到一位先生查理,他收集許多1960到1980的古巴海報,前幾天打電話給他,他很大方地邀請我們週末去他家觀賞他的收藏。

But the highlight of the day was that in the late afternoon, I had a very unique mission with Beth and Li-wen. In the essay we have to hand in next month, we have to include primary, secondary, and tertiary research. Since our topic is about Cuban posters, Derek wants us to see a poster in person. Luckily, I found a collector Charlie online. He has a huge collection of Cuban posters from 1960 to 1980. When I called him up a few days ago, he invited us with generosity to go to his place to view the posters this weekend. 

本來只是在老師演講或網路上看到的海報就攤在我們眼前,鮮豔的顏色簡直就要從紙上跳出來,而且查理收集古巴海報長達十年,他也去了古巴,還親自見了好幾位藝術家,還有一位在他的臉書連絡名單,真的是太神奇了!其實同時我也連絡倫敦各大博物館,不過等他們回信給我,我應該已經在東歐度假了!總之查理儼然是專家,他對於古巴海報有個人的見解,我真的感謝上帝找到他。

It was incredible that the posters we saw in the lecture PDF file or online were right there in front of our eyes. The bright colors were about to hop from the paper into the air. Charlie has been collecting Cuban posters for ten years. He also went to Cuba and met several artists in person. One of them is even on his FB contact list. It is more than amazing! In fact, I contacted several major museums in London meanwhile, but when they get back to me, I'll be vacationing in East Europe! Anyway, Charlie is an expert in his way. He has his own perspectives on Cuban posters, and I am so thankful to God that we found him! 

查理說我們引用他的圖片,只要把他的網站連結附上就可以了,如果你有興趣,請體驗彩色的中美洲風情吧!

Charlie said that if we use his images, it's alright if we attach a link to his website. If you are interested, please feel the colorful central American art here: 


也許這一切在台北也有類似的故事,不過目前我的版本發生在倫敦,啊,這就是我獨特的英式人生!

Maybe there are similar stories in Taipei, but for me, my current version happens in London. Well, this is my British kind of life! 

2 comments:

shangyu said...

妳獨特的英式人生真的很棒呢!
不但獨一無二而且充實,
因妳的blog,我們也學習到了許多.

祝妳假期愉快!
等妳回來再跟我們分享妳的旅行見聞喔!

Carol Liu said...

Great colours and posters!

Note: not eastern Europe, but central Europe, according to the locals here : )