the Brits / 英國人

今天是新學期的第一天，想好了這學期的目標，愉快地上學去。

Today was the first day of the new term. I'd thought about my goals this term, so I left for the school in a cheerful mood.

沿途遇到一隻貓，和我們家阿楷一樣想上學，卻只能從二樓和我道再見。

On my way I ran into a cat who'd love to go to school as much as Kai. Well, it could only bid me goodbye from the second-floor window. 

經過坎貝爾警局時有點嚇一跳，殺人放火的都被抓進這麼古典的辦公室拷問嗎？

I was surprised when passing by the Camberwell police station. Well, the murderers and arsonists are all brought into such a classical office to be interrogated? 

去到了學校大家紛紛互相寒暄，老師們卻迫不急待宣布這個學期的課程和功課，第一份作業是設計唱片封面包裝。我覺得上學期太投入了，最後有點身心俱疲，於是我想稍微修正我的方向，我想撥一點時間來畫些讓自己開心的東西，但是聽完老師的介紹之後覺得好像沒什麼選擇，而且這次的作業是分組合作，老師說不想讓大家花太多時間選創意總監，已經私下決定好每一組的負責人，我本來想要更低調的，結果一拿到分組名單，我居然是敝組的組長。更有趣的是，我有點不知所措，我似乎已經忘了當老師是怎麼一回事了。

My classmates were excited to see one another, but the teachers couldn't wait to announce the projects for this term, the first of which is to design CD packages. After I looked on the previous term, I had the feeling that I was too devoted. In the end I was mentally and physically exhausted, so I'd like to modify my direction. I think it'll do me good to spend some time drawing what pleases me. However, after listening to the instructors, there wouldn't be much time available for my own projects. Since this is a group project, Derek said someone in each team has to be in charge. He didn't want us to spend too much time choosing someone, so he and the tutors had picked the creative director for each team. And I am the CD of my group. Interestingly, I was kind of at a loss. I seem to have forgot what it is like to be a teacher, or a leader. 

去學校之前潛意識有一些許抗拒，想不到去了之後腎上腺又開始加速分泌，我有種，對，就是要在這種環境裡才刺激啊！

Subconsciously I resisted a little bit going to school, but being there, my adrenaline was pumping hard again. I couldn't help thinking, right, it's exciting to be amid all this... 

不過我今天很振奮的原因之一就是我早上起床就想好要速寫的地點，因為放學左右天都黑了，只能在室內畫，我之前想去酒吧速寫，心想如果這是我在倫敦的最後一天， 一定要來張酒吧圖，所以一下課我就往「隱居者之洞」衝去，我推開酒吧大門這個畫面是歷史畫面喔！

However, one of the major reasons why I was so upbeat today was that I thought of my sketching venue after getting up this morning. After the school is over, the sky will get dark, so I can only draw indoors. I'd wanted to do it in a pub for long. I thought, if this is my last day in London, there has to be a bar sketch in my sketchbook. Thus, I rushed to Hermits Cave right after class. Me pushing open the door of the pub, that is a historical image...

我還帶了小蕙寄來的牛肉乾，配啤酒必定很不賴！

I even took with me the beef jerky Hui had sent to me. It surely goes well with the beer! 

神奇的是，尾隨在我之後本班的英國同學，我挑了入口的位置要坐下來時，我以為沒看見我的艾登居然說：淳，我們要坐在裡面啊！我真是越來越了解英國人了，上完第一天課一定要來一杯的啊！雖然出自於不同動機，但最後都來到同一個地方。後來又走進來一些人，現在我可以了解之前余海禮同學和我說的，只要你定時出現在酒吧，人際圈就會建立起來，因為不太和我打招呼的同學在昏黃燈光下變得很友善，想不到英國人這麼單純啊！

It was amazing that some British classmates of mine followed right after me. I picked a table near the entrance, and it was then, Aidan, who I thought hadn't seen me, said, "Chuen, we are sitting in there." Ha, I was getting to know the Brits better. Doesn't it make sense to have a drink right after the first day of school? Though we came out of different motives, we eventually ended up in the same place. Then some more people walked in. I thought of what Mr. Yu had told me a long time ago about establishing a friends' circle in pubs. Even one boy, who tended to ignore me most of the time, greeted me when he saw me. So the Brits are actually quite simple! 

酒吧的氣氛很放鬆，可能因為我去的是社區酒吧，沒有單獨去的壓力，而且很多人都是自己一個人來，有的來放空，有的來做一些雜事，和鬧區那種酒吧應該不同。同學茹絲還過來和我小小哈啦一下，我告訴她我的「倫敦最後一天」計劃，她說她很希望我能留下來念第二年。

It was relaxing in the pub. I guess it was because Hermits Cave is more like a pub in the neighborhood. I didn't feel any pressure about being alone. In fact, a lot of people were alone, some of whom sat there doing nothing. Others dealt with their bills or letters. It feels very different from pubs downtown. Ruth, my classmate, even came to have a quick chat with me. I told her about my "last day in London" project, and she said she hopes I'll stay to finish the second year. 

啤酒只喝了一半，牛肉乾也沒打開，我已經放鬆到有點昏頭，現在我可以和人家說英國的啤酒文化是怎麼一回事了。

I drank only half of the glass, and I didn't even eat any beef jerky because I was so relaxed that I felt kind of dizzy. But now I can tell people what all that British beer culture is about...