Thursday, November 29, 2012

Codega / 點燈者


中古世紀的威尼斯有一種職業稱為點燈者,你雇用他在夜晚為你點著燈籠,照亮前方的路,把小偷和惡魔嚇跑,在黑暗的街裡守護你,給你依靠。

摘自於伊利莎白吉伯特之托斯卡尼的豔陽下

In Venice in the Middle Ages there was once a profession for a man called a codega--a fellow you hired to walk in front of you at night with a lit lantern, showing you the way, scaring off thieves and demons, bringing you confidence and protection through the dark streets. 

excerpt from Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

When the rain stops / 雨停了


清晨,雨停了,我在微微的昏迷中享受安靜的美好。

In the morning, the rain stops. I savor the beauty of silence in half-awakeness. 

出門的路上,有句話從心頭冒出來:這世界不全然是美麗的,但我要當一道光。

A sentence pops out of my mind on my way out: This world is not all beautiful, but I want to be the light.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

about djembe / 打鼓和人生


儘管用單一的節奏重複打著鼓面,我卻不時亂了腳步,老師說,此時就打低音,果然那低沈的鼓音有穩住節奏的效果。

I found that I sometimes lost my tempo though there was only one set of rhythms. The instructor said, at moments like this, just go for the bass beats. The low and heavy sounds did help to keep the rhythms steady. 

和ㄧ群陌生人打鼓,每個人有自己的節拍,卻有共鳴的可能。反而是和家人,居然一片雜音,老師又說,也許是我們不知道自己的拍子,或者我們沒有聆聽別人的鼓聲。

There is the possibility of harmony when we play the djembe with strangers though everyone has their own rhythms. However, we might end up in cacophony when performing with people whom we think we know well. The instructor suggested that it's either because we don't know our tempos or because we do not listen to one another. 

我要像低音一樣穩如泰山,我不會輕易被拉著鼻子走。

I want to be as firm as the bass beats. You can't lead me by the nose.

Monday, November 26, 2012

i am not crying / 我沒有在哭


上週收到世界展望會的通知,我贊助的對象居然從馬拉威弟弟換成換了尼日的小男童,明明出國之前小弟還祝我長壽,才能一直資助他,打電話詢問細節之後,才知道馬拉威弟弟全家搬出了計畫區,小姐還安慰我說,也許弟弟家庭環境變好也不一定。

Last week I received a letter from World Vision. It was not until then that I realized I am actually sponsoring a little boy Abassi from Niger instead of Mphande from Malawi, whom I'd sponsored for several years. It was quite unexpected for me because right before I left for the UK, Mphande wished me a long life so that I could offer him help for an extended period. I called up the organization and one lady explained that Mphande and his family had moved out of the sponsored area. She said maybe his family had become better off financially. 

今天在捷運上,聽見一個小男孩對外婆說:我一直流眼淚,但我沒有在哭。說話的口氣及話裡的真誠很昂貴。

During my MRT ride today, I heard a little boy saying to his grandma, "Somehow my eyes are shedding tears, but I am not crying." The beauty and innocence of his words were so priceless. 

突然想上網查非洲地圖,尼日在非洲西部靠中間,馬拉威小小的,塞在東南部,男孩的眼睛裡也下雨嗎?

I have a sudden urge to look up the map of Africa. Niger is in the west of Africa, in fact, kind of close to the centre. Malawi is rather small, tucked between some countries in the southeast. Is it raining in the boys' eyes too?

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Two pairs of hands / 兩雙手


前兩天躺在沙發上看電腦,楷維跑過來說:你的衣服捲起來了,這樣會感冒,於是他很細心地幫我把四端的衣角都拉好。

Two days ago while I was lying on my back staring at the laptop on the sofa, Kai saw me and said, "The edges of your T-shirt curl up. You'll catch a cold." He insisted on making them smooth and flat for me before going away. 

昨天去非洲鼓課,課程要結束時大家的手心又紅又腫,老師說兩兩一組互相幫彼此搥背,此時身邊的單身女性突然把偶數都用完,只剩離我有點遠的ㄧ位先生,而那些分完組的女性對著我們說:你們就一組吧!我還來不及感到尷尬,先生就大方地走過來說我幫你吧!我坐下之後,他的雙手替我把帽子拉上,很細心地拉平我的衣服之後才開始搥背,那是練過優人神鼓,跳舞像太極一般優雅的中年男子。下課之前我們互相感謝,大家帶著喜悅的心情不留下任何痕跡地再度踏上自己的旅程。

Yesterday I attended a workshop on djembe. At the end of the lesson, everyone's palms were red and swollen. The instructor wanted us to pair up and massage each other's back. Suddenly my dilemma as a single gal surfaced again. Before I could react, the other single women near me had found partners. Only a middle-aged gentleman who was kind of far away from me was left. At this moment, the single ladies looked at us suggesting, "Why don't you two form a group?" No sooner had I begun to feel embarrassed than he came up to me saying, "I'll help you." After I sat down, he pulled up my hood and    flattened my T-shirt with tenderness first. It was a gentleman who is as elegant as a tai-chi master. Then we thanked each other for the beautiful encounter and went on our own life journey without leaving any contacts at all. 

這兩雙手,熟悉或陌生,都如此充滿善意。

These two pairs of hands, whether intimate or foreign, are both so full of good will. 

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Brown rice / 糙米飯


這幾天迷上看「深夜食堂」漫畫,雖然其中的食物很吸引人,但對我來說更動人的是每ㄧ道菜背後的人的故事,這一部書在下雨天讀療癒的效果特別強大。

I have been addicted to the Japanese comic series--Shinya Shokudo about a restaurant that is open from midnight to 7 a.m. The cook prepares all kinds of food, as long as you name it for his late-night customers. Though the food described in the comics are very tempting, for me, it's the stories behind every dish that tug at my heartstrings. Reading the books on rainy days has a strong healing effect.

受到漫畫的影響,今天下班之後很想畫食物的速寫,於是我盯著餐桌上的一盒糙米飯,一粒一粒地畫了起來,觀察著每一顆米不同的姿態,原本有些浮躁的心情漸漸沈澱,取而代之的是平靜的喜悅。

Influenced by the comics, I felt like drawing sketches of food after work today. I stared at a box of cooked brown rice on the table and started to draw it grain by grain. As I observed the difference and position of every grain, I gradually calmed down. In the end, my whole being was filled with peaceful joy. 

雖然我很努力地用科學家的態度面對世界,但我不得不說食物也有生命,它們自有和人們交流的方式。

Though I've been trying to look at the world from a scientist's perspective, but I can't help thinking, food has life too and it interacts with people in its peculiar ways. 

Monday, November 19, 2012

Travel with imagination / 想像力的旅行


今天在準備明天的專題課內容,看了好幾次「波特小姐」的電影片段,因此想到去湖區的旅行,不如畫一張圖緬懷過去美好的時刻吧!

While preparing the teaching materials for tomorrow's advanced course, I watched the film segments of Miss Potter for several times. My trip to the Lake District thus came to mind. And my way of re-living the lovely moments was certainly to draw a picture! 

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Draw a line / 劃一條線


繼幾個月前楷維在我的白蘋果上用色筆畫幾筆後,這幾天他又偷偷在我的畫稿上多畫了兩顆頭,於是我們又得搬出他最怕的「劃一條線」政策,本來想罰他兩天不能到我家畫畫,但楷維的小阿姨堅持我對孩子太好,我硬是把兩天改成一個星期。

After the previous episode of scribbling on my Macbook a few months ago, Kai couldn't control his urge to doodle on my drawing again. We had to resort to the punishment that really works for him: Draw a line. He can't come to our place to play with us. At first it was supposed to last for two days, but Kai's youngest aunt Tsung insisted that I treat the boys too well. I thus forbade Kai to come for a week.

從那天開始,楷維只能在他家門口和我們微笑揮揮手,第二晚我忍不住走過去看他一個人在玩什麼,看他落單的樣子我問:是不是很寂寞?他答:很寂寞。小阿姨聽見有人交談的聲音走過來對我說:你就不要理他啊!我只好摸著頭滾回家。

From that day on, Kai could only smile and wave at us at the door to their apartment. On the second evening I couldn't help walking over to check on him. Seeing him alone, I asked, "Are you lonely?" He replied, "I am." When Tsung heard us talk, she came over saying to me, "You should leave him alone!" I then quickly ran away.

其實大人懲罰小孩並不總是痛快的,我也感到有些寂寞,那一條線其實像一道牆,我只好把剩餘的愛心用到同一棟某個小胖弟身上。

To be honest, adults don't always enjoy punishing children. I also felt kind of lonely. That thin line, for me, is as thick as a wall. I even had to give my love to a chubby boy I met that day in the elevator.

一個星期不到,愛雪把楷維抱過來,說:這樣你並沒有越界喔!但同時我們這些想堅守陣營的人認真地問:一個星期到了嗎?

Three days later, Mom held Kai in her arms and brought him over, saying, "See, you do not cross the line at all!" Meanwhile, we, who'd like to be persistent, asked in confusion, "Has it been a week?"

這麼多大人,這麼多不同調的規矩,難怪小孩聰明得可以快速抓住每個人的性格和弱點,所以要實行我最近掛在嘴邊的名言:立場堅定原則一致的人最後一定會獲得尊敬,真不容易。

There are so many adults with so many rules of their own. No wonder children are always quick to see through us and have their ways. It's a bumpy road to put my recent motto into practice: Those who are consistent in what they do will eventually win respect.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

MFEO / 天生一對


昨天在報紙上讀到一位少年的故事,他的爸爸媽媽都是盲人,在遇見彼此之前就都失明了,少年還和他們開玩笑,說要不要由他來和他們說彼此的長相。

I read about a teenager's story yesterday in the papers. His parents are both blind, and before they met each other, they had lost their sight. The boy even offered to describe their looks jokingly. 

沒有了雙眼卻還遇得到對方,這個故事讓我很有信心,因為我不是視而不見的人。

The couple didn't miss each other despite their blindness. The story gives me much faith because I am not someone who doesn't see...

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

What's REAL / 真實


週一收到兩封信,有關我為何關了臉書。週二收到兩份禮物,來自離我很近和很遠的友人。不用臉書之後的生活,我和過去和虛擬世界做切割了,但是我在真實的人際關係裡感到再腳踏實地不過,快樂也是,傷心也是。

I received two letters this Monday from friends who are concerned about why I closed my fb account.  I got two gifts this Tuesday from a friend who lives close and a friend who lives faraway. In my life without facebook, I have cut off my connection with the past and the virtual world. But I feel so down-to-earth in my real-life relationships, whether it be joy or sadness. 

Monday, November 12, 2012

Like the watermelon / 像西瓜一樣


小方的奶奶從台南帶了又大又黃的西瓜,我忍不住爲它畫一張圖,雖然夏天早已結束,但是那甜美滋味久久不散去。

Von's granny brought a giant watermelon from Tainan. Seeing the babe, I couldn't help drawing a sketch of it. Though summer was long over, I could feel its sweetness still lingering on.

小方看我把西瓜從冰箱搬到書桌上,十萬分專注地畫著,不禁說:汪達姨真的很愛畫圖呢!連吃的東西也想畫!我答道:它實在長得太漂亮了!

I moved the watermelon from the fridge to the study. As I was totally engrossed in drawing, Von exclaimed, "Auntie Wanda, you really love drawing. You can't stop yourself from drawing food!" I replied, "That's because it's so beautiful!"

但小方不知道的是,我們倆的愛都像西瓜ㄧ樣,充滿著清澈的重量。

But there is something Von doesn't know for the moment. Like the watermelon, his and my love is both weighty with seemingly-light transparency.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Milky Way Trail / 銀河步道








攝於貓空.台北 / photos taken in Maokong, Taipei 

200,000 / 二十萬


亞得琳說根據某個研究,每個人在地球上有約二十萬的靈魂伴侶,換句話說,如果我們每天和不同的人談戀愛,也要活上五百四十八年才能遇見所有有緣人。這個說法讓我對人生又充滿了希望⋯

Adeline told me that according to a study, each of us has about 200,000 soul mates on earth. I did a little bit of math. In other words, we can be in love with a new person every day for 548 years, if we get to live that long. Because of the theory, I feel very hopeful about my yet-to-come love life.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Persimmon / 柿子


這週得到三顆橘色柿子作為小禮物,其中一顆成為我的週末觀察對象。

I got three persimmons as gifts from two very lovely colleagues this week. One of them became my weekend object of observation.

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Observe / 觀


現在我在學習當個科學家,一切從客觀的觀察開始,我的第一個對象是很有造型的大同電鍋。

Now I am learning to be a scientist. I start by observing the world objectively. My first object is the well-designed Tatung cooker. 

Monday, November 05, 2012

the little horse is newlY / 新生的小馬


新生的小馬

康明斯著

小馬剛
出生)他什麼也不懂,卻能感覺
一切,他身邊圍繞著
全然的陌
生 (
光和香氣和

聲)處
處是(擁抱他
的夢境:令人驚艷的)
,而在

這個世界裡有美麗
地堆疊的、呼
吸的、茁
壯的寂靜,是
某個

the little horse is newlY

by e. e. cummings

the little horse is newlY 

Born) he knows nothing, and feels 
everything; all around whom is

perfectly a strange
ness(Of sun 
light and of fragrance and of 

Singing) is ev
erywhere (a welcom
ing dream: is amazing)
a worlD. and in 

this world lies: smoothbeautifuL
ly folded; a (brea
thing a gro
Wing) silence, who;
is: somE
oNe


Sunday, November 04, 2012

Caterina's Chinese words 2 / 凱特的中國字 2


這陣子面對青澀的無知和自大,能量根本是像洪水般被吸走。不過水能載舟亦能覆舟,傷害我們的人事物也可以是我們重新出發的點。我想到凱特開給我的字彙裡有「河流」一詞,我要把怒氣化成能量,讓它源源不絕流出,這是我對河流的詮釋。

Caught off guard by youthful ignorance and insolence, my energy was "sucked" away at a lightning speed. But I figured out that the people and experiences that hurt us can empower us too. To interpret Caterina's favorite word "river," I determine to turn anger into positive energy and make it flow unceasingly. That's how I interpret the word. 

我在找回平衡的同時,看到了每個人如何爲生活的課題苦惱,我要把如河水般的能量送給人,特別是在倫敦的勵雯⋯

While I was retrieving my lost balance, I saw how everyone struggles for their life lesson. I would like to give the riverful of energy to those in need, especially Li-wen in London...

Charging batteries / 充電












攝於新竹港南 / photos taken in Gangnang, Hsinchu 

Thursday, November 01, 2012

playing / 玩








這真是充滿試煉的一週,連我都覺得難以下嚥,還好回家總是有美麗的畫面舒緩人心。

This has been a trying week. Even I find it hard to swallow. Fortunately, there are always soul-comforting images waiting for me at home...