我說：「要畫過一個地方才算真的認識它。」
I say, I need to sketch a place to really know it.
今年去溪墘村拍了很多照片，不過我總是得坐下來一兩個小時，好好地速寫，才能把對當地的體驗內建於我的腦裡。去年我也在溪墘村畫了好幾張圖，但我總覺得今年的圖會很不一樣。
I took many photos this winter in Seachien Village. However, to build the memories of a place into my head, I have to sit down for one or two hours to sketch. What really excited me was, I drew some sketches of the same place last year, and I was looking forward to what I would produce this year.
今年的天氣雖然豔陽高照，氣溫卻低得嚇人，我坐在堤防上畫圖時，風狂野地呼嘯著，可是我不要因為這樣走掉，我在零度左右的天氣裡畫到手都凍了也都能繼續，這不算什麼。
The weather was deceptively sunny, but the cold wind raged as I sat on the embankment drawing. As I had tried sketching on freezing days in Europe, the last thing I wanted to do was to walk away without having finished any image.
因為畫了這張圖，所以我才想到要趨上前和阿伯問他種的是什麼作物，否則在第一回拍照時，我按下快門便冷酷地走掉。
If I hadn't drawn the sketch, I wouldn't have gone up to the farmer and asked him about his crops. In fact, I had walked past him cooly right after having taken photos earlier that day.
和阿伯聊完後，待他踩機車油門要回家時，我用力地揮手和他道再見。
I waved goodbye to him when he was about to ride his scooter home after our chat.
每次來都抵擋不了這些很有風味的紅磚屋，上次也在傍晚時來速寫，這次遇見出來倒垃圾的阿姨，她問我是不是在殺時間，我說不是，我是特地來畫這些房子的，因為它們很美麗。
I could never resist the charm of these red-brick houses whenever I came. I did the sketches in the evening last year as well. This time a lady who came out to dump garbage spotted me. She asked if I was killing time. I said no. I came to draw the houses on purpose because I found them so beautiful.
去年來到溪墘村時，內心有股很大的反動力，可能是那股力量，讓我全心集中在畫圖上，今年心很平靜，但少了力道，所以我也明白畫起圖來不怎麼樣。
When I came last year, I felt a great force in me, which I directed to drawing. However, this year I was in a very poised state of mind. Without the fire, I knew the drawings aren't that powerful.
要離開的最後一天，到和安國小餐廳後的田地前，去年我曾在同樣的地方畫一張圖，我想試試看今年畫出來的圖會是什麼樣子。去年宜棒在我畫圖的某刻冒出來陪了我幾分鐘，今年我有新的同伴，圖左方的房子裡冒出兩個孩子和我作伴，於是我明白，我們總是會遇到新的人，每一刻會有不同的火花，我不能說哪一刻最美好，因為每一刻都有當下的燦爛。
On the last day before we left, I went to the same spot behind the cafeteria of He-an Elementary School. I drew right there last year, and I'd like to see what my picture this year would look like. Last year my student Croc emerged out of nowhere and spent a few minutes with me while I was sketching. Interestingly, this year I had new companions. The two kids living in the house on the left side of the image came to greet me. I thus realized, we will always run into new people. There are new sparks for every moment. In my world, there isn't "the best moment" for every moment has its beauty.
