My robot boyfriends / 我的機器人男友

School away from school / 學校以外的學校

暑假就要結束了，回想一下這兩個月做了什麼，除了工作、畫圖外，有一些時間泡在植物標本館。做了四個月的周六午後兒童工作坊，雖然要花時間念書準備，但我慢慢上手了，也很享受和孩子們度過的兩個小時，每週六出了植標館的心情，多是一片清新美好。

My summer break is about to end. When I think back on the past two months, I realized that apart from work and drawing, I also spent some time on the preparation of activities in the herbarium. We've been offering workshops every Saturday afternoon for four months. Though I have to make effort and study hard, I am gradually getting used to the pattern. Most of the time I really enjoy the two hours spent with the children. In fact, I usually leave the herbarium feeling positive and fresh. 

        如果要說為什麼喜歡，我在執行和學校完全相反的理念，與其傳授大量知識，我讓孩子在館裡自己探索，想要問問題再來問，我回答不出來的問題，有其他專家幫忙回答，而那便成為我那天學到的新東西。今天因為下雨天只來了三個孩子，我們完全不在意，即使只有一個人，開開心心的，我們也會提供和十個人一樣的服務，甚至更周到。今天的其中一位男孩知識淵博，還教了我們好多事情，我給了他很多機會介紹他認識的動植物，貴美還和他分享之前覺得對小朋友有點難度的章節。

     If asked why I like the job, I'd say here I am offered an opportunity to do everything contrary to what is being done at work. Instead of cramming kids with knowledge, I make them explore the museum in their own ways. They can come to me or the staff if they feel like asking questions. If they do and ask a question that I can't answer, I won't feel flustered because I can learn something new with the help of the staff. 

     Today there came only three kids due to the rain. Different from my response at school, we are totally ok with that. In fact, even if there is only one child, we still provide the same service, well, even better. We had a knowledgeable boy who taught us tons of stuff today. I made him introduce and share what he knew with us. Guei-mei even explained to him what she had thought was too difficult before today. 

        這個月做了好幾次穗花棋盤腳的介紹，也親眼看了很多次，可是今天因為小男孩又注意到新細節，因此認識到新昆蟲。

     Although I'd introduced and checked out small-leaved Barringtonia in the garden several times this month, today the boy noticed transparent sticky liquid attached to the surface of the fruit. Because of that, we got to learn a new kind of insect. 

        今天我也放鬆了，我們學了桃子蘋果的知識之後，慢慢地感受這兩種水果的氣味，讀了很棒的水果詩，從自然的主題又提到了文字創作，再說到家裡的生活，再讓孩子吃水果，我忘了平常要一直管控時間的習慣，真好。

     I relaxed without my awareness this afternoon. We learned the structure of the peach and the apple. Then we made the kids smell and touch the fruits. We even read really great poems about them. We talked about not only science but also writing techniques. In the end, I asked them who peels fruits at home before they ate the fruits. It was such a luxury not to care about time, which is the instinct of a teacher. How nice it is to be un-teacher-like in an un-school-like place. 

        最後都是畫圖的行程，但是今天的孩子不想畫圖，我很豁達地說：「那就不要畫啦！」大家收收書包，但是男孩已經等不及再回來，請媽媽趕快報名下個月的活動了。

     Our activity usually ends with an art assignment. However, the kids today didn't feel like drawing, so I just said, "Then let's NOT draw!" They packed their bags in a good mood while the boy couldn't wait to sign up for our workshop next month. 

        之前讀到芬蘭的教室介紹，我很幸運每週我可以執行這樣的理想，而也許慢慢地，我會相信體制裡的學校也有這樣的可能。

     I read about the introduction to a Finnish classroom. I am glad to have a chance to carry out my ideal on a weekly basis. Maybe, maybe one day, however faint it is, there is still the possibility of taking a similar try inside a traditional school.

Norway and me / 挪威與我

我太喜歡挪威了，情不自禁地想為這個國家畫很多圖！

I so love Norway, to such a degree that I feel like drawing lots of pictures for it! 

        昨天收到了一件超棒的禮物，左手邊是去年去韓國玩買的繪本，放在書櫃裡一年，雖然常常拿出來翻，我卻完全不懂故事在說什麼，結果事隔一年，小蕙在眾書裡挑了中文版送我，而且是本挪威來的書，作者歐希莉‧楊森住在我很愛的卑爾根，還順便讓我比較台韓兩國的印刷，這世界整個連在一起的啊！

        更棒的是，這個禮物給了我下個月植標館的活動靈感！

     Yesterday I received a superb gift. On the left is a picture book I bought in Busan last summer. Though I often thumb through it, I never get what the story is about. A year later, Huei gave me the Chinese version without knowing anything about the background story. I found it's a book written by the Norwegian author Åshild Kanstad Johnsen, who lives in my favorite city, Bergen. I've also got to compare the printing differences in Taiwan and Korea. What can I say? Everything in this world is all connected! 

     Better yet, I've gained inspiration for the Saturday activities in the herbarium next month! 

        我倒是很好奇挪威原本的書是怎樣的呢！

     I do wonder what the Norwegian version looks like! 

Oslo 2 / 奧斯陸 2

皇宮：

位於卡爾約翰大道的盡頭，於十九世紀前半期為國王查爾三世所建，採新古典主義風格。

Slotter: 

It's located at one end of Karl Jogans Gate, built in the first half of the 19th century for King Charles III. 

The architectural style is neoclassical. 

皇宮左方是綠意盎然的樹林，夏天的景致特別美好。

On its left side is a vast stretch of lush woods. In summer, the view is especially lovely. 

國家劇院：

從皇宮往國會的方向前進，沿途會經過國家劇院，建築前立有易卜生的雕像。

National theater: 

Keep walking forth, and you'll see thee national theater along the way. One of the statues in front of it is Ibsen. 

市政廳：

從國家劇院往前走就是市政廳，建設始於1931年，中途因世界地二次大戰停工，1950年才落成。每年12月10日的諾貝爾和平獎頒獎典禮於奧斯陸市政廳舉行，這是諾貝爾當年的遺願，而其他獎項的頒獎典禮則是在斯德哥爾摩頒發。

Oslo City Hall: 

Take a right turn when seeing the national theater. Go straight, and the city hall is further down the road. The construction started in 1931, but it was paused by the outbreak of the Second World War before the inauguration in 1950. Every year on December 10, the award ceremony of Nobel Peace Prize will be held here, as Nobel wished. The other Nobel prizes are awarded in Stockholm, though. 

非常有藝文氣息的市政廳外貌。

The outward appearance of the city hall is highly artistic too. 

內部的壁畫也非常美輪美奐。

The murals are more than amazing. 

雖然很多藝術作多少有政教宣傳的意味，但還真是漂亮啊！

Though the artworks are meant to tell the history of the nation, I still can't deny they're beautiful to look at!

諾貝爾和平中心：

從市政廳再往前走即可到達，展出和諾貝爾和平獎相關的展覽。

Nobel Peace Center: 

Go straight down to the harbor. The Nobel Peace Prize Center, which showcases exhibitions related to the Nobel Peace Prize, is nearby. 

冷冷的夏天早晨，出來蹓狗的挪威人，不知是不是因為天氣，城市的挪威人不如鄉下遇到的友善。

Norwegians that walk their dogs on a chilly summer morning. I don't know whether it's the weather, but the urban Norwegians do not feel so friendly as the suburban ones. 

走回到卡爾約翰大道，沿路的公園裡有可以用信用卡付費的公共廁所。

Time to go back to Karl Johans Gate. There are mobile lavatories which accept credit cards in the park along the way. 

和不能飛的紅色氣球。

And the red balloon that can't fly. 

沿途偷閒去了書店，有舒適的沙發閱讀區，但是挪威的書超級貴，買了兩本就花上台幣兩千元。

I sneaked to a bookstore. It's cozy to read on the sofa. Books in Norway are pricey. I spent more than 2,000 NTD buying two books. 

國會前享受夏日的金髮美女配上盛開的玫瑰花。

Blonde ladies enjoy their summer evenings in  front of Stortinget. 

Grand 飯店：

建於1874年，一樓是Grand 咖啡館。

Grand Hotel: 

Built in 1874. On the first floor is the renowned Grand Cafe. 

咖啡館內部的裝潢有富貴的藝術氣息，據說易卜生常常和文藝界的朋友在這裡用餐，現在則有許多貴婦和中上流階級的客人。我們在這裡享用三明治吃到飽的午餐，雖然當天下著冷冷的雨，而每個三明治都好飽滿，四方形的土司上堆滿生菜配海鮮和牛肉，不是超級可口，不過咖啡館的氛圍無價。

The cafe oozes artistic aura, the kind that only the rich can afford. It is said that Ibsen used to lunch here with his artist friends. During our stay, we saw mostly middled-aged or elderly guests. We had all-you-can-eat sandwich buffet. However, it was a unique experience to eat cold colorful sandwiches on a cold rainy day though they were piled high with salads, seafood, and beef. Not quite yummy, but I'd do anything now to buy that experience. 

下次要能再拍到這樣的照片也要等個一年了吧！

I'll have to wait for another year to take such a photo! 

Oslo 1 / 奧斯陸 1

維京博物館：

        在挪威旅行四天之後，回到了首都奧斯陸，首先我們拜訪了維京博物館，這一天遇到很會說故事的導遊溫蒂，雖然當時自以為都聽進去了，現在記得的卻不多，那麼我用簡易的方法把維京人的歷史和習俗帶過：

        維京年代從西元八百年持續到一千零五十年，以他們稍殺掠奪的行徑聞名，不過也以高度科技和工藝發展著名，特別是造船的技術。當時工匠備受尊重，各種工藝產品上都裝飾有繁複的設計，舉上圖的奧賽柏格號為例，船隻細節有各式圖騰雕刻。

        維京年代有陪葬的習俗，陪葬物品視死者的社會地位而定，有權有勢者通常被放入完整的船隻埋葬，而且就像古代中國，也有活人陪葬的規矩。

        維京博物館展覽三艘船隻，上圖的奧賽柏格號，年代大致是西元820年，於1904年出土於奧斯陸西南約一小時半車程的Vestfold County，除了船之外，同時也發掘雪橇、馬車、床、木刻和編織品。

Vikingskipshuset:

     After traveling around Norway for four days, we made our way back to Oslo. Our first stop was the Viking Ship Museum. We were accompanied by a great guide, Wendy, from Taiwan. She is a fantastic story-teller. I thought I had kept her words in mind, but unfortunately, I didn't. Well, let me give a brief introduction of the history and culture of the Vikings after doing some quick research: 

     The Viking Age in Scandinavia lasted from 800 A.D. to 1050 A.D. They are known for savage rampage as well as their technological advancements and highly-developed crafts, especially in terms of ship-making and navigation. Craftsmen enjoyed a high social status back then. Wood works such as ships were decorated with complicated designs. Take Oseberg, the ship in the photo above, for example. Animal totems like intertwined horses, snakes and birds can be found on the bow. 

     Before Christianity was introduced into North Europe, the locals buried the deceased with grave offerings which varied according to their social positions. Affluent and powerful people were usually put into complete ships, and like in ancient China, there was also the custom of burying people alive as part of the offerings. 

     Three ships are on display in the museum. Oseberg, in the photo above, was dated back to 820 A.D. It was excavated in Vestfold County in the southwest of Oslo, about 1.5 hour-drive away. Apart from the ships, sledges, horse carts, a bed, wood carvings and textiles were also found at the excavation site. 

維吉蘭雕刻公園：

     夏天的奧斯陸路上，櫻桃樹結果了，栗子樹也結果了，人們在陽光下散步，享受夏日。維吉蘭公園有藍天白雲綠地。

Vigelandsparken: 

     In summery Oslo, the cherry trees and chestnut trees at roadsides have borne fruit. People walk and sit under the sun to enjoy summer days. In Vigelandsparken, you can have the blue sky, white clouds and green meadow all at once. 

     還有令人歎為觀止的雕刻作品。這個公園有212件雕刻作品，幾乎由維吉蘭一人獨立完成，同時他還規劃整座公園的設計。

     維吉蘭公園的主題就是人生，我們從後門進入，首先見到是這座人生之輪，有四大人一小孩，交纏在永恆的輪迴中。

     And there are also 212 awesome sculptures in the park, which were almost entirely made by the artist Gustav Vigeland. He also designed the layout of the whole park. 

     The major theme of the park is about human life, struggle and emotions. We entered from the back, so we were first greeted by the Wheel of Life, which is a sundial positioned at the end of the park. It represents the eternity, with four adult figures and a baby in a circle floating in harmony. 

        以女性軀體為主題的雕刻門。

     This is the door featuring the female body. 

        「人生柱」是公園裡最吸睛的作品之一，高達十四公尺，包括121個交疊的人體雕刻。

     The Monolith is the highlight of the park. The column is 14 meters high, carved in one single stone. It is made up of 121 intertwined human figures desiring to reach the divine.

        這件作品要表達的是人想要超脫輪迴的慾望，由維吉蘭和三位工匠花了十四年時間完成。

     Vigeland, along with three other stone carvers, took fourteen years to finish the piece. 

        圍繞在人生柱周圍的是三十六件依青年、壯年、老年為主題的單件雕刻。這是媽媽給成年女兒的愛撫。

     Around the monolith are thirty-six sculptures based on three stages of the human life, which are respectively the young age, the adulthood, and the old age. The mother in the photo is bidding her adult daughter farewell before her wedding. 

        生氣的小女孩，眼神非常生動。

     The look in the angry girl's eyes is so vivid. 

        「噴泉」也是重點作品，導遊溫蒂說，中心設計的六個人抬起源源不絕的水流代表國家要給人民的財富和福利，所以從剛才的人生輪和人生柱走到這裡，雕刻作品的重心已經從個人擴大到國家群體了。

     The Fountain is also a focal point. Wendy said that from the Wheel of Life to the Fountain, the theme is expanded from an individual's life to that of a nation. For example, the flowing water in the fountain symbolizes the riches that the government would like to share with its people. 

        噴泉周圍圍繞著六十件銅雕作品，代表人從生到死的所有階段和情緒。

     The fountain is surrounded by sixty bronze sculptures telling the stories of every phase from life to death. 

        這是進入青春期的小女孩，充滿困惑和混亂的感覺。

     The girl entering her teens is full of confusion and fear. 

        噴泉底座周圍還有更多淺浮雕。

     The bottom of the fountain is decorated with more bronze reliefs. 

        焦慮的成年婦女。

     Worried adult woman. 

        我們要戰勝恐懼還是被恐懼征服？

     Will we conquer fear or the other way round?

        走上從噴泉通往大門的橋上，傳來手風琴樂手悲愴的琴聲，瞬間使當下更有感覺。

     As we stepped on the bridge that leads from the fountain to the gate, the heart-piercing music of the street performer made the visit even more unforgettable. 

        橋上兩側有58件雕刻作品，據說維吉蘭都把女性雕刻地很健壯。

     There are fifty-eight sculptures along the side railings of the bridge. Wendy said that Vigeland tended to portray women as sturdy. 

        銅雕「憤怒的小男孩」因為只有單腳著地，尺寸也比一般成人的雕刻小，比較好移走，可能是這樣，所以曾經失竊過。至於金色拳頭則是觀光客和他握手磨出來的。

     The iconic bronze statue "The Angry Boy" was once stolen in the 1990s. As for the golden hand, it resulted from too many visitor's wanting to hold his hand while taking photos. 

        從一進入公園我就讚嘆維吉蘭的天份和產量，他在1921到1943年間打造了整個公園，也捐出他的作品，每一件都打動人心，直到走到公園前門才見到他的雕刻像，結果上半身還佈滿鳥屎，不過那一點都不減維吉蘭在我心中的地位！

     I didn't stop wowing at Vigeland's creativity and prolific works along the way. He spent more than twenty years from 1921 to 1943 creating the park. He also donated his sculptures to the city, each of which spoke to me. Not until we reached the entrance of the gate did we got to meet him. Though his upper body was covered in bird droppings, I still admire him all the same! 

Maihaugen / 麥豪根露天民俗博物館

在北歐四國當中，我的最愛是挪威，除了自然風光之外，我也非常喜歡位於里耳哈默的麥豪根露天民俗博物館，其實這個博物館始自牙醫Anders Sandvig的個人收藏，他最初收藏Gudbrandsdalen（位於里耳哈默西北方的山谷小鎮）的傳統房屋和農舍於自家後院，但後來市議會提供永久的戶外展示空間給他，到了1904年，里耳哈默政府買下他的收藏，將博物館正式命名為麥豪根。

Among the four countries I traveled to in North Europe, my favorite is Norway. Apart from the magnificent natural scenery, I also love Maihaugen, an open-air museum in Lillehammer a lot. The original founder of the museum, Anders Sandvig, was a dentist. He started by collecting the farm yards and old houses from Gudbrandsdalen, a valley town in the north-west of Lillehammer. In the beginning, he placed his collections in his backyard, but as it grew, the town council of Lillehammer offered him a permanent site for the museum. In 1904, the city of Lillehammer set aside an area known as Maihaugen, bought his collections, and established the museum formally.  

        麥豪根現有超過兩百棟建築，有住家、學校、郵局、商店、火車站等等，訴說著Gudbrandsdalen從中谷世紀到現代的歷史和文化，同時博物館也藏有從中世紀留下來的傢俱和古物。

     Maihaugen accommodates more than 200 buildings now, including houses, a school, a post office, shops, a train station and so on. It records the culture and history of Gudbrandsdalen from the Middle Ages to the present. Also, the museum also collects furniture, artifacts, etc. from the Middle Ages. 

        其中的明星建築是木造教堂史塔夫，有一千兩百年歷史，由直立式木板架起，於1882年解體賣給Sandvig，在1920-1921年重新組裝並展示於麥豪根。

     The main attraction is the Garmo Stave church, a wooden church with a history of 1,200 years. It was disassembled and sold to Sandvig in 1882, reassembled and shown in Maihaugen in 1920-1921. 

        教堂建築的細節很有個性，我個人覺得粗獷又秀氣。

     The architectural style of the church is rather unique. I feel it is masculine and feminine at the same time. 

        不像歐洲大陸許多金碧輝煌的教堂，史塔夫的內部樸實溫暖，還有穿著古典服飾的工作人員為大家解惑，我和年輕女孩瑪格聊了一會兒，不禁得說：和挪威人說英文，耳朵感到很舒服！

     Unlike many other luxurious and grandiose European churches, the inside of Stave is plain yet warm. I ran into one young staff member, Margot, dressed in the traditional costumes working there. I have to say, I really enjoy speaking English to Norwegians! 

        麥豪根有三大區：鄉村區、城鎮及住宅區，其中鄉村散布著風景宜人的小湖泊，造景優美。

     There are three sections in Maihaugen: the rural area, the town and the residential area. The rural area is scattered with many small ponds surrounded by green trees. 

        這是古早的學校，法國遊客擠滿了小教室，似乎正在上很有趣的課。

     In the school, a group of French tourists seemed to be taking an extremely interesting class.

        當時人們在木屋下方用石頭奠基，以免木頭容易受潮，屋子前方養豬隻。

     Ancient Norwegians built wooden houses on layers of stones so that the wood wouldn't be dampened. In front of the house is a pigsty. 

        小男孩和雞相遇的畫面。

     The encounter between a little dog and a rooster is lovely. 

        導遊安迪說臨時演員墾地的方式不是很專業。

     Andy, our tour guide, commented that the way the staff farms the land isn't quite professional. 

        房門和屋子內部的空間都不是很高。

     Strangely, the ancient houses are rather low-ceilinged for tall Norwegians. 

        初進到屋裡，小女孩正在編頭髮，後來很羞澀地開始演奏，雖然是剛入門的階段，不過她實在長得太像天使了，令人不得不喜歡她。

     When we sauntered into the house, the staff was plaiting hair for the little girl. She was quite shy about playing the violin in front of the visitors at first. Though she is just a beginner, her innocent and angelic beauty really won us over. 

        從屋子望出去的景色如詩如畫。

     The view from the window is so poetic. 

        古典的紅色郵筒。

     The classic red mailbox. 

        要不是跟團趕行程，我可以在麥豪根待一整天！到處都是美景，簡單雋永。

     If I hadn't traveled with a tour group, I promise I could spend an entire day in Maihaugen! There are picturesque scenes everywhere, simple and everlasting. 

        湖裡也有故事，我遇見團員們正在安置一隻受驚的小鴨，據說牠被一群成鴨推下水，本來以為是牠媽媽，但母親似乎不會如此兇狠。

     One can find stories in every corner. On my way I ran into some fellow travelers taking care of a duckling. It is said to have been pushed into water by a group of ducks while it couldn't swim yet. However, it didn't feel like they did it out of good will. 

        果然沒多久牠們便殺氣騰騰地出現，四處尋找小鴨，躲在草叢的小鴨嚇得發抖。希望牠最後安然無事才好。

     They immediately appeared at the other end of the pond, looking for the duckling with hostility. The duckling, hiding in the grass, was shivering with fear. Oh, how we hope it would be safe and sound until it found its parents. 

        接著我晃到現在的住宅區，隨年代有不同的風格。基本上用色清爽，簡單明朗。

     Then I strolled to the residential area. The architectural styles kind of vary based on the eras. However, the use of colors is bright and eye-pleasing without being complicated. 

        室內設計也走溫馨風。來到挪威必知：挪威原本是歐洲最窮的國家，但1970年在北海發現油田之後，之後命運完全翻轉，一躍爲歐洲最富有的國家，人民也都享受到財富。

     The interior design gives off a warm feel. We were constantly updated on one important fact about Norway: It used to be the poorest country in Europe, but after the discovery of the oil field in the North Sea in 1970, Norway became the richest European nation. The government shared the newly-found riches with its people. 

        挪威人在設計上蠻愛紅色的。

     Norwegians seem to have a thing for the red color. 

        踏入鎮上偶遇郵差。

     I ran into the postman upon stepping into the town. 

        鎮上有商店街。

     The town is lined with shops. 

        紅通通的郵局和郵差車。

     Fire-red post office and post office vehicles. 

        輸送信件和貨物的火車。

     Also the post train. 

        最後以在博物館的午餐收尾，北歐人好喜歡把祕魯苦蘵（圖中橘黃色果實）當甜點呢！

     We topped the trip off with a three-course meal in the museum.  We ate goldenberries for desserts twice in North Europe!