Sunday, November 29, 2015

去散步 / Go for a walk


晴朗的週六下午,我們的博物館搬到戶外的傅園,大人小孩一起散步曬太陽。

On the sunny Saturday afternoon, we move the museum outdoors. Today we go for a walk in Fu Garden together. 



        小小學生一一只有兩歲不到。

     Our youngest participant Yi-yi is less than two years old. 



        這幾個孩子好像要去探險。

     These kids seem to be going on a safari. 



        大自然可以說的話比我知道的多很多,並且讓大家都開心。

     Nature can say so much more than I do, and it makes everyone so happy. 



        回到室內研究剛才撿到的果實和種子。

     We go on studying the fruits and seeds found in the garden after returning to the indoor museum. 



        今天的主角是木瓜先生。

     Our protagonist today is Mr. Papaya. 



        去庭園找木瓜樹!

     We look for papaya trees in the garden! 



        連帶撿到迷你楊桃。

     On the way we find a mini star fruit. 



        還有蠶殼!

     Along with a cicada shell! 



        最後用好大的野餐派對收尾!

     Then we top everything off with a very luxurious picnic party! 

Picnic! / 風和日麗的野餐


做了一週的野餐夢,週日早晨接到邀請去野餐的電話,還順便畫了速寫,多美妙的日子!

I had dreamed of picnicking for a week. God must have heard my yearning because I received an invitation to go on a picnic this morning. Better yet, I got to sketch for a whole afternoon. What a lovely day! 

Sunday, November 22, 2015

My museum dream / 博物館之夢


很年輕的時候,我對博物館有很大的憧憬,之後的很多年,雖然沒有刻意追求,但又偶然地找回這個夢想,現在想起來,覺得自己很幸運。

When I was young, I dreamed of working in a museum. Though the dream was forgotten for many years, coincidentally, I found it again more than two years ago. Now looking back on the dots that connect my life, I feel very lucky. 

        這個周末除了我的小訪客,還有一群日本訪客,看到教授們對於館的設計和想法很有興趣,我也感染了他們的熱誠。

     This weekend, apart from my regular young visitors, we also had some Japanese guests. I was infected with the professors' enthusiasm in the design of the museum and our management concepts.



        我喜歡博物館,因為博物館的空間充滿了許多可能性。即使導覽或老師不說話,訪客和孩子們也能發掘新奇的事物,然後從博物館延伸到生活,可能性就更無窮。

     I like museums because they hold numerous possibilities. Even if the guide or the teacher doesn't say anything, visitors can make new discoveries on their own. Then, what we see in the museum can be extended to our everyday life, which offers even more possibilities. 

        聽到再來的孩子說他們記得上次教了什麼,還有新來的孩子說她要自己去玩一下,我想植標館爺爺一定也暗暗微笑吧!

     Every week,  moms and dads are eager to tell me what their kids remember from the previous visit. New kids whisper in my ears that they would like to have some fun on their own in the museum. Well, I bet our herbarium grandpa must be thrilled upon hearing the warm feedback! 

Sale / 特價


美麗的貮們男裝在特價喔! 不要錯過這些動人的設計!

The beautiful menswear of Irman is on sale. Don't ever miss the wonderful designs!

Good appetite / 好胃口


每天對生活總是有很大的胃口,做了很多嚐試,還是不滿足;寫了很多故事,老是覺得不夠;我想把整個地球的經驗吃掉。

Every day I am hungry. I make many attempts, but I hardly feel satisfied; I write many stories, but I rarely feel content. If possible, I could eat the earth up!

        原來是很久沒有好好畫畫!

     Ah, it must be that I haven't drawn seriously for ages!

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Children's museum in full blast / 台大植標館兒少知性之旅






星期六早上很忙,忙著準備下午去台大植標館的教材,但忙的不只我一個,自從我們把下午茶視為活動的一部分,愛雪就得幫忙想菜單。這週六的菜單是南瓜豆漿,所以一早黃豆們就開始泡澡,漂亮的南瓜也等著就位。這幾週的主題是南瓜,因此阿長買的南瓜籽也派上用場,他們是孩子們的最愛。

Now I am as busy as a bee on Saturday mornings because I need to prepare the teaching materials for the workshop in the herbarium in the afternoon. However, I am not the only busy person. Since a few months ago, I have made afternoon tea an indispensable part of the lesson, I have thought up many snacks for the children. Starting from this month, Mom has become the chef. This month the featured plant is the pumpkin, so we've been eating various snacks made from pumpkins. This weekend the menu is pumpkin soy bean milk. Apart from that, Dad's pumpkin seeds are kids' favorite. 

        最大的功臣則是我家精良的食物處理機,把這些食材大變身!

     But it's our Thermomix that does all the hard work and turns in the ingredients into different delicacies! 



        每週六下午有十個左右孩子來和我玩,經過半年的訓練之後,我可以一個人撐兩小時的場面了,這應該是今年最大的成長。也因為有兩個小時,我可以慢慢來。我對小朋友說:「在學校壓力很大喔!在這裡我們就放鬆地吃喝玩樂。」其實應該是我在對自己說吧!

     Every Saturday there are no more than ten kids that come to play with me. After six-month training, I can now proudly say that I don't panic at all in giving a two-hour-long lesson on plants. In fact, this should be my biggest achievement this year. With sufficient time, I can take it slow. I often say to the kids, "I know you are under a lot of pressure at school. Here, I won't force you to do what you don't feel like doing. Just relax and have fun!" In fact, I am saying to myself. 



        通常一個下午會有好幾個單元,讓小朋友可以用各種方式體驗植物之美,香草植物是我的最愛之一。

     Usually there are three to four parts in an afternoon for children to learn about plants in all sorts of ways. Herbs are a topic I like to cover. 



        之後再來杯綠薄荷紅茶或檸檬薄荷紅茶,昨天孩子說:「和外面買的一樣好喝!」但我們完全不加任何人工成份!

     After smelling the leaves, we will have a cup of mint black tea. Yesterday the girls couldn't help exclaiming, "It's as good as the beverage sold in shops!" As a matter of fact, the tea kids drink is all natural without any artificial ingredients!  









        南瓜大展!

     An amazing exhibition of pumpkins! 



        大家聚精會神地看影片介紹,我們只差一步就有博物館劇院了,接下來小朋友可以有舒服的視覺享受。

     We are still fixing our museum theater device, but it will happen very soon. Before my dream comes true, everyone is focused despite the small screen of my laptop. 



        為了吃南瓜子,好多隻手都舉起來回答問題,這根本就是週六才會有的盛況啊!

     To eat pumpkin seeds, the kids raise their hands high. Well, this is the phenomenon that can be witnessed only on Saturdays! 



        今天的客座昆蟲講師崇羽,介紹強大又可愛的蟑螂。

     Our guest lecturer Chong-yu introduces the powerful yet lovely cockroaches! 



        上菜時間:阿崴麵包的南瓜土司!

     Snack time: Pumpkin toast from La Whale bakery



        加上游家的南瓜豆漿!

        小朋友要走之前有點遺憾地說:「四點了啊?時間怎麼過得這麼快!」週六真是讓我來建設心靈用的啊!

     With the exclusive pumpkin soy bean milk from the You family. 

     Before the kids leave, they still don't feel like going, "It's four o'clock already? How can time pass by that fast!" 

     What can I say? Saturdays are my fillips. 


        有興趣報名參加台大植標館每週六下午的兒少知性之旅,請上此網頁,不過據說接下來只能報名明年的課程囉!

     For those interested in children's workshop held in the NTU herbarium, please go to this website and sign up for it early! 

Sunday, November 08, 2015

The design power of Sweden / 瑞典的設計力量


瑞典是我拜訪的北歐四國中最優雅的地方,斯德哥爾摩散發出高貴的氣息,城市裡處處都充滿設計感。

Among the four countries in North Europe that I visited, Sweden is the most elegant. Wandering in the lanes in Stockholm, I am captivated by its graceful beauty. The power of design can be found in every corner in the city. 



        許多歐洲國家的郵筒是大紅色,瑞典卻選了如此和煦的淺色系。

     Many European countries feature the loud red postbox while Sweden goes for the soft pastel colors. 











        小巷裡的每一扇門都長得不一樣。

     Every door in the lane is different. 









        視線往上移,招牌也互相競豔。

     Another beauty pageant is going on in the mid-air as the signs compete with one another to be the star of the day. 











        櫥窗裡的風景也無比精采,還好在斯德哥爾摩完全沒有購物時間,不然就淪陷啦!

     Inside shop windows the competition is especially fierce. Fortunately we aren't given any shopping time at all!