Sunday, June 05, 2016

去上海途中 / on our way to Shanghai


飛機餐對我來說有自由的味道,所以我從來不抱怨機上餐點不好吃。

     The plane meal tastes of freedom for me, so I never complain about the food quality. In fact, I have a thing for plane meals. 



        已經很久沒有坐在窗邊的位置了,想不到飛機下降的過程整個令我驚豔!根本來不及畫下來眼前所見的風景,只能用簡圖記錄,這卻是旅行中唯一的速寫機會。

     I haven't had a window seat for ages. That's why I am so impressed by what I see as the plane lands. I can hardly draw all the scenery, so I can only record it with simple sketches, which turn out to be the only ones I draw on this trip. 

        圖的順序就是在不同高度看到的景色。

     The pictures depict scenery I see at different heights. 



        上海長江口獨特的景色:好寬好黃的長江口上,散布著綠色沙洲。

     The unique view of Yangtze River mouth: Green islets dot the brownish-hellow river. 



        呈幾何圖形分布的道路和房子,還有岸邊的大船和工業用機械。

     As we get closer to the land, I see roads and houses in geometric shapes, along with the ships along the riverbanks and gigantic machines for industrial use. 



        大大的河面上,小小的船隻。

     Tiny rafts scatter on the vast river surface. 



        出了機場後,我們搭乘台商子女學校的橘黃色校車前往學校,走道塞滿了行李箱,很有在大陸旅行的感覺。

     The orangish yellow school buses of the Taiwan businessmen's school are waiting for us as we head out of the airport. Our suitcase literally cram the small bus, and it reminds me that we are no longer where we come from...

Thursday, June 02, 2016

Free airplane! / 自在的小飛機!


今天我的第五個班級畢業了,因為答應自己要用萬里無雲的心情和大家送別,果然一整天神輕氣爽,果然要轉四十歲之前的夏天,我是有進步的!

Today my fifth class has graduated. Since I kept reminding myself to say goodbye to the girls with my best wishes, I did have a great day. See, I have made much progress in the summer before turning forty! 

        前幾週還在尋找答案時,托了工作的福,去了一趟上海,飛行的途中得到很多靈感,本來覺得自己的職涯幾乎走到半路,強烈地想有一些突破,回來之後沉澱了一陣子,明白我還有很多想做的嘗試,雖然我有外在的大框架,但想像力還是無限寬廣的,而框架裡還是有許多可能性。

     A few weeks ago I was looking for some answers. I felt the strong need to make some breakthroughs because I am almost halfway through my teaching career and feel like change. Luckily, I had an opportunity to go to Shanghai thanks to work earlier in May. Along the way I was blessed with many inspirations. After the trip, it took me a while to realize within the box, there are still many possibilities if I use my imagination and creativity. 



        每一世代的孩子特質都不一樣,我也得學習接受他們的不同,因為只有這樣,我才能過得好。我要邁入第十五年的工作生涯了,我的目標是當自在的小飛機,從空中看盡所有風景,卻不捲入感情的漩渦,也不做主觀的判斷。

     Kids of every generation vary greatly, and now I strongly feel only when I really accept their differences will I live well. I am heading forward my fifteen year of being a teacher, and my goal is to be a free airplane. I would like to overlook everything from the sky, but I won't be emotionally involved or make subjective judgments. 

        新風景,三個月後見!

     My new scenery, see you in three months!