feeling of love / 愛的感覺

溫蒂在臉書上留了教師節快樂的訊息給我，說大學的英文課沒有愛的感覺，這四個字讓我很驚訝，雖然教書的時候總是很開心，卻不知道自己給人這樣的印象。

Wendy left a message on Facebook wishing me a happy Teacher's Day. She said that she doesn't feel any love in English class in university. I was surprised by her description. Though I enjoyed teaching, I wasn't aware that I left on students such an impression. 

因為溫蒂的提醒，今天看到PK又在外面撿昨晚孩子們的煙蒂和垃圾，我心想等一下得和他說說話。下午繞去辦公室時，有人可以和他聊天讓他心情大好，今日主題是亞洲和英國教育比較，他和我說了三個孩子的成長過程等等，說實在，來到這裡兩個半星期，那些表面的打招呼點頭都不是問題，但是要說進入英國人的人生或聽到他們的故事並不容易，所以儘管他講了好一陣子，我完全不介意時間流逝。

Because of Wendy's reminder, this morning when I saw PK pick the cigarette butts and litter left by kids from last night, I planned to talk to him later. As I went into the office in the afternoon, it placed him in a good mood to have someone to talk to. Today's topic was the comparison between Asian and British education. He also told me about his three children. To be honest, I've been here almost three weeks. I can say I am good at greeting and nodding at new acquaintances, but it's by no means easy to enter the Brits' lives or hear their stories. Despite his long rambling, I didn't mind about time passing by. 

雖然現在變成了學生，但我還是要抱著愛的感覺生活。看下午的太陽那麼大，我打算不再讓那些英國孩子獨占中庭吸煙喝酒，去買雜貨時順便買了起司蛋糕，要邀請嘉蕊一起作日光浴喝下午茶。後來下午茶變成了晚茶，我把餐巾紙和叉子拿到我窗戶前總是被佔據的空地，吃著吃著，一邊討論別人到底是怎麼交男朋友的，一邊抬頭往天空我大叫：有星星！其他群的西方人被我嚇到了。每次嘉蕊總是嚷嚷著要交男友，最後說要去哪做什麼還是會說：有你啊！

Even though I've become a student again, I want to live with the feeling of love. Seeing the bright sunshine this afternoon, I determined to occupy a corner of the courtyard as well. On my trip to shop groceries, I bought two slices of cheesecake for my picnic with Jazel. Then the afternoon tea was put off and turned into evening tea. I took napkins and forks to the vacant lot in front of my window. While we were savoring the sweets, we discussed how others find boyfriends. Meanwhile, I raised my head screaming: Stars! Other groups of British kids were scared by my excitement. It's funny that Jazel always grumbles about wanting a boyfriend, but whenever I mention where we are going or what we are doing, she will turn to me saying, "I've got you!" 

最近又多了個年齡小我一半的小朋友，是隔壁棟的印度小弟，每天要出門或回家經過我的窗前總會停下來和我哈啦，前幾天還說我們改天應該要出去玩，我暗自覺得他以為我只有十九歲，所以看到他誠懇的樣子，有點不好意思，可是我會是很好的朋友。

Lately I've had a new addition to my limited circle of friends. It is the Indian boy who lives in my neighboring building, and he's half my age. Every day on his way in and out of his room, he'll pause to chat with me. He even suggested hanging out together some other day. I secretly think he thinks I am only 19, so I feel kind of bad about not revealing my real age to him. But I can be a very good friend...

上瑜和大方攝 / photo taken by Phoebe and Mars 

不管我身邊現在有的是誰，那種愛的感覺是很大的支撐力量，以後我回頭看都還是會衷心感謝他們。

No matter what companions we have at this moment, that feeling of love between us can lift us up. When I look back in the future, I will always thank them from the bottom of my heart... 

如果你身邊沒有人，就來喝點熱熱的英國茶吧！（這真是很爛的轉場，因為我要介紹每日一品了。）

If there is no one around you, then have some hot English tea! (What a lousy transition. Please bear with me because I am about to introduce the object of the day.) 

每日一品─來杯熱茶─一套兩本手作札記─16頁附中間伸展頁─11.5 cm x 15 cm 

object of the day--a cup of tea--a set of two handmade notebooks--16 pages (unfolded large page in the middle)--11.5 cm x 15 cm 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82738886/a-cup-of-tea-set-of-2-handmade-16-page?ref=pr_shop

Power of Making / 創作的力量

上個星期去了維多利亞和亞伯特美術館，目前有個手作的展覽在進行中，展出的作品琳瑯滿目，從相機到腳踏車到衣飾，我特別喜歡客座策展人丹尼爾查尼寫的一段話：

「創作是我們解決問題、表達想法和改變世界最有力的方式，我們創作的物品和創作方式為我們自身寫下定義，也透露我們想成為的人。

對很多人來說，創作是生活所須，對其它人來說，創作則是他們選擇的職志，是他們思考、發明和創新的方式。而對某些人，能創造某件物品並且說『是我做的！』本身就是件開心的事，創造的力量在於它滿足了上述每一個人類的需求和渴望。

手藝和獨創性達到極高水準的藝術家可以創造出令人驚豔之物，但每個人都有創造的能力，不論是創作生活必須品或高技術作品的知識，都是人類最珍貴的資產。」

Last week on my visit to Victoria and Albert Museum, I found an ongoing exhibition on the power of making. There are various handmade objects on display from cameras to bicycles to clothing. I am especially impressed by the introductory comments by the guest curator Daniel Charny:

Making is the most powerful way that we solve problems, expressing ideas and shape our world. What and how we make defines who we are, and communicates who we want to be. 


For many people, making is critical for survival. For others, it is a chosen vocation: a way of thinking, inventing and innovating. And for some it is simply a delight to be able to shape a material and say 'I made that'. The power of making is that it fulfills each of these human needs and desires. 


Those whose craft and ingenuity reach the very high levels can create amazing things. But making is something everyone can do. The knowledge of how to make--both everyday objects and highly-skilled creations--is one of humanity's most precious resources.

本日一物：你在我心裡─手作小筆記本─15 cm x 10 cm─32頁

object of the day: i carry your heart with me--handmade notebook--15 cm x 10 cm--32 pages

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82503396/i-carry-your-heart-with-me-handmade?ref=pr_shop

i carry your heart with me / 你在我心裡

來到倫敦之後，一直要重新經營My Little Room，雖然外在的誘惑很多，我每天儘量抽時間做新商品，可是我選了一個很複雜的開頭，我想要做月曆，卻又想用能打動我的主題，前一陣子重讀康明斯的小詩「你在我心裡」，便立志要重新詮釋它。雖然我沒有特別喜歡貓，但最近看到許多美麗的貓，就想把新環境給我的影響放到新作品中，今天終於完成了，這可是我花了好幾天、犧牲出去玩的時間做的，不過我很開心，這代表我的心靜下來了。

After coming to London, I've wanted badly to reopen My Little Room. Though there are tons of temptations outside, I try to spare at least some time designing the new item every day. However, I chose a pretty complicated beginning. I'd love to make a calendar, but I wanted to go for a topic that would speak to me. A while ago, I came across e. e. cummings' i carry your heart with me again, and I was determined to re-illustrate it. I don't take a special liking to cats, but lately I've seen many beautiful cats. I figured I should add the element of my new living place to the work. I am glad to have finished it today. Well, this is the result of my sacrificing days for fun, but I am quite happy because that means I can concentrate on drawing again.

我隨身帶著很多人的心，今天小方和我說他想我想到快哭了，我和他說，我們都在交新朋友，等我們各自收集五百個朋友就會再相見了，那時候我們的心會很大很大吧！

I carry many people's hearts with me. Today Von told me that he misses me so much that he feels like crying. I told him that our mission is to make new friends, so when each of us meets about 500 friends, we'll see each other again! By then, our hearts will have become ENORMOUS!

本日一物─「你在我心裡」2012年懸掛式月曆─19.8 cm x 27.3 cm

item of the day: i carry your heart with me--2012 wall calendar--19. 8 cm x 27.3 cm

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82168157/i-carry-your-heart-with-me-original?ref=pr_shop

my lively little room / 熱鬧的小房間

入住小房間的第一天，書桌上放著兩個包裹，昨晚打開來仔細瞧瞧，才知道這是學校的幾十樣見面禮，有很多活動的簡介和小零食，雖然我年紀有點大，在冷冷的周日傍晚我的心因此溫暖了起來。

On the first day I moved in, there were two packets on my desk. I didn't have time to open them for a closer look until last night. I found them to be scores of first presents from the school, postcards, brochures on all kinds of activities and snacks included. Though I am not a young girl, they warmed my heart on a chilly and cloudy Sunday evening. 

同一棟的學生共用一個小小的郵箱，到達之前我已經有信件了，所以信箱裡有張通知單等著我，想著可以領郵件，我的週一挺高昂的。

The students in the same hall share a small mailbox. Mail for me had arrived before I did, so there was a notice waiting for me. Thinking that I had something to look forward to, I wouldn't have any Monday blues. 

才剛簽完名領了來自義大利的生日禮物，宿舍維修人員Tom手上又抱著一包，這是來自台灣快捷的另一份生日禮物。

After I had just signed for my birthday packet from Italy,  the maintenance guy Tom held another packet also for me from Taiwan. 

謝謝凱特琳娜！

Great thanks to Caterina! 

謝謝曉寧！

Great thanks to Ning! 

小房間開始有了風景，這些都讓我覺得自己是深深被祝福的人。

My little room has started to take on its own personalities. You make me feel that I am someone who's tremendously blessed... 

一旦心情好了起來，好事就會跟著發生。才走出小房間遇到的第一個同學和我打招呼，是來自里茲的黑捲髮小男生叫喬伊，主修繪畫，其實很多人會經過我的窗前或在我窗前抽煙，要聊天應該不是太難。

Once we are in a good mood, wonderful things will happen one after another. Right after I walked out of my little room, I made my first friend in the hall. It is Joey from Leeds with black, curly hair. He majors in drawing. As a matter of fact, a lot of people pass by or smoke in front of my windows, so it shouldn't be hard to catch up with them. 

去銀行開戶時，負責接待我的小帥哥看了我的申請文件，不解地問：什麼是插畫？我說：你看過昆丁布雷克的書嗎？他是英國最有名的插畫家，結果小帥哥居然說：那我比較喜歡勞達爾。我說：最近我剛看完「詹姆士和大桃子」，他皺皺眉說：我沒有很喜歡那一本。連水果攤的小弟也被迫一直看到我，只好和我打招呼。人在不一樣的地方有不同的人格，我在國外的人格好像是更活潑的。真擔心再這麼下去，這整個社區的人都會變成我的朋友。

When I went to the bank to open an account, the young and handsome customer rep looked at my documents, asking, "What is illustration?" I replied, "Have you read Quentin Blake's books? He is the most prestigious illustrator in the U.K." Dominic went on to say, "Hmm, then I prefer Raul Dahl." I told him that I had read James and the Giant Peach. He frowned and answered, "It's not my favorite." Even the young man working in one grocery store was forced to say hello to me because I kept walking up and down the street, apart from buying some apples from him yesterday. I knew a long time ago that I have different personalities when living in different places. I tend to be more sociable when living abroad. Well, now I am worried that I'll have too many friends in the Camberwell neighborhood. 

所以親愛的朋友家人，請不要擔心我，我是個大女孩了，而且多變的英國天氣讓我明白我也要一直自我調適，每天早上起床都抱著新的決心和希望，讓這一年充滿美麗的故事。

So my dear family and friends, please don't worry about me. I am a big girl now, and the changeable British weather teaches me to adapt myself constantly. I will wake up with new determination and hope every morning and fill this year with as many beautiful stories as possible. 

祝大家中秋節快樂，也祝我中秋節和農曆生日快樂，現在有一位十一年沒見的朋友在天空飛著，趕回倫敦在今晚和我共度中秋節大餐。

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to you all, and happy lunar birthday to me as well. Now a friend whom I haven't seen for 11 years is flying back to London for a dinner date with me this evening. 

待續‧‧‧

to be continued...

me or others / 我或他們

經營My Little Room後對於做作品的觀點改變很大，以前多半在表達自己的想法，現在要策劃產品之前我不停自問，顧客會想要什麼產品和內容？果然自我表達的商品人氣不是太高，這成為了我要再接下去做的重大考量。

After I reopened My Little Room, my way of thinking has altered dramatically. I used to create for expressing my experience and thought, but now I have to constantly ask myself, "What do customers want? What kind of images do they prefer?" As I wondered, items which I design for self-expression are not too popular. This lesson decides the new products I will bring forth in the future.

這星期發現婚禮的主題是個商機，凡是和婚禮相關的產品因為有強烈的實用性，購買率自然比裝飾性商品高，雖然我真的得收個尾了，我還是無法把這個婚卡的想法拖到去倫敦之後才執行，因為到時候又會有別的想法啦！

This week I discover that the subject of weddings is something I should tap into. Products related to the theme are of practical value, so they are easy to sell, compared with decorative items. I am so aware that I should draw an end here and go on with packing. But I really can't put off the idea until I go to London. I will surely indulge in newer ideas by then!


每日一物─「我們結婚吧！」手作婚卡─一套四張─每張 20 cm x 13.6 cm （附精美手工彩色封套）

object of the day--"tie the knot" handmade original wedding cards--set of four--each measures 20 cm x 13.6 cm (handmade colorful envelopes attached)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/81210263/tie-the-knot-handmade-wedding-cards-set?ref=pr_shop