In Love in Summery London / 戀夏倫敦

告別行程第二站去了坎貝爾附近的布里克斯頓，和炳龍及成觀說再見。

The second appointment on my farewell agenda took place in Brixton, which is very close to Camberwell. I met up James and Marcia for the last time.

對我來說在倫敦要交到很喜歡的朋友不容易，我很幸運遇到很喜歡的成觀，她送了我昆丁伯的書。

It isn't easy for me to find people that are on my wavelength in London. I am glad to have run into Marcia. She gave me Uncle Quentin's book as a farewell gift. 

送兩人去地鐵站的路上感受到英國店家的幽默，雖然這不常發生。

On our way to the underground station, we witnessed the humor of a British shop owner, though that doesn't happen often. 

分手之前我和開玩笑和都很成熟的兩人說：要好好相愛。

Before turning to go, I joked with the two mature friends saying, "Be nice to each other." 

散步回家路上穿過米亞法羅公園，目睹前所未有的日光浴人潮。據說倫敦的夏天很短，這樣的好天氣約莫三個星期。很高興見證了這樣的美好，還有一場美麗的愛情。

We passed through Myatt's Fields Park witnessing the biggest sunbathing crowd I'd have ever seen in the park. I was told that summer in London is short lasting about 3 weeks. I am happy to experience such beauty, and also a blossoming relationship...

傍晚要去第三個告別行程，和Damien Hirst的作品見面‧‧‧

I will run for the third appointment on the agenda in the evening, which is meeting up Damien Hirst's works...

No. 67 Cafe / 六十七號咖啡館

做完十分鐘的報告，與其說是做作業，不如說是為我自己，把這一年劃上句點。和老師以及少少的同學道再見。這個星期倫敦猛一般地進入夏季，英國同學下課後聚集在酒吧前哈啦，我們幾個亞洲人則躲進中東小吃店裡大口大口地吃肉。

I had given my ten-minute presentation. I treated it more as a ritual for myself to wrap up the year than an obligatory assignment. I had said goodbye to the tutors and a small number of classmates. This week summer took us by surprise. After school, the British students gathered in front of the pub while we, a few Asians, hid inside the Turkish restaurant feasting on kebab.

我的第一個告別行程是和韓國妹妹蘇約在學校旁邊的六十七號咖啡館，蘇是我的前鄰居，說了好久要聊一聊，結果居然是在我要離開之前，也好，這樣少了點感傷，反而有種很沉靜的喜悅，知道也許這才是開始。

The first appointment on my farewell agenda was with Sul, my ex-neighbor, in No. 67 Cafe next to Camberwell. We'd been talking about having a  get-together. It happened only right before my departure. On the up side, it wasn't so sentimental. Instead, I felt down-to-earth joy, knowing maybe this was just another beginning.

現在的倫敦像天堂一樣美麗，我也神奇般地瘦了下來，我的心情好得和剛來時差不多，唯一不同的是我沒有眷戀到放不了手，因為我想回家坐下來好好專心畫圖。

London at this moment is paradisiac. I, with great luck, lost some weight. I am in a mood as cheery as when I first came. The only difference is that I am not so attached to everything here that I can't let go. What I would like to do most is go home, sit down, and concentrate on drawing.

總是有個好大的目標在前方，六十七號咖啡館只是個中間點。

I still have a super huge goal ahead of me. No. 67 Cafe is just a stop on my way there...

outside the window / 窗外的風景

埋首於豆豆鳥的研究之際，抬頭一看很美的畫面映入眼簾，很感傷就是了，讓我想到這兩天一直在看的「羅密歐與茱麗葉」‧‧‧

While I was buried in my dodo bird research, a very beautiful image jumped into my view as I raised my head. Quite sentimental though. It does remind me of Romeo and Juliet, which I have been watching this weekend...

I'll miss you / 我會想念你

上了幾天學的小方有些挫折，其他孩子一同走過中班，他是班上唯一的新生，大家唱歌的時候他也無法盡情跟隨，吃飯的時候得拿筷子，老師看他眼眶紅紅的，有點落寞。到了第三天早上，他和阿媽說不想去上學了，因為有好多不會的東西，可是礙於強烈的自尊心，要他對爸爸媽媽說出這種沮喪似乎很困難。出國的前一天我和阿媽還有弟弟去接小方放學，走在九月初的午後豔陽裡，托兒所外面盡是阿公阿媽，孩子們一個一個從教室出來，我和小楷坐在外面的小板凳伸頭張望，我覺得這是一件很幸福的事。今天有三個女孩熱情地和小方道再見，他看起來很開心。

Von was frustrated after going to school for a few days. He is the only new kid in class while other children spent the previous year together. When everyone was singing, Von couldn't follow. Since he was not trained to use chopsticks at home, his eyes turned red when they were given chopsticks to eat with during lunch. On the third day, he told his granny that he didn't feel like going to school because there were so many things he didn't know. Von has very strong self-esteem, so it's difficult for him to share these problems with his parents. On the day before departure, I went to the kindergarten with his granny and Kai to pick him up. We strolled in the dazzling September afternoon sunlight. Grandparents that were waiting for their babies blocked the entrance. Kids came out with smiles on their faces one after another. I couldn't feel more blessed at that moment. Today three girls said goodbye and see you tomorrow to Von, which made him very happy. 

明明行李還亂七八糟的，我卻堅持今天一定要去和孩子們玩，因為前幾天和他們練習視訊通話時，小方說到一年見不到我，眼眶不禁又紅了起來，除了要給他好好加油，我畫了十輛雙層巴士，車身的裝飾從秋天的紅楓到夏天的蓮花葉，我說等到夏季再來，我們就會見面。

I hadn't put much effort into packing, but I insisted on spending some time with the boys today. While we were experimenting with Skype the other day, Von couldn't help shedding tears when he said that he couldn't see me for a year. Apart from cheering him up, I gave him a drawing of 10 double-deckers, each of which is decorated with leaves of different seasons from maple leaves of autumn to lotus leaves of summer. I told him that when summer comes again, we will be reunited. 

本來沒有特別惆悵的情緒，家裡的喜事接二連三而來，我自己也忙得不可開交，今晚卻因為孩子們捨不得，小方說好久會看不到我，大人們忙著哄他，我也想一派輕鬆地安慰他，我們還是可以像在這裡一樣常常聊天，他居然說：可是我抱不到你，害我差點要淚崩了。一頓飯吃了好久，因為我說吃完我就要回家收行李了，我們拉拉扯扯的，連搞不清楚狀況的小楷也跑來哀哀叫：你為什麼要去英奪？（因為他發不出「國」音）居然也把離情依依的戲碼演得很動人。

I didn't feel particularly sentimental because at home John and Sharen were busy preparing Jei's wedding banquet. I was really busy myself with the Etsy shop. This evening the boys tugged at my nostalgia. When Von said that he wouldn't see me for a long time, his parents kept comforting him. I also tried to act sophisticated by saying that we can still chat over the computer like we always do here. I didn't expect him to blurt out, "But I can't hug you." I almost burst into tears upon hearing this remark. The dinner lasted for a long time since I announced that I was going home after the meal to pack. We really had difficulty saying goodbye, while Kai, who didn't have a clue what everything was all about, kept wailing, "Why are you going to the U. DAY?" (He has problems pronouncing the k sound.) I swear that he is a top drama king. 

小朋友的感情太真摯，會讓我這樣不善掩飾的大人不知所措，我趕緊隨便說再見，轉過頭就掉眼淚，雖然知道明天後天我們又微笑地過生活去了，但我還是想，好樣的小傢伙，沒有辜負汪達姨那些和你一起讀書玩耍生活的時光。

Kids's feelings are so sincere that when faced with them, I am at a loss because I am not good at pretending. I said goodbye really quickly, but before I turned my back, tears had rolled down my cheeks. I know well that tomorrow we'll head into a new day happily without remembering much what has happened this evening, but I can't help thinking, good boy,  I did not spend all the time reading and playing and living with you for nothing. 

從前小方要回家時總會依依不捨到每個大人耳邊說：我會想你。這次換我說：親愛的孩子，我會很想念你。

Von used to whisper in every adult's ear "I will miss you" when he was going home. This time it's my turn to say, "Dear child, I'll miss you very much." 

We are family / 相親相愛

和小雪阿長最終的旅行去了拉拉山，我說：我不在的時候，你們要相親相愛。小雪立刻很不以為然地回答：和他？夫婦就是這樣，明明是生命共同體，卻很難開口承認，我倒覺得這兩個傢伙可愛到不行。

On our last summer trip, John, Sharen and I went to Lalashan. I said, "When I am away, you two have to support and love each other." Sharen found my remarks ridiculous. She pointed at John replying, "Him?" Couples are like that. The two people revolve around each other, but this is a fact that most of us don't want to admit. I love them for this too.

旅行的沿途我走在最後面，記錄了兩人一路走來的心情，這些我全都看在眼裡，也會成為我的回憶之一。

On the hike, I was behind trying to record the ups and downs of the journey. I saw and experienced what had happened in their 36 years of marriage. It is already part of my memory...

my beloved city / 我鍾愛的城市

二十三歲離開家去美國讀書，抱的是種遠走高飛的心情，以為離開就可以找到快樂，那一年我跌跌撞撞，不盡是開心的經驗，但是我學習了長大。之後我一直想，如果再一次出國長居，我肯定會找到適合自己生活的方式，本來都只是想想，現在真的要再離去，我連出發之前的心情都迥異，這十一年我學著喜歡我的城市，改變我的性格和想法，因為真心喜歡這裡的人事物，面對家人朋友的感傷，我總是笑笑地說：很快就回來了。

When I went to the States for studies at the age of 23, I considered it a perfect getaway that would reverse my life and the only secret to happiness. It turned out that I was constantly groping for my way. Not every moment was pleasant, but I learned to grow up. Afterwards, when I looked back on the year, I kept thinking that if I had another chance to live abroad for a while, I would for sure find a balance within myself. It was merely wishful thinking, but now it's becoming the reality. However, this time, I take a completely different attitude even before departure. In the past eleven years, I have come to love my city and changed my personalities and ways of thinking. This place, full of beautiful people and sites, is such a huge part of my life that when faced with folks and friends' sentimentality, I always reply with assurance, "Before you know it, I will be home again..."

不想空手離去，我開始記錄台北的天空，以前追逐異國的雲朵，現在我要把家鄉的雲彩放在第一位。

Not wanting to leave empty-handed, I began to record the sky of Taipei. I used to chase after the clouds in foreign countries, but now it's my beloved city that matters the most.

夏日傍晚六點半的台北市 / the cityscape of Taipei at 6: 30 pm on a summer day 

夏日傍晚窗外的台北 / Taipei outside my window on a summer evening 

夏日早晨五點多的台北 / Taipei at 5:30 am on a summer morning 

夏日早晨的台北101 / Taipei 101 on a summer morning 

更重要的是天空下的人情，離開之際收到禮物和祝福，一路為我的夢想鋪路的小蕙，從最早的激勵，到倫敦的友人安排和地鐵卡都幫我準備好；還有總是讓我靠著的家人，怕我忘記他們，這個暑假安排無數的吃吃喝喝玩玩；一直嚷嚷我得上MSN才能和他聊天的小方，説他才不會忘記我；默默支持我的小朋友，給我一路的溫暖；工作上的同事也塞給我滿滿的鼓勵，並且幫我守著辦公室的空位。親愛的朋友都要陪我飛行，歐洲的友人都準備好要出發去倫敦拜訪我了，連透過六度分離介紹給我的倫敦新朋友也紛紛連絡我，我還想，再給我一點時間和愛的人說再見。

The sky is beautiful because underneath it is the love between me and my people. I have been showered with best wishes and gifts. Hui literally prepared the whole package for me from inspiring me to go to the UK to hooking me up with her friend in London and giving me the oyster card. My dear family, who is always my shoulder, is so afraid that I will leave them behind that we've been touring and eating and enjoying life this whole summer. Von has reminded me several times to get on MSN so that he can chat on a regular basis with me like in Taipei. He promises never to forget me. Also, my present and past kids have delivered sincere wishes to last for a whole year. My colleagues at work can't help but send encouragement and vibes and guard my empty seat in the office. Dear Dee will fly with me to London, friends from Europe have planned to travel to London for a visit, and even new friends introduced through six degrees of separation have contacted me. I still think, give me some more time to say goodbye to those I love...

Open your heart / 打開心

我喜歡要步出牙醫診所之前，小姐用一如往常的口氣說，那我們就明年再見！可是她的話語裡充滿著祝福。

我喜歡和學生聚餐之後，大家若無其事地走到街角，在大太陽底下開朗地道別，彷彿我沒有要離開，感覺這樣的場景很快就會重現。

我喜歡和好久不見的女孩們坦然地訴說我的一切，在夏夜裡和她們說二十五歲是個正燦爛的年齡，不知道會不會再見面，不過這第一次比我想像地溫暖美好。

我喜歡每週去看小方和阿楷時，當孩子們被趕進浴室洗澡時，小方會擔心地問爸媽：我洗完澡時，汪達姨還在嗎？他比誰都年秩，卻比大人懂得每一刻共處的可貴。

I like it when stepping out of the dental clinic, the receptionist says in her typical way, "Then we shall see each other next year?" But her words are full of best wishes for me.

I like it when we all walk to the street corner at the end of a reunion with my former students and say goodbye without any sadness under the sun as if I weren't going away. It feels like we will gather together again without any exception.

I like it when I pour my heart out to girls whom I haven't seen for years and tell them how beautiful everything should be at the age of 25 in the summer evening with cool breezes. We are not concerned about whether there'll be another reunion because this moment shines.

I like it when I go visit the kids every week, Von will ask his parents with worries when whisked into the bathroom for a shower, "Will Auntie Wanda still be there after the shower?" Von is younger than anyone I know, but he knows better than anyone the preciousness of every minute we spend together.