My robot boyfriends / 我的機器人男友

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! 

Don't be afraid of mistakes / 不怕犯錯

花很多時間畫30M大的帆布，感覺沒有盡頭，錯了便蓋上新一層顏料，重新再來，剛開始對於老是重畫的過程有些焦急，但是想到錯誤會帶領我走上對的路，而最後的成品會被如此珍惜，我便能夠放下腳步，畫出的每一筆都帶著喜悅，閉上眼睛我可以想像它最後的美好。

I've spent much time drawing three 30M-large canvases. It feels endless. Whenever I make a mistake, I reapply a new layer of acrylics. In the beginning, that kind of wore out my patience. By reminding myself that the mistakes will lead me to the right path in the end and that the finished work will be cherished, I can thus slow down. Every brushstroke is done with joy, and I can even imagine its beauty with my eyes closed. 

Banana chocolate birthday party / 香蕉巧克力生日派對

一根香蕉可以做什麼？可以成為生日派對的主題！

What can a banana do? It can be the theme of a merry birthday party!

讓我的香蕉巧克力小猴先獻上歡樂的生日禮物！

First let my Banana Chocolate Monkey  present the wonderful birthday gift! 

再來「婆娑咖啡」的招牌香蕉薄餅，總要開開心心地增長年歲啊！

And we'll top it off with the banana crepe of Canopy Cafe. As we all have to age, why don't we age with joy and grace? 

Unique wedding gift / 特別的結婚禮物

我的部落格查詢度最高的是關於結婚禮物，因為如此我不禁想我要的禮物，不過老實說，我要是遇到很好的人且結得了婚，根本不想要任何禮物。但從賓客的角度，怎麼樣我都要獻上祝福。

One of the most popular posts on my blog is about wedding gifts. Because of that, I can't help thinking about what kind of gift I'd like to have, but the truth is, if I am lucky enough to run into a very good person and get married, that will be a perfect gift for me. That said, I still want to send my best wishes as a guest and friend when it comes to others' weddings. 

        蘇蘇和另一半都喜歡慢跑，所以這次的婚禮主題很清楚明瞭。

   Susu and her other half are into jogging, which thus becomes the theme of their wedding gift.

        星星和太陽都感受到他們的喜悅！

   Stars and the sun feel their joy of love! 

        今天瞥了電視節目之際，記者問福山雅治想不想結婚當爸爸，他用親民的表情說：我每天都期待這件事發生。我忍不住微笑了一下，心想真好，有人和我有一樣的想法。不過在那發生之前，我要感受別人結婚生小孩的開心，這世界對我來說是開闊的。

   When I glimpse at the TV news today, the show host asks the famous Japanese star Fukuyama Masaharu in the interview if he feels like getting married and being a father. He answers with a positive look on his face saying: I am looking forward to that every day. I can't help smiling to myself thinking, "How nice. At least there's someone out there feeling the way I do." But before that happens, I want to feel others' joy of finding their beloved ones and having children. The happiness in this world always opens up its arms for me. 

Wanda's art class 3 / 汪達的美術課 3

早上聽到細碎的腳步聲，就是孩子們過來說早安，順便問吃完早餐可不可以上美術課。這是楷維的新造型，他還在適應中，我說他的頭型像黃橙橙的滿月，因為我在中秋夜出生，我特別喜歡他那顆飽滿的頭，他說這張照片只能給我看，我偷偷放上來了。

Upon hearing pattering footsteps in the morning, I know it's the kids coming over to say good morning. They will make sure that we have art class immediately after breakfast. This is Kai's new hairstyle. He's still making efforts to get used to it. I say, "Your head is as beautiful as a golden full moon. Since I was born on a full-moon night, I especially love your round head." He says this photo is only between me and him, but I still can't help posting it. 

雖然在倫敦讀的是插畫，我在美術教育方面好像也得到了靈感，孩子們就位之後，我很認真地說：今天我們要替汪達姨的新學生準備三樣見面禮，你們兩個非常重要，下個星期我給姐姐這些禮物時，會讓她們知道我有很棒的小幫手。其實我是把自己該做的工作下放。

Though I studied illustration in London, I am inspired when it comes to art education. When the boys take their seats, I make a serious announcement, "Today our task is to prepare three gifts for my new students. You two are very important. Next week when I give them the gifts, I 'll mention that I had two fantastic assistants. Well, I am actually being lazy by having the boys do part of the work for me. 

三歲的楷維穩定度沒有哥哥高，但今天居然一路把工作完成，讓我幫他積了點數。

The three-year-old Kai can't concentrate as much as his elder brother, but he finishes the work all the way, and I end up giving him a big brownie point. 

我的學生今天名單就出來了，他們不知道已經有閃亮亮的小禮在等著。我媽怎會把我生得這麼有愛心啊？

The list of students that made their way to my class is announced today. They certainly don't know there are already shiny gifts waiting for them. Why did my mom put so much love in me when she gave birth to me? 

我們一邊畫一邊聊天，我和小方說：你去小學一定要和同學說你有個年輕漂亮的阿姨。他說：對，而且是個美術老師。我回答：不是啦，是英文老師。於是我們又學學單字來著，說來我算是非常高級的家教。

We draw and chat at the same time. I say to Von: When you go to school, you have to tell your classmates that you have a "young and beautiful" aunt. He replies: Yes, and also an art teacher. I go on to clarify: No, an English teacher. So it doesn't make sense if we don't learn some English words. I count as a very high-class tutor don't I... 

好些朋友問我回來之後過得好不好，我總是說：在這裡我是被愛著的。

Several friends asked me if I am doing well after coming back. I always gave the same answer: I am loved here... 

看看小方六歲的手寫字體，他一張一張畫了三十次，那是多有手感的筆跡啊！

Look at Von's six-year-old handwriting. He draws "Thank you!" for thirty times. How idiosyncratic it is!

summer love song / 小恐龍的夏日戀曲

凱特琳娜說這世界上某個角落一定有個恐龍王國，快樂的小恐龍穿著條紋游泳衣在池畔乘涼喝飲料。我想那個世界會比我們的簡單許多，我不要我的人生像小說，要像繪本，單純有力，直搗人心。

Caterina said that there must be a corner in the world where dinosaurs still exist. Happy dinosaurs wear striped swimming suits sipping cool drinks by the pool. I think that kingdom is definitely much simpler than the one we dwell in. I don't want my life to be as dramatic as a novel. It is as simple and powerful as a picture book for every child and the child in every adult to understand right away.

Lucky me / 幸運兒

昨天一路回家的途中，我們感受著回倫敦有否回家的感覺，說實在，不是很強烈。我們在下過雨的半夜到家，我打開信箱時，卻有件事證明這裡怎麼說都是我暫時的家，我收到十五封明信片和信件，加上三張包裹通知。

On our way home from Budapest, we tried hard to find if coming back to London feels like coming home. To be honest, not really. We got home around midnight, when the rain stopped. Before going into my room, I opened the mailbox, and something proved that this is my temporary home. There were fifteen postcards and letters, plus three "You've Got Mail" slips waiting for me.

才剛被卡洛寵完，又收到大家溫暖的信件，自從來到歐洲後，每次的分分合合之際，體貼的卡洛和凱特琳娜都會在我和她們說再見時為我準備寂寞的預防針，還有台灣的家人朋友和學生，我真的很幸運。

I was just pampered by Carol, and then I received everybody's warm mail. Since coming to Europe, thoughtful Carol and Caterina have always prepared warm cushions for me against loneliness at moments of bidding farewell to friends. Also, there is always mail from my family, friends and students in Taiwan. I've always been extremely lucky.

荳荳從美國寄來茶包和親手烘焙的餅乾給我，娜娜寄來蘇打綠的專輯。

Bean sent teabags and self-made cookies from the US, and Nana sent the latest album of Soda Green. 

吃了一塊滿滿誠意的餅乾，我只差沒哭出來。

When I tried a cookie that is so full of sincerity and good will, I came near bursting into tears.

小蕙包裹上的鈴噹連社監也注意到了，打開包裹芬芳的手工皂撲鼻而來。

The bell attached to Hui's packet even caught the manager Sarah's attention. When I opened the packet, the fragrance of handmade soap hit my nostrils.

去度假之前，想要逃避一些事情，雖然在英國的這幾個月，我學到不需要對每個人都付出，卻又怕掉進封閉的小世界。昨天要離開布達佩斯之前，我想到了接下來的目標，我要為自己和值得的人在這個疏離的城市裡創造溫暖的片刻，那才是我，我要很燦爛地過完在倫敦剩下的日子，之後才能很驕傲地回頭說：這是我人生中特別的一段！

Before leaving, I wanted to escape certain things. Over the past few months in the UK, I've been struggling between giving and not giving, between being open and withdrawn. Yesterday upon leaving Budapest, I thought of my coming goal. I want to create in this city warm moments for myself and people that are worth my attention. That is what I should be. I am going to live out my days in London with light and heat so that I can look back with pride in the future and say, "Those are some of the best days in my life..."

謝謝大家借了肩膀讓我靠‧‧‧

Thank you for lending me your shoulders...

packets of love / 愛的包裹

準備報告弄了一個多星期，有點歹戲拖棚之感，我和自己說要寫完才可以給親朋好友寄禮物。

I'd been working on my essay for more than a week, and I felt it could drag on and on. I made a deal with myself: I can't mail gifts to my family and friends unless I finish it. 

灑滿陽光的午後，我去郵局的路上，看到了這個字和我溫暖地打招呼，我不禁說：對啊，你怎麼知道？

On my way to the post office on a super sunny afternoon, I saw this word greeting me warmly. I couldn't replying: Exactly! How do you know it? 

Greetings / 問候

今天天空陰陰的，我很想畫窗外沒穿衣服的樹，我必須克制自己不能畫得有個性，真的不是很容易，不過我想久了之後，我也會變成一個沒有偏見的人。

It was a cloudy day today. I was tempted to draw the tree in the courtyard. However, I had to curb my desire to make it "my" tree, which wasn't very easy. But I think with time  passing by, I'll become a very objective person because of the training. 

屈老師攝影 / photo taken by Ms. Chu 

江老師和國畫班的同學為我拍了一張照，哇，我好想念大家還有在週四早晨的國畫課，真是謝謝體貼的屈老師，我在前進的同時會想著這些回憶的。

Mr. Chiang and my classmates from the Chinese painting class took a group picture for me. I miss everyone so much and the classes on Thursday mornings. I'd like to thank Ms. Chu for her thoughtfulness. I'll keep these memories in my mind as I move forward. 

傍晚印度小弟敲我的窗，說社監辦公室有我的包裹，我很高興地衝去領，原來是貼心的卡洛寄來的小熊軟糖，我太幸福啦，謝謝卡洛！

In the evening Viraj knocked on my window saying that he saw a packet with my name on it. I rushed to the manager's office to get it. Dear Carol sent me Gummy bears from Hungary. I am so blessed...Thank you Carol! 

這個星期我想了有關未來的幾個月，因為同學的刺激，我也訂了三月去波隆納的機票，既然都來到英國讀插畫，如果不利用這個機會去參加波隆納插畫展就太可惜了，我也因此感到很雀躍，一切都只是剛開始啊！

This week I've been thinking about the coming few months. Thanks to my classmates' stimulation, I booked the plane tickets to Bologna in late March. Since I've come  to study illustration in the UK, it'd be a huge pity if I didn't make the best use of the opportunity to take a look at Bologna book fair. I thus feel elated. Well, let me say, this is just the beginning! 

London Postcards Project / 倫敦明信片計畫

要搬家了，我在房子整修之前把牆上的圖片紛紛拿下，其中小方最喜歡的就是薛吉姐姐送的倫敦地鐵圖。習慣到處留下印記，我在地圖上標示乍看之下想拜訪的車站和隨意挑選的日期，而小方到時候會收到那一天記錄的手繪明信片。

Before moving away, I take down little by little the posters tacked to the walls. Among them, the metro map of London given by Shaggy is Von’s favorite. Used to leaving my marks everywhere I can lay my hands on, I circled the stations that I’d like to visit and wrote down randomly picked dates. Von will receive hand-drawn postcards from me on those chosen days then.