Another wonderful year in the herbarium / 植標館‧美好的又一年

Shortcuts / 捷徑

這幾天想到很多之前去過的地方，雖然身體上暫時回不去，但是我有回憶的捷徑，帶我穿梭各地！

I've been recalling the trips to many places I'd gone on before. Physically I can't go back for the time being, but I have the shortcuts of memories that work wonders! 

Plants in Briksdal / 布利克斯達的植物們

山上的氣溫不高，但是花兒還是認真地綻放。

It's rather chilling in the mountains, but flowers are in full bloom. 

        挪威到處都是屋頂長滿小草的屋子，其實植栽是為了隔絕冷空氣。

     Wooden cabins in Norway are topped with vegetation, which is meant to stop the cold air from going in. 

        和一片新鮮的葉子相遇。

     I have a romantic encounter with a fresh leaf. 

Busan 2 / 釜山 2

八月底的釜山已散發濃濃的秋意，雨又下個不停，感覺像是到了離台灣盛夏很遠的地方。

Fall arrives in late August in Busan. There is also ceaseless rain. I feel like being somewhere very far away from the summery Taiwan. 

        釜山處處都是銀杏樹，不過樹葉還是翠綠的顏色，導遊說到了秋天，樹葉就會轉成黃綠色，非常之浪漫。

   There are gingko trees everywhere in Busan. Though the leaves are still lush green, our tour guide says they will turn mustard green in autumn. I can already imagine that in my mind. 

        楓葉預告秋季的到來。

   Maple leaves are ready to usher in the autumn season. 

        松樹結滿淡綠色的毬果。

   Pine trees are loaded with milk-green cones. 

        下雨時松針的眼淚垂在枝緣，看起來楚楚可憐。

   Raindrops hang on the edges of pine leaves, which possesses appealing beauty for me. 

So I exist / 故我在

我說故事故我在。  —電影「伊麗莎白」導演夏克哈卡帕

"I tell a story, so I exist." by the film director of Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Shekhar Kapur

Open / 開

本週的中國字是「開」，不想受限於中文字型，我決定作意譯上的詮釋。

The Chinese word of the week is "open." Not wanting to be restrained by the form of the Chinese character, I decide to go for a more abstract pictorial interpretation. 

今天在電影工作者安得魯史坦頓的演講裡聽到一句匿名的社工說的引言：「一旦你聽了每個人的人生故事，你就無法不愛上他們。」我加註：如果他們願意打開心。

Today I heard a fantastic quote from the movie director and screen-writer Andrew Stanton's talk by an anonymous social worker: There isn't anyone you couldn't love once you've heard their life stories. My footnote: If they are willing to open up.

Anchor / 錨

夏卡爾展期間，好些同事見到我紛紛說，夏卡爾讓他們想起我，的確，我的外在既踏實又穩重，內心卻雙腳離地，但大部分時候都還能找到某種平衡。

During Chagall’s exhibition, some colleagues coincidentally told me that he reminded them of me. Indeed, I am down-to-earth and poised on the outside while inside, I hardly have my feet glued to the ground though I manage to strike a balance between the two extremes most of the time.

四月搬家之後，花了一些時間適應新家和新社區的環境，如同去到旅館，我第一個找的便是書桌，新書桌不大，不過很快就被我貼得花花綠綠，(其實最終目的是為了隱藏濺到白牆上的墨汁)，這是讓我能自由飛翔後，再度安穩回到地面的秘密。最近邊畫畫聽了想了好多種人生的滋味，有失戀的心情，想追回舊愛的心情，被弟弟的胡言亂語逗樂的心情，和宥媽分享生活的心情，等等等等，有一天再度搬離，我希望自己不要忘記這些美麗的回憶。

After I moved in April, it took me some time to get accustomed to the new apartment and new neighborhood. Like going to a hotel, the first thing I look for is always the desk. My current desk isn’t large, but now it has been transformed into a colorful space by me, for the hidden purpose of trying to cover the ink stains I accidentally splashed onto the walls. This is my sanctuary, where I can land safe and sound after my countless imaginary flights into kingdoms that others don’t know exist. And lately I’ve been collecting so many stories during phone talks while drawing at the desk. There are tales of lost love, desperate love, family love, and so on and on and on. I hope I won’t forget the calm and satisfaction I feel here when I move away one day.

下半年要展開了，想到還有兩個多月可以坐在新書桌前工作，不禁感到慶幸，我也希望秋天在倫敦，有這樣一張書桌等著我。

The second part of the year is about to unfold. Simple happiness wells up in my heart when I hit upon the thought that the desk will accompany me for another two months. Moreover, I hope there will be another desk waiting for me in autumn in London.