Northeast coast in the rain / 下雨的東北角

爸爸生日，我們去東北角兜兜風。沿路雨越下越大，卻感覺很痛快。

On Dad's birthday, we go for a drive along the northeast coast. Though it pours, we are not daunted by the rain at all. Instead, we've never been so determined. 

        我在車子裡寫生，我們一邊沒有目的地喃喃，而車外的釣客則無畏風雨，等著出航。

     I sketch inside the dry and cozy car. Dad and I ramble on casually. Meanwhile, despite the rain, the fishermen on the cruise are ready to sail on the sea. 

        我們駛過一個又一個灣口，來到鼻頭角（上面的筆記有錯），風景美得令人屏息，我拿起筆，車子裡都是畫筆刷在紙上的聲音。畫完了，下車吹吹冷風，撲鼻而來的海洋味是當天最美好的禮物，當然還有超級動人的海浪。

     We race on the winding road along the sea, finally arriving at Pitouchiao. The scenery is so breathtaking that I can't help taking up my pens. The car is filled with the sounds of my brushes stroking on the paper. After finishing the sketch, I get off the car to take a closer look at the seacoast. The salty smell of the sea fills my nostrils, which is the best gift of the day, apart from the fantastic sea waves. 

        之後來到南雅奇岩，石頭、浪花、雨水，絕對詩意的組合。

     Afterwards we visit Nanya rocks. What an absolutely poetic combination of rocks, waves, and rain!

        最後來到很有異國情調的和平島，超級浪漫！

     We top off the outing with a photo shot at the super romantic Hoping Island. 

        不是我的生日，但收了比生日禮物還棒的大禮！

     It's not my birthday, but it's definitely a day much better than a birthday! 

Too much beef / 牛啊，對不起！

下雨天最棒的享受之一是吃涮涮鍋，可是我對牛非常不好，連續吃了三天的牛肉鍋，是地球暖化的罪魁禍首。

One of the luxuries on rainy days is to eat hot pot, but I went for the beef for three days consecutively. Well, I feel very guilty about causing global warming to worsen...

Gifts on a rainy day / 下雨天的禮物

是無限的想像力！

Is endless IMAGINATION!

Happy Big Bear 

Big Bear loves rainy days, 

when there are traffic jams,

when he can sleep on the trams.

Big Bear has honey in his bag; 

not to hear his teachers nag,

Big Bear decides to skip school

because he wants to try the cool 

picnic in the rain 

with his honey mixed with the rain 

還有來自倫敦超級酷的禮物！

And this super cool gift from London! 

戴著它，下雨天也閃亮無比！

I feel my rainy days are extremely shiny when I wear it! 

When it's not raining / 不下雨的時候

下雨的清晨五點起床畫圖，沉浸在書房的橘色燈光裡，雨天也變得很詩意。

I get up at five in the morning to draw on a rainy day. Basking in the orange light in my study, I can't imagine a more poetic day. 

        蘇菲說自己很像大海裡的小小魚，我說可以像條小魚游在下雨的城市裡，是種幸福。

     Sophy says she's like a small fish in the ocean. I feel there's joy and beauty in swimming in a watery city like a small fish. 

        於是，不下雨的早晨，我反而想念起雨了。

     So I can't help missing the rain when it's not raining. 

Come come sunshine! / 陽光快來！

現在下雨天對我的影響並不大，不過這週我感受到雨天的鬱悶，原來在進行的project出了問題，本來一心一意地往前衝，因此得停工，沒有了目標，我感到很失落。

Now rainy days can't influence me, but this past week I felt the blues of rain. Something went wrong with the project I had been working on, which made me have to take a sudden pause. I was totally lost as if the firm rock I was standing on turned out to be nothing but an illusion.

        晃蕩了一整週，在迷惘當中想了很多事，陽光出現之前，我提醒自己年初許的新願望，即使沒有了外在的目標，我可以再次為自己訂目標。

     I wandered mentally for a whole week, but in my confusion, I got to think about many things. Finally, I reminded myself my new year resolutions. I realized that even without any outer goal, I can set goals for myself again.

        雖然之前畫泰王畫得很高興，但是得先跟泰王說再見了，現在就先讓金黃色的陽光陪伴我吧！

     Though I had a great time drawing the Thai king a lot, but now I have to say goodbye to kun po for the time being. I'll have the golden sunshine keep me company for the moment!

Apple x Banana / 香蕉蘋果

下雨的早晨，來點鮮艷的顏色醒腦！

It takes bright colors to wake me up on a rainy morning! 

When the rain stops / 雨停了

清晨，雨停了，我在微微的昏迷中享受安靜的美好。

In the morning, the rain stops. I savor the beauty of silence in half-awakeness. 

出門的路上，有句話從心頭冒出來：這世界不全然是美麗的，但我要當一道光。

A sentence pops out of my mind on my way out: This world is not all beautiful, but I want to be the light.

i am not crying / 我沒有在哭

上週收到世界展望會的通知，我贊助的對象居然從馬拉威弟弟換成換了尼日的小男童，明明出國之前小弟還祝我長壽，才能一直資助他，打電話詢問細節之後，才知道馬拉威弟弟全家搬出了計畫區，小姐還安慰我說，也許弟弟家庭環境變好也不一定。

Last week I received a letter from World Vision. It was not until then that I realized I am actually sponsoring a little boy Abassi from Niger instead of Mphande from Malawi, whom I'd sponsored for several years. It was quite unexpected for me because right before I left for the UK, Mphande wished me a long life so that I could offer him help for an extended period. I called up the organization and one lady explained that Mphande and his family had moved out of the sponsored area. She said maybe his family had become better off financially. 

今天在捷運上，聽見一個小男孩對外婆說：我一直流眼淚，但我沒有在哭。說話的口氣及話裡的真誠很昂貴。

During my MRT ride today, I heard a little boy saying to his grandma, "Somehow my eyes are shedding tears, but I am not crying." The beauty and innocence of his words were so priceless. 

突然想上網查非洲地圖，尼日在非洲西部靠中間，馬拉威小小的，塞在東南部，男孩的眼睛裡也下雨嗎？

I have a sudden urge to look up the map of Africa. Niger is in the west of Africa, in fact, kind of close to the centre. Malawi is rather small, tucked between some countries in the southeast. Is it raining in the boys' eyes too?

Rainbow maker / 彩虹製造機

最近倫敦進入雨季，每天傍晚散步回家，運動鞋底盡是花瓣和落葉。宿舍網路斷了兩天，我過著認真做作業和閱讀的生活，還好凱特送我的彩虹製造機讓我的小房間繽紛不少。

Lately we have been experiencing a rainy London spring. Every evening after my walk, I take home with me fallen petals and leaves stuck to the soles of my sneakers. The Internet was disconnected for two days in Brooke Hall. I was thus able to focus more on my assignments and reading. Luckily, the rainbow maker from Caterina adds colors to my little room. 

嘉蕊和我就在寒冷又淒涼的雨中唱起「Singing in the Rain」‧‧‧

Jazel and I are not baffled by the icy rain at all. We still walk in the rain and wind. Finding the spring rain and sunset so poetic, we can't help humming "Singing in the Rain" like two happy madwomen...