Faith / 信念

有信念是世界上最美好的事！ 

Having faith is one of the most beautiful things in the world! 

Growth / 成長

去年這個時候幫泰文老師畫了一些泰國文化的插圖，雖然很可惜最後沒用到這些圖，今年又回頭看時，覺得自己可以畫得更有風格，這也是我的成長吧！

Last year at this time I was illustrating a book on Thai culture for my teacher, but unfortunately, the project was canceled halfway. When I look back now, I feel that I can come up with more stylized pictures, which I think indicates my growth. 

         明天又要去曼谷旅行了，可以吃吃看畫過但還沒體驗過的食物，我自己很期待喔！ 

     I am traveling to Bangkok again tomorrow. I am looking forward to sampling food that I have illustrated but haven't tasted yet! 

Starry starry night / 星空下

和孩子們一起去彰化服務學習，孩子們形容給我聽小小教室裡的夜晚，我覺得人肉堆疊戰很有畫面。

I went on a service-learning trip to Changhwa with my students. When the girls described to me the scene in the small classroom, I couldn't help drawing it.

        這幾天發生許多大大小小的故事，不過當我看到滿天的星空，心裡冒出的還是同一句話：難怪我會一直想要來！

     A lot of stories happened during the past four days. But the twinkling stars at night erased my doubts and reassured me of my decision to take such a trip with the kids!

Handdrawn Seachien Village / 手繪溪墘村

我說：「要畫過一個地方才算真的認識它。」

I say, I need to sketch a place to really know it. 

今年去溪墘村拍了很多照片，不過我總是得坐下來一兩個小時，好好地速寫，才能把對當地的體驗內建於我的腦裡。去年我也在溪墘村畫了好幾張圖，但我總覺得今年的圖會很不一樣。

I took many photos this winter in Seachien Village. However, to build the memories of a place into my head, I have to sit down for one or two hours to sketch. What really excited me was, I drew some sketches of the same place last year, and I was looking forward to what I would produce this year. 

        今年的天氣雖然豔陽高照，氣溫卻低得嚇人，我坐在堤防上畫圖時，風狂野地呼嘯著，可是我不要因為這樣走掉，我在零度左右的天氣裡畫到手都凍了也都能繼續，這不算什麼。

   The weather was deceptively sunny, but the cold wind raged as I sat on the embankment drawing. As I had tried sketching on freezing days in Europe, the last thing I wanted to do was to walk away without having finished any image. 

        因為畫了這張圖，所以我才想到要趨上前和阿伯問他種的是什麼作物，否則在第一回拍照時，我按下快門便冷酷地走掉。

   If I hadn't drawn the sketch, I wouldn't have gone up to the farmer and asked him about his crops. In fact, I had walked past him cooly right after having taken photos earlier that day. 

        和阿伯聊完後，待他踩機車油門要回家時，我用力地揮手和他道再見。

   I waved goodbye to him when he was about to ride his scooter home after our chat. 

        每次來都抵擋不了這些很有風味的紅磚屋，上次也在傍晚時來速寫，這次遇見出來倒垃圾的阿姨，她問我是不是在殺時間，我說不是，我是特地來畫這些房子的，因為它們很美麗。

   I could never resist the charm of these red-brick houses whenever I came. I did the sketches in the evening last year as well. This time a lady who came out to dump garbage spotted me. She asked if I was killing time. I said no. I came to draw the houses on purpose because I found them so beautiful. 

        去年來到溪墘村時，內心有股很大的反動力，可能是那股力量，讓我全心集中在畫圖上，今年心很平靜，但少了力道，所以我也明白畫起圖來不怎麼樣。

   When I came last year, I felt a great force in me, which I directed to drawing. However, this year I was in a very poised state of mind. Without the fire, I knew the drawings aren't that powerful. 

        要離開的最後一天，到和安國小餐廳後的田地前，去年我曾在同樣的地方畫一張圖，我想試試看今年畫出來的圖會是什麼樣子。去年宜棒在我畫圖的某刻冒出來陪了我幾分鐘，今年我有新的同伴，圖左方的房子裡冒出兩個孩子和我作伴，於是我明白，我們總是會遇到新的人，每一刻會有不同的火花，我不能說哪一刻最美好，因為每一刻都有當下的燦爛。

   On the last day before we left, I went to the same spot behind the cafeteria of He-an Elementary School. I drew right there last year, and I'd like to see what my picture this year would look like. Last year my student Croc emerged out of nowhere and spent a few minutes with me while I was sketching. Interestingly, this year I had new companions. The two kids living in the house on the left side of the image came to greet me. I thus realized, we will always run into new people. There are new sparks for every moment. In my world, there isn't "the best moment" for every moment has its beauty. 

Why do we need illustration? / 插畫的必要性

腎蕨 / Tuberous Sword Fern

畫眼睛看得到的植物不難，即使剛開始不上手，左看右看左畫右畫，多練習幾次就熟練了。不過貴美出了個大難題給我，她從戶外庭園拿一株腎蕨，解釋完構造之後，領我到蕨類的成長過程插圖前，對我說：今天我希望你可以把腎蕨的演進畫出來，但是這些都是要在顯微鏡下才看得到的。於是我們很認真地把腎蕨放在顯微鏡下研究，但最多只能看到孢子群。

Drawing a plant isn't hard, even for someone like me who's not known for being precise when it comes to drawing. I might not get the hang of it right away, but practice makes perfect. However, Guei-mei gives me a tremendous challenge this time. She comes in with the Tuberous Sword Fern from the garden. After explaining to me every part, she leads me to a huge poster on which the whole development process is illustrated. Then she announces to me: I hope you can draw the same thing for the Tuberous Sword Fern. Because many images can be seen only with the help of the microscope, we struggle hard with the apparatus. Yet we can only see as much as spores.

       此時另一位同事不禁加入我們的對話：為什麼要用畫的呢？現在拍照不是很容易的事嗎？我忍不住點頭搗蒜，因為我每天都上網查植物的圖片。貴美回答：畫的不是很好嗎？以前的人也都是用畫的啊！「因為之前沒有相機啊！」我這麼喜歡插畫，卻說不出像樣的答案來，不過功課既然都出了，我還是很乖巧地坐在小鐵櫃前畫圖。

   Meanwhile another colleague can't help joining our conversation. She asks: Why do you need drawings? Isn't it easier to take photos? I can't agree more since I look for images of plants online on a daily basis. Guei-mei responds: I love drawings. People used to do that too. "That's because cameras were not available!" Much as I love illustration, I can't come up with a decent reason either. Still, the task has been given, and I'll take it. 

       然後當我畫到快要蒸發時，新展覽室的設計師走出來，他問我是不是標本館請來畫圖的，然後突然靈機一動，覺得我可以畫宣傳的海報，走之前說了一句：很有手感。於是我找到了那個下午的答案，攝影和插畫各有價值，照片可以被用在科學上的研究，可是插畫可以用在設計上，而且我相信對有些人來說，插畫可能會吸引他們走進植物的世界，這何嘗不是個好的開始？

   When I draw to such a point that I feel like evaporating, the designer for the new exhibition room walks out, asking me if the herbarium hired me to draw. Then he hits upon a brilliant idea of letting me draw the poster for the promotion. Before he leaves, he gives me the answer I was looking for: It feels idiosyncratic. It is then I realize why we need illustration. Photography can be used in scientific research, but illustration can be applied to design. Besides, for some people, illustration serves as a means to lead them into the world of plants, which I believe, is a rather wonderful beginning point. 

        在植物標本館的每一天都有驚喜。

   In TAI Herbarium, there are surprises in store for me every day. 

Boundless / 沒有界線

初認識台灣萍蓬草沒多久，在某次搭高鐵的旅程中發現，它曾經快要瀕臨絕種，當下突然覺得，這世界有太多我沒有注意到的生命，以它的節奏和週期誕生死亡，可是如果我只要有一次機會認識它，之後我如果再和它相遇，就不會錯過，以前以為這叫做巧合，現在我則認為，，世界上的每樣人事物都有如此緊密的連結。

Soon after I met the yellow waterlily, I came across an article about it in the High Speed Rail magazine on one trip. It was not until then that I learned the flower was once on the verge of extinction. It dawned on me that there are so many forms of life on earth, but I have no idea of their existence. They rise and fall at their own paces, having nothing to do with my life at all. However, if I am given just one chance to know it, I am sure I won't miss it when seeing it afterwards. I used to believe that is called coincidence; yet now I think it's because everything, every being and every story in this world is inter-connected.

        要轉三十七歲的前夕，我決定不要再錯過路邊的、眼前的生命，於是十天前開始，我信手寫了一張明信片給薛吉，說每天我都要畫一張當天遇見的植物，三百六十五天後，我們會把明信片放在行動的行李箱裡，寄給想要觀看小展覽的人。

   Before turning 37, I decide that I don't want to miss any life right next to me or in front of me. Therefore, about ten days ago, on a postcard sent to Shaggy, I came up with an idea: I am going to draw a plant/an animal on a daily postcard. In one year, we'll put 365 postcards in a small suitcase, sending it to anyone who's interested in the private exhibition.

        正在上文化課的小吉給了我如此的回應，這也會是旅行的展覽一部分。

   Shaggy, who's taking courses on Taiwanese culture, responds to me as shown above. Her mail will be part of our traveling exhibition too. 

        我們都是念舊、極需安全感的處女座，但沒有人規定我們要那樣過活，從現在開始我們的人生沒有界線。

   As Virgos, we are both attached to the old people and in desperate need of a sense of security, but we are learning to live otherwise. From now on, our life is going to be boundless....

Orange / 橘子

因為對於剝橘子有很多五官上的想像，所以真的去買了一些來品嚐。握一顆橘子在手中，是整個饗宴的起端，先是芳香的嗅覺刺激，接下來是剝橘子皮，手指和水果皮的交纏，構成視覺、嗅覺、和觸覺的三奏曲，最後把橘子剝開，黃橙橙的汁液留得到處都是，每一口自然的酸酸甜甜，之前的所有步驟都是為了最後送進嘴中，至高的味覺享受。

I had kept imagining the moment of peeling an orange and the stimulation it would bring to my five senses, so I ended up buying some for the real experience. The feast begins with the fragrance the orange exudes when I hold the little orange ball in my hands. Next comes the excitement of peeling an orange. Apart from the visual stimulation,  with my fingers lacing the thick yet juicy peel, I get to feel the orange through olfactory and tactile contact. Then inevitably the golden juice will drip and smear my hands and face. The climax lies in sending the beautiful fruit into my mouth for it to savor the sublime taste, which is a perfect mix of sour and sweet love. 

生活的每一刻都是五味的綜合演出，吃橘子的當下即永恆。

Every instant in life is a beautiful combination of five senses. There is an everlastingness to the moment of eating an orange, and any other moment.