Contrast / 對比

昨天為了搜集報告的資料，整天趴趴走，除了獲得新知識，也得到有關城市有趣的發現！早上去了坎貝爾圖書館，下午去了倫敦時尚學院的圖書館，不同分校氛圍差別迥異！

I spent a whole day yesterday traveling here and there collecting info about my essay. Apart from gaining new knowledge on my subject matter, I also had interesting discoveries about the city! I went to the library in Camberwell School of Arts in the morning, and in the afternoon I visited London College of Fashion. There is such a huge difference between different schools.

昨天是個美好的冬日，坎貝爾公園的鴿子玩得好不開心！

Yesterday was a very beautiful winter day. The pigeons in Camberwell Green seemed to agree with me. 

冬天的代表顏色不一定是枯黃，也可以是檸檬黃！

The representative color of winter doesn't have to be brownish yellow. It can be lemon yellow! 

去學校的路上遇見校外教學的小朋友和老師，想到了我們家的小方仔。

I ran into the teachers and kids going on a field trip on my way to the school. I recalled our Von... 

每天回家這些隨風飄搖的孩子都會和我打招呼。

Every day when I go home, these duster-looking kids will greet me in the wind. 

坎貝爾是黑人區，街上也充滿庶民風情，讀坎貝爾分校的學生相對之下感覺比較純樸。

Camberwell is more a black area. You can feel how people go about their daily lives merely when walking on the streets. Students that go to Camberwell School of Arts are more down-to-earth in terms of appearances. 

班上好幾位讀過中央聖馬丁的同學和我說，他們並不那麼喜歡因為大部份人都來自有錢的家庭，光是穿著便很講究，我還沒有去過中央聖馬丁分校，但昨天去了倫敦時尚學院就有不同感受。時尚學院位於倫敦最大條的購物街牛津街旁邊，果然我就看到穿皮草的學生，也對啦，如果做時尚的不相信流行，那是要如何說服消費者呢？

Some kids in my class who studied in Central Saint Martin's told me that they don't quite like the school. Most of the students there come from really well-to-do families, and you can tell that right from the ways they dress. So far I haven't been to Central Saint Martin's, but I did get to see the contrast when I went to the library of LCF yesterday. It is located next to the biggest shopping street in London, Oxford Street. Furry coats might be rare in Camberwell, but in LCF, I witnessed that. Well, it makes sense because if one doesn't believe in fashion, then how does he or she convince the consumer to buy it? 

有時可以感受牛津街的繁華真的很不賴，可是我知道我不屬於其中。每個學生都帶著那個學校的氣質呢！

Sometimes it's fantastic to feel the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, but I know that I am not part of it. It's fun that you can see the style of a school in students that study there! 

在回程的巴士上有個女孩緊抓著手機不放，她說到自己的室友要搬去香港，新的室友來自維也納，要去香港的蘿倫才剛遇見夢想中的男人，雖然她離開的六個月內，他可能會去看她，不過蘿倫回來之後男孩要去旅行。

On my way home on the bus, a girl clung to her mobile, talking incessantly. She mentioned her roommate, who is about to move to Hong Kong. The new roommate comes from Vienna. Lauren just met the man of her dreams. Though he is likely to visit her, he will go traveling after she returns. 

邊聽我覺得一切都很像超現實，我處於人們快速移動的世界裡，因為這樣，最近我深切覺得我要抓住我相信的人事物，才站得牢，彷彿我身邊的潮水來了又退，我不要因此跌下，我要自信地站穩，而那就是我的位置。

While eavesdropping her stories, everything appeared to be so surreal for me. I am in a world where people move so fast. Right because of that, I have the desperate need to hold onto what I believe in so that I can stand firm. The tides around me ebb and flow, but I don't want to fall. I am going to stay put and create a niche for myself here. 

Looking / 看

昨天晚上又做了傻事，邊看大仁和又青就吃掉了一整條巧克力餅乾，為了減輕罪惡感，我還穿上大外套去冷冷的中庭繞圈圈，冬天真不是我的季節啊！

Yesterday evening I was out of control again. While watching a very popular Taiwanese drama, I ate up a whole pack of double chocolate chip cookies. To alleviate myself of the erosive sense of guilt, I put on my super warm overcoat for a walk in the freezing courtyard. I am by no means a winter person!

古巴海報設計師巴克斯之作 / posters by the Cuban poster artist Bachs

今天早上起來繼續自我檢討，我只要有什麼想不通的做不好的，都得靠畫畫當作治療。昨天一整天都在研究我要寫的報告，主題是1960年代的古巴海報設計對今日視覺設計的影響，這裡寫報告的方法很特別，老師不僅要看最後的報告，我們還要交整個過程做的筆記、搜集的資料和自己的速寫，這樣真的可以讓我們完完全全和研究內容融成一片啊！我很喜歡這個叫巴克斯的設計師， 他 並沒有受過科班訓練，所以他的作品有那種天真的感覺。

This morning after I woke up, I thought about imposing more rigor on my dieting plan. Well, when I can't figure out something or fail to meet my own expectations, I turn to drawing as a form of therapy. Yesterday I was working on my essay, whose topic is about the influence of Cuban posters from the 1960s on the modern visual communication. Here teachers require students to hand in not only the final essay. We also have to submit development files, which include the notes, photocopies and our drawings. I do think that this will make me become part of the research. I really love the works of this designer named Bachs. He didn't receive any formal art training, so that's why there is this naive feel in his art.

既然我這麼受不了冬天，不如我就用巴克斯的風格來畫個冬日系列的明信片：

Since I don't like winter so much, why not draw a series of postcards based on Bachs' style?

冬天的冷度可以用我的小腹圓度測量。

You can measure the coldness of winter with the diameter of my belly. 

今天我開始我的水果減肥法。

Today I started my fruit dieting plan. 

早上有一刻我問自己：你在這裡做什麼？另一個聲音說：你在活出你的夢想啊！

At one moment in the morning, I asked myself, "What are you doing here?" A voice replied, "You are living out your dream!" 

這是為一個即將搬到夏天去的貴賓畫的‧‧‧

This is reserved for a VVIP who's about to move to summer... 

可能是我的罪惡感，這個畫畫治療還挺有效的，加上我的土司發霉了，早上我很清心寡慾。

Together with my potent guilty feeling, this drawing therapy was rather effective. Besides, my toast went stale, so I didn't have any uncontrollable craving in the morning. 

下午是我和老師學期末總面談的時間，，我大包小包地帶出門。我的面談老師是德瑞克，雖然他負責的是平面設計組的同學，但是他也和許多國際學生面談。德瑞克是很有愛心的老師，因為他之前也沒特別看過我的作品，他給的評語很客觀，他說他的確感受到我作品裡的熱情，但是他沒看到客觀的觀察，我必須加強「看」的部份，我說我很明白自己的問題，他於是開給我很像藥方的評語單：每天畫一張客觀的圖。

In the afternoon I had the tutorial with my teacher, so I left home with tons of drawings. My tutor this time was Derek. Though he is mostly in charge of the graphic design majors, he also schedules talks with international students this week. Derek is a very patient and wonderful teacher. He has hardly looked at my works before, so he gives me very objective feedback. He said that he does feel the energy in my works, but he doesn't see the observed drawings. I have to emphasize the act of looking. I said that I am also aware of my own problem. He suggests that I do a drawing of the observation on a daily basis. 

而且好玩的是，德瑞克點出來的好圖和之前麥特說的完全重疊，居然都是我沒在想要畫得好時產出的作品，包括可怕的羊！所以摒棄個人的主觀感覺，圖的好壞基本上是有某些標準的。

The funny thing is that the drawings that Derek thinks of as good are nearly the same as those picked by Matt, and these are pictures done when I wasn't thinking of impressing anyone, including the scary sheep! I've learned that apart from subjective feeling, there are certain criteria when it comes to judging drawings. 

放假的這個月裡，看似有很多時間，可是也可以很充實，我又站起來了，我不會被冬天和競爭打敗！

It seems that I have ample time during the one-month break, but there is so much to do. Now I am back on my feet. I won't be defeated by winter and competitions! 

Where is the moon? / 月亮在哪裡？

下午從圖書館出來時，行道樹的燈點亮了，月亮就躲在樹上的點點光亮間，和我玩捉迷藏。

When I came out of the library in the late afternoon, the trees were lighted. The moon hid among the branches playing hide-and-seek with me. 

今天氣溫直直掉，走在路上都要變成冰棒了，還好沿路都是月亮的化身，過節的氣氛越來越濃‧‧‧

I felt a huge drop in temperature today. I came near becoming a popsicle as I walked on my way home. Luckily, I was accompanied by many moons. The whole s street feels so Christmas...

homesickness / 想家

周末和家人朋友聊了天，不過想家的心情因此被掀了開來，我想到之前同學茹絲在臉書上寫的一句話，前幾天下了雨，她說落雨讓她看到家鄉格拉斯哥，今天我想家的情緒像雨般下起來。

I skyped with my family and friend this weekend, but my homesickness was thus uncovered. I recalled some remarks by my classmate Ruth on FB. It rained a few days ago, but it relieved her of her homesickness because it pished like that in her hometown Glasgow. Today my homesickness rained down on me. 

「把那樣的心情畫下來吧！」早上起床之後我開始想家系列的明信片，畢竟在我長長的一輩子裡，我難得有這樣的感觸，要好好利用才行。

"Why don't you draw it?" After I got up this morning, I started my homesickness series of postcards. After all, in my long life, I hardly feel this. I should make very positive use of my emotion. 

收到這張明信片的人，到時候很多星星會被旁邊的鉛筆痕跡抹黑，那時還亮著的就真的屬於你。

By the time this postcard is received by the person for whom it is meant for, many stars will be smudged by the pencil drawing around them. Those stars that still remain bright are yours then. 

我們來玩個遊戲，看你會不會收到你想要的那張明信片。如果我遺忘了你，請和我說。

Let's play a game to see if you will receive the postcard you like. If I accidentally forget you, please let me know. 

下午和同學開了下午茶派對，可是我很怕派對結束之後一個人的感覺，還好我為嘉蕊煮了晚餐。她回房間做功課，我就在下雨的夜晚繼續畫圖，想家也是種很幸福的事，代表在這世界上我屬於我愛的人和愛我的人‧‧‧

I had a nice afternoon party with my classmates in the afternoon, but I am very afraid of being left all alone after the party. Luckily, I had Jazel to cook dinner for. After she went back to her room to continue her assignment, I resumed drawing on a rainy evening. It's nice to feel homesick because it means in this vast world I belong to those whom I love and who love me...

happy day / 幸福的一天

上大學時，外宿的女同學會有男同學送宵夜或早餐，我從來沒經歷過那種公主般的待遇。在美國生病的時候，傻傻的男同學只想到買麥當勞。到了倫敦我已經超過被伺候的年齡，還好我一直都很知本份，而且我想如果有人送宵夜，我是會變胖的，沒有也挺好的。

In university, girls who live in dorms might get midnight snacks or breakfast from the boys who are romantically interested in them. Since I lived at home all along, I had never experienced that. When I fell sick once in the US, my friend knew nothing more than buying food from the McDonald's. Here in London, I am way beyond the age of being waited on like a princess. Well, I've always known what I can expect. Besides, if people sent me too often midnight snacks, I would gain weight, which really makes me appreciate having none of that. 

但是可以偶爾替別人煮飯是很棒的事，這兩天我一直在研究麵粉的用法，今天聽了薛小吉的建議做了炒餅，我加上炒蛋和起司，就變成黃金起司炒餅，可憐的嘉蕊還在趕報告，我就在冷冷的天送一盤新發明到她的房間，可惜啊可惜，要是個男人應該早被我擄獲了‧‧‧晚餐的菜色也相當誘人，是番茄醬洋蔥蘑菇蛋炒飯和菠菜麵疙瘩湯佐海苔。

But it's wonderful to cook for others from time to time. I've been working on the use of flour these two days. Today I followed Shaggy's advice and tried scrambled pancakes. I added scallion, scrambled eggs and cheese, so in the end it was golden cheese scrambled pancake. Poor Jazel is still struggling with her assignment, so I sent a plate right out of the pan to her room on such a freezing day. If she were a man, I am sure that he would be captured, or his stomach...The menu for dinner was rather tempting as well. I had ketchup fried rice with sliced onions and mushroom, dumplings with spinach soup served with dried seaweeds. 

順便把最新的明信片上架，我的牆上風景不斷改變。離開家三個月，小方已經學會注音符號，這是歲月的痕跡啊！

I put up the latest postcards sent to me. The  scenery on my wall is constantly changing. I've left home three months, and Von has learned to read the phonetic system in Mandarin. It reminds me how fast time has passed by. 

下午去米亞田野公園散步寫生，雖然外頭很冷，但是畫著畫著反而不去想氣溫了。我這麼推崇這個小公園，會不會有讀者以為它是什麼觀光景點啊，老實說肯辛頓公園拍起來也差不多啦，但米亞田野公園是我心靈上很大的慰藉呢！

In the afternoon I went to Myatt's Fields Park for a walk and sketching. It was freezing outside, but as I drew on, I forgot about the temperature. I wonder if my readers will have the idea that Myatt's Fields Park is a major scenic spot in London. To be honest, I don't think Kensington Park would look more impressive in photos. Myatt's Fields Park is a very important place in my life now because it offers me much mental consolation. 

naked / 赤裸裸

過去的這三個月裡收到許多朋友和家人的溫暖信件，前幾天我無法做功課時，我問自己想要做什麼，心底的聲音說：我想寫信給大家。今天開始動工了，這也是個自我療癒和了解的過程。今天也做了蔥油餅、去了國家肖像畫廊，我已經復原，找回屬於我的線條，對於人生有新的定義和看法。

Over the past three months, I have received tons of mail from many friends and my family. A few days ago when I couldn't bring myself to do the assignment, I asked myself what I wanted to do. A voice from deep down my heart said loud: I want to write to people I love. I have started the project this morning, and it is also a process of self-analysis and self-healing. Today I also tried to make scallion pancakes and went to National Portrait Gallery. I have recuperated and retrieved my line. Now I have new definitions and perspectives on life.

現在的我表皮的處變不驚被剝光光了，我常有驚慌失措之感，昨天某一刻覺得我離原來的舒適地帶好遠了，我和自己說，這是好事，因為下次再有同樣機會不知是什麼時候，而且最近發現沮喪到爬起來的下一刻之間的間距，越來越短，越來越短。

Now my poise on the surface has been torn off. I often find myself at a loss. Yesterday at a moment I realized that I am so far away from my comfort zone now. I  tell myself that this is good because I don't know when I will have another chance to feel so. Besides, it takes me less and less time to get over frustration. 

那是因為我知道總是會有人等著給我暖暖的擁抱‧‧‧

That is because I know that  you'll be waiting with your heart-warming hugs for me...

Dec. 1 / 十二月一日

用了幾年的速描鉛筆始終保持一樣的身高，最近兩個月裡迅速地變矮了。

The stature of the pencils, which I had been using for years, remained approximately the same. They have become so much shorter over the last two months. 

這幾天給了自己很多心理建設，無論最後節果如何，我要很享受畫圖的過程。

I've given myself many pep talks over the past few days. Whatever the outcome, at least I have to enjoy drawing. 

雖然花了兩個整天才畫完，就我自己而言，以前的我是不會選擇單用鉛筆表現，因為我沒有信心我的鉛筆畫可以撐起整個畫面。

It took me two work days to complete the project. However, in terms of my own change, I wouldn't opt for pencil drawing in the past because I didn't have confidence that my technique is good enough.

一去到畫室，大家忙著把畫掛起來，今天是本學期最後的評論日。

As soon as I went into the studio, I saw everyone hang up their works. Today was the last crit day this term. 

今天光掛畫的部份被老師唸了很多次。我知道自己的作品在想法上要觀者發揮下去不容易，再加上我沒有強調字體方面，所以當然還有很多要改進的地方。

I was nagged at several times when it comes to hanging up the images. I also know that my core idea isn't easy to expand. I didn't make it a point to elaborate on typography. There is certainly much room for improvement. 

老師要我們互相給回饋，真好，可以聽到別人的想法和建議。

Lou wanted us to give each other feedback. It was nice to hear other people's opinions and suggestions. 

最近我有點擔心我自己，和很上進的同學比起來，我好像在尋求老師幫助上沒有那麼主動，有一些時候也需要個人思考的空間，但是想過之後，我都能夠很快地站起來往前進。我以前老覺得我是很開闊的人，現在居然懷疑起這件事，沒關係，那我就再開闊點好了。

Lately I have kind of worried about myself. Compared with other really ambitious classmates, I am not so active in seeking for help from tutors. Sometimes I need to think on my own. However, after I figure out things, I am capable of being on my own feet again and move on. I used to think that I am an open-minded person, but now I really have doubts about that. Well, that's ok as long as I try to be more open-minded... 

今年的最後一個月裡，我想很自在地畫圖，下學期我會帶著熱情的心回來學習！

In the last month this year, I want to draw whatever I feel like. Next term I'll come back to learn more with passion!