Sunshine! / 雨過天晴

有一天坐在書桌前什麼事也不想做，便上網玩起塔羅牌，其中一張正義牌說：因為你之前實在做太多好事了，所以現在會不斷地收到回饋，有股力量會把你往成功的路上推去。

One day I was sitting at my desk in no mood for doing my assignments. I was so bored  that I began to play free tarot card reading online. One of the cards Justice said, "Because you have done too many good deeds, now it's time for everything to come back to you. You'll be led to success in the end." 

同一天晚上我收到了兩封令我興奮到睡不著的電子郵件。因為最近做的報告，我必須寫信給某些博物館的專業人士或藝術家，問他們可不可以撥冗和我面談，我已經找到幾個我有興趣訪問的業界人士，但沒有把握他們會給我正面的回覆，當天硬著頭皮寄信到童話之屋的詢問信箱，結果經營本博物館的館主藝術家之一黛伯拉一兩個小時之內便回覆給我，因為童話之屋本週六在肯特有活動，黛伯拉說我只要去到那，有很多藝術家可以訪問。

The same evening I received two email which so excited me that I couldn't fall asleep that night. Because of my industry report, I have to email four practitioners to see if they can spare time for me for short interviews. I had found certain names, but I was not sure if they would be willing to do so. I forced myself to send an email to the generic email address of House of Fairy Tales. Deborah Curtis, one of the artists that are in charge of the museum, got back to me very soon afterwards. Since House of Fairy Tales hosts some activities in Kent this coming Saturday, Deborah said that I'll have many artists to interview then. 

另一封信則是有關上週投稿參加的明信片比賽，博物館寫信來說我的明信片會出現在五月的展覽裡，還會印成書，並且邀請我五月四日去博物館和明信片合照。雖然以英國之美為題的比賽走善良路線，有投稿都有中獎的感覺，但是這可是我在英國留下的一點小痕跡啊！然後我和嘉蕊又有地方可以去玩了。

Another email was about the postcard I sent in for a competition last week. The Corinium Museum wrote to tell me that my work has been chosen and that it will be published in the book as well. I was invited for the private view on May 4. Though this competition based on the theme of Best of Britain seems to give out a prize to everyone that participates in the contest, this is a trace, however small it is, that I leave in the UK! Meanwhile, Jazel and I can travel somewhere again. 

這幾天每發信詢問藝術家是否能接受訪問，總是立刻收到正面的回信。今天和露提到童話之屋時，露說：如果我沒記錯，這週六其實是黛伯拉和蓋文（童話之屋的另一名藝術家經營者）的婚禮，和童話之屋的活動一起舉辦。什麼？我就這樣要去到一場婚禮，真是太神奇了！之前我對英國人的冷淡難道是誤解嗎？

This week when I sent email to artists or practitioners, I always got nice replies. Today I mentioned House of Fairy Tales to Lu, she said, "If I don't remember it wrong, Deborah and Gavin (Turk, the other artist in charge of the museum) are going to have their wedding this coming Saturday. It will be held at the same time as the activities." What? I am going to a wedding without my even being aware of it? How amazing! My impression of the polite yet distant Britons turned out to be SO WRONG? 

露姐上週邀請插畫之家的教育部門負責人愛蜜莉來演講，她因沒有時間婉拒，我又很厚臉皮寫信去問可否去她的辦公室訪問她，愛蜜莉說已經派了兩名插畫家在五月中來畫室和我們做交流，但她很好心地說：我還是可以幫你，還可以把去學校做推廣的作品給你看。一定是上天希望我離開時可以帶著美好的回憶，我最近真的有好人卡兌現的感覺啊！

Lu told us that she had invited Emily, the education manager of House of Illustration, to give us a talk last week, but the latter turned down because of lack of time. I felt like giving it another try, so I sent her an email asking if I could interview her in her office. She said two illustrators will come in around mid-May to share their experiences with us, BUT she offered to meet me in her office in May and show me the physical outcomes of the illustration projects done in schools! I bet God wants me to leave with good impressions of the UK. I do have the strong feeling that my accumulated brownie points are being put to good use! 

早知道之前的黑暗和眼淚最後會讓我看到這樣的光明，應該要多哭一點才是！

If I had known that the darkness and tears would result in bright sunlight, I should have cried more!