British kind of life / 英式人生

來到這裡都還未體驗人家口中的英式早餐，想到我的時間一分一秒在流失，最近想要抓住當下的領悟更強烈了，於是今天早上出門和同學溫蒂吃早午餐去。我們約在牛津街附近夏綠蒂廣場十三號的蘭特娜，本來我都查好要怎麼去，但是倫敦的交通運輸系統非常不可預測，地鐵線常常在施工中，今天牛津街整條封街，公車到不了。這種時候我都只能自我安慰我在這個城市得到的太多，這些小事不足掛齒。

I hadn't tasted what others call "British breakfast" since I came here. Thinking that my time is drifting by, I have a stronger desire than ever to seize the day. This morning my classmate Wen Dee and I planned to meet up for British brunch at Lantana 13 Charlotte Place near Oxford Street. I had looked up the route, but the mass transportation in London is known for its unpredictability. The underground lines are often closed for construction. Today there were all sorts of activities going on on Oxford Street, and the buses couldn't go there. At moments like this, I have to tell myself that I have gained too much in this city and that these hassles are nothing compared to its beauty.

這家溫蒂查到的店店面不大，但是擠滿了人，我們點了各式香腸配荷包蛋和香蕉麵包佐藍莓醬，雖然看起來不多，但這兩盤加上飲品就花了我們22.5磅，住在台北也是很幸福的啊！

This restaurant, which Wen Dee found online, isn't large, but it was packed with people. We ordered a savoury plate with assorted sausages and a sunny-side up egg and a sweet dish with banana toast and blueberry yogurt sauce. They weren't much in quantity, but the meal together with beverage cost us 22.5 quids. It's pretty nice to live in Taipei as well! 

聖誕節要到了，牛津街的人潮根本就是倒出來的，但是假日到了也有好處，馬克史賓塞百貨的超市提供各種試吃的食物，冷冷的天來上一小杯熱葡萄酒，配上一小塊梅子乾蛋糕，簡直就是人間仙境！

With Christmas around the corner, the crowds on Oxford Street were drowning me. But the plus was that there were all sorts of sample food in Marks and Spencer. On such a freezing day, it was heavenly to try body-warming mulled wine with a small piece of prune cake! 

不過今天的重點是下午我要和貝絲和勵雯去做一件很特別的事。我們在下個月要交的報告裡，必須有第一手、第二手和第三手的研究資料，既然我們的主題是古巴海報，老師要我們親眼看到一張海報，很幸運地，我在網路上找到一位先生查理，他收集許多1960到1980的古巴海報，前幾天打電話給他，他很大方地邀請我們週末去他家觀賞他的收藏。

But the highlight of the day was that in the late afternoon, I had a very unique mission with Beth and Li-wen. In the essay we have to hand in next month, we have to include primary, secondary, and tertiary research. Since our topic is about Cuban posters, Derek wants us to see a poster in person. Luckily, I found a collector Charlie online. He has a huge collection of Cuban posters from 1960 to 1980. When I called him up a few days ago, he invited us with generosity to go to his place to view the posters this weekend. 

本來只是在老師演講或網路上看到的海報就攤在我們眼前，鮮豔的顏色簡直就要從紙上跳出來，而且查理收集古巴海報長達十年，他也去了古巴，還親自見了好幾位藝術家，還有一位在他的臉書連絡名單，真的是太神奇了！其實同時我也連絡倫敦各大博物館，不過等他們回信給我，我應該已經在東歐度假了！總之查理儼然是專家，他對於古巴海報有個人的見解，我真的感謝上帝找到他。

It was incredible that the posters we saw in the lecture PDF file or online were right there in front of our eyes. The bright colors were about to hop from the paper into the air. Charlie has been collecting Cuban posters for ten years. He also went to Cuba and met several artists in person. One of them is even on his FB contact list. It is more than amazing! In fact, I contacted several major museums in London meanwhile, but when they get back to me, I'll be vacationing in East Europe! Anyway, Charlie is an expert in his way. He has his own perspectives on Cuban posters, and I am so thankful to God that we found him! 

查理說我們引用他的圖片，只要把他的網站連結附上就可以了，如果你有興趣，請體驗彩色的中美洲風情吧！

Charlie said that if we use his images, it's alright if we attach a link to his website. If you are interested, please feel the colorful central American art here: 

http://cubanposterart.blogspot.com

也許這一切在台北也有類似的故事，不過目前我的版本發生在倫敦，啊，這就是我獨特的英式人生！

Maybe there are similar stories in Taipei, but for me, my current version happens in London. Well, this is my British kind of life! 

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!