Beijingers' creativity / 北京人的創意

Beijingers in My Postcards / 明信片裡的北京人

這個星期內大家都聽說過我的明信片故事了，去到北京和天津三個郵局，每個郵局行員對於我太有創意的明信片可不可寄的問題答案皆不同，不過幾乎所有的郵件都送到了收件人的手中，我想我應該要對中國的自由度有多點信心。

This week everyone must have heard about the twist and turn of my postcard story. I got different answers to the question whether my self-made postcards are send-able or not in three post offices I visited on the trip. Fortunately, almost all the mail reached the addressees. My conclusion is that I should have more faith in the freedom of speech in China.

明信片貧乏的地方，讓我看到自製明信片的必要性，每個國家用他們獨有的方式激勵我，這是此趟旅行最大的收穫吧！

A place that lacks in the variety of postcards stimulates me to create my own postcards. I can only say, every place inspires me in their one-of-a-kind way, which is the biggest lesson I’ve learned from this trip.

Hotel life in Beijing / 北京的旅館生活

又去了一次北京，冬天和夏天的景致天南地北，連我的心境也迥異，其實應該要去巴里島的，但早早買了機票，只好硬著頭皮，教自己用去小島度假的心情在中國第一大城遊覽。

Surprisingly, I took another trip to Beijing after a short interval of four months. The cityscape in winter and summer differs greatly. So was my mood for the two trips. To be honest, I should have gone to places such as Bali Island, but my early purchase of the plane ticket made the choice irreversible. Thus, I persuaded myself to travel to the big city at a slow and leisurely pace.

這次看到古蹟名勝以外的北京，一樣的高樓大廈、一樣的柳樹、一樣的車輛，一樣的人們，當我對現實中一成不變的風景感到無聊時，想像力反而開始活躍，而去到哪裡都不重要了，我每天花上大把小時在旅館裡畫畫，身心都得到紓解。

I got to see the real-life Beijing apart from renowned historic sites. The tall buildings, willow trees, cars, and people all look the same. When I began to be bored by the monotonous views, my imagination was immediately liberated. It didn’t matter anymore where I went. I spent hours drawing in the hotel room, which helped me to release pressure mentally and physically.

Fast forward / 時間快轉

才從北京回來，工作又開始了，媽媽的手術剛好撞期，萬事擇同日發生的星期一，讓我有些昏眩。

Things happened at a whirlwind pace in my mid-July. Work followed at the heels of my return from Beijing, not to mention Mom’s surgery. With the big clash of so many responsibilities, my heart and head span.

在醫院裡，媽媽說時間過得好慢，我邊畫畫邊和她聊天，這樣的片刻有著整天裡我最求之不得的清閒，我們談著離開醫院的期待、我的大心願，雖然我不喜歡醫院，卻覺得身體病痛某方面可以給人激勵，去嚴肅地想之前自認為不可能的事。

In the hospital, Mom said time passed by so slowly. I chatted and doodled with her, and that was the most leisurely moment I had within the crazy day. We talked about my dream and our expectations. I am the last person to take a liking to hospitals, but I can’t help but admit that illness stimulates people in a way that positive energy isn’t capable of. It makes us consider what we thought of as impossible.

時間不要快轉，因為有腳步不穩的星期一，來到了星期二，我覺得自己又有面對一切的勇氣和活力，而媽媽今天就回來了。

I don’t want time to go fast forward. Because of the Monday typhoon, I find myself able to face life again on Tuesday. And Mom will be home very soon…

Mr. Sun Rides the Subway / 太陽先生搭地鐵

太陽先生搭地鐵

Mr. Sun Rides the Subway

圖‧文 游為淳

Story and illustrations by Weichuen You

感謝方家四口帶我去看達文西展，因此有了以下故事的靈感。

Special thanks to the Von family for taking me to the Da Vinci exhibition. The subway ride gave me the inspiration for the following story.

太陽先生每天早上總是等不及起床，因為他最喜歡散發光芒和熱力。

Mr. Sun can’t wait to get up every morning. He just loves to give off light and heat.







看到高樓大廈和人們都在他暖暖的擁抱裡，這是他最得意的事。

He feels on top of the world when seeing skyscrapers and people in his warm arms.





不過在地底下，有個太陽先生完全沒看過的世界。

But underneath the ground, there’s a world that Mr. Sun has never seen.





那就是地下鐵！人類可以不用曬到太陽，到達任何想去的地方。

That is the subway system! People can go everywhere without saying hello to the hot sun face to face!





有一天太陽先生發現了這個大秘密！他看不到他最愛的人群，剛開始驚訝到說不出話來。

One day Mr. Sun discovers the big secret! Not seeing his favorite humans, he’s shocked and speechless.






接著不禁發了一頓好大的脾氣！

Then he flies into a RAGE!





生氣之後，他心裡頭很難過，原來人類不怎麼喜歡他。

After calming down, sadness overwhelms him. He realizes that mankind does not like him very much.





太陽先生先自我反省，然後他決定收起紅通通的光芒，走進地底下的世界，看看地鐵有甚麼了不起。

Mr. Sun thinks about why they dislike him. Next, he decides to hide his red glow and explore the subway world under the ground. Maybe he can learn something from it.







剛開始太陽先生只看到許多黑色的車廂，朝著不同的方向前進，發出轟隆隆的聲音，要搭哪一線呢？這可把太陽先生難倒了。

In the beginning, Mr. Sun only sees many black rumbling cars going in different directions. Which line to take? This really baffles him.








好不容易上了車，太陽先生周圍擠滿乘客，他只好貼著窗戶，但窗外黑漆漆的，沒有風景可看。

It takes him so much effort to get on. He is surrounded by passengers on all sides. He has to recline against the window, but there is really nothing to see outside except the murky darkness.







太陽先生旁邊都是悲傷疲倦的臉孔，好像沒有人因為搭地鐵而開心。

Mr. Sun sees nothing but sad and tired faces. It seems that no one is pleased by the idea of taking the subway.





最後連太陽先生也忍不住吶喊：快放我出去！

In the end even Mr. Sun can’t help screaming inside: Let me out!







突然有好幾聲巨響，接下來所有的燈都熄滅了，乘客害怕地大聲尖叫，地下的車站和隧道一片混亂。

All of a sudden, all the lights go off following several booming sounds. The passengers shout in great fear. The subway stations and tunnels are in total chaos.





原來停電了。


It is a power outage.




不過一瞬間後，黑暗中閃著微微的亮光，太陽先生的頭巾飛走了，他又露出紅紅的光芒。


However, after a short pause, light glimmers in the dark. Mr. Sun’s scarf flies away, his red light revealed.




地鐵站不再黑不嚨咚的，乘客們紛紛和太陽先生道謝，一大群人們搶著和他握手，他都不好意思呢！

The subway stations are no longer in dark. Passengers fight to thank him. With crowds trying to hold his hand, he feels shy about his sudden popularity.







因為很喜歡人類，太陽先生想要天天看到他們，現在他收起一點光芒和熱力，大家才不會嫌他的擁抱太熱情。

Mr. Sun likes humans so much that he longs to see them every day. Now he puts away a little bit of his light and heat so that his passion won’t drive them away.







太陽先生也常常拜訪地鐵站的人們，希望給他們在黑暗中帶來光芒和熱力，不要因為搭地鐵而忘了他。

Mr. Sun also visits people taking the subway on a regular basis. He would like to give them some light and heat in the dark. Most of all, he doesn’t want them to forget him!