Eat, Sleep, Dream

It seems that friends who go travelling or go home to spend the vacations come back with an extra luggage. I did that for a couple years, I valued every second I spend on Taipei streets, hoping to buy an extra cool shirt or another trendy jacket, converse, hats, bags, whatever was in.

Now my attitude is: SCREW THAT, I'M HERE TO RELAX.

Yes, that's the new Sherry-styled vacation.

I've decided, I'm just going to use the last two days buying things that I really need, and that'll be cheap enough for me shrinking account (then again, I'll just get some cash from my parents). This time, I'll need some new shirts, an umbrella strong enough for hurricanes, and maybe some new socks and stockings. Okay, I'll leave that for online shopping next week.

Although I don't quite agree with Julia Roberts's EAT PRAY LOVE way of travelling. My version is more like:

EAT

DRINK

BURP

or

EAT

DRINK

BURP

SLEEP

That's my ideal vacation indeed, but that can't happen while my parents are around. Meanwhile, I'm very keen about

Eat

(re)Discover

(re)Think

Sounds like the typical slogan for some shopping mall, but I'm serious.

Although I am from Taiwan, I have, after all, spent 13 years outside of this place.

So I guess I'm a tourist here, you can tell from the photos I take.

There are lots to do around here I discovered, other than shopping

~ riding on the train

~ bumping into ancient backstreets

~ buying chestnuts

~ looking at those red white striped plastic bags

~ revisiting memorable spaces

~ feeling extremely cultured and educated simply by sitting in cafes behind NTU

~ Taiwan Beer

I think I'm easily satisfied.

Taiwan 2010 II

One thing that I still can't get used to in Taiwan is the fruits, they look so different from the ones I buy in T&T and Nesters Market. So yesterday, mum treated me hot pot for lunch. And there was a place where you can blend and mix your own sauce, beside the desserts area. While I was making my own, I found some lemons, they were quite huge actually, at first I was wondering why they would have lemons there, then I figured that perhaps Taiwanese people would add some lemon just to have that cool flavour, so I took some with me back to the table.

While I was squeezing the lemon into my sauce, I smiled and felt so proud that I'm doing something Taiwanese. I noticed that the cutie waiter was looking at me, then I thought "oh I must be doing well!" Then mum came back with her own sauce, and she watched me finishing draining the rest of the lemon, that's right, I used the whole lemon! After I'm done, mum said, "you know, that's actually an orange".

"WHAT" I thought that was so gross.

"Yeah......*sips soup*.... didn't you know?"

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME EARLIER?"

"I thought that's why Canadians do"

My face expression told her no

"hey you never know, it might taste good"

But really, that orange did not look like an orange at all, the skin was not thick enough to be an orange!

Taiwan 2010 I

This morning, my mum offered me her Mos Burger cash card, and I put it in my pocket. Then my dad took out his transit card slash apartment building entrance key card and gave it to my mum, told us to go meet him at the apartment building after we finish breakfast.

When we left, I noticed that my mum forgot the key card, very much like her, and I laughed at her for being so forgetful, she snatched the card from me. When we were at the entrance gate of the building, mum pulled the door, and it wouldn't open. I told her "look mum, you gotta use the card, that's why it was given to you!"

I tried to make myself look cool, and took out my Mos Burger card from my pocket, thinking that was the card for the apartment, and scanned it at the sensor, and said "see, even I know better!" And she pulled again, but it wouldn't open still. And I got impatient so I pulled like crazy, until the concierge opened the door for us.

He was a young fellow, we told him our card did not work, he looked worried said, "I'm terribly sorry m'am, but perhaps you should scan it near the edge, that should work better, and which type of key card are you using?" I held out the card, and we all realized that I was holding the Mos Burger cash card. Originally that concierge boy had an earnest face, and he literally LOLed in my face, along with mum.

I'm home for Christmas

After 13 hours of long flight (my butt feels painful now), here I am back home!

So my parents picked me up from the airport, we had breakfast at mos burger.

Oh Oh Oh! And I saw Sharon at the airport! What a coincidence.

It's quite nice, to have something else other than Bacon and Egger from McDonald's and Tim Hortons.. or A&W, like I just had a fried shrimp sandwich with corn chowder and a cup of latte.

Now I'm in the lobby of one of their projects I think, they told me they'll be finished in an hour, it's now nearly two hours, and wow, the wireless here is really fast.

Quite a nice place too!

snow 2010 FAIL

自07年開始, 每年固定去山上滑雪, 當然就促成了一年一次的運動, 我太健康了!

當然多虧老姐留下了高檔的滑雪配備, 儘管纜車價錢貴到想哭, 但至少讓我不用屈服於rentals的惡勢力.

當知道今年考完期末考就要做飛機回台灣, 就決定要在回去之前滑一次

不過因為11月, 12月是報告和paper堆積到最不像話的時候, 要找人去滑雪不容易

最後還是要找已經不是學生的上班族囉, 還有便車可搭!
為了方便, 這次去Grouse

啊哈哈 果真是方便的要命哪, 從家裡去不用一個小時, 沒塞車的話更快 哼哼哼

雖然興奮, 但完全忘記我手腳已經沒有像以前那麼靈活, 何況想像下, 滑雪前的這幾個禮拜的我根本都埋在paper裡, 守在電腦前, 完全沒有活動筋骨, 突然這麼一滑就是找死嘛.

愚蠢的我太有信心了, 沒有暖身就直接起跑了, 第一次下去時完全沒有預料到會這麼可怕

突然發現旁邊都是雪和斜坡, 和大自然這麼近距離接觸讓我心理有點害怕, 然後壓力越大越緊繃

順帶一提, 我滑的雪板是超短雪板, (就是那種高中女生看到了會來個 "超kawaii~~~~~~"迷你版) 快到我時常滑到一半腦海中會突然不停的大叫 "要死了要死了!"

到1/4時, 我發現在繼續快下去的話就真的會停不了, 但我不管如何想煞住都沒辦法

於是我朝著電線桿衝上去抱住

好在貼心的工作人員在上面包海綿, 讓我沒有受傷. 但我清楚的可以聽到坐在纜車上的人正開懷的笑我

1/2時又發現無法停下, 於是這次決定倚靠大自然的力量, 乾脆滑到雪比較厚的地方, 這樣就會停了

我朝著跑道旁邊, 雪最厚的地方, 整個輕鬆的滑進去, 但因為衝擊力太大了我整個直接鑽了個洞進去, 出來的時候大致上看得出來是個"人"形狀的洞. 最痛苦的是衣服裡都是雪.

到最後跑道要結束的時候我真的又停不下來了. 可是看到跑道結束的地方有網子, 放在那裡大概就是告訴大家跑道結束的意思, 因為除此以外它根本沒什麼作用. 當時決定朝網子滑, 希望它能夠救我, 但大概是我太重了, 整個把網子連根拔起然後我摔到地上, 整個帽子和眼罩從我頭上脫落後飛到半公尺外, 整個人纏繞在網子裡面, 結果是好心的友人辛苦的把我抬起來, 我並且怪他 "居然沒接住我", 真是太沒有愛心了!

但從小就充滿運動細胞的我當然沒這麼遜, 之後幾次我又慢慢開始熟練了

當然, 幾個月沒運動後卻突然激烈滑雪的下場是接下來的幾天完全無法做事, 全身酸痛到連走路都很辛苦.

好! 明年從台灣回來時繼續努力~!

有興趣的人請加入我!

手指凍到不行一直發抖的結果 -- 失敗攝影!

Forever and Ever, Pooh

最近FB在流行狂貼自己最喜歡的卡通人物, 讓我也開始很懷念我的童年.

第一次小熊維尼的記憶是, 有一天早上起來的時候發現我媽和老姊躺在我旁邊看卡通 (我還記得是小熊維尼的片尾. 我問她們在看什麼, 說是小熊維尼.

後來發現家裡多了兩卷新的迪斯尼卡通錄影帶, 都是維尼.

第二次是有一天全家人出去的時候, 爸停下車來, 媽和老姐下車, 說馬上回來. 可是等了好久都沒回來. 最後上車的時候, 媽丟給我一個玩具熊, 是個黃色的小熊, 穿著紅色背心的維尼. 這算是我第一隻teddy吧, 看以前的相片, 不管去哪裡 -- 甚至出國到香港和加拿大 -- 都會有它. 永遠記得有一次在香港的時候, 突然發現維尼不見了, 我邊哭邊牽著爸到處找, 第一天還找不到, 隔天早上爸突然把維尼交給我, 很得意的說 "我幫你找到小熊了!" 我問 "哪裡找到的?!" 他笑說 "我不告訴你!"

從此之後就和維尼更熟~ 看電視都會轉到迪斯尼台找維尼的卡通, 每天期待媽會買維尼的錄影帶回家. 雖然都是說英文, 中文字幕我也看不懂, 但那時真的覺得維尼是最好的朋友! 我甚至還和我姐去sogo舉辦的小熊維尼活動, 拿到維尼t-shirt和吃了蜂蜜冰淇淋.


聽我媽說我姊最喜歡跳跳虎
剛才問了我哥才知道他喜歡瑞比, 我說 "為什麼喜脾氣這麼壞的兔子"
他說 "因為瑞比最可憐, 其實他人很好可是都沒人喜歡他"

記得維尼和克里斯多夫 羅賓在1997的電影裡合唱的 "Forever and Ever"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vb3RjBViON8&feature=related



Pooh, there's something I have to tell you
Is it something, nice?
Not, exactly
Then it can wait
It can, for how long?
Forever and ever
Forever and ever
Is a very long time Pooh
Forever isn't long at all When I'm with you
I wanna call your name, forever
And you will always answer, forever
And both of us will be
Forever you and me
Forever and ever
I wanna stay like this, forever
If only I could promise, forever
Then we could just be we Forever you and me
Forever and ever
Forever and ever
Is a very long time Pooh
Forever isn't long at all, Christopher
When I'm with you
I wanna be with you, forever
I want you right here beside me, forever
One thing you should know
No matter where I go
We'll always be together
Forever and ever

而且現在每次聽每次都會很感傷, 一是因為漸漸長大的克里斯多夫羅賓開始要離開維尼了, 二是因為第斯尼現在都不會有像維尼這種經典的卡通了 (還是要多參考歐洲童話故事吧!). 當後來聽到維尼後來找不到克里斯多夫羅賓時 唱到 "I used to believe in forever, but forever is too good to be true" 時, 真的完了~~~ 要哭了~ 以前迪斯尼的歌詞怎麼都這麼厲害 O_Q 好想跳進去向失落的維尼說 "I'LL LOVE YOU FOREVER POOH!!!!"

cool whispers: "seagull"

I was on my way to Buchanan for class today, when I walked by the outside pool, I saw this big fat seagull "sitting" on the ground, against the railing. It just looked wrong for a bird to be sitting that way. And even when I approached it to check on it, it wouldn't budge, shouldn't they back off?

I didn't want to remain standing in front of the bird and look like an idiot so I continued walking. But the more I think about it, the more worried I was. That seagull is so fat, that it reminded me of Mimi, point being, I wonder if it's hurt or it ate too much that it couldn't move anymore, or it couldn't digest properly. It was still alive for sure, but it looked really full, as if it really ate a lot. Maybe laying an egg? But why would you lay an egg on concrete ground? Maybe it's hurt.

Instead of walking to Buchanan, I turned to the opposite way towards Campus Security -- it was the only place I could think of that might be able to help. The entrance was locked, I guess it was still too early in the morning. But I noticed this huge red button beside the entrance, it says, "PRESS TO TALK -- In cases of emergency".

So I thought, it's a fat bird who can't move, I could categorize it as an emergency I suppose, but to tell the truth, I just want to stuff this responsibility to someone else so I could go to class where it's warm. Anyway, I pressed the button.
Security "UBC CAMPUS SECURITY SPEAKING"
At once, I felt awkward, people were streaming pass by me, and here I am, about to report an emergency about a fat bird who can't move
Me "uh....... um... I think a seagull is hurt"
I especially murmured the "seagull"
Security "WHO'S HURT?"
Me "a seagull" Still keeping my voice low
Security "WHO?"
Me "A SEAGULL!!!"
Security "A SEAGULL?!"
*awkward silence* I prayed that someone wasn't near me to hear this conversation.
Security "uhhh.........okay?"
Me "It's lying in this really awkward position, I think it can't move, can you do something about it?"
Security "Uhhhhh I don't think so, but I'll send someone down for you"
So I waited for a few minutes until this big security guy came out. I told him abou the bird and whether he could do anything. He told me "we don't handle birds, you can take the bird with you or you can call SPCA, I can give you their number".
*awkward silence*
I was thinking, no way! I'm not bringing a seagull with me to french class! and I'm not gonna call SPCA, I'm pretty sure when they take the bird away they'll force me to donate ten bucks. So I told him forget it! I'll go to the biology department!

When I left I realized I was late, and it was freezing. So I decided to go to class first, then on my way back to the bus loop, I'll check on the bird again! By the time I walk by there again three hours later, the bird was gone, hopefully somebody helped it. Or maybe it flew away by itself. I kind of regret for not going back to it immediately.

When my mum called later, I told her about this. She said "don't worry! you did a good job anyway! I once tried to saved a sick bird too, I went to so many animal hospitals but none accepted birds, so I had to travel sooooooo long to get to a vet who treated birds"

Sherry's Fables

Waiting for my pork to defrost.
Guess I'll type something just to keep me thinking.

I think I'll tell a story. I think I've told this to a lot of people before, but I just love it so much that I will pass it on to my grandchildren.

Discrimination can be positive or negative, usually we associate racial discrimination to more like.. prejudice of negative attributes of people. But there are still some positive characteristics involved, and we actually feel kind of good when it's applied onto us, at least for me.

I ain't being racist or anything, but come on, remember how people always like to say that Asians are good at math? I personally think it's rubbish, we're not naturally good at math, it's more like, schools in Asia and .. and.. parents are impatient.

So when I came to Canada, my dad decided to keep me busy by assigning questions from thick huge math textbooks, I guess he couldn't get used to seeing children without homework. Obviously there were other assignments like English, and Chinese, but math was a priority. So my math in elementary school was excellent. I could C- everything else but get high A in math. Kids will all come to me for help, that felt really awesome! Hmm.. maybe I even helped construct this idea of a stereotypical Asian.

Then I was in highschool, my dad kind of ran out of textbooks, and he was busy with things in Taiwan, so I kind of stopped doing supplementary assignments, and I went back to being the average math student. The kind of student that when I reply to teacher's question, the whole class would laugh, and the teacher had to calm everyone by saying "shush! why the laugh? she's still learning!"

Now once in grade 8 math class, I was writing this math quiz. And a caucasian (not being racist) started copying my answers. While the teacher was gone for a while, the person sitting beside him asked "Dude, are you sure your number 5 is correct?"
Caucasian "DUH the asian beside me wrote this, has to be right, Gawd I'm gonna ace this"
"Cool man, think i'll join ya" I was thinking, you guys are gonna regret this.
After the quiz, the teacher had people switching tests for marking. And once each correct answer was announced, the faces of those sitting beside me became greener and greener, oh the greenest when they saw their tests. They never sat beside me again.

Okay, moral,... MORAL of this story is,
1. discrimination is BAD
2. cheating is BAD



*follow up: Despite having absolutely no talent in math, I managed to "A" through my highschool math courses, even chemistry and physics. Why? Well.. a little bribery helped. NO.
Because I don't dircriminate and I don't cheat!

k.. my pork is ready.

複雜心情

最近被學校整的很慘, 星期一信心滿滿的曲上學, 到星期五時信心已經被變態的學校打散了, 回家待個週末慢慢在把信心建起, 然後星期一在回去給教獸們銷毀. 偶爾努力會有好結果, 這讓我會特別high, 然後信心大增! 至少可以庫存個兩個禮拜. 不過今天的結果讓我處於某種尷尬狀態.

話說前幾個星期信心滿滿的進入考場, 結果出來的時候庫存是 "0"了, 因為那根本就是變態考試, 看了題目讓我當場. 此後每當我想起當時我寫的那些慘不忍睹的文章就會便秘. 昨天去上課時, 發現教獸前放著一落皺皺的紙, 我才驚覺, "ARE THOSE OUR MIDTERMS?!"

教獸說, "期中考不太好, 46%的人沒過, 儘管最後有scaling, 品均分數也才64%", 這說著說著我早餐快被吐出來了. 平常不太在乎分數, 但在這種即將發回考卷的時刻會讓我有世界末日的感覺. 因為有scaling, 教獸教我們怎麼把原來的分數換算到新的分數.

我抖著手翻找我的考卷, 看到的分數都是 10/50, 25/50, 15/50,.. 我想我真的快血貧了. 最後終於翻到我的, 37/50. 我照著教獸的教法換算, 可是算出來的確是93%, 我還在想這對我根本是天數吧, 怎麼可能這麼高. 一邊更緊張, 一邊氣自己說怎麼還不知道分數, 我到了教獸前直接很不好意思的說 "uhhh...... I'm.. having trouble calculating my mark", 心想還好這不是數學課, 高大的教獸彎下腰, 眼神充滿著同情心, 看著宛如無助的小孩的我 *媽呀你這是在同情我的糟糕數學還是我的糟糕分數啊 還是兩個都很糟糕*....
"你直接用37/40算就行了" 我想我的數學真的完蛋了
"哦..哦.. 我來試試看" 我直接拿出手機算, 教獸恐怕也在想這孩子的數學真的完蛋了
結果我算的93%, 我沾沾自喜的想, 果然不是我數學要完蛋
前面幾分鐘非常開心, 我居然有A+! 真是太神奇了!
出了地理系大門才理智的想... 我讀的這麼辛苦的考試, 實際結果居然才74% 我真的是笨蛋嗎

Same old words

今天為了慶祝考完試，和老哥一起出去吃飯。

在茶餐廳，旁邊坐著一群國高中女學生，看樣子是大陸台灣人

黑長髮加上瀏海，日本式手機上有可愛的日本式吊飾

沒有啤酒，桌上攤著只剩冰塊的珍奶

某個離開了幾分鐘，帶著蛋糕回來，是多啦A夢的頭 （話說這有點恐怖）。

小女生們精神飽滿，唱著生日歌為姊妹慶生。 八卦，彼此嘲笑，其實蠻令人羨慕的

週末的夜晚就屬她們最high，笑容好燦爛啊，笑聲真明亮

出去的時候，裡面其中一個爸爸開著藍色Nissan van停在餐廳門前接待

女生們開心的上車，空空的車子即刻被塞滿，即使天在冷，她們看起來好滿足。

於是車子消失在群群街燈中

我喃喃自語：多麼熟悉的畫面哪！ 但早以不屬於我了！

和老哥兩人搬了一箱青啤回家，慶祝考試結束。

但說到這個。。

嗚。。 我的midterms

教授果然是教獸，這麼變態的考卷是人寫的嗎，感覺在80分鐘內寫了五篇essay

照往常，期中考結束，不到幾天就是paper報告的生活了， cheers。

書櫃快垮了

我學習能力很差, 沒有什麼文學修養, 可是喜歡看故事.

高中那時候為了鍛鍊英文寫作能力, 睡覺前都會看個幾頁英文小說. 那時都是隨便在老姐書櫃上挑的, 譬如說 The Girl with the Peral Earring 或是那之前沒看過的主流系列哈利波特那種.
漸漸的英文書都被我看光了, 正在懊惱時剛好發現老姐去英國之前留下的兩本村上春樹. "發條鳥年代紀" 和 "挪威的森林". 兩本書就此讓我開始不能沒有書 (!!!) 當時超迷村上春樹, 每個星期跑Metrotown的書店去買一本回家 (而且好貴), 看完還會和當時也很愛閱讀的Karen交換.

於是這個習慣一直持續著. 上大學一開始有段時間因為壓力大, 改看漫畫來解壓, 可是家裡的亂馬和多拉A夢已經快被我翻爛, 金田一也不太適合睡前看, 何況我本來就看不太懂漫畫 (太多框框會讓我混亂) 結果沒多久後又改回看小說了.

村上的書該看的都看過了, 之後就看一些別人推薦的 贖罪, 朗讀者, 香水和那些比較主流的, 到現在瑞典的千禧年系列, 西班牙的Zafon等, 最近也看了第一本自傳.

平常也會想看比較經典的文學. 可是怕自己理解分析能力太差, 於是乾脆在學校拿文學課. 一開始從歐陸文學開始, 在來到北歐, 後來(應該是瘋掉了)去拿法國文學IN FRENCH, 上次拿的是德國文學.

重點是, 真的是個很棒的解壓方式.

現在時常打完工會家之前會泡在書店裡面找一些好看的書. 時常會在一樓的排行榜面前徘徊, 去員工強力推薦區晃, 好看的話真的會看到關店, 如果剛好家裡缺書都看完的話就會買下來.
說真的, 我果然有挑書的本領~ 不然為什麼我讀的每一本都會上癮..!!
更別說介紹給別人時也會讓人無法自拔..!!

最近特別喜歡看很有發生在城市裡的故事, 並且帶有很強烈的當地地理文化現象.
like, 千禧年系列的Stockholm
威尼斯之死的Venice
風之影的巴塞隆納
Sarah's Key的巴黎
Her Fearful Symmetry的倫敦
黑夜之後的東京

有地鐵和電車出現的話會讓我特別興奮.

可是看完了就非常想去那個地方玩, 但去不了又很難過.





今天覺得書要被看完了, 下午從書店買了一本重重厚厚的小說 (這讓我特別開心), 故事背景, is once again, 巴塞隆納. 唯一讓我困擾的是, 我的書櫃太小了根本放不下這麼多書.




"The moment you stop to think about whether you love someone, you've already stopped loving that person" - The Shadow of the Wind (Zafon)

笨到氣死人

Ok, ok, ok, ok.
雖然明天有法文期中考, 可是我不得不罵罵自己, 真的是笨到氣死人.
最近在拿地圖學, 雖然主修地理好一段時間了, 但自從高中8年級好像就沒在畫過地圖, 根本不知道地理部門有地圖學而且居然是比修, 搞什麼鬼!

上課時主要是用奧多比的繪圖程式來畫. 但遇到這時候平常小心翼翼的我神經就大條啦
目前畫了兩張地圖, 因為忙著找地理位置, 標誌地點的時候完全沒有注意拼音方面的問題, 我也整個很有信心. 實際上是因為平常在家寫paper時, words都很貼心的幫你改錯字, 在學校寫考卷時, 教授也很友善的不會因為拼錯字而計較. 但因為有個眼尖的TA這兩次我居然全部都敗在拼音上了 = = .

一開始以為這兩次出錯可能只是意外. 好歹我是半個加拿大人, 怎麼可能會有拼音上的障礙呢.
結果一想到上個新期剛交進去第三張地圖 (花了我好一陣子) 就開始懷疑了. 於是上電腦開了我的圖, 一一對照每個地點的拼音才發現我拼錯了一堆地方..... 包括:

Strait of Georgia (Sherry: Straight of Georgia)
Queen Charlotte Strait (Sherry: Queen Charlotte Straight) 我怎麼會白痴到拼Straight
Haida Gwaii (Sherry: Haida Guaii) 取的這什麼怪名啊, 發音根本都一樣嘛
Trail (Sherry: Trial) 鍵盤字打太快了

就算別人在怎麼笨, 氣氣就算了, 但如果白痴的是自己真的會被氣死到爆炸

燒地圖去... burn burn burn burn

I simply hate technology.

寫paper用words，記號碼用手機，約會用msn,.. 寫日誌用blogger,..... 儘管現在是數碼時代有時候我還是比較傾向用紙筆。所以隨身還是會帶個筆記本和鉛筆，就算真的要記東西也不會用手機啦，上學也是用紙筆做筆記。要寫卡片給朋友時，原本求美觀想用打字列印出來，但最後還是決定乾脆用手一筆一劃的寫下去。看完茨威格的Amok後學到的: 比起書寫，最無掩飾，誠懇的相處方式是面對面說話，特別是在心情最激動複雜時。那這樣如果用寫字已經算是很深思熟慮的話，那用打字豈不是更故意了，至少對我來說會這樣。已經很討厭科技了，因為比較喜歡親手慢慢畫出來的真實感，又因為害怕若是用機器處理過的文字會無法透露最誠懇和最直接的心意，難道不會可惜嗎。 對學校功課可以不必真誠卻要完美，在工作上可以不必坦率卻要微婉，但對喜歡的人，還是希望能夠呈現最真實最當下的感覺還有心意。還是用手寫吧，不能一邊寫一邊delete, 不能一邊想一邊把筆尖停放在紙上，只能一直寫， 寫出一直想打但打出來然後總是會在刪除的字，這樣以後就不會後悔當初未能表達出來想說的言語.

當然今早看了昨晚寫的東西還是會覺得當時是瘋了才能寫出這玩意, 但希望收到的人能夠喜歡。

IKEA

I think I will pay a visit to my favourite playground tomorrow!

Back in Taiwan my parents uses scrap materials from worksites and ask the men to put together a table or something, the rest they'd get them from IKEA.

Here in Canada I'd find random organic materials from my fridge and put together a dinner,

unless I'm really craving for cheap Scandinavian meals, then I'd seek help from IKEA.

But tomorrow I'm actually going to get batteries.

I was just googling "how to pronounce IKEA", because I was debating with this other person about it. And I was right! Well, if you really want to do the Swedish way, you say EE-KEH-AH, not freaking AI-KEY-YA!

And also, I just learned that IKEA is actually the acronym of Ingvar Kamprad Elmtaryd Agunnaryd. Ingvar Kamprad is the Swedish person who found IKEA while the last two

Elmtaryd Agunnaryd are the village and farm where he grew up. I gotta say, this naming method is a bit strange, and not as creative, imagine if one day I open up, let's say a bakery, and I name it Sherry Yang Yaletown Vancouver (SYYV).

Actually, SYYV would be quite hard to pronounce, SAI-V (as in dive)? Maybe Ingvar Kamprad named it after his name and hometown just so he can make the words into IKEA, which sounds cool in this case. So in that case, Sherry Yang Taipei Vancouver might work better, SYTV as in SAI-TEE-VEE. Or Sherry Yang Surrey Vancouver, SYSV, SAI-SV, the last part sounds like Eastern European eh? Now I wish my name is Olivia, just so I can name my bakery Olivia Yang Yaletown Vancouver (OYYV), so I can say OYYYYYY-V. "Hey you wanna go to OYYV today to get some Portuguese buns?"

琴痴也會進步

剛練了一下鋼琴. 想想我也學了11年的鋼琴了. 說來慚愧, 我大概是全加拿大學的最慢的學生吧, 11年了證書還沒拿到, 也不太會寫曲. 但我真的沒什麼音樂天份, 根本就是鋼琴界中的白痴, 或是沒救的野田妹囉, 至少Nodame有潛能. 我覺得鋼琴老師能把我帶到現在的ARCT也很佩服自己吧! 對鋼琴一直沒信心的我, 覺得自己根本沒有在進步, 高中時期根本沒有很認真練, 儘管過了10級, 我打從一開始就覺得這是神的寬容, 考官的放水, 其實大部分的時間我都在混吧! 但嘿! 我也不是不努力呢. 考RCM10時我原本一天練習四個小時, 直到後來因為手開始痛了才縮減到3個小時. 不是為了找藉口, 可是不管多努力, 我始終覺得"天份"在藝術方面是很重要的.

每次偶爾會被朋友笑說, "你還在學鋼琴? 還沒quit?!" 或是被老媽唸, "我花了這麼多錢, 你到底什麼時候可以去教人家然後把錢都賺回來阿?!" 我連自己都學不好了教人還得了!
可是我從來沒想過要放棄, 就算學費也是自己付, 我還是想學. 我喜歡把手放在鋼琴鍵上的感覺, 按下去後的聲音, 彈出來的旋律, 感覺自己能製造出這種音樂很得意, 然後開始自戀.

我記得幾年前, 大概高中的時候, 當自己才剛開始RCM10的program那時, 我在新課本裡面找到了蕭邦很有名的夜曲 (不是周杰輪), you know, 就是那首 噔噔~ 噔~噔~噔~噔~~~ 噔噔~~~ 噔噔噔噔噔~噔~噔~噔~噔~ 噔噔噔噔噔噔噔噔噔~噔~ 就是這首.

我興高采烈的跟我老師講我想選這首來學, 但她卻說這首不在RCM10選項中, 反而是在比較中級的8級上. 既然如此, 我就想, 那乾脆自己學吧! 可是畢竟是8級, 才剛入10級的我也沒辦法馬上學會那蕭邦, 何況我還是琴痴. 彈了半天還是覺得自己彈的太糟糕, 一直彈錯, 一直停頓, 節拍錯亂, 沒彈完第一頁我就放棄了哈哈, 後來就專心練其他的譜了.

這幾天因為比較有時間, 有勤勞點, 每晚都會彈個一個小時. 高級學生可能聴了會覺得不可斯議 "一個小時?!?!!? 我都是練4個小時!!" Anyway, 剛才無聊時翻開以前的課本複習下, 不小心翻到了那首我以前一直沒有耐心練的蕭邦. 想了想, 還是彈彈看, 因為真的挺喜歡那首的. 出乎意料的我竟然彈完整首, 偶爾有點小差錯, 但基本上控制的蠻平穩的, 以6年來第一次彈, 人生中的第2次, not bad! 和6年前相比差太多了.

這次的經驗讓我感到蠻欣慰的, 讓我有點信心了. 因為我這次親耳"目睹"自己進步許多, 所以我還是有在進步, 之前所做的努力也不算白費, 看來我也沒完全在混嘛~~~~
yoshiiiiii 明天也要好好練習!

最後, 蕭邦E-flat大調 夜曲 ---
噔! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZUw78FXpG4
我噔的有沒有很像?!?!?!!?

小趣事 --
大概5年前那時, 為了準備另一首蕭邦夜曲去考試, 想要下載來聴, 結果搜了 "蕭邦夜曲 No. XX"那個時候出來的結果全部都是周杰倫的 "蕭邦的夜曲", 那個時候好像專輯剛出所以網路上搜出來全部都是他的. 我找了大概10多頁也沒有我要的. 當時氣死我了, 從此討厭那傢伙. = =

曾經有的感覺

I don't want this to ENDDDDDDD

八月也真的要結束了。。天也早早黑了，最近也涼爽許多了，果然，又是那一年一度開學的時刻啦該來的還是要來囉，不到兩個星期我愉快的暑假就要結束了，真的好捨不得，好希望還能倒退時間回到五月，然後在過一次暑假。

突然發現，去了UBC之後，就不在有以前那種開學的新鮮感。不知道是長大不在有活力了，還是厭倦了學習，還是完全沒有好奇心了，難道大學真的就這麼無趣嗎？ 還記得小學時，開學的一個禮拜我就會光顧Guildford的Wal－Mart，就算文具還夠用，還是會去買很多新的彩色鉛筆，原子筆，65不同顏色的蠟筆，四疊厚厚的line-paper，超大文具盒，還有很多不同款的橡皮擦，不同顏色的。買回家後會很興奮的在我的戰利品上貼上自己的姓名，整個就是很等不及把所有東西塞進學校抽屜裡。每年開學的第一天，就屬我的背包最重了。開學後也很好玩，像是每天午休和Amy他們打籃球，我最喜歡贏的時候囂張的對他們說 “HA In your face！".

上了高中後，雖然買文具的機會和樂趣少了許多，不過悶了太久後，開學前的那幾天我還是會很期待的等著課表寄來，等不及把課表貼在Msn名字上和所有朋友一一對比，看看會和誰同班，然後在一同抱怨拿到哪個討厭的老師，或是慶幸到在Pocock的班上。開學的那個星期興致特別大，會約Melody每天早上在她家門前會面，一起走路去上學，放學後在一同走回家。剛開學功課還沒有很重，每天晚上甚至會預習，然後好好收拾書包，準備迎接新的一天。早上有涼爽甚至有點太冷的微風，下午炎熱的酷暑，九月初的天氣雖然古怪，但我的心情特別好，對什麼都覺得特別新鮮。

永遠記得剛進Fraser Heights的那個學期。我和每個同年級生都興奮到不行，有些過度興奮的人行為更是囂張，覺得8年紀已經很了不起了，可以用locker了，可以跑班了，中午可以混在cafeteria. 或許這就是為什麼大家覺得新生最討厭了，不管是高中或是大學，但我還算是比較低調吧！ 我還記得當時的課表：

Block A: Math 8 Principles (Knight) 禿頭的數學老師沒什麼威嚴，老是被學生欺負，而且還不肯讓我們用計算機。還記得那時和Rachel，Jessie，Amy同班，所以上課非常興奮，因為數學還不算難，所以每次做完功課後就會講不停，傳字條。

Block B: Science 8 (Krystal) 旁邊坐著Jessie，每次她總會偷看漫畫，偷聽MP3，還會把耳機從耳背上繞過來掩飾耳機線，全部都被我看到了 哈哈哈。

Block C: French 8 (Huskin) 旁邊還是Jessie，那個時候Melody和Waina坐在我們的後面。記得每天會還會有小考試，和Melody總是很high，會為了Waina在外面跌倒的畫面連續笑個一整堂，有一次和Melody一起做了一個報告，用了Finding Nemo造型，因此拿了滿分，老師還特別興奮的問我們是否能把海報送給她。

Block D: PE 8 (Piercy)/Band 8 (Horn)， 法文班結束後，有時候是體育班，有時候是樂團，就這樣輪流著。如果是體育班，我們會特別警惕，馬上會跑回Locker拿短褲和短袖，趕緊去換衣服，然後進體育館報數。遲到會被扣分呢！ 體育班特別吃力，真的不能混，畢竟體育老師可是很嚴苛的，如果沒看你在動的話會被罵的。我的PE8分數可是我受教育以來最低分數。但還是有好玩的時候，例如和大家玩Capture the flag, 把沙包從敵隊手中帶著衝到自己的地盤的感覺真是太棒了！

如果是Band的話就輕鬆多了，Horn是全世界最友善分數最好拿的老師吧，人太好了，也因此被很多學生糟蹋欺負。。每個星期至少會讓我們看一次電影。一年會有幾次演出，一次Christmas，一次Kiwanis，一次年終。還得穿著黑褲，白襯衫，我當時吹黑管，肺活量大的很！最大的樂趣就是和坐在旁邊的Saxophone Rachel 胡鬧，沒事她總會趁我不注意的時候從我的背包把記事本拿出來塗鴉，每天回家打開總是會看到新作品，而且滿到讓我無法繼續寫，讓我很困擾。

我們午餐時間特別長，一個鐘頭。每天我和Melody，Waina和一些韓國人會聚積在某個角落吃午餐。那個時候超興奮的，時常笑到無聲，我還記得當時不小心把泡麵撒在Melody的binder上，喔，我還目睹Melody把垃圾往後面直接丟在地上，原來你從小就不愛地球人哪！Rachel和Jessie他們似乎會聚積在Cafeteria，印象那是幫派啊欺凌會發生的地方，就是你拿了午餐後會要慎選位子坐下，你的身分會和你的桌子有關係。。。。不過我們學校應該沒這麼複雜吧 (我gossip girl看太多了)。 還會有活動，我參加過比賽吃奶油蛋糕, 而且我記得那個時候吃得滿臉, Rachel還在旁邊一邊看一邊笑, 整個就是很討厭. 哦 對了, 還有就是在學校廣播你的最愛專輯。有一天中午的時候還在學校內聽到SHE的Superstar，後來才知道是Rachel Jessie那幫人放的。

下課之後會回去locker把要用的筆記本啊，課本啊，要洗的衣服啊，放進背包裡。 然後聽者MP3慢慢走回家 (原來我那個時代已經有mp3了！) 時常因為下午突然很熱，早上穿來的外套得拿在手上，然後一邊走一邊覺得自己穿牛仔褲很傻。

高中是個建立友誼的好地方。和這麼多人在班上這麼胡鬧，讓無聊的課變得新鮮多了。或許也是因為這個原因，讓每次開學的時候都很開心，因為終於可以看到好久沒見的朋友，也可能是因為壓力比較小，沒有什麼責任。。甚至不用對自己負責。

怎麼會。。現在怎麼會這麼討厭開學呢。 最近沒辦法再去全心感受那九月初該有的喜悅和溫柔的氣氛。反而恨不得時間過的慢一點，反而恨不得開學前一天再去看課表，反而恨不得開學後再去買書，去學校帶一枝筆和幾張白紙就夠了，能省多少精力在學校上就省多少啦。還沒開學就已經開始害怕那將要突如其來的課業壓力，許久沒復習的法文，每天得早起的schedule， 需要apply的雜七雜八，我連學費補助都還沒申請呢。能見到朋友的時間在暑假時比在學校內多，好失望啊。但這樣的態度也不太痛快，最近挺想念我那曾經有的興奮感，好希望能再次持有那份感覺，這樣或許能有精神一點。所以祈禱我今年能更有朝氣的去上學吧，畢竟能當學生的時間也不多了吧。

喔 天哪，我居然懷舊可以拖這麼長，都忘了四個小時後還得上班 。。。。

勇闖斯德哥爾摩 II

下了巴士，我和Teresa走去地鐵站，買了一張無限用週期卡（而且印象中特別便宜），上了地鐵往旅社出發。真不得不說，瑞典人果然是設計師，地鐵站設計的舒適簡單，裡面也特別乾淨，保養的特別好，少了溫哥華translink的笨蛋設計，台灣的複雜設計（特別在指標上），還有倫敦的太老舊了太熱了太悶熱了受不了設計。

小插曲：坐地鐵德途中旁邊有一家南亞家族，一家很熱鬧地大人們高聲地聊天，小孩們一邊哭鬧＝ ＝。 突然媽媽 “嘿” 了我一聲，問我有沒有手機可以借她，想了想我口袋裡的手機，我怎麼可能把溫哥華手機給她在這裡打漫遊，我跟她說沒有。突然坐在推車裡的小兒子不知道是已經聽得懂人話還是怎樣，這小鬼居然看到掛在我口袋外的裝在手機上的柴崎幸演唱會雕飾，然後突然用力猛拉，我不只整個褲子被扯下到臀部的一半，還因為突然被嚇倒而往塑膠板飛撞過去。

我和Teresa選的旅社是18世紀監獄改造的Langholmen （後來才發現這在龍紋身的女孩書中出現過喔！）原本以為住監獄實在是太酷了，而且當時知道裡面居然還有個監獄博物館時更令人興奮！ 但等到我們真的check－in之後，才真的開始害怕。 誰也沒料到我們的房間居然被安排在博物館的正中央，是整個旅社最有監獄氣氛的區了。到處都是高大噁心的蠟像在監視你，表情也特別詭異，走錯房間可能也會進入display room裡面，有更多蠟像等你，離我們房間不遠還有斷頭台，以前用過的生鏽腳鏈，手銬等等。博物館酷歸酷，監獄酷歸酷，但真的住在裡面真的會讓人感覺毛毛的。我挪威的網友也故意加油添醋，一知到我的所在位，馬上回我一句： “I've heard sto

ries about that place...." 讓我當晚完全睡不著。幸好，有兩個人同行，要不然我當天Checkout。

收拾好東西後已經不早了，許多店家也應該都關了，何況對附近還很陌生，於是我們去了看到的第一家露天餐廳，點了很簡單的薯條和漢堡，結果就花了22加幣，讓我見識到瑞典人的厲害。。22加幣我在這裡可以吃上很棒的牛排大餐耶。但這只不過是剛開始，接下來的幾天我會發現一瓶Becks要7加幣，麥當勞套餐要9加幣，礦泉水要3加幣，上好餐廳一個人30加幣是必須的。我每天提錢的時候都快崩潰了。

勇闖斯德哥爾摩 I

原本現在應該要去野餐的，可是每個人大遲到，虧我還這麼早起來，食物也都準備好了。你們給我記住。。。。

空閒之餘，乾脆來寫寫我對斯德哥爾摩的印象，免得以後忘掉。

在倫敦待了兩個星期後，我和同伴Teresa飛到瑞典的首都斯德哥爾摩，準備過五天四夜。

其實我對北歐或是瑞典瞭解都不多，只不過拿了幾次北歐文學，除了Absolut Vodka，喜歡逛Ikea，欣賞Volvo，愛用手機是（Sony）Ericsson，喜歡讀捷運發的Metro，電腦少不了Skype，衣服很多是H&M，龍紋身的女孩還是我最愛的21世紀小說。 雖然瑞典不是什麼大國，但也搞出蠻多有趣的東西, 頗有影響力。

起先對瑞典的印象就是： 很空，很懶惰，很冷，很會做傢具，每個人無聊到寫了很多童話故事，然後很北歐（廢話），我覺得決定去瑞典的原因是因為 柴崎幸去年去的圖書館太酷了，瑞典肉球和鮭魚好吃，讀這麼多北歐不去看看自稱Capital of Scandinavia的城市實在有點可惜。

下飛幾的第一印象是，真的好空蕩。。為什麼機場這麼小，雖然是小機場，可是也太小了，人也太少了。 提了瑞典貨幣後隨即買了車票準備搭車去位於市內的旅社. 瑞典人的教育程度似乎不錯, 至少以英文來說很棒了! 高速公路上的風景很像溫哥華, 或許參砸在草原中的小木屋讓整個景色可愛多了!

因為冷氣壞了, 巴士上的司機用瑞典文說明問題後隨即當場翻譯成英文. 之後幾天也會發現, 從路人, 7-11的工讀生到餐廳服務員英文強得讓我不由自主的很自然去哪裡都直接用英文, 也懶得去用我臨時學的破爛瑞典文. 厚臉皮的行為這也讓我覺得特別慚愧, 但好處是這讓我在哪都絕對不會有語言障礙.

blue rain

HEY! I think I just came up with a real good title, sounds like one of those names for pop ballads.

But indeed, 'blue rain' does describe my state of mind at the moment. Got up at 8:30 to find out that it's raining. It's Raining. IT'S RAINING.

I haven't seen rain for too long. The last time I saw rain was a month ago in Stockholm. I haven't used an umbrella for too long also. The last time I used it was two months ago, the time when I went to chapters to buy a guidebook to Stockholm before my Europe trip. And I actually bought a brand new "VANCOUVER UMBRELLA" for my trip, I thought England would be as miserably rainy as it's known to be. Surprisingly, for the whole duration of my stay in London, no single drop of rain came.

After coming back to Vancouver, the weather has been so nice that it's sunny everyday, and too sunny for the past few days. I was getting tired of these wonderful warm weeks, especially when I have suffered enough heat in Europe already. So imagine my delight when it was wet and windy outside today, my mood is especially bright at work today, same goes with my customer service!

Another thing I like about such summer rainy days is that my mood calms down for a bit. During sunny days I'm always too occupied by thoughts about going out for a bike ride, meeting up with folks, visiting friends. The rain takes away some of such tendencies, and I turn blue for a while, but not melancholy blue, but appreciation blue,.. then I relax, like now, I'm lying on the sofa with a huge computer resting on my fat stomach, typing away on this blog, and I enjoy seeing it going up, then down, up, then down, consistently with my breathing. My stomach feels warm now from the macbook.

But Dear someone,

I don't know if the blue is really not the melancholy blue though. There are still things that are troubling me. Things that I have been thinking for quite a long time but haven't yet come up with responses. Then I must realise, I'm a fortunate kid already, what right do I have to be expecting more, to be satisfied, who am I to be thinking about such unnecessary affairs, do they matter enough.... yet again, the love, honesty, loyalty, or respect from others, they are some of the most precious to me, and I'm beginning to lose some.

Things need not to be so pessimistic perhaps, perhaps, I simply need to learn to have greater ego, to learn not to bother. Perhaps again, it is exactly this ego that ignited all this shit, should I even expect love, honesty, and all that crap from people.

Time to be afraid?

Sweet Summer Sweat

I've written too many blogs about Kou already, but there shouldn't be any reasons to why I should stop the ritual of dedicating a blog to my favourite Japanese each year on her birthday!

Two days ago I had a dream about Kou actually! I dreamed that Kou went to Fraser Heights to give a concert, and I was soooo ready to participate, I arrived at the Firehawks theatre five hours before it even started, I had the best seat right in the middle! Just as the concert was about to start, I realised I don't have my ticket. So I ran out in search for tickets, I ran all over the school ground when finally I found a ticket machine to buy tickets. But the touch screen function was all screwed up so it took me so long to get my ticket. When I got in, Kou was on her last song...

Then I also dreamed that I walked past her dressing room at Erma Stephenson. I waved at her while she went in, then she came over to me, and she looked at my arms, I was carrying some DVDs, turned out to be pirated DVDs of Orange Days and Good luck!! Man she looked awkward hahahahaahah, and she "ahhh"-ed and "ohhh"-ed and backed off. Then I woke up!

Just a while earlier, I was watching Kou's 2010 concert tour, again, after listening to her last song Hyakunengo, I was completely touched by her voice and effort of the overall concert. Kou is soooo adorable in there, not to mention that her live has improved so much as well. I especially enjoyed Lover Soul, Hyakunengo, and Dive.

Then I just remembered, this is my fourth year as a Kou fan! Since watching Battle Royale in 2006, I have been spending most of my savings on Kou goods. Magazines, albums, and concert products. She should really thank me, I just spent nearly 200 canadian dollars on a two pieces of towel, a t-shirt, and 2 cellphone straps. Which fan can go further?! HM? HM?

But then, after all, Kou was the one who gave me something to look forward to after a busy and exhausting day of work and school. An hour of drama, five minutes of a new single, or even chatting away with other fans online. Doing these things can really help me take my mind off of other craps. I remember once when I was stressing over my huge term papers, I listened to her new single over and over again on the bus, it helped me hold back my tears. Actually listening to her songs or watching the films always helped to ease the frustrations in life.

During the last two years of my high school, I spent summer alone, oh yes! and with Kou! I missed the time during those hot summer evenings, I would lie on the wooden floor, listening to Kou's songs with a fan blowing against my fat feet. On the background noise would be the sprinkler's splash on the grass..then comes the smell of the wet sun baked grass. There wouldn't be anyone else at home, I could turn it on max all day long. Then I'd take a nap right there, fully bathed in the music. During those summer days, sometimes I'd stay up until dawn after finishing my English project, and talk to other kou fans at different time zones, about new CMs she has done or new dramas she's filming. Then sometimes I would pull out Battle Royale and watch the scene when Mitsuko died over and over again, not that I'm perverted or anything, but I like Kou's Mitsuko, it makes you feel, "I need to be strong too!"

I'd ask myself a lot of times how I managed to love a celebrity for so long. But then Kou is so much more than a celebrity. Using the word celebrity might even be an insult to the girl haha. She's a real professional employee of her agency, of the entertainment industry. Kou didn't simply boomed out of nowhere. Her evolvement is a realistic one. From an amateur singer who only dared to release singles, to this day's live tours and music station appearances, sitting alongside Ayumi Hamasaki and Glay,.. Kou's no fast food, she progresses slowly, yet she does it well, step by step, is not in hurry to make big money, but to make the best out of herself, so that she doesn't waste our money!!!!

Happy Birthday to Kou (feels kind of weird to wish a stranger happy birthday, but what the heck!) Please take more dramas, and stop dating.

最讓人困擾的噪音

忍無可忍了! (咬)
我太憤怒了! (拍)
得要報警了! (摔)

情況是這樣的警察先生, 自從今年春天開始, 當氣候漸漸暖和起來時, 公寓裡面的大家都會把窗戶都開到最大, 沒有備冷氣的公寓, 只能靠微風來消暑, 因此公寓之間隔音效果沒有其他時候完善.
大約每個週末的早晨 (特別是星期天), 或是接近凌晨, 我都會被詭異的叫吼聲和呻吟從舒服的睡眠中吵醒. 第一次聽到的時候, 我當時以為是誰家的小狗被困在庭園的樹叢裡出不來在求救, 我甚至還打電話給保全警衛說我聽到小狗的唉嚎聲請他們去看看. 可是幾天之後又發出同樣的聲音, 然後平率越來越大,..... 每次都是個女生的叫聲! 而且都是同一個女生發出的聲音! 而且很顯然的! 某些居民在做私人交際的同時也在製造這可怕的噪音!! 這讓我很困擾. 然而, 這些我都還能忍耐, 畢竟人類是赫爾蒙的受害者, 我別計較太多, 頂多暫時把窗戶關起, 或是做別的事情來分心, 可是他們也不能得寸進尺啊!!!

就像昨晚, 我好不容易打完工會來, 練了鋼琴, 整理了家裡, 做了隔天的便當一直到半夜四點才上床準備好好睡覺, 因為隔天八點就得起床去打工 正當要入睡的時候, 突然那可怕的叫聲從窗外傳來了. 果然是魔音傳腦, 讓我非常的難受. 原本這種噪音就已經很煩了, 偏偏又知道這是幹啥事才會發出來的噪音而產生的心理作用更讓我不舒服! 何況, 誰會星期三半夜三更的突然興致這麼高, 更糟糕誰曉得他們之前吃了什麼補品這個噪音居然持續了一個多鐘頭, 讓我無法入睡且極度不悅! 最後, 我受不了只好到隔音比較好的客廳裡睡沙發. 今天早上還因為睡晚了差點遲到.




PLEASE! KEEP IT DOWN WHILE DOING YOUR BUSINESS, I FRIGGEN NEED TO SLEEP!

勇闖倫敦

生長在加拿大和台灣, 歐洲的印象不是從書上看來的就是從電影..

傳說中的亨利六世, 圖上的紅石磚, 豆豆先生的出身地, 火車上會感到的震動, 俊美男子的特產地

歐洲好遙遠陌生, 神秘到一種誘人的境界, 除非親生去體驗, 不然不甘心..

在家裡悶了兩年, 我真的想出去瘦身一下

砸了存款後在跟老爸'借'一些現金, 就這樣開始二十天的旅途

倫敦沒變, 但是我變了, 兩年前那時被封閉在博物館裡, 這次對這個城市所有在進行的事都得抱著好奇的心態 *握*

從機場到市中心的火車上只聽得到火車輪子滾過鐵軌的聲音, 車上的人穿著西裝, 身旁是黑色手提包, 擺在桌上的是手提電腦; 面無表情, 真的恨不得買咖啡給他們

倫敦的Victoria Station好大, 人好多, 感覺裡面所有人加起來可以超過大溫地區人口, 人來人往, 繁忙到走路太慢會覺得對後面的人不好意思, 站在當中我難免會覺得格格不入, 可是在倫敦的這種人太多了

怎麼一下了火車就這麼多精神呢?

中午到姊姊上班的金融區, 中午時看著到處都是她的同伴 -- 西裝筆挺, 皮鞋反光到不行的上班族從大廈走出來... 我心想, "就是被他們搞垮的...."

倫敦的地鐵是個可怕的折磨, 我看到很多神經病 --天氣這麼熱為何不把外套脫了, 空氣這麼不好為何還肯硬擠上車廂, 明明算是個有錢的城市為何不裝個空調, 換個車廂, 看來倫敦也不一定像每個傳說中被寵壞的大城市

倫敦人好安靜, 在地鐵上很少會碰到雜吵得情形, 更不會聽到有人罵髒話, 每個人似乎都很鎮定, 很冷靜, 走在路上的倫敦人都知道自己在做什麼, 下一步該怎麼做, 繁忙的都市真令人佩服, 讓我這個從悠閒的溫哥華人感覺很格格不入, 總覺得這些人都很壓抑嗎?!

啤酒文化是種享受, 在溫哥華買酒感覺像是做了什麼見不得人的事, 在倫敦飲酒是理所當然的事, 恐怕一般市民都不知道到底飲酒年齡是什麼吧. 酒比百事可樂便宜, 也因此看英國對德國的球賽時, 站我旁邊的英國球迷能這麼豪爽的把未尚喝完的酒杯砸到地上. 恐怕平常壓抑太久了, 過了五點上班族紛紛巨集在酒店門口開始狂灌啤酒,.. 也難怪倫敦人不喜歡開車, 酒可是英國人的精神支柱哪!

倫敦的同性戀文化對同性戀也是種享受吧! 上次恰好碰上pride parade, 見識到SOHO倫敦精采的queer culture. 第一次看到同性戀能這麼在公開場合來celebrate這個特性, 這也就是都會有趣的地方呀, 大城市很乾脆的接納所有各式各樣的人, 管你穿著奇怪, 性向信仰不同, 套一句老姐的話, "在倫敦怎麼樣都不會有人用異樣眼神看你, 因為總會有人比你怪"

乍看之下, 倫敦好大, 甚至對我來說太大了, 習慣了溫哥華小的可愛, 我在倫敦總覺得到哪裡都好陌生, 可是就是因為這種陌生的感覺讓我漸漸喜歡上倫敦, 他似乎住不逆, 太多東西得看, 明明是個不怎麼會變的城市, 明明這次是第二次去, 而且是去兩個禮拜, 我還是無法master這個城市, 但就是美在這裡, 一堆奇怪的東西等著我慢慢去探索體驗, 雖然倫敦的水難喝, 東西貴, 食物糟糕, 可是趁著我還有體力, 好奇心, 我覺得我會在回去的, or rather, 我一定得回去.

Once again London

I'm so glad I have the opportunity again to visit here. Luckily, I have no summer school to take this term, luckily, my boss is willing to let me off for three weeks, and luckily, my brother has a friend who's willing to be a kittysitter. After two years of college, I should know more about London to spend my time more wisely here compared to two years ago.. I simply followed the tour book last time.

Was on the plane surrounded by three babies who decides to form a screaming choir, so I did not sleep much. Just landed four hours ago, took the train, and switched to the tube, now sitting in the same McDonald's where I waited for my sister two years ago. Last time I waited her to finish her job interview. This time I'm waiting for her lunch break from the same job.

So glad people do recycling so carefully even in McDonalds.

The Metamorphosis - Country Fair version

今天是一年一度的Country Fair! 雖然節目活動都與往年一樣, 這也是我第11次來玩, 但不管長多大了, 每年也一樣抱著期待的心情來玩

今年也不例外. 我1點多就到了Surrey, 先做在java hut (這次看招牌居然改成了java joe!) 裡面點了我高中時候常來喝的cream soda, 然後一邊等動作很慢的Rachel.

這次去Surrey又發現越來越多人會駕車了. 包括學妹Sharon~ 好友Rachel~ 然後Amy會飆車. 完了~ 身為優秀的Sherry居然輸給她們真是太糟糕了, 看來我還是去從考一次筆試吧! 這樣以後ID拿出來也比較好看一點, 不然每次拿我10歲照的公民卡買酒也很尷尬啊

今天還赫然發現Rachel有個不為人知的一面. 原本只是去wal mart陪她買衛生紙, 我很得意的告訴她我可以幫她挑好用的, 她的表情好比我建議她把toffee吃掉的樣子, 跟我說 "你在想什麼啊! 我都有看flyer啊! 然後抽出她的Catalogue說 "看! 今天這個牌子有打折!"

之後她叫我拿一盒面紙, 我拿了最前面的一盒, 她居然跟我說 "妳在想什麼啊! 你看看, 你看看, 這盒被撞到了! 拿後面一點的!" 我說, 這盒子只不過凹進去了點, 反正不都是面紙嗎! 還有差嗎???

結果她看到flyer上的洗衣精有打折, 居然很興奮的打電話回家 "二姐! 洗衣精今天有打折, 要不要買?!"

Rachel, 妳何時變的這麼大嬸哪?

一開始原本只是走來走去, 看看會碰到誰, 這樣就會停下來打招呼, 講八卦, 照相. 結果真正好玩的是結束之後, 和Rachel還有Jessie去erma玩. 看完了快10年的在學校掛著的合照, 大家都開始回憶了吧, 真的, 從erma畢業也要7年了, 真讓人懷念呢..

先是去盪鞦韆, 然後爬單槓. 原本以前玩這些都很容易的, 今天居然得用上全身力量, 才總算可以倒掛在上面, 並且還讓自己抽筋. 而且爬單槓的時候還常常撐不住而掉下來, 居然還被小孩笑..

還記得以前玩球的時候, 最讓人傷腦筋的就是球被踢或丟出去很遠而得要跑去撿回來, 今天也再次體會到了. Rachel玩4 square原來也很耍詐, 這種就是我們以前最愛欺負和孤立的討厭的傢伙! 覺得今晚恐怕會睡的很舒服, 明天恐怕會腰酸背痛, 蠻身淤青, 嚴重的話還有很多蚊子包會呈現. 但我多久沒被蚊子叮了? 自從搬來downtown吧!

從前, 覺得做小孩真沒好處, 小的時候都等不及的想要長大..
只是, 不知不覺大學只剩兩年了. Fair一開始時, 原本無時無刻都會問 "現在讀什麼系, 以後打算做什麼, 現在哪些工作吃香, 哪些最難讀, 與男友還好嗎, " 現在大家變大人了, 有煩惱了, 今天有些人為出社會煩惱, 有些人為感情煩惱, 有些人為家庭煩惱, 雖然大學還沒畢業, 但就像OD一樣, 站在小孩的世界和現實社會之間也是很尷尬的. 可是今晚每個人像是接受了一場metamorphosis, 脫下了所謂的adult的殼, 當了一晚的小孩, 雖然累了一天, 但因為對方都在旁邊, 突然精神都來了! 而且是已經很久沒有體驗過的小孩精神! 笑, 罵, 叫, 跳, 跑, 爬, 這感覺真是太痛快, 太不得了.

可惜, 最歡樂的時候總是最短暫的, 天暗了, 就像玩了太興奮而捨不得回家的小孩, 依依不捨的慢慢走出校園, 只是不像其他一旁的小孩, in our case, 我們不知道什麼時候還能在像今晚這樣活. 但只要記憶還在, 朋友還在, 就像這每年的country fair一樣, 我永遠會抱著興奮的心情去期待下次的那一天, 哪怕只是一天...

百年後

百年後


這首歌很適合一邊拔牙一邊聽哦~ 我上次拔智齒的時候就一直replay replay reaply

一開始接觸到這首歌時是在去年冬天時, 晚上獨自在房間非法下載柴崎幸新專輯時聽到的


那時候就覺得馬上被感染了, 因為 "百年後" 這首被小幸詮釋的很美, 畢竟這種曲調還是最適合她強勢, 冷艷, 低沉的聲音


雖然日文不好, 沒辦法完全了解, 但每次一聽到 "hyakunengo" (百年後) 這段就覺得心被 "揪" 一下, 我豐富的想像力, 似乎能感受到 (小幸在對我呼喚~) "人"的心意, 惋惜, 還有那對捨不得的人的whatever. 後來看了歌詞, 更喜歡聽這歌了 (她的歌詞其實看得出來是有用腦去寫的, 這也是我欣賞柴崎小姐的一部分原因)


一邊聽, 一邊"大概"的把腦中那"大概"的翻譯詞也接上去旋律,... 其實呢也可以很美.

百年後
作詞∶柴咲コウ
作曲∶崎谷健次郎
歌∶柴咲コウ


即將熄滅的熒光燈
低頭走路的你
朝著陳舊的公寓
追逐著你的背影

傾斜的鐵皮屋頂
發出吧嗒吧嗒的聲音
你撫摸著快要哭泣的我的頭

你道歉的只言片語
聽到時 心裡一震
假如10年後 兩人依然如此

尊重彼此
如果不能相互惦念
就將這些美好原封不動作為過去吧

時光流逝 年華不再
愛戀也逐漸淡去
年少時的回憶
一點點忘記

那一天的到來讓我害怕得顫抖
你目不轉睛地靜靜看著我 低聲細語

直白的一句話
聽到時就已覺察
開導這樣的我的

只有你
與在並不算長的一生中擁有喜悅的你
分離 就如同
不再活著般

百年後即使這世上不再有我們
也要相互惦念
最終的幸福之輪
寄宿在新的輪迴裡

想把房間的木椅換成紅色沙發

首先, 恭喜各位即將要踏上新旅程的grad '10, 不管是離開大學的新鮮人或是從高中畢業的..的.. 的.. 孩子們, sherry gives you her best wishes.
可是有時候想想, 要長大了這件事是值得恭喜的嗎? 我到現在還不知道怎麼回答自己.

話說.. 去年從春天開始就熱到不行了, 去年的這個時候我還在陽台上睡午覺
但現在好冷...... 前幾天出去的時候說話還會吐煙
下午我躺在床上看書都覺得要蓋一床被子才行, 深怕感冒
可是又覺得六月開暖氣太遜了, 倒不如好好的享受這所剩不多的寒冷吧



今天晚上十點下課的時候, 我出了教室就像煙癮犯了一樣, 馬上抽出攜帶打給Anna. 年輕人嘛.... 我還是很長舌的. 直到走到公車上, 還在講一些很不正經的話題, 因為沒有什麼認識的人, 無須做出平常偽裝在外的甜美~ 溫柔~ 的樣子, 結果講了大概10分鐘, 轉頭到處看的時候居然發現坐在我後面的是我的教授..... 頓時表情僵硬, 然後假裝沒看到他. 好蠢啊, 平常我和Anna的話題就很詭異, 包括我把馬桶蓋坐裂, 我整人事蹟, 還有我一個人可以吃掉多少盤炒飯之類的. 偏偏我們又是用英文溝通. 虧我還在教授面前裝著乖寶寶的樣子, 似乎這形象全在這短短幾分鐘內摧毀了, 這感覺真不好


說說最近的新發現吧! 號稱 Sherry Wisdom
這幾天在讀Thomas Mann的"威尼斯之死" 內容大概就是一位邁入中年的藝術家在威尼斯度假時遇見了一位超~~~~~~~~美的男孩並且愛上了他. 冒著可能被疫病傳染的危險, 在威尼斯內不停的跟蹤他, 想念著他.
而這讓我想起了以前發生在我身上的故事 -- 我叫它 Sogo百貨之吻
某天我媽帶著4, 5歲的我去台北的Sogo百貨逛街 (也有可能是明耀百貨), 我們在一樓的某化妝品專櫃停了下來, 專櫃小姐開始向我媽推薦產品. 當我媽正認真看入玻璃櫃的瓶瓶罐罐時, 突然那位專櫃小姐親了我的臉頰!!!!!!!!!! 我媽頓時被嚇到! 張著大眼blink blink. 結果專櫃小姐很不好意思的說 "對不起, 但您女兒實在是太可愛了"

當我把這故事說給表姊聽的時候在隔壁房間"睡覺"的懶散的哥哥突然很不以為意的說 "哼! 那有什麼了不起! 我也被專櫃小姐親過啊!" 然後兄妹開始驕傲的搬出以前被大人親過, 甚至被咬過的不得了的經驗來比較, 最後為了make peace, 我們雙方握手言和的說 "但我們比沒有被專櫃小姐親過的老姊厲害".

I AM TAICHICAN

I am a liminal character.

I am a Taiwanese of Chinese descent who is born in a nation that is not approved to be one.

I am that particular Taiwanese or Chinese who lives in Canada and is a bearer of both Taiwanese and Canadian passports and continues to be stuck in between the two or three societies and cultures, whatever.

I am that particular Taiwanese or Canadian or Chinese who does not know the meaning nor what to tell others when they ask "Where are you from?" Or "What are you?"

I am that particular Taiwanese or Canadian or Chinese who asks "Who am I?" quite often.

Now let me summarise what happens to me all the time, and I will try to stay away from the politics, just the personal. But then again, the personal is the political - quite an awkward usage since I'm not a radical feminist, but it makes sense. Now they say that Canada is multicultural, which is somewhat true, and Canada is doing a good job sometimes. But that's only the government and their program. I don't blame anyone, but I simply get upset when someone - anyone, whether those of the 'host' society or not - asks me "so where are you from?" Now I know this is just a casual conversation appetizer but it irritates me that I have to think of the options:

I've been living in Canada for 12 years. I have officially been a Canadian for 9 years. But I don't know how to feel sometimes about home.

1) I'm Canadian: What irritates me about using this answer is that (Pal, I know you're asking me this is very likely because I have brown hair and eyes, because of the features, you assume that I am FROM somewhere else when I spent more than half of my lifetime here). But fine, immigrants are common in Canada, I shouldn't make it into such a big deal. So I say "I'm Canadian" since I'm in Canada anyway and I have a Canadian passport, if I'm in Taiwan, duh, I'll say I'm Taiwanese. And 90% of the time they would protest "Nonono, I mean, really, WHERE are you from?" So in this case, I'll have to go into option two.

2) I say Taiwanese: Sometimes to make matters simpler I just say I'm Taiwanese, but then again, I have ran into problems as such. For example, upon hearing "Taiwanese", that person would say, "oh, what? Isn't that just China?" I get really uneasy because I have no idea how to explain such complicated politics. "Yes.... some people believe that it is China..but I'm from Taiwan" "Exactly, why don't you just say you're Chinese then? Aren't they the same thing?" It has nothing to do with my political orientation, but still, what's wrong to say that I'm Taiwanese when I'm born in Taiwan and that is what it says on one of my passports regardless of the politics?

3) Chinese - Usually I don't say I'm Chinese unless people assume that I'm Chinese, then I'd just go with it, "yeah, Chinese.." Because that's how you make them shut up. It's again, not the politics, but simply because I don't think I can fully identify myself as a Chinese, I've never been to China, I don't know how to write simplified Chinese, I just don't think I'm that Chinese.

Sometimes I'm proud of such complications, and the fact that I have two passports. But I get so fed up when I have to identify myself as "I AM BORN IN TAIWAN AND IMMIGRATED TO CANADA AND NOW AM A DUAL CITIZEN OF BOTH CANADA AND TAIWAN, OF WHICH THE LATTER IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA BUT IS NOT REALLY A CHINA THOUGH SOME CALL IT THE SAME CHINA BUT NOT EVERYONE AGREES."

The girl who played with fire [on books] - tempting indeed

Recently I realised that I am, possibly, cursed by books.

We all feel that way sometimes, we have to study for tests, and we have to read about boring things, which is a pain. But this time, the curse went further for me.

So these days, I have to do some research for my class, and I paid a lovely visit to Koernor and Irving. I came out with a huge stack of them. It was so heavy that I had a back pain, this is curse #1.

Now I borrowed this one published in 1942, so it's quite ancient, and thus it smells ancient. And ancient books smells bad. I was flipping through it page by page as I read, and I simply could not avoid the terrible stench of rotten wood squirming out from the book. But there were 200 pages or so, I couldn't stop right away. I tried all sorts of methods. First I placed my nose against my detergent-smelling sleeves, no use, the smell penetrates through it!!! Then I breathe with my mouth, but a part of the smell goes through my nose still. Then I held a muffin under my nose, the mixture smelled worse. By the time I gave up, I became so disgusted by the smell that I was nauseated that I really felt like puking. So I ended up resting on bed for half an hour, which happened to be the best remedy.

This morning - well, this afternoon - I was awoken by the phone rings. When I woke up, the ring's melody told me that unless I pick it up within 10 seconds, or the call will be cut off. So I jumped out of my bed and attemped to "leap" over to the phone as fast as I could until I triped over the huge pile of books that I borrowed. Even worse, I landed on my forefront on the ground, and some how, the hit was transferred to my hips, now my already-big bottom is swelled while I have two red carpet-marks on my knees.

Oh - and great. I just got an e-mail from ubc saying that they're going to charge me $8 dollars for my overdue books from last term.

I seriously hate books now.

卡夫卡or木村

近期我的生活充滿兩件事
1. 德國近代文學
2. 日劇
非常豪不相干的兩個topic.

因為在學校拿了副修的德國文學, 所以開始讀很多卡夫卡還有尼采. 之前拿歐洲文學時就讀過一次卡夫卡的 "變形記", 所以這次是第二次讀. 卡夫卡作品果然不能只看一遍, 我一直以為這小說是他自己亂寫出來給朋友笑笑的, 但沒想到我越看越覺得這故事真的很詭異. 雖然是短短一篇, 可是卡夫卡1914年寫這篇時, 實實在在的把20世紀非常受歡迎的現代主義和存在主義用最不直接的方式寫出來了, 明明是第二次看, 可是越看越想哭, 越覺得可怕, 越覺得世界怎麼可以被人類玩成這個樣子! 也不知道他是不是瞎猜還是真的很聰明, "變形記" 似乎像是本預言書, 記載了許多那世紀將會發生的事情, 其中包括納粹大屠殺. 難道這些真的都被卡夫卡預料到了嗎! 怪可怕的. 越讀他的作品, 越覺得卡夫卡這個人很有個性, 給人的感覺有點像文學界的莫札特, 當然也沒那麼悲慘...
尼采的更不用說了, 看他的"道德普系學"之後才覺得這人沒瘋掉才怪.


當然, 除了學習和工作之外也有很多日劇! 像這次春季日劇蠻精采的! 不光是收視率, 劇本也很吸引我!! 光是這季就有 "我家的歷史" 打頭陣, 已經看了兩遍啦, 現在正在追上戶的 "絕對零度", 阿部的 "新參者", 松雪的 "Mother", 還有那幫年輕人的 "無法坦承相見". 一直以為我絕對會守木村的月9, 沒想到, 看了第一集馬上就知道我絕對會放棄這部.... 不知道媒體在high什麼, 說什麼木村新劇首播收視率冠軍, 可喜可賀, 林志玲表現令人讚賞, 功不可沒什麼的. 月之戀人第一集的確是收視冠軍 (木村嘛!), 但同時卻是木村主演日劇的首播最低收視... 網友就指出, 木村平常收視都是比競爭者+5~6%, 但這次卻只比阿部高1%, 嘖嘖, 不像平常的木村. 但是看了第一集, 發現這種收視率的確很有說服力, 因為以卡司, 上海外景, 等等, 這劇真的沒有很吸引我, 套句有名的"劍心"說的, 是很符合22%的收視率. 以成本算, 這根本就是慘敗嘛. 木村最近太讓我失望了..!! 原本之前很期待的Mr. Brain也是, 越來越不經典了, 拜託這位先生慎選劇本行嗎?! 角色真的蠻失敗的, 難道要走韓劇路線嗎?! eeeek. 木村, 北川, 和林小姐..受不了呀. 唯一有月9大牌風範的的就是篠原涼子啦, 我想就算追下去, 也是會為了他.

Will I learn this time..

Today, something horrifying happened. And I thought I would record this story just to remind myself the danger of expired food.

Now I don't know about other people, but I have this habit of keeping all sorts of food in my fridge or even outside of my fridge. And I have several good reasons for doing this. One, I don't believe in expiry dates. I think a food can be edible regardless of the numbers written on there, that's just to scare people. Besides, they still look perfectly fine, why throw them away? Two, if a food is bad, then I would have to throw it into the garbage can, taking up its space, hence more frequent times for me to take out the garbage. Three, throwing it into the garbage would mean smelly garbage as the organics decompose, I'd rather keep it in the fridge, at least the food won't smell as bad.

This habit of mine did not aggravate until a couple years ago, when I started to live by myself, and with my brother sometimes.... obviously we share the same perspective in terms of food keeping. In fact I think it runs in the family, at least among the siblings. In 2008, our fridge broke while I was out of the country. The most my brother could do was to move all the things out to the balcony. It wasn't until three weeks after I came back did I decide to clean them out, I couldn't stand the smell anymore.... And also, I remember my mum complaining that she spent two hours cleaning out my sister's fridge in London, while finding old matters that she mailed to her a year ago. Anyway, fridge cleaning became a common ritual when my parents visit their children, whether in Vancouver, or in London. Too bad they have little time to visit my brother in Victoria. Oh I believe his fridge is much more interesting than mine.

Jack never liked the way I keep my food. He says I will get food poisoning one day. Same with Anna, though I don't think she's better than me, she did throw out my bananas once because she couldn't stand the way they became so black and "baggy".

Now I will really get into the story. This morning when I got up, actually afternoon to be honest, I felt like eating hash brown. I don't know about other people, but when I want to eat something, I seriously want to eat that thing. So I started preparing for hash brown. Making hash browns is simple, all you need is basically a potato. I looked into my good o' fridge, and there it was! Two big brown potatoes! I happily took them out and examined them, as I did with all my other food products that comes from the fridge (I know I hate to "refuse" to eat my food, but sometimes, as long as you're rational, you really must throw them out, for example, my chocolate cake which turned into something that resembled a green tea chocolate brownie after a couple weeks). Anyway, I realised that there were funny little green tissues sticking out from the potatoes. They were hard and spiky, they just didn't look right on a potato. I contemplated with whether or not to eat it, but decided the hell with it. I thought, as long as I chop them off, it will all be normal, and that's what I did.

While I was frying the grated potato, I realised that the colour is weird. Normally they turn into golden and crunchy bits, but this time they are grey and gooey. But I didn't think too much, I ate it with ketchup and pleasure. It tasted pretty good actually, though kind of like chewing gums, the texture made it delicious, I was just about to type on my facebook status: "Oh my gosh! I just made the best hash brown ever!"

Everything was fine until after I got to work. While I was arranging the tea boxes I began to feel this weird nausea. Then it was okay for a moment.... THEN A TERRIBLE STOMACH ACHE... then okay again.... THEN A FEELING OF "SERIOUSLY, I NEED A TOILET RIGHT AWAY". I ran out of the store while my boss was giving me instructions and raced towards the washroom. Usually the washroom is empty, because we only share it with the staffs from Blue Ruby, but this time SOMEONE JUST HAD TO BE INSIDE! I walked back and forth, trying to ease my pain, and I thought maybe I should just go to the backstreet and finish my business there. Thank goodness she came out soon enough, I ended up staying in there for twenty minutes.... never have I loved a toilet so much. I went back to the store, thinking that everything was alright now, did cash for a while, UNTIL THE THING HIT AGAIN. I was in so much pain that as soon as I stuffed the change into the customer's palm, I ran to the washroom again,... this time, I stayed in there for another twenty minutes. That was finally the end.

I thought I would share this little story with Anna An, she has to know too, since she is just like me. She listened to my story attentively, and she finally said, "you know Sherry, I understand how you feel, and I know too that you shouldn't eat potatoes with things growing out of it". I curiously asked, "how did you know that?"

"Ohhhhh~ Because I ate them before too".

咪咪果然是我的好貓

剛才走到廚房去到水的時候, 神智不清的居然把肩膀櫃子的那個尖尖的角狠狠的撞了一下!

痛到我覺得這根本就是滿清十大酷刑似的折磨, 右手抓著左肩不放, 馬上跑回床上不停的打滾和怒吼

這時咪咪跑來床邊, 眼睛瞪的大大的, 隨即跳上來到我旁邊, 看了躺在床上的我一下, 在看我的肩膀, 結果!!! 他居然坐下來, 用它的頭拱我的左手臂, 讓主人我太感動了! 我的貓怎麼會這麼懂事呢! 還會幫主人咻咻~ 果然是我教出來的貓!

Surrey Trip Stop fin

Jessie picked me up at my grandma's place, and we went to grab some "celebration water". Together we arrived at Rachel Wu's place to start our little gathering. I cannot remember when is the last time when all four of us got together. I think it was last september. I was kind of happy that I got myself a little bit sick, but I don't think my consumption was too great :(
Anywho, we were up until three, by then I showered and collapsed on the sofa.

The next morning, or noon, Rachel Wu and I went to Fraser Heights to find Mr. Horn to fill out some reference letters for her. On my way out of the building, I passed by Mr. Kelly and he gestured me into his classroom. He thanked me for the note I left him (I forgot to mention, yesterday I left a note at his desk saying that he was the person who inspired me with literature). I have always had a little pupil crush on this guy, along with all the many other female students. He's young, handsome, and best of all, he teaches literature/english. While we were talking, I found out that he lives on Richard and Nelson. Oh my gosh! That's a block away from where I live! And once I move into the apartment on Richard and Nelson, we will totally become neighbours! Gyabooooooo!!! I should walk more often on Richard street from now on.

Afterwards Melody took me to have Stonegrill,....... I wish. It's actually Cold Stone or something. And we went to Burnaby with Jessie to howl around. Thus ends my Surrey trip.

I came to acknowledge the fact that one can not survive without a car, and of course, a drivers license. For the past two days, I have rode on the car of Seal, Jessie, Melody, and Rachel. Amazing, it's like they taught themselves how to drive. Why does everything have to be so far apart each other? No wonder I felt bored as a teenager. I think I'm the only one who doesn't even have my L! So my conclusion is that I'm best off living in Downtown. At least, hey, I save the insurance and gas.

Surrey Trip Stop 3

Technology is amazing, especially when people use it.

Right now I'm in my grandmother's home, they don't use internet, but apparently I can still receive their neighbour's wireless! Lovely!

After leaving starbucks, it was still too early to go to Fraser Heights, so I went to Erma first. I was never close to any of my teachers except for one, she really took care of me in grade three, once I told her my legs hurt just so I don't have to play in PE, she carried me all the way to the office to rest, I felt so embarrassed! I had little idea where her classroom is now, so I waited in the lower level grades area, I still remember that all teachers are suppose to step out of the classroom to hold the heavy doors for students to get out after school, so I waited in front of them to see where she is. Apparently she still remembers me, I'm really glad! We talked for a while and I left, walked a bit on the playground, scaring little kids.

Then I went to the highschool to see Mme. Corrado, told her about my plans and talked for quite a while. She's always glad to see me,.. at least that's how I see it. Every time I visit her she would always encourage me to go to France, I think this will be more than an encouragement this year.

When I got out of school, Seal called out to me. I was so glad to see him inside his car! Ran up to him and said "SEAL! You gotta give me a ride!" So there I was in his car, and he took me here to my grandparents' place! Just had a wonderful dinner and dessert. Lovely & Delicious.

Next stop is Rachel Wu's home. Apparently Jessie is planning something big. She's thinking of drinking and driving tonight.

Surrey Trip Stop 2

At Starbucks right now!

This Starbucks wasn't opened until 2007 I think. Though new, still one of my favourite location in my memory. Reason is because this was where Melody, Joyce, and I discussed our dreams. We were in grade 12, last year in high school. I remember it was a cold Saturday evening, I was working on my history essay when Melody called me to go to Starbucks with her. I went to her place and met up with her and Joyce, she wanted to come here. So us three, we walked in the winter darkness, making mean jokes and insults. Suddenly Melody said, "have you noticed we're graduating soon? What are you guys gonna do? what are we to become?!"

Joyce was determined, "I'm going into arts"

"What about you Sherry?"

I absolutely had no idea, so I just made up of something "I'll become a philosopher"

I think Melody Liao took that seriously because she exclaimed right away, "OH MY GOSH, YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO! Joyce an artist, Sherry a philosopher, WHAT AM I TO DO?!"

"You can become a baby stylist Melody"

"Or you can join 模範棒棒堂"

"Or a pirate"

"A popcorn popper!"

and the list went on...

Obviously the only person who stuck with what was said that evening was Joyce. It was a lovely night. I was sipping on the same Americano I have on my side, while those two mad women were drinking frapuccino (however you spell that) outside. I can't imagine that was only three years ago. And I can't imagine how much have changed since I moved out of here, both me and here!

Anyway,

Just took the C74 from Guildford to here, I didn't even realise that the bus has changed route already, it's so much more flexible now. Feel more than at home! I'm glad. I think I'm going to wait until 2:45 to go to Fraser Heights, obviously that's one of the memorable sites for Sherry.

Surrey Trip Stop 1

This morning I got up at 8:15, freaking early for me. Had some left over pasta and set off!

I haven't been back since last Christmas, and everytime I come here I never have enough fun and never stay for long enough. Since last month, while I was buried within all the assignments and exams, I thought I really need to get out of ubc and get out of downtown for just a few days. And the only suitable option was to come here! Since I did spend ten years in the area, I find almost everything memorable. I thought it would be cool for me to make a stop at every meaningful site and enjoy the moments of nostalgia. So currently, I'm just typing away in Guildford Mall.

I remember when I was young (am still young), maybe before when I was 12, my dad would take me here on Friday evenings. That was when my brother and my sister would often disappear or.. they were too lazy to leave home. We would always start off with The Bay because it has all the brands that my dad likes, especially TH. We could spend hours there just looking at men's suits. He would walk around and try out shirts while I would be on the ground looking for treasures. The most I could find were often pins and fallen tags.

Then we would get out of The Bay and into the mall's “mainstreets”. I would always ask to go to Wal-Mart just because that is the only place with the best legos. That's right, I was not a barbie girl, I played with legos instead. Sometimes I would also stop by Grand & Toy to look at stationaries to add to my collections of pens and pencils, I think it closed down several years ago though. I guess I am really fortunate to be able to experience this type of shopping culture. In Taiwan the closest we have to this were department stores, the rest we did it on the streets. I remember asking the question: Why the fake trees? I'm finishing up my smoothies, should get ready to head to my next destination,..... T&T!

exam-free day 1

Today is officially my first exam-free day after all those crap I wrote. Since the beginning of this year I have been doing school, projects, papers, exams, olympics, back to midterms, projects, exams. I could use a good vacation. And I DESERVE THIS.

Originally I planned to go to church with Jack,... unfortunately we both chose to sleep in. In any case, I thought I have been stuck in Downtown for too long, thought it would be nice to get out of here for a few hours. So I ended up in Richmond, originally thinking of visiting my aunt to do some banking matters. Well when I got there BMO's locked door kindly reminded me that today is Sunday. Hm, oh well, I thought I could visit a random FIDO store to renew my expiring plan. (Come to think of it, all the things I possess are expiring: my tofu, my milk, my eggs, my coffee beans, my moisturiser, even my mobile plan). And in fact, I have accumulated enough fido dollars to actually get a free mobile at no cost, so I picked a lovely sony ericsson!

Afterwards I slowly walked to Richmond Centre to stroll around, it has been ages since I've been to a mall. Sat in the food court reading my Salander novel (Salander series is a must read!! The Swedish are so talented at writing crime & detective stories), I was so absorbed in it that I forgot about the dinner tonight.

Anyway, I know I have just written a whole lot of boring days about myself, but these are honestly the moments I value the most, where I have absolutely no pressure at all (except stressing over the terrible exams I have written), no matters to worry about, and no one to please. I LOVE ME!

no more!!

感覺真幸福，今天終於寫了最後一張考卷，太滿足了，自從一月開學當天就沒有這麼放鬆過了。

因為二月奧運的關係讓我翹了很多課，結果惡性循環，反應到期中考上啦。

其實經過這個學期，我決定以後要好好利用假期，絕對不能當宅女 （真的有此覺悟嗎？！）。

原本考完試以前有很多打算的，結果現在兩手空

空沒事做反而腦袋也空空，完全不只到接下來要如和享受假期。 一想到要擺脫宅女命運要出去又覺得很累。。 還能這樣下去嗎？！

話說，今天臨時決定去剪頭髮，因為自從二月工作之前去整理之後就沒有再去理那些毛了，很糟糕。 當然chura沒有預約根本不可能跑進去，於是就讓荷包大失血去了Air。 後來我拿了一份有柴崎的封面一邊剪一邊看，結果髮型師問我 “你喜歡柴崎幸嗎？” 我說 “我很喜歡柴崎！” 他就說 “你知道嗎！ 我好朋友是柴崎幸的高中同學唷！” 結果我馬上就問 “你朋友對她印象如何呢？” “就說很可愛囉”。 這我倒是有點嚇倒，小幸高中的是後正是我所謂的BR期，是臉長得最兇的時候，怎麼可能會可愛呢?!

I'm not nerding

Today was the last lecture for my urban geography class, and I actually the last topic we discussed about modernist vs. post-modernist works.This isn't the first time that I have complained about how much modernist buildings freak me out all the time, in fact they literally give me nightmares, it really had happened before. I remember when I was ten years old, I had a dream where I was in the Downtown Eastside (funny how I knew these buildings existed in these areas) with my family, and wandered away by myself. And I went into one of the older tall office towers which was plain concrete, filled with geometrically uniformed windows. I went in the building and there was no one in there except rows of uniformed desks, uniformed cubic offices, uniformed walls. And I walked up the stairs to look at each level just to find out that every floor were completely the same, as if I'm walking in mirrors, except some floors were leaking (and for the first time today I was told that Le Corbusier styled buildings do leak LOL can someone explain why? I couldn't believe it.). I was trapped in a concrete box of hardcore rationale and bleak environment, industrial and inhumane. And then I woke up and freaked out.

I never liked those modernist buildings. When I saw Le Corbusier's plan for Paris, they give me goosebumps. It was good that we had some other aesthetics later in the century.. (better ones in my opinion).

Anyway, I really like what my prof showed us this quote from Umberto Eco, about his thoughts in the relationship between modernity and post-modernity, and it's kind of sweet actually.

I think of the postmodern attitude as that of a man who loves a very cultivated woman and who knows he cannot say to her, I love you madly, because he knows that she knows (and she knows that he knows) that these words have already been written by Barbara Cartland. Still, there is a solution. He can say, 'As Barbara Cartland would put it, I love you madly.' At this point, having avoided false innocence, having said clearly that it is no longer possible to speak innocently, he will nevertheless have said what he wants to say to the woman: that he loves her,but he loves her in an age of lost innocence. If the woman goes along with this, she will have received a declaration of love all the same. Neither of the two speakers will feel innocent, both will have accepted the challenge of the past, of the already said, which cannot be eliminated; both will consciously and with pleasure play the game of irony...But both will have succeeded, once again, in speaking of love.

わが家の歴史 (我家的歷史)

從去年秋天就開始期待這部日劇, 說穿了就是因為有小幸, 而且還是主演.

其次就是因為這次陣容實在太嚇人了, 配角包括松本潤, 佐藤浩市, 天海女王, 堀北真希, 長澤雅美, 全部都是月九主演級的大牌, 加上我個人很喜歡的三寫谷的劇本, 真是個夢幻組合...

開播之前很期待卻又怕受傷害, 期待是因為我已經三年沒看過她的日劇, 等得我好苦啊! 擔心的是, 畢竟這是小幸初次主演日劇, 成敗大部分都由她負責, 擔收視率的壓力可是不小呢

但還好果然成績不錯!

而且好多大牌演起來更覺得幸福，柴崎～松本～天海～哇～當然也不是自有我自己亂說, 收視率真的也反映出來了, 三天平均下來有20.2%. 這種連續播三天, 連續播二小時的劇本能把收視率維持這樣的真的很少見. 以一齣非木村, 非大河的日劇來說, 這大概是近年來表現算出色的啦! 想想看最近的月九最高也只有17~18%. 恭喜我家的歷史, 恭喜小幸~

雖然比日本觀眾晚了四天才來看第一集, 但果然沒讓我失望! 真是既溫馨又幽默的故事。 故事講述平凡的八女一家在日本戰後的生活，雖然艱苦確珍惜所有，不時的還把當時的歷史人物和事件都穿插進去了，感覺有點像是在看日本版的阿甘正傳。劇情緊湊但卻很滿足, 以二戰後的日本為背景更吸引人，我自己看都覺的很回味，更別說是日本人所產生的共鳴。二戰後的日本處於一場尷尬時期，強國被投了兩顆原子彈馬上投降，貧苦持續, 民主到了，自由來了，美國人佔領了，左派右派激進分子也參與了，經濟開始攀升，想必許多當時的日本人心情應該很復雜吧，要和這麼多突如其來的東西打交道，也之所以八女一家的故事這麼有趣. 最了不起的就是一家人的團結, 雖然艱苦，尷尬，但大家確能樂觀的面對一切, 讓我不禁有點慚愧. 小幸果然是實力派的，不管演甚麼都很有說服力，她演的政子讓我有感動一下，為了家人能做到這種程度, 去陪酒, 去做情婦, 無怨無悔的默默的接受社會的歧視, 我很懷疑21世紀的這個時候還有這種無私的人存在嗎?

這部日劇也讓我想起以前奶奶講的一些從故事，關於家人戰後從大陸到了台灣之後，大家為了生活而所作的犧牲。也難怪柴崎會說，有我們這代都是因為上一代的努力，雖然一直都知道上一代不可乎略的血汗，但看完這部後讓我更能體會到這點, 三谷其實應該最想說的就是, 爺爺奶奶爸爸媽媽並不是一代英雄, 是街上到處可見的平凡人, 但他們一樣偉大, 畢竟我們今天的生活也是他們急十年前在困苦之中一步一步在努力奮鬥中得來的. It's always good to be reminded of such things. 就像最後那一段旁白: "他們沒有推動歷史，姓名也沒有被後世所流傳，但他們真實的存在過這個時代，他們有著自己引以為傲的歷史".

只是.. 我好不習慣小幸在裡面的知性打扮, 太obasaan了.... 還是叛逆的她比較有親切感

演的角色也和她平常的風格完全不一樣 XD Battle Royale裡面的光子應該還比較接近她的本性 XDD

Work in 5 hours. DAMN

PLEASEEEEEEE drink my hot blood!

Lovely Thursday night! I have been looking forwards to tonight for a long while. Recently I have buried myself under piles of literatures and papers. Finally! A very fattening pasta meal and night out with my drunk friends! This is exactly what I need after all those nerdy geeky and lifeless suffocating reading and writing.

Anyway, I just received an email from Volweb.ca. I almost forgot about this. I signed up to the website last year hoping to be notified of any volunteer activities that I can join as to enrich my resume. They do send me things, but most of them end up in the trash bin since I simply have no time for volunteering. Anyway, this is the content of the email:

Dear Sherry,

Cause Force has reviewed your profile on VolWeb.ca, and would like to invite you to volunteer for one of their upcoming events: The Underwear Affair.

At first I didn't know anything about "The Underwear Affair". Well after doing some research, I understood that this is for a good cause. It's good, it's good. But I'm just so bewildered by the fact that they actually decided to "invite" me to some kind of an activities in relation to "underwear" after reviewing my "profile". I mean, they have a whole lot of other events that seem more normal. Name a few, recreation centre maintenance, kitchen fun, esl tutors, community council, European Festival, etc. And out of all those, they only want to invite me to the Underwear Affair where we're "encouraged" to run around in panties and bras. I kind of hope they reviewed "everybody"'s profile and thought they all "qualify" for The Underwear Affair.

And actually I'm posting this blog through a wireless connection, which shouldn't happen because we don't have a wireless router set up. I thought it would be impossible to connect to any existing wireless connections that belongs to my neighbours because they're all secured. But apparently, there's this connection, which is the one I'm connected to, called, "Apple Network" followed by some numbers and codes. So does that mean this network is reserved for Mac users? :D:D:D I would be glad then!

Boo

There has always been a story that I want to tell. It's a ghost story that I have witnessed myself. When I say ghost story, I don't mean anything bad, nor good. It's simply something that I saw a long time ago which continues to haunt me even until today.

It occurred every summer. The melancholy. Whenever the heat approaches, it was as if a lost soul have arrived to take refugee, as if it can't find its way home. Perhaps the cool breeze of the night, perhaps the heat itself, the emptiness only seem to deepen. After a long day, I was finally alone. But in fact, I was alone all the time when I'm in the house, at least that is what the memory tells me. In the mist of vapour and soap, I looked into the mirror and was bewildered by my own frightened glare. My room was on the first floor, and no one can have any idea how the dark walk down the heavy steps on the creaking stairs almost drove me mad. I lied on the bed. Still hot from the shower. I thought about things, all kinds of things. The work at school, the food to prepare, the errands to finish, the wind outside, the struggle inside. Slowly my feet went cold and then my hands. I stayed motionless until the faint scent of my face puts me to sleep.

No sound was needed to wake me from the short break. The wind took care of it. It seems to linger around beside my bed every night, as it has nowhere else to go. Despite dried from eyes to lips, I would drag myself up to embrace the weak yellow rays seeping through the window. There it was again, a new day. The house was the way as it was, nothing was moved, nothing was missing, nothing was changed. Only time did. I walked down the corridor, and felt especially cold, I intentionally left the windows open to let the fresh air in, but I regretted. The quiet and empty living room made it worse.

I felt deprived of all energy, yet still spent every effort to swallow the dry toast down my throat. Walked out of the house, school bag on the back, pulled myself over the bicycle, my legs still ache from previous day's running routine. I grabbed onto the cold handle, and struggled to step to make an advance. I felt lonely again. There was only me traversing through the streets. For a second I thought I dreamed of the end of the world. My imagination did not stop until a car streaming by. That was when I realised that I wasn't not the last one on Earth yet, quite relieved I was. The cold wind cut through every inch of me, yet I imagined myself as Le Petit Prince, flying. Shall I be La Petite Princess? On the way to school, the smell was amazing, yet confusing, ranged from rotten wood, fresh pines, to ripped wild berries and chemically produced fertilizer. A portion of my arms were cold. I hate such imbalances in body temperature.

In the bland classrooms, I sat there motionless, I tried listening to rants of numbers, yet instead all I heard was the ventilator's breathing sound. Time travelled slow sometimes. I tried not to be rude, but the dry air worked well with the monotone, I had to close my eyes. It's getting colder.

I liked to run, not because I really enjoy the process of moving around, but because I enjoy the effects on my body. Running was the only activity that made me feel I was still alive. I liked how it makes my lungs become violent, lusting for air. I enjoyed how it made me drench with the sweet sweat, as if I'm sweating for my own survival.... Sometimes the blazing sun makes it even better, it felt so good. I stopped, the wind blew against me, my body felt the coolness.

In the afternoon it was a different story. The heat totally took over. My whole body starts to ache after the running routine. I rode my bike back, all of a sudden there was nobody beside me. No, wait, for the whole time there hasn't been anyone other than myself. I started to wonder how long had I not spoken to anyone yet? I said hi to my cat, the only living creature who would care to greet me.

The point of this ghost story is for the sake of memory. In here there is indeed a ghost. It's me.

Hm, Youth

It's Friday night, and sadly there isn't any good movie on right now. So I thought I should clean my room. Was going over my closet and found a collection of my old school bags. My my, lots of memories for sure, after all, it was high school.

I realised that I have changed quite a bit. And I also realised that the Mac I'm using right now keeps on underlining my "realised" because it thinks the word should be spelt like "realized".

Anyway, I'm amazed with the way time can alter me,.. well DUH.

Thinking back to highschool (and Mac keeps on underlining my "highschool" too), I am not sure whether I can say I miss it or not, it still gives me a melancholic feel to it.

Let's see..

Grade 8. I stepped into the complicated society of high school, was freaking excited and nervous at the same time, I lived in dreams, yet a humble person.

Grade 9. It must had been puberty for me, I remember I was proud, egoistic, and self-centered. And I was rebellious. (Although my parents told me they think I never had a rebellious period). And I was still living in dreams, I was romantic, and I thought I could do everything, anything.

Grade 10. I began to doubt my potentials, realiSED that I can not afford to live in fantasies but simply accept who I am. I felt so good to see the actuality and worked hard, trying to become a better me..

Grade 11. This was when I did not dream anymore, no more imagination, but just me. Me, me, me.

Every now and then, I still dream. But they're no longer ambitious.

有點晚了的感想

自從奧運結束之後，每天都在忙學校的事情。 因為奧運其間都在工作，完全沒有時間去在意其他的事情了。

但畢竟這是奧運，感想一定要寫的嘛。

首先我打從心裡就很感謝這次公司給我的機會，讓我能夠這麼接近這令人興奮的冬季奧運。

其實去年我也只是抱著沒有希望的心態去到處申請工作的，甚至連奧委會的義工都有申請。

這個公司找我去了兩次interview。我還記得當時去群體interview的時候，發現大家都好厲害，每個人的年紀都比我大，資歷都比我好太多了，當時我想自己能夠和這些人並列出現在同一個interview已經很幸運了，何況這個公司這麼大，這麼professional，福利又好，還有肥沃的薪水，完全不敢妄想自己被收。

雖然interview去了很多，但收我的也只有兩三個 （奧委會居然不甩我，我還是申請義工呢！），其中包括這個公司。以我這種毫無經驗的大學生來說， 我完全沒想到會是這樣的結果。

雖然如此，但我依然把這份工作看作是個很普通的服務業，對於冬季奧運則是沒有甚麼興趣。何況我可是被很左派的大學教出來的社科學生，更不可能會看好或是特別支持加拿大舉辦奧運，我甚至還在寫了一篇關於加拿大福利政策因為奧運而造成的傷害的報告。

隨著奧運漸漸的逼近，我越來越能感受到每個人的期待和喜悅，更能體會到加拿大人的熱情，不管是對自己國家還是對來參與的外國人，不知不覺我也開始興奮了，特別是在看了開幕試之後。 每次工作時看到客人的臉畫的亂七八糟的，手上拿著自己在家畫的加油海報，就算是大人也都活蹦亂跳，太可愛了。

但那些錢怎麼還呢，我想已經在停車費和公車費上反應出來了。。。。。

Second medium pizza

人真不能貪小便宜, 不單單是因為有可能買了瑕疵貨而吃虧，更不值得的就是會有更糗的下場.
之前某個週末睡到中午才起來, 因為太懶了而決定和我懶散的哥哥訂披薩當作午餐
我去網路上搜了某個就在附近的店家, 看了它的菜單. 大致上是這樣的:
First Medium Pizza: $12.99
Second Medium Pizza: $10.99
當然也有large和small啦, 但那不重要.
我一開始很疑惑, 想說第一和第二到底有什麼不同, 當然剛睡醒的我恐怕是神智不清而忽略了它可能是買一個第二個可以便宜的可能性. 更讓我覺得誇張的是, 愚蠢的我居然以為這只是披薩等級的分別, 第一就是基本配料比較豪華的 (比如說比較香的番茄比較軟的餅)
對於一個窮學生來講的我, 當然還是要買比較便宜的才是節儉的精神
於是, 我打了電話給披薩店...
"Hi, I would like to order a second medium pizza!"
店員: ".......... ah... huh??"
"I want a second medium pizza"
店員: "um... you would have to get a first medium pizza before you order a second one...."




丟臉死了 :P

第四站 - 還在戰

上個星期四開始正式工作, 星期四寫完假期前的最後一篇考卷後就馬上趕去機場幫忙
就在這天, 我察覺到我們這個公司似乎就是想炫燿自己的門面, 一進去大廳全部都是藍色的人, 最後反而我們員工數量比旅客還多...
星期五是開幕典禮, 我很幸運的拿到manager給的通行證看完了整個show, 第一次看這麼大型的演出很興奮! 雖然被說不如北京的來的壯觀, 但小城市的溫哥華能做到這種程度其實也不錯了, 至少讓我在中間也熱血了起來, 激起我的愛國之心, 從來沒感覺這麼"加拿大"過啦

接下來的幾天就是睡醒後出門工作, 回來後睡覺的日子. 聽起來很累, 其實這是我做過最簡單最無聊的工作了. 只不過是去場地安排巴士和轎車的接送程序, 沒什麼了不起的. 我反而花更多時間和Vanoc的人還有巴士司機聊天, 偶爾進去看個比賽, 有時候去星巴克讀個書. 就這樣一天就過去了. 但過得好慢啊...

加拿大不過中國新年的, 更不會為了奧運讓員工放假的. 因為工作的關係我錯過了一年一度的年夜飯, 真可惜啊啊啊. 還好有Jack很貼心的接我下班, 帶我去吃飯然後在送我去Richmond 的奶奶家 (真難得這麼紳士!)
但至少工作環境不糟, manager還有工作夥伴也都很照顧我這唯一一個女生 (XD), 何況還是有錢拿的, 我不能在抱怨了.

比較糟糕的就是, 因為長時間在乎外活動, 因此感冒了, 今天因為太不舒服而睡覺睡過頭了, 還是被manager的電話吵醒的. 但他們都很貼心, 讓我明天放假在家養病, 我打算來燉雞湯.

天哪.. 頭好痛

第三站 - Training

今天和自己的部門去看了一些場地
其實大家應該都是要和助理搭捷運去Hillcrest的場地
結果部長說他剛好要開車回家拿ID, 就說要順便載我和另一個同事去和其他人回合
之後要從Hilcrest去Richmond他說可以在載兩個人, 其他人搭捷運
我想說已經搭過一次便車, 就不好意思去搶那個位子, 可是沒想到大家居然都慫恿我去
"Go Sherry go! You're a lady!"
最後要從Richmond回去的時候還是一樣, 又是我坐上部長的豪華轎車啦
話說就連昨天在公車上有空位子, 同事也都會先問我要不要坐 啊哈哈哈哈哈
我都不曉得, 原來當部門裡面的唯一一個女生是多大的好處 hohoho

第二站: 受訓; 制服; etc

這個星期每天都會去員工受訓, 因此我第一次蹺課, 第一次哦, 第一次 (!!!!!!!!!)

第一天

早上7點就起床 (自從八月去西雅圖的時候我就沒有這麼早起來過了) 然後走去Sheraton
當天他們找來個大部門的部長來介紹奧運一些注意事項等等, 可是前四個小時我都在睡覺, 完全每聽到他們在說什麼....

但其實最令人期待的就是當天我們拿到了補助金唷! 公司把$1500 (這比我一個月的薪水還高說) 放入prepaid信用卡中, 隨意領取.

第二天

下課之後趕過去旅館受訓, 之後拿到了制服 背包

其實有點被嚇到, 因為制服的尺寸太大了, 果然是北美人的尺寸

因為習慣了台灣尺寸, 所以當時訂做制服的時候都點M到L的尺寸, 沒想到試穿後發現那根本就是給巨人穿的制服..

當時公司一直不肯給我們看制服和背包的設計圖案, 說要給我們驚喜, 因為每次奧運的制服都做的很好看. 而且聽說還挺值錢的, 聽說很多北京2008的制服都被網拍了.

但我看到的時候覺得也沒什麼嘛, 而且袖子那塊好俗, 還讓我很期待的說..

當天也拿到手機了, 外形老舊, 功能不多, 鈴聲很吵, 唯一的優點就是耐摔, 而且可以無限打, 這也蠻不多的

當天所有的員工也被分派到不同的部門中, 原本在旅館的我, 突然被換到運輸. 當時兩個主管問我是想去機場還是去場地. 我居然沒經過大腦就問哪個工作比較輕鬆, 說出來也不能收回去, 但主管人很好, 跟我說場地比較好做. 我到了場地部門, 發現我是裡面唯一的女生, 啊~ 不知道會不會受到特別待遇呢?!

第三天

原本應該早上去海邊和所有員工照群體相片的, 可是為了早上的課還是做罷啦..
但當天發生了很糟糕的插曲...
因為公司特別強調說無論如何都得把手機帶著, 只是因為剛拿到, 所以時常會忘記它的存在. 上課時也只會記得關我自己的那一支. Anyway, 我的教授是個反即時通訊科技者, 因此也特別憎恨手機, 因此若是學生的手機在課堂響時, 教授會特別火大, 我們平常也很小心..
但這次我完全忘了公司手機的存在. 上課時, 恐怕是因為早上咖啡的關係, 肚子做崇, 我直接衝去廁所了.... 回教室的第一排座位時 (正對著教授) 正要坐下, 教授突然停下來, 然後對我說, "對了, 你的手機響了"
我當場瞳孔放大臉色蒼白, 然後顫抖著說: "哈....哈?!"
以為避免不了一場訓罵, 因為當時因為考量戶外的工作環境, 於是選了最吵最大聲的卡通鈴聲, 而且那也應該在那老頭前響了很久吧
但教授反而很歡樂的說
"你當時不在太可惜了, 你的鈴聲真的很有趣" 於是他自己很high的開始模仿我鈴聲的聲音 "嘟嚕嚕 嘟嚕嚕 嘟嚕 嚕嚕嚕"

第一站我就想爆炸

奧運工作開始前, 大家都紛紛拿到了神奇卡ID啦, 就是所謂的accreditation卡...

第一次去拿的時候, 就覺得政府還真懂得怎麼浪費人力, 光是拿這些塑膠卡就可以設六個不同的站點:

第一站: 首先一進去, 有個櫃檯, 排隊跟他說我來做什麼的 (90%的人來這裡都是拿卡的, 居然還要設這個毫無用處的櫃檯?!)
第二站: 繼續排隊然後把護照給櫃檯的員工, 讓他們調資料, 如果一切沒問題, 就可以去第5, 還是第6站拿塑膠卡了, 就在這時, 他們說調不到我的資料, 叫我去第三站找人
第三站: 去了第一個櫃檯, 櫃檯的員工說他在休息, 叫我排隊等下一個空櫃檯 (這麼拽)
終於等到了, 但冬澳委員會員工還不肯給我我的卡, 說我的護照上面的英文名字和公司幫我提報的名字不一樣, 護照上多了一個 "Sherry" .... 我大老遠跑來拿 居然叫我隔天在回來?! 因為修改需要時間.

修改需要時間?! 只不過在電腦上加六個英文字母也需要一天的時間?
看來溫哥華冬澳員工和它的政府一樣無能! 怎麼找來了一群毫無效率的笨蛋來工作, 這要是在台灣我當天就能拿到了, 頂多等個十分鐘, 一次okay
好吧, 我乖乖回家, 但我沒有隔天再去一次哦, 因為我怕了B.C.政府的無效率, 於是等了一個星期在去拿

一樣的程序, 第一站, 再來第二站, 第二站的人說還是調不到我的資料 (吼吼~ 看來一個禮拜還是太少了, 他們是兩天改一個字母嗎?)
於是又叫我去第三站, 好了, 第三站的人跟我說改名字的程序在電腦內被卡住了 (原來你們電腦和人力一樣無能) 但這次這位小姐人比較正常, 說等個十分鐘就幫我弄好, 就這樣, 我等了十分鐘後, 她給我一張紙, 叫我去下一站拿卡, 我去了下一站, 那站的人說電腦系統不肯讓我的卡出來 (哦.. 媽呀..... 告訴我這不是真的, 他們是每一站必定出問題嗎) 於是叫我在回去上一站, 我很無奈的跟她說我才從上一站跑來, 這時三, 四個員工都聚到我們這裡來, 討論到底是什麼問題, 其中一個員工才說有可能是要在去下一站. 我去了下一站, 終於拿到了 .....

明明應該是很簡單的程序, 還請了這麼多員工, 我無法了解為什麼會花上我一個多禮拜的時間才能拿到, 我更無法了解政府是怎麼在這種情況下運作的. 套句我哥說的話: 上天果然是公平的, 賜與這個笨蛋國家一堆天然原料, 好讓她從開國後就能有辦法生存下去
只是為什麼我有種感覺, 好像這次的冬澳會出很多差錯? 不過好險, 我不是在溫哥華的冬澳籌備委員會底下工作, 要不然我肯定會抓狂


就這樣, 總覺得拿出來會很有使命感, 像是可以破門而入然後驕傲臭屁的把卡亮出來大吼 "FREEZE, THIS IS SHERRY" 只可惜, 就像分發它的政府, 它恐怕沒有太多功能, 更不要說這項了.


話說這卡做的還真簡陋.. 毫無創意可言, 去看看人家北京是怎麼設計的吧!

我會在 沿海地帶

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypjlth2jTok

雖然現在搬到Downtown生活方便舒服多了, 但其實有時候還是會懷念住Suburb的感覺
而這跟孫燕姿的 "我的愛" 有什麼關係呢?! 我現在一聽"我的愛"就感覺全身發冷, 當然這背後是有原因的
以前在Surrey的房子是我娘精心挑選的, 是個天花板非常高的大房子, 也之所以冬天的時候不管暖氣開的在大似乎還是無法把房子所有的空氣弄熱 (那像現在我只要開20度還會流汗勒), 有時候甚至會吐煙出來. 早上從被窩起來的感覺更痛苦, 哦, 太殘酷了, 我每次一起來都會冷到會先去廁所裡面縮成像一陀飯團一樣然後保持那個姿勢大約五分鐘.
記得05年是爹娘第一次丟下可憐的我不管 *哭哭* 然後回台灣, 於是就剩下我和老姐
房子越大, 越覺得自己渺小, 越覺得自己渺小就越覺得冷, 而房子變少人的時候就.. 凍死了!!!
然後這個專輯好像是05年出來的, 因為我每次在讀書的時候老姊就會在旁邊聽這首.... 可是孫燕姿這首療傷系的曲聽起來也蠻悲的, 所以, 冷. 到. 不. 行.
所以對我來說這算冬之歌

我也有夏之歌哦 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmcPlrQtpQc
這首出來的時候我才11年級呢! 那個時候夏天老爹又回去了, 所以剩下我. 每天晚上都會從電腦上放來聽聽.
我們以前的房子有三個大天窗, 所以夏天時候太陽一射進來我都會被烤昏, 所以聽這首歌就不冷了唷

寫完這篇總覺得我有點瘋掉了..

真友善

學校的地理系所大概算是全校最糟糕的大樓. 哦不, 那根本不算大樓, 說是荒屋比較貼切.

有時候在學校如果有空檔時, 我直接在它的lounge打混. 雖然破舊, 但我發現這部門的人都蠻貼心的. 除了基本的微波爐, 冰箱之外, lounge裡面還有一個廚房.. 而且那個廚房是有電磁爐, 還有裝滿鍋子杯子碗盤. 之外還有電話, 幾塊大石頭給地形學的學生欣賞. 但讓我覺得最貼心的是放在大桌子上的兩瓶類似乳液和保濕的罐裝瓶.

昨天因為下午還有課, 中午就先在學校買了一份薯條當午餐. 服務生給我收據, 等等拿食物的時候要給他. 等了我好久, 耐不住性子, 我開始把收據折成帽子的形狀, 之後折成盒子, 在來氣球, 等等... 突然他們叫我的號碼了 "NUMBER 59" .... "NUMBER 59?!" 我趕緊跑去, 之後把收據遞給他, 是船的形狀. 那個小姐看了我, 看了我的船, 然後很疑惑的說, "OH....kay"

回家的時候, Ching已經在家裡和我哥看電視, 最後決定和她去VCC, 因為聽說她們的食堂不錯, 剛好, 我累到不想做飯, 乾脆在外面解決

可是我不小心點錯了, 點了兩份餐點, 花了我14塊, 但這不是重點. 別人只有一盤, 我的餐盤上卻有三個大盤子, 都快放不下了, 而且我拿到手痛. 最後在算帳的時候...
服務生: Okay, you have two meals here...
*噠噠噠* 的把數據key進去..結果他在看看我
服務生: OH MY GOSH, IT'S ALL FOR YOU?!
這時, 突然大家都往我這邊看來
Sherry: Yeah.. I made a mistake...
服務生的眼神告訴我他不相信我

在吃的時候, 我還有點難過, 因為為了一餐花了14塊. 我哥和Ching嘗試著安慰我說 "沒關係啦, 明天還可以當早餐嘛"

重點是, 那兩份全部被我當晚吃掉了.