四個月的總結 III

這裡果然是政治首都，去哪裡都看得到帶著小辨識牌的公務員，去購物中心會看到很多軍人在吃午餐（國防部就在對面），去魁北克的大樓也會看到很多EC還有AANDC的公務員，去我工作的大樓會看到很多TC還有幾個像我的AANDC。果然到處都是。

我工作的地方走到國會不到五分鐘，對面就是交通部，隔壁就是中央銀行，旁邊是司法部，然後附近都是一堆大使館。

這是個雙語城市，一下飛機就聽到很多法文，每次去總部，郵局，博物館也是和法裔人打交道，總算覺得自己的法文沒有白學了。啊 果然是首都。

渥太華是個小城市，我一開始覺得自己永遠無法住在這麼安靜和不方便的地方，可是四個月下來我還沒有想離開過。可能是因為天氣時常晴朗，工作環境很棒，而且當地的人都特別友善，我慢慢喜歡上這可愛的城市。 

我覺自己特別幸運。可以在這麼棒的工作環境下學習。身邊的同事大部分都是有碩士甚至博士的學位，全部都很優秀。也是因為這樣坐在圓桌上和大家開會感覺很驕傲也很緊張，更覺得自己好眇小，懷疑自己到底能不能勝任這份工作。可是大家都很有耐性的教我，甚至給我很多不同內容的工作，從畫地圖，寫研究分析報告，到編寫網站內容都直接丟給我做，但還是會很貼心的說慢慢來，不急。老闆覺得因為是學生，不應該加班，有天聽到因為得把給上級臨時要的地圖趕完而加班讓她很難過。

走之前主管們都說需要人脈找他們都沒問題，分析師們說需要幫忙寫履歷表自傳直接寄給她們就好，雖然要離開單位，可是大家都很願意幫忙，還主動要了我的連絡方式，讓我覺得很欣慰。

我上班的最後一天辦公室剩7，8個人左右，我因為太喜歡這個單位，一直坐在電腦前假裝在工作，順便寫一最後一封e-mail給大家道別。 之後大家陸陸續續的來找我道別。第一個還好，第二個也還好，第三個是面試我的那位分析師，終究忍不住還是很感動的哭出來讓她傻住。我說我好喜歡這裡，不想走了。更重要的是，我很感謝大家給我機會，可以有這麼棒的經驗。雖然只是4個月的實習，可是當初為了找工作機會讓我開始懷疑自己的能力，想要什麼，該要什麼。對未來充滿疑惑，整個是個很心痛的階段。 這次的經驗讓我找回信心和方向感，所以我很感動，誇張的好感動。

分析師笑笑的說，她也曾經21歲，她了解。

四個月的總結 II

9月初，完全不知道首都長什麼樣，完全沒有職業經驗，完全沒有做過9-5工作的我，收了簡單的行李後就往機場去。

我的單位是專門引導聯邦，省政府和企業與原著民的諮詢，我在政策小組下工作，裡面全都是分析師。第一個老闆是個超級高大的30歲女分析師。東邊來的所以個性很隨和，看起來有點懶散。第一天她問我生日是什麼時候，我說是明天，她很驚訝說，那明天我們就要請你吃飯囉！ 妳喜歡什麼？泰國菜？義大利麵？壽司？？ 我說我都喜歡。第一天就被她帶進會議裡，裡面除了十幾個單位總部的人，還有其他六省的人在電話上，這讓我特別緊張。

過了幾個禮拜我很快的我喜歡上這個單位，大家都很友善開朗，完全不像我想像的公家機關會有的死沈乏味的氣氛。老闆說我是這裡第一個從西邊來的，大家都感覺很新奇。我說我也是第一次和東部的人相處。

剛進去幾個禮拜後，某天老闆和單位裡面的地理家跑來找我，問我有沒有地圖經驗，我說我學過。過沒多久我就開始幫地理家寫GIS報告，到現在我已經做了十多張地圖。完全沒想到，原本是來做communications的東西，現在反而大部分的時間都在畫地圖了。

我第一個老闆過了一個月後就暫離崗位開始法文訓練了。很多聯邦公務員到了某個階段，如果想繼續升官，必須得要有一定的法文程度，這是大家一直對我強調的。所以老闆就把我交給剛從法文訓練回來的分析師。新老闆是個30歲的“女孩”，體型上和前老闆完全相反，她比我小一個頭，長得特別年輕，個性很害羞，喜歡喝啤酒，可是力氣大，走路會把立在桌上的卡片震倒，會玩橄欖球，可以徒手把轎車從雪中推出來，感覺很像亂馬裡面的宮娃娃。新老闆不清楚我的工作內容，於是時常給我一些額外的項目。我也趁機得到了其他的工作經驗。 

其他工作上有交際的還有當時和老闆面試我的分析師，喜歡美酒和cheese，她幫我混了很多有趣的飲料，辦公室貼滿了SOUL音樂海報，也和我一樣喜歡玩底片照相機，時常唱爵士的她還會出國巡回演出。時常邀我去喝啤酒的年輕分析師，她喝醉後會開始唱歌跳舞。還有覺得我很“好笑”地理家，每天跟我說早安再見的地區專家，等等。大家雖然都很優秀，完全看不出架子，他們都熱愛自己的工作，看了很讓人羨慕。

喔，對了，在單位裡面，我是最美，最聰明，最友善，最可愛，也是唯一的亞裔人。渥太華的亞裔人原本就不多。

四個月的總結 I

今年1月開始就為了co-op的事情很困擾。花了6個月埋頭找工作機會，各種奇怪的工作都面試過 （包括成人電影分析師）其中不停的練習寫CV，面試。
時常跟我混的人都知道我因為一堆拒絕而很沮喪，想說，連實習工作都找不到，會不會成為一個沒用的大人。自己的不爭氣讓我越想越生氣。

我哥看我快要精神分裂，就說乾脆試看看政府工作，我說怎麼可能，arts co-op裡，聯邦工作都是給資深的學生，去了這麼多個面試都沒結果的我不可能勝出競爭的。
最後還是被說服，乾脆當作練習，同時申請了三個。幾天後被學校通知去電話面試其中一個職位，讓我特別驚訝。

面試前準備了三頁的筆記，抱著沒有什麼希望的心情去。其實那時候也只是當作是練習，第一次和聯邦面試怎麼可能會有結果，何況能被邀請去面試我已經覺得很榮幸了。面試之後就覺得累死了，在這樣下去就真的要精神分裂。很自然的沒有在繼續申請了。

7月初的早上七點，我接到渥太華的電話，問我願不願意去工作。出了驚訝之外，想要工作快想瘋的我直接在電話上接受了。接下來的兩個月我還是覺得難以置信，甚至覺得是不是他們搞錯了。畢竟這實在有點諷刺和詭異，明明之前面試的工作都比這個條件要差，為什麼偏偏被錄取了呢。朋友開玩笑說，大概是打錯電話，或是因為只有我一個人申請所以沒辦法，要不然就是被騙了。

雖然覺得超開心的，可是我頭裡滿是問號，但還是得去啊。 

把握機會

剛才看到這則新聞：

小田切讓惹火韓迷
日星小田切讓與南韓娛樂圈向來交好，先後與韓星李娜英、張東健合拍電影，在韓擁有高人氣，但近日卻因開玩笑開過頭，成全韓公敵。10月上旬，他赴韓參加釜山電影節，幫韓國粉絲簽名時，居然用平假名簽了倖田來未，粉絲上網炫耀才知道被騙，臉丟大了，也氣炸了，韓媒也群起聲討。
南韓超過20家新聞媒體以〈小田切讓侮辱不懂日文的韓國人〉等標題報導這則消息。回溯整起事件，他在10月初赴韓參加釜山影展，宣傳與張東健、范冰冰合演的電影《登陸之日》。後有粉絲得到他的親筆簽名，上網公開照片，附註說明：「小田切讓光顧媽媽開的餐廳，讓我拿到他的簽名。」但網友揭發簽名板上寫的是日本女歌手倖田來未的平假名。
粉絲氣道：「店裡沒有懂日文的人，就算是惡作劇還是很過分。」電影《登陸之日》的製片公司出面緩頰：「小田切讓雖沒澄清，不過他平常就會為了好玩做出一些事，沒輕蔑之意。」

雖然不妥，可是真的還蠻好笑的。。小田也太淘氣了。 而且選用倖田來未就有種莫名的幽默感。好像不用倖田就不會這麼好笑的樣子。

不過我以前也有過類似的經驗。
六年級時，班上在美術課用毛筆畫中國畫，當時有個時常欺負我的同學來問我她的名字的中文該怎麼翻。 左肩膀上的惡魔對我說，機會難得！ 右邊肩膀上的天使跟我說 “惡魔說的對，go! go! go!" (胡說八道中）。

我原本厭煩的表情，馬上呈現奸詐的笑容。 我說，沒問題，讓我寫給妳看。
她英文名字有5個字母，我就說，這五個字母變成中文是：

我。是。大。笨。蛋

她還真的信了。 然後完全照抄到她的畫裡面。 這時我才臉紅起來，滿滿的罪惡感，一個妳這麼討厭的人卻這樣信任妳，真的會讓妳感覺很欠揍。但我總不能叫她重新畫一張吧，於是就想，反正班上除了我也沒人看的懂中文。

於是從那時到學期結束，每次走進教室就會看到牆壁上那超級顯眼的國畫： 青山白雲，搭配著唯美的河流的曲線，旁邊標示著超大，並且充滿稚氣，歪七扭八的五個中文字 － 我。是。大。笨。蛋。

至於，我後悔嗎？ 

或許把，但如果回到了同一個時間點，我恐怕還是會這麼寫，因為在那當時，這完全完全是我想要的。（誤）

鼠與我

早上起來刷牙的時候，感覺後面有東西在動，望遠看過去廚房發現有一駝黃色物體在地上爬。剛睡醒還神智不清地心想，現在的飛蛾真的是進化的越來越大隻了，果然生態的化學污染很嚴重。 我轉頭回去繼續刷牙，馬上覺得不對勁，揉了眼睛再轉回去看發現是隻大肥老鼠！ 我愣了15秒，牙膏都流出來了。當然老鼠已經跑走了。

我很著急地趕快準備出門，順便到處看老鼠的動靜。看到我裝咖啡粉袋子的橡皮筋斷掉了，不經懷疑是被老鼠咬掉了。 越想越毛，馬上出門去辦公室。

同事問我是大老鼠還是小老鼠，我說有差嗎，她說如果是小老鼠可以跟牠玩，我說你們大西洋海岸的人太勇敢了。

回家的時候我馬上打電話給經理，沒想到平常辦事很沒效率的物業公司居然這麼迅速的把管理員找來。物業代表好奇問我是多大的老鼠，什麼顏色，我說是個和手掌一樣肥的咖啡鼠。 她的反應是 “噁～～～～” 。我想 “啊妳幹嘛還問”。

管理員帶了捕鼠器和自家花生醬，我說服他用黏鼠器，不要用那麼可怕的老鼠夾。 管理員順便修好廁所燈才走，他說明天會回來觀察。

這次的經驗讓我想到以前看過的童話故事，叫做 14隻老鼠與捕鼠先生，講說住在房子裡面的老太太嫌老鼠太煩，於是找捕鼠先生來，老鼠最後和捕鼠先生私下商量好說不再出聲就可以繼續待在房子裡。 成功的捕鼠先生最後和老太太相愛，並且在眾老鼠前結婚，老鼠們也給予了祝福。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHOQ-XX1JYw

當然這跟今天發生的事情沒什麼關連，只不過突然想到而已。 我應該不會想在眾老鼠前完成終生大事。

cab driver

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. I only have a little bit over a month to come up with 22 blogs.

I think I'll tell an embarrassing story .. of me, once again .. just to make it 21 by the time I go to bed tonight.

Today I took the cab. After about five minutes into the trip, I heard the good looking driver say, "OH.. I forgot to set the mirror".

At first I thought he meant that he didn't have the appropriate mirrors on this car, but a quick glance told me he had all three. So I said, "pardon me?"

The driver repeated, "I forgot to set the mirror" in his exotic accent.

I don't know why I felt so good about myself at that moment, but I thought he was indirectly complimenting me by saying that he should have a mirror beside him that shows him the reflection of me, thereby saying I'm pretty.

.........

My brain thinks extremely fast whenever I feel good about myself.

At first I thought it was a bit awkward, although I was a bit flattered, and so out of politeness and narcissism I told him, "Aww! You're too kind!"

The driver replied, "I will set it now!"

Then I was a bit confused. I straightened up and went, "huh?"

He said, "Yeah I turned it on now," and he pointed to his METER.. METER.. METER..

........

"Oh..... I see.... it's alright, I'll top off a few bucks..."

The moral of the story is, one should always maintain a modest attitude even when you're relaxing in the cab. And also, one should never be too careful with accents from other places.

So that's my embarrassing story of the day. There I go, 21 left!

北歐的蘇珊

週末感冒在家一整天和挪威網友msn. 我說我要帶更多北歐歌曲上公車聽，叫他介紹一些音樂給我。

他很熱心的傳來幾個挪威和瑞典的歌手和樂團（結果沒算丹麥 更別說是芬蘭了哈哈），我最喜歡的是他高中英文老師女兒 （說得感覺像是隔壁學姊）－ Susanne Sundfør 的作品（那個奇怪的O害我找了好久）

不過人家的專輯去年可是在挪威有第二暢銷的成績哩。

今年25歲的Sundfør從05年在挪威各地的演出07年出第一張專輯，並且去年推出這張專輯 “The Brothel" - 那中文就直接翻成 “妓院”。

裡面將近一半的歌曲是用50年代的Rhodes鋼琴伴奏，特別有復古 神祕的味道，我也很欣賞她的絃樂編曲，與大多數年輕創作派歌手習慣用的吉他配爵士鼓的組合相比別有一般風味。她用的樂器其實不多，效果卻很棒。

另外在搭配她的異國-北歐腔調和有點黑暗和 “ominous" 的歌詞，整個專輯聽下來感覺進入了另一個非現實世界，我聽著聽著差點忘記下公車，走路還拌到樓梯 （好危險的專輯）。

很有趣的是，Sundfør的歌曲也帶有些基督宗教隱喻，通常不是在讚美，而是以一個失去希望和心的角度在懺悔和問神何時才救她 － 她把我們時常會體會的無力感和對神的哭求寫出來了。

其實北美英國以外的music scene也很精彩。就斯堪地納維亞來說（原來Scandinavian中文是這樣翻的XD)，ABBA之後也還是有很多值得關注的流行歌手，可惜在自己國家以外很少會被注意到（除非叫演龍紋身女孩Noomi Rapace開始全方位發展 XD）。

The Brothel (妓院)

這個歌名真的有點麻煩，我傳簡訊給朋友簡單交代說，“please download the brothel for me", 他以為我要下載成人電影。然後剛才在FB上大略寫說 “thanks to Daniel for introducing me to the brothel"，打完才感覺有點爆笑。這個時候大寫和引號是很重要的，不然誤解大了。

Turkish Delight (土耳其軟糖）

Morocco (摩洛哥)

Long weeeeekend

Every year around this time, after Halloween, around Remembrance Day, I dig out some Christmas carols to lighten up the gloomy Canadian winter. Back in Vancouver, I spend most of my autumn - winter months alone, with Mimi of course, in my apartment. And I just love the moments when I get up in late morning and start preparing my brunch. Because I usually play my Christmas songs really loud in the kitchen and sing along.

So it's Remembrance Day today. I planned on doing something this morning, like going to Confederation Square to look at the events and pay my tributes. But somehow, I got up at 1:30. And so yes, I missed the 11th hour 11th minute thing. And I'm sick.

And somehow I thought about something really interesting that happened to me this year. And I thought, I must write it down before I forget.

So during early May, I was looking for a co-op placement, and there was a job posting called "film analyst". Basically the film analyst will watch adult films and rate it before it goes to the public. I didn't think too much and I was very anxious to get interviews and a placement. So I wrote up a pretty good cover letter and applied to the job. Luckily, I was screened and invited to an interview. For this interview, I was required to study BC's Motion Picture Act and memorize the regulations to adult films as I would be tested during the interview. I was also warned that I must watch a series of "adult films" to test my knowledge. The whole process would be 2.5 hours.

I was quite excited at first. And so I decided to memorize everything and ace the test. I even recited the Act in the restaurant to Melody while we were having dinner:

Subject to subsection (5), the director must, before approving a motion picture submitted under section 2 (1) or 3 (1), remove or require the removal of, by erasure or otherwise, any portion of it that depicts any of the following:

(a) coercion, through the use or threat of physical force or by other means, of a person to engage in a sexual act, if the sexual act that was coerced is depicted in explicit sexual scenes;

(b) incest or necrophilia;

(c) bondage in a sexual context;

(d) persons who are or who appear to be under the age of 14 involved in sexually suggestive scenes, whether or not they appear nude or partially nude;

(e) persons who are or who appear to be under the age of 18 involved in explicit sexual scenes;

(f) explicit sexual scenes involving violence;

(g) scenes of brutality to or torture, maiming or dismemberment of persons or animals that are portrayed with such a degree of reality and explicitness that the scenes would, in the director's opinion, be intolerable to the community;

(h) sexual conduct between a human being and an animal

And I was told to shut up by her. How rude.

And so I showed up at my interview, and started watching porn that goes with the written test. So I saw 18 segments of adult film that contain "explicit" sexual contents, as they say. And like I told Judy, this was something really ironic. In my whole life, I've never watched adult films, not intentionally at least. I come across of it while flipping through the channels or browsing through a friend's computer, but it's something that I find annoying and I don't go out and search for it. And there I was, going through 18 of them, paying so much attention, not taking my eyes off of the screen, taking notes, and rewinding every now and then to make sure I didn't miss any details. Oh I've never paid so much attention to porn.

Then I had the oral interview. And the interviewer greeted me and said, "so how did you find the films?"

I thought that was the crappiest interview question ever. How could I respond?

"Yes sir, I enjoyed that very much, it's definitely something that I would want to spend 8 months doing and I am sure I can bring a lot of skills forward to this position!"

And I didn't get the job.

But that's okay, because I soon got another offer for a much more normal position that doesn't involve listening to people moan and scream "fu*k yeah!"

I LOLed

Having been working in the office for nearly two months, I think I'm getting used to this 9-5 Monday to Friday routine and the corporate environment, which is good. I thought I would be the type of person who cannot stand this schedule.

The Unit I work in is quite small, and we aren't in the HQ building in Gatineau. So it's a bit like an isolated large family. I can remember everyone's name now and know how they smell like (this sounds really creepy), the food they like, and when they like to come in and leave.

So today at the staff meeting, I wasn't really paying attention and started imagining things. All the people around the table just suddenly turned into the friends whom I spent the summer with. I thought, what would happen if these friends and I work together in the same office...

Say if we run a company called "We Do Watermelons", located on the 4th floor of a renovated 1930s building in Gastown, which imports exotic watermelons from all over the world and sell it to the curious Canadian public. Anyway this is just an arbitrary work setting.

And then we have Jessie doing watermelon marketing (I'm just classifying people by what they do right now)

Melody does the hiring people to sell watermelon part.. what do they call that HR (and somehow this seems like a very weird match for melody AHHAHA)

Heather works with her numbers, counting watermelons

Sarah examines watermelons (that's biology ain't it?!)

Judy makes watermelon artworks

Ryanbo can make programs about Watermelons

Amy (crap I forgot what Amy does in sfu), but for now, Amy can eat watermelons and rate them

Rachel is not making up her mind so Rachel you can be the boss for now. FOR NOW.

and Sherry... Sherry... Sherry can make very beautiful maps about watermelons.

In the morning, Amy and Sarah might be the first one to arrive in the office, because they seem to be very capable of getting up early. And then the rest would come in. And there will be Rachel being her usual self, screaming into the phone in her little cubicle, "NOOOOOOOOOO I WILL NOT SELL MY WATERMELONS TO YOU FOR THAT PRICE WHO DO YOU THINK I AM". Judy will be speaking to her watermelon drawings in her office, "aren't you just so pretty you cutie watermelons!"

During lunch time, Amy has a lot of food packed already, but she will still join Sarah, Melody and Heather to have high tea, Korean BBQ, and maybe what8ver if time permits. Sherry and Rachel might go on urbanspoon to look for a nearby brunch place to try it out. Judy will cook some kind of her invention in the kitchen. Ryanbo will still be very strict about his diet and so I can't say for certain how he will use his lunch time.

In the afternoon, there is a staff meeting. There's Rachel giving an update on Watermelon prices... Melody talking about training people to sell watermelons.. Amy saying organic watermelons tastes very nice.. Judy giving an update on her latest advertisement for watermelons.. And then Jessie and Melody might get into a disagreement on how watermelon should be sold, it could get aggressive unless Heather and Ryanbo do something about it. Rachel might just lose her patience and scream, "STOP IT YOU IDIOTS IDIOTS".

When I thought about this, I could help but lower my head and giggle to myself in real life. But it was getting too loud that I had to cover my mouth and grin quietly, some colleagues glanced at my direction. Thank goodness it was nearly the end of the meeting and I could escape to the washroom to laugh a bit harder.

今年有希望破紀錄

看來今年有可能會破我去年52的PO，剩下兩個月在好好的加油就有希望了。

星期五早上起來去辦公室的心情是： 喔喔喔 好累好累好想睡覺咖啡咖啡週末絕對不踏出家門半步。

星期六下午起來看日劇，電影，村上春樹，晚上就開始沒事做。

星期天，今天，中午起來決定不當宅女，去了加拿大國家藝術館玩

在那裡和一位黑人保全人員說話。 結果居然會說滿口大陸腔的中文。

這位先生從非洲（某個我忘了怎麼拼的國家）到瀋陽讀醫科大學，回去當了兩年醫生之後來渥太華定居。 我說他中文比我好太多了並且說一定要去溫哥華玩。

結果反而一半的時間在聊天和在咖啡廳裡面看村上春樹。 被要打烊的博物館趕出來了之後就開始尋找同事說一定要去看的天使雕像，聽說就在附近。我走遍半個downtown只看到蜘蛛雕像，漁夫雕像，將軍雕像，樹枝雕像，偏偏沒有天使雕像，我放棄，回家了。

半格相機

第一次聽到 “半格相機” 以為是什麼超級複雜的怪底片相機。

之後做了功課才發現他是個偉大的發明。

半格相機簡單來說就是一張基本款35mm底片可以照兩次圖片。

所以買一捲24可以照48張圖片。 花一次洗照片的錢也有多一倍的成像。

很適合愛玩底片機的窮學生！ （半格像片eg：http://www.wretch.cc/blog/nigelliu/6783498）

不過在數位相機時代要找這種半格底片相機有點難。

雖然有那種在urban outfitter賣的那種新款lomo相機，可是一台要60幾太誇張了，還敢號稱窮人相機。

於是這次再上e-bay找二手貨。逛了好久決定買上面最常出現的 “AGAT 18K”

AGAT 18K是蘇聯品牌Belomo在80年代大量生產的半格相機 ，類似玩具相機（好友說這過然是蘇聯共產國會生產的相機XD)。網路評價很大部分都很正面 － 雖然是廉價相機，洗出來的成果確很驚人 （雖然第一次罐底片很難）。

這個星期終於收到這個從烏克蘭寄來的AGAT。為了迎接這台便宜塑膠，我早就從Shopper買了便宜的底片準備來練習，還有下載under-the-table 英文翻譯說明書 （超難讀）。

可是過然被網友給說重了。這台的底片真難裝。 以為是什麼超複雜的機器，我還把螺絲拆下來重組，和不會說英文的賣家用google translate雞同鴨講了4，5回。第二天還帶去給相機館研究 （三個‘專家’弄了一個小時確也搞不懂）。 一邊修一邊說這是他生平看過最怪的相機，果然很像共產蘇聯的作風。 不過最後三位都放棄，勸我最好退回去，因為這台相機一定是蘇聯的瑕疵貨。

弄了三天，我原本也打算放棄退貨的時候，賣家終於搞懂我的問題了。

原來只是差一個我和相機館都沒注意的小機關就可以用了 ＝ ＝ 原來這麼簡單。。感覺受騙，被蘇聯擺了一道

現在底片也進去了，設定都OKAY。只要快門按個48次就可以拿去沖洗囉。

問題都解決後，最後烏克蘭賣家給了我這個忠告:

Please, use AGAT-type cameras VERY VERY carefully. You have all instructions for use. READ and READ, see photos- after this use.
Best regards,

V

zzZZzzz

我最近被這個完全沒有效率的城市折磨。

到底是我運氣太差還是這裡做什麼都可以這麼慢而且毫無彈性。

早上打三通電話給郵政局（前兩通因為等太久沒辦法, 掛電話去做事），查我的包裹怎麼了，說地址有問題，扣在海關。 我說我是收件者，要什麼證明都有。 郵局說沒辦法啊小姐 地址有問題的話只能送回去了，想說期待已久的相機明明已經在關口了，現在確要送回烏克蘭就心痛。上網查說送到郵局，沒說哪個郵局，要查離家裡最近的郵局電話居然給我原先打郵政局的電話。 折騰好久終於發現郵件被送到某個離家裡車程15分鐘的郵局。 雖然開車10分鐘，公車＋走路好歹要40分鐘。 可是通知單確始終不來，似乎被搞丟了，只能本人去拿。本人拿說得提出地址證明，我才剛搬來怎麼可能有地址證明，說沒辦法，去找租屋公司開證明。租屋公司說租的人是懶散的哥哥，所以只能他出面才能開證明，把他說服到租屋辦公室，30分鐘後才開證明。

等計程車也是。以為自己很聰明，看穿這個城市的散漫，出發前5分鐘打電話叫計程車，結果等了20分鐘後才到，我低估了。

拿村上春樹的書也是，明明已經上架了卻說沒打電話通知我就不能去拿。你放在書架上那50本不能拿一本下來嗎？！我後悔用預定的。

買郵票也是，櫃台的老兄用龜速和臭臉來迎接排隊的8位客人。 第一次看人貼一張貼紙還要用10秒慢慢，細心地確定剛好對到90度的信封角才肯黏上去，我快哭了 這什麼世界啊？？

麥當勞也是，為什麼買兩個蘋果派要等20分鐘，因為還在烤。

電腦也是。為什麼來這裡沒多久就開始當機。在溫哥華的時候很快的啊。

welcome to the sleeping city

Let's brainstorm the things you can't control in life

There are certain things in life that you just can't control. To name a few:

1. when the bus comes

2. when true love arrives

3. when diarrhea hits (believe me this happened to me twice)

4. when kou shibasaki decides to have a concert

5. when you blush

The fifth one has been troubling me recently. Blushing is no sin really. People get shy, people get embarrassed, and their blood goes woot woot inside their face. But for me, it's really easy to tell if I'm blushing because my skin, at least my face, is lighter in colour (which sometimes I take pride in). And as a sensitive person, which I really am, I get shy and embarrassed easily. And when I try to tell people, "nah, I'm wearing too much", and they go, "Nooooo YOU'RE BLUSHING!"

And during my work term here, we get meetings quite often, where all the members gather around the table in the big board room plus several people on the speaker phone. And it just feels awkward for me to sit in there with people who are more mature and much older. And I just feel dumb whenever it's my turn to speak and people are looking at me, and dumber when I speak, and dumbest when I finish talking. And I can just feel my face heating up, but I can't control it! The reason why it's heating up it's because I'm feeling dumb, but how can I convince myself not to feel dumb when I think I'm quite dumb indeed?! Then I can kind of tell that some people are looking at me, I wonder if it's most likely because MY FACE IS BURNING RED. I can't see my face, but I can imagine, from the heat that I feel, that "no Sherry it's not just your imagination, your face is really really red!

And then it gets the reddest and hottest when you realized that it's freaking embarrassing to blush at staff meetings.

my mobile is now turned off.

In two days, I called Fido six times.

The first time, I called to ask about how I can replace my broken mobile.

The second time, I called to ask about getting a smartphone to replace my broken mobile.

The third time, I called to ask about getting a new contract so I can get that smartphone.

The fourth time, I called to ask about my account number so I can reserve an iphone.

The fifth time, I called to ask about why the heck my phone bill from last month was $500.

(Don't ask, don't ask....... a lot of reasons... a lot.. but remember, not totally my fault..)

When I hung up, I started to think of ways to hide that bill from dad. Dad isn't in Vancouver, so he can't see the statements that were mailed back home. But dad can see the online credit card bill. And my phone bill is swiped off of his card, that means he can see the bill. When I thought about this, I called Fido for the sixth time....and I remember every procedure..

Hello, thanks for choosing Fido, may I please have -

- SIX ZERO FOUR SEVEN SEVEN EIGHT FIVE SEVEN NINE EIGHT

Alright, thanks Miss, may I have your -

- SHERRY, LAST NAME, Y - A - N - G

Thank you Miss, now what is your date -

- SEPTEMBER 21, 1990

Great! Now just to verify, can you give me your -

- V6B 1T7

..............uhhh... Thank you Miss, let me pull out your file now. So how may I help you today?

- Okay..... here's the thing, I NEED YOU HELP ME REVERSE THAT $500 BILL THAT WAS SWIPED OFF OF THE CREDIT CARD

For what reason Miss?

(I guess I needed to explain it to him after all... )

- Um, it's a bit complicated.... my phone bills are usually paid through my dad's credit card... but this time due to specific circumstances, my bill is $500 as you can see......... now I can't let my dad see that. So I need you, to cancel that payment, and instead, charge it on my debit PLEASE

But you know Miss, your dad can still see the bill through the FIDO statements

- HE WON'T. He is not in Canada, he won't see the bill. But he can still see the online transaction records for his card, that's what I need to get rid of.

I see, Miss. Let me check about this right away.

(So he took about five minutes trying to search up the policies probably...)

Now Miss, I'm sorry to inform you that the transaction has been finalized, and I will not be able to reverse it for you.

- YOU CAN'T EVEN REVERSE IT?! HOW?

(I went silent for five seconds.. )

- WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY TO MY DAD?!

I'm sorry about that Miss, and I understand your feelings. You see...

(Then he started giving me counselling on parental relationships)

I suggest you go talk to your dad, tell him that you're sorry, and that you'll be careful next time. You know.. maybe tell him that you'll pay him back.

- yeah.. I know.. but it's not the money that's the problem.. it's the fact that I spent so much in one month.................... is there really nothing you can do about this?

I'm sorry Miss... I hope I can do something for you, but I don't have that power. I know Miss, I come from a family of a similar culture and tradition... it's not really about the money..... and like I said, if you just tell your dad the truth.. it shouldn't be too bad, I mean, he's still your dad right?!

- yeah............... (I was laughing and weeping)

Tell him that you're sorry, and that you won't do it again, be sincere.. and yeah, he's still your dad right?

- .................. yeah..... thanks..... (?)

I hung up and then called dad in Taiwan. I took the Fido guy's advice and told him the truth.

I think dad was too shocked to even be angry..... probably thinking oh why oh why do I deserve a daughter like this........

stubborn cork ruins the night

Today, I tried to make a nice dinner for myself. So I cooked some mixed vegetables and a slice of steak, and also tomato soup. I had the Wallander series loaded, to be enjoyed while I have my dinner. I also thought this would be the perfect occasion to open my shiraz. But I realized I had no bottle opener.

I went onto youtube and learned some tricks on opening a bottle without a bottle opener. One of it was to wrap your bottle in clothes or shoe, then knock the base against a hard surface repeatedly, the cork should come out then. So I tried that, banning it on the wall for 20 minutes. But other than causing significant noise pollution, I don't think I noticed any movement of the cork.

So I walked to the convenience store and get a bottle opener. And they only had the crappy ones. And I wasn't strong enough to pull my cork out. Then I used a knife, and I accidentally chipped the edge of the bottle. And then it was just disastrous. I destroyed the cork surface, I made a lot of holes through it, but the cork wouldn't budge and the wine wouldn't leak out.

So I ate my dinner without my wine.. And I spent two hours trying to open that bottle of wine.

I've decided, wherever I go tomorrow, I must come back with either a decent bottle opener or a bottle of wine that simply uses a tin cap that I can just tear open. If I end up not going anywhere.... well I'll continue screwing that cork, literally. I'll try to make a hole that's big enough to let the wine leak out.

Montréal --> finally I get to use my French keyboard input

After this long weekend I have almost forgotten about my blog and how I'm to work hard in populating this website before the end of the year to break my record. So let me start talking:

I spent the long weekend in Montréal! And my jeans got tighter because I ate so much.

It was really nice to have a little gathering with Ryan (i mean rybo), who also visited me in Ottawa and toured the Capital in one day. Yep, he saw it all!

and Carolyn, who's going to be an awesome mum and wife for making the best grilled cheese sandwich and french toast.

I thought it was a lovely city, one of those that I especially like because it's big, dense, and old.

What's great was that I got to do some shopping. Having only some formal outfits, I desperately need some youthful wears. St. Catherine's had some really nice stores, but as a poor college student, I went to the more affordable ones (I got a shirt for 2 dollars at Urban Outfitters btw, best deal I've ever encountered).

I went clubbing for the first time (and it was in Montréal!) and learned the valuable lesson of knowing not to mix your drinks next time and afterwards eating tons of chicken nuggets. Bad choice sherry Bad choice. Drunk Carolyn and dancing Ryan were the highlight of the night. Hm this rhymes.

But of course, the best part of the trip was travelling with my good buddies. I remember once when we were in highschool, Rybo (Ryan then), Carolyn, and I went to Metro. And I had a lot of fun. So I told Carolyn, "we're the best threesome", and thus made her choke. UGH I had no idea what I was talking about. I really think I should go out with my high school folks, cos they're the ones who remind you that you were once creative, ambitious, and full of energy.

And then the parting. Ryan didn't look too pleased when he left that morning. Usually I get really upset when I say goodbye to mum and dad, but this rarely happens with friends. I often say goodbye to friends at school, at the restaurant after a night of partying, knowing that they will return soon. I think this is the first time that I'm saying goodbye to a friend who's leaving the apartment with his baggage. And I'm sad to see my friend leave alone with his baggage. Probably because this is the first time I understand that we've grown up and our lives will begin to take different directions. Most likely we'll be further away from each other. I don't like the sound of this but I think this is life.

On a happy note, I think Carolyn was VERY DELIGHTED that we've finally left her alone lol. Or else we'd be taking her to to the ER very soon if we stick around any longer lol.

So I returned Monday evening, and had McDonald's for Thanksgiving dinner. I almost forgot that it was Thanksgiving. But that evening, I used my remaining energy while on bed, to thank God of this unforgettable experience I had in Montréal, and prayed that I'll remember it forever.

bodum french press

原本計畫要去Currency Museum的，不過想到得先吃早餐，回來還得洗衣服就覺得很懶散，於是作罷。

想到家裡附近有些店家，就決定去買咖啡機和杯子（這兩個星期都在喝辦公室樓下又貴又酸的Americano）。 到了Zellers後，考慮到因為溫哥華家裡已經有兩套咖啡機，買一台之後要帶回去也不方便，況且還得要買濾紙，想起來就覺得很麻煩。去了旁邊的店發現有在賣法式濾壓壺，加上是出自丹麥品牌，設計簡單，輕巧，顏色可愛 （而且我去的時候只剩四個）加稅後才＄21，我開心地買了它。還好，之前拜託老姊幫我帶瑞典咖啡，明天有丹麥french press泡出來的新鮮瑞典咖啡喝，過個北歐式的早晨，喔！有沒有文青的氣質呢？！

oh em gee..

我每次去賣場都會肚子痛，這次不例外。

挑了好久的咖啡傢伙後已經痛到不行了。 好不容易忍到家門口，進去電梯後發現剛走出來的死小孩按到B1，我只好跟著下去地下室。上來的時候居然還在一樓開了門，不曉得又是哪個死小孩按的，根本沒有人進來。 電梯慢到我鞋子已經脫了一半。到了六樓直接衝到家裡的馬桶。馬桶，真是個偉大的發明。

Agriculture Museum

OH MY GOODNESS WHY IS IT SO COLD TODAY

WHYYYY WHYYYY WHYYYYYYYYYYY

I'm so glad I bought my boots, they kept me warm today at the Agricultural Museum (I'm impressed by how they have all kinds of museums here, maybe I can have my own museum set up some day, my straw hat will be in there)

I saw cows, baby cows.. what do you call them? calves? And then I saw pigs, piglets, sheep, and all kinds of livestock. And I pet a chicken and a baby cattle. Tomorrow I'm going to the currency museum.

Okay time to talk about serious business.

So this is my week two in Ottawa. And I'm pretty much settled for now. My place is very simple. A one room apartment, a bathroom, the previous owner's couch on which we don't dare to sit, three very simple white tables that we use as our desks and dinner table, and a small kitchen. The apartment is about 30 years old, and the interior is quite like the '70's, something that I really enjoy.

We don't have much else here, I didn't even bring a lot of clothes with me because I had to carry two portable mattresses which pretty much filled up all my luggage space. And I've stacked them together to make myself a bed on the ground. I do have several books here that I sometimes read, and my film camera. I had to drink milk, juice, water from the same bottle as that's the only liquid container that I bought with me, and I haven't had the chance to get myself some cups until Jack mailed me a mug. Apart from rent, Ottawa does have a high cost of living, so we're trying to keep our budget low during these four months. Now I'm trying to get a french press so I won't have to line up to get coffee everyday.

And LOL,

I just realized that when my mac is turned off or on screen saver (which is just black), I can see the outline of the apple mark on the other side through my screen. Scared the crap out of me at first, I thought my screen was broken.

Report!

One of my secret little hobby is to read my old blog posts that I've previously written, and I just spent two hours doing that yesterday.

So since 2007 summer, I've written 286 posts. And this is my 287th. I've written a couple more in the past, but they've gone missing with the rest of my other blog pages.

But I've realized I'm kind of falling behind. Last year I wrote 52 blogs, I've only written 18 so far this year. Jack says I still have a couple more months to catch up, so I think I'll do that. Like Judy, I'll write blogs everyday now and maybe I can break my record. Jack says I'm wasting time. But I think I'm recording history. MY HISTORY. Perhaps my blog posts will end up in some kind of archival inventory in the future. College students who wanted to know the lifestyle of a typical Vancouver lady in her 20's during the 2010's will only need to search up my blog through google archives/blogs to find a whole lot of sources that could be used for his or her essay topic on "Urban Life in Vancouver, 2010's". And my name will appear on his or her paper countless times I believe. I'm making history, do you know how important that is?

So what to write, what to write,....

WELL, when I woke up today I had the brilliant idea of wearing my jeans to match my new blouse. I looked frantically for them but couldn't find them anywhere in the apartment. My last guess was to look in the laundry room in the basement. And oh-em-gee, five days since we did our laundry, my jeans was still there, flat on the counter.......... YES this is what happens when your brother takes on laundry chores. He collects everything that belongs to him and only leaves behind the jeans of his sister. Ass.

And I skipped lunch at work today... I bought a new pair of boots today because my converse is beginning to fall apart... I dressed casually today and the lady at Aldo said she liked my blouse, which made me very pleased. Then I came home and ate what I should have eaten for lunch, then I started watching movies. Now I'm here trying to break my record for annual blog post! My brother just showed me this video of this Japanese guy who broke the Guinness world records of "breaking" the most walnuts with his butt in 1 minute.

CRAP it's 12 am here now... I'm showering! Awfully tired from not eating lunch today.

Ottawa Week 1

來了一個星期，差不多都搞定了！耶！耶！耶！

這幾天忙著買菜，找路，買菜刮布，坐錯公車，買浴簾，吃外帶。

默默的感謝上個房客留下來的齊全廚具，電鍋，熱水壺，碗盤，未開封刀子，懷疑從來沒用過的鍋子，還有鹽，胡椒粉，橄欖油。這樣省了好多麻煩。

才一個星期每天過得超上班族。早上起床，塞個麵包去門口等公車。和一群穿得跟自己一樣的人下車，排在和自己穿得一樣得人後面等著買咖啡，坐8個小時。回家後在上網洗澡睡覺。好規律正常呀。。 看看能不能之後加入“下班後慢跑”。

這幾天渥太華天氣都不錯，20上下左右，害我很後悔沒有帶夏天的衣服來，今天根本就可以去野餐了！

不過來到這裡應該要趁機會去當文藝青年走一趟博物館。這裡國立博物館一堆的。

這兩天各去了一個博物館，

canadian museum of civilization &

canadian war museum

因為是學生，所以兩張票只要15加幣，相當於看一場電影吧，讓我覺得特別划算。而且兩個館都讓我很大吃一驚，光是建築就很壯觀，想說加拿大居然能有這麼大型的展覽，Oh！ Canada！

兩館都很有趣，所以可以看很久都不出來，我在看文明博物館（現在有很有趣的日本創意設計展覽）是看到要休館時被管理員趕出來。

之前覺得渥太華的大眾運輸很糟糕怎麼搭都不對，不過來了一個星期，公車也比較熟了，今天出去前把路線都看好，之後也不會浪費太多時間，也不能什麼都拿來跟溫哥華比較。

看完了博物館後去河邊散佈，然後在去市區逛街，很方便的！（感覺是來玩的）在urban outfitters買了一件裙子和短褲（還發同一個東西價錢和溫哥華差很多）。chapters和溫哥華的一樣大，也是進去了出不來。。。

對於渥太華，現在還在摸索和探險當中。希望在離開之前能夠把它變成“我的”城市！接下來這幾個月我會繼續努力的玩 （根本就是來玩的）。

I'm a global adult now

• Bahrain ^[40]
• Cameroon
• Chad
• Egypt
• Honduras
• Lesotho
• Madagascar ^[41] (minors are emancipated upon marriage)
• Mississippi, United States^[37]
• Namibia
• Puerto Rico
• Singapore (Only for casino entry age, voting and marriage)
• Swaziland
• United Arab Emirates

So I just checked, I have reached the age of majority in the remaining 13 countries listed above which has the oldest threshold of 21 years. Meaning, I'll be an adult everywhere in this world, that's something worth celebrating I think. Maybe I'll treat myself a shot of Baileys tomorrow.

昨天第一天去報到，經理說員工生日時都會被請吃好料，順便問我生日什麼時候。 她萬萬沒想到我生日就是上班第二天，應該很後悔。 然後今天的午餐是燒羊空心粉。

我萬萬也沒想到生日居然會在這裡過，我連蛋糕要從哪裡買也不知道說。 昨天突然想到我將要21歲的時候，心裡想的就是 “該死的！青春要流失了！” 今天提大統華的袋子拉到肌肉，更深深體會到身體已經沒有以前靈活了，“crap!"。

渥太華天氣最近很好，每天都是晴天，早上出去心情不錯，晚上因為很涼快所以睡的很舒服，要是能這樣下去就好了。因為是”公務城“，所以每天去市中心看到的都是白人白領，還是有點不習慣。除了少數的公車司機以外，大部分的人都對我很好，不會看到我就跑掉。 沒有山，沒有海，沒有clubs，很多辦公大樓還有公車就是了。

嗯。。。 今年的生日感想是。。想不到什麼就是了。 每年過生日都是很忙碌的時段，都沒有時間好好寫剛想，都是讓它悄悄的加一歲。今年也不例外。

好了好了，我要先去睡攪攪。

Ottawa Day 1

Every time I arrive at a new and different place, I always think to myself "I want my bed", "I want Mimi", "I want my Downtown", "I want my parents", "what the hell am I doing here again?" Same thing this time. Give me a while, I'm sure I'll think about Vancouver and Taiwan a little less each day.

Ottawa is smaller than what I'm used to, but it seems like quite a nice place. I've settled in a 1-room apartment 20 minutes (bus ride) from Downtown. The neighbourhood is quiet, something that I'm also getting used to. We had dinner in Downtown, so I had a chance to take a look. It was much quieter than Vancouver on a Saturday night. I only saw one club, and it had no lineup. The streets and the restaurant didn't have a lot of people, considering that it's a beautiful Saturday. But again, it's only my first night here, and first impression shouldn't be taken seriously, ha. Tomorrow I will head out to buy some more things for the apartment with my brother, and get a new mobile plan perhaps. I'll also have the chance to tour the City more, hopefully.

I'm flying without wings..

because I'm smoking weed..... (I'm just kidding!)

It's a song that I'm preparing for my sister's wedding.

So last time I updated this blog was the beginning of last month. I haven't forgotten my diary actually, but it's just that the internet browser I use on the PC that I usually use at home wouldn't allow me post my blogs on blogger.com. And I'm too lazy to download other browsers, might as well just wait until I happen to be using my mac.

But surprise surprise.. because I haven't been taking courses, hence haven't been writing papers or doing research, I haven't been using my Mac. And so I've kind of neglected my poor poor memory database. Now I will begin to fill it because I've brought my Mac with me to Taiwan.

That's right! I'm in the lovely tropics, right on the tropic of cancer!

And I'm having fun sweating! (Go garlic go!)

And I just beat my dad in basketball (machine) Go garlic go!

Okay, I'm gonna go grab myself a coffee jelly

BLOGGER

One warm afternoon, Judy and I were sitting on the couch, sipping our coffee, staring into space, being quiet, and enjoying the traffic noise from outside. This is why I like spending time with Judy, becuase we don't need to talk to have a good time, which suits me well. Especially in a lazy afternoon like this.

But Judy broke the silence.

Judy says, Sherry?

Sherry says, Hm?

Judy says, You know, I read from somewhere that people born on September 21st are suited to become writers

Sherry says, oh really?! That's exciting, does that mean I might be able to be a writer too?

Judy says, Yeah

And I got all excited because I'm reading this novel about a writer who travels to Ireland and has lots of fun there (yep that's the only reason).

Sherry says, Sounds perfect! What kind of writer should I become then? Romance writer? Science-fiction author? Fiction novelist? Steig Larsson? Kate Morton? or even Haruki Murakami?

Judy says, wellll.... I was thinking more about a BLOGGER

Sherry says, I will give you 40 seconds to collect your belongings and get out of my apartment.

something i just recalled

I'm actually writing this while watching Hanna .. online of course (ahem). Erik Bana is great, but that blonde girl is taking over all the scenes! I think I'll multitask a bit and write something until Bana shows up again.

Recently I have been reading a lot of childhood memoirs. And while on a stroll today, I suddenly recalled some of my own childhood experiences in Taiwan.

I spent around three years in the kindergarten school in Taipei. I would be off around mid-afternoon. The school bus would drop me off at my parent's office, that's where I'll jump out from the bus into my dad's arms (I think I was too heavy to be caught by mum).

Sometimes dad would take me to the 義美 convenience store across the street to buy boiled eggs and yogourt. Then we take the elevator up to the office to have lunch. My parents and their colleagues would gather around the big table covered with lots of take out's. The television would be turned to the news channel.

Then the adults would get back to work.

Since Chris and Steve were already in highschool, they rarely visit the office. Besides, they were too old to play with me. So I was on my own in that small office floor for the rest of the day, making my own fun activities. I had the television of course, but my video collection was only limited to the Jungle Book, three Winnie the Pooh's, and Pocahontas. (I remember once mum insisted that I leave the news on, because Princess Diana got into the car crash).

Sometimes I'd have my own fun. What I enjoyed doing the most was cleaning the bathroom sink. I am a virgo after all, and I have been very particular about hygiene at a young age. I enjoyed scrubbing the bathroom sink with soap and paper towel, then finally wiping it dry so that it would shine. And I can get really upset if someone used it after five minutes because it would be wet again.

Sometimes I'd go into the stationary drawers to sneak out the neat erasers and some rubber bands, and I'd shoot the erasers all over the office, drove my mum mad. Or I'd take the pencils and all those fancy rulers they use to draw floor plans to build my own castles.

And oh boy did I love to bother the interns. I forgot how many there were, but my favourite one was a young lady who always made friendly conversations with me and shared her crackers with me. She was also the person who taught me to write the character 樂 while I was struggling to complete my handwriting worksheet.

Other times, I'd climb up to this bookshelf where I can be near the windows. Then I'd use my dad's old binoculars to spy on the pedestrians on ground level. I could do this for hours and hours. It was especially pleasant to know that you can see other people, but they don't even know your presence. I liked being this kind of observer. I was there, but to them, I did not exist!

Flintstones can have such bad influence on children. I was a victim. Now this can be a bit gross, but I remember seeing how the characters would make bones into useful tools. I wanted to try it too. So I secretly snuck out a few of the bones from the drumsticks I had during lunch, washed them, dried them. I was thinking about what to do with them, but couldn't come up with any facinating inventions. Discouraged, I stored them in a random drawer in the office, which happened to belong to an intern. Apparently I kind of scared the crap out of her the next morning.

indecisiveness

Kou's 2011 tour is approaching, and of course, the concert goods are already available for preorder! The lesson from last year's tour taught me the lesson of always PREORDER before the goods sell out! So I will use my time wisely and shall get a good look at the product before I preorder them by June! I especially want this year's t-shirts because they're quite neat, and secondly, all profits will be donated to the aid reconstruction efforts in Aomori, Ibaraki, Iwate, Fukushima, Miyagi, and Tochigi, which I think is kind of nice.

Then again, I'm not so sure which t-shirt I should buy. To be honest, I would love to collect all the models out there, after all, it's for a good cause, and I'm a supportive fan. But as a poor student who recognizes the cruel reality and the basic saving account operations, buying all four t-shirts (3800 yen each) is simply unafforadable and shall remain a dream.

So, my designated dear friends, please help me choose the best t-shirt that is worth my money.

Model A:

Model B:

Model C:

Model D:

一夜台傭

昨天晚上臨時收拾換洗衣物, 牙刷, 坐捷運去Surrey (話說, 柴崎幸現在也住Surrey唷....... 不過是位於英國的Surrey縣 .... 嘿嘿嘿)

明明短短40分鐘的捷運路途, 每次回去的時候還是會有 "好久不見" 的感覺, 還是不太習慣, 畢竟當時把心愛的小粉紅房子賣掉的時候就決定割捨所有對這城市的情感! (太誇張了, 明明就是不會開車又懶才一年來一次)....

下了到fraser heights的公車, 來到高中時常等的站牌, 然後再快快走到好友Melody家, 原本打算趁夜深人靜時在雨中漫步享受浪漫氣氛, 不過真的是安靜的有點怕怕, 反而有點跑去她家的...

好友Melody家很大, 很乾淨, 很整齊, 唯獨她的房間不同. 其實亂的很有藝術感. 不過因為她怕丟臉不讓我照相, 不然我早就上傳來分享了! 藝術品當然也只是欣賞個三分鐘, 點點頭. 四分鐘後就開始溺了, 五分鐘開始嘖嘖搖頭了, 六分鐘就開始煩了, 七分鐘就開始覺得在不收拾就會有害她健康.. 當晚目標是讓她1.5 x 1 m的書桌上能騰出空間來放15"的手提電腦

很不可思議, 她的房間每個抽屜, 櫃子, 籃子, 都像是被炸彈轟炸過一次. 整理抽屜的時候會咳嗽, 不時覺得自己的垃圾桶都比較整齊. 多虧了我, 現在房間總算清涼許多, 不過我相信很快就會有許多來問雜誌在哪裡, 餅乾在哪裡的電話.

整齊的房間果然早上起來就讓人元氣滿滿, 於是吃了早餐就一起去散步. 還是在Fraser Heights散步舒服, 沒有紅綠燈, 沒有太多的路人, 也少了很多沒禮貌的汽車卡車公車警車救護車, 讓我散起步來特別順暢. 和好友走了一次以前上學的路線, 空氣的味道一樣, 腳步一樣, 柏油路一樣, 光線一樣, 唯一不同的是,....... 嗚.. 不是高中生了..

Four Mothers

Mother's day is coming up! And I looooooove mother's day, not only because I get to feel like a cultured and artistic lady when I go buy the bouquets, but also because I can attend those mothers days gathering feasts with my relatives.

As I look forward to this year's gathering, I also recall this funny little incident that happened two years ago on Mother's Day. As usual, my aunt invited me to the celebration dinner, along with the other relatives. Before leaving Downtown, I went onto Granville to buy three bouquets of flowers (for three mothers) that were yellow (I can't recall).

While on the B-line (not Canada Line!), I fightened myself by realizing that I might have been mistaken, there were instead four mothers attending the dinner. I thought I ought to find a florist in Richmond. But once I got off at Aberdeen, I had no idea where to go as I didn't know my way around. Time was limited, I took my chances and went into Aberdeen hoping to find a flower shop. I found one, with many colourful pretty flowers inside, and I got so excited that I went straight in there. I proudly went up to the florist, and held out my bouquets and declared that I want flowers identical to my yellow ones. She was a bit confused but led me to this vace. They were indeed identical, but the ones in the vase were GIGANTIC, I asked "are these genetically modified? they're HUGE!" And she gave me this awkward expression. I reached for one of them, and I noticed IT WAS PLASTIC. I was a bit taken aback, and I was actually angry, thinking how dare she trick me!

I said, "hm.. sorry, but could I see real ones?"
Then she was the one who was confused, "excuse me? mmm..... this is an artificial flower shop"
I quickly turned around, and observed the plastic leaves, silk petals, and nylon twigs. Then I realized "oh yeah... I don't see any soil... nor is it wet here".....

I quickly apologized and went out. The good thing was though, in the end, there were three mothers. We had sushi that evening.

Maybe my career will take off with this

As I am madly looking for jobs at this moment, I came across with this attractive posting,

"Major New Feature Film Oriental Extras Needed, Starring Keanu Reeves"

Oh yes, this is such a good opportunity to finally see Shibasaki! Kou! Here I come!

Wanted - Oriental Male and Female

That's really not a problem for me, I'm female! And I'm Asian!

Warrior Productions looking for Extras Age 16 - 90

I fit in here for sure!

Martial Arts, Horseriding are assets

I don't know martial arts...I don't know horseriding..

Audition site: Hammersmith, London

I can easily buy a ticket to London, get on the metro and aha!

I'll just have to get a working VISA!

Upon hearing this, Judy told me: You'll never be famous she has a point....

Okay... time to go to bed.. I have a presentation on home waste management tomorrow... :(

my wireless working FINE

So my dad arrived today.

While I was having dinner with Jack, my dear brother called me. He wasn't in a good mood.

"Uh, what the heck did you ask dad to bring? He's not out yet"

Apparently, my mum stuffed some apples, chestnuts, and canned meat products into his baggage without telling poor dad. I bet the immigration officer was pretty pissed off.

When I got back to the apartment, IT WAS SO CLEAN! My dad could not endure the mess even for one day. There were three huge bags of garbage by the door, ready to be disposed. He was distressed by the amount of expired products that we've been hoarding for the past few months. He said "For each cupboard I open, each fridge drawer I pull out, even when merely hoping to microwave a frozen dinner, I find more shocking matters, how do you guys live in here?" Here are some of the things dad got rid of today, that he deemed inedible,

- fruit wine

- carrots

- chocolate cakes

- vitamin pills

- broccoli

- mushroom

- frozen meat

- cookies

- salad dressing

- spaghetti sauce

And the list goes on.

My brother said, I could invite my friends over to have an expired food feast. From appetizer to dessert along with dressing and sauce and wine, I have them all available in their expired state.

Anyway, I ought to sleep now. Dad decided to make this saturday into a cleaning and chore day for us. He said my room looks awful and cannot understand how I manage to live in here. I think it's awesome though. I have everything I need within my reach. :)

Good night.

creative writing

it's not like she writes more clear than me.....

oh the lovely reading break

Was watching my sister's engagement party in Taipei LIVE on SKYPE, and got kind of excited seeing all my lovely relatives. Technology does wonders eh..

Now, to make myself sleepy, might as well just do some typing.

Been applying to countless jobs these days and freaked out because *sniff* nobody wants me.

I think I'm actually quite a selfish person to be honest. I remember praying to God two years ago after a job interview with Jet Set hoping that I'll get the job. And I said to both of us "I'll be totally satisfied once I get this job, because I'll be happy with this solid job experience". And I got it, praise the Lord. Last year in September, I prayed again, asking God to let me be admitted into Co-op, I said to both of us "I don't care if I'm sacrificing a lot of time for this program, I just want to be in there so I can be exposed to those job opportunities". And I got in, praise the Lord.

Right now, I hear myself praying everyday, repeating the same old phrase, except with the goal changed, I'm saying to God, "Let me have a job, so I can get another experience". And as usual, I have to be an Otaku. I find myself staring into the cold monitor every night, filling out applications, uploading resumes, don't forget the papers.

I feel that I really need a break, after trying hard in many things. I could use some time to go jogging, cook more decent meals, or watch more television. But looking back, it seems that I'll never be satisfied with what I have or what I've done so far. Seeing how other people are successful already, I would forget what I've said before and think right away, "gosh I need to work hard too", and thus the vicious cycle continues.

The other day my mind was in a state of chaos, maybe not so many things to do, but many to worry about, as if someone crumbled a thick pile of to-panic lists into my brain, and I'm trying to use that few weak cells in my head to unfold each one. Just then I walked by a store on Robson street, and saw the familiar huge red poster, "Keep Calm and Carry on". I see it often, but I rarely would think about it. At that instant I wanted to hide in the dumpster and weep, I was full of shame and disgust.

I guess I've forgotten that it's not only me. I don't think I'm in the position to panic for the things that I'm going through nor do I deserve to panic, to be disappointed, and to ask for more.

I think I will try to pray for other things tonight. I want to say to us, "deep breath, relax, you're doing fine".

嘖嘖的214

每年到了情人節就會對說 "唉.. 今年又是一個人, 嘖嘖"

偏偏每年情人節都學校放假那幾天, 想找朋友出去都很難

打給melody, "Are you F kidding me? It's valentines day! I'm busy DUH"

O_Q

不過世界上也有好人.

前天去上課時, 日本同學Kyoko準備了心形巧克力還有Kitkat, 上面還寫日文XDD

我和John之前約好, 如果情人節完全沒有計畫就要送對方一個安慰禮

於是我送他仙人掌, 比較家居的他送我他自己烤的香蕉蛋糕 (哦, 我的最愛, 最愛!!) 還有超級特別的奇異果Muffin, 和心形餅乾 <3.>

好友蔡宜臻也是昨晚熬夜做了很棒的心形的Chocolate chip餅乾讓我很感動 O_Q
是晚上熬夜趕paper的必備良伴

不過怎麼都是吃的

21 Years of Kick Ass Infinity

Dear Judy,

First of all, an eye-candy for you to enjoy!

Since you don't seem to mind so much about other people wishing you a happy birthday, I think I must beat Peggy and give you a less frightening birthday experience, or not.

I still remember our highschool years, in case you don't. You never fail to make me feel guilty. When we have lunch together with Melody and Joyce, you'd always be the quiet person munching on your sandwich, staring into space as if you're in deep thoughts. How foolish was I to actually think you were thinking of great things! But then I became more convinced that you were really, just staring off into space.

You were always too quiet that I forgot your presence. Then by the time lunch was over and we were off to class, I'd be like "OH NO! I forgot that Judy was beside me!"

It was then I realized that perhaps you type faster than talk. And in fact while you're staring into space, you do possess a fantastic imagination, as demonstrated below:

After graduation, you were really off to Victoria, I thought you had been joking. When you left that summer, I was forced to accept the heartbreaking truth, "THAT MY LITTLE JUDY HAS GROWN UP".

(Can you believe it, I couldn't find a lot of photos of us two, most of them were from graduation! How sad.)

Away from home, you developed more interesting personalities as well as some evil deeds. Consider the following example:

You must be laughing. Aren't you? At least I am. But, now, you don't laugh at Anna. Really..

It isn't only you who knows how to be evil when times are appropriate

21 Years of Kick Ass Infinity indeed!

with lots of love embedded in hate,

your friend,

Sherry.

ps.

Good luck on your exams!!

You better thank me, I sacrificed my nap time to make this!

Spoiled Childhood of the Tigger Sherry

On my way to the third floor, I saw the recent controversial book written by Tiger Mother. I've already heard enough about this lady. A Harvard law professor who raised her kids in the hardcore Chinese manner. I started reading.

She really had the typical Chinese parenting techniques. Let's see if I can recall some..

1) "If you don't practice your piano well enough I will burn all your stuffed toys"

2) "A? Where did the plus go???"

3) "School lunch break is a waste of time, I'll pick you up to practice the violin"

4) "Why didn't you do the bonus questions? Are you a bad student?"

They say immigrants expect their kids to work extremely hard academically while mum and dad spoil them with all sorts of tutors, extra curricular lessons, after school practice questions. I remember other immigrant classmates from elementary had their schedule filled with swimming lessons, math lessons, english lessons, piano lessons, Tae Kwon Do, uhh what have I missed? oh right! Chinese lessons if they're Chinese. That maybe leaves sunday free, for them to practice more, study more. Maybe a library day if not church.

For me, having immigrated from Taiwan to Canada felt like a salvation from tests and homework. In elementary, my life was filled with TV, toys, TV, food, TV, stuffed toys. Although, dad insisted that I learn English and math, but for the rest, I was the one who initiated swimming lessons, piano lessons. I asked them to get me a math tutor and send me to a writing class for a few months in high school

Mum once told me, she and dad had decided that I would be their youngest offspring, no more, no more. They have been a bit more strict with Chris the oldest girl and Steve the only son, but as their baby girl, I was spoiled. I C plused through my elementary years, as long as I kept quiet about it, rarely was I asked about it. Dad did get angry after seeing some 10/20 spelling tests and teacher's negative comments about my performance at school, but that's just being a normal parent. I was a pretty crazy kid who madly bikes around around Fraser Heights until sunset everyday. This bothered them, the fact that an 11 year old girl was swarming around the big suburb as she imagined herself on a Harley Davidson. Based on other parents' opinion, I was a slacker I bet!

After reading what I've typed so far, I sound like a spoiled princess who could get anything she wanted with the Bank of Dad, while all mum and dad could say was "what am I gonna do with you!?"But after all, they've done their soft parenting and took the time to talk to me about responsibilities, virtues, and the value of a decent education. I understood them, I stayed out of trouble and behaved alright both at home and school.

Mum and dad rarely comment on what I study in school. Well, mum had wished that I would study business, but after I made my choice, she has been supportive. Since high school, I lived a parent-free life, but I think I managed quite well. They sometimes get upset when I work a bit harder because they are concerned with my physical well being. Mum would often say to her children, "Do you know, I gave you your body. You're using what I have entrusted to you 20 years ago. But you're not taking care of it! You're torturing your eyes, which are actually MY EYES, your liver, my liver, MY LIVER! MINE!"

Once I said to her, "Well think about it mum, I'm doing this for you! You paid for my tuition, I don't want to waste the money, so I must pass the course and make you and dad proud!" I thought this would totally make Asian parents so delighted. But mum went: "BULLSHIT (she didn't say that, but she meant it) IN THAT CASE, DROP OUT!"

Funny enough, while on the phone today, I asked her "so mum, have you heard about the book written by Tiger Mother?"

Mum: "LOL Tiger Mother?"
I went: you know! the Harvard prof who uses hardcore Chinese strategies to parent her kids!

Mum: Is she better than me?

I went: you two are kind of different... but I don't think you can ever reach her level at this
Mum: yeah right, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna make you drop out of school, I'll sell the apartment, but I'll pay for your flight back home, and then you can live with mommy and daddy! How about that, can Tiger Mother do that?

I don't think she understood what I meant, but I really thank mum and dad for not giving me the pressure that most Chinese-Immigrant parents would choose to give. Though each methods has its own values, I think I did just fine with this, being a child and a responsible person. Should I have been Amy Chua's daughter, I think we would have driven each other crazy by age 5.

After reading for an hour, laughing through the whole way, I realized I was standing right in front of the parenting section. Why did they put this book in the parenting section? I don't understand, why would Chapters do that? And make me stand there for an hour, no wonder people were staring at me.