les sacs des parisiennes

Sick with flu, once again

2012-01-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

It happens almost every time when I start a new school term (and sometimes when I end a term). I get sick for some reason, mostly stupid reasons. On Saturday, I felt really warm when I went to bed, so I decided to leave the window opened. And I got sick like that! Just like that! And I hate catching a cold, because my symptoms are really annoying. I cough a lot, which is really painful for me as I have bad lungs (having a history of pnumonia <-- how to you spell this? and asthma). Yesterday was worse than usual though, I had fever and back pains.

Today when I got up I felt deprived of all energy, but I still decided to go to school because I don't really like to miss the first and second week of class, especially when I still have all these course schedule crap to sort out. Thank goodness I managed to get a seat on the bus, I slept through the whole way. I felt dizzy through the whole day. After I finished my second class, I thought about going home, since I was most likely going to drop the third class. But somehow I still waited through my two hours break - wandering around the geography building with terrible back pain and dizziness - and went anyway. After class, I thought I should still be courteous and notify the professor that I am going to drop the course, and I thought I might as well ask for her opinions. She basically convinced me to stay in the class - I love enthusiastic instructors.

For the whole bus ride back home, my back pains didn't cease. Usually I would only get muscle pain around my legs and arms, never my BACK. Originally I thought about stopping by the grocery store to get myself a salad for tonight's dinner, but ended up doing grocery shopping. By the time I arrived home, I was half dead and basically skinned off my clothings and got onto bed for a two hours sleep.

By the time I woke up I was still in pain. So I called some clinics around me to try and make an appointment. And NONE of them was open or available. I couldn't even sit properly becuase my back ached so much. I lay down for a while and read my textbook, sat at the desk again to work on my assignment. Now I'm typing this with a cushion against my back. And I'm typing this because I can't fall asleep nor can I concentrate on my studies.

四個月的總結 III

2011-12-24T13:07:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-18T00:31:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-17T23:10:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-12T15:43:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-06T15:55:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-23T21:23:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-15T16:05:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-11T16:43:00.000-08:00

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;

(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

2011-11-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

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

2011-10-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-29T13:06:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

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.

2011-10-18T18:51:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-14T20:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-09-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-20T19:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-18T02:34:00.000-07:00

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..

2011-08-25T06:38:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-07T00:43:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-25T03:25:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-04T00:59:00.000-07:00

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

2011-04-27T22:29:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-31T00:52:00.001-07:00

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

2011-03-26T01:20:00.000-07:00

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

2011-02-18T23:03:00.000-08:00

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

oh the lovely reading break

2011-02-17T03:18:00.000-08:00

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

2011-02-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-31T19:06:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-28T22:19:00.000-08:00

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.

Smile! American Standard

2011-01-27T14:32:00.000-08:00

Lalala, Kou's newest single PV is out ---> 無形スピリット
Click me!

I like the PV! One of the more creative ones in Kou's collection. (she looks younger than when she was 20)

#2
I was stalking people's facebook photos and noticed something interesting!
It seems quite common that people take photos of themselves in the washroom, I guess it's because of the big mirrors. Mind you, I love standing in front of mine each morning too, that equals to a half cup of coffee for me!

Not that it bothers me, but I can guess that if the photographer-model isn't careful enough, he/she might go "AH! Why didn't I move to the right a bit?!"... since a toilet is right behind? A sink right in front? Toothbrush, bathtub? colourful towels? I can see the fun of capturing the beauty of vintage taps and cups from the 70s. But but but.. when the person stands in front of an 2001 model of American Standard toilet, wearing the latest AE sweatshirt, or Shibuya street outfits, lolita fashion,.. spiky, edgy, waxed hair.... there exists a kind of imbalance. For me, I wouldn't let the plumbing fixtures take the attention away from me!

Okay, off I flee!

loose minds

2011-01-25T17:31:00.000-08:00

#1
After I discovered that my apartment's floor hallway isn't soundproofed from the noise inside the suites, it's so awkward meeting my neighbours on the elevator or in the corridor, they would just think:
"oh.. that's the girl who sings opera everyday and make it sound like she's screaming. Her brother too."

#2
Has anyone noticed that the water actually tastes kind of funny in Vancouver?
So after I filtered a whole tank of tap water the other day, thirsty me downed a whole jug of, and obviously, belched (love that feeling), and it seriously smelled like chlorine!

#3
Ohhhhh guess what, yesterday I found a lost wallet in the Irving library! Then found a key outside of Hennings!

#4
I wonder if the student librarian at Irving third floor hates me, after she travelled down the stacks with me to dig out two copies that I couldn't find twice in a week. But she does wonders!

#5
To be honest I'm typing this because I'm so fed up with school and applications that I'd rather waste my time here than read anymore about the history of toilets.

Alllllrighty, time to find other things to do and waste time.

Eat, Sleep, Dream

2010-12-27T08:05:00.001-08:00

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

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

2010-12-21T06:25:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-21T00:58:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-19T17:01:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-12T02:37:00.000-08:00

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

2010-12-05T03:58:00.001-08:00

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"

2010-11-22T21:59:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-21T19:26:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-21T14:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-16T00:27:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-12T13:51:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-09-06T03:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-06T02:35:00.001-07:00

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

2010-08-28T00:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-26T01:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-05T01:18:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-12T00:46:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-10T03:06:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-31T23:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-22T23:23:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-15T03:00:00.000-07:00

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..

2010-05-07T03:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-05-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-27T18:27:00.001-07:00

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

2010-04-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

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!!

2010-04-24T23:21:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

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)

2010-04-12T14:27:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-20T00:43:00.001-07:00

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

2010-03-19T00:40:00.000-07:00

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

2010-03-10T01:57:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-20T00:50:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-07T15:08:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-01T17:04:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-31T02:27:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-18T13:58:00.000-08:00

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.

My Life

2010-01-10T17:18:00.000-08:00

Recently I'm addicted to this song. Kind of old, came out with Tata Young's album in 2004 I think - Sexy Naughty Bitchy Me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlYJz3ruMFs. Inspired by my own life right now, I've made a little change to the lyrics.

Original Version -
I pick all my skirts to be a little too sexy
Just like all of my thoughts they always get a bit naughty
When I'm out with my girls I always play a bit bitchy
Can't change the way I am sexy naughty bitchy me
I'm the kind of girl that girls don't like
I'm the kind that boys fantasize
I'm the kind that your momma and your daddy were afraid you'd turn out to be like
I may seem unapproachable but that's only to the boys who don't have the
Right a approach or ride that makes a girl like me wanna hop in and roll
People think it's intimidating when a girl is cool with her sexuality I'm a 180 to the stereotype girls like staying home and being innocent
My mouth never takes a holiday
I always shock with the things I say
I was always the kid in school who turned up to each class bout an hour late and when it came to the guys I'd lay, I'd always pick the ones who wont figure out that I am clearly a rebel to the idea of monogamy
I like all of my shorts to be a little too shortly
Unlike all of my guys I like them tall with money
I love all of my nights to end a little bit nasty
Can't change the way I am sexy naughty bitchy me

Sherried Version:
I write my papers with a perfect attentiveness
Just like all my notes, they are always so organized
When I'm in the lectures, I always sit in the front
Can't change the way I am, Nerdy Geeky Freaky me
I'm the kind of girls the girls befriend. I'm the kind of girl boys do avoid
I'm the kind that the TAs and the Proffies would afraid to see me in their offices
I may seem unapproachable, but that is only because I must ensure the right approach to calculate the correct gross domestic production.
People think it's intimidating when a girl is cool with her exminations.
I'm a typical bookworm to the stereotype girls like staying home and doing calculus
My brain never takes a break
I always write the textbook notesI was always the kid in school I was always the kid in school who turned up to each class bout an hour early
When it comes to the guys I'd lay, I'd always pick the ones who can explain to me clearly what the heck Voltaire is talking about
I get so nervous before the day of exams
I flame at all my profs I scare them to the toilets
I love to take out my books to read them for the second time
Can't change the way I am Nerdy Geeky Freaky Me
Nerdy...Nerdy...Nerdy...Geeky...Geeky...Geeky...Freaky...Freaky...Freaky Me..
Nerdy...Nerdy...Nerdy...Geeky...Geeky...Geeky...Freaky...Freaky...Freaky Me..
Can't change... I'm Nerdy Geeky Freaky Me!

Oh lala, this felt really good. Now that i've complained, Okay.. now I go back reading Voltaire...

肚子餓了

2010-01-09T21:33:00.001-08:00

Mannnn I'm friggen hungry right now. Geeky Nerdy Freaky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlYJz3ruMFs) me studied too hard for three hours straight. Oh my gosh! But thankfully, my brother and I drove all the way to Richmond last time to fill our dumpling stock, now I'm boiling twleve, oh boy oh boy I cannot wait.

So today I surprisingly rised at eight in the morning to go to Richmond. Along with other employees, I'm sent on a field trip to learn about the venues and the airport. Anyway I kind of fell asleep on the bus. I don't think our group leader was very satisfied with me because I slept through the whole tour right in front of him. I even lost track of the places we visited. But that's of little importance. The highlight of this trip is their catering service, the sandwiches we were provided with are delicious, way beyond my expectations. Thought most companies would be too cheap to offer decent meals that actually don't taste bad. Tomorrow we're to go to Whistler, I'm very excited to be receiving another one of their lunch; and the ride will be two hours, I can sleep for a longer period.

Anyway, the games are approaching and we're all getting quite excited! For me, I cannot wait to get my $$ (that is, if everything goes well) so I can replace crappy PC with a MAC. What's even better, is that I'm not doing the "tour guide" job. I mean, they're really fun roles, but those hosts will need to stand on the bus and give speeches about what's on your left and right or give presentation about the history of Whistler resort. Hey, I'm pretty sure if I were to be a hostess, by the time we get out of the airport I'd be covered with my own barf head to toe. My boss even said to me: Sherry if you're to do the hostess, then you might as well quit it and work for me during the games time, at least you won't puke!

Whistler之Judy事蹟

2009-12-31T21:19:00.000-08:00

前兩天都是在Whistler上過的, 覺得又高又遠的山上是最棒的滑雪場地, 但這不是重點.
出發的前一天, 我和Melody在聊天, 一聽到我們居然要和Judy去山上住三天兩夜她不禁替我擔心起來 (雖然我覺得這傢伙根本就是在幸災樂禍)
Melody警告我說, "Sherry, 妳要小心Judy, 我和她在德國轉過機, 大家從飛機出來之後她才發現忘了把相機忘記了, 和她參觀羅浮宮時她把護照弄丟了"
聽起來雖然叫人害怕, 於是我做好了完全的心理準備, 其實Judy糊塗也不是一天兩天的事情了, 認識她這麼多年我們也都習慣了...

但我發現, life is full of surprises, Judy真的是讓人無法預料, 全身上下隨時都可能發生 "突然襲擊" 事件...

首先, 到滑雪場的路上, 我, Anna, Judy, 和Steven停下來, 因為Anna找不到她的護鏡, 我們找了一陣子都找不到, 結果描了Judy的額頭才發現她綁了兩層超大的護鏡....
"Judy..妳頭上有兩附.....妳把Anna的護鏡綁在自己護鏡的上面了.."
"什麼?!?!?" Judy非常的驚訝..
"妳自己怎麼都沒感覺到?????"
"難怪路人都在看我....."
這傢伙都不閒重嗎?? 但這還算小事

到了滑雪場, 我們準備要搭纜車上山. 上纜車之前我們應該把滑雪器具插在纜車外圍的架子上, 畢竟帶進纜車裡並不是太安全. 當我們忙著在堆積那些器具時, 我發現Judy已經上車了, 我還在想 "哇! Judy果然是滑雪老手, 練搭纜車過程都這麼熟悉, 看來我不需要太擔心她了嘛".
當大家都上了纜車, 安定下來時, 發現Judy抱著兩片大大的雪板..........
"Judy!!!!! 妳怎麼把傢伙帶上車了了?????"
她很無辜的看著我, 很歡樂的回我 "對呀~~~~~"
............................................

傍晚時, 大家都差不多洗完澡了, 就剩可憐的Judy. 這時才發現已經沒有熱水讓Judy洗澡了. 她卻很爽快的說 "沒關係, 我明天洗也無所謂"
這是我還想 "哇! Judy怎麼這麼乾脆呢! 真讓人佩服, 看來雖然她很糊塗, 但卻一點也不計較呢"
正當我上樓要準備睡覺的時候, 突然感到一陣冷冷的風潮我這裡吹來...
"搞什麼啊! 剛才誰泡戶外Hot tub沒把陽台的門關好???"
我正要去關門的時候, 看到Judy一個人在寒冷的黑暗中坐在hot tub上泡腳...
以為發生了什麼事情, 我懷疑Judy突然搞自閉, 於是我上前問, "Judy.......妳一個人在陽台上做什麼?"
"我在洗腳"
"妳在什麼??!?!"
"沒辦法淋浴, 至少得讓我洗腳吧!"
隔天當剛泡完hot tub的Anna聽到前晚發生的事情時差點沒昏過去... "妳在我們泡身體的hot tub裡面洗腳????"
還好我自己沒泡

第三天早上, 我和Judy準備搭乘10:30的公車提早返回溫哥華, 和Judy獨自兩人上路更讓我感受到沉重的壓力, 因為我深怕自己無法帶Judy順利回家
為了保證旅途順暢, 我早就列印了三分她的車票, 以免她搞丟她自己的
7:30我們就起來開始打包, 準備.
8點時, 我和她走去器具中心退還她租的雪板, 但有點問題... 因為不管那位員工怎麼找都找不到Judy的資料, 就算號召了全部的工作人員怎麼找都找不到, 我們這團其他人的資料都在, 就只有Judy的失蹤了, 員工都非常擔心, 畢竟他們得維護客人的隱私...
雖然又出問題了, 但我一點都不怪Judy, 因為這是工作人員的疏失, 而非Judy, 何況工作人員直接讓我們退還器具, 我們也準時回家了.
最後我們回民宿後還有時間吃早餐. 我悠哉的喝這咖啡, 蹺著腳, 跟Anna炫燿說我如何把Judy的事情安排的多順利多完善, 目前一點問題都沒有, 並且很確切的說我們一定能搭上10:30的公車..
我還開玩笑的說 "哈哈, Judy最好不要又給我來個突擊讓我們搭不上公車, 還得搭1:30的"
Anna大笑說 "哈哈哈哈哈如果真的是這樣的話那Judy真的是太強大了, 不過不可能了啦!"
"哈哈就是說啊, 要是真發生這種事, 我恐怕會瘋掉"

笑完後Anna突然問我 "對了, 雪板中心把租金退還給Judy了吧?"
正準備要和Judy離開的時候, 我臉上的笑容瞬間消失, "妳.. 妳說什麼租金?"
"如果在9點之前把雪板退他們也會退還租金"
.................................. 哦神哪, 告訴我這不是真的......... (我沒租, 所以我也不知道)
這時我們兩個馬上撲向Judy, 好如天崩地裂, 大家都緊張得要命, 一直幫Judy想辦法, 因為如果雪板中心沒有Judy的資料, 租金就無法退還哪.
這時我突然想到, "Judy! 妳有沒有什麼帳單或收據之類的文件, 拿出來給他們證明!!!"
她眼睛一亮, 說她有保留某張單子, 並且跑上樓去取來給我們看...
結果一看到那單子發現..... 那根本就是雪板中心之前一直找不到的資料........................................................................................................
至今, 我還是無法想通為何那份資料會在Judy的手上, 畢竟那是雪板中心唯一擁有的客戶資料, 沒有它, 就算客戶把雪板帶回家都不會被發現.... 因此員工都會嚴格的確認每位客人都有填寫資料並且交予雪板中心... Judy也並非什麼多高明的人, 她到底是怎麼在搞不清楚事情的情況下把那張紙模走的呢????

原本預定10:30離開, 很遺憾的, 無法施行.
11:00 - Judy 帶著單子去領回租金, 我和Anna攤在沙發上, 無法出聲, 動彈不得, 我們真的被Judy徹徹底底的打敗了.

currently titleless

2009-12-26T00:29:00.000-08:00

So just a while ago I was wrapping some Christmas presents. YEAHHH it's so late I know, but I have been too busy especially after my final exams, that's right, even more occupied than my exam period.

I dunno why, but a few days ago I was really determined to find my boss and his wife a Christmas gift. It's not that I want to earn favour or anything, but I don't know why though, but I really think it's the least I can do to thank them.

Though this is my first job, I never imainged there are actually employers like this. For one thing, I thought meals were quite rare, but since my first day there, they provided me with dinner and lunch for every shift I do. Not only so, my lady boss would even bring cakes and fuits out from the fridge to share with me. Whenever they make a trip, they wouldn't forget to bring a small present for me. When my lady boss came back from Hong Kong, she got me this cute little purse. A few weeks ago the couple came back from an Europe trip, they even bought me a very nice gift from France. I was really touched, I'm not their daughter nor their friend, but they're always so considerate.

I can never forget the time when school started, last term actually. I was literally going mad because of all the schedule conflicts and course problems, there were suddenly lots of dilemmas (I'm the type of person who can be easily troubled by small things when it's that time of the month). Anyway, due to school, I had already greatly reduced my hours to two hours every shift, which is just amazingly ridiculous I know. But I don't think that solves the problem. However much I want to continue to work with these wonderful people, I thought the only way was to quit my job, as I could not handle the schedule.

After a few days of serious consideration, finally on my first two hour shift, I told my lady boss about my problem. Before I even talked about quitting, right away she said "then just do however much you think you can handle". I replied that I thought this isn't possible as she would need someone to help her close the shop everyday. "It's okay, I can close the shop myself," she replied casually. I guess she noticed my concern because she kept on assuring me that school is more important and that the shop wouldn't be too busy anyway. I really thought I was going to weep, I didn't know how to express my gratitude. Right after, she told me that she prepared some soup and macroni for me inside and that I should have dinner before I start working. I never expected to get dinner on just a two hour shift, but I insisted that I'll finish some work first. They were just very normal dishes, but that evening's dinner was one of the best meals I ever had.

走, 讓你走

2009-12-24T01:34:00.000-08:00

最近迷上許茹芸早期的歌.
我覺得有時候音樂就像美酒, 在歲月中醞釀的越久就越有味道
每首歌都是一個Memory Pocket, 載滿太多太多回憶和象徵, 時間越久, 懷念越深
許茹芸最活耀的時候, 也是台灣在我印象中最"繁華"的年代
90年中的那幾年, 許茹芸出道為歌手, 她那芸式唱腔吸引了不少歌迷, 包括我那時讀國中的老哥
那時候或許經濟真的很景氣, 我們剛好換了新車, 搬了新家, 我哥買了很多張許茹芸的CD, 每天都會在車上不停的重複播放.. 讓你走, 淚海, 日光機場, 獨角戲, 看透, 等等都是我耳熟能詳的曲子
雖然住汐止, 但我們活動的地方還都是在台北市, 市政府和東區那個地帶
我那時候上小學, 每天從安親班下課之後爹就會來接我, 然後我們一家就會去奶奶家吃飯, 看電視, 聊天, 大伯和姑姑他們兩家也都會在. 好熱鬧, 好歡樂.
星期五和星期六我們就會待比較晚, 大約9點多時, 大人們在打麻將, 看電視, (星期天大家都會看超級星期天) 我們小孩就會去台北醫學院附近的夜市去買泡沫紅茶, 那時候只有一個攤販會賣泡沫紅茶, 而且唯一的口味就是珍珠奶茶
回家的路上會經過7-11, 麵包店, 超級市場, 有時候還會去買個蘿蔔糕.. 雖然天晚了, 但大家都很有活力, 人來人往的, 很多交談, 摩托車馬達的聲音, 便利超商的 "叮咚" 都是我很懷念的
要回家的時候大家都筋疲力盡了, 但卻很滿足. 我們一家五口就坐上白色轎車, 發動後不是姊姊的Celine Dion CD就是哥哥的許茹芸的 "日光機場" 專輯.
聽著她的歌曲, 我一邊看著窗外, 有些店家還開著, 他們的日光燈就是不熄, 豆漿店的老闆出來把鐵門拉上了, 有時候還會經過世貿館, 凱悅飯店旁總會有很高級的黑色轎車停在前面, 紐約紐約差點就蓋好了, 對面還沒有101大樓, 市政府前的馬路超大的, 廣告招牌到處都是, 眼花撩亂哪~
環繞在台北市無數個高高的辦公大樓之間, 在車內我們一家人緊緊著坐在對方旁邊, 我覺得好安心
回家的路上會經過三個隧道, 如果進隧道之前台北有下雨的時候, 爸爸就會叫我們猜隧道的另一頭還有沒有在下雨, 有兩次機會 (因為第一個隧道太短了).
有時候也會走不同的路回家, 那條比較熱鬧, 有更多未關門的店家, 還會看到許多學生從補習班下課要回家 (而且那個時候還有髮禁). 我每次就會把車頂的天窗打開, 學總統們上半身伸出去然後到處觀賞這充滿活力的城市 (可惜我太害羞了, 不敢揮手).
上了高速公路就會乖乖的坐下, 然後繼續聽許茹芸的專輯一路到家, 就算下了車, 沒了音樂, 上了電梯, 她的複歌依然會在我腦中不停的重複, 不停的伸Key...
雖然許茹芸之後又出了一些專輯, 但還是早起的最讓我感動
畢竟那些歌曲陪伴了我在台灣的童年, 裝滿了我對繁華台北市的記憶, 我們一家還沒被分開的那段時間, 六歲的我很樂觀, 看那時人感覺他們都好年輕, 好安心, 對未來抱著希望
沒過幾年, 就來了溫哥華, 一切都變了, 看不到台北了, 就這樣, 一切成了記憶, 一同裝進許茹芸的CD盒了

許茹芸 - 讓你走 ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcr1AxsV3ds )

Photobook????

2009-12-17T02:42:00.000-08:00

小幸家目前在更新, 我先把消息貼在這裡
話說, 昨天看到這則新聞

日本知名影歌雙棲的女星柴崎幸，明年1月26日在日本將推出出道12年來的第一本寫真集「0805」。柴崎幸的首本寫真集，是在今年7月於歐洲的瑞典和芬蘭進行攝影，裡頭將會有穿著比基尼的性感寫真，是過去從來沒有過的。28歲的柴崎幸，首本寫真集名為「0805」，採用自己的生日為標題，據了解，寫真集裡面將出現從未公開的素顏照，以及在瑞典和芬蘭花費10個工作天所拍攝的照片。掌鏡的攝影師為中村和孝，而柴崎幸在寫真集內換穿了高達20款的衣服，包括挑戰了性感的比基尼裝。高達144頁的寫真集，攝影師認為充分表現了瑞典和芬蘭的氛圍。

哇哇哇不會吧, 真的有人等到出道12年才拍寫真集!! 令人期待

其實已經有很多人反應過, 小幸是少數未拍過清涼圖的日本女藝人, 看到了這 "比基尼" 難免會讓人又期待又怕受傷害, 昨天我已經見識到某moomin心情複雜時的那一刻
當然如果小幸淪陷於大部分日本女星的風格, 我也會挺失望的
其實我比較擔心的是, (雖然我是粉絲, 可是該說的還是得說) 柴崎幸這傢伙其實沒什麼料, 而且她是個水桶腰 = = 若是她真的拍了比基尼...well...
1. 我信心會大增
2. 她會摧毀我對性感比基尼的印象

其實想想就知道, 她為什麼這麼喜歡穿連身裙? 為什麼喜歡穿大大寬鬆的上衣, 為什麼喜歡加很多長背心? 為什麼胸口是常被photoshop, 為什麼很少會照到臀部? 因為她身材的關係嘛~~~~

看了就知道, 她的比基尼真的得量身訂做 = =

我很難相信以往保守的小幸會真的走清涼風, 除非是星塵真的發了瘋想賺錢
可是今天看了這個就大概知道她的極限了... 我第一次看到有人居然能把比基尼這樣拍....
那根本只是半個比基尼.. 下面的去哪裡了?? 果然很小幸 = =
雖然上面是穿了, 可是被前面那塊布擋住了, 史上最怪的搭配
這就是所謂的性感比基尼嗎? 星塵又要騙錢啦!!

告訴我這不是真的, Jo!

2009-12-15T02:30:00.000-08:00

11月18日, 柴崎幸的新專輯 Love Paranoia 在日本發行, 我11月14日就在網路上訂購了

真難得! 平常我很少會去訂購她的碟, 除非是這種付著DVD和Photobook的專輯我才會去買, 其餘的都是用下載的 (哪門子粉絲), 我只是個窮學生. 這次環球不知道是發了什麼瘋, 居然加了最便宜的運費還要美金四十多元, 可是我還是狠狠的刷了下去.

於是從那個時候就開始期待, 帳單上說一到四個星期內會送到. 過了一個星期, 我開始每天都去信箱查看, 就算沒有出去, 我還是照樣換衣服到公寓大廳去看!! 結果到今天一直都還沒出現!!!! 其他粉絲都紛紛收到了, 台壓版也發行了!! 就我還沒有!

這是我突然想到, 可能填地址的時候出錯了, 於是在去看一次帳單.. 哦.. 真是可怕的一慕 = =

我寫成了我舊家的地址, 這就代表....

柴崎幸的Love Paranoia被送去了由一對英國牧師夫婦居住的房子, 我的舊家, 而且是位於Surrey的Fraser Heights

哦! 告訴我這不是真的, Jo!

Nooooooooooooooooooooo 我的柴崎~~~~~~~~~~

現在只有一首專輯裡面的歌能形容我的哀傷...

泣いていい (我哭了) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4bQuOri2OY

嗚.... 哭哭.....

OH! Discount!

2009-12-08T13:38:00.000-08:00

前一天三點多才睡, 結果早上去店裡打工真累, 特別是老闆叫我抱著梯子爬上爬下, 搬著箱子跑來跑去, 更可怕的是因為店的門一直是開著的, 冷風吹進時真的是會起雞皮疙瘩, 呼~~~

話說 (笑),
我在幫老闆娘從牆壁上拿東西的時候, 因為有點高度, 英文比較不好的老闆娘擔心的問我 "it's a bit high...... are you LONG enough?" 聽到這句時我差點大笑出來, 害我差點沒從椅子上摔下去, 因為這讓我聯想到蚯蚓站在蹬子上嘗試著從牆上拿東西, 我的老闆娘真是太可愛了! 中午的時候她還讓我待在店裡, 然後出去抱著兩陀熱騰騰的hotdog回來給我們當午餐, 還說 "這家熱夠很有名哦!!"

後來某個客人走進來, 拿著一大帶的Esprit, 我剛好想到那天經過Esprit的時候前面放著大大的, "40%off折扣!!!!"
所以下班後馬上過馬路去看, 果然沒錯, 大家都在女裝那裡搶成一團, 價錢真的都被降了好多
於是我拿了好多去試穿, 最後雖然很喜歡其中三件, 可是看了價錢之後兩件加起來也已經要$70~80, 為了我的存錢計畫著想, 只拿了兩件去付錢.
店員刷好了跟我說, "that would be $43.50"
"hm?? pardon me?" 我不會聽錯吧, 明明自己算了要80多
"$43.50"
"ONLY???" 我的小眼睛睜的大大的整個人趴到櫃檯上把頭彎過去電腦銀幕確認
結果那個店員笑著說因為有一件衣服標錯價錢了, 她還很聰明的告訴我 "你還有沒有想買的? 動作要快哦! 折扣明天就沒了"
結果我半信半疑的馬上去把第三件找來一併刷下去了
最後, 一件外套, 毛衣, 襯衫, 只花了不到$65, 我真是太新運了吧哈哈哈哈哈

I miss Mitsuko

2009-12-04T00:47:00.000-08:00

Just a while ago, I was organising my computer files when I realised that my BR folder went missing. Odd, becuase that would be the last thing I would delete,.. but it had just disappeared from the whole Kou folder. I don't get it, of all the folders, why that one? So I thought maybe I could go google some more, not that I have some fetish over bloody photos or something, but it's an important part of my memory.

And indeed, after I went through all those photos, I am reminded of the time when I was so attached to the movie and everything about it. The first time when I saw it, it was during early summer. I was fifteen, I was young (not that I'm not now) I was proud, optimistic, and I dreamed about only the good things about life.

I had went through an exhausting day at school, I ran five kilometres in P.E. After I walked home, I made some noodles and thought I should watch a movie; I picked out BR, which was a pretty bad choice for that day. After the movie I was even more exhausted, I mean, for one thing, who couldn't have been tired after seeing 40 students competing to take on each other. Yet the strange thing is, I felt like I was deprived of all strength and energy, as if my hope and expectation for life and humanity were disrupted. I didn't know how to think of it, it was just a strange feeling. I wasn't grossed out or anything, I just didn't know how to respond. It looks surreal yet realistic at the same time.

Probably becuase those kids were the same age as me, since then I have imagined multiple times what I would do if I were in the game. I'm pretty sure this is what anyone would have thought about, would I be a Nanahara? Or could I have become a Mitsuko? Do I really have the guts to be a Mitsuko....? Well I certainly hope not (Actually, I wanna be a Kawada! or Mimura!). The movie taught me a good lesson that continues to resonate in my experience and life even until this day. I actually recorded some of my favourite quotes that I use to remind myself when I'm bored hahahah, but I just loveeeee them so much! (Although I find quotes such as "life's a game" or "nobody will come and save you, that's just life" way too common...)

I just decided to take instead of being taken

I'm sorry, I forgot they were once my friends.

What's wrong with killing, everyone has their reasons.

Not my scene, I'll never die like that.

God, did I just hear this idiot right?

Come at me, every inch of me will resist you.

There's a way out of this game, kill yourselves together, here, now. If you can't do that, then don't trust anyone, just run

And finally, my personal favourite - Die, ugly!

Actually it's kind of sick of me to think of such things, but then again, we all have that twisted side, no?

Anyway, it's going to take me a while before I can recover my BR photo folder. Meantime, I'm just going to comment on two photos, Kou actually had a fatter face 10 years ago lol, she looks like she just had two of her wisdom teeth pulled out here.

(Battle Royale, 2000)

And this is off topic, but I find this photo entertaining:

(SMAPXSMAP, 2006)

Okay here's a normal one

(Kumikyoku, 2009)

OMG it's 4:30AM okay Imma sleep first.

很放縱的一天

2009-12-01T16:21:00.000-08:00

其實還沒考完, 只是既然前四天這麼用功, 至少要好好獎賞自己吧?

天哪, 這是我夢寐以求的schedule....自從開學就沒這麼亂來過了

Dec. 10th

1:00 AM - 電影
5:30 AM - 鑽被窩 & 看漫畫
6:00 AM - 睡覺
1:00 PM - 起床
1:30 PM - 吃中餐 (義大利麵) & 看日劇 (魔王)
2:00 PM - 音樂 (Jpop & Debussy)
4:00 PM - 做菜
5:00 PM - 鋼琴 (Debussy & Schubert)
7:30 PM - JapaDog & 溜冰 @ Robson Square
9:00 PM - 咖啡 & 甜點 & 八卦 @ Hornby
10:30 PM - 洗澡 & 八卦 & 打掃
11:30 PM - 電影 & 聖誕賀卡

Dec. 11th

3:04 AM - 更多義大利麵 & 國家寶藏

啊 - 話說, 今天接到詐騙集團的電話, 而且是同一家公司 (請看: http://lessacsdesparisiennes.blogspot.com/2009/06/blog-post_21.html )

他們真的是不騙到我不肯罷修吧, 我應該要感到驕傲, 他們把我這個"客戶"看得這麼重要

詐騙集團: 請問是楊小姐嗎?
Sherry: 嗯 = = 你們是位於澳門的恆星集團吧?
詐騙集團: 啊! 楊小姐你居然知道啦? 哈哈哈哈哈哈
*廢話你們前幾個月天天打來騷擾我我怎麼可能會忘記你*
詐騙集團: 請問你有去參加這次我們在溫哥華舉辦的活動嗎?
Sherry: 沒有
詐騙集團: 啊?? 為什麼我們不是邀請你到中央公園去參加活動嗎?
*中央公園........你當這裡是紐約嗎?*
詐騙集團: 但無論如何, 恭喜你! 你贏得了12萬元的獎金!
Sherry: 哦我上次也贏了同樣的獎項耶, 我真幸運, 每次都贏
詐騙集團: ...... 呵呵是啊楊小姐你太幸運了! 和我們公司真有緣!
Sherry: 現在你們是不是要我的身分證號還有銀行帳戶?
詐騙集團: 沒錯! 這樣你才能領獎項!
Sherry: 我. 不. 要.
詐騙集團: 你真的要放棄這12萬元的獎項???
Sherry: 對, 除非你們直接把獎項送到溫哥華來, 不然我不要了
詐騙集團: 不行啦! 我們要送的獎項太多了
Sherry: 那就算了
詐騙集團: ................... 嘟..嘟..嘟..

哈哈哈真的被我氣走了真讓人痛快!

Adventure at the Dentist Part II

2009-11-26T15:30:00.000-08:00

Today, I went back to my weird dentist clinic to get some cavities and an extraction of my wisdom tooth. It was her husband this time. I was actually a bit hesitant when they asked me to pull it out. I have a French in-class tomorrow, but she assured me that it'll only ache for a few hours.

Okay, few hours is fine with me. At least I got my paper pretty much done.

I guess this guy is a much more normal than his wife, and the extraction wasn't that bad, I was listening to my mp3 the whole time. In the end he had to sew it up, guess it was a big hole in there.

When I got out, she came out to tell me "Okay, so this thing will hurt for about four days"

"FOUR DAYS??"

She prescribed me some painkillers and two other pills. Dah-ddy then asked her to write out some notes for my medical insurance in Taiwan, so I also told her to write me a "doctor's note" for my professor. I mean, of course I have to use this opportunity to get as much as I can, I'm not suffering the pain for nothing! So I got a "please excuse Sherry from class today due to dental surgury!" WOOT

I walked next door to buy my dose. When I came out I remembered that I forgot to tell them that I want to keep my tooth. So I went back in there, and I told the nurse:

"um......... Can I keep my tooth?"

We stared at each other

"Oh...... it has been thrown away already" She looked apologetic

"OH......Okay..... in that case, nevermind then.." I was really disappointed and went out.

Anyway, I was hurting like crazy when I got back. I couldn't even sit still, and I kept on punching my fist against my legs. GOD. Finally I swallowed some food so I could take my painkiller.

I'm suppose to go back to get another one extracted next week, and another cavity as well haha.

Adventure at the dentist Part I

2009-11-24T20:18:00.000-08:00

So a few days ago, I started to have this tooth ache at the back of my jaw, I guess my wisdom teeth is coming on. It's kind of bad actually, as I can't chew properly I finally went to the dentist today. I haven't been to one for a while actually, becuase I perceived my teeth to be very healthy still. And I don't know WHY my dad just HAD to take me to weird dentists everytime.

In Taiwan, he took me to this dental clinic, which I think is the dentist's part-time home or something, cos he was treating me while wearing slippers. Anyway, I remember he tried to extract this baby teeth for me and I don't know if he's too weak or whatever but he just couldn't get it off. In the end he was pulling against it like crazy while I was hurting like crazy.

Well this time, my dah-dy took me to this dental clinic on Broadway, and seriously, very strange.
I was laying there, and she was checking my jaw, and she suddenly asked me "how do you eat noodles"?

"How do I eat noodles???"
"yeah, how?"
"I...... just bite the noodles?"
"Oh, I think you might have some trouble eating"

Oh no lady, I can have trouble doing everything but never for eating.

Then she told me that I have caries and I'll have to get cavities. Oh my God, I suddenly remembered when my boss told me that she thinks I have caries. And I thought she was out of her mind. Anyway, she then told me I'll have to have my wisdom tooth extracted. I was like "oh okay, when?"

"now"
"NOW? NO WAY" I literally screamed in there
"NO WAY NO WAY, I have a huge paper due soon I'm not gonna have blood dripping on my keyboard as I write about suburban women"

Then we settled to just do a dental cleaning. And I was cool with that.

BUT IT WASN'T COOL AT ALL. I don't know why but I just felt like she was drilling my teeth and my gums. And I could taste my blood. GOSH It hurt so bad that I had tears slowly sliding down my cheeks. Normally this shouldn't take over twenty minutes. And she was doing it for nearly twice that amount, THE PAIN. I suspected that she was also doing something else but I didn't know.

Afterwards she asked whether I use floss. I told her I don't. And she went and came back with a model jaw with teeth in it, a tooth brush, and a string. And she said, okay, I will now teach you the correct way bursh and floss your teeth.

What's this, presentation on dental care?? I'm a 19 years old college student and you think I don't know how to brush or floss my teeth?!

Fine. I admit maybe I do need to change the way I do my jaw stuff.

Then she handed me the model jaw and floss ribbon and said, "okay, you stay here and practice for a while, I'll be back later"

So I was sitting there alone, quietly flossing fake teeth, with nurses passing by every now and then, I felt so much like a fool.

When she came back, she started "drilling" my teeth again, OH THE PAIN. When we were finally done, she told me that I have a slight periodontitititis or however you spell that and she told me "I just gave you a peiodontititiitis treatment"

"YOU GAVE ME A WHAT TREATMENT?? WITHOUT TELLING ME???"