7.26.2013

8

Ever since I came back from Iceland, I drink.
Wait, not like "a lot", you know, it's just that I won't be drunk or feeling dizzy after merely a glass of beer. Although I nearly passed out in a beautiful bar in Reykjavik after finishing the third glass of beer that night, I started to enjoy the refreshing taste of this golden-color drink. Big thanks to Damian and Gabor for saving me when I almost fell down unconsciously in the English Bar, we should meet sometime again in...I don't know, Taiwan? XD

Anyway, this summer has been a little bit boring so far. I often think about the wonderful three weeks I spent in Seltun and Reykjavik or the adventure in Nepal, or the trip two years ago with my family to the east coast of the US. More often, you will see me spending time reading articles on backpackers.com.tw . It's not that I don't like Taiwan. Actually, after those experiences I've had in different places in the world, I'm starting to love this flourishing small island more and more as time goes on. The streets, the people, the food, the cities and mountains...there is so much to offer in this country! 

It's just that...I feel like something is missing in my life recently. I wake up. I go to work. I eat. I go home. Although this is just an internship which lasts only one month, how would I know if my jobs in the future will be more interesting? Or this is it? This is the ultimate look of my life?

This scares me so much. Shouldn't I be seeing opportunities and potential when I think of the future? I am only twenty and they say twenties should be the most influential decade in one's life. But when I look at those who are currently in their twenties, I don't see the shimmering lights in their eyes. I see people starting to work in the government or companies just like our parents. This frightens me. So this is my life for the next 30 years? I know I might be exaggerating my worries a little bit, but this feeling is real, and the reality is gradually taking control of my life.

So when I feel like running away to some remote places for some time, it is not the place I live that I want to distance myself from. It is the frustration of reality that I want to get rid of. When traveling, I can finally take full control of myself. I walk with my own feet. I decide what I want to do and where I want to go every day. New things happen everywhere. Meeting people in hostels is even more intriguing. It is one of the several places where you get to see the shimmering lights in everyone's eyes. The optimistic atmosphere is why I always enjoy my time chatting with travelers worldwide.

But it is not what's happening at the moment. I am sitting in the office and people are working on land surveying issues from 8 to 17 daily. All I can do now is check flight tickets on Skyscanner and read through reviews on Lonely Planet and imagine what my next adventure would be like.




7.19.2013

7

前幾天,因為一位記者想要訪問一些關於探索課程的感想及回顧,我回到了光武。
印象中我一直是三不五時會在校園中閒晃的小孩,沒想到走進校門的剎那,卻是好久不見的似曾相識。綜合大樓前的小圓桌,實驗室樓下的幾輛單車,有些東西,有些記憶,真的開始像是上了一層微微模糊的漆。記憶中的事物仍在它原先的位置,漆上的色彩卻似一種不情願的陌生。陌生或許是互相的,但不情願是我自己的,而我也不再是那個常常在校園中閒晃的小孩了。


訪問的內容雖然已經是五年前的那場冒險,曾經數次分享的經驗讓我仍還算流暢的完成了訪問。訪問的時間其實比預期的短上不少,但我也清楚知道,再詳細的記錄仍比不上親身體會的深刻。而真正讓我難忘的,是與主任的談話。

記憶中,上一次「成群結隊」走進總務處找「熊」的場景已是多年前。坐在只有我一人的沙發上,與主任討論著大學的生活和未來的規劃,話題同時也圍繞在310的同學之間。他交了女朋友,她要去哪裡交換,他要登向哪座高山......依然看得見每位同學的個性在一件件事蹟中的熟悉感讓人不禁會心一笑,同時又在心中驚嘆自FB1之後,每個人的轉變與成長。有些人正準備大步走向世界,有些人則剛從世界走回台灣。無論駐足何處,又將走向何方,想像著背後一個個精彩的故事,那是一種很大的鼓舞,一個無形的力量,能推著你繼續向前。

離開前,在綜合大樓的轉角遇見幾位學弟妹在製做FB3.5的旗幟,主任向他們介紹:「這是你們FB1的學長...」
腦中靈光一閃,我順著接口:「白雪公主」
大家都笑了。
誰知道,我還曾經一度非常討厭這綽號呢!