因為一場國際研討會。。。。。

在二ＯＯ七年十二月十日那一天，意外的認識了一群研究生。看起來都不怎麼樣，但過了一年半後，沒想到我會為這些研究生掉了那麼多眼淚。那時候我們是被叫去幫忙他們所上辦的研討會，到會場時都不敢跟人家講話，因為他們看起來一個比一個兇，一個比一個酷，怕惹到人家，所以只好安靜的站旁邊。研討會的第一天就慢慢的認識了他們，早上的休息時間跟大概七八個同學聊了一下，其中有一位還很有禮貌的問我說：姐姐，你叫什麼名字？害我尷尬了一下，想說我有這麼老嗎？！？誰會想到，他真的變成我乾弟。另外一個還在那邊噹我，我不小心看了旁邊的同學，他就說我喜歡他同學所以一直看他，讓我超無言的！我心裡想說：這些學生還蠻白目的，剛認識而已就可以這樣噹人家了。其他同學大概在研討會的第二天才認識的。我在那三天跟他們相處的很愉快，認識了一些很不錯的人。我想說路上遇到，應該多多少少會跟彼此打招呼吧！沒想到。。。我會更進一步的認識他們，而且都變成好朋友。

二ＯＯ九年六月十三日是他們的畢業典禮，那天雨下的好大，他們從研究室走到大禮堂，沒有一個是乾的，但看到他們在那邊吵吵鬧鬧就覺得很好笑，幫他們調碩士服的時候就有一種怪怪的感覺，我一直想到底是什麼，從來沒有體驗到這種感覺，到幾個禮拜後，看到無辜的小白在收東西的時候，才知道這感覺叫心痛。我真的替他們開心但自己很傷心很心痛，因為這代表我們都要分開走自己的路了。我很傷心因為我們見面的機會應該不會很大，要工作的就去工作了，要當兵的就去當兵了，但我也很開心因為他們終於要畢業了，可以脫離研究生的生活了，每次想到他們畢業典禮那天的笑容，我自然都會對自己笑。

他們讓我這一年半的生活很豐富很精彩，該笑的也笑過了，該哭的也哭過了，該氣的也氣過了，我在他們研究室有很多美好的回憶，就算不是每個回憶是快樂的但至少是美好的。無論如何，在我心目中他們是一群勤勞、會拼命、友善、尊敬師長、貼心、有禮貌的一群好朋友。你們都畢業了，我這幾天的眼淚絕對是真心的，我一定會很想念貼心又很照顧我的乾弟瑞豐、愛打我又愛跟我吵架但也很關心我的至穎、愛戳我而唯一會跟我迷路的柏清、會用很噁心的聲音叫我「凱」但也會幫我出氣的志忠、默默關心我的阿賢、跟我一樣愛海豚的建華、白目又可愛的弼晉、幫我做漂亮的項鍊的秀如、烤很好吃魷魚的家銘、在收東西而莫名其妙被我罵的小白、吃水餃常遇到的炯麟、跟我很有緣的小朱、天真而常被志忠欺負的皓鈞、一年後才知道我不是台灣人的士凱、常被志忠搓鬍子的老大、不小心被我妹噹的阿德、實驗室在八樓的信有、還有我其中最傷心的一天陪我去看海的沁琳與千賢（雖然你們是一年級，我也先寫著，怕明年會很忙，會沒時間寫，不好意思）。

朋友們，親愛的朋友們，我祝你們學業與事業成功，一天比一天開心，天天健康，有空偶爾來看看我吧！就算以後沒有機會見面，你們永遠在我心裡的，一定會三不五時想起你們，希望你們也會永遠記得我和我們這一群外籍生。

Goodbye is not forever…somewhere along the road, our paths are gonna cross again and even if it didn’t, just look at the stars once in a while and remember that somewhere around the globe, one of us is also staring at the sky wondering if you see the bright stars twinkling above us and remembering our fun times together. Take care my friends. You will always be in my heart forever.

2008跨年的花蓮之旅

It's been a long time since I posted something on my blog... It's already 2009! Wow! Time flies when you're having fun...

After I came to Taiwan 3 1/2 years ago, I celebrated my new year's eve with different people...
Dec. 31, 2005~with Nicole羽喬+David博印+Cherry
Dec. 31, 2006~with Dan+Zen+Lee+Cherry+阿蕊+琴琴+Dan and Zen's classmates
Dec. 31, 2007~with Diana+Jerome+Nicholas+東穎
Dec. 31, 2008~with Cheru+Lool柏清+Jerome至穎

Although I enjoyed all the new year's eve celebrations I had in Taiwan, I enjoyed my 2008 new year's eve the most... what separates it from the other celebration, you ask? Well, all the other celebration were just dinner but in 2008, we went to Hualien 花蓮 (Jerome's hometown) for three days (Dec. 31~Jan. 2)... We had a great trip... It was fun... funny... and refreshing... The trip really helped not only me but also my friends recharge after a busy December to face a BUSIER January... This is what happened on our trip...

At first, I really don't have any plans for new year's eve. What do you know? Lool suddenly asked me if I have any plans for new year's eve. When I said that I have no plans, he asked me if I want to join him and visit Jerome's hometown: Hualien. I really wanted to go to Hualien for a very long time already but didn't have the chance. I asked him if I can invite my sister and Natalie, he said okay but Natalie can't join us coz she still has lots of reports to do... At first, Sam浩鈞 and Adrian志忠 were joining us but at the end they backed out coz they still have some work to do at home (such a pity)... then Lool said that his friend is joining us AND at the end he also backed out coz he was called back to work due to an emergency... so at the end it was just me, my sis, Lool and Jerome who went to Hualien.

December 31, 2008: We left Kaohsiung at around 8:45 AM on Dec. 31... Lool drove and Jerome gave the direction. It took us 14 hours to drive from Kaohsiung to Hualien. Heck, a 5~6 hour drive turned to 14 hours drive! Why? Well, we stopped at so many places... Purpose: to take pictures, visit some scenic spots we see on the way and to go to the restrooms. First, we took a detour to 小野柳 to take some pictures. We also saw sunflowers that were as big as our hands and even as big as our faces on the sides of the road. We kept on stopping and took lots of pictures of the sunflowers... There was a really big one but there was a big canal that separates it from the road and only long-legged people, in short, tall people can go across the canal. So... only Jerome got to stand beside the big sunflower. We were so jealous but after a while, we saw another big one so we stopped again to take a picture of it (Yehey!). When we saw the sign of Hualien, we were so happy but after a while we realized that it is only a sign... there is still a long way to go before we can reach the borderline of Hualien (2 to 3 hour drive to be exact, sigh). On the way, we also visited 瑞穗, ate their 饅頭 and drank their milk. For dinner, we ate at 涂媽媽肉粽 and液香扁食 (扁食is actually what we usually called as wonton). Lool was missing this wonton store for 10 years so we visited the place to make him satisfied. The wonton of that store is really good, it is not too salty but tasty and its really suitable for cold nights. Then, we checked out the new year's eve concerts of Hualien and at the end we just left the place... we were too tired to party (after a 14 hour drive, who wouldn't?) We visited the kiosk of Jerome's parents before going back to Jerome's home. His mom and dad are so hardworking and friendly. They are so accomodating and warm... They actually remind me of my own parents (which I miss terribly, by the way). They treated us with their red bean soup紅豆湯... It was VERY DELICIOUS!!! They want us to try other stuff but we were too full already... Thanks, uncle and auntie! The red bean soup was really great!!! They add taro balls 芋圓and sweet potato balls 地瓜in it which made it better! The truth is I don't really like red beans much but I really liked his parents' red bean soup! If Lool goes back to Hualien because of the 扁食, I will go back to Hualien because of Jerome's parents' red bean soup. : ) Then... we went back to his home and rest because we want to see the first sunrise of 2009! We lie down around 11:45 pm thinking that we will stay awake until 12 and at the end we slept through the countdown and and the fireworks (sigh).

January 1, 2009: Together with Jerome, Lool and Cheru (my sis), we went to see the first sunrise of 2009. Afterwards, we went back to bed and woke up around 8 something AM, took a bath, ate an early lunch and went directly to Hualien Farglory-Ocean Park花蓮遠雄海洋公園, then to National Tong Hwa University 國立東華大學, Shin Kong Hualien Ranch 新光兆豐休閒農場 and to dinner at 鯉魚潭. Jerome ordered shrimp cakes蝦餅, kangkong 炒空心菜, shirmp fried rice 蝦仁炒飯,
fried small shrimps 炸蝦, day lily soup 金針湯 and a special dish, which can only be found in Hualien, called 活跳蝦, the shrimps are actually small, alive and VERY fresh. It was mixed with soy sauce, vinegar and some chili sauce. It was alive when you put it in your mouth... At first, I was quite afraid to try it but after a little persuasion from Jerome (he said that there's no icky smell and you won't feel the rawness of the shrimp), I tried it. It's quite good but it won't be on the list of my favorite food. I actually ate 1/3 of the whole dish and Jerome ate the other 2/3. Afterwards, we went to the downtown of Hualien and checked out some stores and just walk around. I also met up with a friend whom I haven't seen for a while: Angela. We talked and catched up and before going our separate ways, we took a picture and I promised to visit her in Taipei. We also bought some midnight snack before going back to Jerome's place. His parents let us tried their 豆花 or what we called soybean pudding in English (not so sure of the English term). I feel that its quite different from the other 豆花 that I've tasted and because I had a cold, his parents were so thoughtful. They added 薑汁 juice extracted from the ginger to make my cough and cold better. What do you know? I was feeling a lot better by the time I left Hualien. Thanks again, auntie and uncle.

January 2, 2009: It is the last day of our trip. We plan to drive back before lunch and at the end we left Hualien around 11:45 AM (still before lunch). Before we left, we visited 知卡宣森林公園 to see the beautiful flowers. Afterwards, we went to buy some 手工麻糬 and packed 麻糬 at 曾記麻糬 and went back to Jerome's place to get his scooter so he can show us the way to the highway back to Kaohsiung. His mom packed some Zhongzi 肉粽 for us to eat on the way and grass jelly 仙草凍 for us to share with our friends in Kaohsiung. Both stuff are really good! It took us about 7 hours to reach Kaohsiung. We had fewer stop overs this time... Just took a picture at a plateau with a bed of flowers and two or three restroom breaks. Then, we went to 里港in 屏東for some pork knuckles and wonton soup. I haven't been to that place since April (our spring break) and misses it a lot actually. After dinner, Lool drove us back to the dorm and he went back home.

Thought on the trip: I felt more recharged after the trip and I felt closer to Jerome and Lool. It was a pity that Sam, Adrian and Natalie can't join us but the trip was still great without them (sorry guys). This trip will be on top of my list of great trips. The friends are great, the place is great, the foods are great... Everything is perfect for me! I did not regret one bit on going on this trip. I hope there will be more trips like this with Jerome, Lool and my other friends in the Electronic Engineering department.

4-Trez...

Got the chance to talk to Janice the other day...
We talked about many things...
I can see that we are all quite different now from who we were before, yet somehow, still similar... I realized that we grew so apart from each other... Looking at your pictures from your gimiks and outings, I am kind of jealous because I can't be a part of it...

I value our friendship, that's no doubt, we really had great memories together...
I hope our memories of each other won't be of those times only...
We all grow up, move on but I don't want to stop being your friend...
We may not be as close as before but I hope our friendship will still continue to grow...
I hope we will have a chance to go out on a trip... and just have fun...

nothing in particular...

Well, nothing in particular really...
It's been a long time since wrote anything in my blog so...
I just stopped by to leave a simple message...
It has been a relaxing week because our boss, other department heads and the president went to China for a business trip...
We will be busy again next week...
Enjoying this week...

Stupid-Idiot-Moron

What you take me for?!?
Stupid.....

Such a pain in the ass and a HUGE ass kisser...
stupid-idiot-moron!

You single-handedly destroyed my good mood, moron!
Someday..... someday..... you will meet your match.....
Let's see what will happen then.....

GGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Mother's day celebration...

Achi Sardis invited Diana and me to join them in the mother's day celebration in CSU... although we are not mommies yet... Seeing kids with their moms, I realized that being a mom has its ups and downs...
but today... you can see it in the faces of the parents that it's worth being a mom or a dad...
Realized something though, I miss my parents so much... Miss being able to chat with them about anything... miss being able to hug them and show them how much they are important to me...miss my mom's cooking...miss my dad's advices...I will surely give them a big hug when I get the chance to visit them in the Philippines...

Dad, Mom, I miss you and I love you!

With Jamie, Gogee, Achi Sardis and Diana, we enjoyed a morning with a performance of the kids... mini fair and fun under the sun...

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY:
*Had a relaxing and fun day with Jamie and Gogee
*Took a picture with 林鍇
*Got great food and beverages... great fruit salad...love it 讚!
*Got to be around many children again... (darn! missed being a kindergarten teacher...)
*Took many great pictures (in my opinion)

4/8-4/9：緩慢之旅

At first, I really don't want to join Gabby and 杜姊姊 on this trip because I was not feeling well (i think it was because i got a minor injury in Kenting+a running nose+scratchy throat) but a promise is a promise so at the end... i still went with them (FIY: one type of people that i hate are those who break promises so even if I'm not feeling well, I will still keep my promise and go to a trip with you). I know it's not a good thing sometimes because then your companions will worry about you and they won't enjoy the trip so I want to apologize to Gabby G and sis To if my stubbornness caused inconvenience on your part.

We went to a 民宿called 緩慢 (Adagio in Italian which means slow or leisure; it is also a word used to describe music with a slow tempo.)
A note for my family, friends and people everywhere, if the purpose of your trip is to relax... visit Adagio in 阿里山... you will get what you truly needs...

緩慢民宿 Adagio: It is located in the quiet area of Ali mountain. The place is so different from the city. When we reached the place, we unconsciously do things in slow motions. Everything is so pretty, relaxing and stress free. Since a picture paints a thousand words, I won't describe the place... I will show the exterior AND interior with pictures that I've taken... brace yourselves people... here goes...
(coming out soon)
For lunch, we ate the famous 阿良鐵支路便當+春捲冰淇淋+檸檬愛玉... full...full...full... such a heavy lunch... and stroll around 老街of奮起湖 for after-lunch exercise... I didn't enjoy much of the walk because I feel terrible. I just want to go back to our room and take a rest (beside, it's a little humid so it's sticky and uncomfortable).
After selecting a key chain for our key with its partner hanged on our door and the scent for our shampoo, bath gel and lotion (we chose the rose one), we checked in and went to our room. I immediately took a bath and after drying my hair, I went to bed. Gabby and sis To toured the place while I sleep. They persuade me to go see a doctor and I insist that I just want to rest (sometimes, my stubbornness will really kill me).
After a long persuasion on sis To's part, I agree to visit a doctor. She is a nun from Holland. She is the caretaker of an activity center which is only about a hundred steps (note... steps only) from the place we are staying... She used a key tied on a nylon to check which medicine suited me. She hold the key tied on a nylon on top of a bottle of medicine and hold it on top of my hand and if it make huge circles it means that I really need the medicine (she kept telling me你感冒很厲害). We thought it was quite 神奇 but didn't actually believed her and didn't know how to explain what just happened. To make us believe, she tried it on Gabby too and well, what do you know! she doesn't need it because she is not sick (she told Gab: 你不需要...). We left the place with so much gratitude (especially on my part)...

Sister, thank you very very much and May God bless you always!!!

Had our dinner so I can take my medicine and again, I went back to bed... Gabby and sis To went to the top floor to see the stars... They saw few ones but saw a lot of fireflies though and also met a smart kid (a very smart kid)... They plan to see the sunrise the next day and I didn't plan on going but after they got back from star watching, they asked me if I'm feeling better and if I want to join them the next day. I was feeling a LOT better so I decide to join them...and what do you know, i was the first one to wake up the next day. Got a lot of energy!!!

The sunrise was beautiful beautiful beautiful!!!
Although it was quite cold and got tired from climbing up the stairs, we enjoyed the trip...

We had our breakfast, went back to bed (HECK! I woke up around 4 AM and Gab & sis To around 4:30~4:45 AM), made postcards (thanks to goldfish金魚), bought some delicacies from 老街 again and checked out... We really don't want to leave the place...but we have to get back to the reality right? so off we went...
At first, we want to try 嘉義火雞肉飯 and buy民雄肉包...the whole plan changed when we saw puzzle 56.. The architecture and the interior is so great that we decide to have our lunch there... Ate a long lunch (actually, it is snack time already when we had our lunch)... discussed a lot of stuff, from love life to work to family to... a lot of things... We headed back home a little tired but surely recharge and happy...

Adagio! I shall return!!! Wait for me...

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TRIP:
*I got a lot of rest (I slept most of the trip)
*sis To going crazy with Gabby's driving. It made her tense because Gabby wants to take pictures while driving on the mountain road and I kept asking Gabby to see the photos that I've taken.
*Sunrise
*Adagio
*postcard making
*visit to the sister from Holland
*talk during lunch in puzzle 56