to staying inside his room, looking at the world for the screen of his computer. But

總是宅在房間，透過電腦螢幕看世界

there it was. The day I'll finally discover Asia. I had no idea of what was going to happen

但現在，我終於跨出一步，去探索亞洲。我對未來毫無頭緒

to me, but the best was yet to come. Day 1

更不曉得美好的時光其實正等著我。第一日

Everything started July 13th. I hadn't got much sleep the day before and I was still

一切始於7月13號，前一晚我幾乎沒睡

trying to figure out what was going on around me. It was the first time I'd take the plane

不斷試著進入狀況，搞清楚一切。這是我第一次單獨搭機

alone, and it didn't look like an easy task. But eventually I found my gate and headed

這可不是件容易的事，不過幸好我還是找到登機閘口

to Shanghai... The Shanghai Pudong airport was an extraordinary

安全抵達上海…上海浦東機場簡直令人眼花繚亂

thing to look at. It was pretty modern and you couldn't drink water under 30 degrees.

非常摩登的機場，但在攝氏30度以下竟然不給喝水

But I heard the airport was imagined by French architect Paul Andreu, which kind of makes

後來聽說這座機場是由法國建築師Paul Andreu設計的

you feel more comfortable. Being in a plane is a little scary. But staying

這個資訊不由得令人感到舒服了點兒

in it for over 10 hours becomes very painful. Thank god the air company found a way to cheer

然而飛十多個小時著實是件苦差事，幸好機組人員有提供乘客一些

things up a bit. After 15 long hours of wait, 4 movies and

保持心情愉悅的技巧。經過15個小時的旅程、4部電影

4 meals, I finally landed in Taiwan. Boy I felt numb. I realized that I hadn't slept

4餐機餐，我終於降落在台灣。天哪，我麻死了。我幾乎

that much during the flight, but it didn't matter. I was really excited to meet the other

沒睡，但那不重要，我等不及要和其他人見面了

students. I then arrived at the airport, where I met

到機場後，我見到

David for the first time, a mechanical engineer student who was going to take care of us during

David，他主修機械，將在暑期班期間負責帶領我們

the summer school. I also had to convert my US dollars into Taiwanese dollars, and I was

我還得把美元換成台幣

scared I'd end up with a lot of money. But Taiwan's smallest coin is 1$, so didn't have

本來很怕身上會突然多出很多錢，但因為台幣最小額幣值是1元

too much cash to carry after all. The bus trip to the NCU went pretty well.

所以最後根本沒有這個困擾。到中央大學（NCU）的車程非常順利

I finally met some of the people I'd stay with, like Reda a French student from Reims

我終於見到其他幾個同學，像是來自法國漢斯（Reims）的的Reda

majoring in math, and two Hong Kong Guys Chi Kwan and Bryan studying math too.

另外有兩個香港人：Chi Kwan和Bryan，三人都主修數學

Right after unpacking, we all headed to a little restaurant where we'd have dinner,

都安頓好後，全部人聚集到一家小餐廳用晚餐

the right time for us to chat a little with each other and try figuring out where everybody

這時終於有時間讓大家好好聊天

came from.

認識彼此

Day 2 My first day at the NCU started smoothly.

第二日。在NCU的第二天順利展開了

After a quick breakfast just below our dorm, we headed to class. Except that our classroom

在宿舍樓下的學餐快速解決早餐後，就去上課，但教室在

was located at the other end of the campus. So we walked all the way there, discovering

校園的另一端，所以大家必須走上一段路

our new environment at the same time. The NCU had been ravaged by a typhoon a few days

途中則順便認識新環境。校園前幾天才遭颱風肆虐

ago, but hopefully there were no casualties. Later on I discovered our classroom where

幸好沒有人傷亡。終於到教室了

we were going to have 3 hours of Chinese language courses every day. This is Gun Tae, and here's

往後每天都要在這裡上3個小時的中文課。這是Gun Tae

Ki Sung. Both Korean students I'll study with in class A. Yeah, we're all beginners in Chinese.

那是Ki Sung，這兩個韓國人和我一樣在A班。沒錯，我們都是初學者

The rest of the day passed by pretty fast, and I didn't really have time to realize where

這天過得很快，我幾乎沒時間思考

I was or what I was doing. I crashed on my bed after class and took a look at what was

我人在哪裡，在做什麼。回到房間後，我癱在床上，撇了眼電視

on TV... wow. I didn't understand a thing. So I decided to go out and eat with our counselor

好吧，完全看不懂。於是我決定出門覓食

David and Hayato, a Japanese student. We tried out some beef and noodles soup, which was

我找了學生大使David和一個日本學生Hayato。我們去吃牛肉湯麵

delicious even if I had a lot of difficulties eating with chopsticks.

非常好吃，但筷子很難用就是了

My day ended after some pool games. I was surprised at how cheap it was, because the

最後，我以撞球結束這一天。這裡玩撞球竟然那麼便宜

fee was proportional to the time spent playing, instead of the amount of games played. By

因為是計時收費，而非計場數

splitting up the price I think I ended up paying 20 cents for 1h30 of play.

攤完錢後，一個半小時的撞球賽大概只花了我20分錢吧

Day 3 The following day went pretty well. After

第三日。這天也很順利

visiting the campus I joined the cultural course class, where we created our own necklaces

逛過校園後，去上了一堂文化課程，課中要彩繪項鍊

using nail polish. I started to feel more and more comfortable with my new classmates.

用指甲油上色。我和新同學相處得越來越好了

Even if 10 of us were French, there were a bunch of Koreans, and a lot of girls. This

雖然加我在內共有10名法國人，但另外也有很多韓國人和女孩子

is Matthias, a French student studying Chinese back in Lyon and staying for one whole year

這位是Matthias，在法國里昂學過中文，將在台灣待一整年

at the NCU. And this is Adrien, another French student coming from the UTBM, which is the

這是Adrien，來自法國貝爾福-蒙博里亞科技大學（UTBM）

school in which I study engineering back in France.

我也是在這間大學念工程的

By the end of the afternoon, some people got the chance to present their creation in front

下課前，部分人上台呈現作品給全班看

of the class. I met Boran for the first time. Later in the evening we went out to visit

我第一次和Boran打照面。那天晚上我們去了中壢市區

Jhongli, which is the city where the NCU is located. I met Eva, and Tim, two Taiwanese

NCU的所在城市。我結識了兩個台灣人：Eva和Tim

teacher assistant during the summer school majoring in French -- and Lynn, a counselor

他們是暑期班的助理，都主修法文。另外還有Lynn

just like David who was going to take care of us during the trip.

和David一樣同為學生大使，在這趟旅程中負責帶領我們

The temperature always rose from several degrees when we went to Jhongli downtown, because

中壢市區的溫度比校區高了幾度

of the heavy traffic and pollution. I was surprised to see that even at night, all the

主要因為交通混亂和空氣污染的關係。我驚訝地發現晚上

shops were still open, and a lot of people were in the streets.

店家都不打烊，街上也擠滿人

Day 4 It was kind of hard getting used to wake up

第四日。每天八點起床實在不簡單

every day at 8h, but I started getting the hang of it. The morning language courses with

但我越來越熟練了，早上的語言課程由

our teacher, I-Li turned out to be a blast. Even if it was a little difficult to memories

I-Li老師帶領，她實在很有趣，雖然一下子要記住

all the new words she taught us, we always had deliciously entertaining breaks.

所有新單字有點難，但每堂下課絕對會有好東西吃

I also got closer to Yuho, another Korean student who turned out to be very good in

我跟另一位韓國人Yuho越來越熟了，他的英文講得很不錯

English, and my roommate, Mathieu who was a really awesome person.

而我的室友Mathieu簡直酷斃了

Later we had a quick stop at Family Mart, about time I introduced you to the other French

我們晃到全家，是時候該為大家介紹一下其他法國學生了

students. This is Tiphaine, Patrick and Celine. All majoring in engineering in my school:

這三位分別是Tiphaine、Patrick、Celine，我們都曾在UTBM念工程

the UTBM. Even if we studied on the same campus back in France, we didn't get to know each

雖然在同一校園，但之前我們並不認識彼此

other before the trip. Mathieu was also a former UTBM student, and now works as an IT

Mathieu也畢業於UTBM，現在則是IT工程師

engineer. When the Taekwondo class started, I was a

上跆拳道課前，我有點驚恐

little scared. I hoped the teacher wasn't going to be too rough on us. But eventually,

但願老師不會太刁難大家

everything went fine. After some warm up, the teacher taught us some useful moves we

但其實根本沒那麼恐怖，稍微暖身後，老師教了些實用的

could practice if we were in danger. Tammy and Bryan helped to demonstrate and the lessons

防身技巧，Tammy和Bryan負責示範動作

ended up being very interesting thanks to David's effort to translate everything the

感謝David的翻譯，讓整堂課變得生動有趣

teacher said. After a quick break, the counselors accompanied

稍作休息後，幾位大使帶我們去

us at the Jhongli night market, a place swarming with people where we could buy a lot of clothes,

中壢夜市。在這裡可以買到衣服、

oily treats, or even play some games. The fruits there were fresh and delicious,

小吃、甚至玩遊戲。這兒的水果很新鮮美味

and had a unique flavor different from those in France. I was beginning to realize that

風味跟法國的水果有很大的不同。我漸漸發現

Taiwan was a pretty special country, with kind and obliging people that would always

台灣是個美麗又特別的國家，當地人心地善良、彬彬有禮

do their best to help you. I was also getting closer and closer to the French students I

而且非常熱心助人。我跟其他法國同學越來越熟稔了

met there, especially Mathieu. But the Koreans were also so nice and welcoming that I wanted

尤其是Mathieu。至於韓國人，他們人很好而且蠻大方的

to know more about their culture. I went to bed exhausted but with many plans ahead.

這讓我更想認識韓國文化。每天都精疲力竭，但卻仍禁不住計劃認識新事物

Day 5 Half of the week had already passed, but so

第五日。一周已過了一半

many things were still to come. It was already Thursday, and we were getting ready to discover

但許多新事物仍待發掘。今天是禮拜四，我們準備好要認識

aboriginal facts, dances and songs from the former tribes in Taiwan. Two Taiwanese girls:

台灣原住民的歌舞以及部落傳統

Célia, majoring in French and her sister -- both amongst the remaining 500 000 people

主修法文的Célia和她的姐妹，是全台僅剩的50萬原住民人口中的一份子

of aboriginal origins in Taiwan -- were going to deliver the course.

這兩位台灣女孩將帶我們認識原住民文化

And I loved it. Célia sung so well I could just close my eyes a feel part of a tribe,

我愛死這堂課了。Célia唱歌唱得很棒，讓我閉上眼似乎就能感受到原住民的精神

chanting to the gods. After the songs came the dances. And boy I

歌頌著他們的神祗。接著是跳舞時間

sucked. The men were supposed to show their strength and bravery as the girls were expected

我跳得糟透了！男孩理當要舞出他們的力量和勇氣，而女孩則要

to be soft and gentle. The whole choreography could be amazing to watch providing the whole

溫柔婉約，若是跳得好的話，整支舞會看起來

thing was done right. In the evening, I wanted to try out some of

非常棒。傍晚，我決定要來試試看

the drinks in the neighboring shops around the NCU and luckily Tim guided Adrien and

校園附近的飲料店，Tim帶著我和Adrien

I to try some of them. We all decided to go on a lemon and honey smoothie, and we didn't

並為我們介紹蜂蜜檸檬凍飲，這真是好喝極了！

regret it. After, we went back to the guesthouse, were our dorms were located and had a nice

回到NCU會館之後，也就是我們的宿舍，我們聊了好一會兒

chat before going to sleep... Day 6

才各自就寢…第六日

On Friday we made our first culture trip to Yingge, a District located south of Taipei

週五來了場文化之旅—鶯歌，這地區位在台北南端

City. It was a really awesome day. I was starting to know some of my classmates pretty well,

非常棒的一天，我跟同學混得越來越熟了

and friendships were being built. I also discovered what a Taiwanese bus actually looked like.

也開始交上幾個朋友。這是我第一次看到台灣遊覽車的樣子

People could ask to sing a karaoke song during the trip. And we were on for a nice and groovy

乘客可以在車上唱卡拉OK。我們踏上有趣的旅程

ride. We then made pottery using clay in Yingge

來到鶯歌老街，我們嘗試用陶土做手拉胚

Old Street, and it clearly wasn't as easy as it looked...

開始實作後才知道原來一點也不簡單…

We all had our own machines, where clay was already set on. The first step was to shape

每個人各有一台機器和一團陶土，首先

your creation from the exterior using your whole hand. After, by placing my thumbs above

要利用雙手將陶土塑形，接著，將大拇指放在

my pottery, I was able to "dig" inside the clay to make it hollow.

陶土頂端，這樣就能在土胚上開洞

When our job was done, we decorated our pots and left them to be heated and dried for 2

做完之後，就可以裝飾胚體外表，接著要陰乾、窯燒

weeks. And we went back to the NCU the same way we had come, with some cool karaoke songs.

過程需要兩週。往NCU的回程上，我們在車上唱了不少卡拉OK

Day 7 The week-end had finally arrived, and even

第七日。週末終於到了

if we all were very tired from our week, we thought it would be a good idea to go and

雖然大家都很疲倦，但對於這趟烏來之旅仍然滿心期待

visit Wulai, another District around Taipei that wasn't on our school schedule.

烏來也在台北，但並不在學校規劃的行程中

The trip wasn't too much of a chore thanks to Eva's help. But it was still long though...

去烏來的路途非常遙遠，但感謝Eva讓整趟旅途很順利

Hopefully, luxuriant and wild scenery was awaiting us. I was amazed at the peaceful

更值得的是，蓊鬱翠綠的山林就等著我們去探索。

view and surrounding quietness of the area compared to the city. But the trip wasn't

眼前靜謐祥和的景象簡直令我驚呆了，這裡和都市差很多。但還沒完呢

over. In order to get to the top we still had to take the cable car, after a walk in

為了到山頂，走進一個小村裡頭後，還得走段路去搭纜車

small village. Even if we barely knew each other, Eva was

雖然我們幾乎不認識彼此

always there when we needed help. She practically bought everything for us and prepared the

但Eva總是非常熱心幫助我們，她不止替我們準備了所有東西

trip the day before for nothing to go wrong. I had the feeling we would get along well

前一天還規劃行程，確保一切順利。我想我們會很合得來的

with each other. We went to the aboriginal village park and

之後，我們來到原住民園區

watched some dances. I could recognize some of the moves Célia taught us, and the choreography

欣賞了幾段舞蹈，我認出有些舞步是Célia教過的

made some of us want to join the dancers. So Mathieu, along with Eva, Tiphaine, Céline

當地的舞者還邀請我們加入舞蹈，於是Mathieu、Eva、Tiphaine、 Céline

and Patrick went to perform on stage -- and it didn't always seem that easy to follow

還有Patrick決定加入，不過節奏看起來沒那麼容易抓就是了

the tempo. Then, we visited the park and had a lot of

接著我們在園區內晃晃，到處玩玩

fun there. By the time we took the cable car back -- I was getting really tired and was

搭纜車回程時我已經累得不成人形

glad to find my bed back at the NCU, with many memories of the awesome day we just had.

最後我在滿腦子美好回憶中進入夢鄉

Day 8 Taipei City...finally. After visiting the

第八日。終於來到—台北市區

National Taiwan University's huge campus, I headed to Taipei 101. 509 meters high, it

逛過台大的超大校園後，我們來到台北101，這棟建築有509公尺高

is known for being the 4th tallest building in the world and I was wondering what the

是全世界第四高的摩天大樓，我超好奇從上面

city looked like from that high. This is Annabelle, and she is studying Chinese

看市區會是什麼樣子。這位是Annabelle，她在法國主修中文

and literature back in France. Just like Reda and Matthias, she's staying for one year at

和文學，跟Reda還有Matthias一樣，她也要在台灣待一年

in Taiwan. Oh! I think the elevator ready for us, let's hop in!

噢！電梯來了，我們進去吧！

The elevator we were in is the fastest one on the planet, and won a Guinness record.

101的電梯上全世界最快的，還破過金氏世界紀錄

With a speed of 60 km/h, we went up the 100 floors in about 30s and I could feel my ears

電梯以時速60公里的速度上升，30秒就到達100層了，我感覺耳朵塞住了

pop just as if I was on a plane. The view we had from the city was breathtaking.

就跟在飛機上一樣。從這裡看下去簡直美極了

The other buildings looked so small compared to 101, and the tiny little cars we could

跟101比起來，其他建築物好迷你，路上的車子更小了

see looked like toys with ants going in and out of them.

看起來好像螞蟻般在建築物間進進出出的

The stability of the tower is maintained thanks to a gigantic sphere weighing over 600 tons

整座建築的穩定性靠兩顆超過600噸的巨大球體維持

and located at the top end of the tower. The sphere allows the tower to be less affected

分別在建築頂端和底端，這樣一來建築就能抵抗

by natural disasters while still remaining flexible.

天然災害，同時保持彈性

After going to the outdoor highest peak of the tower, we slowly went back down to meet

去完戶外觀景台之後，我們來到樓下和朋友會面

our friends and find some place to eat. In the evening, we went to the Long Shan temple,

順便填飽肚子。傍晚我們走訪龍山寺

a really special place for the Buddhists right in the middle of Taipei. The unique atmosphere

這座佛寺是佛教徒的聖地，坐落在台北正中央，寺中氣氛獨特

there was reinforced by the incense sticks burning in the night and regrouped in the

夜晚香火鼎盛更使整間佛寺顯得與眾不同

same spot. I also noticed that people were throwing two

我注意到信徒在祈禱時會丟擲

pieces of wood shaped like a crescent moon while praying. Someone later explained to

狀似新月的木製品，後來有人告訴我

me that those pieces had a round and a flat side. The first step is to clearly think of

這東西有分凸面和平面，祈禱時，首先想清楚

a question you'd like to ask to a god. Once you've asked it, you can throw both crescent

要問神明什麼，接著，就可以擲出這兩片筊

blocks. If one falls on the round side and the other on the flat side, it is a "Yes"

若是筊成平面和凸面，代表神明的答覆是肯定的

answer. But if both blocks fall on the same side, it means "No".

若兩面相同，則代表神明不同意

When I found two spare blocks abandoned on the side, I decided to give it a try. I wanted

我在一旁發現一對筊沒人在用，於是決定試試看

to know if I would have a more than friendly relationship with a Taiwanese girl. The first

我想知道我有沒有機會和台灣女孩約會

time I threw them, the two blocks fell on the same side. Disappointed by the answer

竟然兩面相同，令我頗失望

I decided to give it another try. But they fell on the same side again. Meh, maybe it's

於是我再試了一次，竟然還是同一面。唉，或許

not always good to try figuring out your future... Day 9

替自己算命並不總是好的…第九日

The first day of our new week marked a new beginning. We had 6 hours of Chinese language

新的一周，新的開始，我們一連上了6個小時的中文課

courses so it was going to be long, but at least, it was a nice opportunity to take a

很長一段時間，也很累人，但開心的旅途後收個心也不錯