Free Welkin

The weather is so nice! I love the sun and flowers. But have to stay in my room for the boring revision. The best thing to do in this kind of weather is travel, but my lecture notes and empty wallet dont give me any chance to organize it. Poor students always need to give up pleasures, and bury our heads into the handouts on the desk.

 

I have actually made a wonder trip in Newcastle a couple of week ago. It was so nice to see friends and enjoy the scoial life. Even though it was short but I appreciate it.  I love the liver in Newcastle, as Dad mentioned before, a nice city needs a liver. London, Paris, most of the capital cities was built along a liver.  (I dont know what is wrong with Beijing, but it is mot hard to figure out why Shanghai and HongKong looks more international and modern. But I still love Beijing). Some cities were even named by its liver's. Like the full name of Newcastle called Newcastle Upon Tyne. Tyne is actually the name of the river overthere. Liver is always related with bridges. There are several bridges with various uses and particular designings on the Tyne. The most famous one called Millinium bridge, which was built in 2002. The bridge looks like a Lyre. One girder is for people and bikes getting cross the liver, another one is pointing torwards to the sky. When the boat is passing through the bridge. The top girder will left the bottom one up through the "Lyre strings". Hence the boat can pass though the bridge. Unfortunately, we were too lazy to wake up, thus we missed the amazing move of the bridge. (To be continue)

 

 

Sorry for all my friends who cant read chinese. Really should translated it ages ago. Basically I was writting about the trip which I took in the January 2007. As I promised in the summer 2006. I will visit Lodz people again. All the things happened in that summer was a treasure for me. Not only for the memories and also the friends! I really don't know if I will have the chance to meet them all again, but I will do my best to make it happens. Hence, I planned a lonely trip to Belgium and Netherland in January. Coz it will be a chance to visit two Lodz people. The night before I went to begium I was so nervous. I can’t sleep coz I was worring many crap things which would stop me to see my friends. I worried whether I miss the train, whether I got no network of my phone when I get to Belgium, I cant bring the desserts to take the train... But finally, when I was standing on the platforrm of the train station in Brussels with phone network, desserts and myself. I was so excited to see Jan, the second Lodz people I have seen after I got back to Britain.

 

For the first night, I had a nice meal which was prepared by Jan’s mum and himself. The meal was called “stoof vlees frieten”, basically pork, vegeatble with chips. The Flamish dialect call it “stoverij frieten”. His dad is a gentle and funny man. I can see where Jan’s gentle persionality from. Because the Greenwich time is one hour later than Belgian time. When the Peirs were already yawning and tired, I still excited to tell them the stories which happened in Lodz. In the next day, Jan brough me to his uni, and we met his girlfriends Laime, a very sweet Dutch girl. Jan was surprised about the English chatting last night. He never heard his family who were ever talking in English together. And now the first time he heard his girl-friend who was speaking in English. Laime’s English was actually very good, it is not only because people learn English as second language instead of French in Netherland, but also she is doing English and Spanish studying.  Because it was exam term in Belgium, Jan and his girl-friend were all very busy for their revision. I really should apologize to Jan for all the disturbance. He was so kind!

In the last a few of days, I have been to Brugge, Antwerphen and Brussels. I fell in love with the Belgian architectue and history. It is a country which packed by cities and towns. The earliest city like Brugge was booming in the 13th centuries. It was a bit pity I did not visit Wallonia province which is french speaking area. All the cities that I visited were located in Flanders. In the last night of my Belgian trip, Jan came to Gent for his exam. So, we met up again in Gent. He brought me to the pubs and tasted different Belgian beers and I have also got a souvenir—a Belgian flag, which was bought by his girlfriend.

 

In the next day, I took a dutch train from Anterphen to Amsterdam. The train tooks longer than I thought. When I arrived at Amsterdam it was already dark. The whole city was “burning” in the lights and the reflection from the canals. I was surprised about the beautiful view of Amsterdam. Now I understand that sentence: The god created the world and Dutch created the Amsterdam. It was one of the most romantic place I have ever been. I widely made my eyes open to remember what I was watching just like I was watching the eiffel tower when I was under-kneesed it. What I wanted was picturing every thing into my memory, coz the best camera that in the world won’t copy down such beautiful view. I got a 24 hours publich transport ticket and easily found my hostel which have a lively name- the flying big. I was arranged into a 6 beds room with three American boys. I guessed they probably won’t be happy to live with a stranger, specially a chinese boy with British accent. So, I started with casual talk, basically an introduction. They seem to be interested with where I have just been, coz they will rush to Brugge in the next morning and then Pairs and London. I gave my brugge travel guild to them and told them sth which I know about brugge, paris and also the price for euro-star train to London. After a short break, I changed a fresh shirt and get ready to meet up another person I planed to meet up. Nora, the hungarian girl, I met last summer. She was taking an exchange course in Delft where were not far from Amsterdam. I catched her up in the central station. She brought me to an eleven floor pub. From there I would see the whole city. After a bottle of beer, we found another nice pub where was close to the red light district. It was probably the only one which wasn’t smelled like weed. I was kind of hate the smell of the Marijuana. People around me were all americans, I could hear they were talking about when they will go back to New Yorrrrrrk or Califorrrrrnia. Nora and I had a long talk about last summer, all the memories appeared in our mind. We were even forgot the time. She almost missed the last train back to Delf. And after that I realised the tram was finished early because it was Saturday. Finally, I was saved by the 24 hours ticket. A nice bus driver told me I actually could used it to take the evening bus. When I get back to my flying pig, the three A-boys were just coming back from the bar downstairs they were trying the weed together even if they don’t smoke. Mat told me he was sick to try it as a non-smoker. I actually had many chance to try it in Britain, but I didn’t , the only reason was I am not a smoker. I tried cigarette and I could talk in the next day, so the weed probably could kill my throat. In the next morning I said goodbye to the three A-boys and went to the Van Gogh Museum. God! I am so in love with this guy's paintings, he was a amazing, except the sun flower,  many paintings were brilliant. For the Sun flower, I still believe the best sun flower which Van Gogh loved is the one with the blue background. I am not sure it is displaying in the National Art in London or somewhere in the world. Coz I have been the photo that one looks much better than the one which was paid in the yellow background in the Van Gogh museum. Even though, there were still a queue for watching it just like to watch the Monalisa in Luvire Museum. I spent over 2 hours in this museum, I had almost forgot the canal bus tour in the afternoon. I bought loads of post cards of his paitings. They are all placed on my wall of my room with Jan's flag which opposite the Polska flag, signed by over 62 Lodz people. I can watch them every day to bear in mind all the happiness I had last summer. The  Belgian-nehterlandish trip was a lonely trip, but I was not felt lonely. I was around with friends over the world.

 

  刚刚一个人去了比利时和荷兰。很庆幸在旅行两天前终于拿到了签证。 我都为自己捏了一把汗！ 这次旅行我真的是收获不少,不但走了两个国家，还在孤独的旅行中完成了我开学要交的报告。 我拜访了在实习时认识的一位很欣赏的比利时朋友和他的一家。他的家人对我很客气，由于英国的时间比比利时要晚一小时。我还是沉浸在英国的10点夜生活刚开始的兴奋状态，他全家都已经困的呵欠不停，但他们还是一直陪我到12点才会各自的房间。在他家我度过了很开心的一晚。有趣的事，我的朋友平生第一次听到他全家说英文，他觉得又奇怪又好笑，他说他好像是在梦中。

  可惜由于他有开学考试，所以他未能陪我一同游玩他的国家和荷兰，我在后来的几天比利时行程里，一直都住在他在根特大学的宿舍。同时也为昂贵的旅行剩下了一笔财富。但在我离开比利时的前个晚上，他再次回到根特并带我转遍了学校附近的大小酒吧。享受了有名的比利时啤酒和巧克力！第二天中午我搭上了从比利时开往荷兰的火车。在欧洲跨国旅行就现在国内的跨省旅行。甚至连证件都没有人检查。我到达荷兰时是下午5点多，但由于是冬季天色已黑。这个水上城市，像在燃烧一般，灯火通明。霓虹灯和办公楼里的灯光都映射到八卦图似的运河里。这里是我去过的城市中，夜里最美的，其浪漫程度与浪漫之都的巴黎有得一拼。

寒假已经开始快一周了，这一周里我好像什么也没干。为什么假期的每一天总是过得这么快？是我太堕落了还是时间在耍我。

回想了一下每天我都是怎样过的，惊奇的发现天天都是一样的。每天大概要到中午才起床，早饭和午饭被并到一块吃。吃完饭便1点多，待上3个小时天就黑了。4-8点之间我都是在休闲，上上网，看看小说，听听音乐，做晚饭，吃晚饭。8点到12点看电视或DVD，然后睡觉！接着就又是新的一天。每天可以化成两半一半在睡觉一半在活动。而这仅剩的一半有1/3是在白天，2/3是在天黑。看来减少睡眠是刻不容缓的。于是我决定开着窗帘睡觉，希望清晨的第一缕阳光可以将我唤醒。真没其他的主意，有智者帮帮我给点先见之明吧！

I was waiting for my post package since 10 am this morning. The residence staff will never put in the package into my mailbox. They usually give me a message ticket, which tells me when I can collect them from the reception. 1 to 2, 8 to 10, that is the time for collection usually. I was eating my breakfast in the kitchen and also waiting for a bang ping noise from the leaf of the mailbox. I hate to cook breakfast. Even though it only cost 10 minutes in total; I am still lazy to make it. Doctor Luo came into the kitchen and said hi to me, after him it’s Jinnan. Three lonely Chinese guys meet in the noon for the breakfast; I know it suppose to be lunch. For the Xmas holiday, however, it is breakfast. Meanwhile, the most beautiful, amazing sound was made from the mailbox. I jumped up from the chair and excited jollying out “my Visa, finally my Fuckin Visa.” Sorry for the language, but I was so excited. Remember I said, my flatmates was in the kitchen too. I suddenly shut it up, and then run to the door of corridor. There was two tickets one for Doc. Luo, one is the most beautiful and amazing ticket, even if, it didn’t what was in the package. But I know it, my Visa, my schengen Visa, the bridge links between me and my friends, Jan and Nora. I miss them, and I am coming to see them.

 

Peter has been working in the reception of Jarratt Hall for several years. He was sitting in the reception enjoying the Christmassy atmosphere, the trees, the lights, the bright colour papers…He doesn't want to remove this eyes from all those garishly adornments, suddenly, I Chinese boy appear in front of this desk, he was a bit shock. “Hey Peter! Can I have me package please!” I said and pushing a yellow ticket to his side of the desk. He is not too sure who is this boy, because all the Chinese looks the same to him. “Sure, young man!” he turned this Santa belly to point a bunch of post packages, and then lift his body up from the chair and slowly move to those packages. “I can’t find it.” he was in those packages and was randomly seeking for one with number 28 stands of my flat number. “It supposes to be a silver colour envelope of special delivery.” I was helping, and whispering “It has already watched you.” Eventually, he found it which was lying close to his left feet. “Here you are young man, Merry Christmas!”, “Thank you, you too, bye then.” I said, and then rushed out, peter still standing there, guessing the boy probably good at flying technology of Chinese Kung-Fu.

 

  Why the post is so important? Because I whole holiday was inside. I got 3000 words report to write during the Christmas. The one week Belgian and Dutch lonely trip will be my really holiday, because I don't need to think about anything about studying during that week. I was so exciting I was holding it right there. I couldn’t wait to open; I was walking and opening the envelope. When I opened my passport, there was not Visa on it. I was shock, stop walking, sad, disappointed, and I know it that every time when I was opening a package on the way, the news was always bad. “Curious is bad!” I should remember this, my friend’s proverb. Bloody hell, I waited till 2:30, the end of the lunch brake of Belgian embassy. The voice recorder was telling me what to deal next, I was so nervous, like waiting for an interview, maybe even worse than that. “Hello, Belgian embassy, Visa section.” “Hello, I am an applicant, I got all my documents back, you write a letter to me, said no cheque, I did provided a cheque with 24.50 pound…” “Hang on a second!” she said, she turn on the music. After an entire one minute. “Hi, what was your problem again?” “I wanna know if you didn’t find my cheque in the envelope or you can’t receive the money from the cheque?” “Hang on a minute!” she said then music again. “Hello!” a gentleman voice with Dutch or French accent. I repeated the whole story all over again. And then he said “I can’t accept cheque, we accept cash only” “?”in my mind, I have never heard a embassy don't accept cheque. “I am so sorry, I didn’t make it clear, can I send them to you again. I hope it is not too late.” “You are Chinese, right?” “Yah, I am.” “Should be fine, we still have time.” I knew that if I was a Muslim, it would take ages to be checked whether I was terrorism or not. “Thank you, Merry Christmas! Bye”.

 

It cost me 10 pound to post out and also the prepayment for posting it back to me. Now it will cost me two hours part time work again. Shit! What a poor oversees student, a poor Chinese citizen!

About two year ago, my friend, also a student mentor, he told me he can cut his hair himself. I believes him, because his hair wasn’t looks brilliant, especially on the back. Thus, I went to the hair dresser and paid for 17 pounds still. Till I met a German guy, who cuts his hair himself and it looks great. As a artist, I planned to try once, cuz a clipper is about the same price with one hair cut. After two times practise, I tend to become more and more skilful. At least my hair do not looks more and more uglier. But I still do not feel confident to cut other people’s hair, whereas, my French flatmate, Jean-Francois, a really brave man, who ask me to cut his hair. He had a dark curly hair. I tried to cut his hair with some style instead of just shaving it, cuz that more sounds like shaving the wool form sheep. Hence, I use all my energy and all my attention. And eventually, it came up as a flocculent ball. Fortunately, JF have a good looking face. He still looks okay even with a crap hair cut. But I promised myself that I will practise it more and it will be always on my hand; do not crap any other people’s hair, cuz they are innocent. As long as my hair grows, I don't have many opportunities to practise it. Right after I done it on my hand once more, other brave guy came into my room. He is Jinnan, another flatmate. He seemed to be more confident to deserve the hair cut than myself. After the shaving (no style again), he asked to take a photo with me. Maybe he needs an evidence to prove my guilty. A clever innocent!

 

大概两年前当时我还不确定自己的头发还可以自己剪时，常常花掉17镑钱去理发。自从遇见了一位自己会给自己剪发的德国朋友以后，我便开始自力更生。其实自己给自己剪头并不很困难，但需要时间去练习。但我从未想过给别人剪发，特别是剪欧洲人的头发。结果我的法国室友一定要做第一个吃梨子的人，我无奈的给他剪了一个剃羊毛式头型。还没来得及我多加练习，我的另一位室友，另一个敢吃梨子的人来到了我的房间，还要求在剪晚发后要我和他合影。于是有了下面的证据：