[2014Summer Road Trip]Trip Overview/[2014夏日公路旅行] 行程總纜

In addition to attending my wedding, I also arrange a 6-day Michigan trip for my parents.  My parents enjoy the beautiful nature, and Michigan is just the perfect place to see the sceneries that are different from Taiwan.  Below is our itinerary:

過去四個月的生活進展/Life Progress in the Past Four Months

原以為暑假會很有時間寫生活雜文，結果反而讓部落格荒蕪了四個月。馬克先生也常常在我面前瞪著電腦螢幕看著我的部落格說：怎麼都還沒更新啊？過去四個月我到底忙了些什麼？

Shake by the Head and the Heart

中文歌曲對我而言，充滿意境的歌詞比優美的旋律更能吸引我；歌詞若只是無病呻吟歌曲就好似少了靈魂似的。不過聽英文歌曲時，只要旋律好聽我就能愉快享受，歌詞一知半解就罷了。但若這首歌能進一步吸引我上網搜尋歌詞跟著哼唱，那就一定要在部落格跟大家分享。

我回來了！/I am Back!

今年最重要的是事之一，就是通過博士第二年的資格考。系裡對資格考的規定是完成一篇論文的撰寫與口頭報告，並獲得系裡所有有終身職的教授的許可。寒假過後，幾乎全部的心力都放在論文的資料分析與撰寫上。終於，在5/19順利通過我的資格考，正式成為博士候選人了！
One of the most important tasks this year, is to pass my qualify exam.  In our department the qualify exam is defined as writing a paper, presenting it in front of all the professors with tenure, and getting approval from them.  After the winter break I devoted my whole time to data analysis and paper writing.  Finally I successfully passed my qualify exam on May 19, and formally became a PhD candidate!

紙箱電影院/Cardboard Box Office

記得小時候如果有大紙箱可以玩，可是超樂的一件事呢！有時假裝那是自己的房子在屋裡燒菜喝下午茶、或是假裝那是一艘船自己是船長，乘風破浪冒險去。每次大人們把箱子丟掉都覺得很可惜。現在人在米國，常常網路購物（咦？）的結果就是容易堆積紙箱。居住公寓也沒太多收納空間，通常也就把紙箱丟了或拿去回收，倒也沒特別想要留下。

愛爾蘭韮蔥燕麥粥/Irish Leek and Oatmeal Soup

我既不愛蔥，也不愛韮菜，對於韮蔥(Leek)倒是非常感興趣。想不起來第一次使用韮蔥是做什麼菜了，但嚐起來味道還不錯，也讓我一直想試試其他使用韮蔥的料理。結果居然讓我找到這麼奇妙的組合！

2014年2月生活紀錄/Life in February 2014

二月份第一週去Zumba課報到，運動後飢腸轆轆，衝到最愛的墨西哥小店享用便宜又好吃的Taco，大滿足！
Went to a Zumba class the first day of February.  Was damn hungry after the class.  Ran to the best Mexican joint in town and enjoyed the cheap and tasty tacos.  How satisfying!

2013年回顧/2013 Review

不若2012年許多的不確定，2013年在馬克找到工作後，基本上就確定未來三五年我們的生活大概會是怎樣了。

Space Oddity (David Bowie + Kristen Wiig)

上次分享的The wolves and the ravens在電影白日夢冒險王中帶出充滿希望的結尾，Space Oddity則是劇情重要轉折的配樂，也是這部電影配樂中我最愛的歌曲之一。

2014年1月生活紀錄/Life in January 2014

要發表文章時才發現一月份的照片好少啊。
I just realized that I didn't take many pictures when I was about to post the entry.

台北之旅速記/Highlight of 2013 Taipei Trip

這次回台北，心情有點小複雜。原以為是回到熟悉的地方，但卻發現台北有些變了。距離我上次回去，現在多了兩條捷運線、紐約紐約也改名了；以前在東區或永康街小巷子鑽來鑽去那家店在那兒一清二楚，現在沒有先上網Google Maps查一下還不知道怎麼去。其實是有點感傷：我離台北似乎越來越遠了。
I felt complicated for my trip back to Taipei this time.  I thought I would go back to places that I was familiar with; however, I found Taipei has changed.  There are two more MRT lines, the department store New York New York has changed its name.  I used to be able to walk around downtown areas, pull out the map from my head and know exactly which store locates where.  Now I have to google the location first.  I felt a bit sad: it seems like Taipei is getting further away from me.

The wolves and the ravens by Rogue Valley

這首歌是從電影白日夢冒險王發現的。歌詞像詩一般，意境非常美，是很有畫面的一首歌。

東京之旅速記/Highlight of 2013 Tokyo Trip

這是我的第三次、馬克的第一次東京行。短短的兩天半，白天大部分時間都在休息，等到快中午才出門，其實走的景點不多。而且我們走一走看到有興趣的店就坐下來聊天吃點心，完全是毫無計劃的行程。
This is my third time, Mark's first time visiting Tokyo.  In our two-and-half-day stay in Tokyo, we just rested in the morning, and left the apartment for sight seeing around noon.  Hence we didn't see much.  In addition, we stopped, sat, and had some snacks whenever we saw a dessert store that we were interested in.  Overall it was a trip without any plans.

寒假的尾巴/The end of the winter break

結果情緒很低落。

2013-14日本台灣行程記錄/The itinerary of the trip to Japan and Taiwan in 2013-14

很想好好記錄這次的行程，但還沒決定要怎麼做，怕時間久了想不起來，先記在這裡。

12/27/2013
底特律→芝加哥→東京
晚餐：(馬克再三強調這是我漏掉沒加起司的)料理包義大利麵

2013年12月生活紀錄/Life in December 2013

終於回到米國，有時間更新部落格囉。

Finally back to the US.  Now I have time to update my blog.