Day 140: Boston (New Year's Eve)

It's New Year's Eve, so we went to Boston Common to see ice sculptures and New Year's Eve event with kids' god parents and their family.
今天是12/31，所以我們跟孩子們的乾爹乾媽一家人到波士頓公園去看冰雕還有各種12/31的活動。

The parade started at 6. I didn't have time to switch mode at first, so some pictures are blurry. There were horses on the road.
遊行6點開始，一開始沒時間調成運動模式，所以有些照片很模糊。遊行有馬。










And bands.
還有樂隊。












All kinds of groups performing.
各種不同的表演團體。

They look like Royal guards.

看起來像皇家侍衛。

Carriage.

馬車。

This group belongs to New England Patriots.

這組表演團體是新英格蘭愛國者隊。

Taiwanese group!!!

台灣代表也參與遊行。

They even wore aboriginal costumes.

他們甚至穿原住民傳統服飾。

Some residents who drove cool or cute cars participated the parade as well.

一些開著很酷或很可愛車的民眾也參加遊行。

Taiwanese group made the holiday seem like Chinese New Year.

台灣團讓氣氛變得好像過年。

With Mandarin greetings.

還有中文祝賀詞。

Dragon & Lion dance. I have to say that even in Taiwan, we don't really see this even during Chinese New Year.

舞龍舞獅。必須說，即使在台灣，連過年都不見得看到了。

There were people riding on swans.

有人騎天鵝出場。

Walking on stilts.

踩高蹺。

The Prudential Center showed 16 on top of it.

保城中心在樓頂顯示了16。

After the parade ended, we kept walking until we arrived the ice sculpture.

遊行結束之後，一直走到冰雕。

Everyone wanted to be in the picture. It's so hard to get one without people inside.

每個人都想在照片裡，拍到沒人的真的很難。

jetBlue sculpture. They probably sponsored the event.

捷藍航空冰雕，大概是贊助商。

Don't know what it is, but there's Godzilla on it.

不知道這是什麼，但是上面寫了哥吉拉。

The whole event was called First Night Boston 2016 - First Day Boston. This was the main stage, and there were bands playing.

整個活動叫做2016波士頓第一夜第一日。這是主舞台，有樂團表演。

There's a clock within this sculpture, and there's a real countdown clock as well. We went there after 6, so it says 5 hrs more to 2016.

這座冰雕有一個時鐘，而且也有一個真正的倒數鐘。我們過六點到的，所以還有5個多小時才2016。

The firework started at 7. I think this is better for those with little kids or who can't stay outside until midnight to enjoy the celebration.

煙火七點開始。我覺得這對帶小孩的人還有不能在外面待到半夜的人來說很不錯，也能感受到慶祝的氛圍。

I only kept the good ones.

只留下比較好看的照片。

After the firework, we walked to Chinatown and wanted to have hot pot. You had to wait for three hours to get seats..., so we gave up, and decided to drive to somewhere away from Boston Common.

看完煙火，我們走去中國城想吃火鍋。要等三個小時才有位子...所以我們放棄，決定開車到離波士頓公園比較遠的地方吃。

It's already 10 after we finished our dinner. Although I didn't go countdown, this was definitely an unforgettable New Year's Eve.

吃飽飯已經十點了。雖然我沒有去倒數，但這絕對是難忘的12/31。

Day 17: “The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true.”  ― James Branch Cabell, The Silver Stallion

Day 139: Boston (Hide and Seek)

Amy took Terran to the eye doctor in the morning, but Kairan and Kiara and I stayed at home whole day today.
舅媽早上帶Terran去看眼科，但Kairan、Kiara與我整天都待在家。

Kairan's friend Tahn and his brother came to have a play day in the afternoon, and I stayed at my room watching Marry Me, Or Not?. Because they were playing hide and seek, they came into the room a couple times. Five kids today, so they could play hide and seek. This reminded me my childhood. Only when going back to my grandparents from my dad's side's house, I could play hide and seek because we had enough kids, six. Good old days~
下午Kairan的朋友Tahn與他哥哥來家裡玩樂日，我待在房間看【必娶女人】。因為他們在玩捉迷藏，他們進來房間幾次。今天有五個孩子，所以可以玩捉迷藏。讓我想到我小時候。只有回奶奶家的時候才能玩捉迷藏因為有夠多小孩：六個。美好的往日阿~~

Day 16: “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”  ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

Day 138: Boston (Snow Day)

This is how the backyard looks like today. First snow day in Boston this year.
這是今天後院看起來的樣子，Boston今年的第一個有雪日。

We went grocery shopping in the morning, and Amy bought a small shovel fro kids to help (play) together.
早上去購物，舅媽買了小鏟子讓孩子們可以一起幫忙(玩)。

Because it rained today during the day, we went out to the front yard to shovel the snow before dinner in case it turns too hard.
因為今天白天下雨，晚餐前我們到前院去剷雪以免雪變得太硬。

This wasn't my first time shoveling the snow because Amy was trying hard to clean the drive way. Of course I would like to help, but I don't really know how to shovel, even if it's fun, it's possible that I don't help at all. I built snowman with Kiara on the side.
這並沒有成為我第一次剷雪的經驗因為舅媽很認真地要把車到清理乾淨。當然我想幫忙，但是我不確定我知道怎麼鏟，即使這很好玩，很可能我完全幫不上忙。我與Kiara在旁邊堆雪人。

Day 15: “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”  ― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

Day 137: New Hampshire (Ski Class)

I had my second ski class today. My instructor was an university student named Zac. I would say he teaches well, too, but he's not good at leading beginners. If I was taught by him the very first class, I'll probably freak to death and never ski ever.
今天上了第二堂滑雪課，我的教練是一個叫Zac的大學生。我會說他也很會教，但他不是很會帶領新手，如果我第一堂課給他教，大概會嚇瘋然後再也不滑雪。

Because Po-Shun told him that apparently I'm afraid of speed, he did teach me how to control speed better by making small wedges and small turns. However, I fell the first time we went uphill on the lift.
因為舅舅跟他說顯然我怕速度，他的確教我怎麼利用小小的楔形與小轉彎來把速度控制得更好。然而，我今天第一次搭滑雪電纜車上山的時候摔下來...

I do think it's necessary for someone who wants to learn how to ski to know how to get off the lift, but since Bill and Susie gave me a hand getting off, I didn't expect it to be so hard to stand up and slide down myself. Zac didn't help at all.
我也是覺得想學滑雪的人學習從滑雪電纜車下來是必要的，但因為Bill與Susie都會拉我一把，我沒意識到站起來然後自己滑下去這件事有這麼難。Zac完全沒幫我。

This was totally different from other falls. Of course the operator would stop the lift, and he did, but I could die because of not getting off. Totally freaked out!!!
這跟其他的跌倒完全不同。當然操作員會把電纜車停下，他也的確有，但我還是可能因為沒有成功下電纜車座椅而死耶，嚇死我!!!

The second time, I even asked embarrassingly if he could give me a hand, and he said no right away because he fell doing that once...
第二次，我甚至尷尬地問他能不能拉我一把，他直接說不要因為他之前這樣做跌倒一次過...

Anyway, he taught me how to control speed better but made me feel more afraid of skiing.
不管怎樣，他教了我怎麼把速度控制得更好但也讓我更怕滑雪了。

Day 14:  “There is some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.”  ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

Day 136: New Hampshire (Children's Museum)

It's rainy today. Po-Shun said the snow gets harder, it hurts if we fall skiing, so we went to Children's Museum.
今天下雨，舅舅說雪變硬，滑雪跌倒會很痛，所以就去兒童博物館。

This is how the lake outside of our hotel looks like in day time.
這就是飯店外的湖白天看起來的樣子。

Tahn's brother and dad are going to ski, so he came with us.
Tahn的哥哥與爸爸要去滑雪，所以他跟我們一起去。

Instead of a museum, it's more like an indoor amusement park with some basic science concept. Kids had a lot of fun there, and not if we have three adults, we wouldn't be able to keep track on four of them.
與其說是博物館，比較像是有簡單科學概念的室內遊樂園。孩子們玩得不亦樂乎，如果不是我們有三個大人，根本沒辦法掌握他們四個。

We had dinner at a Chinese restaurant, and kids watched Harry Potter after we got back to the hotel. Everyone's so tired, and we're going to catch the morning ski class, so we went to bed earlier.
晚餐吃中國餐館，回到飯店後孩子們看了哈利波特。每個人都很累，而且明天要趕早上的滑雪課，所以我們早早就睡了。

Day 13: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”  ― Winston S. Churchill

Day 135: New Hampshire (First Ski Experience)

We came to Gunstock Mountain Resort in Tilton, New Hampshire with Kairan's friend, Tahn's family to have a three-day ski trip, and it's my first time skiing. Lucky enough, there's a three-day beginner package with only 100 dollars. More amazing was that there's only me in this class, so two instructors taught me together.
我們與Kairan的朋友Tahn一家一起到位於Tilton新罕布夏的Gunstock滑雪場度過為期三天的滑雪旅行，這是我第一次滑雪。很幸運地，剛好有一個三天的新手套裝行程只要一百美金。更棒的是，只有我一個人在這個班上，所以兩位教練一起教我。







Bill and Susie are very experienced. We didn't use ski at all at the beginning. Bill asked what sports do I play, and after I said basketball, he used basketball movements to let me be familiar with snow. Now, the skis show up, but still, no poles. I know how to roller-skate, so it's not so hard for me to learn the basic techniques moving with skis. After some tries on the carpet level, I already know how to switch my weigh on two legs to make turns.
Bill與Susie非常有經驗，我們一開始完全沒用滑雪板。Bill問我玩什麼運動，我說籃球之後，他開始用籃球的身體動作來讓我對雪更熟悉。這才是滑雪板登場的時候，但，依然沒有滑雪杖。因為我會溜直排輪，所以對我來說學習怎麼用滑雪板移動並不太難。在緩坡上試了幾次之後，我已經知道怎麼改變兩腳的重量來轉彎了。

My instructors thought it's really good that I haven't fallen, so they decided to take me to green trail. Wait, what!!!??? Up there, are you kidding? I just skied for about 15 minutes... Well, they believed I could do it, so we took the lift and went uphill.
我的教練們覺得我到現在都還沒跌倒很不錯，所以他們決定帶我上綠色(初級)雪道。等一下，什麼!!!??? 上去，有沒有搞錯？我才滑雪15分鐘... 恩，他們相信我可以，所以我們就搭了滑雪電纜車上山去。

The class was two hours long, and we went five or six times in total. I'm pretty sure that I fell less than 10 times, and most of them were because I lost control of the speed, panicked, I decided to SIT myself. Only one time was me crossing the skis which caused a fall.
兩個小時的課程，我們總共上去五、六次。我非常確定我跌不到10次，而且大部分都是因為我無法控制速度，很緊張，所以我就自己決定「坐下」。只有一次我不小心讓滑雪板交叉，才跌倒了。

It's fun trying to follow Bill or Susie's track, but I'm super timid and I'm super afraid of speed, so I stopped a lot of GOOD turns according to them. Susie said whenever my mind comes in, I screwed up, otherwise, I did very well, but overall, as a first time skier, I'm pretty good.
試著跟Bill或Susie滑過的軌跡很好玩，但我超膽小又超怕速度，所以我中斷了許多他們所謂「很棒」的轉彎。Susie說每次只要我的理智干涉，我就搞砸，不然的話，我做得很好，但總的來說，以一個第一次滑雪的人來講，我已經很棒了。

I thought that was just encouraging words because both of them are so friendly and apparently are good instructors, but Po-Shun saw our last run and Bill talked to him for a while, and he thinks I already learned a lot through this lesson. I'm glad that I give it a try, but skiing is still scary for me.
我以為這些只是鼓勵的話因為他們兩個都超友善而且顯然是很棒的教練，但是舅舅有看到我們最後一趟，而且Bill有跟他講一下話，舅舅覺得我這堂課已經學到很多了。我很高興我嘗試了，但滑雪對我來說還是很恐怖。

We stayed at Lake Opechee Inn and Spa. Apparently according to the name of the hotel, there's a lake in front of it, and it should be pretty at day. Our room is the biggest hotel room I've ever seen with one king bed and tween queen beds, and there's a real fire place in the room.
我們住在Opechee湖Spa旅館。顧名思義旅館前面有一座湖，白天應該很美。我們的房間是我看過最大的飯店房間了，有一張King size、兩張Queen size的床，房間裡還有一個真的璧爐。

We went to Fratello's Italian Grille to have dinner which Tahn's parents, who own a restaurant, recommended. I had Italian Sausage Sandwiches, and I believe we did order too much: three adults, three kids with six entrees. @@ They are goooood.
我們晚餐去Tahn開餐廳的爸爸媽媽推薦的義大利餐廳。我點了義大利香腸堡，而且我們決定點太多：三個大人、三個小孩，點了六份主餐@@ 他們超好吃。

Standing outside, Po-Shun asked me whether I smelled something or not. It's the smell of winter in Northern East because people burn wood to stay warm.
站在外面，舅舅問我有沒有聞到什麼。那是東北地區冬天的味道因為人們燒木頭取暖。

Day 12: “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.” ― Dr. Seuss

I'll smile no matter what.
不管怎麼樣我都會笑。

Day 134: Boston (Christmas)

As usual, I got up at 6:30, but instead of browsing through Facebook and taking a shower first, I sneaked downstairs to put the Avengers chocolate under the Christmas tree. Kids love it!!!
跟平常一樣，我六點半起床，但是跟平常先看FB或洗澡不同的是，我躡手躡腳地跑下樓把復仇者的巧克力放在聖誕樹下，孩子們超愛的!!!

We stayed at home all day and watched Disney Christmas Unforgettable Celebration on TV in the morning. Everyone wants to go to Disney now. What a good advertisement!
我們整天都待在家，早上看了迪士尼樂園的聖誕慶祝的電視節目，現在大家都想去迪士尼了。真棒的廣告！

I watched two NBA games on TV in the afternoon: Chicago Bulls vs. Oklahoma City Thunder & Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors. Except the game on the spot on Monday, it has been a long time since last time I saw an NBA game. It's good to gain the habit back starting on Christmas.
下午看了兩場NBA轉播：公牛VS雷霆與騎士對勇士。除了禮拜一現場的比賽之外，距離我上一次看NBA已經過了好久。在聖誕節重拾這個習慣真棒。

Kids wanted to watch a movie during dinner time. I haven't seen The Lego Movie, and I almost got the chance, but kids decided to see The Iron Giant in the last minute. It's happy dinner time anyway.
孩子們想在晚餐時間看電影。我還沒看過【樂高完電影】，而且差點就可以看了，但孩子們在最後一刻決定要看【鐵巨人】。不管怎麼樣都是歡樂的晚餐時光。

We're going to have three-day ski holiday starting tomorrow. I'm looking forward to my first ski experience, but at the same time, I don't fancy skiing, so it's a complicated feeling. We'll see whether I like it or not, but I don't think I'll do it again in the future no matter what.
明天開始我們要踏上為期三天的滑雪旅行。很期待我的第一次滑雪體驗，但同時，因為我沒有對滑雪有特別的憧憬或什麼，是一種複雜的感覺。不知道我會不會喜歡，但不管怎麼我還是不覺得我之後會再去滑雪。

Day 11: “We’re up on a roll and it’s taking a toll. But it’s too late to stop now.” - Heaven's Basement

This song is called The Price We Pay. Sometimes something we do is too late to stop, but I'm going to stop it, and it's the price I'm willing to pay. Either for my own good or protecting my friendship, I'll try my best.
這首歌叫《我們所付的代價》。有時候我們做的一些事情已經來不及使其停止，但我還是要停止，這是我所願意付的代價。不管是我了我自己好還是保護我的友誼，我會努力做到最好。

Day 133: Boston (Christmas Eve)

It's Christmas Eve, a day for family. We stayed at home all day. Amy made egg cake for us as lunch. Although there's no celebration, and no snow, it feels like home.
今天是聖誕夜，屬於家人的一天。我們整天都待在家，午餐舅媽做了蛋餅。雖然沒有特別慶祝，也沒有雪，但感覺就像在家。

I watched an episode of Marry Me, or not? in the afternoon. Can't wait to catch up to the latest one.
下午我看了一集《必娶女人》，等不及追上進度了。

We had Thai food for dinner. It's from Kairan's classmate's family restaurant. I would say it's the best Thai food I've ever had. Also, we had fruit tar and homemade bubble milk tea with big tapioca brewed with brown sugar!!! Totally the home flavor!!! I guess somehow we had a Christmas feast, a lot of dessert.
晚餐吃泰式料理，是Kairan同學家的餐廳。是我吃過最好吃的泰國菜了。另外，我們還吃了水果塔與舅媽自己做的珍珠奶茶，珍珠還是有加黑糖的喔!!! 完全是家鄉味!!! 我猜我們某種程度上也吃了聖誕大餐，超多甜點。

After dinner, we watched A Charlie Brown Christmas collection on TV. It has been a long time since last time I saw Peanuts cartoon~
晚餐過後，我們看了一系列的《查理布朗聖誕節》，好久沒看史努比了，好懷念~~

Since kids don't have classes tomorrow, they went to bed later than usual, and I can't wait to put the chocolate under Christmas tree after they go to sleep or tomorrow before they get up. Looking forward to seeing their faces find out all the gifts tomorrow morning.
因為孩子們明天不用上課，他們比平常晚上床，而我則是等不及要在他們上床後或明天起床前把巧克力放到聖誕樹下。期待看到他們明天早上看到所有禮物的表情。

Day 10: "The sun itself sees not til heaven clears." - Shakespeare

Although this talks about people in love usually can't see what things really are, I believe that it means now I can see the sun no matter what because I already clear my own heaven.
雖然這句是在說戀愛中的人往往無法清楚看見事情的真相，但我相信現在無論如何我都看的見太陽因為我已經把自己的天堂清空了。

Day 132: Boston (Fenway Park)

Although I'm more of a Celtics fan, being a Boston lover and a sports fan, how can I not come to the most beloved and oldest baseball park in the US?
雖然我基本上是賽爾蒂克的球迷，但作為一個愛波士頓的人又是體育迷，怎麼能不來全美國最受愛戴又歷史最悠久的棒球場呢？

This is the information about Fenway Park, when was it built and who helped building it.
這是芬威球場的資訊，何時興建與誰興建的。

Gate D, the ticket booth for Fenway Park tour.
入口D，球場巡禮的售票口。













This is where the last scene of the movie The Town was shoot.
這就是電影【竊盜城】最後一幕的拍攝地。

I finally saw the home of Boston Red Sox~~ It's off season time, and it's rainy today, so the diamond was covered by canvas.

我終於見到紅襪隊的主場了~~ 現在是非球季，而且今天下雨，所以球場被帆布蓋住。

It looks so significant~~

看起來超壯觀的~~

Visiting club's locker room.

客隊更衣室。

It was turned into a locker room from a storage room, but it's not that small although our guide said players complained that it's worse than their locker rooms in high school, haha.

這是由儲藏室改成更衣室的，但沒有那麼小阿。雖然我們的導覽人員說球員們抱怨這比高中的更衣室還差XD

The original ticket booth.

最古老的售票口。

Up on the green monster. The best baseball seats in the US. Because Red Sox wants more people to get the chance to sit here, they don't even sell green monster tickets to season pass holders.

在「綠色怪物」上。美國最棒的棒球座位。因為紅襪希望更多人能有機會坐在這，他們甚至不賣綠色怪物的票給買季票的人。

This is how it looks like if including the front row seats.

把前排座位也拍進去的話是這樣子。

This wall records the concerts that were held at Fenway Park.

這面牆紀錄了在芬威球場舉辦的演唱會們。

There's a Fenway small farm behind Fenway Park. @@

球場後方有芬威小農場。

The tallest part at the park.

球場至高點。

In the press box, the best seats that can not be bought. This is where Moneyball was shoot. 

媒體區，無法用錢買到的最佳位置。【魔球】的拍攝地。

The front row is for senior reporters, and the last row is for Yankees writers, haha.

第一排是給資深記者，而最後一排則是給洋基寫手們XD

Those three seats are for camera people.

那三個座位是給攝影師的。

Fenway Park is one of the only two parks that are still using manual score board. Many people think that's the best job in the world, but there's no air-conditioner, no heater, no running water and no restroom back there. Our guide said they finally got wi-fi few years ago.

芬威球場是唯二仍使用手動記分板的球場之一。很多人覺得那是世界最棒的工作，但後面沒有冷氣、沒有暖氣、沒有水也沒有廁所。導覽人員說他們前幾年終於有無線網路了。

During our tour, there's a hawk that seems apparently a Red Sox fan, flew to the park.

在我們的巡禮過程中，有一隻不知道什麼鷹，顯然是紅襪球迷，飛到球場內。

See the only red chair there? That marks the furthest homerun ever made in history which was hit by Ted Williams. 

看到那張紅色椅子嗎？那是最遠全壘打的記號，由Ted Williams擊出。

The only wooden seats in MLB parks now. There's not much leg room, so whenever someone wants to get out, whole row has to let him/her pass. Our guide said that's the reason why Red Sox fans got familiar with each other. Also, something interesting is that, you can bring the ticket of your grandfather here, and if the seats are available, you're good to sit there that day. People love doing this.

大聯盟目前唯一的木製座椅。腳沒有什麼伸展的空間，所以只要有人想出去，整排的人都要讓他過。我們的導覽人員說這是紅襪球迷之所以彼此熟識的原因。另外，有趣的是，你可以拿爺爺的票來，只要位子是空的，你就可以去坐。球迷超愛的~~

Take a closer look at the red seat.

近一點看那紅色的座位。

Retired numbers on the wall outside of the park.

球場外的牆上有退休背號。

Since Boston University is near by, I went to its College of Communication. However, the school is closed now, I didn't meet the chair of Department of Film & Media Production. I checked the requirement, it doesn't ask for GRE and portfolio, so as long as I retake TOEFL, get enough scores, and get my transcript from NCCU, I can give it a try.

因為波士頓大學就在附近，我去了他們的傳院。然而，學校現在是關閉的，所以我沒有遇到電影系的系主任。我查了一下要求，沒有要GRE與作品集，所以只要我重考托福，分數有到，申請政大的成績單，我就可以試試看了。

Day 9: "The answer must lie in each of us, in never giving up on trying to get what we want" - 《The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket》

I'll never give up on trying to get what I want.

我永遠不會放棄去試著得到我想要的。