Done with Don Quijote

Haven't been posting anything for quite a few days.

Finally got over with the Don Quijote project! Writing a full five-page-essay in plain Spanish really is a challenging job for me. My reading ability is still far better then my writing ability! Anyhow I got through with it, and this quite sums up this whole semester of Spanish Literature. Still wondering whether I should continue taking this course next semester. Hmm, we'll see.

As I finished the project, the day lightened up (and I mean it literally), and the weather finally started to warm up. Been in Seattle for three days already, and the morning temperature has been around frozing 25F.

I hope the rest of this winter stays warmed up, too. Anyhow I feel like I am on the verge of giving farewells to a whole lots of things.

Arriving to a Frosting Winter

As I walked down the aisle of the getting-off-plane tunnel, the first winter breeze hit me chillingly. I believe it was around only 26F outside temperature, and I hadn't been in such a cold winter for a long, long time. Last time I paid a visit to "home, Seattle," was in winter 2007. That was one whole year ago.

I popped in the same old car of dad's, and its scent was more than familiar, except I knew that this time I was heading towards a new home, a new house I've never visited before, but that they had been residing in for half a year already. All of a sudden, this mixture of returning home yet arriving in an unknown place hit me like a fuse of nostalgic complex. Maybe I don't know who I am, or maybe I don't know where I belong.

Sometimes I feel like I travel too much, move too much, and change addresses so often that friends find it totally not surprised to learn that I could be suddenly in a very distant, exotic city. And they would easily start a warm-up conversation with, "Where are you right now?" And by where, they are asking me to name the city's name.

It is interesting how, from my travel between cities, countries, and continents, I often switch from a season to another. In Taipei it is still winter, but the weather has merely gone down for the past few days and reached a chillness only enough to start putting on light sweaters and decorating scarves. In Seattle, it has been snowing on and off, and you never know when you'll get a chance to mow the frosting lawn.

And that is how the weather was when I landed in the city. In between controversial attitudes, I was either traveling from home to tour, from tour to home, from hostel to hostel, or from winter of a kind to another kind of winter.

What it takes to become a Lawyer

Today we gave our final presentation in the class of Psychiatry, Law, and Society.

The subject given was to discuss (possible) government policies in dealing with suicide issues. I was surprised I was the only one discussing the legitimacy and justifiability of law intervention in such cases. Most groups focused on media and law (how media reports may affect people's thoughts towards suicide). Some groups gave possible explanations of suicide, which to me seemed too assumptive, lacking statistic basis or logical ratiocination. Some came up with policies that lacked feasibility. One group actually suggested we force media to stop misleading reports by having advertisers call of their commercials, and thus abolishing the importance of rating.

However, I was the only one to talk about justifiability of law intervention in suicide. I believe that before you deal with a problem, you must make sure it is a problem (and not just a phenomenon), and also make sure you are justified to interfere. I thought these were the very basic foundations to establish before proceeding to the details of regulations and practical issues. Yet it doesn't seem to be concerned. At least not in this class.

It made me wonder how often people act before they are authorized, and for worse, they take doing so for granted. Should's and could's are not two sides of a skyline, but total different ways to think. As I cross from literature to law, I realize how boundaries are to be taken care of cautiously. Some say, "Be careful what you wish! It may come true." I'd say, "Be careful what you define! It may be unnecessary."

After class, Dr. Wu praised my work. Yet something in me tumbled. At times, law seem to share essences with philosophy and literature; yet at other times, they seem to do the whole opposite. I am used to standing for absolute freedom, especially when it comes to spiritual freedom. And yet there are more faces to be considered than through simple artistic views.

Maybe writers and poets are crazy men. What socialization do you expect from them?

Ronaldo scores again!

Serie A, Milan 5-2 Napoli

Goals: Ronaldo(15')(47'), Seedorf (30'), Kakà(68'), Pato (73')

highlights of the match on youtube:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=buBKIojrkr8

Stunned to see Ronaldo score 2 in a row! How everyone missed him! After months and months of "almost returning," he is finally back on the field. He's changed a lot (what a hairstyle...) and I really wish he can be in good shape for the rest of the season.

The new Brazilian that AC Milan signed last summer - Pato - did score, too! So proud of him! I wish him a great start at Milan!

Although some simply dislike Milan (like Ali, who technically hates them), still I can't find a reason not to love them. With some of the best and my favorite Brazilian players in the team - Cafu, Kaka', Ronaldo, Emerson, and now Pato... I just simply have to be a Milan fan!

Good luck for them! Hope they return to the top of the table soon! :)

Picturing last year in Taiwan

Should have been another chilly winter day. But something up there played a joke and made it a semi-summer cozy weather today, perfect for strolling along the city.

I wandered through the campus alone, heading towards the building of Liberal Arts to drop off some documents for law school application. Every detail on the way seemed to be displaying in slow motion, exceptionally clearly on this day. It so reminded me of my first days here, starting fresh in college life, with such ignorance and innocence that anyone would easily forgive. I suddenly realized there was not much time left before I had to leave. Passing by schoolmates, walking by or riding by on their bike, the past days flashed through my mind, almost melting into the scene.

Where is everyone now?

As I made a turn at the end of Palm Avenue, I knew what I was expecting to see. And for one second, I swear that a sense of fear hit me sharply, afraid that it might not be there anymore.
So I turned right, anxiously looking for it. And there it was.

"←PENNYLANE"

Yes, it was still there. As if it secured the existence of my best memories. As if it were a mark of my once-romantic-juvenile-beauty. And then I remembered how I always wanted to name all the roads and lanes in the campus, and easily name tons of things that happened right there. And so I shaped a plan in mind.

I want to grab a camera, and take pictures of all my favorite corners. Not as a tourist, or photographer, but a memorial. Not to take them by their best look, but by their special angle, their hidden meanings, from the most private and personal point of view. What do I leave after after leaving the campus?

It's funny how it sometimes resembles the way people fear the coming of death. In this and my case, the approaching of a long, farewell departure.

[Copa del Rey] Real Madrid VS Mallorca

Probably one of the funniest games I've ever seen!
After 24 minutes of draw, Mallorca scored 1-0 with a corner, and yet their cheer did not last long...
One minute later, Real Madrid scored, too, and pushed the game to a balanced 1-1 again.
Finally Mallorca did score again during the 2nd half, winning the game.

Van Nistelrooy was off today, and Real did not play at their best. Staying up late for the game really is tiring...didn't make it to the 2nd half. :P (Well, if it were *Barca* playing I probably would have.)

Still can't go for Real. I really hope Barca gets to the top of La Liga soon!

Goodbye Big Sam

Shocked to learn that Sam Allerdyce got fired today...only 7 months and a few days after coaching Newcastle United, he is leaving already. Officials say decision was made under mutual understanding...but it's just hardly possible to believe.

Funny that Chelsea had to face Manchester United right after Mourinho was fired, and now Newcastle will face ManUtd this Saturday after Big Sam's leave. Wish Alan Smith the best!

And Goodbye Big Sam.