Goodbye...2006

2006 only remains one day, and we are going to welcome 2007.

At the final day, I review what I have done in the past one year. the only things come up with my mind are "so hectic job" and "so ambiguous affection". These two things make me tired physically and mentally. I wonder why I make my life so complicated. I don't need to become an rich person, but I just want to have a simple and happy life.

How can I enjoy my position as a research to instill a strong sense of enthusiasm and still make money at the same time? I think there are a lot of learning need to be prepared to reach this goal. Many people in Taipei just work for making money, and they sacrifice their private time and health. I don't want to become that kind of person. I need a balance life bewteen my work achievement and personal life value.

It is not quiet easy especially in a so competitive career environment. For example, on Friday afternoon the bosses always ask the employeers to hand over some tasks on Monday. It means you have to work on the weekend. If the boss doesn't satisfied with the result, you have to do it again. It means you waste a whole weekend to do the wrong thing. It is woeful, however, it happens quiet often in Taiwan's enterprise culture.

Anyway, say goodbye to 2006, and welcome 2007 with new expecting.
Wish 2007 is a great new start in every aspect.

Merry Chirstmas

Christmas night, holy night.
Christmas night, lonely night.

Christmas night, thanksgiving night.
Christmas night, recollective night.

The same holiday, the different feeling.

好想休息呢...

經過來來回回好幾次的審校稿過程，我看到自己的被激發出的潛能，也看到自己的極限，以我現在的程度，我覺得我盡力，老大也終於願意閉眼讓我的期末稿通過了。但是看到另一個同事在他的要求下仍在努力掙扎中，我不禁質疑，是我真的做的還算令人滿意，還是他對我的通融呢? 當然我希望是前者，否則，我將犯下過錯而不自知，反而讓我喪失進步的機會。

這份工作讓我今年下半年變得好忙好累哦...為我總是這麼勞碌命呢...
案子總是一個接著一個做不完，我始終無法先跑在前面，悠閒地散步...
人生怎會過得這麼辛苦呢

A valuable picture

One day my ant found this valuable picture that has been collected for a long time.

When I was very young, I took this pictures with my sisters, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in law.

Can you tell who I am?

Hahaha...

I was the shortest one and holing a cane.

My web album

I put my pictures in the following links.
Here are pictures that I went to Eastern Europe and Russia last month.
http://community.webshots.com/user/elena_cheng

Wait for free weekend

This work drives me crazy in the past few months. I don't have free weekend for a long long time. Overwork becomes common thing everyday. My family asked me why I always get such a tough job like my previous one. I don't know, either.

When I try my best to do one thing right, I always get more things in feedback. It is reasonable that the bosses always assign the important thing to the person he/she can trust. Thinking on this side, I should be happy. However, I am a little happy, not too much.

I always hope next month will be fine in every month, however, it never happened. Does it mean I should do something wrong or slow sometimes?

Last month I went to Eastern Europe and Russia for my project. After I came back, several things needed me to solve. At the same time, one of my colleagues has problems in dealing with her projects. I was asigned to assit her to accomplish her work, therefore I couldn't help but delay my own project. I feel a little frustrated because I have worked so hard but I still can't finish my project on time.

Maybe I push myself too much.

請給我智慧吧!!!

五天的假期就在睡覺、看電視與血拼中渡過。唉! 美好的日子總是容易過。
我帶回來一堆的雜誌與資料，結果也只看了一點點；要寫的作業與報告也僅完成緊急件。看來我還是非常欠訓練，因為智慧不夠，還是沒有辦法在短時間構思好我的工作，以至許多事一拖再拖。

我真的很不想當一個這麼沒有效率的人耶，但又不想太折磨自己，也明白謀定而後動的重要性，但就是學不來，真是討厭耶，何時才能長智慧啊。

Go shopping

A leisure afternoon for shopping on Taipei street.

My brain has shut down.

I sit in front of the computer, but I don't know what I should type.

Just like a painter doesn't know what he should draw with a pen.

Only let time passes second by second, minute and minute...

8 rules on leadership

Yoshio Ishizaka who a is senior adviser in Toyota motor corporation. He mentioned 8 key rules on leadership.

1. Have an open mind and a love of travel
2. A good leader is a student for life (life learning)
3. Good leaders invest in their mind and body
4. Good leaders know how to have fun
5. Good leaders pack a positive attitude
6. Good leaders communicate as much by hearing as they do by talking
7. A good leader respects others at all levels
( People don't know how much you know until they know how much you care)
8. True leaders believe in building the entire team

I think these rules are not only for being a leader but also for a common person to have a prosperity life. I found I still lack many parts of them and that is why I am still struggling around my massy life.

Pleasant lunch time

Last Friday is my colleague's birthday. We had a lunch together. The first one from the left side is today's principal. It was a pleasant lunch time because the manager was not here and we could talk freely.

I had a dream

Last night, I dreamed my friends that I didn't meet and contact with for a while. It was so clear as if it was ture. I miss them.

Depose the President

I saw a press today about Hungary's demonstrate against their president's behavior of telling a lie. In order to win the election in this April, the hungarian president told a lie to veil the bad domestic economics. However, the president admitted lying to the civilian when he conversed with some official staff and the conversation were recorded in a tape. The tape was published on TV and triggered a blooding riot. More than 150 were injured yesterday but the president still rejects to resign the position.

Turn back to see Taiwan president's problems nowadays. His behavir is much more severe than Hungarian's. Not only he is a lier but also has corruption scandal. However, he also persists keeping the position until the last day of his tenure. How shameless he is. Nevertheless, some people still support him and attack the opponents. The situation seems getting worse and worse.

There is another news today about Tailand's premier's position was seized by the army commander in a quick, bloodless coup when Tailand's premier was in USA.

I believe Taiwan will not face the same situation as Tailand because our army is controlled by the President, however, in the long time, it will hurt social stability, economic development and country image. Even though depose the president is important, to think about how to rebuild the social order is more important.

By the way, reply my previous journal. I didn't pass the test. I am happy for the result because I got an opportunity for a business travel to East Europe and the date is overlap with the date of the seminal. However, Hungary is one of the three countries that I will go. Wish the riot in Hungary calm down quickly.

Wish I have a good preformance this afternoon

I have a rehearsal this afternoon for the Oct. 26 seminal. The general manager will judge if I can be the presenter of the seminal or not. It is also a kind of test for new staff for further promotion. If I pass this test, it will be my first chance to present in front of public at such a formal seminal. How honor it is! And the most interesting thing is my topic will be "The analysis of auto parts in China market".

Wait for my further information after my rehearsal.

Have a nice one-day trip

I met Olive, Nydia, and her husband yesterday. On Saturday early morning, Olive and I took a train to Nydia's city. Nydia's couple waited for us at the train station. The weather is so nice and we took many pictures. You may see in the following link.

http://www.wretch.cc/album/album.php?id=elena0710&book=2

In the morning, we went to 北埔, which is a small city and full of antique things such as old temples and old houses. We saw many tour groups and their tour guide was introducing the building history to them.

At noon, Nydia's couple brought us to a beautiful place to enjoy lunch. The place name is called "Lavender Gardern" which is on a top of mountain. The place is full of many kinds of flowers just like its name. The place was decorated well so that we felt enjoyable with our lunch.

In the afternoon, we drove to another old and small city which is called 內灣. It is a very popular place to visit, not only for it's food but also it has many antique history to memory. There are so many delicious food. If I were not full then, I would had eaten some of them. However, we were all full because of lunch and couldn't eat anymore. Saturday was so hot so there was a big rain in the late afternoon. The rain forced us to finish the journey.

I heard a surprising news from Olive today.

Trend College has shut down a few days ago.

I can't believe it. My school which gave me so many nice memories disappeared. No ELS and domestic students anymore. The students have to find another school and the teachers lost their job. The reason is they have less and less students because students don't like their new teaching system. How come.... My school....

We joked with Nydia that the place you used to stay always shut down like your previous company.
Nydia and her husband were at the same company before. After they quit the job, no longer their company shut down. Now trend college got the same destiny. Nydia's influence is too strong.

하하하

不好的制約習慣

過了忙碌的兩個月生活後，這個週末竟有難得清閒的感覺。

通常在星期五下班回家前，都會想一想該帶什麼文件回家在週末時趕工，結果整理不出大包的東西時，一時之間竟想那我週末要幹嘛? 真是一個週末就要工作的可怕制約習慣。人生似乎不應該如此，我太専注於工作了，我該好好想一下我的生活到底應該如何過，在沒有愛情、家庭的約束下，我要活得更充實、更精彩。

The value of Time

To realize the value of ONE YEAR
想知道「一整年」的價值
ask the student who has failed a class
就去問被當過的學生

To realize the value of ONE MONTH
想知道「一個月」的價值
ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby
就去問曾經早產的母親

To realize the value of ONE WEEK
想知道「一個禮拜」的價值
ask the editor of a weekly newpaper
就去問週報的編輯

To realize the value of ONE HOUR
想知道「一個小時」的價值
ask the lovers who are waiting to meet
就去問等待見面的情侶

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE
想知道「一分鐘」的價值
ask the person who missed the train
就去問剛錯過火車的人

To realize the value of ONE SECOND
想知道「一秒鐘」的價值
ask the person who just avoided an car accident
就去問剛閃過一場車禍的人

To realise the value of ONE MILLISECOND
想知道「百分之一秒」的價值
ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics
就去問奧運的銀牌得主

Treasure every moment that you have!
珍惜你所擁有的每一刻時間
yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery
昨日已成歷史，而明日仍是個謎

Today is a gift
今天是珍貴的禮物
That is why it's called the present
那是它為何被稱做「當下」的原因

The value of Time
Spend time to work, it is paid off by success
Spend time to think, it is the source of power
Spend time to study, it is the fundation of knowledge
Spend time to love, it is the privilege of people
Spend time to laugh, it is the music of soul
Spend time to travel, it is the tip for keeing young
Spend time to make friends, it is the way of blessing and happiness
Spend time to dream, it helps you to touch the stars in the sky

Did you donate NT$ 100 for forcing President A-bian to resign

The most popular Taiwan drama is showing in Taiwan for 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. You can see on the newspaper, on TV, on the streets, and between everyone' daily talking.
The main actor is Taiwan President A-bian and his families. The drama is lasting for several months, and the stories become more and more complicated and huge. When he was as a Taipei major, he got good reputation. That is why people vote him as a President. How could he changed and becomes an untrusty politician after he got power.

My mind is the same as the people who donate NT$100. Taiwan's economy is much influenced by the unstable political scandals. I feel shame for his behaviors. As a President, he should resign vlountarily for Taiwan's future development.

Crazy month

All the projects come together. My life is remaining working, eating, and less sleeping...

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, I want to sleep.

The hardest Chinese word

It is a name of a noodle store in China. However, I don't know this word even I can read Chinese.
The history of this word is from Chin dynasty in B.C. 221(秦朝，西元前221年).
One day the king went out with his staff member. They saw a farmer was eating noodle with enjoyable. Then the king sent his staff to ask the farmer what the noodle was. Actually it was just a common food and it had no special name. However, people knew the king was a cruel person, and he would get trouble if he couldn't answer the king's question.

"The noodle's name is 'Biang'" the farmer said casually.
"How did you write 'Biang'?" the king asked his staff.

Although the staff knew the farmer fabricated the name, he was also afraid of king would get angry if he didn't know how to write. Therefore the staff trumped up this strange and abnormal word.

Now the owner of this noodle store use this word as his brand name and attarcted many curious customers to taste his noodle.

秦王合併七國建立秦王朝後一日出遊，路遇一老農在田間吃麵
看上去非常享受。
於是派李斯上前詢問那是什麼麵，老農厭惡秦王的殘暴統治，
於是隨口應到"Biang Biang 面"，李斯回報秦王，
秦王問李斯 Biang字怎麼寫？
為怕答不出秦王發怒，李斯臨時機智造出此超級變態的字。

A transparent butterfly

Taiwan is a butterfly country which has many kinds of butterflies. It is my first time to see a transparent one. See! It's an amazing world.

Creative dog's clothes

Would you like to buy one for your pet?

Big seafood meal

I am getting busy

In the first month, every new staff has to pass a series of trials. The trials are called project A to E. Now I have passed project A and B and I still have to challenge project C to E.

However, recently my boss assigned me a new important and urgent project. It is to analysis the car components market in China. This new project has occupied all my time because I started doing this project from zero. I am so new in this position.

I try to figure out the car market from the second-hand data, and asked my friend who is working in the relative field. Although I have to spend all my time, the information what I still need to know is enormous.

I can't understand why my boss is such brave to assign a new staff this project.

My colleague's wedding ceremony

Shane's new hair style

Shane is the son of my Canadian homestay. My homestay mother sent his pictures to me. How special hair style is! Shane is getting more and more handsome...

Welcome new staff

There are 10 people in my team and includs three new statff, like me. Last week, our team leader bought us a gorgeous lunch and afternoon tea. We had a wonderful afternoon. We talked a lot and I felt to get more involved into this new company. I didn't do an work that day because when we finished and returned the office, the time was almost five o'clock. It meant I have to overwork again.

My company is an IT industrial consultant firm and my team are focus on Asia market.

We have a coworker who is from India and he is a student in Taiwan. You can see him in my pictures. Now is his summer vacation and he works here as an student temp to help our analyst to collect information about India. We learned a lot of India culture from him.

We have an girl who can speak Japanese very well so she will be responsible for Japan market. We also have another co-worker who was born and grew up in Korea so Korea market is his responsibility.

How about me? Originally my boss said he needs someone to be in charge of China market and he was considering about me. But he found I have excellent English ability so he assigned south-east Asia market to me. When I heard this, I laughed in my heart.




More pictures
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98162535@N00/

The first tough week

To be a professional industrial analyst needs a lot of training in several aspects. I am taking a series of training lessons that the company gives me. Nowadays, work has filled with all my time and the life has plenty of challenge. Even though I feel stressed, I know it always starts somehow if I want to get improved. Just keep thinking positively when I face any obstacles.

Long holiday is going to be end

From Apr. 20 2005, I quit my previous job, gave up attractive saraly and started my long holidy until now. This period of time is one year and two months. The duration of holiday is too long and out of my expection originally. If I had known about having a long holiday, I would have stayed in Canada two more months so that I didn't need to come back reality so early.

However, no matter how sweet the dream is, one day you still have to wake up and move on. I have got a job acceptance today and it means my holiday is going to be end. Before today, my life is very leisure and just like retirement life. In the morning, I waked up until any time I want. I did everything I want. From next week, the situation will be totally changed. I will return back to an office lady. Frankly, I miss busy life a little bit, especially after taking a long rest.

Don't worry I will get lazy to update this blog if I am busy. Because giving readers something new is writer's responsibility.

無奈

最近腦細胞應該死了不少，為了準備資策會的協同研究員，用四、五天的時間，寫了一篇韓國IT市場報告，今天下午就要提報我的報告，這次不知又要等多久。這年頭找工作怎麼這麼難啊...

老天爺，請賜給我一份工作吧...

Poor swallow baby

There is a swallow nest on the outside roof of my house. The swallow mother has four little babies. Everyday, swallow mother are busy on feeding the babies. Everytime, when swallow mother flies back with a worm, the babies try to open their mouses as big as they can as if they get hungry for a long time. However, swallow mother only can feed one baby in each fly. That is why swallow mother constantly flies back and forth in the whole day.

Today, one of the babies falls down on the ground. He looks tiny and pity. Poor little baby will die if he doesn't get mother's care. He should go back mother's affectionate embrace. Therefore, my father stops his truck beneath the nest so that he can reach the nest and sends the swallow bady back to his home.

Finally, he returns back to his family and starts to scramble food with his sisters and brothers. I hope he will never be put out from the group again.

I hate raining day

It is continually raining for several days in Taipei. It makes me become lazy to go out. Because I hate to wet my pants and take a crowded bus with a water-dropping umbrella. When will the rain stop and give me a sunny day?

How to make Chinese traditional food for Dragon Boat festival

Three of the most important festivals in Taiwan are Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival. Dragon Boat festival is May 5th of lunar calendar. This Wednesday is May 5th so we make traditional food to celebrate this special day. The food's names is "粽子" which is made of rice and a lot of material what you want inside, for example pork, mushroom, dry small shrimp and so on...

Today I am going to introduce how to make 粽子. I show the process step by step and I wish you can get a basic concept from these pictures.

We use these leaves to wrap food. Before using them, washing them completely.

Reshape leaves like this so that we can put material in.
Put some rice in the bottom.
Put delicious material in the middle.
Our materials are pork, dry shrimp, chestnut, some vegetable and mushroom.
Put more rice on the top.

Use the leaves to make a cover.

Wrapping completely, and don't make any leak.

Make the shape like a triangle. (I am trying to make a triangle, but I know, I need more practice.) Tie it with a string.

It is done. Did you see, we got four bunch of 粽子

Ready to eat.