車水馬龍
下了車以後，撲鼻而來的是潮濕的河岸邊的空氣，更是讓我覺得像回到家了，健記形容說好像在基隆的空氣。住宿的旅館對面是一個大型的mall，mall的後方就是河岸了。
Ayako一直跟我說到了New Orleans絕對不能錯過美麗的Tulane University校園。學校出資讓健記早上可以搭計程車去面試，我就自作聰明的想要搭個便車一起到學校去。在計程車上，細心的健記拿出學校給他的通知信跟計程車司機說明我們要去的大樓，計程車司機恍然大悟的跟我們說我們要去的是醫學院校區，跟Tulane University的總區是不一樣的，想必就是跟台大總區與醫學院區其實離了好一段路是一樣的道理。據說其他有兩位不明究理的同學都一路被計程車載到總區去了(因為他們都只說他們要到Tulane University)，其中一位好心的計程車司機不但把這位同學再回醫學院區，而且還完全沒有收這位同學計程車費，讓我們聽了真是驚奇美國服務業之敬業的服務態度。
好在沒有弄錯地方，健記準時到達了面試的地點，可是我的麻煩就大了。健記進了大樓以後，我站在高樓林立的街頭，完全搞不清楚方向。我這個超級大路痴，被計程車司機轉了幾個彎以後我早已不知自己身在何方了，雖然來New Orleans前有認真研究過地圖並規劃了我的冒險路線，不過很顯然的這個醫學校區並不在我的計畫之內，我在地圖上研究了很久，始終沒有找到自己到底身在何方。
我記起小時候媽媽總是跟我說：路是長在嘴巴上的（意思是只要會說話舊不會迷路），所以決定求助於路人。這裡跟Charleston一樣，幾乎路上的行人各個都是黑人，有鑑於出發前聽住過New Orleans的教會弟兄姊妹講過很多New Orleans的恐怖故事(不外乎是街頭槍擊案，勒索搶劫等等)，實在是不敢貿然向前問路。索性坐在看起來非常安全的圖書館前面拿出我自備的早餐，一邊吃一邊仔細觀察有沒有看起來比較友善的人可以問路。看到第一個黃種人的時候超興奮，總算是有一點血緣，估計會友善一點吧？一問之下才知道對方是第一次到這個城市參加conference的日本人，他還指著健記剛進去的醫學院跟我說那就是Tulane University。不過總歸是跟他聊天了出了一個心得就是他知道怎麼去French Quarter的路（我原本計畫下午要去的地方），所以在他的指導之下，我決定先去造訪Frech Quarter。
我想起以前的諮商課老師總說我要練習過隨性的生活，不能什麼都想要按照自己的計畫來，我想這樣的旅行應該可以訓練我隨性一些吧！
Friday, April 11, 2008
都市叢林探險的開始
第一個到達New Orleans 的夜晚，從機場到旅館的路上，看到一路上的高樓林立，突然有一種很新鮮的感覺，仔細回想起來，自從離開台北以後，我就沒有再看過這樣高樓林立的街景了，感覺真是親切，好像回到台北。
Thursday, April 10, 2008
New Orleans的食物初體驗
New Orleans是以美食著稱的一個觀光城市，Elizabeth在我們出發以前，給我們列了好吃餐廳的清單，但是說實在我對於這裡的美食是不敢抱著太大的期待，畢竟美國食物已經讓我失望太多次了。猶記得到北海道蜜月的時候，導遊如何興奮的跟我們說北海道是日本的廚房，我們可以一飽口福，吃到從沒吃過的美食等等，我卻覺得一點也不好吃，反而是好不容易回到台灣，隔天星期天聚會教會的愛宴可比什麼日本美食好吃太多了。因此我似乎早有自知之明了，我這個人似乎就是戀家，就連食物也覺得是家鄉的最好吃。
因為Elizabeth給我們太多餐廳的建議了，我們呆的時間又短，就算一餐吃一家，也不可能吃得完，所以我們到New Orleans的第一天晚上雖然已經八點多了，還是要趕快找一家餐廳去嚐鮮。Mother's Restaurant是New Orleans道地的餐廳，不論是Elizabeth的清單上、旅遊書上都一定不會漏掉它。我們在毫不起眼的一個街角找到了它。
說它是一家餐廳其實非常的不精確，因為嚴格說起來他應該是一家「小吃店」，整個陳設與食物的櫃台都跟台灣的小吃店很像，還有很多人穿著拖鞋短褲來吃宵夜的，甚是有趣！
生意好得不得了，已經九點多的店裡面不但座無虛席，還排著隊在點餐呢！唯一不同的是這家店的價位一點也不像台灣的小吃店，因為我們簡單的點了三樣東西，就花了我們將近一千多元的台幣（在美國外食就是這樣，實在是貴得嚇人）。這家店所有的店員都是黑人，所以我想他賣的這些食物應該是他們的傳統美食。
我們依照Elizabeth的建議點了Po' boy以及Gumbo。其實Po' boy是一種用法國麵包夾的三明治，而Gumbo是一種大雜燴的濃稠的湯，裡面還會家一撮白米飯，這一撮白米飯跟我們平常吃的不一樣，是一種硬硬的白米飯，就像是其中一種菜一樣的混在這個大雜燴的湯裡面。這樣描述起來並沒有覺得很美味，但令人無法忘懷的是老闆不惜血本的放在Po' boy以及Gumbo中的蝦仁，簡直是又肥又juicy，真是超好吃的。我的腸胃是不能吃不新鮮的蝦子的，只要吃到有一點不新鮮的蝦子，別人都好端端的沒有事，我就是會腸胃炎（以前大家都說應該派我去檢測餐廳的蝦子新不新鮮）。有鑑於New Orleans是靠海地區，我就給他大快朵頤了一番，不但蝦子美味，我也很健康，表示這裡的海鮮真的很新鮮喔！
Po' boy with ham
Po' boy with Shrimp
Gumbo
聽健記說，隔天他們面試的時候，教授問來面試的同學前一天晚餐吃什麼，教授聽到其它同學去吃的都說so so，但聽到健記說去吃Mother's，就豎起大拇指說：good choice！看來我們真是找對地方了。
因為Elizabeth給我們太多餐廳的建議了，我們呆的時間又短，就算一餐吃一家，也不可能吃得完，所以我們到New Orleans的第一天晚上雖然已經八點多了，還是要趕快找一家餐廳去嚐鮮。Mother's Restaurant是New Orleans道地的餐廳，不論是Elizabeth的清單上、旅遊書上都一定不會漏掉它。我們在毫不起眼的一個街角找到了它。
說它是一家餐廳其實非常的不精確，因為嚴格說起來他應該是一家「小吃店」，整個陳設與食物的櫃台都跟台灣的小吃店很像，還有很多人穿著拖鞋短褲來吃宵夜的，甚是有趣！
生意好得不得了，已經九點多的店裡面不但座無虛席，還排著隊在點餐呢！唯一不同的是這家店的價位一點也不像台灣的小吃店，因為我們簡單的點了三樣東西，就花了我們將近一千多元的台幣（在美國外食就是這樣，實在是貴得嚇人）。這家店所有的店員都是黑人，所以我想他賣的這些食物應該是他們的傳統美食。
我們依照Elizabeth的建議點了Po' boy以及Gumbo。其實Po' boy是一種用法國麵包夾的三明治，而Gumbo是一種大雜燴的濃稠的湯，裡面還會家一撮白米飯，這一撮白米飯跟我們平常吃的不一樣，是一種硬硬的白米飯，就像是其中一種菜一樣的混在這個大雜燴的湯裡面。這樣描述起來並沒有覺得很美味，但令人無法忘懷的是老闆不惜血本的放在Po' boy以及Gumbo中的蝦仁，簡直是又肥又juicy，真是超好吃的。我的腸胃是不能吃不新鮮的蝦子的，只要吃到有一點不新鮮的蝦子，別人都好端端的沒有事，我就是會腸胃炎（以前大家都說應該派我去檢測餐廳的蝦子新不新鮮）。有鑑於New Orleans是靠海地區，我就給他大快朵頤了一番，不但蝦子美味，我也很健康，表示這裡的海鮮真的很新鮮喔！Po' boy with ham
Po' boy with Shrimp
Gumbo
聽健記說，隔天他們面試的時候，教授問來面試的同學前一天晚餐吃什麼，教授聽到其它同學去吃的都說so so，但聽到健記說去吃Mother's，就豎起大拇指說：good choice！看來我們真是找對地方了。
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Trust God
Tutor說他的女兒最近正好經歷很大的艱難，他將我這篇文章念給他的女兒聽，使他女兒得到很大的激勵。發現自己簡單的文字能夠有感動人的力量，對我來說也是很大的激勵，與大家分享。
I used to plan everything before I did it. This way, I always knew what my next step was, and my life was always under control. I enjoyed a stable, ordinary life which made me feel safe and satisfied. If I met something I couldn’t plan in advance or challenges that I didn’t have confidence that I could control, I would feel nervous and worried all the time. Usually, I only chosed those missions that I was really sure I could do it well. One of my teachers told me that I planned my life so detailed that even God didn’t have a chance to give me His blessings.
When I promised my husband to quit my regular job, to leave my familiar environment and to go to America with him, I realized there were a lot of things that I couldn’t plan in advance. I needed to adjust my habits. Until that time, the farthest place I had lived was four miles from my mother’s house. It was a big challenge for me to leave home and start a new life in another country.
I do believe this was a great opportunity from God to teach me how to trust Him. Before we came to Los Alamos, I imagined a lot of problems that we might encounter. Different concerns occupied my mind such as, “Will we have enough money to live, or what should I do when Chien-Chi goes to work?, When I come back from America, can I find a new job with a good position like I have now? How can I live in a country with a language which I cannot speak well, or what will I do if one of us has a serious illness while we are in America?” These questions without any confirmed answers made me nervous and upset. At that time, the Holy Spirit reminded me to turn my face to God. I started to pray for our future everyday, and I gradually had peace of mind. God gave me His word, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalms 139:9-10) Finally, I had the faith that this was the way God prepared for us, and I was sure He will protect us.
After we came to Los Alamos, I adjusted to my different situation. A lot of problems that I imagined were going to occur, didn’t happen. The brothers and sisters from church gave us a lot of help while we were setting up our new apartment. I love the church here and it helps us to grow in our spiritual life. I have already gotten used to the weather in Los Alamos, and I love the countryside scenery. I love the blue sky, the bright sunshine, the fresh air and the glittering stars in the evening sky. I am enjoying my new life. I have learned to cook everyday and found that cooking can be fun in some ways. I am taking English classes and making new friends from different countries. God prepared wonderful teachers and tutors for us and our English has improved a lot.
Our future plan is uncertain, but I know our future is in God’s hand. I heard a story about a husband and wife who sat in a boat. They encountered a terrible storm on the sea. The strong winds and huge waves made their boats toss up and down. The wife was terribly scared, but her husband was extremely calm. The wife wondered and asked her husband, “Don’t you feel afraid?” The husband took a knife, pointed to his wife and asked, “Do you feel afraid if I point a knife at you?” “No, I know there is no chance that you will hurt me,” she answered. Her husband said, “Yes, we should not feel scared because our life is in our Heavenly Father’s hand; there is no chance that He will hurt us.”
I have learned that I don’t have to be worried and plan everything in advance; God will take good care of us. The only thing I need to do is trust Him. This is a big change for me, and it is also a good lesson for me to learn.
信靠神是一輩子的功課，願神饒恕我每一個軟弱的時刻，賜我智慧與信心牢記要仰臉向祂。
I used to plan everything before I did it. This way, I always knew what my next step was, and my life was always under control. I enjoyed a stable, ordinary life which made me feel safe and satisfied. If I met something I couldn’t plan in advance or challenges that I didn’t have confidence that I could control, I would feel nervous and worried all the time. Usually, I only chosed those missions that I was really sure I could do it well. One of my teachers told me that I planned my life so detailed that even God didn’t have a chance to give me His blessings.
When I promised my husband to quit my regular job, to leave my familiar environment and to go to America with him, I realized there were a lot of things that I couldn’t plan in advance. I needed to adjust my habits. Until that time, the farthest place I had lived was four miles from my mother’s house. It was a big challenge for me to leave home and start a new life in another country.
I do believe this was a great opportunity from God to teach me how to trust Him. Before we came to Los Alamos, I imagined a lot of problems that we might encounter. Different concerns occupied my mind such as, “Will we have enough money to live, or what should I do when Chien-Chi goes to work?, When I come back from America, can I find a new job with a good position like I have now? How can I live in a country with a language which I cannot speak well, or what will I do if one of us has a serious illness while we are in America?” These questions without any confirmed answers made me nervous and upset. At that time, the Holy Spirit reminded me to turn my face to God. I started to pray for our future everyday, and I gradually had peace of mind. God gave me His word, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me; your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalms 139:9-10) Finally, I had the faith that this was the way God prepared for us, and I was sure He will protect us.
After we came to Los Alamos, I adjusted to my different situation. A lot of problems that I imagined were going to occur, didn’t happen. The brothers and sisters from church gave us a lot of help while we were setting up our new apartment. I love the church here and it helps us to grow in our spiritual life. I have already gotten used to the weather in Los Alamos, and I love the countryside scenery. I love the blue sky, the bright sunshine, the fresh air and the glittering stars in the evening sky. I am enjoying my new life. I have learned to cook everyday and found that cooking can be fun in some ways. I am taking English classes and making new friends from different countries. God prepared wonderful teachers and tutors for us and our English has improved a lot.
Our future plan is uncertain, but I know our future is in God’s hand. I heard a story about a husband and wife who sat in a boat. They encountered a terrible storm on the sea. The strong winds and huge waves made their boats toss up and down. The wife was terribly scared, but her husband was extremely calm. The wife wondered and asked her husband, “Don’t you feel afraid?” The husband took a knife, pointed to his wife and asked, “Do you feel afraid if I point a knife at you?” “No, I know there is no chance that you will hurt me,” she answered. Her husband said, “Yes, we should not feel scared because our life is in our Heavenly Father’s hand; there is no chance that He will hurt us.”
I have learned that I don’t have to be worried and plan everything in advance; God will take good care of us. The only thing I need to do is trust Him. This is a big change for me, and it is also a good lesson for me to learn.
信靠神是一輩子的功課，願神饒恕我每一個軟弱的時刻，賜我智慧與信心牢記要仰臉向祂。
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Anniversary Trail
自從上次走完blue dot與red dot trail以後，就跟健記立志只要有空的週末都要走一條trail。Vistor center有出一本小手冊，裡面列了50條Los Alamos trail的簡要資訊，可是因為內容很簡略，我自己上網找了Los Alamos trail的地圖，想要看看在這個春天可以征服幾條trail。
這個週末因為只有一個下午的空閒，我們決定選擇一條短一點的trail，這一次選了一條列為easy，3 miles來回trail，叫做anniversary trail。我們都笑說是不是應該結婚週年紀念日的時後去走一下才對。
這一次的戰友是周昕、何玲夫婦，Sherry與寄住阿姨家的弟弟，Paul還有健記跟我。這張照片有一個不能不提的故事，就是hiking完的晚上，Sherry家弟弟很景仰的跟Sherry說：「我以後也要穿粉紅色的衣服，那位『叔叔』穿粉紅色的衣服好帥阿！」叔叔？我們當中有哪一位有資格被十五歲的小孩叫叔叔呢？嘿嘿！看看誰穿粉紅色就知道啦！
這個週末因為只有一個下午的空閒，我們決定選擇一條短一點的trail，這一次選了一條列為easy，3 miles來回trail，叫做anniversary trail。我們都笑說是不是應該結婚週年紀念日的時後去走一下才對。
這一次的戰友是周昕、何玲夫婦，Sherry與寄住阿姨家的弟弟，Paul還有健記跟我。這張照片有一個不能不提的故事，就是hiking完的晚上，Sherry家弟弟很景仰的跟Sherry說：「我以後也要穿粉紅色的衣服，那位『叔叔』穿粉紅色的衣服好帥阿！」叔叔？我們當中有哪一位有資格被十五歲的小孩叫叔叔呢？嘿嘿！看看誰穿粉紅色就知道啦！
我們看著其實超級不清楚的地圖與說明，健記與何玲說他們印象中常常看到有人停在502公路邊上的一個地方，可能就是trail的路口，就這麼依著他們依稀的印象我們就在那裡找到了trail的入口。
今天的天氣超級的windy，吹得滿地沙塵都撲打在臉上。這一段trail很平坦，風光特別好，是沿著出town的502公路蜿蜒而上的。Los Alamos吸引人的藍天白雲，搭上高原峽谷的景觀，應該是這條trail最大的賣點。
這一條路上岩石很多，沿路上石塊堆疊出壯麗的景觀。
忍不住要爬上這些堆疊的石塊，在春天的狂風中留下身影。
走了大概才半個小時左右，就找不到trail的路線，只看見貼著斷崖邊的一條小徑。就在我所站位置的枯樹枝外面就是斷崖了。
不是說單程至少有1.5mile的路程，怎麼會覺得都還沒有暖身就走到盡頭了？不相信trail已經到達終點的我們，硬是沿著山壁邊想要往前找到出路，沒想到走到盡頭腳前不但沒有路，抬頭看著上面的山壁，是那種怕有落石落下用大網子圍住的峭壁，耍寶的Paul還說：「對了！對了！就是要讓我們攀著那個網子爬上去的。」（最好是要沿著那個網子爬上去，那就不是hiking，是攀岩了）眼看真的是前面沒路了，大家總算認輸回頭了。
回程的路上心理可真是納悶得很，難道真的是因為我們上回走的步道太艱難了，現在走1.5miles會一點感覺都沒有嗎？大家都有一種沒有過癮的感覺。直到回到停車的地方，才發現在我們車後大約二十公尺遠的地方有一個步道的入口，我們才恍然大悟我們是從trail的中途開始走，前面的1 mile因為我們走錯入口而錯過了。沒有過癮的大家，當然要把剩下的另外一半步道走完。想必大家真的都是變強壯很多，即便是補走完了這一段，還是覺得意猶未竟阿！早知道這條步道這麼短，就應該約Ayako來的，Ayako說只要超過一小時的hiking都不要找他。
也許是因為上一次的步道實在太具挑戰性了，今天這條步道讓我們有了還沒有暖身就結束的遺憾。雖然沒有走過癮，卻覺得能在這麼簡易的步道上面欣賞壯闊的風景，真是莫大的收穫！
Friday, April 4, 2008
窗口的春天
我正在想說我的攝影技術不好，很可惜不能拍下美麗的照片與大家分享，上帝就給我們差了厲害的攝影師了。
Paul的新相機寄到了，果然大家都是有志一同，鏡頭對準窗外這棵綻放的梅花樹，所以我有幸可以跟大家分享比較有層次的照片啦！
這是我們家後面要通往洗衣房的小徑，這裡其實有成排的梅花樹，不過就只有最靠近我們家窗口的這一株花開得最美，健記跟我每天都在觀察這株梅花樹。我們發現這株梅樹之所以開得比別株都早，正是因為它靠近房子比較溫暖的緣故（房子有暖氣）。因為整株梅樹是從最靠近我們家窗口的那個枝子開始開花的，面向馬路那一邊的枝子都還沒有開花呢！
我們每天坐在飯桌前吃早餐的時候都要看看這株梅樹，每天就瞧它多開了幾朵，現在靠著窗子的這一片枝頭上全都開滿了梅花，今天發現有成群的小蜜蜂來採蜜了！窗外，就像一幅春天的畫一樣，每日看著這一株生意盎然的梅樹迎向新的一天，真是太朝氣蓬勃了！
Paul的新相機寄到了，果然大家都是有志一同，鏡頭對準窗外這棵綻放的梅花樹，所以我有幸可以跟大家分享比較有層次的照片啦！
這是我們家後面要通往洗衣房的小徑，這裡其實有成排的梅花樹，不過就只有最靠近我們家窗口的這一株花開得最美，健記跟我每天都在觀察這株梅花樹。我們發現這株梅樹之所以開得比別株都早，正是因為它靠近房子比較溫暖的緣故（房子有暖氣）。因為整株梅樹是從最靠近我們家窗口的那個枝子開始開花的，面向馬路那一邊的枝子都還沒有開花呢！
我們每天坐在飯桌前吃早餐的時候都要看看這株梅樹，每天就瞧它多開了幾朵，現在靠著窗子的這一片枝頭上全都開滿了梅花，今天發現有成群的小蜜蜂來採蜜了！窗外，就像一幅春天的畫一樣，每日看著這一株生意盎然的梅樹迎向新的一天，真是太朝氣蓬勃了！
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