7/27/2006

童言童語

這是上星期六去Featherdale zoo拍的,我和韋恩及小朋友Van一起去.Van昨天說了一句讓我捧腹大笑的話,和大家分享一下:

昨晚我正在幫韋恩按摩,Van也好奇的按了按爸爸的臂膀, 她觀察我的按摩手功很久後...說:

It's like playing the play-doh!

我當場笑翻了,小朋友的想像力真是超級驚人! 當然,韋恩對自己被比喻成play-doh並不怎麼高興就是了... Posted by Picasa

7/26/2006

他說他們不算oz*她說他們不是Taiwanese

最近中東情勢緊張,澳洲這裏的電視台也是整天報不停黎巴嫩的戰況.被以色列軍方炸過的民宅,當地居民的恐慌,擁有澳洲國籍急切想返回僑居地的黎巴嫩人臉上的焦急等等都被不斷的重覆播放.每次播到澳洲記者採訪澳籍黎巴嫩人時,韋恩就開始在旁邊碎碎唸: Who told you tuys to go to the war zone? Now we are going to pay for your trips?! Don't bring your war here! blah blah blah...
這種情緒,我感覺似曾相識.去年底在Cronulla發生的種族暴動,使的土生土長的oz和移民社會間的衝突浮上表面.尤其是中東背景的移民與澳洲社會的格格不入,在媒體報導上看的很清楚.他們的多妻制,漠視澳洲當地legal system等等履履成為新聞素材.
我和已移居美國多年的朋友在線上也聊到這個話題,她問我oz不認同lebannese是真正的澳洲人是不是就和外省人不被認同是台灣人一樣?
我呆了一下.從小對這個議題就相當敏感的我,試著中立的說:It's a touchy issue, isn't it? But the situation here is not quite the same like Taiwan. 不過,這的確是一個很有趣的聯想.
下線後我開始思考她的聯想,我的直覺反應是: huh? Isn't that the other way around? 應該是"外省人不認同自己是台灣人吧?"但其實就連這一句也是過度狹化.看看國民黨裏有多少"河洛人",而民進黨裏有多少"外省人"就知道用省籍分類是行不通的.
同樣是生長在台灣,我和她對台灣的想法卻是這麼的不同.我想我們都背負著上一代的故事和鄉愁,要說對錯也實在很不人性.但也是因為這樣,這兩派的人無法對話,因為沒有理解彼此的"故事"和"包袱".
昨天我看了一段短片, 主講人是一個Lebannese American.因為有這樣特別的背景,她對這兩方的複雜情結更有其獨到的切入點.身為一個photographer,她太知道影像對人們的衝擊.對於2003開始的Iraq war, 她對當時一面倒的媒體報導的想法讓我想到台灣近年來的藍綠大戰-

How are people going to communicate with each other when they are getting
completely different messages ?

How are people supposed to have a common understanding and know how to
move together to the future?


套在台灣的政治環境裏,這不也是成立的嗎?

7/25/2006

一等賞茶莊

一等賞001
一等賞001,
originally uploaded by crystalannie.tw.
很想念可愛的Jo,把出國前去一等賞茶莊照的片子拿出來回味一下. Jo 現在已經被照片裏的還大隻了.真想念她的小肥手腳和小胖肚..babe實在很迷人啊!
最近開始用Google reader訂閱喜愛的blog文章,實在相當方便好用! 我一向對presentation skill很有興趣,一方面是自己在public speeching功力欠佳,一方面也是著迷於許多專業演講人"說書"的本事. 我還記得上學期最後一堂intercultural communication,有一位來自伊朗的同學講cultural shock時,他只用幾張簡單的圖表穿插他自己觀察伊朗和澳洲不同的風俗民情,15分鐘的報告一點都不冷場,而且他完全沒有看稿!
Chris Brogan 寫的這篇14 tips for communicating ideas列出七個重點提醒presenter:

1. Learn more than one way to present your idea.
2. Practice pitching your idea on friends, strangers, supportive and hostile listeners.

這點大概所有要上立院備詢的官員都得練這個功吧!
3. Tailor the way you talk about your idea to the person you’re talking with.

我還記得有一次做媒體寫作課的報告時,因為自己太投入找到的資料了,和小組成員一起討論時,她們幾乎聽不懂我在講什麼,原因就是我沒有把資料換成概念來present.好險有了這個pre-presentation,才趕緊做修正.
4. Check in. Are they following? Let them ask questions.

據我的觀察,大部份的亞洲與歐洲學生都不太會留時間給聽眾問問題..大概也是想省掉麻煩吧:-p
5. Use your audience’s words to explain your idea. You can correct misunderstandings later.
6. Allow “white space” around the ideas. Don’t overwhelm them with content.

7. Try to close with actions, even if that’s to get the person to critique the idea better than, “Oh, that sounds neat.”聽來很有趣,但是怎麼做?對我這個缺乏表演戲胞的人,還是有點困難.

我很喜歡他對presentator 的mindframe的比喻.他說你要假設自己和相要present的對象同搭一部電梯,一路上你只有60秒的時間發表你的想法,這時你就要思考:

1. What are the BARE BONES of the idea?
2. How few words can you use, and still get meaning across? (example: we fill up your ipod).
3. Can you use “crossover” ideas. “Like TV and Radio, only two-way.”
4. What is most confusing? Can you change it?
5. Would a picture help?
6. How much can be explained later without hurting the conversation now?
7. What’s your next sentence, after this new, distilled one?

對我而言,這7頁守則更有提醒的作用.希望下學期的presentation會做的更好!

7/20/2006

Ideas that would make Taiwan more beautiful!
在墨爾本看到這一面木製柵欄.柵欄的另一邊是火車鐵軌.
加上這一道柵欄後,無形中把不是很有美感的鐵路設施美化的許多.台灣的鐵路是不是也能美化一下門面呢?
 Posted by Picasa
看Michael Turton寫的一篇 We are all Taiwanese的文章與相關的comment,不禁讓我聯想到目前在媒體上非常盛行的亂編文化.似乎隨便編個謊言在媒體上公開亂講,不必提證據,也不必回應有沒有證據,只要我編的夠刺激就不必經過檢驗.當然,邱毅不必擔心,還有很多人和他一樣奉行亂編不用負責,張雅琴就是其中一個.
對於吳淑珍的身體狀況,不論是心向那一邊的台灣人都應該有所警惕.曾經在那個年代,說真話會禍延家人.對於這樣的一個歷史事件,身為新聞專業人員的張雅琴更應該謹慎處理.但她卻編了個歷史上從未發現的新事證: 「廿三年前,吳淑珍遭遇一場車禍,…肇事司機外傳是一位扁迷…」。

當然,三立新聞部未對此做回應. 我也想學Turton對所有亂編的政治和媒體人物說:
Citation, please.

7/19/2006

下台後的前副總統高爾

TED是一個鼓勵科技與藝術原創的社群組織, TED 代表的是Technology Entertainment Design. 每一年 TED 都會舉辦為期4天的會議.討論的主題不單是科技,娛樂與設計,實事上,只要是和我們居住的這個地球有關的議題,都在TED的討論範圍內.
我在這個網站上看了許多很有趣的演講,他們的影片品質很不錯,其中前副總統高爾針對全球溫室效應的環保議題所做的演講,非常有趣詼諧.他在演講中也不忌諱開開自己選戰失敗的玩笑,但語氣溫和不失君子風範.最重要的是,他整理出幾項可以從個人與企業出發的環保作為供聽眾參考,也呼籲不管是民主或是共和黨都能一起為改善CLIMATE CRISIS努力.

I'ts not a political issue. ...The republican here...you have more influence
than some of us democrats. This is an opportunity to connected to ideas here
and bring more coherence here. So we are one.

對於高爾這番演講,我有些感觸.一樣是副總統,一樣是選戰失敗,一樣敗的很不甘心.但是高爾的風度和學識讓他更有風采.他的政治舞台也許不在了,但是他對環保議題的關心與實際的行動實踐卻更證明政治家的價值.

Formosa Betrayed
昨天好玩的到敦煌書局網站post自己的另一個blog-Annie's corner.沒想到馬上就在敦煌的網站上被大大的批了一番,只因為自己寫的最近2篇文章有提到自己對台灣目前的感想.老實說我看了那些留言只有淡淡的笑笑.怎麼這些人的行事風格都這麼類似?
只顧著以粗暴的語言和髒話潑婦罵街式的指控,卻提不出證據佐證自己的說法.遺憾的是,這樣的人還真不是少數.
昨晚放Formosa Betrayed預告片給韋恩看.他看了後有點不解的問那裏值得我流淚?我只好說: 你不懂啦! 說真的,那個外國人會理解台灣人的心酸呢? 從葡萄牙人到國民黨政府戰敗來台,台灣人從來沒有參與決定自己命運的權利.只能眼睜睜的看著別人在自己的土地上插上別人的旗幟.
預告片的風格挺好萊塢的,希望台灣的故事能讓越來越多人知道.記得在墨爾本旅行時遇到的那個瑞士女生完全不知道有台灣這個國家.我只好說..Uh...it's close to Japan.
韋恩笑我說...你怎麼不說 it's close to China哩? 對也!我當然的回答也是脫口而出,就是沒想到台灣的另一邊...嗯........有意思.

7/18/2006

APT打電話道歉
本來寄出第二封回應APT的信後,我也不想再搭理這件事了.但是剛剛接到APT行銷副總的電話著實讓我有些驚訝.
她除了再次道歉外,並詢問是否有機會補償我們.一向心軟的我,碰到這種話題總是說不出也想不出個敲他們一筆的方法,只要求她寄一封官方正式文件向我們道歉.
掛下電話後,我很高興自己窮追不捨的態度終於逼的他們認錯.
雖然如此,那位副總仍然逼重就輕,直到我再次提醒她我們付了錢還被放鴿子是等同於breach a contract,她才又忙著再度道歉.
很高興這件事有個完滿的句點,雖然APT道歉也是不乾不脆的,但是至少還算明快.

7/14/2006


畢業了!

不是我畢業,是泰國同學Penny 和 Elle畢業了.我和泰國人似乎很合的來.較常聯絡的朋友中, 泰國人佔多數.
除了中國學生,泰國學生在這裏的比例也挺高的.那天Elle教我3種泰國人互相打招呼的方式..我的天,還真是很古典... Posted by Picasa
走在墨爾本市街上發現一隻小銅狗,好可愛呀! 嘴巴這麼尖,不知道是什麼品種的狗?
墨爾本的棋盤市都市設計很適合自己亂晃.反正不會找不到路回家啦!
真想帶小銅狗去Yarra Valley河岸走走:-)
 Posted by Picasa
原來抱怨專線那麼難找是有原因的!
今早邊吃早餐邊看technorati發現一個有趣的blog-CSR: customer service report.其中有一篇文章名為How to fix your trip. 詳列出若旅途中不幸遭到人為疏失而產生的意外插曲,你該如何和"債主"打交道.
他詳列出10大file a complain的原則.我也交叉比對一下他的建議和這次的APT事件.其中有一點我很能認同, 就是保持理性.在開始寫信前先深呼吸一口氣,不要讓怒氣引導自己寫作的風格.另外還有一點就是,避免威脅的口氣.客服處每天處理的抱怨信件太多了,語帶威脅只會讓自己的抱怨信件更不見天日.還好,這兩點我都做到了.:-)
他的另一篇文章提到有許多公司特意的將高階主管EMAIL埋在網站深處或是用各種名號扮裝讓顧客"找不到人抱怨".這點讓我想到當初試圖找官方的抱怨專線時也dig了好一陣子才找到.原來...這也有可能是刻意的安排?
昨天把給APT的回信寫好了,內容如下.

G’day, ..............,
How are you? Thank you for the follow-ups and the communication with the APT. While we understand the “hiccups” are inevitable, we do not see their serious reflection over this incident. Instead, the letter seems to imply that we should hold the responsibility of missing the bus.
We’d like to emphasize once again that we wait on the right side of the hotel (In fact, there are only two sides we can wait. How hard can it be to find us?). We were there 10 minutes earlier. We stay in the same spot for over 50 minutes. We did not move. And most importantly, we don’t have any “language difficulties” to understand the pick-up place and time written on our recipient.
We are glad to learn that APT care about their customers. However, they didn’t explain the reason of why they fail to contact us by mobile, hence we already paid full fee two days ago. They also fail to offer a constructive suggestion when we contact them, instead, the lady who picked up the phone on that morning blamed us for this incident!
We sincerely hope that APT can start taking responsibility of such “hiccups”. You never know how these “hiccups” can ruin a wonderful vacation.
Thanks again for your efforts!
Annie Tsai

7/13/2006

APT的回應
昨天收到墨爾本INFORMATION DESK轉寄來的APT的信.這封信是針對我和Noporate寫的complain letter所做的回應.內容不外乎再次重申APT對顧客的承諾及他們的獲獎紀錄云云.對於我們提出的疑惑(例如為何沒有先電話聯絡顧客)並沒有做回應.其中有一段還對這件事的起因做了歸納
Sometimes our pickup coaches and our passengers miss their
connection due to many reasons: passengers waiting in the wrong place,
passengers late, language difficulties, coaches late and passengers move
away etc. When this does occur our drivers must contact our office before
they can be given permission to leave the pick up point. The driver looks
for the passenger, checks with the receptionist/concierge and then checks
with APT office.

看到這裏我不禁苦笑了一下,他列出的原因中4項有3項是肇因於顧客.其中有一項還是Language difficulties! 對於他們事先收了顧客的錢卻未履約,有顧客手機紀錄卻未聯絡的事未做任何澄清與回應.我除了轉寄信件給Noporate之外,也告訴她我要再寫一封信才會罷休.她顯然是覺得澳洲官方處理事情的態度從這件事情上就看的出來一些端倪,也勸我就算了吧!
很想把APT的信貼出來,不過似乎這樣有違著作權法.因為剛剛要貼時注意到EMAIL末端有一小段警告文字:-P 總之,我今天就要寫封回信,讓他們知道我們可不是被哄大的!

7/10/2006




澳洲好平哦...
有天站在家附近的SHOPPING CENTRE前等韋恩,忍不住就開始想,在這麼平坦的國家,大概很少有被從高樓跳下自殺的人壓死的新聞吧? 我在想什麼啊?
不過,這裏平坦的LANDSCAPE我倒很喜歡,感覺空曠很多.
昨天下午去完拍賣會後韋恩問我有沒有去過Brooklyn.當然沒有啊,我還沒去過美國哩!不過韋恩說的是雪梨的brooklyn,我們沿著brooklyn到hawksburry一路開下去...好....美...
我還在網路上找到一個網站是可以標示出相關位置與road direction的,很好用哩! 圖上粉色highlight表示起始點.
Hawkesburry的小港口很乾淨可愛.港口旁停著一艘艘各式不同的船.港口相當乾淨,是看夕陽的好地方! 他們還在港口的一個角落規劃了一個天然泳池,照片裏的柵欄是幹嘛的呢?是為了KEEP THE SHARKS AWAY!! WOW....




小型拍賣會
昨天去韋恩爸媽家吃蛋糕喝茶後,我們就開始出發到處晃晃.在路途中發現一個看來並不起眼的小倉庫前擺著auction today的海報.我們決定下車去看看.前院佈置的挺可愛的.不過一進去之後才驚訝的發現自己闖入一場正在進行的拍賣會.
主持人正在描述一把吉他,另一角落有個小姐拿起吉他用手勢介紹,介紹完後開始喊價.我從來沒參加過拍賣會,事實上我以為蘇士比=拍賣會,不是一般百姓會參加的.:-p真呆啊
不算太大的倉庫裏除了有斆序的堆放著各式拍賣品外,還有約20個左右等著出價的買主.拍賣品從看來非常古老的枱燈到刻著中國詩詞山水畫的木櫃,種類繁多.很有意思!
我們決定參加下星期的拍賣會!

7/07/2006

This is my letter to the City Government of Melbourne.
Hello,
We both are international students studying in Sydney and wanted to enjoy our holidays in Melbourne for 6 days. The trip was great as we saw many beautiful and interesting touristy sites. Unfortunately, there was an unpleasant incident during our stay in Melbourne which should not have occurred.
We booked three travel packages through the Information Centre located in the Federation Square on 27/6/2006. We were informed of the time (8:15 am.) and venues (Friendly BackPacker on King Street and Little Burke) to be picked up. Of course, we fully paid in cash during the time we booked and got very excited to go on the excursions. The first and third trips went well, but the second trip (on 29/6/06) did not because neither a bus nor a tour guide showed up at the venue and the time we were informed. As a matter of fact, we were right there 10 minutes before the pick-up time. Fortunately, we have a considerate and responsible eyewitness from Fee, an employee at Melbourne Connection Hostel where we stayed during our first three nights. Fee was on duty that morning and checked us out around 8:05. Right afterward we went across the street to wait for the tour bus.
We waited until 8:45 and started to get nervous because the tour bus delayed. One of us went back to the Melbourne Connection and asked Fee for help, so she made a phone call to APT (Australia Pacific Tour) to find out what went wrong. The outcome turned to be awkward and rather ridiculous (we have to say). APT claims to be the best travel agency in Melbourne, but its professional responsibility for customers did not reveal to us. They said it was our fault not to be there on time; the bus driver drove around the block twice. Therefore, they could not do anything about it. Thankfully, Fee was in our shoes since she knew we were there waiting and waiting for the bus, and the bus never passed by on that day. Fee tried to negotiate for us on the phone which did not seem simple because of APT’s attitude. To shorten it, we had to go for another trip that we didn’t plan for; otherwise, we would lose the money and our day would be spoiled.
What really bothers us though is that they never try to contact us since we left them our mobile phone number when we booked. Please note that we already paid full fee for that trip two days ago.
We found this incident left us a really bad image toward Melbourne. We cannot understand how the travel agent can take the money beforehand and still leave their customers without even trying to contact them. The Information Centre also failed to positively respond to the tourists’ complaints.
We really appreciate the atmosphere and cultural heritage in Melbourne. But we also like to contribute our experience for your reference. There are rooms to improve in regards to the service quality. We certainly hope this incident doesn’t reflect the cultural heritage of Melbourne. And we really can’t share our stories in Melbourne without warning our friends to watch out for such misshapenness.
And once again, we ’d like to emphasize that Fee working for Melbourne Connection helped us a lot, more than the help we got from the Information Centre.
Thank you for your time of processing our complaints. We would like to know if this can make a difference for the beautiful Melbourne city.
Sincerely,
Pei Jin Tsai
Noparat Tananuraksakul
The feedback from the City Government of Melbourne
As I mentioned in my last post, Noporate and I decided to file a complain to the Melbourne City. We did. After a not-so-easy searching for the chanels for complains, I finally find the email address. I wrote an email detailing our experience and stressed how much we love Melbourne and hoping our contribution can somehow better the city.
We received two emails from the city of Melbourne. One of the email seems very sincere:

Hi Annie....as someone passionate about Australia's tourism industry, it saddens me to receive feedback such as your dreadful experiences. On the bright side however, we don't get to know about these issues until people like yourselves take the time to bring it to our attention. So, thank you very much for your informative email, and we are now in a position to act to rectify.

.....I hope this has not been the experience of too many others.

Both letters also stressed that they are going to act on this problem. However, Noporate and I are very skeptical that we'll ever hear from the Melbourne City Government again. But, still, instead of taking the s*it, I want to raise the question and make them see. If everyone of us make the effort of acting on injustice, I believe we're shaping the history in a positive way!

7/06/2006

原本Annie's Corner看來十分雜亂,所以把英語教學和其他分割.A room with a view就是"其他"啦! 我想在這裏寫寫和英語較無關的想法.抵澳快半年了,雖然有在地人男朋友陪伴讓我少了很多適應上的困難,但也更因此接觸到許多更深層的文化衝突.雖然還不到crash的地步,但也讓我掉淚了幾次.:-)

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