1/31/2007

與公僕對話再續-天啊還要續幾回哪....

昨天去學校辦理改敍,才得知連復職的公文都還停留在某人的辦公桌上.一張紙在學校的各級主任桌上流浪超過一周,要是這個文件與主任們的薪水相關,我想情況大概會不同吧!

好不容易所有的文件備齊,人事居然說和縣府人事詢問的結果還要教師證和出入境證明.為什麼規定不一次講完哪? 更離譜的是出入境證明還得去出入境管理局申請!!

護照內頁行不行? 不行! 可是健保局也只要求護照內頁啊?

再打電話問104得知早就沒有出入境管理局了,現在改為移民署.想到還得為了一張紙花上來回4個鐘頭的交通時間,我實在又很想再..追追追了.

再加上得知連國防部那種管制單位都只要求護照內頁做證明,我一個教師居然得跑到移民署申請證明就覺得好笑.

於是先打去移民署問他們開的證明和護照內頁有什麼不同,那位先生回答:

沒有不同啊,我們的資料都是從同一個單位出來的啊?!你是那個單位要看啊!

我說明是公立學校要看後,他有點訝異的說這倒是他第一次聽說有公立學校要求出具他們開的證明,通常是外籍人士/或持外國護照,及雇用外勞的公司行號等會要求他們開具證明.

你要不要去和你們單位的人溝通說明一下?護照內頁的證明就可以啦!

於是再打電話和那位人事說明,她說沒辦法和我再說了,我也說沒關係你幫我轉給課長好了.等待鈴響了幾秒,被掛掉.

此時我已經是不追到結果不甘心了.我就是要得到一個答案,一個有法源的答案,而不是一句-

"我們一直都這麼做啊!"

一直這麼做並不代表這件事就是對的!

而且重點是他們也不是一直都要求出具出入境證明,學校人事有說近3年辦的2個案子都沒有出具這樣的證明,這讓我懷疑他們是否有特別的用意.

課長的態度一樣官僚,又說一次-"我們一直都這麼做啊! 其他的老師都沒像你這樣"

此話顯然與事實違背,最後他講不過我,就落一句-

哎呀,你可以去做教育部長了...

簡直是無厘頭...教育部長和這件事有什麼關係?

最討厭這種講理講不過別人就扣個帽子的人! 偏偏犯這種病的公務員又特別多! 不對,立法委員似乎也很多...

朋友說我怎麼從出國前到回國後都一路風波不斷..我也只能說經萬事長萬智來安慰自己了.

是不是這些繁雜的流程就是吃定了乖乖牌呢?

而我顯然就是那個討人厭的非乖乖牌...

1/24/2007

From the very dry continent to the very humid island

終於回家了.這幾天忙著除濕,整理行李,辦理復職,辦新的身份證....
大家都問我有沒有不習慣.
我覺得還好,除了天氣有點太潮濕了. W說雨水分給他們一點多好..我也這麼希望.
出國一年,換了新校長,也聽聞一些新氣象.
今天和另一個英文老師討論新校長對英語教學的關切.很開心校長終於關心到我們這一塊,也有些擔心這是否又只是另一個只會lip service的人.
找人事辦理改敘時,還被她唸了一句:

哎呀你怎麼找我們最忙的時候來?


我還真想回她,學期末結束班導才最忙你一周上7堂的人在忙什麼啊?
真奇怪,我怎麼感覺我好像得去求她處理公文?

我習不習慣?我想我永遠不會也不想習慣這種 公家文化.

1/16/2007

A NO NO to Oztrek

This is probably the worst show I've ever seen in my life. I can't believe the famous OzTrek, situated in the heart of Sydney CBD, is that unbelievably crap and overpriced!



Since we are going to the city to pick up my document, W suggests that we might as well go to the famous OzTrek. Sounds good to me. To experience the OzTrek, you must go to the tallest building in Sydney CBD, the CentrePoint.



We spend 35 AUD for tickets. There is a long line in front of the ticket booth. We wait for around 20 min. (Gee, it must be good to attract so many tourists!)



First we sit in a room watching those very eh...informative safe guide videos. Then we walked through a man-made cave, which takes us only 2 min. Woola, we sit in front of a screen shape like a fish tank with 3D image in it. There goes the very general introduction of Australian culture and customs and blah blah blah...Ok,I'm getting a bit impatient...thinking...



When is the good part gonna come? The part that makes your blood pressure soar and your palm sweat?



Thank God the "FISH TANK" show is over. I warn W the show better be more than that!



Unfortunately, NO.



According to the description of the official website, OzTrek accommodates the "largest simulated ride in the southern hemisphere and the only one of its kind in Australia". Well, its pretty easy to be the largest in the southern hemisphere since there aren't many competitors, are there? One of its kind? Yes, One of its kind s**t!



The simulated ride turns out to be some trembling, some turns and some ....sit-in-class-for-another-oz-history-intro. And that's it!



By the time we realized that's what we paid for 35 bucks, we felt like been cheated! Big time!!



How in the world can a show like this sells?



OzTrek? A big NO NO! The worst show I've ever seen!





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1/12/2007

Oh, the yummy rice from Taiwan!!

My parents brought two packs of prestigious rice from Taiwan when they visit us last month. The rice is from Taidung, allegedly the last untouched heaven in Taiwan.

The pack is simple yet neat. Since it is in a rather small package, it has that DEAR look. I gave one of the pack to W's parents. They love it.

We tried the rice last week and I suddenly realize how tasty the rice from my hometown is!(If only you've tried the Australian-grown rice, u'll know the difference!) No wonder the Japanese love it! According to the news, Taiwan rice is gaining popularity in Japan, with 180 metric tons of rice scheduled to export to Japan this year.

Hurray Taiwan farmers!





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1/09/2007

For old times sake..如何和舊情人相處-當不得不相處時

昨天早上接了一通電話後把我和w的心情搞的大亂.我在毫無心理準備之下硬著頭皮和男朋友的前女友對話,我有些驚訝她出乎意外的友善.

但顯然這是我的錯覺.

當孩子成了過去情史的唯一見證時,事情就再怎麼樣都乾脆不了.

前女友電話中的友善與面對男友時的劍拔弩張,我想她大概是仍無法move on吧!



我和男友都各自和別人有段不算短的long term relationship,

與和舊情人維持友誼比較起來,分手算是簡易級的功課了.

有沒有必要和舊情人維持友誼,每個人狀況不同.

倒是我常有些感嘆,當初要分手的人為何多年後卻開始懷念一個當年急著擺脫的人呢?



真是風水輪流轉啊!



對舊情人,我祝福他,但是保持連絡就免了吧!

看到男友的低潮,我也有個領悟,選對人一起生孩子真是一件非常重要的事啊!







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1/08/2007

和公僕對話2

把要認證的文件備齊並翻譯好後我電郵了一份給縣府的人事(就是上次被我小小教訓的那個),我說明疑惑,並請她告知若要向上申請釋疑須要什麼手續.

約一星期後終於收到她的回信,附帶一封附件.

附件的內容是教育部不接受結業證書之云等等.我看了有些失望,但再看清楚一些發現:



這封公文不是針對我的case,而是去年教育部發給台北市政府教育局的.



我有些訝異他們居然會給我一份舊公文?



我的arguments在於-

1. 國外學歷和台灣學歷畢竟有相當的差異,這種事可以一體適用嗎?

2. 縣府教育局沒看過當時台北市教育局原發的公文,自然也不知當事者的情況,這樣就把一份舊公文隨便套用在另一個case上會不會有點太懶了?



所以只好再打越洋電話詢問,找不到人事只好找課長,結果真是同個文化圈,一樣的德性.一樣不懂得尊重,每2分鐘打斷別人說話一次.

我: 課長您好謝謝人事附上的公文,不過我注意到似乎這是舊公文啊?

課長: 是啊,這那有一年發一次?

(這那有發不發的問題? 又不是公告!!)

我: 那因為課長您和我都沒看過北市教育局原發的公文也就不曉得實際的狀況,所以我還是想請教育部解釋.

課長:那情況一樣嗎? 你不用浪費國際電話費啦!

我只好耐著性子跟他強調我將有的損失,他不是當事人當然不會像我一樣在乎.那位課長仍重覆說,"你不用浪費國際電話費啦.."

我只好回他一句: 這個課長我自己來操心就好了!

他終於閉嘴安靜了一下.

天啊這隻鳥真的很吵!



然後他又說"好嘛你不相信我們,你就自己寫公文嘛..."云云...



實在講話之沒技巧不專業的...真是難怪我對公務員沒好印象!



接著我試探的問他倒底英文版畢業證書可否在台灣地方法院公證.



他說--可--以!!!

我說那你說的跟外館說的不一樣也!外館說不行也!

他居然回答說:



哦那就不行!!!!



天啊真是一府的白目!!!





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新年煙火

回台日子倒數第17天!

前天才送朋友們回台灣.朋友們因為工作的關係只在雪梨待4天,算是有點划不來,但是這麼久沒見還是很高興.

行程中的重點當然就是雪梨的新年煙火.雖然w早早就警告新年當天會擠到水泄不通,但是仍有些難想像空礦的市區真的會人擠人到那個程度.

我們先去吃pancakes on the rocks,還是本店好吃.挑嘴的朋友們也說好吃,只是很容易肥啦!吃完後4點多我們早早就去佔位子.我們選在harbour bridge旁邊的草地,當時和我們一塊準備長期作戰到午夜的人仍然不多.

6點多時我去circular quay買件外套給w穿時,碼頭邊的人潮已經到摩肩擦踵的地步,和人背夾背的走路,當時還真有點怕自己擠不出來!原本5分鐘的路程變成20分鐘...哇,我開始看到雪梨新年煙火的號召力.

8點多時我們席地而坐的那塊草皮已經看不到草了,連水泥地都被晚到圍觀的人站滿.

入夜後的harbour bridge上亮起了一個問號,據說是提醒大家為過去的這一年做省思.好不容易在9點鐘的親子場煙火開始前亮起了鑽石和衣架.衣架的由來是harbour bridge剛建好時就有人打趣說看來真像衣架呀!

Harbour Bridge當年剛建好時就有人出點子要放煙火慶祝,但當年正值經濟大肅條時,這個點子馬上被批評是浪費公帑,最後放煙火的儀式仍然被執行並保留下來.原因是當時煙火的設計者說:

不管在那個時代,都要給人們希望.

現在看來當年的決定是很有遠見的,不是嗎?





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1/06/2007

The French government's suggestion on how to do business with the Chinese

To put it simply, the tips are three NO Ts- NO Taiwan, No Tibet, No Tienanmen.

This is an article about the French government's recent suggestions of how to do business with the Chinese tourists.
With the help from the French government, the Chinese tourists can enjoy the fresh landscape in a free country without being force to see the reality of the world.
What a great job the French has done to show their hospitality! No wonder my Chinese classmates have little knowledge of what happened in Tibet. No wonder they say everything from Tibet is cheerful and exotic.

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Taiwan and East Timor

Once in a while, there are friendly supporters around the world to speak up for Taiwan. This isolated island country is not only famous for its achievement and reputation in technology but also for its status of continuing embattles with China.

I'd like to record these supportive voices coming from every corner of the world.

I found this article in the Christian Science Monitor. The headline reads-

Taiwan's history - and destiny - of freedom from China.

It is written by Bruce Jacobs, a professor of Asian Languages and Studies and director of the Taiwan Research Unit at Monash University in Melbourne.



I found his comparison in East Timor and Taiwan very interesting. He said that East Timor is probably one of the closest parallels to Taiwan for its history of fighting for independent from Indonesia. After the fall of Indonesian President Suharto, East Timorese people finally gain the right to vote on their future.



How did China see this?

While East Timor was controlled by Indonesia, China criticized such
"splittist" movements as the call for East Timorese independence. But
after East Timor's referendum, China was the very first nation to
recognize its independence. The parallels between Taiwan and East
Timor, as well as China's support of East Timor's independence, need
more emphasis in international relations.

Yes, the world is watching and wary of the possibility of China swallowing Taiwan.



What about us?











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The bureaucracy

I went to the uni to have my documents (letter of course completion + transcript) signed. The lady in the student service suggests me to go upstairs and ask for Kate.



There she is. I explained my intention. Her first question is:



"Have you been to the student service?"



"Yes, I did."(Duhhhh...Didn't I just say that?)



"The student service is not open until 9..."



"It IS open. The lady just suggests me to come here and ask for Kate, I believe you are Kate? "



Then she finally start to "feel like" processing my case....



ahhhhhhh, bureaucracy...I absolutely hate it!





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