在英國時，Airbnb 的主人請我去當地的 pub 吃飯，服務生得知我來自台灣後，驚訝地說：「我為天氣感到抱歉！」
當下我一時不知如何回應，因為比起天氣，我反而覺得當地太多冰冷三明治才讓人困擾。
英國的天氣大致就像把宜蘭冬天一週的氣候濃縮在一天裡：下雨、陰霾、偶爾加上冰雹。
出太陽的時候，大家還會一起發出驚嘆聲⋯⋯大概就是這樣。
——
在帆船訓練時，我碰巧遇見兩位台灣人，一週的課程裡，我們真的是相依為命（真的太苦了）。
後來我們成了朋友。據他們說：
「一開始看到你穿那麼高規格的航海衣，而且都穿到褪色了，還以為是學校借的。
結果一聽你說是自己買的，真的嚇一跳！在台灣有地方穿得上這套嗎？」
雖然台灣屬於亞熱帶，但除了夏季之外，往東是太平洋、往西是台灣海峽，
其實海況激烈，是非常適合培養優秀船員的天然場域。
馬康多 是一艘設計偏向休閒的帆船，雖然只有 35 呎，離岸航行需要經過許多改裝。
不過我也靠著她東奔西走，隨著航行里程漸增，連航海衣都陪我褪色成回憶。
——
《時候到溜》是吳吞的歌，他曾在演唱會上說：
「骨頭不應該埋在地下，它應該成為梯子、工具，或是繩子；
但種子就應該埋在土裡，那樣它才能長成一棵樹，變成你們需要的火把。
什麼形式並不重要，重要的是——你們自己！」
——
希望這裡能成為梯子、成為工具、成為種子與火把，
像泰戈爾手中放出的紙船一樣，飄向遠方，
讓那些身在異地的人知道，我們是誰。
——
I am sorry about the weather!
When I was in the UK, my Airbnb host invited me out to a local pub for dinner.
The waiter, upon learning I was from Taiwan, looked surprised and blurted out,
“I’m sorry about the weather!”
I wasn’t sure how to respond.
Honestly, the thing that bothered me more than the grey skies was the abundance of cold, sad sandwiches.
British weather feels like compressing a whole week of winter in Yilan into a single day —
rain, mist, sunshine, maybe some hail, and when the sun does appear, everyone gasps as if it’s a miracle. That’s about it.
——
During my sailing course, I happened to meet two other Taiwanese trainees.
That week, we really did rely on each other to get through the grueling days.
We eventually became friends.
They told me afterwards,
“When we first saw you wearing that weathered, high-end offshore sailing gear, we assumed you’d borrowed it from school.
But… when we found out you actually owned it, we were shocked!
Where in Taiwan would you even wear something like that?”
Despite being in the subtropics, Taiwan is anything but mild on the water.
The Taiwan Strait on one side, and the Pacific Ocean on the other —
together they shape a fierce, dynamic training ground for any serious sailor.
There is no shortage of wind or waves to sharpen your seamanship.
Even though Macondo — my 35-foot Beneteau — was designed as a casual cruiser,
with enough upgrades she has taken me far.
The miles we’ve covered together are starting to show — even my gear has begun to fade.
——
There’s a song by Wu Tuen called When It’s Time, and at one of his concerts, he once said:
“Bones are not meant to be buried. They should become ladders, tools, or ropes.
But seeds do need to be buried — in the soil.
Only then will they grow into trees, become the torches you need.
What form they take doesn’t matter — what matters is you.”
——
I hope this space — this humble site — can become a ladder, a tool, a seed, and a torch.
Like the paper boats in Tagore’s hands, floating out into distant waters,
may it tell those far from home who we are,
and where we come from.