慢城花莲换工旅游之沉淀、充电后 Afterthoughts on my working holiday experience

慢城花莲换工旅游之沉淀、充电后

当初毅然放弃了稳定的工作，在步入人生的下一个阶段给自己一个挑战，只身到异地换工旅游，并学习独立生活。很多人对我的决定感到讶异，不明白我为何选择放弃安逸、舒适的生活，不好好当个老师，而去异地当「免费劳工」。我相信也有些人认为我到国外换工和旅游两个月，简直是挥霍光阴，也是奢侈的行为。

我想这就是大家对理想生活与旅游的定义不同吧。

在离开工作岗位之前，我发现自己的生活品质已渐渐远离理想中的标准，与其不断埋怨，不如做出改变。对我而言，生活品质并不是物质可以衡量的，虽然其中也有一定的关系。我想要的是能够平衡身心的生活。虽然接下来的收入不比以往稳定，但在时间方面更有弹性，让我能更好地安排自己的生活。

这趟换工旅游其实让我学习到了如何生活。看似简单枯燥的打扫工作其实也是一门学问。在打扫房间的过程，我学习到了很多小贴士、也学习到如何更好地规划生活空间。民宿一楼的咖啡厅有很多优质书籍，在打扫工作完毕后，庆幸自己也有很多时间阅读，渐渐培养了我的专注力。回想起来，换工的一个多月，我没扭开过电视机或看连续剧。

在台湾生活了超过一个月也提供了一场文化大交流的经验。无论是文化或生活习惯，台湾人和新加坡人多少也有些差异。起初对垃圾分类的做方法不太熟悉，后来渐渐习惯将垃圾分类，自己也开始注重环保。

另一个较大的改变是自己的物欲大大减低，并不会想要买任何的衣服、包包。在花莲的一个月，甚至现在到了韩国，除了交通和餐饮费用，也没任何无谓的消费。

不知回到新加坡后，生活作息会有多大的改变。希望我能尽量坚持！

这趟两个月的旅游更让我坚持自己的旅游理念。旅游并不一定需要将行李箱装满，更重要的是，将心灵填满。回想以前旅游时买了很多无谓的纪念品，回国后还要烦恼存放空间。数年后，那些纪念品一般都会沦落到垃圾桶里。或许照片与记录旅程的点滴就是最好的纪念品吧。愿你我都能珍惜旅游遇见的每一刻感动...

Afterthoughts on my working holiday experience

Now that my working holiday has come to an end, I thought it will be helpful to pen down my thoughts, as a reflection for myself and for my readers who are interested to find out more.

Many people were taken aback when I chose to leave the Education Service, giving up a secure and stable job and forsaking my performance bonus. What shocked most people was I left without a new job and chose to go on a working holiday doing housekeeping tasks in a Bed & Breakfast without being paid. It really sounds like a crazy idea. 

Now that I have been through that, I must say it was a learning journey for myself. You may wonder, what is there to learn from cleaning up rooms and washing coffee cups? I believe in everything we do, we can seek improvements, be it working attitude or interpersonal skills. The biggest lesson I have learnt is learning how to live. The quality of life cannot be defined simply by the quality of things one possess , though I do not deny it is relational to a certain extent. I will most likely be having a pay cut in the future, but I believe work life balance will probably be something more within my control and I can define the lifestyle I wish to have.

Living overseas in Hualien county for more than a month changed my lifestyle. Surrounded by many good books in the Bed & Breakfast / cafe I worked at, I spent time reading and learnt to focus more in the process. Now that I recall, I did not watch any TV programmes or dramas for more than a month. Life was simple yet fulfilling. 

During my one month working holiday, it was a great cultural exchange for myself and others. One striking difference between Singapore and Taiwan is the method of sorting trash. I had to get used to sorting out recyclable products and food waste separately. Food waste are used as animal feed. I think we have much to catch up on our recycling efforts. 

The biggest change I see in myself is the diminishing material desire. Over the last two months, I have learnt to live simply. Other than spending on transport, food and beverages, I have not spent unnecessarily. 

I am not sure of the effects of the changes when I return home. We shall see! :)

After traveling for almost two months, I am even more certain there is no need to fill up my luggage with souvenirs, rather to fill my heart with gratitude for the blessings and lessons learnt. The greatest gifts are the memory and experiences recorded with a camera or thoughts penned down, treasuring the moments that touched my heart. 

花莲换工旅游～人情味。花莲

这趟换工旅游虽然结束了，但我的思绪仍在沉淀当中。

花莲除了有好山、好水，也有一群有人情味的好人，至少有几位确实如此。

回顾这个月的换工旅游经验，我最大的收获就是认识了两位新朋友—热爱分享的导师冠羽与温柔的巨人阿仰。在异乡能够认识生活理念接近, 而且真诚的朋友，是非常难得的。

与冠羽和阿仰一起工作和生活了一个月，他们就像是我的家人。就在大家已开始培养了默契、了解彼此的喜与恶时，却是道别的时刻。天下沒有不散的筵席，在人生的不同階段免不了离別的时候。其实，说再见不为就是期待下次的重逢吗？尽管如此，难舍之情仍悄悄地住进了我心里。在离开法采时光的前几天，陪着朋友和先生在花莲吃喝玩乐之际，虽然很快乐，但同时也在收拾心情，准备说再见。

在法采时光的一个月，我听了很多精彩的故事，其中包括冠羽和阿仰在花莲创业的酸甜苦辣，他们在没有任何专业的训练下经营民宿、餐厅和咖啡馆，这让我非常敬佩。尽管餐厅的生意旺盛，他们却因为要有更多时间休息而结束了餐厅生意。很多人对于他们的决定感到不解，但我很佩服他们坚持自己所要的生活品质，而不因为社会的压力而妥协。我知道他们是很快乐的。

至多才多艺、热爱分享的导师冠羽-

如果你是一位老师，你会是一位非常棒的老师。你的知识渊博，而且热爱分享。除了忙民宿、咖啡馆的事情，你总会腾出时间辅导他人，而且每个跟你见面的人在离开时都会重拾信心、对接下来的方向更清楚。这应该是你有生惧来的能量。很欣赏你为社会公益付出的精力，愿意在能力范围内帮助别人。谢谢你总是无私地跟我分享好咖啡，让我的味蕾得到新的刺激。

至温柔的巨人阿仰--

感谢你总是如此大方、贴心。你的外表和个性其实是强烈的对比。初次见面，觉得你好严肃。但后来知道那是你对待人的方式。在你还没确定一个人的为人，你总是有防备之心。很欣赏你坚守自己待人处事的原则、真诚对待他人的方式。你的贴心从不张扬，因为这就是你。感谢你跟我分享了一些烹饪技巧，重新认识食物的原味。我会怀念你煮的家常菜。每次看到芋头就会想到我吧？呵呵^^ 希望有天能看到你发表花莲私房美食地图或分享烹饪心得的书籍。:) 

至Y铭、瑞文-

能跟你们做朋友是一种缘份。谢谢你们为我在花莲生活的日子注入更多欢笑，也与我分享回归简单的生活可以是很幸福的。愿你们夫妻俩永远都如此恩爱。

期待下次见面！:)

花莲换工旅游 Hualien Working Holiday Day 21-33

Day 21-33: 说再见之前...Before it is time to bid farewell...

Since English is the preferred language for most of my friends, I decided to write this post in English for a change. :) 

The last two weeks of my working holiday went by quickly in a blink of the eye. Before I knew it, it was time to bid farewell to my family in Hualien. 

Here's two weeks in a glance:

Yuping and I took the train to Guangfu Township for a day trip. It is such a laid back place that even the town area was quite deserted. The highlight of the day trip was a visit to the Mataian Wetlands. Wearing shorts to the wetlands was a big mistake, causing me to suffer multiple mosquito bites. I would have worn jeans if not for...(more on the reason in my next post). The mosquitoes are not the usual types, rather they are the vicious 小黑蚊 about the size of a black sesame seed. The bites appear smaller but cause more itch than the usual mosquito bites. :(

  

While exploring Guangfu, we walked past a grandfather and his grandson working in the fields while the rest of the family were sorting out their harvest. This is my favorite shot for the day :) He is such a cutie!

Fast forward...

The last few days of my working holiday were activity-packed. Other than completing my tasks at Facai, I was out with my friends who came over for a holiday. It was really great seeing them and we had so much fun exploring the Taroko Gorge with my tour guide friend Y Ming. We also went on food trails within Hualien city. 

These are some memorable shots with my friends:

Enroute to Taroko Gorge - re-enactment of Eternal Summer poster shoot. 

Cingshui Cliff - One of the 10 most scenic views in Taiwan:

Re-visit of Taroko Gorge - Still in awe:

Slabs of marble: 

Getting ready to be drenched in the Water Curtains of Baiyang Trail in Taroko Gorge:

Despite being a blurred shot, it could not mask our enthusiasm:

One of the pitstops of our food trails - 公正包子 vs 周家

My friends stayed over at Facai so that we could spend some time together. :) It was interesting to be the one preparing their rooms and breakfast. Thanks to Golda and Keng Yi for removing the bed sheets before they checked out. It was a really sweet gesture! Glad the ladies also managed to meet Ian and A Young and savoured the much talked about desserts and coffee served at Facai. 

Just when I bid farewell to the ladies, it was finally time to meet my hubby! Ray spent two days at Facai and met my family in Hualien. :) Thanks to Ray for bringing over the laksa paste, my friends were able to try laksa for the first time. Though we did not managed to get some of the ingredients, we made do with some similar ones and it turned out fine. :)

A Young's first successful attempt at making laksa: 

Big bowls for our Taiwan friends!