Agnes Tango (謦瑋的BLOG)

Recycled X'mas

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:58:17 GMT

When X'mas is coming, it is sort of new sense to think of the meaning of GIVE AND TAKE again. A recycled or used gift shall not fade due to its past undergoings but can radiate if it's re-furnished or re-defined to be something for us. May everyone of us cherish every opportunity around every moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recycled Christmas
BRIAN SMITH / ENS 14dec02
One Family's Revolution Against the Shopping Mall
Sitting around the dinner table out at the farm last Thanksgiving, the subject of what to do about Christmas came up. How would we organize a family gathering now that we kids are grown and scattered across the state? Whose house would we use? How would we deal with the whole gift-giving thing?
Everyone seemed completely unenthusiastic about engaging in another orgy of shopping and crowds and waste. There was the sense of duty of course: to tradition, to the nation. The TV newscaster claimed that the very health of the US economy depended upon our generous holiday spending. Christmas consumerism is patriotic. Don't think about it too much, just shut up and shop.
After confessing distaste for the entire affair, one rebel relative proposed we just bag the whole holiday. The lobbying for this option was fierce and convincing. And for an agnostic family from Northern California, ignoring Christmas altogether seemed like a perfectly viable option.
Though we really enjoyed coming together for a mid-winter celebration, the very thought of shopping ruined Christmas. Wasn't there another option? Didn't we have the right to reclaim the holiday and create our own family tradition?
After an hour of discussion, and a few more glasses of wine, we arrived at a solution: Recycled Christmas.
And it turned out to be the best Christmas since I was a child.
Here is how it works.
Everyone is invited to give presents to anyone else, but these rules must be followed: you can only give a gift that has been previously owned, nothing new; you can make a present, a painting, a song, a poem, or whatever; you can give away something you already own; you can purchase your gift at a second-hand store or garage sale; and all gifts should be wrapped in newspaper. Sunday comics if you want to get fancy.
That's it. Simple.
Well, not exactly.
As it turns out, giving the perfect Recycled Christmas present is a much more personal experience than just going to the mall with a credit card. When you give a present from a garage sale, or from your attic, you must understand and care about the person on the receiving end. Another tie for dad or bath soap set for auntie just won't do. You really have to think about your loved ones and who they are as people.
My mother found some used photo albums for each of us kids and filled them with pictures from our childhoods. She had written personal memories next to each picture. I was in tears seeing photos that had lingered in shoeboxes and drawers for 20 years.
I gave my intellectual cousin one of my favorite novels that she instantly curled up with and read by the fire until she fell asleep.
My father received a big plastic lawn goose, with a light bulb inside. It was the perfect gift for a man who had discovered his love for raising birds on the farm in his 50s. He giggled with delight as he turned it on and placed it proudly on the mantel.
My aunt gave my girlfriend her favorite cookbook, with the best recipes clearly marked by gravy stains - a subtle hint to make sure I was eating right.
My brother and I baked loaves of beer bread and handed them out to family members still warm and wrapped in tinfoil.
The gift giving went late into the night because each person told a story about what they were thinking when they chose the gift. We laughed and felt like a family again. We participated in the holiday on our own terms. The advantages of Recycled Christmas became apparent quickly.
We all saved a ton of money. We had a lot more fun. We never even stepped foot in a mall or felt the crush of the holiday traffic. We contributed nothing to the local landfill. And best of all, we knew the presents we gave and received had all come from the heart.

小愛的勇氣說

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:12:59 GMT

昨晚去Tanguisimo 辦的 Tango BackPackers的講座分享身為資深探戈揹包客的經驗
完完整整得介紹了2004與2006的兩次環遊世界之旅
突然有點恍神
不曉得自己怎麼莫名其妙辦到的
走過那麼多地方
認識那麼多人
遇見那麼多事
年輕的自己
總是那樣一派天真
理直氣壯地把初生之犢不畏虎的精神發揮得淋漓盡至
好似一輩子用不完的勇氣都花在這樣孤單闖盪江湖的旅程上了
而現在真正給自己的呢
好像被藏在身體深處一個密實包裹著緊鎖著的保險箱裡
一時找不到鑰匙放它出來
有時覺得它睡在那兒雖然我看不見但還挺安適的
有時又覺得它在那兒蠢蠢欲動暗地裡鼓譟著放它出來

其實自己都知道
沒有所謂的鑰匙
勇氣一直在身邊
自由無束
是我自己不懂得去面對它
當我們願意真誠的去面對自己的恐懼時
自己就已經是勇氣的化身
不分彼此

世界上很多人事物令我們畏懼
戰爭疾病死亡分離背叛失去
但若有
一份值得努力足以糊口的工作
一個充滿希望的情趣生活
一些可親可賴的家人
少數可愛可信的朋友
一段值得珍惜的真摯感情
我想
人人都會是能夠面對自己大步向前探索人生的勇者

特別感謝那些一路走來讓我有所領晤予我支持與鼓勵的朋友們

TEMP life

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:58:45 GMT

生命中，親人，同事，朋友，愛人來來去去，若有幾位，能不離不棄，ㄧ直陪著走下去，我們就是世界上非常幸福的人。

近幾個月來，在工作上生活中，都面臨一些影響不小的變化與轉折，以致於需要一些時間沉澱，咀嚼，孵化與思索，

也因此，BLOG著著實實安靜了好一陣子…，只剩下說不出話的照片呈現著這幾個月來的見聞‧

人就是這樣的，站在高處的時候，揚著頭張著手迎著風，眼裡只看到自己

低潮的時候，才才會珍惜那些平日默默關心你支持你其實讓你感到安心與踏實的人…

這種時候，有時恍惚覺得人生走進了一個叫TEMP的file夾，呈現一個並行卻離地，共生卻抽離的狀態‧

如果向村上春樹教求救的話，他可能會說：「跳舞吧! 繼續跳舞吧，直到你跳不動為止，也不要停下腳步吆」

人生的圓滿的滿足，好像很複雜，卻也好像很簡單，但是懂得自己握有這種選擇權與福氣的人卻不是太多....

Piano, solo; My feet, my soul.

Mon, 12 May 2008 17:17:35 GMT

昨天去看了一部電影叫寂寞鋼琴師 (Piano, Solo)
其中的音樂和劇情都很動人 (到讓我晚上因此失眠...)
但是我其實不是要描述這部電影的內容或特別作什麼推荐
只是當男主角用靈巧的手指專注的精神透過輕撫琴鍵
演化出他靈魂所訴說的一句句優美動人音樂時
讓我連想到我的腳
(沒錯，你沒看錯，腳...leg, feet, toes)

跳舞的時候
我的腳也扮演了同樣的角色
為我表達為我詮釋出那些深藏於靈魂裡
平常說不出來的七情六欲
會說話的腳
有表情的腳
有意識的腳

腳是這樣地直接連接到我的心靈
在我的頭腦與理智還沒有充份運作的時候

比較熟我的人都知道
像過動兒的我
不喜歡老是坐在椅子上
我喜歡走路

相當相當的喜歡
有意義的走沒目的的走
都讓我感到滿足

一個人旅行的時候
曾經試過整天都不花錢在地鐵或巴士
就是在歐洲的城市裡走呀走
(橫豎偶爾得走快的話我是可以走得飛快的...就像速讀一樣)

有趣的是我實在沒辦法穿平底鞋走路
試過幾次大概穿一下就撐不久
或許真的是穿三吋半高根鞋跳Tango太久了
對於身體前傾的重心平衡與小腿平滑肌的萎縮有關吧
目前為止不論是上下班到國外旅遊甚至需要跋山涉水
與我最麻吉的都是三吋左右的靴子或涼鞋

也或許就是因為這樣的裝備
讓我走路時格外小心
老是情不自禁瞄著地面
害怕跌倒或拌倒扭到

昨天在電影裡
看到男主角像似要懲罰自己般地痛苦地割著自己的手
我看得心好痛
對於那雙比什麼都重要維繫著他靈魂得以自由飛翔的手
受到那樣殘忍的待遇
我的心就揪成一團
覺得好傷好痛
每每看到這樣的故事畫面
我就會想到我的腳

珍貴的腳
負荷著我的身體
承擔著我的情感
我無法想像它們能忍受一丁一點ㄦ的傷害

於是
每每在搭承電扶梯時
特別害怕從扶梯踏上地板的那一刻
腦海中不時扶現出腳被捲入的想像濺血畫面

走在崎嶇不平的馬路上時
每步每步總是採踩得特別小心翼翼
惟恐發生扭到腳踝或腳筋斷裂等慘烈意外

有趣的是
我最不害怕的
反而是足蹬三吋半高根鞋跳tango的時候
腳趾腳尖腳掌腳緣腳根
無一處不是跟我的舞鞋融為一體
時時刻刻都跟親愛的木頭地板耳鬢廝摩
其實不只是我在跳著舞
連我的腳也在舞鞋的懷抱裡跟地板跳Tango呢!

我就喜歡
這麼樣充滿感情的腳
為我忠實地盡興地彈奏出心情的音樂

(to be continued)

相遇的緣份相通的藝術

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:32:10 GMT

昨晚去完Milonga看完表演後
因為得回家加班就先離開
在等待捷運的時候
居然有位中年婦人叫我的名字
定神一看居然是我小學一二年級的唱遊老師
天啊...這大概是將近二十幾年的相遇了
老師居然能夠一見就認出我的樣子且脫口叫出我的名字
除了驚嘆老師過人的記憶力外
事後想想真不曉得還有多少認識超過二十幾年的人能夠正確無誤的說出對方的姓名
老師說本來在路上看到一個時髦的女生就多看了幾眼
沒想到我臉上那淡淡出世略顯冷清的神情讓她一下就認出我來
再加上我好像曾以她為對象寫過一篇校刊叫"我最敬愛的老師"
讓她這麼多年來從沒忘記我
(說來慚愧我倒是很少回小學母校，除了回校投票之外...:P)
因此我想這應該是心想事成的一種印證吧
常常掛念著一個人把他/她放在心上
或許哪天就這樣不期而遇生命線又有了交集
有些人說是磁場的影響有些人說是靈氣的感召都好
所謂的默契和心意相通不就是雙方有彼此一致的方向與信念想法而得就的嗎?
可是說起來這麼簡單的事
為什麼有時候明明很努力卻作不到呢
別忘了不是只有一方埋頭苦衝就有結果
自己得願意把心意open出來
才是靠近彼此相知相通的第一步吧!
(又扯遠了.....)

昇日塊肋

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 02:36:23 GMT

前天真的是很不可思議的一天，愈想低調過生日愈不得其所

一早就接到花，手機接祝賀電話接講到傍晚就沒電，從中午就開酒喝到下午再到晚上意外生日聚餐

，證明了小愛許的願望總是很難成真...

對於這種大堆頭又是以自己為中心的場合，要如何適當的舉止還真是令我感到不自在

(要嘛就是要夠High，可惜小愛的High勁實在有限，偶爾出現的笑話也常被叫冷... )

不過，隨性而活，順勢而為，好在也是我所喜歡的一種生活態度啦...

這兩三年來，對於一些小時常讓我梗梗於懷的心事變少了

一方面是逐漸相信這個世界上除了人以外，很多事也有自己的機運與意志

有時候愈想得到什麼，得失心愈重，反而愈難以平常心迎向命運的走向與結果

心想事成，固然是一種美好的體驗

事與願違，倒也不用氣惱挫自挫，甚至自哀自憐

相信每個轉角都有各自獨豎一格的怡人風景

只是看自己是否有這樣的智慧與涵養找到屬於自己的新天地

(....看吧! 說著說著又讓場子冷了...呵 )

總之，前晚非常盡興，聊天吃肉喝酒得相當開心，

也很榮幸能與各位一路走來交集相織的友誼與緣份

像這樣每個快活暢意的時刻能與大家健康快樂地一起分享與度過

就是我最大的生日心願

感恩~~~

cheers,
Agnes

小愛鬧彆扭

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:55:19 GMT

彆扭
是一個很有趣的辭
教育部給它的定義與解釋為
執拗､不順心. 不通順､不流暢、意見不合而吵鬧或賭氣、尷尬､難為情
在英文裡也有awkward, slovenly, erratic, be at odds, not get well等說法
總而言之
當一個人的所涉獵的世界愈來愈大
所來往的人事物層次愈來愈廣
所牽絆的關係愈來愈緊密複雜的時候
無可避免的彆扭就一點一點地出現了
這時候低頭苦幹埋頭猛衝的人往往是成就彆扭的人
想要讓人和、事理、物明
需要的不是自我一味要求他人達到目的
而是眼觀四面耳聽八方玲瓏剔透
從他人角度去考量去著想的委婉一點謹慎一點的手法
最近生活裡就出現了許多這樣的例子
心力焦瘁之際對此特別有深刻的感受
有趣的是不曉得自己是不是年紀大了
還是想得開了變得遲鈍了或是不在乎了
一些以前(小愛年輕氣盛的小時候)會讓我耿耿於懷鬧彆扭的事
如今已不再像以前那樣牽動我的情緒
即使認知上覺得自己應該是合理得鬧彆扭一下的
結果還是自己笑笑就過去了
是對人生的現實的妥協嗎?
不知道
但是
讓自己好過一些
最重要

Tango之於小愛~~~

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:23:27 GMT

前幾天臨時到香港一趟
雖然天氣濕冷地比台北還誇張
但還是湊巧得參加了Pulpo的Welcome Milonga
與好久不見的老友們重聚閒聊
與未曾謀面卻往來好一陣子的香港同事見面
因此，即使沒有去什麼景點遊覽
還是很開心
最有趣的是在我要離開香港回台北的那天
突然接到一通電話
是去年人在土耳其Istanbul參加Tango Festival當時來採訪我的一位法國女記者打來的
她說他們當初在製作的一系列tango & life專輯已經播出
觀眾反應不錯
製作單位與報紙配合也想要出一系列的文字專題
於是邀請我針對自身對tango的喜愛與著迷
說幾句話然後他們可以摘錄下來在文章裡
在當下很是受寵若驚的我
結果不是很有組織很有條理地敘述了一大長段話
(我想是完完全全沒有理會他們一分鐘的時間限制吧...:P)
但事後想想還蠻有意思的
於是決定回來後還是把我的感想
用不甚流利的國語形容出來

Tango 對我而言
很像救世主或是天使
總是在我心靈沉淪的時候拉我一把
在我的精神能量火燄快要熄滅的時候及時地送來火把
在我的人生陷入饑渴委靡不振地步時適時地補充甘露與能量
不管是音樂或舞蹈
頂尖樂手與舞者會鎖住我的精神
讓我心甘情願沉浸其中不想動彈
每個音符每個腳步
鑽進我的皮膚
沁入我的血液
麻木我的思考
以致於當我在美好的沉醉中回過神來後
往往不記得在我為Tango神昏意亂的恍惚中
外面的世界究竟發生了什麼事

Tango就像愛情一樣
我不能沒有它
或許有時我從中得到歡愉得到痛苦得到困惑得到平靜
有時我離開它也不害怕
因為我知道它始終存在於我的血肉中與我一起

小愛報告-Jan 2008.

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 10:10:09 GMT

好久沒能更新BLOG了

除了先放上近來的玩樂志誌與美食照外

還有兩個關於Tango的消息~~~

1) Stacy和我從下週三(1/23)起要開Tango女性技巧班囉!

~~~ 詳情請見左下 "Tango info"

2) Derrick和我要在一家有百年歷史濃濃巴洛克台灣味的 "滿樂門咖啡廳" 試辦 Milonga 囉!

~~~ 時間是下週六(1/26) 20:00 ~ 12:00，詳情請見左下 "Tango info"

歡迎大家帶著一張至少十年前的照片來玩喔!

Follower v.s. Leader

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:47:26 GMT

About Leader and Follower (L&F),

It was in 2002,

for me to understand the true definition and position of L&F from my beloved Tango teacher Mariana,

that Follower shall spare efforts in responding, rather than just following,

that Leader shall listen to reaction from Follower, rather than just leading.

and

It was in 2004,

for me to understand the real happiness of freedom of L&F from a Rock-n-Roll teacher whom i forgot her name,

that both Follower and Leader shall play and dance out freely of their true inside,

and this is the way you get the real freedom and pleasure in tango within yourself.

and

It was in 2006,

for me to understand and enter a further spiritual level of L&F from the Tango Mundial attendance experiences,

that either Follower or Leader has to focus and dance with each other as if he/she is the only one to dance with,

with this strong attention, you may still keep yourself independent and clear in mind to deceive & also enjoy each movement in the environment around you.

and

It is in 2007,

for me to understand during an incidental walk with my father on our way home,

that he had become the Follower, when he used to be a Leader, walking quickly with big steps ahead of me,

and now i had become the Leader, when i used to be a Follower, following his steps behind.

and this time, much more deeply than other time, changed my view of Leader and Follower......

Just wanna write this down to share with those friends who care about me but might miss sort of contact recently.....

"I'm fine here, a little bit busy, but still okay.

Let me wish you a sweet and pleasant day, cherish what you have and being hopeful for the future."

cheers,

Agnes

驚豔Istanbul-小愛說.

Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:04:50 GMT

11月初擠出一個星期多的假，帶著筆記型電腦(因為每天還是平均工作1~2小時)，到德國、義大利與土耳其玩了一趟，

當然，也順便參加了有口皆碑的伊斯坦堡Tango Festival，白天在典雅飯店陽台餐廳面海用過豐盛的土耳其早餐後就出去逛市區，

傍晚時去上一兩堂festival的Tango classes，晚上與老師或朋友吃飯後，跳整夜的milonga，清晨回到房間後，跟著台北的上班時間工作一下才闔眼睡覺‧

.....$%^#%&#$@$@#^#$%結果整趟旅程下來，還是很累...:P

不過心情倒是輕鬆愉快振奮許多‧

還來不及好好得把旅遊記趣給擠出來，

應觀眾要求，先upload一些照片讓大家欣賞囉!

cheers,

Agnes

Power of Loneliness

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:24:38 GMT

It seems the Parrot-theory is indeed something to me, which makes me start thinking why i have been talkative since i was a child.
Now it seems to be attribute to a lonely childhood with two much-elder sisters around.

As he said, a trip might comes from the huge accumulation of solitude. I'm not really sure but this probably stands for me.
Being talkative, like traveling even alone, enjoy tangoing and being hyperactive, all might be due to the eager to explore new world,
reach out for fresh things, friendly interaction, warm companionship and the fear to make myself dried-up in hustle-n-bustle of life.

Just share with you, my dear friends, an article from one of my favorite writer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

孤單的力量

閱讀羅宏‧葛哈弗《旅行，旅行去》，讓我更堅信對旅行的嚮往，似乎是一種孤單力量的凝聚，孤單的力量很微弱的人，通常成不了旅行家，至於那些真的『去到多遠的地方都沒有關係』的行動派，似乎骨子裡都因為巨大的孤單，累積成一種自我毀滅的力量，一旦出發就再也不回頭。

我以前從來不知道，鸚鵡學人說話的模仿天賦，並不是因為從中得到任何樂趣，而是因為孤單的緣故。

『你有沒有注意到會講話的鸚鵡，都是單獨一隻在鳥籠裡?』當我一個對於鳥類知識非常豐富的朋友這樣提起時，我不得不承認從來沒有注意過這件事，但是仔細回想起來，好像的確是這樣沒錯。

『你知道為什麼嗎? 如果籠子裡面有兩隻鸚鵡，牠們就不會無聊，也就不會去模仿周圍環境的聲音了。』

雖然我半信半疑，但是當時我們正在哥斯大黎加山區一個快要收成的玉米田中央，當地農夫們每到這個時候，最苦惱的莫過於大批來偷吃莊稼的成群鸚鵡，整天下來看到起碼上千隻，的確沒有聽到哪一隻鸚鵡會說人話的。

『如果不學人說話，野生的鸚鵡平常在忙什麼呢?』我好奇地問。

『忙著玩啊!』朋友指著我們頭頂上飛翔追逐的鸚鵡，的確牠們看起來一點都不像在覓食或是作什麼正經事的模樣。

原來鸚鵡學會汽車的引擎聲，汽水開瓶的聲音，老太太罵人的連珠砲，都是因為無聊到了盡頭，孤立無伴的結果。這樣想起來，好像有點悲涼。

按照這個邏輯來推斷，從小到大班上最活躍最受歡迎，朋友也最多的人，成績通常都不會名列前矛，每次考試都第一名的，原來是最孤單的孩子。

再往下想，難怪我讀過一篇語言學家的研究報告，說是來自貧弱小國或是孤立島嶼的人種，通常學習外語的能力，要比大國或強國的人強，或許這也是同樣的道理，說明了英文為母語的老外，好像學什麼外語都難，但是大部分新疆的維吾爾族人，除了自己的母語外，無論漢語，塔吉克語，哈薩克語，阿富汗語，甚至俄語，都能說什麼像什麼，一學就會，讓人羨慕極了。
『當我們在塔吉克斯坦做生意的時候，有時在山區遇到土匪，萬一讓他們聽出來你不是當地人，那肯定死路一條!』有次在大巴札市集跟一個喀什來的小販聊天，他告訴我為什麼新疆人有語言天賦。

因為求生的需要。因為偽裝自己的必要。

想想好像還真有幾分道理。如果真是如此的話，孩子英文單字文法片語背得亂七八糟，是不是也情有可原，可以作為家長給了一個快樂童年的佐證?

從小我就是個被認為學習語言有點天賦的孩子，回想自己學習過程，是不是覺得在自己的語言世界裡喑啞? 我記得每次學習一個新的語言，總是迫不急待地希望能夠趕快學好，才能世界上另外一群人溝通，進入另外一個全新的世界，到頭來是不是孤單的力量促成的?

或許我沒有很好的答案，但是當我下一次發現自己學什麼不如別人的時候，甚至無緣無故停止旅行，可能不會那麼自卑，因為搞不好是因為我過得比別人快樂的緣故。

『出發，已經變成一種習慣、一種人生。這是一種沒有目的地、什麼地方也不去、甚至完全不動身的出發。處在啟程的狀態，就好像時時都在路過某地。我們是時間的旅人，乘著某艘人生之舟；一出發，就朝死亡接近一點。而我呢，我已經死夠多了。』羅宏‧葛哈弗藉著書中的主人翁巴特西克的口中這樣說。

或許收拾好皮箱，隨時處在啟程的狀態，就能將旅行最美的剎那無限延長，再也不用擔心被孤單追趕到角落的時候，無處可逃。

自成一類

最近出於好奇心，參加了一個名為時尚投資學的座談會，聽基金經理介紹如何投資LV手提包，Four Season四季酒店，Tiffany的珠寶，Georg Jensen的珠寶，Patek Philippe的脕錶，Apple的3C產品，Evian礦泉水，BMW的汽車，Adidas的運動用品，還有新加坡航空公司，Johnnie Walker的威士忌，聽眾無不沉浸在眾多名牌的意淫中，原來投資買基金賺錢這麼庸俗的事情，竟可以跟shopping買名牌一體二用，不乏有人立即露出彷彿老和尚開悟的喜悅表情。

這種如癡如醉的集體催眠，有時我在聊天講旅行的時候，也會在朋友的臉上看到。於是我忍不住問這些在場的聽眾，大家最嚮往的終極旅行是什麼，結果有人說攀登喜馬拉雅山（沒有攻頂也沒關係），有人想搭青藏鐵路去西藏，有一個女士想要去加拉貝哥群島Galapagos看世界絕無僅有的野生鳥類，還有人要去外太空（維京航空太空梭2010年開始每人十萬英鎊就能成行），就連旅行的目的地，也都有雜牌跟名牌之分! 我心儀的曼谷，很明顯的屬於廉價的雜牌貨。

有錢人懂得穿用名牌的，就改叫做時尚人士；至於旅行者懂得飛天鑽地的，就變成了探險家。

花$20,395美金再加上７％的燃料稅，搭乘其實有點破舊的俄羅斯破冰船從南美洲最難端的Ushuaia港口，用兩個星期的時間換來看幾隻皇帝企鵝。破冰船的舒適度甚至連貨櫃輪還不如，別說花上台幣七八十萬，就算是免費奉送，一想到那麼嚴寒的天氣，很多人也寧可敬謝不敏，但是對於坐著想到南極去的旅行夢的人來說，卻是很小的代價，因為搭船『到南極去』跟單純地『去坐船』，是完全不同的兩件事啊！

雖然算不上舒適，但是這樣的旅程只是坐在船上，也絕對沒有吃什麼苦，在友人口中，卻從此被冠上探險家的封號。

同樣的，買張花七百萬台幣到太空去體驗，雖然只有短短的一小時（真正外太空無重力狀態的時間更是只有十五分鐘），但是對於從小夢想著當太空人的小男孩來說，一張買維京星系Virgin Galactic航空公司的太空機票，跟七八十張可以環遊世界的ＲＴＷ機票，根本不是能夠相提並論的！

這也解釋了爲什麼東方特快車，能夠像風韻猶存的年邁藝妓，幾十年來讓無數人在遠方填滿甜美的遐想，雖然廉價的馬來西亞Air Asia航空，如今只要花不到兩三千台幣，就可以從一個小時內從新加坡飛抵目的地曼谷，但是Oriental Express永遠都是無可取代的夢幻之旅。

我不得不思索，『旅行』這項奇妙的商品，到底賣給了我們什麼？

如果不是單純的飛機票、船票、火車票或是旅館住宿，導遊加小費，兵險還有燃料稅，那究竟是什麼？

更有趣的問題是：我們爲什麼會買『旅行』？刺青紋身會留下終身的記號，但是旅行結束了以後，我們留下的究竟又是什麼？

明明同樣是１００％純棉的黑色Ｔ恤，爲什麼我們爲什麼會想要買Giorgio Armani的，如果沒有很多錢的話買副品牌的Ａ／Ｘ也沒有關係，甚至到北京秀水市場去買混仿的Ａ貨都願意，卻覺得ＮＥＴ或是佐丹奴的同式商品提都不值得一提?

因為Armani的純黑素面T恤已經不是T恤，超豪華的杜拜帆船飯店，也已經不是飯店，這些名牌，已經超越類型，變成了『類型外』的異數，所以當中國製造的白T恤一年比一年便宜，甚至變成日本百元商店的固定商品，D&G同樣基本款的白恤衫，卻一年比一年昂貴，難怪時尚精品基金的投資這樣紅火。

會流燭淚的聖母像不是單純的木雕，這就是類型外。

不用跟人家比較，自然就可以理直氣壯地訂定自己的遊戲規則，所以當所有大小商店的服務品質要求越來越好，即使只消費十塊錢也奉為上賓時；下定決心想買十幾萬買了LV的包包，搭拉著臉的門房卻正眼看都不看你一眼。

換句話說，我們辛辛苦苦多年，恐怕都走錯了路，努力想變成最物美價廉的OEM代工廠，卻忘了自己原來可以當精品。

類型外就是跟整群濃眉大眼的俊男美女並坐在一起，卻發現自己的單眼皮跟黝黑的皮膚竟也蠻好看。

願你我都在類型外，就算不是風華絕代，起碼人生從此少憂少慮。

(Adapted from 褚士瑩電子報)

10102007Unexpected Tokyo trip

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 08:34:53 GMT

Last Friday i had 5 days biz trip in Tokyo. Originally i thought i can fly to tokyo on Wednesday, which is a national holiday in Taiwan, so i might be able to visit the new place, MidTown in Ropongi this time, for some shopping and then enter JP office on Thu morning. However, accidents always show up in unexpected way. Unfortunately i got a cold on Tuesday and it got worse on Wednesday. I couldn't help about my serious running nose and headache all the way from Taipei to Tokyo, and to my astonishment, i didn't pass the health examination in Narita Airport! So i was called in to re-measure my temperature and answer lots of questions...fill in som many blanks....which costed me almost one hour. So finally when i arrived in my hotel in Shinjuku, it's been 4pm already...:( Then got no choices but to stay in hotel, working on my notebook, trying to defocus from my running nose and fever. However, with the strong will of unwilling to stay on bed for rest of the day, i still took 3 pills and dressed up to meet with my good friend Hiro in the evening. He took me to a good wine bar in Midtown and then we had a casual walk around Mid Town, which is really a good and relax place for taking a walk. (Window shopping is enough already since the demostrated brands are all in good design from JP in the overall quite comfortable environment. ) After that, we went to the milonga organized by Gyu y Lam, once coupld of JP dancer which are also my good friends and won the 1st place in Escenario session in Asia Tango Championship this year. There were not too many ppl on that nigth, perhaps because he used to play more modern tango music in this milonga. However, it's still good since i had more chances to chat with my JP friends there...:) Dance with Gyu again, since we danced in Buenos Aires last year. He changed in some way, seems lighter with more soft but still decisive movement and leading with the woman. Since i don't speak Japanese and he doesn't really speak English, our communication basically are lying on tango and espanol at last. Funny.

Thursday, i got up early to prepare to step on the journey to experience the so-called HumanJam subway transportation to my office, from Shinjuku to Tokyo Station in the high peak time. (although i only spent JPY190 for the single trip, it costed JPY2600 for the taxi....:P i used to take the cab but this time i lived far from the office.) And i really feel lucky that i have ever been trained to dance in crowed milongas with high-heeled dancing shoes before. Gosh, i really have to give my lady-like behavior and fight for myself to get in the tram. Thanks to God that i still make it to arrive in Office at exact 9am, with my notebook, tons of documents, and two boxes of cookies for colleagues.
I had a fullfilled day actually, but the most exciting part is the brain-storming meeting with my Singapore team. Since we have an offsite meeting on the weekend, all the staff are divided into 8 teams, such as Tokyo team, Singapore team, Taiwan team, Isreal team, California team, Hong Kong team..ect. Each team was assigned two projects. 1st project would be the study for exit for an original portfolio which might has some problems with bad performance. 2nd project is we have to make use of the proposed amount (JPY50 billion) to invest in Singapore-related investment with consideration of registration, tax issues, FX riski, global environment, staff benefit...etc. And i was responsible for the 2nd project. It's a bit difficult for me to join deeply since they're not good in Enlgish and the presentation are in Japanese. However, the CEO is being very kind and ask them to discuss in English so i can offer more opinions. (CEO happens to be in the same team :P) And the situation becomes quite interesting because we have Japanese, Singaporean, Malaysian, and Taiwanese in our team. With different culture background and each professional specialty, the brain-storming becomes more and more creative and broad-visioned. And you can also see different personality shown in different ppl in different ways, in thinking, in presentation, in proposing, in responding, in coordination, in making up decision...etc. And i found that i sort of enjoyed this kind of interaction and communication with different stimulation. And it's also testing and traning my sense to catch the ideas of others even he's speaking in a language that i dun understand. (to be continued)

Tango Music Master - Juan D'Arienzo

Sat, 06 Oct 2007 16:20:40 GMT

For those students and friends who are interested in my music in NYNY milonga,

Below i'll start to introduce some of my favorite masters for your reference.

In 1936 Juan D'Arienzo successfully appeared in the disputable territory of popularity. He was just 35 years old, one less than Julio De Caro –stylistically placed on the other end of the musical horizon of tango- he had been a star since 1924 and D'Arienzo started to become one when Pablo Osvaldo Valle took him to the brand new El Mundo radio station. What in no way meant, at all, that D'Arienzo were a late tango player. Like almost all the musicians in those days, he started in tango as a boy. With Angel D'Agostino on piano, the bandoneon player Ernesto Bianchi -aka Lechuguita- and Ennio Bolognini – Remo´s and Astor´s brother – he played, at a very early age, in very insignificant theaters. His first memorable performance, that he himself did not recall very well, goes back to 1919. On June 25 that year, Arata-Simari-Franco theater company premiered, at the Nacional theater, the comic play by Alberto Novión, "El cabaret Montmartre". D'Arienzo, in an interview in 1949, said that he played on that premiere: «We, D'Agostino and I on the violin, took part in the opening night of Alberto Novión´s sainete "El cabaret Montmartre"/.../. At the play a small tango orchestra appeared, led by us, and which accompanied Los Undar's, a famous dancing number formed by the partners la Portuguesa and El Morocho, two stars of tango canyengue». Doctor Luis Adolfo Sierra has established, however, that at the premiere of that play Roberto Firpo´s orchestra played. When it (Firpo, on piano; Cayetano Puglisi, on violin; Pedro Maffia and Juan Bautista Deambroggio, on bandoneons, and Alejandro Michetti, on drums) left on September 1, that year, it was replaced by that of D'Arienzo-D'Agostino. (Plz refer to www.todotango.com for more details. This is originally published in Tango y Lunfardo Nº 132, Year XIV, Chivilcoy, 16 )

Below are several of my favorite songs in milonga,

pensalo Bien

Que Importa

Union Civia

Nada Mas

Joaquina

Pampa

Homero

Loca

Tirando A Matar

Meta Fierro

De Antano

Carnavalera

Milonga Vieja Milonga

Estampa De Varon

Milonga Querida

El Temblor

El Raje

....

Experiece of life

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:26:36 GMT

Compared with some friends who are always traveling,

whether via work or study or just for fun (this is the kind that makes other most jealous of ...)

To work and live in Taipei offers a very limited choices of experiencing life.

However, there's always grand paradise in flowers and infinite world in a sand,

as long as you're patient and careful enough.

Just like those great philosophers who created spectacular sentences,

are not necessarily those traveling a lot,

but those who enjoy loneliness and know how to talk to themselves.

Well anyway, let's come back to the original topic before i'm getting lost...:P

I just like to indicate that,

we can do lots of different things to experience the so-called true lives,

we can to traveling, staying in a strage place for some time, do something that we never imagine...

try to love someone with devotion, or to be loved by someone else is also another kind.

And Tango, of couse is a special kind, for me.

(I apologize for mentioning about tango again...:P )

As a follower, its indeed easy to drop in shoes that following blindly without any own thoughts, ideas or sense.

(It might possibly woman's nature that we usually stay in the position of being chased.)

Therefore the follower is really likely to pursue her beauty in dancing ONLY.

and unfortunately, the real beauty and high-end pleasure of dancing tango is lost here.

I suppose as a human being, everyone has his/her own desire and emotion of life, in the depth of heart.

fears. joy, jealous, frustration, naughty, humor, sexy, lust, cautious, doubt, eager, disppointment, anger...etc.

For me the best dancer (i don't mean "techniqually" here) is having certain sincerity and bravity to express his/her feelings truthfully without fear or hiding.

I appreciate this kind of ppl within this characteristic, whether he/she tangos or not.

Many of us are living in a lucky world currently, which make us forget about the feeling or "pursue" and take everything around us for granted naturally.

(in someway, the "pursue" always means the "give")

"To feel and dance deeply, to make it real, Agnes",

said from my favorite teacher Esteban during this festival,

is the most important thing i learned this time.

Simple, clear, but difficult.

I'm glad that finally i seemed to get closer to this point at the end of th festival.

My teacher taught me to realize this through his dance, his embrace, his body language.

Does it need motive to dance good tango?

(Does it need motive to live a true life?)

Definitely YES

(Definitely YES)

you won't be able to dance a deep-feeling tango without strong needs.

(you won't be able to live a deep-living life without strong needs)

And only when we live a true life,

we knows what we are and where we're going.

To share with you all,

My dear friends.

My dear teachers.

abrazos.

Sep 23rd 2007.

Weight v.s. Tango ~ 小愛說

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 05:06:09 GMT

"Weight of Tango" or "Weight and Tango"

不知如何正確地命名這篇文章

但一切發想還是來自於體重與Tango的討論而來

跳tango的人一定要長得這樣又瘦又美又高又帥嗎

這是一般朋友看到tango舞池裡男男女女丟給我的第一個大問號

(ano...你是說台灣嗎? ......其實小愛心裡confuse的是"又高又帥"這個形容詞)

在tango舞齡還年輕時候的小愛大概會給個八九不離十的肯定吧

但在看過一些老態龍鐘肚廣髮稀的老milonguero milonguera*

風度翩翩地在milonga裡相擁而舞

或是

一些身材並非特別好可能還有點壯碩的"大隻佬"舞者"

一樣能在舞場上輕盈自如地全場飛舞

我想包括我在內的很多人都會開始深深贊同" Beauty is only skin deep"這句話

是的一個包裝精美的美觀外形的確在很多場合都有加分的效果

但是 Tango真正迷人之處卻非靠臉蛋與身材的美可以真正顯現出來

所以不一定要俊男美女才能跳出tango的美

或許這也解釋了為什麼tango愛好者的齡距可以從九歲十歲到八九十歲的現象

在此想稍稍拉回一下主題 Weight and Tango

在小愛還不太懂事的圓滾滾年代 Weight bothers A LOT to me!!!!!

還曾經在意被人嘲笑Weight到大哭的地步

但是在跳tango愈來愈久以後

也慢慢從只會貪婪注視讓人目眩神迷的俊男美女型tango

到現在逐漸懂得如何欣賞與感受跳脫外表從男女舞者散發自內在的tango之舞

當我在跳著tango 感受當下的時候

對方和自己的身高體重胖瘦外型的一切已經完全不是重點

不過現在的小愛還是必須承認 Weight means A LOT to me!!!!!

不是說真的體重而是指"存在感"

我喜歡擁有存在感的人

給我對於這世界予以肯定認知自身價值在哪讓我深刻感受他的存在與我的連結的人

而從另一個角度來看

除了愛情之外 Tango也是一個重量級情人...

To share with you all, my dear friends,

Weight and Tango

Weight of Tango.

* Milonguero & Milonguera : 老舞棍

小愛的探戈說~微觀Tango人生

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 12:41:21 GMT

小愛的探戈說 ~ 微觀Tango人生

總是可以從tango這個舞蹈看到很多很多東西
也體悟很多很多道理

當你與一個陌生人跳舞時
從男方邀舞的眼神 (女方應允的方式)
到舞池裡相擁的溫度與力度
lead與follow之間的明確與曖昧
相互動作間的試探與需索
都是因人而異非常值得玩味的一件事

從體溫與力量所傳達的概念想法是那樣的直接
毫不遮掩就讓人明白你的個性
平常彬彬有禮的紳士跳起舞來可能像個唯我獨尊的霸主
看似甜美可人的柔弱淑女卻喜歡在舞蹈上表現自己的想法

身體是不會說謊的
在去除掉充滿華麗辭藻包裝堆砌的文字後
你就只能用最原始的身體語言跟對方溝通
用你的直覺與全付感官去感覺

當你心猿意馬舉旗不定的時候
對方一定感受得到而也會裹足不前
(所以大剌剌的小愛通常都是先作了踩了再說，
作錯了再大聲地乾脆地說對不起:P
總比兩人大眼瞪小眼誰都不作杵在那兒到天荒地老)

當然啦也有很多時候
你小腦袋裡只想著自己要作什麼
卻完全忽略了對方在哪裡
那麼這種"自我"的心意與"一意孤行"的態度
要不就讓對方"丈二金剛摸不著頭腦"
不然就是對方就只會跟你跳這麼一次
因為很明顯你是在跟自己跳舞嘛

所以，跳出一支皆大歡喜的好tango，
密訣就在於"眼裡只看得到對方"的"互動"
問題從來不是你長得多帥多美多高多瘦
而是全心全意先敞開心胸感受對方也讓對方了解你
兩人才能站在一個對等又和諧的平衡點上共舞

記得有次在milonga微醺的狀態下說了句雖然俗卻很真實的話
"dance as if he's the last man in the world"
在這樣不知不覺"茫忙"過下去的每一天每一分每一秒
但願我們都能用這種珍惜的態度感受並記錄我們的人生

面子，不值錢啦...

Wed, 02 May 2007 11:34:06 GMT

最近在與tango班學生聚餐時

討論到舞會禮儀以及一些在舞會悠遊玩耍的心得分享

給皮嫩怯場的beginners最大的建議

就是不要理旁人

因為大部分人看舞池都傾向鎖定跳得最好的人

既然你就是還不到火候

表示不會有人注意意你阿

所以你又何必為此裹足不前...:P

也讓我想到一句Dr. Suess系列曾講的話

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

勇敢做自己，有心裡話就直說，因為那些會介意你這麼做的人不值得你介意，值得你介意的人無論你怎麼做都不會介意。

Just share with you all, and may you all become brave and open-minded dancers in Tango world!

面子，不值錢啦...

Tango Basic element review

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 06:56:10 GMT

Dears, it's wonderful and let me congratulate to all of you for finishing the Basic Classes. To review what we taught to prepare for the upcoming Improvers' Classes, let me list some of elements as reminder.

(1) 6 Basic element
* Forward: 前進
* Backward: 後退
* Side step: 側踏
* Shift weight: 換重心
* Front cross: 前交叉
* Back cross: 後交叉

=> Ocho: 西班牙文的 "8"
=> Front ocho : 2 Front crosses
=> Back ocho : 2 Back crosses

(2) Embrace: 舞姿
* Open embrace
* Close embrace

(3) Role
* Leader
* Follower

(4) Walking systems
* Parallel system : 平行系統 (男女像照鏡子般一同出左腳與右腳)
* Cross system : 交叉系統 (男女一同出左腳，或一同出右腳)

(5) Media Luna : 繞半圓
* Media: 一半
* Luna: 西班牙文的"月亮" 之意
* 這次課堂上教的Media Luna是女生以男生為圓心，繞著男生走三步(back cross, side step, front cross)，之後可以加一個女生adornment(裝飾，上課教的是"擦鞋"的裝飾)

(6) Cruzada : 西班牙文裡的"cross"，意指女生雙腳交叉
* 這次課堂上教的女生在右腳後退之後，由男生帶領使左腳交叉到右腳的外側，且重心被男生換到左腳
* Uncross (or Unlock) : 通常指男生帶女生從原本Cruzada的交叉腳形"解開" (讓女生把原本交叉於後方的右腳解開回到左腳旁側)的動作

(7) Giro : 西班牙文裡的"旋轉"
* 這次課堂上教的是以男生為圓心，女生繞男生，朝同一方向連續重覆走front cross, side step, back cross, side step的動作

舞照跳歌照唱人生繼續笑

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:44:44 GMT

舞照跳歌照唱人生繼續笑

最近這一個多月來
MSN名字從"八分五的罩杯人生"、"Save Your Soul" 、"黃金四小時v.s.鑽石20分" 到今天的 "舞照跳歌照唱人生繼續笑"
不外乎都是在形容自己在加入了Private Equity後的新生活
既充實又忙碌一向是我選擇追求的生活型態
故即使前一陣子忙到每天平均睡眠只有四小時，週六日趕場外常常穿上高根鞋跳舞超過12小時
再怎麼嘴上嚷著疲憊我也不會特別的厭倦抱怨
好歹是自己的選擇就應該一本初衷愛你所擇

但是當這種忙碌的結果已經讓一向精神百倍活力充沛的我
在通勤途中可以無徵兆得進入無意識昏睡模式
或是
每天早上一杯triple-shot的黑咖啡也不足以撐開興惺忪的睡眼
或是
工作上的滿足與成就感已敵不過心情低落所帶來的沉重沮喪
很明顯這已經遠遠得超過了所謂的"八分之五的罩杯人生" 水準

每個人都曉得魚與熊掌不兼得
但都很難學好"有捨有得拿捏得意"這門學問
每次太忙太累到一個頂點
總會聽從朋友的建議停下來喘口氣休息一會ㄦ
但卻又總在自己輕鬆的時候
驚訝地發現旁人的前進
於是又振奮起來急起直追
於是乎這樣的跑跑停停就一直成了我人生的固定循環

上週日在舞會當DJ
難得沒下場跳舞獨自坐在DJ台後聽著自己編輯播放的音樂
一個人靜靜得看著舞池裡的男男女女
所有因工作疲乏而產生的憂鬱，因思念朋友而帶來的沮喪...等等近來的不如意
一股腦兒全湧上心頭
好在剛好播放到我最喜歡的El Arranque樂團
從最喜愛舞者Esteban Moreno y Claudia Codega演出過讓我感動的Aerotango
到我最喜歡的Tango 男歌手 Ariel Ardit在唱著 Yo soy aquel muchacho
再到小提琴樂音美到不行的Adios Pampa Mia
雖然聽不懂歌辭意思
卻覺得他的每一句話小提琴與手風琴的每一個音符都奏進了我心裡
突然我覺得音樂已經進入了我的身體和我的心靈我的精神我的肉體合為一體
雖然還是沒有下場
卻覺得當下好像已經能放下一些包袱
似乎可以立即跳出很棒的舞

當然這只是當下的心情罷了
也剛好符合最近聽到一首歌的歌詞
"歌頌不滅的歌吧，為了這混蛋的世界，為了所有的人渣，為了我與你與他們，讓明天可以歡笑‧"
小小的挫折不算什麼
哼哼唱唱就讓它過去了
寂寞消沉難以忍受
跳跳舞能獲得救贖嗎

不管如何人生還是笑一笑挺下去吧

Photo Album: 2008Fall-小愛愛活記錄

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:48:49 GMT

2008Fall-小愛愛活記錄

Ag新髮型 (天真篇)

Ag新髮型(搖滾女主唱篇)

Ingrid&Stacy&Sarita&Yuru&Ag (P&Y wedding)

New AG (專注工作篇)

Peter&Ag&Alex(P&Y weddging)

Tokyo OffsiteMeeting Taipei team

Tokyo OffsiteMeeting 大老闆也很努力的搞笑拼成績

Tokyo OffsiteMeeting 小愛餐加Footfsol (夠努力吧)

Tokyo OffsiteMeeting 吹汽球比賽(肺活量不夠只有男生的份)

Tokyo Rex Milonga爵士演奏 (可惜不好跳舞)

More photos...

Photo Album: 小愛玩樂誌

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 01:34:24 GMT

小愛玩樂誌

小愛與潘家小貂

Pan & YiChin & Ag

Pan的酒窖(這只是一面牆而已喔)

女主人的拿手烤雞

不約而同的black dress code(Cynthis, LittleV, Ag,YiChin)

令人捨不得動手的精美自製Xmas cake

DSCN4976

SrV birthday party(露點露背趴)

Picnic food at YangMing

在山坡上煮咖啡讚

More photos...

Agnes Tango (謦瑋的BLOG)

Recycled X'mas

小愛的勇氣說

TEMP life

Piano, solo; My feet, my soul.

相遇的緣份 相通的藝術

昇日塊肋

小愛鬧彆扭

Tango之於小愛~~~

小愛報告-Jan 2008.

Follower v.s. Leader

驚豔Istanbul-小愛說.

Power of Loneliness

10102007Unexpected Tokyo trip

Tango Music Master - Juan D'Arienzo

Experiece of life

Weight v.s. Tango ~ 小愛說

小愛的探戈說~微觀Tango人生

面子，不值錢啦...

Tango Basic element review

舞照跳 歌照唱 人生繼續笑

Photo Album: 2008Fall-小愛愛活記錄

Photo Album: 小愛玩樂誌

相遇的緣份相通的藝術

舞照跳歌照唱人生繼續笑