il Giardino Romantico

既然都說雙語是特色了，感言好像也該雙語一下～

Well, since I've stated the bilingual aspect of the blog as a unique feature, I guess this ought to be bilingual, too. 

(il Giardino Romantico got into the first round of the 2011 Annual Blog Award)

得知本屆全球華文部落格大獎開始報名時，對於要不要報名這件事情猶豫了很久。

When I learned about the application dates for this event, I hesitated for a while before making a final decision. 

一、去年入圍決選，我認為已經是本格的極限。今年再參加，有可能還這麼幸運地再度入圍決選嗎？我連年度最佳部落格都不敢肖想。還是那句老話：本格會有一定的品質，但我很知足的知道本格的極限在哪裡。其實得了最佳部落格，反而因為想要保持水平的壓力，更難繼續寫下去。

1. I thought last year's getting into the second round would be the limit of this blog, and that I'd probably used up all the 'luck'. I'm not even going to think about being awarded 'Best Blog of the Year'. I promise that the standard of the blog will be maintained at a certain level, but I also know where my limits are. If you think about it, the pressure of having received an award would actually make it harder to continue writing... 

二、基於報名這段期間，我也在忙一些私人的事情（在此就不方便透漏，知道的人就也不用特別強調）。本來想說不要再花費時間在這上面（我平時花時間整理照片寫文的時間還不夠多嗎～）

2. During the time of application, I had been busy with other things. I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend time on this. (I spend enough time organizing photos and writing... )

三、看看報名的分類，我一直沒辦法達定主意，這裡到底最後變成了『美食部落格』還是『休閒旅遊部落格』還是大雜燴的『生活綜合』甚至『興趣嗜好』？

3. I wasn' tsure which category I should apply for... 

就在我私人事件忙到焦頭爛額，心情down到谷底，壓力最沉重的時候，我還是報名了。沒有什麼原因，其實也只是因為每年都會做的事情，好像繼續做下去是應該的。（真爛的理由）

But when I reached the bottom of the pit, feeling depressed and stressed out from this other thing I had been busy with, I still went ahead and applied. I think it's the feeling that: I've done it for 5 consecutive years, why not this time? (lame reason, I know) 

說穿了，整個就是很矛盾的心態。

I know it's a bit contradictory. 

好。報了名之後呢，才去看每個分類的詳細解說。此時才看到『生活綜合』應為「分享生活相關資訊，提升生活品味，並提供大眾消費參考。例如：生活情報、醫療健保等。」挖哩！你什麼時候看天仙分享過消費參考？或是醫療健保？看到這些文字，心裡想說算了算了！反正本來報名就志在參加，不在贏。沒想到今天看到Facebook專頁發出來的訊息，點進去看竟然真的找到自己的部落格！

And after I submitted my application, I read the description for the categories. Oops. I think I applied for the wrong category. But it didn't matter. I don't think I'll get into the first round anyway. But when I saw the notice on Facebook, I clicked on the link, and saw my blog on the list! Wow! What a surprise!

其實續上次「胡思亂想，不知所云」這篇文章，我還是得說：我會留意部落格人氣，不代表我在意。我很喜歡Pixnet後台的分析，因為比起每天看自己的人氣是增加了還是減少了，我更喜歡去分析到底我寫了那些文章是大家喜歡看的。雖然我還是保留一點點的堅持：該寫的文章，就算沒人看，我還是要寫。但了解讀者的趨勢，本身就是一件很有趣的事情。你不覺得嗎？

I still have to clarify that I am not obsessed with 'daily views and visits'. But I do notice and make my own observations. I like the backstage function where I can see what people like to read, what brought people to this blog, and what not. I maintain the attitude that there are some articles that must be written anyhow, even if I know no one's interest. Despite that, it's still interesting to learn about the reader trend, isn't it?

透過這個部落格平台，有已經很久就不是我學生的學生繼續跟我保持聯絡。透過這個平台，有格友因為遠赴利物浦看球賽而與我相識。透過這個平台，幫助了網友完成他的碩士論文調查。透過這個平台，家人監控了了解了我不在他們身邊時的生活。透過這個部落格，無意間接收了一個好學、乖巧、又有責任感的家教學生。透過這個部落格，讓平時很少再連絡的朋友，見面時有聊不完的話題（這裡太多題材）。一個簡單的部落格，卻有這麼大的效益，你說，有誰還會在意人氣？

I've already gained so much from writing this blog. Students who had ceased to be my students for a long time, continue to come and read articles every now and then; bloggers find me through web search and meets me in Liverpool because of football games; I helped a postgrad student with her research on travel with literary themes; my family can learn about what I do while I'm away from them; incidentally got a student; and increased chatting topics amongst friends. Look at all these benefits - and all from blogging. Who would care about daily visits?

如果這次初選沒有入圍，我不會感到難過，或是失落。入圍了，我覺得這份開心應該跟大家一起分享，而不是我自己說說就好。雖然話說「沒人看，還是會寫」但當你下定決心要好好經營一個部落格（尤其是在這種微博盛行的年代），其實最後得到的只有更多。我喜歡自己的格子，是因為我可以只花一天，一周，一個月，或一年的時間在一個地方享受一個獨特的體驗，但透過部落格，整理照片時可以回憶一次。開始動手寫文時又回憶一次。發文時又回憶個兩三次。每次留言通知就又在回憶一次。又隨著文章陸續增加，藉著舊文瀏覽的功能，又能夠在回憶無數次！

I would've been indifferent if I didn't even make it into the first round. But since I did, I think everyone reading the blog deserves a bit thank you from me. Although I say that some articles must be written whether or not they will be read, once you decide to manage a blog, you will only gain a lot more than you expect. I like my blog. Because I can spend a limited amount of time at one place, but through picking out photos, uploading them, writing words to go with them, publishing, and replying comments, I am endlessly reminiscing these wonderful memories. 

相較於各位來訪者、留言者頂多瀏覽個三四次（但一般來匆匆去匆匆的也只有那麼一次），其實受益最多的真的還是筆者自己。

In comparison to readers who view each article, at most, a few times, it's definitely the blog owner who has the most to gain. 

感謝各位對於本格的支持。

Thank you for all your support.

就如同報名時寫於簡介的內容：
「獨特的以雙語方式呈現臺灣以及英國。清晰、豐富的照片，以最短的文字內介紹歷史、文化、景點。內容多元化：英國文學主題景點、留學資訊、臺灣美食與景點，還有『倫敦熊』系列輕鬆、逗趣的圖文。」

Just like the brief intro I wrote for submission:
"Unique in its bilingual presentation of Taiwan and UK culture. With clear and a wide range of variety of photos, history, culture, and places of interest are presented with concise words. A diversity of contents ranging from: literary themed travel logs, info and data on studying in the UK, Taiwan food and travel logs, and cute and humourous Paddington Bear series.

這就是只要我英國遊記還沒貼完前，會堅持到底的原則。（謎之音：那貼完之後呢？）

This is what I will insist on, whilst there are still articles left to write on the UK. (but what happens when I'm done?) 

天仙念：中文寫起來蠻短的，沒想到英文加進去變成那麼長啊！囧～