Viva L'Italia - The Beginning

   About one year ago, my aunt saw an advertisement of Longines featuring Aishwarya Rai, Chiling Lin, and Kate Winslet. She asked me where the advertisement was filmed. "Is that Greece?" she said. "No, I think it's Italy." I replied immediately because I had read the news about the advertisement. After a while, my aunt came to me again. "Is it possible you bring us to Italy for an individual travel next year?" she asked. I was surprised at what I heard. Italy? It's in Europe, very far away form Taiwan. Us? My aunt has four children, so us means at least 5 people. "Maybe." that was my answer.

Goals and Aspirations

    "As a family medicine doctor and son of a baker, I would like to devote myself to the study of culinary art to help my patients know how to eat healthily and savorily. Assisting people in need is always my life goal and responsibility. I have seen too many people suffering from metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension being told to follow strict diet rules. Most of them eventually failed because they thought it made their life colorless, so they rather opted to sacrifice their health. I sincerely believe the training in Le Cordon Bleu Paris will allow me to improve those people’s tough situation. "

                                                                                                                                                                              Cecil

        - My "Goals and Aspirations"  of the application for The James Beard Foundation Scholarship

Those Days, When We Were in Kyoto

  In the end of Feburary this year, I went to Japan to visit my friend who has studied for PhD degree there since 4 years ago. That was my third time to travel in the Kansai area. Thanks to my friend Moz who gave me a great guide in Osaka and Kyoto again. I experienced taking a leisure stroll in the Kiyomizu Temple wearing traditional Japanese kimono, living in an "Onsen Hotel" named Hanaikada(花筏) in Arashiyama, and shopping in Shinsaibashi(心齋橋), Osaka. (In fact, I bought lots of condoms.) Even though there is no snow or cherry blossom scenes, the trip for me is still unforgettable.

Summer is Coming, and Summer is Gone

  The weather has been getting hotter and hotter in Taiwan since last week. It's March, but the high temperature makes everything looks like summer. There are tons of things I can list as the reasons why I have fondness of summer: swimming in the outdoor pool (I am not able to do that in cold winter days), wearing nice casual summer clothes to show your body (since I'm not tall, heavy winter clothes makes me clumsy), enjoying delicious watermelon, etc. However, in recent days, the weather has become cold again. Summer just showed his head for a short moment, and then he disappeared. According to the weather forecast, a cold air mess is approaching Taiwan and influences on the island most this weekend. After that, it will be hot again. Hopefully it won't get cold anymore. I want summer, I like summer, and I am ready for summer.

Cherry Blossom in Taiwan

   It's almost spring in Taiwan. Though it is still cold in the morning and the evening, the temperature is quite acceptable at noon. You can see signs of spring in Nature. The flowers begin to compete with each other with their beautiful look. People don't have to wear that much clothes. Last Saturday, my friend asked me if I would like to go to flower viewing in Hsinshe, Taichung (新社), where there are cherry blossom trees planted in some regions. "Yes," I told my friend. I thought the view of cherry blossom in Taiwan would never beat it is in Japan where I enjoyed the breathtaking cherry blossom scenery in Kyoto 2 years ago. However, flower viewing with different person is likely to give me another wonderful experience.