要出發去坎城的那一天，我早上一醒來第一個念頭是『好不想去喔！』 不想離開小朋友那麼久，不想那麼累，不想每天工作超過十六個小時，其中包括跟同事鬼混的時間，但是行李打包好，跟兩個小鬼頭親吻道別，我上路了！
I woke up the day that I’m set to leave for Cannes thinking, “Oh sh*t! I don’t want to go”. It’s not that I don’t want to go, it’s just that I’m sad to leave the kids behind. But my bags are packed and I have a plane to catch. I kissed the two rascals good bye, and off I went!
就是這個新加坡廣告，引起許多媽媽們不滿，紛紛上網幹譙。
原本廣告訴求只是要提醒新加坡的外傭僱主們，讓外傭一個星期至少放假一天，因為許多在新加坡工作的外籍家傭，一個月只休假一兩天，有些甚至完全沒休假。近幾年政府才明文規定，家傭應一個星期放假ㄧ天，但還是有很多僱主不遵守規定。於是這個廣告找來了ㄧ群母親和她們的外傭，請她們回答一些關於孩子的問題，然後播出孩子的答案。結果在廣告中所呈現出的，是外傭一面性壓倒勝利，答對了所有問題，對小朋友的大事小事都暸如指掌，最後一張黑底白字的字卡出現，寫著『請給予家傭她們法定性的休假日』。
我看完廣告第一個反應是，『這個廣告也太歧視女性了吧？！』 首先，它把照顧小朋友的責任都歸咎於媽媽以及外傭身上，那爸爸是在幹嘛？ 爸爸都不用負責照顧小孩嗎？ 再來，這邏輯也很奇怪，因為如果母親沒有答對答案，就表示妳不太瞭解小朋友，所以妳應該讓外傭休假。 但是試問，如果母親若答對所有問題，是否就表示外傭不需要放假？ 我討厭這廣告的另外一個原因，可能是因為它觸痛我這位職場媽媽內心的最深恐懼 – 小孩跟外傭關係緊密更勝過於我。
趁著休假在家的空擋，我終於有機會去校車巴士站等小孩放學，而在巴士站，碰到了好久不見的Ｍ媽媽，聊聊兩人家庭的近況之外，M 媽媽突然八卦起來，問我知不知道隔壁Ｓ太太的八卦？
『什麼八卦？』 我最近工作忙，沒時間了解，也沒人跟我講。
M媽媽說，『哎呀，還不就是她小孩皮，在班上一直闖禍，跟幾個孩子吵架，還有打架，讓一些小朋友很害怕上學，其他家長很不開心』
『是喔?! 』我繼續問下去，『那學校怎麼處理？五歲的小男生本來就很皮啊！』
M媽媽口沫橫飛的說，『其他家長就聯合起來，告狀告到校長那去，就連家長會都被扯了進來，然後還大家坐下來一起開會』 『那最後結果如何？』 Continue reading
This is arguably one of my favorite things to eat in the world – Pho Bo – Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup. My love affair with it began in college and I’ve been hooked ever since. There’s something about slurping down a spoonful of rich, savory beef broth, paired with flat, soft rice noodles, and then add a mouthful of fragrant herbs like basil, spring onions, bean sprouts, mint, and cilantro to the mix. Oh! and who can forget the squeezed lime as the finishing touch. It’s heavenly. Even though I’ve been told that Danang is not a town famous for its pho but one MUST venture out and try how the locals like their pho when in Vietnam, right?
越南牛肉河粉可以算是我最喜歡吃的麵食之一。如果臨死之前，有人問我說要吃台灣牛肉麵還是吃越南河粉？ 基於愛國的精神，我可能被迫選擇牛肉麵，但是都要死了，應該可以不用管愛不愛國，所以我會選越南河粉。 去過峴港的識途老馬說，峴港的越南河粉比起其它地區而言沒有那麼出色，但是已經到了越南，還是要出去探險，嚐嚐看當地人喜歡的味道，跟我們在香港或是台灣吃到的有什麼不一樣 Continue reading
It was the trip that we have been planning for weeks – 8 families plus 17 kids. Never mind the kids, I was super excited and SO ready for some sun, fun, beach, pool and plenty of pho! Destination is Danang, a port city that sits on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Flight time from Hong Kong to Danang is only 1 hour and 40 minutes. A short hop away and then this is what awaits – the perfect beach vacation.
計劃已久的復活節家庭旅遊終於要登場了! 因為有一對夫妻好友熱衷往峴港跑,去了兩次之後，也號召其他家庭一起參加他們的復活節旅行。最後揪一揪總共揪到了八個家庭,其中包含十七個小朋友一起出發。 不要說小孩子了,大人們都超級期待這次的旅行，我超級需要陽光，海灘，還有吃到飽的越南河粉。 峴港飛到香港需要坐兩個鐘頭不到的飛機，之後就可以盡心欣賞這樣風景…
life is good, isn’t it? 人生夫復何求？
我不清楚阿帕契是什麼東西。我也不想罵李倩蓉，因為有太多人比我更討厭她，更急著要罵。
整個新聞事件對我而言，比較重要的是，要怎樣教育出一個沒有公主病的女孩。 這個對我來說，遠比國軍機密更來得重要，因為家裡有一個小不點大的女娃，而她最迷戀的人物，就是”Princess”。
Yesterday was MM’s first and only school interview and when i say school, I mean pre-nursery. This is the only school that I applied for her. I guess it’s because I’m pretty confident she’ll get in because her brother went there. Also if she doesn’t get in, I thought i’ll just keep her at home for another year. I’m sure the helpers would enjoy having her around…I think. MM picked out what she wanted the wear for the interview herself, and the shoes to go with. She’s usually pretty quiet in a new environment and didn’t say much. Yesterday was no different. The only word she said the whole time she was there was “Thank you”. It was more like a whisper but she did say it and I was relieved. She did, however, waved bye to the teachers as we walked out. We’ll find out the result next week. For some reason, it’s extra emotional for mommy to see her little girl all grown up and ready for school. I guess because she’s probably my last child. Sniff sniff…
昨天帶妹妹去她第一次的學校面試. 可能是因為這是哥哥的舊學校,她幾乎是十拿九穩可以入學,所以我非常輕鬆,完全是以回娘家的心態進去學校的. 不僅非常輕鬆,根本有點心不在焉的,把時間看錯,遲到了半個小時才到. 但是看到很多熟悉的老師,真的非常開心. 老師們也不斷地打量妹妹,說她跟哥哥長得一模一樣. 在面試時,老師也沒問妹妹幾句,只顧著跟媽媽聊天. 妹妹全程只開了金口一次,就是要離開時跟老師說”謝謝” 不過她說了之後,我還真鬆了口氣. 昨天的心情是有點複雜,一方面開心看見之前非常照顧哥哥的老師們,跟她們報告哥哥的近況跟秀照片. 另外一方面看著妹妹小不點大的身影,也很感慨她已經這麼大了. 很有意見的自己挑選衣服跟鞋子. 妹妹可不可以不要那麼快長大？
If you’re a budget conscious shopper like me, I know you get quiet a thrill when you come across these small hidden gems, tucked away from the bustle and hustle of Hong Kong. On my way to get Vietnam visa for our upcoming vacation, I stumbled across this hole-in-the-wall pop up store on Wanchai street. I was ecstatic because A. I’ve been thinking about getting a new set of dinnerware, bowls, and serving plates, but didn’t want to go to Ikea because the selection there is really lacking. B. I didn’t want to pay over-the-top prices, because let’s face it, living in Hong Kong, what is NOT over-the-top $$$?
I remember buying from a similiar shop like this also in Wanchai a few years ago, but it disappeared a few days later. So I could hardly contain my excitement when I found this one. Let’s go and take a look, shall we? Continue reading
每次當我告訴朋友,等下要去採訪某某活動的紅地毯,大部份人會投以羨慕的眼光,以為真是什麼好康的事情. 沒錯,有時候我的工作聽起來光鮮亮麗. 但是背後真有很多不為人知的辛酸. 我想很多娛樂記者每聽到頒獎典禮,盛大首映會,慈善晚會時,只有一個想法, 那就是‘唉,又是一個挑燈夜戰的日子…’ 所以當我聽到amfAR 愛滋研究基金會要在香港舉辦盛大的慈善晚會時,我就知道麻煩大了. Continue reading
87屆奧斯卡頒獎典禮終於圓滿落幕!
得獎名單總體而言,沒有太大的驚喜或意外. 而頒獎典禮坦白說,有點無聊. 但是在三個半小時的頒獎典禮中,還是有幾個讓人眼睛一亮的亮點.
deartaipeilovehongkong.com 