七年前照片

 FB提醒我這張七年前兒子參加足球精英訓練。

後面的英國教練是中華隊總教練（現在還是），前面三個同年齡的小孩，後來都進了後甲體育班繼續練足球，目前兩個在德國，我兒子在英國。

堅持這兩個字啊⋯⋯

Some Pictures

 2 pictures of Daniel 

準備申請大學中

今天是台灣學測的日子，人在英國的丹尼爾剛確認完大學方向，等待正式offer。如果他人還在台灣唸書，現在肯定焦頭爛額，但在英國的他，下一步大致底定。所以我有感觸。

假設他人在台灣，這時候我們應該會很雞婆的陪他收集資料、給意見，幫忙他問人……..但我人不在他身邊，家裡的英國人，唸大學是50幾年前的歷史事件。我們都對英國學制一竅不通，所以完全只能靠丹尼爾自己去詢問去摸索。我是愛莫能助。

研究學校、科系、學制、學費、Gap year，英國學生貸款，獎學金，上網填UKAS(英國申請大學用）、寫自傳、台灣兵役延役文件、跟學校email往來確認疑慮、拉拉雜雜，全部自己包辦……我的角色是啦啦隊，因為我都不懂。只能慶幸我們有把他英文基礎打好、二年英國高中成績還不錯，大學還願意收留他。

一個孩子適應能力有多強，父母不在身旁時最清楚。

不過丹尼爾有一個同學更強，上網搞群眾募資，贊助他唸大學呢。

Today is the day of the university entrance test in Taiwan. Meanwhile, Daniel, who is in the UK, has just finalized his university plans and is waiting for an official offer. If he were still in Taiwan studying, he would probably be feeling overwhelmed right now. But in the UK, his next step is more or less settled, which gives me a lot to reflect on. If he were in Taiwan, we would probably be meddling—helping him gather information, offering advice, and asking others for help. But since I’m not by his side, and the British person at home attended university over 50 years ago, we know nothing about the UK education system. It’s entirely up to Daniel to inquire and explore on his own. I am completely helpless. Researching universities, programs, education systems, tuition fees, gap years, UK student loans, scholarships, filling out UCAS applications, writing personal statements, dealing with Taiwan’s military service extension documents, e-mailing schools to clarify doubts—he’s handled everything himself. My role has been that of a cheerleader, as I don’t understand any of it. I can only be grateful that we laid a good foundation for his English and that his two years of high school in the UK went well enough for universities to accept him. Parents truly see how adaptable a child is when they are not by their side. That said, one of Daniel’s classmates is even more impressive—he managed to crowdfund his university education online!

國際學生證

在幫兒子找機票時，發現有國際學生證購票可以比較便宜（票價便宜成人票3000），而且行李可以「加大」。這次訂的票可以加大到40公斤，因為太晚知道這件事，不然還可以利用Black Friday sales順便當代購。

While helping my son book his flight, I discovered that using an international student ID can get you cheaper tickets (about NT$3,000 less than adult fares) and extra baggage allowances. This time, the ticket I booked allows him to increase his baggage weight to 40kg. If I had known about this earlier, I could have taken advantage of Black Friday sales and done some shopping for others as well.

!國際學生證申請網站

最佳球員 Man of the Match

最佳球員

Man of the Match

We are so proud of you!

Daniel's HIghlight

Daniel's Highlight 

讀聖經

英國足球留學455天

兒子最近跟我說：

他新約讀完3篇了，而舊約已經全部看完

（註：兒子留言裡更正我，是新約讀完，舊約還有800多頁）

你能想像一個從小抱怨坐著腳會痛，也不怎麼愛看書的孩子、現在竟然在讀英文聖經？可見上帝對我們的安排，凡人難懂。

現在他在英國上教會，是需要步行40分鐘才能到得了，做完禮拜後，得再步行40分鐘回來。而且還是獨自前往，沒人作伴。18歲人有這樣的毅力，雖說是我生的，我也不理解啊。

禱告神能帶領他。給他開智慧，讀懂神的話。

455 Days of Studying Football in the UK

Recently, my son told me:

He has finished reading three books of the New Testament, and he has already completed the entire Old Testament.

(Note: In his comment, he corrected me—he has finished the New Testament, but there are still over 800 pages left in the Old Testament.)

Can you imagine? A child who used to complain that sitting for too long made his legs hurt, who never really enjoyed reading, is now reading the Bible in English? It just shows that God’s plans for us are beyond human understanding.

Right now, he attends church in the UK, which requires a 40-minute walk each way. After the service, he walks another 40 minutes back. And he does it alone, without anyone to accompany him. At 18 years old, having such perseverance—I gave birth to him, yet I still can’t quite understand it myself.

I pray that God leads him, grants him wisdom, and helps him understand His word.