仕事の前に、Suntoryとの打ち合わせがありました。
今回大阪への出張はSuntoryのwhiskeyをニュースにproduct placementのケースです。
色んな面白いwhiskeyに関する報道ができると思うけど、三日二泊なので、多くでも三パケージかな。
Suntoryの人から、台湾の紹興酒が中国のより品質がいいと聞きました。
でも残念ながら、マーケチングがよくないから、あまり知られていないみだいです。
台湾人にとって、台湾紹興酒は価値のないものだ、と言いました。
その紹興酒の工場は歴史があって、お酒の上に沢山の価値があると思います。
私は何かをしたいでが取材の範囲は台北だけで、今の所では無理です。
この打ち合わせは今日の一番面白いことだったです。
今日は八時のmake-up時間の前に四つのアサインメントがあって、大変でした。
具合も悪くて、頭と体も動かせなくて、300%の力を入れました。
Make-upのお姉さん達に少し元気をもらって、メークと頭を作った後に、ぎりぎりまで原稿のレビューをして、China Airlinesの収録に入りました。
心配したけど、パフォーマンスはそんなに悪くなかったです。
その後、着替えて、news gatheringに戻って、また記者の仕事を一時まで続けました。
今日は虐められなかったけど、忙しかったです。
明日はどんな日のかな。
Tuesday, 31 October 2006
Monday, 30 October 2006
Night shift - day 2
考えてみると、この六週間の中に四週間は夜勤でした。
一ヶ月のナイトシフトって、ヴァンパイアになりそうです。
体にはきついです。
この二三日、夜中や朝早く起こされたことが多かったです。
金曜日の夜０時３０分にLydiaからの電話がありました。
さっきあなたの弟と喧嘩したら、彼がナイフで自分の手を刺し出て行った。何度も電話してみたんだけど、出ないのであなたも電話して？っと言った。
は？！と思いすっかり目覚めてしまいました。
あたしも電話したんですが、やっぱり出なかったです。
それでどうしようもなかったから、また眠り込んでしまいました。
朝四時ぐらいMomの叱っている声にまた目が覚めました。
Michaelが手の傷の原因はLydiaと野良犬を助けていた時にワイヤに切れたと嘘をついていました。
Momは可愛がりながら、叱り続けました。
その会話が何時に終わったか解らないですが、７時になったら、Oreoがおはよう〜に現れました。
彼女はいつも私がドアをあけるまで、必死にノックします。
ドアをあけてあげて、キスとだっこをもらったら、満足したように部屋から出ていて、私もベッドに戻りました。
九時半に目覚め時計に起こされた時、Michaelに昨夜のことを聞いたら、彼女なんか死んでしまえばいいんだとと一言だけ。。。
大変な一日の始まりでしょ？
今朝Oreoが私の部屋にまたやってきました。
おはようルーティンが終わったら、９時に携帯が鳴りました。
眠っている声で出ました。
Caller: まだ寝てるの？
Me: 大丈夫ですよ。どうしました？
Caller: いいですよ、寝て居なさい。
Me: 大丈夫です。どちら様ですか？
それで、Callerがカチャンって切っちゃいました。
ナイトシフトで三時に寝たのに、朝起こされた上に、名前も教えてくれないなんて、嫌だなと思いました。
そんなことも有って、10h30まで寝ようとしましたが、眠れなくなってしまった。
夕方ぐらいそのCallerまたかかってきました
結局そのCallerはニュース部の部長だったんです。
彼女は私が自分と関係ないと思ったことを叱って、しかり終わったらお願いごとをしました。
彼女は頭が良すぎて、皆とのロジックと違って、あたしにはちょっと解りにくいです。
人にお願いをするのに。。。
ニュース部の部長、記者、そしてアンカーとして有能なのに、なんで彼女はコミュニケーションスキルがこんなに弱いのかな。
でもこれは自分のEQを増やすチャンスですから、こういうことがあってありがたいです。
今晩、雨の中での撮影から戻ってきた時に、また不機嫌な先輩に虐められて、もう爆発寸前でした。。
それに晩ご飯をちゃんと食べられなかったので、ものすごく疲れました。
今日は本当に大変な一日でした。
明日は文句を言わないように頑張ります。
(edited by Mama and 金ちゃん)
一ヶ月のナイトシフトって、ヴァンパイアになりそうです。
体にはきついです。
この二三日、夜中や朝早く起こされたことが多かったです。
金曜日の夜０時３０分にLydiaからの電話がありました。
さっきあなたの弟と喧嘩したら、彼がナイフで自分の手を刺し出て行った。何度も電話してみたんだけど、出ないのであなたも電話して？っと言った。
は？！と思いすっかり目覚めてしまいました。
あたしも電話したんですが、やっぱり出なかったです。
それでどうしようもなかったから、また眠り込んでしまいました。
朝四時ぐらいMomの叱っている声にまた目が覚めました。
Michaelが手の傷の原因はLydiaと野良犬を助けていた時にワイヤに切れたと嘘をついていました。
Momは可愛がりながら、叱り続けました。
その会話が何時に終わったか解らないですが、７時になったら、Oreoがおはよう〜に現れました。
彼女はいつも私がドアをあけるまで、必死にノックします。
ドアをあけてあげて、キスとだっこをもらったら、満足したように部屋から出ていて、私もベッドに戻りました。
九時半に目覚め時計に起こされた時、Michaelに昨夜のことを聞いたら、彼女なんか死んでしまえばいいんだとと一言だけ。。。
大変な一日の始まりでしょ？
今朝Oreoが私の部屋にまたやってきました。
おはようルーティンが終わったら、９時に携帯が鳴りました。
眠っている声で出ました。
Caller: まだ寝てるの？
Me: 大丈夫ですよ。どうしました？
Caller: いいですよ、寝て居なさい。
Me: 大丈夫です。どちら様ですか？
それで、Callerがカチャンって切っちゃいました。
ナイトシフトで三時に寝たのに、朝起こされた上に、名前も教えてくれないなんて、嫌だなと思いました。
そんなことも有って、10h30まで寝ようとしましたが、眠れなくなってしまった。
夕方ぐらいそのCallerまたかかってきました
結局そのCallerはニュース部の部長だったんです。
彼女は私が自分と関係ないと思ったことを叱って、しかり終わったらお願いごとをしました。
彼女は頭が良すぎて、皆とのロジックと違って、あたしにはちょっと解りにくいです。
人にお願いをするのに。。。
ニュース部の部長、記者、そしてアンカーとして有能なのに、なんで彼女はコミュニケーションスキルがこんなに弱いのかな。
でもこれは自分のEQを増やすチャンスですから、こういうことがあってありがたいです。
今晩、雨の中での撮影から戻ってきた時に、また不機嫌な先輩に虐められて、もう爆発寸前でした。。
それに晩ご飯をちゃんと食べられなかったので、ものすごく疲れました。
今日は本当に大変な一日でした。
明日は文句を言わないように頑張ります。
(edited by Mama and 金ちゃん)
Sunday, 29 October 2006
豆花
Christabelleさんのホームページからの写真です。
http://www.christabelle.url.tw/index.php?load=read&id=123 を読んで、食べたくなってきました〜
一緒に食べに行く人、手あげて！
Shengchuan and I
組合からのお弁当を待ちながら、大好きな先輩と写真を撮りました。Chang Shengchuanという素晴らしい記者とアナウンサーです。
私はいつも生活組の道化師なんですよ。
彼女が付き合ってくれました。
(edited by 金ちゃん)
私はいつも生活組の道化師なんですよ。
彼女が付き合ってくれました。
(edited by 金ちゃん)
For lovely eyes...
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
-SL
１１月の末、大阪出張になりまして、日本語を練習しなければならないことに気づきました。
日本に離れてもうあっという間に二年間にたち日本語を本当に忘れちゃいそうです。
ブログを読んで頂いてる皆さん、間違っているところを気づいたら教えて下さい。
宜しくお願いします。
テレビの仕事を初めてから一生懸命きれいになろうっと頑張って、色々な笑い方、メークのやり方、喋り方などを真似したりやってみました。
しかし、やっはり心が奇麗じゃないと姿形も勿論顔も奇麗にならないですね。
最近それにも気づきました。
この二、三月自分のなかでは沢山の変更が起きていると感じています。まだ完全に理解できていないですが、少しずつその答えが見えてくる思います。
でもなんか、突然に違う人になってしまって、一時自分もびっくりしました。
変だと思われますが、自分の一部分が突然死んでしまったと感じたが、それを悲しんでいながら他の所で新しい枝の生えているのを感じています。
あまり皆には言いたくないですが、年をとるまえにこの世界から離れるのを感じました。
明日に死ぬ訳でもないけど、年寄りになる暇もないから、解ってきたのは人生を大切しないといけないです。
明日に死ぬことが決まっていたら、アイスクリームを飽きちゃうまで食べようとするけど、そんなにラッキーじゃないですね。
どういうふうにしてバランスよく楽しく後悔しないように人生を最後まで過ごしていけるかを考えるようにしたいと思います。
人生を大切にしなさいっとよく言われますが、初めて自分で感じました。
２７歳なんですが、もう半分年寄りになっているみたい・・・・。
まあ、取り合えず心から優しく、compassionateになりましょう。
いつか仕事は絶対成功すると思いますが、人生の優先順位が明らかに分かってきました。心のいい人になってから、次へ進むべきです。
(edited by Mama and Kin-chan)
-SL
１１月の末、大阪出張になりまして、日本語を練習しなければならないことに気づきました。
日本に離れてもうあっという間に二年間にたち日本語を本当に忘れちゃいそうです。
ブログを読んで頂いてる皆さん、間違っているところを気づいたら教えて下さい。
宜しくお願いします。
テレビの仕事を初めてから一生懸命きれいになろうっと頑張って、色々な笑い方、メークのやり方、喋り方などを真似したりやってみました。
しかし、やっはり心が奇麗じゃないと姿形も勿論顔も奇麗にならないですね。
最近それにも気づきました。
この二、三月自分のなかでは沢山の変更が起きていると感じています。まだ完全に理解できていないですが、少しずつその答えが見えてくる思います。
でもなんか、突然に違う人になってしまって、一時自分もびっくりしました。
変だと思われますが、自分の一部分が突然死んでしまったと感じたが、それを悲しんでいながら他の所で新しい枝の生えているのを感じています。
あまり皆には言いたくないですが、年をとるまえにこの世界から離れるのを感じました。
明日に死ぬ訳でもないけど、年寄りになる暇もないから、解ってきたのは人生を大切しないといけないです。
明日に死ぬことが決まっていたら、アイスクリームを飽きちゃうまで食べようとするけど、そんなにラッキーじゃないですね。
どういうふうにしてバランスよく楽しく後悔しないように人生を最後まで過ごしていけるかを考えるようにしたいと思います。
人生を大切にしなさいっとよく言われますが、初めて自分で感じました。
２７歳なんですが、もう半分年寄りになっているみたい・・・・。
まあ、取り合えず心から優しく、compassionateになりましょう。
いつか仕事は絶対成功すると思いますが、人生の優先順位が明らかに分かってきました。心のいい人になってから、次へ進むべきです。
(edited by Mama and Kin-chan)
Thursday, 26 October 2006
Friday, 20 October 2006
久しぶりのデート
The big Taiwanese friend of Jenny's seems like a nice boy. He asked me to dinner and maybe a movie this Saturday after work. I haven't had a real dinner in days, or been to the movies since seeing Inside Man with Jack in March. Here's a chance at living a normal life, if only for a few hours. Lucky me!
Fifteen-minute lunch
Jenny invited me to lunch with her friend from high school in Connecticut.
I rushed rushed rushed to finish my 1200 package, jumped into a taxi and flew over to Hwa Young at Taipei 101, where they were already happily eating away.
Jenny was sitting facing outside, with Douglas next to her, the nanny across from Douglas and then her friend whom I've never met, next to the nanny. The first thing I noticed was how small her friend made the chair look. From the back, I saw brown/blond hair and he was wearing a T-shirt. American, I thought. No, a really big Taiwanese.
After one siumai 燒賣 and one hagao 蝦餃, my phone rings. It was Yaoqian. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was downstairs buying lunch. I didn't know if lying was worse or telling him I was having lunch at 101 was worse.
He said to hurry up and come back because he was canceling the time I booked to edit the food feature video that we shot yesterday, and sending me on two product placement stories instead. Next time, I'm not lying. Maybe he'll fire me instead then. What a choice.
We were short-staffed today. We're short-staffed everyday. I remember when the VP asked the deputy head of cameramen, "do we have enough manpower?" To which he replied after a long break, "yes, but what we're having to do is asking people to do overtime." I almost fell out of my chair.
At most stations here, overtime means staying late and/or coming in early, but mostly it means coming in more days. We don't get paid for putting in longer hours, but we can accumulate the days that we don't take off.
For example, if there are nine days of weekends this month, our shift schedules will say "9 days allotted, 8 days allowed, 1 day accumulated." This means there are 9 off days, but we can only take 8 and we have to accumulate 1. They usually make us accumulate a day a month, and the cameramen 2 days a month. If we're lucky and there isn't anyone in the group taking any vacation days, then maybe a couple of in the group can get all the allotted days off. If we're really really lucky and some people choose to work more and take less days, then some of us can take additional days off, but that rarely ever happens. In any case, when we're forced to accumulate off days to begin with, it's quite difficult to use them.
Management says the total number of alloted days off in the year at Formosa TV is the same as government workers. The difference is how they distribute those days. However, when we're getting noticeably fewer days than our friends in other industries, plus all the overtime, people start feeling bitter. Some like to complain, but I think bragging is more fun.
In October, there are nine days of weekends, a day each for Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, so normal people are getting 11 days. Our reporters are getting 9-1=8. And because I was suddenly asked to sub for English news those two weeks and now get to do China Airlines Monday nights, I'm getting 6. Hahaha! Whatever that doesn't kill me will make me stronger...or insane.
I rushed rushed rushed to finish my 1200 package, jumped into a taxi and flew over to Hwa Young at Taipei 101, where they were already happily eating away.
Jenny was sitting facing outside, with Douglas next to her, the nanny across from Douglas and then her friend whom I've never met, next to the nanny. The first thing I noticed was how small her friend made the chair look. From the back, I saw brown/blond hair and he was wearing a T-shirt. American, I thought. No, a really big Taiwanese.
After one siumai 燒賣 and one hagao 蝦餃, my phone rings. It was Yaoqian. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was downstairs buying lunch. I didn't know if lying was worse or telling him I was having lunch at 101 was worse.
He said to hurry up and come back because he was canceling the time I booked to edit the food feature video that we shot yesterday, and sending me on two product placement stories instead. Next time, I'm not lying. Maybe he'll fire me instead then. What a choice.
We were short-staffed today. We're short-staffed everyday. I remember when the VP asked the deputy head of cameramen, "do we have enough manpower?" To which he replied after a long break, "yes, but what we're having to do is asking people to do overtime." I almost fell out of my chair.
At most stations here, overtime means staying late and/or coming in early, but mostly it means coming in more days. We don't get paid for putting in longer hours, but we can accumulate the days that we don't take off.
For example, if there are nine days of weekends this month, our shift schedules will say "9 days allotted, 8 days allowed, 1 day accumulated." This means there are 9 off days, but we can only take 8 and we have to accumulate 1. They usually make us accumulate a day a month, and the cameramen 2 days a month. If we're lucky and there isn't anyone in the group taking any vacation days, then maybe a couple of in the group can get all the allotted days off. If we're really really lucky and some people choose to work more and take less days, then some of us can take additional days off, but that rarely ever happens. In any case, when we're forced to accumulate off days to begin with, it's quite difficult to use them.
Management says the total number of alloted days off in the year at Formosa TV is the same as government workers. The difference is how they distribute those days. However, when we're getting noticeably fewer days than our friends in other industries, plus all the overtime, people start feeling bitter. Some like to complain, but I think bragging is more fun.
In October, there are nine days of weekends, a day each for Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, so normal people are getting 11 days. Our reporters are getting 9-1=8. And because I was suddenly asked to sub for English news those two weeks and now get to do China Airlines Monday nights, I'm getting 6. Hahaha! Whatever that doesn't kill me will make me stronger...or insane.
Thursday, 19 October 2006
For attractive lips...
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
- Sam Levenson, from "Time-tested beauty tips," one of Audrey Hepburn's favorite poems.
I've been quoting that all week on my MSN chat. You don't really see people's lips bend unpleasantly out of shape when they say nice things, do you? When you smile, the whole world seems like a nicer place, and you help make the world a nicer place too as people see you and smile back.
And when you are on the regular day shift, the world seems like a nicer place as well. Am I glad to be waking up in the mornings and going to sleep in the evenings! I haven't been able to sleep well, but that's OK! However, there are only eight more days left to enjoy before I turn into a vampire again. Must make the best of it!
Two days ago on the way to the car heading out to work, I put my spill-proof tumbler into my bag, along with everything, including my wallet, PDA, camera, sunglasses, memopad, MacBook adapter, business card case, make-up pouch, handkerchief, tissue pack, and the kitchen sink, the spill-proof tumbler spilled. It was my fault, because I didn't close the lid right. The good news is, it was just a lot of water. The bad news is my PDA went haywire and the classic, black Ferragamo wallet I bought during college was ruined. The 5 month old PDA was probably much more expensive and irreparably broken, but I didn't care (that much), because the wallet was what broke my heart.
The wallet got all out of shape before I got to the office and could properly dry it. The outside was easy, but water got inside too. I put it away in my drawer at work, and it's been there for 2 days now. I don't want to open the drawer and see its carcass. Maybe I'll just wait until it biodegrades. Oh, it's just so sad!
But I suppose there's always a rainbow following a storm. After hanging out with the dehumidfier in my room for a day, Mr PDA came back to life. At least I still have Mr PDA.
- Sam Levenson, from "Time-tested beauty tips," one of Audrey Hepburn's favorite poems.
I've been quoting that all week on my MSN chat. You don't really see people's lips bend unpleasantly out of shape when they say nice things, do you? When you smile, the whole world seems like a nicer place, and you help make the world a nicer place too as people see you and smile back.
And when you are on the regular day shift, the world seems like a nicer place as well. Am I glad to be waking up in the mornings and going to sleep in the evenings! I haven't been able to sleep well, but that's OK! However, there are only eight more days left to enjoy before I turn into a vampire again. Must make the best of it!
Two days ago on the way to the car heading out to work, I put my spill-proof tumbler into my bag, along with everything, including my wallet, PDA, camera, sunglasses, memopad, MacBook adapter, business card case, make-up pouch, handkerchief, tissue pack, and the kitchen sink, the spill-proof tumbler spilled. It was my fault, because I didn't close the lid right. The good news is, it was just a lot of water. The bad news is my PDA went haywire and the classic, black Ferragamo wallet I bought during college was ruined. The 5 month old PDA was probably much more expensive and irreparably broken, but I didn't care (that much), because the wallet was what broke my heart.
The wallet got all out of shape before I got to the office and could properly dry it. The outside was easy, but water got inside too. I put it away in my drawer at work, and it's been there for 2 days now. I don't want to open the drawer and see its carcass. Maybe I'll just wait until it biodegrades. Oh, it's just so sad!
But I suppose there's always a rainbow following a storm. After hanging out with the dehumidfier in my room for a day, Mr PDA came back to life. At least I still have Mr PDA.
Sunday, 15 October 2006
Day of rest
I thought today would never come, and I can't believe it's over already. I slept a good 9 hours last night and then two more this afternoon. Still piles of things to go through, but time's up, it's almost tomorrow.
Mom kept asking if I was going to the Lee Teng-hui fundraiser with her and Dad, but I told her I was still sick, which is half true. No matter how good it would be for me to meet some powerful people right now, if I didn' get my rest today, I think I'm going to get cancer next week.
I was chatting with Nat on MSN last night and I told him I wasn't sure if I can make it through all of this. I have faith that one day I will succeed, and that I have to pay my dues first, but I don't know if I can get through this exhaustion. We've both been having very busy days and he was saying that things will be better for him next Wednesday after his PC. When I realized that I couldn't see a date when things would get easier for me, it was very despairing.
Nat's advice was to stay healthy. I suppose that makes sense, since the time will pass eventually. All I have to do is figure out how to stay healthy. After that, maybe I will feel happier.
Mom kept asking if I was going to the Lee Teng-hui fundraiser with her and Dad, but I told her I was still sick, which is half true. No matter how good it would be for me to meet some powerful people right now, if I didn' get my rest today, I think I'm going to get cancer next week.
I was chatting with Nat on MSN last night and I told him I wasn't sure if I can make it through all of this. I have faith that one day I will succeed, and that I have to pay my dues first, but I don't know if I can get through this exhaustion. We've both been having very busy days and he was saying that things will be better for him next Wednesday after his PC. When I realized that I couldn't see a date when things would get easier for me, it was very despairing.
Nat's advice was to stay healthy. I suppose that makes sense, since the time will pass eventually. All I have to do is figure out how to stay healthy. After that, maybe I will feel happier.
Saturday, 14 October 2006
Sigh
Tired and depressed. I'm looking at my calendar and I don't see any time to recover in the rest of this month.
So tired.
Don't know if I can survive until November.
So tired.
Don't know if I can survive until November.
Friday, 13 October 2006
Live in five, four, three...
I just realized, now that people are watching me present, I should be more aware of how I do during live reporting. I haven't reported live in a while, but got the chance tonight after the tiny earthquake that FTV and three other stations freaked out about and sent SNG vans to the weather bureau. The guy on earthquake duty looked at us and thought we were crazy. It was a magnitude three at the strongest in Yilan and a two in Taipei. But in any case, I think I've improved since the last time, on both speaking in front of a camera live and also Chinese.
I used to become quite stressed out before going live, but after everything that's happened these past two weeks and today, the earthquake seemed like cake. Now that I'm not worried about falling apart, I guess I can start working on getting better.
Today was very stressful, as usual. When I got in this afternoon, I had to scramble to find a story to do, but failed. I've gotten so used to being assigned stories since going on the night shift, it's becoming a problem. Eventually, I was assigned a product placement story. Between getting that in and make-up, Jianguo called to tell me that I'll be presenting the 22h00 China Airlines news from now on. That's good news, but it means I have to work from 8h00 until 20h00 and then present at 22h00 every Monday. Fighting to stay awake and alert and looking fresh will be a challenge. Yuping, my assigner, wasn't very happy about it because now I'll be out Tuesdays trying to recover from the previous day. That and also she's losing control of me to something else.
After I come up from make-up, Peter, the night shift assigner, tells me to write a script for a breaking story. The Taipei district court had just announced that Sogo will have to pay a TWD 4 mn penalty to Cathay Bank for a breach of contract. This lawsuit's been going on longer that I've been in Taiwan, so I had no idea what was behind it. With this and two shows, one in Chinese to prepare for and almost no time left, I was ready to cry. I told Peter I won't have enough time and he said I work too slow. Fine, i thought, then I'll do whatever I can in the time I have. I was going to do my best, which I already knew wouldn't be enough. Cecilia, the director of news gathering, in good judgement came and told me basically what to write. Halfway through, the Xiuyue the assigner for business news came and wanted to take over, saying it was her responsibility. I was in a pinch, because Cecilia already told me what to do. I said thanks but no thanks, but she kept insisting. Eventually, she sat down at my desk and started typing away. She caught some serious mistakes, but before she finished, Cecilia walks over and asks why an assigner is doing the writing and not a reporter. I thought I was going to break into a billion pieces at that point. I prayed that these people would be rational and not get me involved in a management issue. The heavens were on the side of reason and I didn't get yelled at, or I should say, I haven't been yelled at, YET. Still praying. Xiuyue kept typing and I went over my English leads a couple times before 20h00 rolled around. At that time, there was still no rundown for the CI show. Panic panic panic. I called the production desk - the producer was out buying dinner. I thought I was going to cry. I was basically removed from an assignment, only halfway prepped for the English show, hadn't even seen what I was going to present for the Chinese show, and there was only 30 minutes left before the taping. It was one of those moments when I would have sold my soul to the devil for better Chinese skills.
Eventually, I got my Chinese leads and started going over them right up to the minute the English show taping started. I didn't even get to meet with my co-anchor and producers. The program director said there was a problem with my make-up but there was no time to fix it. Agh.
Fighting to stay calm, composed and authoritative in the midst of all this was not easy. Fortunately, the English show went well and it was off to the CI battle. To make things worse, the PD brought me to the make-up room and told the make-up lady what to fix. The lady was not happy and I ended up with lopsided eyeshadows, which I was too busy to notice. With what precious time left, I continued to go over the Chinese leads.
The show I thought went less than satisfactory. It didn't go as well as yesterday but definitely not worse than the first day.
Then on the way back to my desk, the room started shaking. If only I were so lucky that it was my legs giving out... It was an earthquake. Being on the 16th floor, the building was swaying a good deal. Before I had time to return the jacket I wore to present and take off the uncomfortable fake eyelashes, Roy, my cameraman this week, and I were already on our the way to the central weather bureau.
After the SNG van arrived and we got connected, for some reason everything but my radio wasn't working. And since I couldn't hear the director, Roy had to relay everything. Roy mouthed "three minutes." I thought, "OK, live in 3 minutes." I started prepping. Then all of a sudden, he said "30 seconds." "30 seconds?!" It was around 23h15, and the only information we had was were the earthquake hit and its magnitude. The guy on duty hadn't arrived yet, and no one had any other information. Fine, I thought. So we went live. I was done talking after 20 seconds, but he told me to keep going. Keeping going, on what?! I basically repeated everything, and it was another 15 seconds and I just couldn't think of anything to say anymore and closed the feed. It turns out that what they wanted and what Roy was trying to relay to me was THREE MINUTES of live feed. Aside from the communication problem, three minutes is an eternity when there is nothing to go on. I'm not that good yet. We did another life feed at the top of 0h00 and headed back.
What a day. What a long, long day.
Here's what they had me wear.
It smelled of really strong deodorant spray when I first put it on. Later, I realized why - it reeked of body odor. Gosh, it was so gross.
Back in my blue shirt.
Finally getting a sip of water.
And with the gingerbread cookie that the wonderful people at Wendel's sent.
Michael and Sabrina sure know how to make people happy.
Roy, my patient and courteous cameraman.
I used to become quite stressed out before going live, but after everything that's happened these past two weeks and today, the earthquake seemed like cake. Now that I'm not worried about falling apart, I guess I can start working on getting better.
Today was very stressful, as usual. When I got in this afternoon, I had to scramble to find a story to do, but failed. I've gotten so used to being assigned stories since going on the night shift, it's becoming a problem. Eventually, I was assigned a product placement story. Between getting that in and make-up, Jianguo called to tell me that I'll be presenting the 22h00 China Airlines news from now on. That's good news, but it means I have to work from 8h00 until 20h00 and then present at 22h00 every Monday. Fighting to stay awake and alert and looking fresh will be a challenge. Yuping, my assigner, wasn't very happy about it because now I'll be out Tuesdays trying to recover from the previous day. That and also she's losing control of me to something else.
After I come up from make-up, Peter, the night shift assigner, tells me to write a script for a breaking story. The Taipei district court had just announced that Sogo will have to pay a TWD 4 mn penalty to Cathay Bank for a breach of contract. This lawsuit's been going on longer that I've been in Taiwan, so I had no idea what was behind it. With this and two shows, one in Chinese to prepare for and almost no time left, I was ready to cry. I told Peter I won't have enough time and he said I work too slow. Fine, i thought, then I'll do whatever I can in the time I have. I was going to do my best, which I already knew wouldn't be enough. Cecilia, the director of news gathering, in good judgement came and told me basically what to write. Halfway through, the Xiuyue the assigner for business news came and wanted to take over, saying it was her responsibility. I was in a pinch, because Cecilia already told me what to do. I said thanks but no thanks, but she kept insisting. Eventually, she sat down at my desk and started typing away. She caught some serious mistakes, but before she finished, Cecilia walks over and asks why an assigner is doing the writing and not a reporter. I thought I was going to break into a billion pieces at that point. I prayed that these people would be rational and not get me involved in a management issue. The heavens were on the side of reason and I didn't get yelled at, or I should say, I haven't been yelled at, YET. Still praying. Xiuyue kept typing and I went over my English leads a couple times before 20h00 rolled around. At that time, there was still no rundown for the CI show. Panic panic panic. I called the production desk - the producer was out buying dinner. I thought I was going to cry. I was basically removed from an assignment, only halfway prepped for the English show, hadn't even seen what I was going to present for the Chinese show, and there was only 30 minutes left before the taping. It was one of those moments when I would have sold my soul to the devil for better Chinese skills.
Eventually, I got my Chinese leads and started going over them right up to the minute the English show taping started. I didn't even get to meet with my co-anchor and producers. The program director said there was a problem with my make-up but there was no time to fix it. Agh.
Fighting to stay calm, composed and authoritative in the midst of all this was not easy. Fortunately, the English show went well and it was off to the CI battle. To make things worse, the PD brought me to the make-up room and told the make-up lady what to fix. The lady was not happy and I ended up with lopsided eyeshadows, which I was too busy to notice. With what precious time left, I continued to go over the Chinese leads.
The show I thought went less than satisfactory. It didn't go as well as yesterday but definitely not worse than the first day.
Then on the way back to my desk, the room started shaking. If only I were so lucky that it was my legs giving out... It was an earthquake. Being on the 16th floor, the building was swaying a good deal. Before I had time to return the jacket I wore to present and take off the uncomfortable fake eyelashes, Roy, my cameraman this week, and I were already on our the way to the central weather bureau.
After the SNG van arrived and we got connected, for some reason everything but my radio wasn't working. And since I couldn't hear the director, Roy had to relay everything. Roy mouthed "three minutes." I thought, "OK, live in 3 minutes." I started prepping. Then all of a sudden, he said "30 seconds." "30 seconds?!" It was around 23h15, and the only information we had was were the earthquake hit and its magnitude. The guy on duty hadn't arrived yet, and no one had any other information. Fine, I thought. So we went live. I was done talking after 20 seconds, but he told me to keep going. Keeping going, on what?! I basically repeated everything, and it was another 15 seconds and I just couldn't think of anything to say anymore and closed the feed. It turns out that what they wanted and what Roy was trying to relay to me was THREE MINUTES of live feed. Aside from the communication problem, three minutes is an eternity when there is nothing to go on. I'm not that good yet. We did another life feed at the top of 0h00 and headed back.
What a day. What a long, long day.
Here's what they had me wear.
It smelled of really strong deodorant spray when I first put it on. Later, I realized why - it reeked of body odor. Gosh, it was so gross.
Back in my blue shirt.
Finally getting a sip of water.
And with the gingerbread cookie that the wonderful people at Wendel's sent.
Michael and Sabrina sure know how to make people happy.
Roy, my patient and courteous cameraman.
Thursday, 12 October 2006
The devil wears Prada, Mi-chan wears Jourdan
I was in my cute khaki trenchcoat dress (which Mom bought) today with a short, white denim jacket and Mama's Charles Jourdan pumps. Claire said, you remind me that movie I just saw - "The Devil Wears Prada." It was a compliment on my sense of fashion. That was a very nice bonus to my day. I was quite pleased indeed.
Happy Hair bought a news story and it was assigned to me. It was almost the case from hell. The lady from the sales department promised them so much that it compromised the viewability of the news story. It was bad enough that it was a product placement report, but it just looked terrible, they way they wanted. Or I should say, I couldn't come up with a better way to present everything they requested. If it wasn't for Yamaguchi sensei introducing me to them, I think I would not have exercised so much restraint.
Here it is:
快樂髮30年
服裝有服裝秀，而髮型也有髮型秀來帶動髮型時尚。台灣的髮型藝術漸漸達到國際水準，今
天有業者藉著30週年慶辦了一場超大型的髮型時尚賽。不少設計師的創意來源來自鳥類動物，
五顏六色、有些作品還幾乎好幾個頭大，相當有氣勢##
[[NS show]]
插了許多咖啡色的羽毛，看起來像即將要飛起來的老鷹
而這一個沒有羽毛，但深藍色的頭髮，用髮膠塑造成羽毛的形狀，一樣看得出創意來源
[[NS show]]
這是一個髮藝賽，業者為員工舉辦這活動，讓他們更有創意
業者表示，髮型的多元化衍生到經營理念，因此也投入了芳療和美容事業
不過除了服務客人，業者覺得也得回饋社會
業者 王燦榮
我們有義剪 在安寧病房病房
做義工義剪 或是在啟能中心
養老院等 需要我們關懷的地方
我們都會參與
這三台捐血車都是員工和客人自己捐錢買來的，他們覺得除了作好自己的工作，也要作好社
會的一份子
民視新聞 翁郁容 李健成 台北報導
千變萬"髮"! 髮藝秀飆創意
千變萬"髮"！ 時尚髮藝秀飆創意
髮廊經營多元化 結合芳療+美容
回饋社會！髮型業員工捐贈捐血車
Blah.
The event started at 16h00, and didn't end until 19h00. I had to be in make-up by 18h30, which really put everything in a pinch. By the time I got everything done, including my make-up and hair and started prepping for the English show, Helen calls and says that they don't need me tonight. After all that hussling, no dinner and they tell me at the last minute, I was about to break something. I tried to be pleasant, but I'm sure she heard some unpleasantness over the phone. Jeffrey came in and so did Ken, and I think they didn't want to tell either of them to go home since they only come in to present, so they asked me not to come down. The show looked really strange with two guys presenting, and one wearing a jacket and one without. And when they were in the same screen, Ken's expression looked a little unpleasant. It was rather funny, I thought. The PD wasn't please. And for once, I felt like I was missed. Ha!
I got a little extra time to prep for the China Airlines show, but it didn't help much. While I was prepping, Peter told me to write a script on something I wasn't familiar with, which I eventually didn't have time for. I was torn between the two things, and in the end I ended up not completely prepared for the CI taping either. At least I spoke slower and it wasn't nearly as bad as Monday.
Tomorrow will be my last day of presenting, since Jinny's coming back. A little sad, but a little relieved as well. I still hope I'll have the chance to do it again. I think I can get pretty good at it if given the chance.
I chatted a bit with Wenling at the int'l desk after the taping, and it was nice to talk to someone who's been in news for a while and is dedicated to it. Most of the people around me upstairs seem to have a lot of breadth but no depth simply because they're so young.
After a few minutes, it was back to news gathering. Got lucky again tonight - didn't have to file anything.
Oh, anti-riot police shooed away the protesters on Zhongxiao East Road shortly before dawn this morning, thank goodness.
This is what I wore to present today. It's borrowed. I'm out of my own jackets.
And this is what I put back on after presenting. I really like the collar and buttons on this short jacket. Tucking hair behind the ears really make me look like a little girl. I guess that's OK with only a few people in the office.
Three more days until I'm off again. When people are having a 5-day holiday and we are working, the days just seem so so so so long.
Happy Hair bought a news story and it was assigned to me. It was almost the case from hell. The lady from the sales department promised them so much that it compromised the viewability of the news story. It was bad enough that it was a product placement report, but it just looked terrible, they way they wanted. Or I should say, I couldn't come up with a better way to present everything they requested. If it wasn't for Yamaguchi sensei introducing me to them, I think I would not have exercised so much restraint.
Here it is:
快樂髮30年
服裝有服裝秀，而髮型也有髮型秀來帶動髮型時尚。台灣的髮型藝術漸漸達到國際水準，今
天有業者藉著30週年慶辦了一場超大型的髮型時尚賽。不少設計師的創意來源來自鳥類動物，
五顏六色、有些作品還幾乎好幾個頭大，相當有氣勢##
[[NS show]]
插了許多咖啡色的羽毛，看起來像即將要飛起來的老鷹
而這一個沒有羽毛，但深藍色的頭髮，用髮膠塑造成羽毛的形狀，一樣看得出創意來源
[[NS show]]
這是一個髮藝賽，業者為員工舉辦這活動，讓他們更有創意
業者表示，髮型的多元化衍生到經營理念，因此也投入了芳療和美容事業
不過除了服務客人，業者覺得也得回饋社會
業者 王燦榮
我們有義剪 在安寧病房病房
做義工義剪 或是在啟能中心
養老院等 需要我們關懷的地方
我們都會參與
這三台捐血車都是員工和客人自己捐錢買來的，他們覺得除了作好自己的工作，也要作好社
會的一份子
民視新聞 翁郁容 李健成 台北報導
千變萬"髮"! 髮藝秀飆創意
千變萬"髮"！ 時尚髮藝秀飆創意
髮廊經營多元化 結合芳療+美容
回饋社會！髮型業員工捐贈捐血車
Blah.
The event started at 16h00, and didn't end until 19h00. I had to be in make-up by 18h30, which really put everything in a pinch. By the time I got everything done, including my make-up and hair and started prepping for the English show, Helen calls and says that they don't need me tonight. After all that hussling, no dinner and they tell me at the last minute, I was about to break something. I tried to be pleasant, but I'm sure she heard some unpleasantness over the phone. Jeffrey came in and so did Ken, and I think they didn't want to tell either of them to go home since they only come in to present, so they asked me not to come down. The show looked really strange with two guys presenting, and one wearing a jacket and one without. And when they were in the same screen, Ken's expression looked a little unpleasant. It was rather funny, I thought. The PD wasn't please. And for once, I felt like I was missed. Ha!
I got a little extra time to prep for the China Airlines show, but it didn't help much. While I was prepping, Peter told me to write a script on something I wasn't familiar with, which I eventually didn't have time for. I was torn between the two things, and in the end I ended up not completely prepared for the CI taping either. At least I spoke slower and it wasn't nearly as bad as Monday.
Tomorrow will be my last day of presenting, since Jinny's coming back. A little sad, but a little relieved as well. I still hope I'll have the chance to do it again. I think I can get pretty good at it if given the chance.
I chatted a bit with Wenling at the int'l desk after the taping, and it was nice to talk to someone who's been in news for a while and is dedicated to it. Most of the people around me upstairs seem to have a lot of breadth but no depth simply because they're so young.
After a few minutes, it was back to news gathering. Got lucky again tonight - didn't have to file anything.
Oh, anti-riot police shooed away the protesters on Zhongxiao East Road shortly before dawn this morning, thank goodness.
This is what I wore to present today. It's borrowed. I'm out of my own jackets.
And this is what I put back on after presenting. I really like the collar and buttons on this short jacket. Tucking hair behind the ears really make me look like a little girl. I guess that's OK with only a few people in the office.
Three more days until I'm off again. When people are having a 5-day holiday and we are working, the days just seem so so so so long.
Wednesday, 11 October 2006
Where's the peace?
It was National Day today, and anti-Chen protestors wearing red took to the streets like a flood.
As expected, there were plenty of scuffles, but nothing major, so far. When I left the office at 01h00, they were illegally occupying Zhongxiao East Road Section 4, a major road right in the middle of a shopping district. Shi Mingde's tactics are starting to get illegal and he's starting to say illogical things, like the police don't have a right to forcefully remove them, or that they have decided to give back half of the lanes going each way for commuters. Personally, I think the lanes belong to the commuters to begin with, and demonstrating on Zhongxiao East Road is illegal, so it really doesn't make sense anymore.
I don't support either camp, but the political turmoil is starting to get really annoying, childish and uncivilized. Well, it's always been this way, most people will say, but the level must have hit a new high.
I was lucky today, not getting sent out to the scene. I'm really interested in seeing how people feel, but this is too risky for me. Where emotions run high, rational thinking often disappears. I'm not about to get caught in the middle of all that.
Today, I reported on some 30 pairs of twins and triplets in a cute contest and also about the man who founded a contemporary theatre troupe 20 years ago that's become world renowned for staging Peking opera-style Shakespearean and Greek plays.
Have a look at this if you like theatre, it's very interesting - http://www.cl-theatre.com.tw/productions.htm
I was so lethargic and grumpy from the instant I woke up today. I thought I wouldn't be able to make it through. Partly, I was still really down about performing badly on last night's China Airlines show. Sometimes being a perfectionist really eats me alive.
I managed to sneak away after make-up and hair for 20 minutes to have a (not quite tasty) sandwich dinner at Starbucks. Getting away from the office really helps sometimes, I find.
I voiced one story for English news and presented, almost without a hitch.
I got my scripts for China Airlines today earlier today, so it went much better. There were fewer names, which was helpful. I read a little too fast today, actually. But I don't care how unnatural I may have looked - at least I didn't stumble.
After presenting, I reported back to news gathering. Rush rush rush all day. I had to stay until 01h00, but there were still people from the morning shift there, so I am really lucky. Peter told me to get going since I have to present again tomorrow. Lucky lucky me.
Still really tired, sick and bloated, but I'm glad the day went better than yesterday and now I can look forward to tomorrow.
Gosh, I wish this nausea would go away. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to fall over and sometimes I feel like throwing up. I hope it goes away soon. Looking forward to quality sleep and R&R, whenever that may be.
As expected, there were plenty of scuffles, but nothing major, so far. When I left the office at 01h00, they were illegally occupying Zhongxiao East Road Section 4, a major road right in the middle of a shopping district. Shi Mingde's tactics are starting to get illegal and he's starting to say illogical things, like the police don't have a right to forcefully remove them, or that they have decided to give back half of the lanes going each way for commuters. Personally, I think the lanes belong to the commuters to begin with, and demonstrating on Zhongxiao East Road is illegal, so it really doesn't make sense anymore.
I don't support either camp, but the political turmoil is starting to get really annoying, childish and uncivilized. Well, it's always been this way, most people will say, but the level must have hit a new high.
I was lucky today, not getting sent out to the scene. I'm really interested in seeing how people feel, but this is too risky for me. Where emotions run high, rational thinking often disappears. I'm not about to get caught in the middle of all that.
Today, I reported on some 30 pairs of twins and triplets in a cute contest and also about the man who founded a contemporary theatre troupe 20 years ago that's become world renowned for staging Peking opera-style Shakespearean and Greek plays.
Have a look at this if you like theatre, it's very interesting - http://www.cl-theatre.com.tw/productions.htm
I was so lethargic and grumpy from the instant I woke up today. I thought I wouldn't be able to make it through. Partly, I was still really down about performing badly on last night's China Airlines show. Sometimes being a perfectionist really eats me alive.
I managed to sneak away after make-up and hair for 20 minutes to have a (not quite tasty) sandwich dinner at Starbucks. Getting away from the office really helps sometimes, I find.
I voiced one story for English news and presented, almost without a hitch.
I got my scripts for China Airlines today earlier today, so it went much better. There were fewer names, which was helpful. I read a little too fast today, actually. But I don't care how unnatural I may have looked - at least I didn't stumble.
After presenting, I reported back to news gathering. Rush rush rush all day. I had to stay until 01h00, but there were still people from the morning shift there, so I am really lucky. Peter told me to get going since I have to present again tomorrow. Lucky lucky me.
Still really tired, sick and bloated, but I'm glad the day went better than yesterday and now I can look forward to tomorrow.
Gosh, I wish this nausea would go away. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to fall over and sometimes I feel like throwing up. I hope it goes away soon. Looking forward to quality sleep and R&R, whenever that may be.
Tuesday, 10 October 2006
Ups and downs
In the four weeks, I haven't posted, I've:
- worked three night shift rotations
- walked around protest scenes all night, several nights in a row
- thought I wouldn't survive the week
- been depressed
- been sick
But I've also been on top of the world because I:
- got to present the English show
- got to present in Chinese
- met an interesting ojisan who happens to be a good friend of the brother to the father of Scott from Waseda (is your brain in a knot yet?)
I'm so tired right now I'm barely keeping up, much less doing my job well.
Gosh, it's really agonizing sometimes.
But I suppose in the midst of it, some of the effort is paying off - I've was asked to substitute for Jinny, who is on holiday. I got to present the English news last week and Dr Hu asked me to continue this week until Jinny's back. She also asked me to present the China Airlines in-flight news. Tonight was my first run on the CI show, my first time presenting in Chinese. It was a nightmare. I was making mistakes nearly every other story. After the taping, the program director told me that I always get stuck at names, so just say them slowly when I get there. I'll try that tomorrow. I don't know why I was so nervous. I have to remember to take deep breaths between stories. Ughhh... I need to relax more on the English show too. So so so so much to work on.
Today went like this:
11h00 - eat breakfast & get ready
13h15 - arrive at FTV
14h00 - shoot story on Kingdom of Desire (amazing Chinese opera rendition of Macbeth) and also its director/actor/founder for 2 stories
16h30 - return to FTV, write one script, edit & submit tape
18h15 - buy Pocari Sweat to replenish sugar, electrolytes because I hadn't eaten or drank anything since 11h00
18h30 - make-up & hair
19h15 - group meeting, prep for English show
19h30 - protein shake for dinner and cold medicine
20h35 - prep for English show
20h20 - prep for CI show
21h00 - tape English show
21h20 - prep for CI show
22h00 - tape CI show
22h40 - write script on police make security preparations near the Presidential Office before the national day celebrations
24h00 - submit package
24h45 - get off work
STRESS STRESS STRESS
My head is really spinning. Better get to bed. It's National Day tomorrow, and 2 million protesters have been called to lay siege to the Presidential Office. Tomorrow will be a very, very busy day. I hope my body can keep up.
- worked three night shift rotations
- walked around protest scenes all night, several nights in a row
- thought I wouldn't survive the week
- been depressed
- been sick
But I've also been on top of the world because I:
- got to present the English show
- got to present in Chinese
- met an interesting ojisan who happens to be a good friend of the brother to the father of Scott from Waseda (is your brain in a knot yet?)
I'm so tired right now I'm barely keeping up, much less doing my job well.
Gosh, it's really agonizing sometimes.
But I suppose in the midst of it, some of the effort is paying off - I've was asked to substitute for Jinny, who is on holiday. I got to present the English news last week and Dr Hu asked me to continue this week until Jinny's back. She also asked me to present the China Airlines in-flight news. Tonight was my first run on the CI show, my first time presenting in Chinese. It was a nightmare. I was making mistakes nearly every other story. After the taping, the program director told me that I always get stuck at names, so just say them slowly when I get there. I'll try that tomorrow. I don't know why I was so nervous. I have to remember to take deep breaths between stories. Ughhh... I need to relax more on the English show too. So so so so much to work on.
Today went like this:
11h00 - eat breakfast & get ready
13h15 - arrive at FTV
14h00 - shoot story on Kingdom of Desire (amazing Chinese opera rendition of Macbeth) and also its director/actor/founder for 2 stories
16h30 - return to FTV, write one script, edit & submit tape
18h15 - buy Pocari Sweat to replenish sugar, electrolytes because I hadn't eaten or drank anything since 11h00
18h30 - make-up & hair
19h15 - group meeting, prep for English show
19h30 - protein shake for dinner and cold medicine
20h35 - prep for English show
20h20 - prep for CI show
21h00 - tape English show
21h20 - prep for CI show
22h00 - tape CI show
22h40 - write script on police make security preparations near the Presidential Office before the national day celebrations
24h00 - submit package
24h45 - get off work
STRESS STRESS STRESS
My head is really spinning. Better get to bed. It's National Day tomorrow, and 2 million protesters have been called to lay siege to the Presidential Office. Tomorrow will be a very, very busy day. I hope my body can keep up.
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