A rewarding visit in Australia

終於結束在澳洲的短期訪問，現在在香港的機場準備搭機返台，此次澳洲之旅，跟以前每一次旅行與學術訪問一樣，都讓我感到豐收。澳洲是一個很大的國家，面積是台灣的200多倍，人口比台灣還少，只有2100萬人，此行讓我深入了解澳洲的歷史、自然景觀、文化與科技的發展，最重要的是我認識了很多朋友在工作上或在旅行中。尤其，我在Macquarie大學的數位學習中心，認識了不同國家來的工作夥伴，同時也學習到開放源碼軟體在澳洲的發展過程與應用在教學與研究的情況，在這段時間我也翻譯了LAMS軟體的中文介面，雖然只完成百分之三十八，但我相信我會繼續將所有的中文化工作完成，並且號召一些有興趣的同儕共同推廣LAMS軟體。

此行碰到很多友善的澳洲人民(Aussies)，對於他們提供的協助與幽默的個性，讓我待在澳洲期間非常的自在與愉快。非常感謝Macquaire大學的夥伴們與台北駐澳洲代表處的曾組長，讓我有機會到澳洲來學習，也再我的人生中留下一段美好的回憶。

Ready for new semester

Australia's universities are ready for new semester, and freshmen are coming to school to attend orientation and search apartment. Macquarie univeristy's campus set up many information booth to provide assistance and answer new students' questions. The city buses also run through campus, so students can catch bus to the train stations and city center.

Working on the LAMS project

I spent most of time translating and learning to use LAMS at MELCOE. It is not an easy task. However, I do feel the joy of learning. I think learning is the happiest thing in my life.

Blue Mountain National Park

Blue Mountain National Park is a World Heritage site. It is not too far from Sydney. This picture is the most famous spot, three sister rocks, in this beautiful park.

Heatwave hits Australia

It has been really really hot since I arrived in Australia. Today's news said that 84 people died because of this devastated bushfire caused by the heatwave. BBC's report is as follow.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7877243.stm

Sydney fish market

This weekend, we visited Sydney fish market. I think every tourist who loves sea food must visit this place. People can order any local catched fish, crabs, prawns, oysters, lobster, and abalone(鮑魚), and eat them raw or cooked. Some seafoods are expensive and even hard to eat in Taiwan, but we find them incredible cheap and taste are so good. Sydney has been very hot these couple days, and temperature sometimes reach 40 degree Celcius. On the way return to our apartmrnt, trains were delayed due to the electricity problem caused by the heatwave. It is nice to enjoy summer, but I think it will not be fun if I sweat a lot every day.

澳洲的Macquaire 大學

自從在美國讀書、工作返台後，我就認為美國雖然是世界的強國，但它並不一定是最好的，因此我就把握休假與進修的機會到美國以外的國家去。這次來到澳洲，讓我對澳洲有更深一層的認識，也了解到澳洲學校與研究有很多地方其實比美國還好，在我待的Macquarie大學，在2005年曾被選為世界的百大大學的第67名，台灣政府花了很多錢，但到目前為止沒有一所學校能進入，我想這跟大學的的制度有很大的關係，例如我在的MELCOE是一個獨立的研究中心，裡面聘請了30位左右的員工，這些人都來自不同的國家，有東歐、加拿大、非洲、日本、中國大陸與香港，中心的主管是一位教授，負責管理中心的營運與整合計畫，學校給了他很大的人力資源，也吸引了全世界優秀的人才，而在中心工作的員工每天只需上班七小時，每年還有30天的年假(不包括假日)，他們只要將工作及時完成即可。

Ibis birds (朱鷺)

在雪梨各地都常看到朱鷺(Ibis)，我在Macquarie大學內的同事告訴我，他們就像鴿子與海毆一樣普遍。

Doing LAMS project at MELCOE

LAMS software was developed at MELCOE, Sydney, Australia. In fact, Australia is probably the most advanced country in developing E-learning infrasture. Many software were invented and developed here, such as Moodle and other open source softwares. Since I arrived at Macquarie University, I have finished three modules' translation of the LAMS software. It really suprised me that China has finished most of translation works of LAMS, and they are using it widely in the higher education settings. I really hope I can introduce this excellent tool to Taiwan after I master the use of this software. It will be beneficial to the schools at various stages.

Taronga Zoo Sydney

Many Australian animals can be seen at this beautiful zoo located near seashore of North Sydney.