我從小在台灣出生、長大，對這片土地的感情自是不在話下。但或許是因為太熟悉了，反倒讓我對台灣的好視而不見。看慣了這裡的風景，總覺得少了些什麼，沒有歐洲小鎮的浪漫古典，也沒有美國的壯闊自然，更比不上亞洲某些大城市的現代繁華。尤其那一棟棟斑駁的老舊建築，像是困在時間裡的記憶，不但影響市容，還常讓人感到壓抑。我現在所住的大樓便是如此，外觀看來老舊不說，從窗內望出去，也只見對面一整片磚牆，毫無景觀可言。
I was born and raised in Taiwan, and my attachment to this land runs deep.
But perhaps because I know it so well, I’ve grown blind to its virtues. I'm so
used to the scenery here that it often feels like something’s missing—it lacks
the romantic classicism of European towns, the majestic natural landscapes of
America, and the modern glitz of some major Asian cities. Especially those old,
weathered buildings—they feel like memories trapped in time. Not only do they
detract from the cityscape, but they can also feel stifling. The building I
currently live in is a perfect example—its exterior is worn and aged, and when
I look out the window, all I see is a solid brick wall. There’s no view to speak
of.
