Thank You for Your Service

Today is an emotional day because I just received my second laptop, marking the end of my journey with my first, Acer-kun.

I’m not a tech-savvy person. My tech possessions are simple: a laptop, a cell phone, an external hard drive, and a pair of earphones. That’s it. No tablet, no camera.

I got my first cell phone in Form 3. My mom gave me a catalog of phone models and I chose a budget-friendly Sony Ericsson for RM350. My sister had the same brand, so I followed suit. Later, when I got straight As in my PMR exams, I asked my mom for a CD player instead of a phone. My third phone, a Samsung, was my first touchscreen phone and again, it was the same model as my sister’s.

As you can see, I’ve never been particularly passionate about gadgets.

My mom bought my first laptop when I was preparing for Matrikulasi (public pre-university college). Even though I ended up going to a different college, the laptop was still necessary. I got an Acer because my mom knew someone who sold Acer products at a discount, and it was the same model as my sister’s.

Looking back, I realize I wasn’t very original, always copying my sister’s choices.

Now, here’s the important part:

Many people claim that Acer is a cheap brand with unreliable products, but I’ve proven them wrong. I've used Acer-kun for three and a half years, and it’s still in great condition. It has no physical damage and runs all software perfectly, albeit a bit slowly. I’ve used it for C++ programming, video editing (including a 25-minute video that took six hours to process), and other academic software like ChemDraw and Maple.

As I transferred the important files to my hard drive, I felt a wave of nostalgia, knowing this might be my last time using Acer-kun.

Thank you, Acer-kun, for your outstanding service. I am starting a new chapter of my life with Asus-chan, but you will always have a place in my heart.

美国南方自驾游：行千里路，为一枝雪

南方音乐之城纳什维尔是一座不夜城：霓虹灯、电吉他、冻啤酒、驻唱酒廊。女驻唱微微沙哑的歌声配上强劲的鼓声，穿过酒吧门缝透入过路人的耳里，让人耐不住跟着合唱或随歌摆动。那一刻竟质疑起在认识这段摇滚乐之前，心脏是否真正跳动过？

在田纳西州的第一天早上，队长、T和我三人去参观纳什维尔外围一座出名的庄园。这座庄园建立于1807年，庄主主要以培训和出售赛马致富。十九世纪的美国南方虽然饱受内战摧残，却无损此庄园浑厚的财气。然而随着时代进步，棒球取代赛马成为美国全民运动，加上败家子的不善经营，庄园始终没逃过没落的命运。我们游览了马棚里的各式马车厢还有设计奢华的别墅，然后随团试尝红酒，再漫步于庄园的草地上。我全程特别激动，因为我最欣赏的爱情巨作《随风而逝》，故事场景就是设定在类似的美国南方庄园里。

在田州的第三天，我们三人抵达美国最多游客造访的国家公园——大烟山国家公园。大烟山国家公园以常年驱不散的迷雾闻名。雾盘山环绕，从远处望去只见连绵的蓝山白烟，神秘的倩影让人欲往又止。大烟山全年待客，其中以秋天的客流量最高。因为在此游客除了可以欣赏千树万叶随季更色的幻瑟外，还可以近距离观看黑熊捕食为产蛋逆流而上的鱼儿。冬天山上虽微冷，也鲜见毛孩子出没，却无损大伙儿造访大烟山的雅兴。我们先到山脚下名为酥糖田的游客咨询中心问路确定航线，然后就开车上山。

上个冬天我到科州洛奇山区，一路上全部东西都覆盖上了一层厚厚的积雪。大地万物仿佛中了魔咒般，在闪闪发亮的雪毯子下沉沉入睡。今年入冬以来只下了一两次的雪，加上我们身在南方，所以我没报什么期望能见到雪景。事实证明只有人想不到的东西，没有上帝做不到的事情。

大烟山低山区的树长得密集，树上的分枝又多。水珠在细枝上结成冰，雪纱轻披在满地落叶上。溪水石间流，冰枝两岸听水靠。马路两旁的树桐像一个个有礼的书童，弓着腰在欢迎贵客入寒舍。一切都洁白无瑕，大地像被撒上了一层糖霜一样。科州的洛奇山区大概住了一个霸气的雪女王，而田州的大烟山却住了成群的雪精灵。我很兴奋却不敢大声说话，就怕惊动了精灵们的美梦。

到了山腰，白云浓雾慢慢落在我们身后，拐一个弯眼前事物又豁然开达了。我们贪婪地享受着久违的阳光，然后加入其他游客的阵容，开心地在山顶上合照和观景。在山顶上玩了一会儿后，我们又回到山腰泊车，然后徒步挑战其中一条山路。我们来回走了约三英里的山路，费时两个多小时。傍晚时分，我们在饥饿在催使下，终于下山找吃去了。

这次的南方之旅包括五个州，耗时两星期。队长、T和我三人一行驱车走了共两千五百里路。旅行期间的见闻，我会尽可能在夏天之前写下来。

待续。