週六(8/22)1.台北夜生活2.如何中彩?

說吧英文讀書會   夏日單車遊

joanna.chen 籌辦

Soapbox樂活單車+美食半日遊 報名截止日:2015年8月23日止 報名方式:請在文章+1並繳費(NT500)給Billy 集合時間:2015年8月30日(周日)下午3點(請準時到達) 集合地點:關渡捷運站1號出口 行程及費用: 3:00-3:30非騎不可關渡站租車(淑女車七段變速or21段變速車NT150/親子車NT200(皆含一罐水) 3:30-5:00關渡捷運站-關渡宮(點名+採買個人所需食物或飲料+拍照)-關渡大橋(關渡上橋前點一下人數)-八里媽媽嘴(休息+拍照,因為人太多不進去店裡面)-八里渡船頭還車(全程約10公里)如時間還早可加碼到十三行博物館 5:00-5:30休息+拍照+買八里等路 5:30-7:00佘家孔雀蛤大王(NT350)晚餐 7:00-7:30坐船回淡水(刷悠遊 卡約23元) 7:30坐捷運回家或自行遊淡水老街欣賞夜色 攜帶物:$,個人藥品,墨鏡,防曬品,水(租車會送一罐)

台北最有質感 實力之英文聚會   協助您增進英文口語流暢的能力

最重要的是 完全免費的哦! 跟一群好朋友們  談心 聊時事 是快樂地 歡迎您加入

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板橋區文化路段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮

左轉       聚會時間7:00pm--9:30pm

台北夜生活

Reasons Why Taipei Nightlife is the Best in Asia    city543

Not only does Taipei provide some of the best food and entertainment in Asia, the nightlife is an amazing experience that won’t burn a hole in your wallet and brings visitors from all over the world. “Nightlife” in Taipei isn’t just about the clubs and bars (although Taipei has some great ones!). Whether you’re a foodie, singer, dancer, or even a bookworm, there is something in Taipei for you to enjoy in the late night hours. Below find the best ways to enjoy Taipei’s diverse nightlife.

1. Night Markets = Heaven on Earth (夜市＝美食天堂)

Taiwan offers the best night markets in the world, where you can indulge in endless amounts of cheap food, fun games, and shopping. It’s an incredible experience that cannot be missed. Check out the City543 Guide to Night Markets in Taipei to see what you can expect to find at our favorites.

2. Breath-taking Night Views (令人屏息的夜景)

Taipei city looks great during the day, but it’s even better at night. There are many beautifully lit up places to visit, including Lover’s Bridge in Danshui, Miramar Mall at Jiannan Station, Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall, and of course, Taipei 101. We compiled a list of 7 Restaurants with Spectacular Sights in Taipei for a fancy dinner or date night.

3. Club-hopping on Ladies Night (淑女之夜跑趴去)

Ladies of Taipei rule the night on Wednesdays, when they get free entry to most night clubs — some venues even provide free drink coupons. This gives ladies the flexibility to experience different clubs all in the same night. How great is that? Here’s where to go.

4. LGBT Friendly Bars in Ximen (西門町的同志酒吧)

Right next to the Red House in Ximen is a row of restaurants, cafes, and gay bars. If you didn’t already know, the Taiwanese community is quite open to homosexuality and there is even an annual gay pride parade in Taipei where people from all over Taiwan come together to celebrate.

5. Karaoke All Day, Any Day (卡拉OK隨時開唱)

Sing, dance, and party with your friends all night in a private karaoke (aka KTV) room like a local. Some KTV places include free food, rooms are affordable and spacious, and some rooms are even equipped with a private restroom (believe me, you’ll need it)!

Q:

Reasons Why Taipei Nightlife is the Best in Asia?  

What are the good food and entertainment in Taiwan?

What are the things impressed you most at Night Markets?

Where are the Breath-taking Night Views in Taiwan?

Opinions about night clubs?

What do you think about bars and LGBT Friendly Bars?

Do you like singing? Ideas about singing KTV /party?

如何中彩

How to Win the Lottery: Tips that Really Work

By Sandra Grauschopf

 1.  Improve Your Chances of Winning the Lottery by Playing the Right Games

People talk about winning the lottery as if it were just one game. But every state has a selection of lottery games with different odds of winning. Read the odds before you spend your money to ensure you're maximizing your chances of winning.

Remember that lottery games like Powerball and MegaMillions are national lotteries, so they have a much broader entry pool. State lotteries, where players have to physically be in that state to buy a ticket, usually h

2.  Get More Entries without Spending More Money with Lottery Pools

The easiest way to boost your odds of winning lotteries is simply to buy more tickets. But of course, that costs money, and even if you invest a lot of money in tickets, your odds of winning are still poor.

But lottery pools give you the opportunity to improve your odds without spending more money. Join your office lottery pool or start one of your own to get better chances of winning. Read more about lottery pools:

 3.  Don't Miss a Lottery Win: Double-Check Your Numbers!

Imagine actually winning a big jackpot -- but missing out on your money because you forgot to double-check your numbers. It happens more often than you think. For example, take this article in the OC Register, where a MegaMillions lottery ticket worth nearly $300,000 went unclaimed. Don't let that happen to you.

When you buy a lottery ticket, keep it somewhere where you can find it again easily. Jot down the drawing date and time in your calendar if you're afraid you might forget it. Check the numbers against your ticket, and double-check them, just to be sure.

Q:

How to win the lottery?

Did you buy a lottery ticket? Why or why not?

How to choose lottery numbers?

How to spend the money if you win?

What are the things to do when you win the lottery?

How to make easy money?

Read More 看完整內容

週五(8/21)1.城隍爺謠傳2.成功的障礙

說吧英文讀書會   夏日單車遊

joanna.chen 籌辦

Soapbox樂活單車+美食半日遊 報名截止日:2015年8月23日止 報名方式:請在文章+1並繳費(NT500)給Billy 集合時間:2015年8月30日(周日)下午3點(請準時到達) 集合地點:關渡捷運站1號出口 行程及費用: 3:00-3:30非騎不可關渡站租車(淑女車七段變速or21段變速車NT150/親子車NT200(皆含一罐水) 3:30-5:00關渡捷運站-關渡宮(點名+採買個人所需食物或飲料+拍照)-關渡大橋(關渡上橋前點一下人數)-八里媽媽嘴(休息+拍照,因為人太多不進去店裡面)-八里渡船頭還車(全程約10公里)如時間還早可加碼到十三行博物館 5:00-5:30休息+拍照+買八里等路 5:30-7:00佘家孔雀蛤大王(NT350)晚餐 7:00-7:30坐船回淡水(刷悠遊 卡約23元) 7:30坐捷運回家或自行遊淡水老街欣賞夜色 攜帶物:$,個人藥品,墨鏡,防曬品,水(租車會送一罐)

台北最有質感 實力之英文聚會   協助您增進英文口語流暢的能力

最重要的是 完全免費的哦! 跟一群好朋友們  談心 聊時事 是快樂地 歡迎您加入

加入方法: 直接到聚會地點 無任何限制   聚會地點地址在網站上    100%歡迎您

板橋區文化路段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮

左轉       聚會時間7:00pm--9:30pm

城隍爺謠傳

Man is sorry for starting of Ghost Month rumors     The China Post news staff

                  

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- An Internet user who reportedly brought on the viral sharing of a photo depicting the words that an underworld god would "harvest 96 human lives this year," went down on his knees to ask for forgiveness in front of the deity's statue yesterday, according to sources.

The photo showed words on a white board, stating that Tainan City's Chenghuang Ye had instructed young adults nationwide to be "wary of crossroads," as this year the god of underworld spirits is looking to harvesting 96 lives. "Seldom visit public places and mountainous areas," were other words written on the white board in the photo.

Chenghuang Ye is the Chinese god in charge of spirits and the underworld. Traditionally, there are certain taboos during Ghost Month, the seventh month of the lunar calendar, which this year lasts from Aug. 14 to Sep. 12.

The Internet user, whose identity was not revealed by the Tainan Chenghuang Ye Temple authorities, stated that he only shared the photo and typed out the captions that went along with it, but did not reveal the origins of the photo. The temple decided not to file a report.

Q:

“This year the god of underworld spirits is looking to harvesting 96 lives”

What do you think about the Ghost Month rumors?

What you think about the Ghost Month?

How to Protect Yourself from Evil Spirits

Best Ways to Get Rid of an Evil Spirit?
What are the taboos to the ghost month?

Do You Have a Fear of Ghosts?

成功的障礙

 Obstacles to Success  by Cindy Holbrook

 Lack of Focus

90% of people have identified lack of focus as their biggest obstacle to success. Does this describe you? You jump around from one project to another. You have one hundred half finished projects laying around. You’re confused and wonder why success seems to evade you. Soon you give up believing the goal was unrealistic in the first place.

Perfectionism

You are a perfectionist. You finish your project, but you don’t think it’s quite right. You tweak it a little, and then begin to wonder what else isn’t right. You don’t want to put it out there until you are sure it is perfect.

You need to learn to take a risk. Put it out there, it’s just fine. Nothing is ever perfect. There’s always room for improvement. You have no way of knowing which improvements are needed until you put it out there for the world to see.

Lack of Money

Many people believe the saying “It takes money to make money”. While this may be true to an extent, it is an obstacle that can be easily overcome because if you truly desire something you can always find the money.

It may be a matter of skipping a night out on the town or brown bagging it to work. Most people can find a lot of money that they squander on wants each month instead of needs. You have to ask yourself what you want more.

If you have a great idea and need more money than you have – You may be able to get a loan or by doing some investigating you could be fortunate enough to find an investor for your project. The great thing about following Ros’s “Super Affiliate Handbook” is that you can begin your business with very little money.

Fear

You’ve probably heard the term, “Fear of Success”. If that’s the way you feel, there’s usually an underlying reason. Do you think that if you succeed you’ll have more responsibility than you can handle? Do you feel unworthy of success? Do you believe the lie your parents told you … “You will never amount to anything”? Are you afraid your significant other or a loved one won’t love you as much if you succeed? That they will envy you and turn on you? Maybe even leave? Are you afraid of criticism if you fail?

Before you can overcome fear, you need to figure out exactly what you are afraid of. Often times once you realize exactly what your fear is, it dissipates. You need to learn to be confident in your decisions. Accept that you are not perfect but you are worthy of success. You have something of value to offer the world.

Q:

In your opinion, what are the obstacles to success? 

How to be focus on your tasks?

Are you a perfectionist?

What to do when lack of money to complete your plans?

How to borrow money from friends?

Are you a good investor? Ideas of good investment?

What are you really afraid of?

How to overcome your fears?

Read More 看完整內容

週四(8/20)1.長相與成功2.為何成街友?

週二(8/18)因故暫停一次 請來週四(8/20)聚會

說吧英文讀書會   夏日單車遊

joanna.chen 籌辦

Soapbox樂活單車+美食半日遊 報名截止日:2015年8月23日止 報名方式:請在文章+1並繳費(NT500)給Billy 集合時間:2015年8月30日(周日)下午3點(請準時到達) 集合地點:關渡捷運站1號出口 行程及費用: 3:00-3:30非騎不可關渡站租車(淑女車七段變速or21段變速車NT150/親子車NT200(皆含一罐水) 3:30-5:00關渡捷運站-關渡宮(點名+採買個人所需食物或飲料+拍照)-關渡大橋(關渡上橋前點一下人數)-八里媽媽嘴(休息+拍照,因為人太多不進去店裡面)-八里渡船頭還車(全程約10公里)如時間還早可加碼到十三行博物館 5:00-5:30休息+拍照+買八里等路 5:30-7:00佘家孔雀蛤大王(NT350)晚餐 7:00-7:30坐船回淡水(刷悠遊 卡約23元) 7:30坐捷運回家或自行遊淡水老街欣賞夜色 攜帶物:$,個人藥品,墨鏡,防曬品,水(租車會送一罐)

台北最有質感 實力之英文聚會   協助您增進英文口語流暢的能力

最重要的是 完全免費的哦! 跟一群好朋友們  談心 聊時事 是快樂地 歡迎您加入

加入方法: 直接到聚會地點 無任何限制   聚會地點地址在網站上    100%歡迎您

板橋區文化路段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮

左轉       聚會時間7:00pm--9:30pm

長相與成功

How your face looks can significantly influence the success of an interview

Have you ever noticed how, in movies, people in management positions are more attractive? Well, apparently that doesn’t only happen in the movies. There have been many studies that demonstrate that people who are more attractive are more successful when it comes to business. This means not only in job interviews, but also in the workplace.

A new study from Rice University called “Discrimination Against Facially Stigmatized Applicants: An Eye-Tracking and Face-to-Face Investigation,” where interviewees received bad ratings due to some sort facial disfigurement, proves that it is natural human instinct to have a negative reaction to facial blemishes.

“The bottom line is that how your face looks can significantly influence the success of an interview,” Rice University Professor of Psychology, Mikki Hebl, states. "There have been many studies showing that specific groups of people are discriminated against in the workplace, but this study takes it a step further, showing why it happens. The allocation of attention away from memory for the interview content explains this.”

Eve Tahmincioglu writes, “good-looking bosses were found to be more competent, collaborative and better delegators than their less attractive counterparts, and most women believe they are judged in the workplace on the basis of their looks.”

According to another survey called “Work & Power” done by Elle and MSNBC.com, good looks are a trait that both men and women find important:

58% of attractive female bosses got high ratings for being successful at their jobs, while it was 41% for “average-looking” females and only 23% for unattractive females

61% of attractive male bosses got high ratings for being efficient at their jobs, 41% for average-looking males and then 25% for those classified as unattractive

Dr. Daniel Hamermesh, who is the author of Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful, has research that demonstrates good-looking people make more money:

Attractive people will earn up to 3% or 4% more than “average-looking” people

This can be up to $230,000 more for an attractive person versus an ordinary person

An average-looking individual will probably make $140,000 in a lifetime than someone who is unattractive

Always remember that your appearance is key, especially when it comes to the workplace. Looking good when you leave for work should be a priority. Pressed suits, shined shoes, and good hygiene can take you a long way.

One other factor that can help successfulness in the workplace is displaying confidence. Regardless of whether or not you are considered “good looking,” it is important to display that you are self-assured. People cannot believe in you if you do not believe in yourself.

Q:

Can your face looks influence the success of an interview?

How to have a good job interview?

Are face looks influence the chances of promotion?

What are the Discrimination could happen on job interviews?

Are beautiful people easily get high paid?

Do you like making friends with “good looking “people?

How to make yourself more attractive?

為何成街友?

Overview of Homelessness In America

As today's students face a world filled with global conflict, disappearing jobs, skyrocketing education costs, and increasing poverty in America, action is more crucial than ever. We know hunger and homelessness are increasing epidemics plaguing the United States - striking Americans of every age, ethnicity, and religion, hitting urban and rural communities alike.

Just last year, the national poverty rate rose to include 13.2% of the population.  1 in 7 people were at risk of suffering from hunger in the United States. In addition, 3.5 million people were forced to sleep in parks, under bridges, in shelter or cars.

The combination of the high cost of living, low-wage jobs, and high unemployment rates only exacerbate these problems and force countless Americans to choose between food, housing, and other expenses. Studies show that money devoted to food is typically the first to be sacrificed. Families will often pay their fixed payments first, such as rent and utilities, rather than pay for food.

Unfortunately, these problems will only continue to grow if our society does not make it a national priority to address them in any systemic way.

Who is Homeless and Why?

The homeless population includes people from all walks of life:

In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year.

35% of the homeless population are families with children, which is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.

23% are U.S. military veterans.

25% are children under the age of 18 years.

30% have experienced domestic violence.

20-25% suffer from mental illness.

In urban communities, people experience homelessness for an average of eight months.

People become homeless for a variety of reasons. Homelessness is primarily an economic problem, and is also affected by a number of social and political factors. The number of people experiencing homelessness exploded in the 1980s, as federal funds were withdrawn from low-income housing and social assistance programs for low-income families and the mentally ill. Current federal spending on housing assistance programs targeted at low-income populations is less than 50% of 1976 spending levels.

Economic Factors

Lack of Affordable Housing: There is a severe lack of affordable housing in the United States. The growing gap between wage earnings and the cost of housing in the United States leaves millions of families and individuals unable to make ends meet. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, families across the country would need to earn a "housing wage" of $15.37 an hour, nearly three times the current minimum wage, to afford a two-bedroom apartment at the average fair market rent. Even in West Virginia, the least expensive rental state in the country, a full-time wage earner would have to earn over $8.78/hour-$3 higher than the federal minimum wage-in order to afford a two bedroom apartment.

ike TANF, housing vouchers, and health care.

Q:

What do you think about homeless people?

What do you think about disappearing jobs, skyrocketing education costs?

What do you think about the cost of living in Taiwan?

Is the minimum wage too low?

How to Get the Pay Raise You Deserve?

How to Survive in a Competitive World?

What do you think about the price of housing in Taiwan?

Read More 看完整內容

週六(8/15)1. 鬼月話鬼 2.不想長大--啃老族

說吧英文讀書會   夏日單車遊

joanna.chen 籌辦

集合時間:2015年8月30日(周日)下午3點(請準時到達)

集合地點:關渡捷運站1號出口

行程及費用:

3:00-3:30非騎不可關渡站租車(NT150含一罐水)

3:30-5:00關渡捷運站-關渡宮(休息+採買個人所需食物或飲料)-關渡大橋(關渡上橋前點一下人數)-八里媽媽嘴(休息,因為人太多不進去店裡面)-八里渡船頭還車(全程約10公里)如時間還早可加碼到十三行博物館

5:00-6:00買去淡水船票(NT23)+買八里等路+坐船到淡水

6:00-7:30淡水海風餐廳(NT360(10人桌菜)-500)晚餐

台北最有質感 實力之英文聚會   協助您增進英文口語流暢的能力

最重要的是 完全免費的哦! 跟一群好朋友們  談心 聊時事 是快樂地 歡迎您加入

加入方法: 直接到聚會地點 無任何限制   聚會地點地址在網站上    100%歡迎您

板橋區文化路段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮

左轉       聚會時間7:00pm--9:30pm

鬼月話鬼

Zhong Yuan Jie (Hungry Ghost Festival)

Zhong Yuan Jie (中元节), also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, traditionally falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. In Singapore, the festival is observed throughout the entire seventh lunar month, which is usually around the month of August of the Western calendar. During this period, many Chinese worship their ancestors and make offerings to wandering souls that roam the earth.

Origins and significance

The origin and significance of the Hungry Ghost Festival differ between Taoists and Buddhists. Taoists focus on appeasing the wandering souls released from the netherworld, while the emphasis of the Buddhists is filial piety.

During the seventh lunar month, the gates of hell are open and hungry ghosts are released from the netherworld to wander on earth among humans and look for food. Traditionally during this month, Taoist priests would perform rites and make food offerings, while devotees would visit temples to repent their sins, as well as pray for happiness and avoidance of disasters.

Buddhists, on the other hand, have traditionally celebrated the Hungry Ghost Festival as the Yu Lan Pen Festival. Yu lan means to “hang upside down” in Chinese, while pen in this context refers to a container filled with food offerings. Yu lan pen thus refers to a container filled with offerings to save one’s ancestors from being suspended in suffering in purgatory. The festival, which originated from the story of Mu Lian, commemorates his filial piety towards his mother. The legend is also believed to be the origin of the Chinese custom of making offerings and praying for one’s ancestors during this annual festival.

Taboos

Special care is taken by some to avoid the attention of wandering souls during the seventh lunar month.36 Such precautions include refraining from going out after dark to avoid bumping into evil spirits, or swimming in case one gets dragged away by “water ghosts”.37 One should also avoid stepping on or kicking offerings placed along the roadside or peeking under the table of an altar, as these actions may incur the wrath of hungry ghosts.

Believers are also warned against wearing red because it is believed that spirits are drawn to the colour. Drugs and alcohol are to be avoided too as some people believe that it is easier for ghosts to possess those who are intoxicated.39 In addition, believers should keep away from walls as ghosts like to stick to them, and also refrain from cutting hair, shaving and hanging clothes outside of the house during the night. Furthermore, activities such as getting married, moving house and buying new vehicles are discouraged during this period.

Q:

Are you interest in Hungry Ghost Festival?

Do you know any ghost story? Please share to us?

“During the seventh lunar month, the gates of hell are open and hungry ghosts are released”

Do you believe this saying? Do you believe the Hell is exist?

Do you know any taboos during Hungry Ghost Festival?

What are the traditional festivals you are interest in?

Have you ever visit haunted houses?

          不想長大--啃老族

Why Grow Up? --The NEET Generation Taiwan Panorama

The reasons for the younger generation's reluctance to grow up and their unwillingness to leave the parental nest vary from nation to nation.

For example, in the US in the 1970s, university students would generally enter the job market immediately after graduation. However, automation and globalization have created a far more competitive employment market, both in the US and around the world. Jobs are harder to find now that companies are demanding more highly skilled workers. Without a master's degree, it can be difficult to find white-collar employment. The slumping economy, the disappearance of whole categories of jobs and headcount reductions have made job hunting all the more difficult, with the result that many young people are simply moving back in with their parents. These returners are known as "boomerang kids" in the US.

There have been many Clares in Japan since the 1990s, drifting in and out of the job market after they graduate from school, the better to pursue some nebulous "ideal." When they run short of money, they might pick up a job working at a convenience store or a gas station, their reluctance to take full-time work keeping them always at the fringes of the working world. The Japanese call these vacillating young "freelancers" with no career plans "freeters."

These freeters are attempting to break out of the prison of Japan's lifetime employment system--they don't want to spend their lives marking time for a corporate paycheck the way their parents did. But part-time work is inherently unstable and they often run short of funds. If they are unfortunate enough to have maxed out their credit cards, their debts can ensnare their parents or even push them to commit crimes.

Japan has also been dealing with another similar problem since 2004--the so-called NEETs (for "Not in Employment, Education, or Training"), that is, young people who have virtually no interest in work at all.

The term NEET originated in the UK, where it refers to people who have not worked, attended school, or been engaged in job training for three months to one year. Such people earn no money and do nothing all day.

Genda and Maganuma's NEET highlights the awful choices Japanese young people face in the job market and details how they get by. Its cover depicts a young woman who looks as if she's lost her way in the woods. Unable to forge ahead, she has little choice but to turn around and go home. More than 1 million Japanese young people are similarly baffled by contemporary society. While they think only of escaping "boring lives" as rapidly as possible, they are incredibly passive about making changes to their lives. They ultimately decide that their only option is to live at home, thus becoming NEETs.

Q:

Pros and cons of Growing Up?

What do you think of the The NEET Generation?

Is the The NEET Generation a social problem?

What do you think about the younger generation?

Is unemployment serious in Taiwan? Is it difficult to find jobs?

Are young people overspending?

How to Help unemployed young people?

啃老族現象

世代現象，年近三十理直氣壯家裡蹲，爸媽是我的提款機

早已成年卻還靠父母供養的「啃老族」越來越多，有的以升學為名義，有的自認懷才不遇，父母心甘情願當提款機，子女理直氣壯啃光父母退休老本…

李伯伯和他25歲的兒子站在一起，像是來自不同的世界。李伯伯身上褪色的襯衫與長褲是好幾年前買的，頭上明顯的白髮沒有刻意染黑，裝隨身物品的手提包是農會發的贈品，腳上穿的這雙新布鞋則是他自豪的新貨，從大賣場購得，一雙299元；他兒子則是穿揹知名品牌最新款的衣褲、背包，足蹬一雙三千多塊的品牌球鞋，一頭有型的短髮還特地挑染過。

李伯伯的兒子在兩年前大學畢業，到現在的身分還是研究所重考生，所有生活支出、補習班學費全部由李伯伯負擔。早先存了筆錢要享受退休生活的他，深怕老本被兒子花光，53歲高齡當起社服機構的專車司機，每天早上六點出門上班，月薪一萬四的他穿著儉樸、生活能省則省，看著兒子拿著他的血汗錢拚命置裝，只說：「年輕人嘛！打扮比較有自己的主張。」

高學歷失業，啃老族暴增

曾有道謎語這麼寫著：「一直無業，二老啃光，三餐飽食，四肢無力，五官端正，六親不親，七分任性，八方逍遙，九（久）座不動，十分無用。」謎底講的正是如李伯伯兒子一般的「啃老族」，形容生活全靠著父母供養的成年人。

如今，畢業卻不就業，零收入卻又出手闊綽的啃老族，人數在台灣日漸攀升。高等教育逐漸普及、高階工作沒有相對增加的情況下，越來越多人大學、碩士畢業卻找不到一份理想工作，或是擔心「畢業即失業」，乾脆無限期延長青春期，逾就業年齡還在等工作、讀大學、不斷考研究所。至於生活收入怎麼來？當然是來自養了自己20幾年的爸媽。

在對岸的大陸，啃老的問題也漸趨嚴重，大陸一胎化政策讓獨生子女變得恃寵而驕，據統計，有三成以上的年輕人靠著父母生活，他們雖曾試圖找工作，但眼高手低，高不成低不就的結果，只能回家靠父母，每天睡到自然醒、網路聊天、唱 KTV、喝咖啡…，幾乎是他們生活的全部。

提款機身分，讓爸媽想退不能退

今(2007)年十月，一本《笨蛋，問題出在四年級！》的著作問世，五年級生作者在書中火力全開，極盡嘲諷之能事，毒舌批評職場上的四年級生。書中指出，四年級生霸占公司高位、遲遲不肯交棒，五年級生早已做好接班人姿態卻苦無往上爬的機會，作者嚴厲批評四年級生是一群不肯讓路的路隊長、占著毛坑不拉屎的敗類。

但四年級生真的想當那塊擋住別人前途的大石頭嗎？文字工作者鉛筆丁，在書評中有不同見解：「這群多數上有高堂、下有不願或未獨立子女，被上下兩代夾殺的『三明治人』，尚未卸除『提款機』的身分，經濟的擔子讓他們有著『想退而不能退』的苦處。」

以20幾歲結婚生子推算，四年級生特別是四年級前段班或三年級後段班，現在多是子女已二、三十歲的爸媽，若是子女不肯自立，想卸下工作重擔也難。44年次、在銀行擔任分行經理的高先生就說，「我女兒27歲、兒子25歲，一個碩士畢業找不到工作，一個在讀研究所，老婆又是家庭主婦，我不養家，誰來養？」

補償心理發酵，能給多少是多少

高先生的言辭透露出這群父母的無奈，但是子女仍不願脫離青春期，想退休卻無法如願的爸媽，究竟該怪誰？研究親子、社會關係多年的中研院社會所研究員伊慶春說，其實這種啃老的現象，在重視子女教育的華人世界尤其顯著。

伊慶春解釋，西方國家的父母在子女年幼時，便以各種方式訓練子女獨立自主的能力，很多人在中學時期便半工半讀、賺取自己的部份生活費。雖然近年來經濟不景氣，有些西方國家年輕人因收入不敷開銷，也搬回家與父母同住節省花用，但諸如此類的情形比起東方國家，還是小巫見大巫。

「華人價值觀普遍重視教育，子女如果要念書，父母高興都來不及了，哪會說不？」伊慶春說，從前沒有啃老族，並不表示老一輩父母不溺愛子女，而是手邊沒有多餘的錢容許他們這麼做。

現代的三、四年級父母則不同，他們生在二次大戰剛結束的年代，物質生活條件極差，受教育的機會也少，但恰巧在他們就業年齡時，正值台灣經濟快速起飛，當時工作好找、賺錢容易，如今雖然手頭寬裕，內心卻有著當初無法多讀點書的缺憾，孩子想繼續升學，他們沒有不贊成的理由。

伊慶春補充，即使不是財力雄厚的中高階主管，三、四年級的勞工階級父母也會因「補償心理」作祟，認為子女不該走自己的回頭路，不能因「沒錢讀書」而落得如此辛苦，會盡最大努力讓孩子受最好的教育、過最好的生活。

附註：根據老齡科研中心的調查，中國有65%以上的家庭存在“老養小”現象，有30％左右的成年人基本靠父母供養，這些早該自立卻因種種原因依然「吃定」父母的人被媒體稱為「啃老族」。社會學者認為，隨著就業壓力增大，以及獨生子女逐漸成年，啃老族的隊伍還將擴大。而中國將在10多年後進入老齡化社會，啃老族很可能成為影響未來中國家庭生活的「第一殺手」。嚴峻的現實是，眾多子女不僅不能贍養老人，而且還在坐吃老人們微薄的養老金。

“啃老族”在我國是個新名詞，卻是個舶來品。它的前身叫“袋鼠族”。最早見於法國的《快報》。比喻大學畢業後，到了就業年齡，卻以薪水少等為理由，仍依賴父母的那些年輕人。在中國，“啃老族”是個新失業群體，且不斷壯大增加，由此帶來很多不和諧的社會問題。據媒體調查，目前“啃老族”主要有以下人群：一是大學畢業生，由於就業比較挑剔，總找不到自己滿意的工作，這一類約佔20％；二是以工作太累、太緊張、不適應為由自動離職的，佔10％左右；三是“創業幻想型”的青年人，他們雖有強烈的創業願望，但沒有目標，缺乏真才實學，總是不成功又不願“居人籬下”當個打工者，這一類約佔20％；四是頻繁跳槽者，跳來跳去最後找不到工作，這一類佔10％；五類是單位輪調的年輕人，習慣用過去輕鬆的工作與如今的緊張繁忙相對比，越比越不如意，幹脆不就業，這一類佔10％左右；最後一類是文化低、技能差，只能在中低階勞動力市場上找苦力累工作，因怕苦、怕累索性躺在家中“啃”父母，這一類佔30％。

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