When a computer crushes, it could be a blessing

My computer that I brought from the U.S. crushed yesterday. It was initially a devastating event; it means I could not do any work at my residence last night. I just cannot imagine what would the impact be for one evening of no computer and no work.

Last night on December 30, was actually a mandatory no-computer-work-night for me. Instead, I cooked and I played recorder. I used to play recorder quite often in the U.S. I even brought the recorder with me to Taiwan. Probably because of the work load and lack of motivation, I cannot imagine how long I have not practiced recorder for the last six months. Now, because my computer crushed, it looks like an excellent opportunity for me to pick up the recorder and to practice the recorder again.

It was such a joy. When a computer crushes, it actually can be a blessing.

Taiwan Fukuta's vertical wind-powered generator

Fukuta sounds like Japanese; but it is actually a Taiwanese company. The company was established in 1988 starting with the motor specialty. This year, Fukuta introduces vertical-type wind-powered electricity generator. It is looking very good for this new model to compete in the world for wind-powered electric generator market. It is another Taiwanese pride.

Most of the wind-powered electric generator I saw in the past is the horizontal-type. It needs to be installed very tall and have to head in certain direction to catch the wind. The Taiwanese-made vertical-type generator, on the other hand, doesn't have to be installed tall and can catch wind in any direction.

I was very lucky to have the first chance to see its display during her 20 year anniversary celebration. My nephew took me there on Dec. 27. It was a memorable display.

Photo shows the vertical-style wind-powered electric generator by Fukuta.

Incidence at National Chung-Kung University

Another consistent, and shameful incidence for Ma's administration officials: At an international meeting at the National Chung-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, the national flags of Taiwan were removed (by Ma's officials) for any meeting when Chinese audience was present. My student wrote an essay about this incidence and I add comments at the end of the essay.

Student's essay:

When the ROC flag, the national flag of Taiwan government was removed in National Cheng Kung University during a student forum, it sparks controversies not only in NCKU but also everywhere in Taiwan.

The KMT legislator, John Chiang, was scheduled to deliver a speech entitled “Humans Rights and Diplomacy” in the opening of the forum. Before his speech, the NCKU Student Association surprisingly decided to remove the ROC flags, the national flag of the Taiwan government in the auditorium. The meeting was participated by both Taiwanese students and Chinese students from Tianjin University.

An anonymous video clip posted on “YouTube” shows what was happening after the removal of flags. While a NCKU student was protesting and saying “NCKU should have guts to tell the students from Tianjin University that Taiwan has her own flags”, the moderator of the forum was denying the existence of the flags and asking the protesters to respect the rights of other attendees.

The removal of ROC flags in Taiwan leads to a lot of criticism in and out of the campus. In response of criticism, the chief of Department of International Affairs explained that it is a general rule not to display any national flag in the international student forum.

Dr. Chen's comments:

After I live in Taiwan for almost 1/2 year, the most painful experience I have with Taiwan is the lack of dignity of Taiwanese government officials, and the indifference of Taiwanese populace toward these undignified conducts regarding our national pride. Taiwanese should be aware of the fact that those people who do not show self-respect themselves will not receive international sympathy and support.

We all need hugs.

This week is a Christmas week. Although Taiwan does not celebrate the Christmas holiday, I asked students to share a story of 'love, kindness, and compassion' at this week's English coffee social hour.

I shared the following story with my students.

Larry is my tennis buddy in Wisconsin. We have been playing tennis together for Monday morning tennis drill for several years. This is the drill on Monday morning, 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM and it takes great determination to get up in the very early cold and dark morning in the winter days of Wisconsin. Larry also organized Saturday's men's double league on Saturday morning. I also play in that league for many years.

Larry is in the 40's. A physician himself, he eats right and exercise everyday. He is cheerful and no one expects something bad would happen to him when one day he had a routine physical examination and asked his doctor to check on one of the strange spots on his skin.

Larry's fate suddenly changed when the doctor told him that the strange spot on his skin was actually a malignant form of skin cancer. A follow-up check revealed even a worse news: the cancer has metastasized to his lymph system. Without treatment, he is expected to live for another 6 months. and there are no effective treatments available guaranteed to cure his illness.

When Larry told us this bad news, all of us except one, Robert, were shocked but did not know what to do to comfort his fear and pain. Robert, a surgeon himself, came to Larry saying nothing but hug Larry. Larry was in tears, saying that was what he really needed at the moment.

We all need each other. We have our tender moments. At those moment, we all need a good hug to comfort our fear and pain.

Taiwanese economic distress

My student had submitted the following essay to describe recent economic distress in Taiwan. I also added comments at the end of her essay.



Student's essay:



The economic recession this year has caused serious impacts on many lives all over the world. Although some of the recession messages are heard from the newspaper and from the television reports, I still can’t clearly appreciate how much impacts would this economic problems be on the first-line workers. Last weekend, I met my high school classmates in Hsing-chu. Although they have already worked 5-6 years for employers at Hsinchu science park ,they are all terrified with the possibility of losing jobs in the face of the economic recession. One of them is working for Twiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC). In the past three months, her basic working time was adjusted from fifteen days to ten days a month. Another person is now working for the subsidiary company of United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC). Because the company intends to cut expense, the subsidiary company of UMC is to be closed down, and the workers in that subsidiary will be let-go. I am hoping the economic situation will geared towards steady growth and more jobs will be created in 2009.



Dr. Chen's comment:



The official report of the unemployment rate in Taiwan is 4.64% , or there are more than 500,000 Taiwanese are now unemployed. In reality, the economic distress is worse than the reported figures. As mentioned by this student's essay, there are many Taiwanese are taking the so-called 'no pay leave', and their monthly pays are substantially cut. The number of those Taiwanese taking 'no-pay-leave' is at least twice as much as those reported unemployed. If we take these people into account, then the unemployed and under-employed figure is about 1,500,000 which is about 12%.

Taiwanese economy is indeed at great distress.

Photo shows Taiwanese demonstrated against legalization of casino legislature.

Chinese Panda Consipracy

Chinese government gave two pandas to the Taipei zoo as a 'present'. My student had submitted an English essay about the story. I edited her English then added my comments at the end of her essay.

Student's Essay:

Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, two pandas given by the Chinese government as present to Taiwan (promised in 2005) arrived Mu-Zha zoo on Dec 22, 2008. The Giant Panda, literally "cat-foot black-and-white") is a bear native to central-western and southwestern China. The Giant Panda is an endangered species and the lives of pandas are highly threatened. Loans of Giant Pandas to the American and Japanese zoos were important parts of Chinese diplomacy in the past, as it signified the first cultural exchanges between China and the West. Such a diplomacy has been called the "Panda Diplomacy". The pandas' names, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, when put together, mean "reunion" in Chinese, and the move is seen as a thawing in relations between Taiwan and China. The scientific name of panda in Chinese sometimes confused people. President Ma point out panda should call 貓熊 but not 熊貓, because it is a bear not a feline. The confusing name in Chinese is because of the way the Chinese language was read. It was read from left to right but now it is read from right to left.

Dr. Chen’s comments

While the ‘Panda Diplomacy’ between China and the U.S. and between China and Japan was a welcoming sign for the U.S. and Japan to improve their relationships to China, the ‘panda present’ has put Taiwanese of conscious into shame. The present was not presented as ‘nation-to-nation’ gift but as an “internal exchange” between two Chinese 'provinces'. Additionally, during the trip of these two pandas from the Taipei airport to the Taipei zoo, all the national flags of Taiwan government along the way were ‘mysteriously’ removed. Taiwan government officials agree to Chinese technicians working for panda transportation not to see any national flags that represent Taiwan as a sovereign country. What a shameful exchange this is for the Taiwanese to 'accept' this 'present' from China.

If we can remember how the Dutch bought the Manhattan Island (in New York City) from the American Indians with only 25 Dutch dollars in the 16th century, you can appreciate how good the deal is for the Chinese. Shamefully, some Taiwanese are working on behalf of the Chinese government to complete the deal.

Season Greeting from Dr. Chen in Taiwan

I sent the following message to my family members in the US. It think it is appropriate to share this greeting message to all of my friends.

Franklin Chen is here. My sincere greeting to you all from Taiwan. I hope you have a great Christmas.

After several months in Taiwan, I finally found a Presbyterian church that I no longer feel I am an outsider of the church. The church is located at Wu-Fong; it is about 30 minutes of bus ride from my place. I met a couple who were our family friends 30 years back in New Jersey. So it is like a home church. I will be joining their choir and senior group bible studies.

As about every Tuesday noon English conversation coffee hour, most of you probably do not know about except Meeilei (my wife) whom I have Skype conversation with her everyday. This special coffee-hour is the time I buy coffee and refreshment for students to join in practicing English conversation. Each week we have a special discussion topic. For example, the day when Obama was elected, we discussed about American civil right movement. This last Tuesday (Dec 8), we discussed the movie ' Kite Runner'. Before the discussions of the movie, I even bought movie tickets for students to watch the movie free. The English-conversation sessions turn out to be my great 'dream' service to the Taiwanese youth.

Taiwanese semester is 18-weeks long (The semester in the US is 15 weeks). This is Week 14. The final exam is coming up very quickly. So, I am very busy in writing the final examination, grading papers and preparing for my wife to visit me in January.

Photo shows two of my 'coffee-hour' students eating 'dumpling' at a side-walk eatery after the movie.

Which food category is the next to be avoided in Taiwan?

Before the so-called 'direct-link' between Taiwan and China, Taiwanese had been the victims of numerous melamine-tainted milk products. It is just the 4th day after the announcement of the 'direct-link', a chicken farm at Kaoshiung had been tested positive for the virus H5N2, a bird flue virus imported from China. The Japanese has announced to ban all Taiwanese poultry products. To Taiwanese, it not only means a big loss of export revenue but the health of Taiwanese citizens at the stake.

President Ma Ying-Jiou and his government is doing a 'good' job to sell Taiwan to China quick. It is very sad.

Photo shows a Chinese tourist in Taiwan goes through an inspection at a Taiwanese airport.

Good Friends have visited me on December 4.

Last Wednesday and Thursday (December 3, 4, 2008) were exciting. Our family friends for more than 30 years in New Jersey have visited me and staying at my residence for two nights. It was a wonderful experience.

Top photo shows Mo-Jau Tsai and his wife, Cindy. Both of them came to our wedding 34 years ago in New Jersey. I also worked with Mo-Jau for a self-published Taiwanese Monthly magazine, Ilha Formosa, for several years during the 90's. Bottom Photo shows me (Frank)Cindy Tsai , A-Shui Huang , and Huang Jin-Teh who is a faculty at Jau-Yang University at Wu-Feng, Taichung.

What is special at Green-World Ecological Farm, Pei-Pu (北埔)?

This special ecological farm is a mini-scale Bronx zoo (and much smaller scale) in the United States. It is located at Pei-Pu (北埔) village of Hsing-Ju county. You can see butterfly, exotic birds, pythons, lizards; but you cannot find polar bears, or Siberia tigers at this ecological farm. Despite that, the Green-World ecological farm offers special on-site audio tour guides, and an old Haaka's building that serves delicious Haaka's menu. Approximately 1-2 miles from the farm, there is an old street of Pei-Pu, where you can shop nuts, almond, gingers, and many Pei-Pu's specialties. I had a good time both at the farm and at the old street.

Photo on the top shows NCHU Chemical Engineering faculty and family pictures; the bottom photo shows Prof. Dai and I posed for the picture in the farm.

Do not miss this special Taiwanese treat, the dragon fruit, (火龍果) when you visit Taiwan next time.

Do you know about 'red dragon fruit' (火龍果) ? I did not; but I do know now. Actually, I had tasted the fruit; and I really like this special tropical treat in Taiwan. I have not seen this kind of fruit in the United States.

The dragon fruit actually looks like a small dragon. If you cut the fruit in half, it shows bloody red color inside the fruit. Initially, I did not have a nerve to put the fruit inside my mouth. After many Taiwanese friends' nudging, I finally given in and tried the fruit. It actually tastes really good.

The dragon fruit, in fact, has its biology and English names. The English name of the dragon fruit is 'red pitaya'; its biology name is hylocereus undatus. It is a species of cactaceae; the fruit contains various kinds of vitamin, proteins, and betacyanin, an antioxidant.

So, if you visit Taiwan next time, don't miss the Taiwanese special treat, the dragon fruit 火龍果.

Photo shows the dragon fruits on the shelf.

How much debt does Taiwanese owe?

Taiwan government is discussing distributing 'voucher' of NT $3,600 for citizens and foreigners residing in Taiwan. While this looks like a 'red envelop' for ordinary citizen, this voucher will add additional burden for national debt. How much debt does Taiwan owe? Taipeitimes reports on November 29 (2008) that Taiwan's national debt is NT $13.8 trillion; each Taiwanese will shoulder NT $600,000.

So, this voucher of NT $3,600 is actually not a good deal for Taiwanese at all. Photo shows protester wore purple shirts protesting government's financial mismanagement.

Would Taiwanese youth take the torch for democratic movement?

Taiwanese youth has long been regarded as political indifferent; they are mostly busy with school's work and other social events. In fact, the majority of the youth voted for Ma in the presidential election.

If they think they can do well with political indifference, they have to think again. With the policy change to move closer to China, it implies they would have tougher time to get into the job market. Their parents are living on the edge and are afraid of being laid off from the work force. With the proposed treaty with PRC, Taiwanese agriculture could collapse in few years. The youth will take the direct impacts for these changes.

Fortunately, some students had already waken up; a so-called 'wild-berry-movement' started 17 days ago is still continuing-on with 'student-sit-in' to protest police brutality against the people during Chen Yun-Lin's visit.

The photo shows part of the 'Wild-Berry-Movement' in Kaoshung.

Would the voucher work in Taiwan?

Taiwan is experiencing a difficult economic time since Ma took the presidential on May 20, 2008. The third-quarter growth rate was -1.02%, the lowest in last seven years.

To stimulate the economy, Ma's administration is proposing to issue vouchers to every Taiwan citizen of NT $3,600. This voucher will cost Taiwan NT $82.9 billion, or equivalently US$ 2.8 billion. To pay for the voucher, the Taiwan government will take a loan. Using a 3% interest of the loan for calculation. This loan alone will cost Taiwanese taxpayer NT $2.5 billion annually just to pay for the interest.

Would this voucher work for Taiwan? Japan did exactly like that nine years ago. It did not work. Japanese used the voucher for spending, but real cash for saving. In US, we had tax rebate few months ago. The US economy is still in bad shape.

The photo shows an investor watches nervously over the screen in the Taiwan stock market; the market had been spiraling downward since Ma took the office in May. The photo was taken from Liberty-Times.

The love stories of '1895' touch our hearts

A week ago (November 15), I went to see the movie '1895' with 8 other NCHU students. This is one of the successful Taiwanese movies based on heroic Haaka's stories in 1895. The year 1895 was a memorable year for Taiwanese; the year when the Chinese and the Japanese made agreement to allow Japan to colonize Taiwan without the consent of Taiwanese. This is also the year when the first republic in Asia, The Democratic Republic of Taiwan, was declared. Unfortunately, the Republic scrambled at the end, and most of the Republic officers including the President, Tang Jin-Sun 唐景崧, and the General, Liu Ming-Tsang 刘銘傳, who had China connections, deserted Taiwan and fled to China. This left Taiwanese no other choices but to defend their country by themselves. This is a story about Haaka's men who fought for their country; this is also a story about Haaka's women who loved their men. A really touching movie !!

The top photo shows the 'after-movie-party' of several NCHU students and their professor, Dr. Chen. The bottom photo shows one of the movie's poster, a heroic woman who loved her man in the movie, 1895.

Jailed political leader at the edge of collapse

Four days ago, I reported about that Ms. Su Jeu-Fun ( 蘇治芬), the county chief of Yunin County (雲林縣), was jailed by current KMT government on November 5, 2008. She staged hunger-strike on day-one in her jail cell. On the day I am reporting, her hunger-strike had exceeded 110 hours and was at the edge of collapse and death and was rushed into a local hospital for emergency care.

Photo shows supporters sit on vigil with candle lights arranged in characters, 平安 , meaning 'PEACE'.

Political Persucution in Taiwan just started.

Taiwanese who thought the 'White Terror' time was over and the day of political persecution would never come back to Taiwan again has to think again now. One of the greatly respected political leaders at Yunin County (雲林縣), Ms. Su Jeu-Fun ( 蘇治芬), was put into jail on November 5, 2008.

About a month ago, I had reported that Yunin County is one of the poorest counties in Taiwan after 50 years of mis-management by KMT. Finally, Ms. Su Jeu-Fun ( 蘇治芬), a DPP politician was elected to the position of the county chief in 2006. In the last two years, citizens begin to enjoy some impacts of the reforms she had initiate such as setting up an infrastructure for Yunlin agricultral product sales. Yunlin County citizens were shocked yesterday to lean about their respected political leader is now in jail.

The Taiwan government (ruled by KMT) accuses her money laundering. The government allowed her to be bailed out with NT $6 million; Ms. Su. Refused. "I am innocent." she said.

Top photo shows that Ms. Su was hand-cuffed and was escorted into jail. The lower photo shows the cover she published explaining the policy of Yunlin County under her administration.

Obama won. It means a lot.

While Taiwanese are struggled not to be betrayed by their own government, American democracy and civil right movement is moving one giant step forward. Obama, an African American, won the 44th American Presidency. It means a lot to me and to many Taiwanese friends here. The success story of African American struggling for social justice is an inspiration .

Since Ma was elected to the presidential office in May, Taiwan democracy has move 10 years backward. Political opponent leaders jailed in the name of anti-corruption (More stories will be reported later.) During Chen Yulin's (a PRC representative) visit, Ma mobilize 7000 police to suppress Taiwanese demonstration. One music store was even ordered to close its door simply because the store had played a Taiwanese song during the demonstration. One has to ask if the white terror during the Chiang Kai-Sheik era is coming back to Taiwan. The irony is that during Chiang Kai-Sheik era, Taiwanese was ordered to fight communism . But now, while the communist flags are legal to display, displaying ROC flag becomes illegal during Chen Yunlin's visit. I have to conclude one thing in common: Chiang, Ma, KMT, and Communist China are part of Chinese colonialism conspiracy against the Taiwanese. Their main objective is colonize Taiwan and Taiwanese for ever and ever.

Would 2008 be another 1895 for Taiwanese History?

Another successful Taiwanese movie, 1895, is showing at major cinema in Taiwan. The movie, 1895, shows how Taiwanese, betrayed by the Ching-Dynasty, fought to defend their lands against the superior Japanese imperial army.

The situation in Taiwan today bears similarity to those days in 1895. The day, November 3, 2008 when a Chinese (PRC) representative visited Taiwan. During the visit, Taiwan authority forbids citizens to display any ROC national flags (blue sky, while sun, and red ground), while it is completely legal to display PRC flags ( 5-yellow stars with red background.). Taiwanese is wondering which country Ma's government is serving? Would Taiwanese be betrayed by Ma's government? Would 2008 be another 1895?

The lower photo shows Professor Tsai Ting-Kwei stages hunger strike to protest Ma's government. The upper photo shows part of the 600,000 Taiwanese march on October 25 warning Ma not to sell out Taiwan.

I found the Presbytarian Church in the Taichung City

It took me almost two hours including walking under the hot sun and humid weather in the Taichung City to find the Presbyterian Church. The tasks included: 1) web research to find the destination and to plan the bus routes. 2) preliminary walk to the 'bus station' if I can find the station; 3) leaving my residence 1 1/2 hours before the church service; 4) changing the plan at the last minute and taking a different bus route so that I will arrive the train station first then taking different bus to go to a station near-by the church; (This requires an explanation which will be discussed later.) 5) walking near 45 minutes from the bus station to the church including asking people around to find the church (This also requires explanations.).

The location of the church is at Ming-Sen-North Rd. According to the web research, I can walk by to a local girl's high school (Ming-teh Girls' High School) to find #103 bus station. I had tried to walk to this bus station around 6:00 AM today, but could not find them.

Additional research has indicated that there is another #103 bus station at Taichung Agricultural Technology School, the place I was quite familiar with when I first moved to Taichung City. Thus, when I left my residence around 8:30 AM and walked directly to this #103 bus station. To my great disappointment; at the bus station, it has a notice saying that #103 is no longer in service. Thus changing the plan at the last minute became inevitable. I then took bus #35 to the train station; then #88 to Chiang Kai-Seik Elementary School.

Walking from Chiang Kai-Seik Elementary School to the church was a real challenge; even it is actually not far at all. First, the names of the roads in the Taichung City does not follow logical order. If there is no map at hand, one simply cannot find the route from one location to the other location easily. Second, Taichung citizens do not know much about their city either. They just could not help very much to the strangers about the direction. One person had directed me to Ming-Sen Rd. Although Ming-Sen Rd is a logical choice by common sense which says that Ming-Sen North Rd would be simply the North-Side of the Meng-Sen Rd. Unfortunately, when the city officials named the Ming-Sen North Rd few years ago, they did not follow this logic. In reality, Ming-Sen North is actually almost 7 blocks from the Ming-Sen Rd. What an adventure! This was almost my walking day.

With all those efforts, the important thing was that I finally found the church and attended the first Presbyterian Church service in Taiwan since I came to Taiwan almost three months ago.

The Hundred-Year-Old Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹) has uneasy time with Fu-Wei's (虍尾) modernization

Fu-Wei (虍尾) Village of the Yun-Lin County (雲林県) used to be the agricultural heartland of Taiwan during the Japanese colonization period. The Japanese built a sugar-cane plantation, a sugar process factory and a railroad track to transport sugar canes from the plantation to factory employing the so-called double-track five-Fu-A(五分仔) train whose track width was only five-'measure', a little bit smaller than a regular train track with a seven-'measure', or seven-Fu-A (七分仔). Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹) was planted as part of the environmental protection plan because the tree has unusual ability to adsorb dust and smokes produced by the sugar factory. Additionally, Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹), provides villagers shades to protect from the hot summer sun.

Fu-Wei's old-day glory was gone with the ending of the Japanese colonization in 1945. With more than 50 years of mis-management of Kuo-Ming-Tang 国民党 which has dominated Fu-Wei's (and also Yun-Lin County (雲林県) )politics for more than 50 years, the Yun-Lin County (雲林県) has become the poorest county in Taiwan. Weeds have taken over the landscape of old sugar cane plantation and most of the old Japanese technician's residences are left deserted. The county and the village are under pressure to bring in cash at the expense of old historical treasures. The great shade-providing, environmental beneficial Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹), were once fallen victims; they were once pulled out from the road side by the local politicians. Local artists, teachers and university professors petitioned to save the trees and were finally successful to convince the government to stop politicians from continuing to cut-down the trees.

What a story. Photos show the Ka-Tong Tree (茄茼樹), the train that ran the five-'measure' track, the deserted sugar cane plantation and old Japanese technician's residence. Overlooking those deserted artifacts are the 7-story concrete building with which the politicians believe they will bring the cash to the poor Yun-Lin County (雲林県).

Keelung, The name evolved from 'Chicken Cage' (雞籠) to 'Foundation Prosper'(基隆)

The majestic Keelung Mountain is located at Northeast Corner of Taiwan facing the Pacific Ocean. It looks like a pyramid; for Taiwanese farmer, it looks like a chicken cage. The name of the mountain was originally called as the 'Chicken Cage' 雞籠, or Keelung in English. Over the time, the name evolved to 基隆, literally means 'Foundation Prosper' but with the same pronunciation, Keelung.

Photo shows the Keelung Mountain.

Where is the name, Ka-Fun-A (九分仔), coming from?

Locating in a valley at the northeast corner of Taiwan and surrounded by the mountain, Ka-Fun-A, used to be a small mining village with nine major families. Each week (or may be month), the family takes turn to go to major cities like Keelung, or Taipei to shop. How many portions each time the shopping family needs to bring home? Of course, it is nine. The name, Ka-Fun-A, literally means nine portions in Taiwanese. Thus, the name of the village is Ka-Fun-A (九分仔), , the Nine Portions.

Photo shows the village of Ka-Fun-A, and the surrounding mountains. It is a beautiful landscape.

I was very moved by the Taiwanese Movie--Cap #7, 诲角七号

Over the television and the newspaper, there were a lot of discussions about the most popular movie of the time in Taiwan, a Taiwanese made 'Cap #7' or 诲角七号. Out of curiosity, I went to see 'Cap #7' on October 10, a holiday in Taiwan. I was very moved.

Although the story is similar to 'Madam Butterfly', or 'Miss Saigon', there are twists. The first twist was the introduction of a modern romance between an arrogant Japanese woman (a stage producer), and a distressed Taiwanese artist. This new romance co-mingles with an old romance between a Japanese teacher and a Taiwanese girl introduced to the audience only through the narration of the love letters written by the teacher who left Taiwan after Japan surrendered to the Allies in 1945. The second twist is that a 'dying' southern Taiwanese village finally assembled a group of local musicians against all odds to produce a successful music show in the end. This 'can-do' spirit really says a lot about Taiwanese self-confidence, a character much needed by Taiwanese these days. This group of local musicians, interestingly, consists of a distressed Taiwanese musician, a 福佬人 (the largest Taiwanese ethnic group), a Hakka salesperson, an aboriginal policemen, a Presbyterian church musician (a young girl), and an old men with traditional Buddhist faith. Isn't this group of musicians represent all ethnic groups, faiths, gender, and generation of the modern Taiwanese society? But, wait. Where is the Chinese which represent the 15% most elite group in Taiwan? I believe that this elite group was represented by the very arrogant Japanese stage producer (a bossy woman) in the movie. Is that a coincidence?

There were also many humors along the story of the movie. Well, I think the movie, 'Cap #7' is a well-done, successful Taiwanese movie.

An old, dying 'mine-city' reinvented--九分仔

Along the Northeast cost of Taiwan, there are several townships that have experiences periods of glory, decay, and re-invention. Those townships include Sui-Hong (瑞方) and Kau-Fu-A (九分仔).

In the early 1930's, gold mine was discovered. The Japanese colonial government set up a company to manage the gold mine. Tunnels and infrastructures to transport and process the gold mines were built. Population of townships shot up rapidly, and the township enjoyed period of glory and prosperity. This glory and prosperity continued after 1945 when the Japanese government surrounded to the Allies and the Chinese colonial government took over the mine management. Gold and mineral production of those township began to decline until it all ran out in the 1970s.

Those township began to experience a time of depression between 1970 and 2000. Jobs were gone. Young people left the town for the jobs in big cities.

Those townships reinvented themselves in the 2000's after a very successful movie, 'The Sorrowful Township' (悲情城市) shooting at 九分仔. Today, the townships have become a very popular tourists' spot. There are old shopping street, the gold museum that attract tourists all over the world; mostly, tourist from Japan. I do agree this is a great tourist spot. I enjoy very much with every details of the 九分仔.

Photo shows the shopping street of 九分仔.

Taiwan High Speed Rail-- a Taiwanese Pride

One day in September, I had a ride with a taxi-cab which also had another passenger, a tourist from PRC. I was taking the taxi to give me a ride from Chung-Hsing University to the railroad station of the Taichung City. At the Taichung City Railroad Station, I will then take a commuter transit ride to the High Speed Rail station at New U-Jih. At New U-Jih, I will then take a bullet train to Taipei in less than 40 minutes.

I had few conversations with the taxi-driver and the Chinese tourist while we were all in the taxi cab.

" How much do you have to pay for the HSR to Taipei?", asked the taxi-driver.

"About NT $600." I answered.

"I will take you to Taipei with NT $600. What do you think?", the taxi-driver offered.

"No," I said. "because HSR is a Taiwanese pride".

It is !! I have taken the HSR rides several times. It is not only fast, it is also very comfortable. Passengers can take advantages of the rapid, efficient transit support from the local railroad and bus systems to access the HSR. The trains run every 30 minutes. The HSR is one of the few superior ground transportation infrastructures that US needs to catch up. I often yearning for such a transport system in the US so that I don't have to drive 90 minutes every day for work.


I had mentioned that there is another passenger in the taxi, a tourist from PRC. Yes, we did have few conversation over the melamine-tainted milk products sold everywhere in the world. Well, She did not defend her government. She said Chinese government and merchants are equally rotten and need to be reformed or pressured to reform.

I got a Typhoon Day in Taiwan

Living in Wisconsin for more than 20 years and having taught at UW-Green Bay for 6 years, I was always yearning for "snow-days" breaks at school and at work. I did not have too much luck though. Although Wisconsin states may close elementary schools or high schools, the state does not have authority to close the university.

I have been in Taiwan for only two months and there are already three Typhoons. The Typhoon on September 28, 29 was a super Typhoon (Typhoon Jangmi) with wind speed tops at 224 kilo-meters per hour (comparable to the speed of Taiwan's High Speed Rail Trains. The government finally closes all schools in Taichung City. I got a Typhoon Day in Taiwan.

Artifacts of Ping-Pu Tribe (平埔族): A Five-Rock Arrangement of the Flood Barrier

Over the Big-Plain Organic Farm (大草原有机農場) located at Wuai-Pu Village (外埔鄉) of the Taichung County (台中縣), one can see some flood-barriers made of rocks and straws along the edge of the rice fields. The rocks in the flood-barriers are arranged according to the so-called 5-rock arrangement (It means every rock in the barrier is surrounded by another 5 rocks in its perimeter) which has an amazing flood-stopping functionality.) The flood-barriers were the artifacts of the Ping-Pu tribe (平埔族) which is an agriculture-based aboriginal tribe. There were a lot of inter-racial marriage between a Ping-Pu woman and a Han-Jin 漢人 man . They could be the ancestors of the modern Taiwanese.

Photo shows such a flood barrier seen at Big-Plain Organic Farm (大草原有机農場).

Medicinal Plants grown at the Sun Moon Lake

The forests at the Sun-Moon Lake are treasures with many plants that have medicinal values. One of them is Kim-Kao-Mou (金狗毛). It belongs to fern category. Its roots are lumpy and hairy. The hairs on the root lumps can stop bleeding should those hairs be applied to the wound surface.

Photos show the plant Kin-Ko-Mau (金狗毛), and its hairy root lump hairs.

The Founder of The Taiwanese Red Tea Industry

Taiwanese Red Tea is renown in the world. Its export, mainly to Japan, brings huge cash to Taiwanese economy. The Red Tea is grown and processed around the neighborhood of the Sun-Moon Lake in the Nan-Tou County. The Red Tea industry started in the Japanese-Occupation era and was pioneered (grew researched, and produced) by Arai Kokichiro, a Japanese technician who also died on his job in his 40's.

Photos show memorials for Mr. Kokichiro for his contributions to Taiwanese Red Tea development.

Floating Islands along the Shores of the Sun Moon Lake

Along the shore of the Sun Moon Lake, one can see floating islands with water-borne plants growing on the islands. The purpose of the floating islands is to damp waves (caused by the boats) so that the damages of the waves to the shores are at minimal. The floating islands are made by tying together several buckets together and by covering those buckets with thin layers of soils on which water-borne plants such as ginger and taro plants.

Photos show some of the floating islands of the Sun Moon Lake.

The damage caused by Sinlaku Typhoon reveals fundamental infrastuctural problems in Taiwan

Taiwanese are slowly going back to the normal life after suffering severe damages caused by the Sinlaku Tyhoon which causes more than 500 mm of rain fall in most of the Taiwanese counties in Taiwan. The damages including breaking bridges in half, and collapsing tunnel to bury passengers trapped inside vehicles alive.

Three-quarter of Taiwanese lands are mountains or hills. Most of them are not suitable of building residences. During the Japanese occupation, there were strict building codes on the hills and mountains. When Nationalist Chinese took over Taiwan in 1945, those codes were relaxed because of the influx of additional 1.5 million Chinese refugees. This factor plus 65 years of mis-management, Taiwan has lost many forest to either farm or residence. Additionally, most of the grounds that can absorb rain falls to underground are covered with concrete. Each time, there is a rain fall, there are floods, and mud-slides.

The mis-management includes building bridges or tunnels not according to the codes. Some bridges should be repaired and close are still allowed to open. The tragedy is heart-wrenching.

Photos shows the newspaper report about the damages caused by the Sinlaku Typhoon in Taiwan.

Chinese Poison Powder-Milk Processed and Sold in Taiwan's Market

Taiwanese are panic. The powdered-milk manufactured by the San-Lu Company (三鹿公司) in China had been confirmed to cause death to one child and more than 400 children become ill in China; the milk had been tested and had been found to be contaminated with melamine (三棸氰胺) which is made from amino-cyanide or H2N-CN. Chinese authority knew about the contaminated milk powder to cause health problems in China as early as June of 2008. Chinese authority notified Taiwan on September 11, 2008. During this three months, about 60% of 25-tons of Chinese powdered milk has already been processed and sold and probably consumed by Taiwanese.

How did the melamine get into the milk powdered? Melamine is a cheap materials for the nitrogen sources in wood adhesives [melamine-formaldehyde], in flame-retardants [after reacting with acid]. I would imagine some Chinese food processor thought melamine might be a cheap amino acid sources for baby milk formula. What a brutal ignorance !!

Two additional issues regarding this incidence: 1) China knew the problem as early as June, 2008. Why China waits until now to notify Taiwan when so many Taiwanese had already consumed the contaminated product? 2) Why Taiwan authority did not detect the health problem when the product entered Taiwanese Port? How diligent Taiwanese officials are in testing the safety of the imported product?

Photos the chemical formula of melamine, and newspaper story about where did the contaminated milk powded product go?

What is so special at the Sun-Moon Lake?

On September 11, our friend at Pu-Li, Mr. and Mrs. Tsai took us to the Sun-Moon Lake for a tour. Coming from Wisconsin which has lakes everywhere, lake itself is not a special curiosity to me. Yet, after Mr. Tsai's guidance, I have learnt two things about which the Sun-Moon Lake is different from those of the Wisconsin lakes . Those two things are the tea shrubs and the betel nuts. Both tea and the betel nuts are important agricultural products of Taiwan.

Photos from the Top: the Sun-Moon Lake; the betel nut trees, and the tea trees.

Chiang Kai-Sheik's ghost is still looming over Taiwan

One thing I have noticed in Taiwan since I arrived in Taiwan last month is that you can see Chiang Kai-Sheik's statue in almost every school from elementary schools to universities.

Why this is a surprise to me?

Chiang Kai-Sheik was a notorious dictator whose brutality against Taiwanese was well documented. None of the dictators other than Chiang was eventually treated well. The Russians whipped Stalin's body. The Iraqis toppled down Saddam Hussein's statue. Yet, Chiang Kai-Sheik's statues still stand in every school's campus; they even stand in the national parks like the Sun-Moon Lake.

Why is that? I have to bite my tongue to admit that Chinese colonialism is taking deep roots in Taiwan's society. After 65 years of Chinese occupation, Taiwanese is brain-washed to regard Chiang Kai-Sheik as a hero. How sad it is.

Helicopter and Formose

There are two new Taiwanese words that I did not know it before I came to Taiwan. These two words are 'helicoptering' and 'Formose'

'Helicoptering' is a word describing a parent's behavior over their children. An 'protecting parent' can be called 'helicoptering' if their supervision interfere with their children's life. I believe I have heard this expression in the US. I believe that Taiwanese has borrowed this word from the American except the Taiwanese uses Mandarin character to express the meaning of 'helicoptering'. 直升机 父母.

"Formose' is a word describing a woman's behavior over her husband, lover, or boyfriend. An 'over-controlling' woman who 'directs' every details of her boyfriend, lover or husband's daily life is called a 'Formose-type' 佛亇磨斯-type woman. The word 'Formose' (Note, it is not 'Formosa') had puzzled me a long time until I had a chance to read over a very popular detective story written by a British writer, Mr. Doyle. The title of the book is 'The Investigation of the Pink'. The name of the detective character in the book is 'Formose'. After reading few chapters of the book, it is not surprising to understand the meaning of 'Formose'.

Taiwanese Wal-Mart: 7-11

Few weeks ago, I had reported that Buddhist's temples decorates Taiwanese city landscape just like churches in Tennessee decorates Tennessee's streets. Well, if you walk more on Taiwanese streets, you will also not to miss the 7-11 stores which usually strategically locates at street corners for Taiwanese to shop: anything from TV dinners to newspapers. In fact, the 7-11 stores are all well-managed; the stores are very clean. I believe the foods sold there are also relatively clean compared to other food shops.

Photo above showing the 7-11 stores near Taichung High School of Agricultural Technology.

Egg here, Egg there

If you are buying a 15NT sandwich, or a 60NT lunch box (便當), chances are very high that there are eggs in your food. Eggs are very cheap here. Why is that?

This is my theory, which may be true or may not be true. Although Taiwan is not in the 'epidemic' of 'bird-flue', Taiwan's neighbor, China is. Now, Taiwan has opened both arms to welcome Chinese tourists; Taiwan residents are afraid of Chinese tourists would carry 'bird-flue-virus' with them to enter Taiwan, like the case of SARS few years ago. Although the government authority has reassured the population that eggs and chickens are safe to eat, most Taiwanese stay away from food products related to bird food products. Farmers who produce chickens and eggs have to sell them very cheap to get rid of their products.

That is my explanation. What is yours?

In the classroom, Taiwan Information Technology Support is at least 10 years behind US

For a teacher like me who got sufficient IT support in the US universities gets really frustrated to teach in the universities of Taiwan. Of course, Taiwan has e-mail system; yet I have no way to e-mail to any colleague in the same university without exchanging the business cards to learn about the individual's e-mail address. The university does not support 'global address book'. No classrooms in the chemical engineering department has direct Internet support, Ethernet, or wireless. I have to make a special request; the department chair finally agreed to make an Ethernet connection in the classroom I will teach in next few weeks.

Photo above shows Ms. Ku (on the right) trying to set up an Internet connection for my notebook computer and was not successful. She called a student supposed to be a 'computer genus' to help (photo on the left). It was still not successful.

Taiwanese Marched on August 30 for Employment and Taiwan Soveneignty

Dismayed by the high inflation, poor economy, and his caving in to China's pressure to loseTaiwan's sovereignty fast, a record-high-gathering of more than 300,000 Taiwanese marched in Taipei on August 30 which marked as Mr. Ma's 100-days anniversary of his Taiwan presidency.

Picture shows the crowd in Taipei as reported by the Liberty Times on August 31.