Centered on Taipei April 2013

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e s C e n t e r

April 2013, Volume 13, Issue 7

TOP’s ArT WOrld: PAcking TAiWAn WiTh YOuWhere TO gO WiTh OuT-Of-TOWn guesTsTribuTe: The reverend dr. dOnAld f. deckerMeeT The cenTer’s direcTOrsusTAinAble AgriculTure in TAiWAn

CenteredApril 2013, Volume 13, Issue 7

on TAIPEI

cover storyThe TAiPei fish MArkeT

suPPOrT CENTERED ON TAIPEI see page 23 for details

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3www.communitycenter.org.tw APRIL 2013

5 LetteR fRom the edItoR

6 RIchARd Recommends nAtIonAL theAteR And conceRt hALL APRIL 2013

7 cuLtuRAL coRneR ABCs

8 centeR GALLeRY the centeR’s fAvoRIte fInds

9 off the BeAten tRAck Flower seAson At Mount HoHuAn 10 ARts toP’s Art world

12 communItY tAs events At the centeR13 oRPhAnAGe cLuB 14 envIRonment Is relIgIon tHe Answer? 15 coffee coRneR KooKA CoFFee16 ARound tAIPeI wHere to go wItH out-oF-town guests 18 PRofILe tHe reverend dr. donAld F. deCKer 19 tcm coRneR tHe treAtMent oF lower BACK PAIn20 PhotoGRAPhY sCAvenger Hunt couRses At the centeR 21 BAke It YouRseLf BAKe tHAt CAKe! 22 csc news MeetIng AdAM MCMIllAn 24 cAsuAL dInInG tAIPeI FIsH MArKet 26 csc news tHe Center’s sPrIng BAzAAr And lunCHeon27 Ask BIn tAtAMI And JAPAnese rooMs28 chInese kItchen sustAInABle AgrICulture29 GeneRAtIon Y CoMPetItIon30 events ABout town csc BusIness cLAssIfIed

Contents April 2013 volume 13 issue 7

coveR ImAGe: veRItY mAckIntosh

Centered on Taipei is a publication of the Community Services Center, 25, Lane 290, ZhongShan N. Rd., Sec. 6, Tianmu, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 02-2836-8134, fax: 02-2835-2530, e-mail: [email protected]

Correspondence may be sent to the editor at [email protected]. Freelance writers, photographers and illustrators are welcome to contact the editor to discuss editorial and graphic assignments. Your talent will find a home with us!

Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner.

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16

Centered on Taipei is a publication of the Community Services Center, Centered on Taipei is a publication of the Community Services Center, Centered on Taipei

24 is a publication of the Community Services Center,

28

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4 APRIL 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Publisher:editor:

co-editor:Advertising manager:

tel:fax:

email:

writing and Photography contributors:

community services

center editorial Panel:

Printed by:

director:

office manager:

counselors:

newcomer orientation consultant: Accountant:

communications: Programs coordinator:

events coordinator:It coordinator:

chinese teacher:

volunteers:

Premier sponsors:

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 4 2013/3/25 2:29:39 AM


“Talkies” doomed the not-so-silver-tongued silent film actors, video killed the radio star, and in recent years, print publications have fallen victim to the allure of their more flashy (literally) and technologically savvy younger sibling: the internet. Such is the circle of media life. Or is it?

Call me old-fashioned, but I think there is still a place for good old ink-on-paper publications (hint: it’s not the recycling bin), particularly ones like Centered on Taipei.

Since The Center began publishing Centered on Taipei in 2000, one of the magazine’s main raisons d’être has been to inform people about resources like The Center that they may not otherwise have known existed. Living abroad is, for many, an isolating experience; Centered on Taipei strives to make it a little less so by connecting readers to a wider community and network of support.

We think it is important to keep this resource available in the community free of charge so that anyone can pick up a copy and get connected, but with its current financial situation, the future of the magazine is very tenuous. Without further support, Centered on Taipei is at risk of closing its doors for good.

For many years advertisements covered Centered on Taipei’s production costs entirely; however, in the past few years, advertising revenue has decreased substantially and now only pays for about 75% of the magazine’s costs. In order for the magazine to survive, we need to raise funds to cover the remaining costs.

Readers, we need your help. If you value the information and entertainment you find in Centered on Taipei, please consider donating. If Centered on Taipei ever helped you feel a little more connected and a little less isolated, please consider donating.

Our fundraising goal is NT$400,000. This amount will allow the magazine to stay in print for another year. In other words, if 400 readers donate NT$1,000, we’ll be set for an entire year! Think of it this way: If you donate NT$1,000, you’ll be paying NT$100 per issue for a year, plus we’ll throw in a Center coffee mug!

For donations of NT$100,000 or more, Centered on Taipei’s Co-Editor and Taiwan hiking expert Richard Saunders will take a group of up to 25 people “off the beaten track” on a privately guided day trip PLUS you will receive a year of banner advertising on the Off the Beaten Track page of this magazine. This is a great way to support the magazine, promote your company, and have some fun while doing it!

To donate, visit www.communitycenter.org.tw, stop by The Center, or call (02) 2836-8134.

Thank you so much for your support.

Kari

CommunIty SeRvICeS CenteR

Publisher:editor:

Co-editor:Advertising manager:

tel:Fax:

email:

Writing and Photography Contributors:

Community Services

Center editorial Panel:

Printed by:

Community Services Center, TaipeiKari SchiroRichard SaundersKara [email protected]

Stephen AbernethyNick AckertLeat AhronySuzan BabcockMarina BuranaCheryl CheeIvy ChenSarah Chen LinAly CooperCraig FergusonShana GarciaMonica Hess

Siew Kang, Fred Voigtmann

Farn Mei Printing Co., Ltd.1F, No. 102, Hou Kang Street, Shilin District, TaipeiTel: 02-2882-6748 Fax: 02-2882-6749E-mail: [email protected]

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Suzan Babcock, Maaike Berteele, I-Wen Chan, Fawn Chang, Katherine Chang, Jung Chin, Wendy Evans, Cerita Hsu, Perry Malcolm, Eva Salazar-Liu, Ming-I Sun, Cynthia TeetersAmy LiuMonica ChengKari SchiroRosemary SusaBianca RussellShana GarciaGloria Gwo

Nancy Achorn, Alison Bai, Wen Finamore, Shana Garcia, John McQuade, Bunny Pacheco, Gloria Peng, Ruth Reynolds, Amanda Savage, Desta Selassie, Emmy Shih, Michelle Smith, Anita Town

3M TaiwanBai Win AntiquesBP Taiwan Ltd.BreitlingChina American PetrochemicalConcordia ConsultingCostco Wholesale TaiwanCrown Worldwide Movers Ltd.Four Star Int’lGrand Hyatt Hotel, TaipeiHSBCICRTMetacity Development CorpProQCSan Fu Gas Co. Ltd.Smerwick LtdSongfu LiStandard Chartered Bank

Director:

office manager:

Counselors:

newcomer orientation Consultant: Accountant:

Communications: Programs Coordinator:

events Coordinator:It Coordinator:

Chinese teacher:

volunteers:

Premier Sponsors:

the Community Services Center (CSC) is a non-profit foundation. CSC provides outreach and early intervention through counseling, cross-cultural education and life skills programs to meet the needs of the international community in taipei. CSC offers the opportunity to learn, volunteer, teach and meet others. Check out our website www.communitycenter.org.tw and drop by the Center to chat with us about our programs. you can also email us at [email protected].

SuPPoRt CENTERED ON TAIPEI mAGAZIne

Bin HuangBrandon HuangNatalie KöhleAmy LiuVerity MackintoshJohn McQuadeLaura OsborneShaun RamsdenRichard SaundersRosemary SusaTOPTina Yuan

www.communitycenter.org.tw

Centered on Taipei is printed on 50% post consumer waste content stock. We have also replaced the glossy laminated cover with a softer aqueous based resin coating which makes it easier to recycle. By committing to post consumer paper stock we support the market for recycled fibers and reduce environmental impact.Recycling paper uses 60% less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin fiber. "Every ton of recycled paper saves enough electricity to power a 3 bedroom house for an entire year." (http://www.greenseal.org/index.cfm)

Richard SaundersCo-editor

Kari SchiroEditor

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APril 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw6

TICKETING OFFICES: • NTCH: (02) 3393 9888 • ERA: (02) 2709 3788

For full details, please log on to the Culture Express website at http://express.culture.gov.tw or take a copy of the monthly program from CKS Cultural Center, available from MrT stations, bookshops and ticketing offices.

RichaRd SaundeRS

T he sound of the piano – solo and with orchestra – dominates the program at the CKS National Concert Hall this month, as a gaggle of international concert pianists arrive for performances of the great Romantic classics. For

a bit of variety Russian cellist Alexander Kniazev plays three of Bach’s great unaccompanied cello suites on April 29th, and Israeli mandolinist Avi Avital is in town to perform his own arrangement of another Bach work: the first of the seven harpsichord concertos, plus works by the other soloist in the concert, the percussionist Shane Shanahan (a member of Yo-yo Ma’s Silk Road Project).

But back to the piano, we have the great American pianist Gary Graffman (who lost the use of his right hand in 1979 following an injury) playing a wonderful program of piano music for one hand. If playing with just five fingers seems severely limiting, think again! Among the offerings in the recital are several ‘classics’ for the piano left hand – Brahms’ faithful arrangement of Bach’s solo violin Chaconne, one of Godowsky’s outrageously virtuosic treatments of the Chopin Etudes, and a little-known piece that’s often regarded (among left-hand aficionados) as the most beautiful of all pieces for one hand, Blumenfeld’s masterly Etude in A flat, which is by turns meltingly beautiful and stunningly powerful.

From one hand to four (plus orchestra), the well-loved French piano duo the Labèque sisters are back in town for a performance of Poulenc’s wonderfully entertaining Concerto for Two Pianos, which was commissioned by a French princess, yet crams such varied inspirations as Balinese gamelan, jazz, and popular songs, all conveyed with a Mozartian clarity that’s utterly infectious. The remainder of the program is devoted to music by Poulenc’s Russian contemporary, Prokofiev – the tongue-in-cheek Lieutenant Kije suite and a true masterpiece, the rather more serious (yet equally melodic) Fifth Symphony.

This attractive combo of music by Poulenc and Prokofiev occurs in another concert this month, on April 6th. Prokofiev, like Poulenc (and Mozart and Bach before him for that matter), was a master of communication through music, and no piece of his better exemplifies his ability to connect with a general audience than Peter and the Wolf, which achieves the tricky balance of writing a piece of modern music yet making it palatable to those who would normally run a mile from similar fare. Prokofiev’s work (written in just four days!) is peppered with his trademark acrid harmonies, angular melodies and wryly distorted moods, yet Prokofiev cleverly makes the whole immediately accessible to all through a well developed sense of both style and humor. In an attempt to connect further with its mainly Taiwanese audience, this performance also features animation and multimedia, which attempts to give the work a Chinese flavor.

A couple of years after Peter and the Wolf appeared, Poulenc tried his hand at doing something similar in 1940, setting the popular children’s story Babar the Elephant by fellow countryman Jean de Brunhoff for piano solo and narrator. The work was later orchestrated by the younger French composer Jean Francaix, and this version, where the music’s spiky harmonies are softened by the rich orchestral colors, is the more popular version today, and the one to be performed at the concert. The narration of both works looks set to be in Chinese only, but as with all good art, the music is perfectly able to speak for itself!

national Theater & concert hallAPril 2013

NATIONAL CONCERT HALL

Libera The British boys’ choir sing sacred, popular and folk musicApril 2, 3

Artemis Yen Piano RecitalRachmaninov’s two piano sonatas April 4 RR Peter, Wolf … and Babar!Two much-loved children’s classicsApril 6

Le Sage and Stuttgart Radio SymphonyThe Schumann Piano Concerto and Debussy’s La Mer April 7

Lifschitz Piano Recital: BeethovenThe last three piano sonatasApril 8

Audi Night – Hayley Westenra ConcertApril 9

Lifschitz Piano Recital: SchubertThe last three piano sonatas (again!)April 10 RR

Y Avdeeva Piano RecitalThe winner of the 2010 Chopin Piano Competition plays Ravel, Haydn and … ChopinApril 12 RR

Promenade at the ExhibitionOrchestral works by Faure, Lalo, Ravel and MussorgskyApril 13

Gary Graffman Piano Left Hand RecitalApril 17 RR

Avi Avital and His New FriendsMusic for mandolin, percussion and string ensembleApril 19

Live from Cuba – the Sound of Buena VistaApril 21

Lightening on KeyboardsOrchestral works by Prokofiev and PoulencApril 27 RR

Christine Walevska Cello RecitalMusic by Schumann, Brahms and FranckApril 28

Kniazev Bach Unaccompanied CelloCello suites 2, 4 and 5April 29

RICHARDReCommenDs

RR: Richard Recommends

The iSLandS of Taiwan

Kinmen, Matsu, lanyu, lyudao…. The outlying islands offer an extraordinary combination of traditional culture, some of Taiwan’s finest old architecture, and beautiful natural scenery, yet most of them are still an unknown quantity to both locals and foreign visitors alike. The Islands of Taiwan is the first and only English-language guide book devoted to these endlessly fascinating yet often overlooked corners of the rOC, and features in-depth coverage of more than thirty islands, including detailed information on culture and history as well as sights and attractions, plus recommended food and accommodation options.

Out this month!

• ERA: (02) 2709 3788

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 6 2013/3/25 4:55:47 PM

‘ABC’ means American-born Chinese. ABCs are second, third, or even fourth generation Chinese, born to Chinese immigrant parents living in America. The first significant number of Chinese immigrants arrived during the California Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. They were mostly from Guangdong province in China and immigrated to America seeking work. From the late 1950s until the 1970s, many Taiwanese moved to the United States, especially after the ban on Asian immigration was lifted in 1965.

The first group of Taiwanese immigrants was mainly educated scholars. At the time there were no proper post-graduate degrees offered by universities in Taiwan, thus scholars could only pursue further education and research overseas. Due to the prestige and fame of US universities as well as the good diplomatic relations Taiwan enjoyed with the States, most Taiwanese students chose to continue their studies in America. Many later settled permanently in the United States. The second wave of Taiwanese immigration to the US began when Taiwan lost the United Nations seat to China and the US withdrew recognition of the ROC in favor of China in 1979. A large group of Taiwanese moved away due to the political and economic uncertainty of Taiwan’s new position. The descendants of these Taiwanese and Chinese immigrants alike are referred to as ABCs.

ABCs have their own subculture. They are native English speakers, and some speak the mother tongue of their parents (with varying degrees of fluency), but many do not know how to read or write Chinese. If they live on the east or west coast of the US where there are strong Chinese communities, they are generally sent to attend weekend classes to learn Chinese and to maintain a good connection with Chinese culture.

returnIng tAIwAneseIn contrast to the ABCs, there is another group of

Taiwanese who are strongly influenced by American culture. This ‘Returning Taiwanese’ group consists of Taiwanese families who immigrated to the US when their children were in primary school. In many cases, splitting the household was a common strategy; the mother often moved with the children to the US while the father stayed behind in Taiwan to work and earn money to support the family in their new home.

Many Returning Taiwanese have lived in the States for years and are greatly influenced by the American mindset. They are fluent in both English and Mandarin, and although they have assimilated to mainstream American culture, they retain traditional Taiwanese values taught by their parents at home. They are not only bilingual but are also bicultural, and they serve as a bridge between the local Taiwanese and their global team counterparts because they understand and relate to both American and Taiwanese cultures.

gAInIng An enHAnCed InternAtIonAl vIewPoIntA third group of Taiwanese who have lived in the US

obtained their post-graduate degrees there after completing their university degree in Taiwan. It is a widespread desire to have the opportunity to pursue further education abroad to enhance one’s international viewpoint. As a result,

many Taiwanese earn advanced degrees from the US and/or another country. While living abroad, most group together with people of their own backgrounds, studying, living, or traveling together. While this group of Returning Taiwanese may be accustomed to daily life in America, they may not necessarily understand the deeper Western cultural values due to a lack of interaction with Westerners.

During the 1990s, political liberalization and economic development in Taiwan encouraged many ABCs and others who lived in the States to return to Taiwan. Many locals have a ‘love-hate’ feeling towards these returnees. Locals are often excited to meet and learn from those who are somewhat ‘Americanized,’ yet at the same time they may stereotype the returnees as arrogant, rich, overly open-minded, and with poor command of the Mandarin language. The challenge for any returnee is how to best bring back the global skills and knowledge to the Taiwanese workplace while not seeming aloof due to their education and experiences overseas.

Local Taiwanese certainly make clear distinctions and have varying perceptions of the three subgroups (ABCs, Returning Taiwanese, and those who have received a post-graduate degree overseas). Nonetheless, their return has no doubt contributed to the development of Taiwan’s industries and economy. They play key roles in global workplaces by bridging cultural and communication gaps.

I strongly believe that in order to become a competent global player in this competitive world, it is crucial not only to have foreign language capabilities but also to understand international business practices. Only by an increased awareness of the differences between cultures, beliefs, and values will this be possible.


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ABCs 台灣台灣

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If you enjoy stepping out of your life for a few hours and into a silver-screened fantasy, then you’ll probably already know that there are many options in Taipei where you can indulge your desire to view the latest Hollywood offerings.

What you might not know is that there are multiple private and small theaters that offer more unusual movie-going experiences.

Recently, an expat group held an event in one of them: the Ta Chien Cinema at Westin Taipei Hotel. Although it’s in the basement, this is an upscale theater, complete with sofas, pillows, footrests, and blankets as well as the usual popcorn. Tickets are NT$360. If you show up and no tickets are available, you can always wait to see if there are any no-shows; however, I recommend making a reservation.

On the northeast side of the Fuxing Road intersection, it’s within walking distance of the Nanjing East Road MRT Station (Wenhu Line). When you enter the Westin, turn left and take the escalator to B2 or turn right and take the elevator.

One of my favorite theaters just happens t o b e a f e w b l o c k s from my apartment: the Nanshan. It offers second-run movies for about NT$140 (ticket prices vary), but the best part is that for

one price you can see as many movies as you like – and they typically run from 10 am to midnight. It’s great in the summer because the theater is air-conditioned. I like watching two movies in the morning, leaving to get lunch (they stamp your hand so you can get back in without paying again), and watching one more in the afternoon! They also serve popcorn, fish snacks, and drinks.

tA CHIen CIneMA At tHe westIn(02) 8770-6565B2 Level, 133 Nanjing East Road, Section 3(台北市南京東路3段133號B2)

nAnsHAn tHeAter(02) 2702-3130 1, Lane 24, Tonghua Street (off Xinyi Road, Section 4) (台北市通化街24巷1號)ht tp: / /ent .msn.com.tw/movie /cinema_ playtime.aspx?id=134

The Center's The Center's The Center's Favorite FindsFavorite FindsFavorite Finds

Patricia Kortmann’s JewelryT h e G a l l e r y i n A p r i l f e a t u r e s a collection of Patricia Kortmann’s jewelry. Patricia creates her pieces from a wide assortment of gems such as aquamarine, c i t r i ne , ame thys t , fluorite, rose quartz,

crystal quartz, and pearls. Her works are all one-of-a-kind creations and blend the rich variety of contemporary-style gemstones with handcrafted ethnic silver and gold beads. Patricia also offers custom designs and creates personalized pieces of jewelry.

Porcelain Paintings by Michelle tanComing to the Center Gallery wall this month is the artwork of Michelle Tan. Michelle has been painting on porcelain plates and tiles for a number of years, and her work has been exhibited at art galleries in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Michelle's paintings range from pictures of flowers and birds to portraits, all of which are beautifully painted in vibrant colors that wil l capture your imagination.

english Books and greeting Cards from the wilsen Publishing shopThe Center is also showcasing Jenny Wilsen’s English-language books, from literature to graphic novels, artist-created greeting cards, and the popular lifestyle magazine, Lucky Peach. Jenny founded Wilsen Publishing in Taichung, in 2010, after starting her publishing career at Simon & Schuster and Cambridge University Press in New York City.

A percentage of all proceeds of items sold at the Gallery goes to The Center, so please remember that by displaying and shopping here you are helping us to provide much needed services to the

international community.

movie madness!

GALLeRY


TExT: MONICA HESS

April 2013

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Richard Saunders is a trained classical musician and writer who has lived in Taipei since 1993. He has written several books (available at The Center and in bookshops around Taipei), including Yangmingshan: the Guide (a complete guide to the National Park on Taipei’s doorstep) and Taipei Escapes I and 2, which together detail sixty day trips and hikes within easy reach of Taipei city. A fourth book, a guide to Taiwan’s offshore islands, is out this month.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACKRICHARD SAUNDERS EXPLORES TAIWAN'S LESS-TRODDEN PATHS

flower season at mount hohuan

Mount Hohuan, straddling the Nantou-Hualien County boundary in the center of Taiwan, is the most accessible slice of high mountain magnificence in the whole of Taiwan. And

high it is – Wuling (武嶺), the highest point of the road (route 14, which connects the town of Puli in the south with the Central Cross-island Highway at Dayuling in the north), is 3,275 meters above sea level, making it the highest road in Taiwan and one of the highest in northeast Asia.

Hohuanshan is famous for a couple of reasons – it’s the favorite (and easiest) place in Taiwan to see snow in winter. It’s renowned for its gorgeous high mountain scenery, which is jaw-droppingly spectacular in clear weather, even from the car, and the trails to four of the five main peaks of Mount Hohuan are pretty easy, in stark contrast to the challenge of the cliff-bound peaks of nearby Mt Chilai (奇萊山), which tower across the valley to the east of the road.

If you come this way in April or May, the extraordinary annual display of flowering rhododendrons really steals the show. Hohuanshan has one of the island’s most famous

displays of high mountain flowers, and the best show is in the area around the rounded summit of Mt Hohuan North Peak, which is dotted with countless rhododendron bushes of two main species. The earlier, white-flowering kind blooms first (in April), while the even lovelier deep pink species comes out a little later, usually in early May. At the height of the season, the scene is absolutely enchanting, with rounded bushes heavy with flowers giving a perfect backdrop to panoramic views over the mountains, with Lishan (梨山) village far below, and beyond the great wall of Snow Mountain West Ridge clear as a bell in the early morning air, while Snow Mountain (雪山) itself looks unusually angular from this direction.

The hike to Hohuan North Peak is a relatively easy 90 minutes, and extremely lovely if you’re blessed with clear weather. Just before the North Peak summit plaque the trail splits, and the trail on the left strikes off to Hohuan West Peak, a far more strenuous proposition than the easy climb to the North Peak, but once again the reward is some stellar views in good weather.

9www.communitycenter.org.tw APRIL 2013www.communitycenter.org.tw APRIL 2013www.communitycenter.org.tw

Support CoTSupport CoTwant to get “off the beaten track” and help us to keep Centered on Taipei running at the same time? enjoy a day trip or day hike anywhere

in the taipei area for up to 25 people with richard saunders as your guide in exchange for a nt$100,000 donation towards the running costs of CoT, and we’ll give you a year of banner advertisements on this page

as well! Contact Kari schiro at [email protected] or (02) 2836-8134 for details.

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 9 2013/3/25 2:30:21 AM

S u s a n S o n t a g o n c e s a i d: "To interpret is to impoverish, to deplete the world, in order to set up a shadow world of meanings.''

When I recently met the Taiwanese artist TOP (高一民) and his fantastic art world, I felt there were no words to express the amazing abundance of color and life. It spoke for itself and it needed no interpretation.

TOP lives in Taichung with his lovely wife Alisa (林佩君). He majored in architecture, but from a very young age he has been drawn to painting and Chinese calligraphy. A little shy at times and always trying to cope with the arbitrariness of words to talk about his art, TOP smiles a big smile and tells me that at the age of eight his mother, in an attempt to help her self-conscious little boy, taught him Chinese calligraphy and encouraged him to submit his work to different local competitions. After winning the first one, he felt better about himself (he said he no longer thought he ''was not smart'') and participated in some more. As it turned out, year after year, he always finished first.

TOP's art is colorful, empowering and, above all, extremely expressive. Although that self-conscious boy is buried in the past now, words still don't come easily to TOP, who instead finds eloquence through art, giving worlds of meaning through a profusion of colors and his powerful presence on the canvas.

arts toP's Art world: Packing taiwan with You!TExT : MARINA BURANA IMAGES: TOP


Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 10 2013/3/25 2:30:22 AM


InsPIrIng FrIendsIn 2004, TOP had his first solo

art exhibition while visiting a friend in Macau. Years later, another friend who was studying in the US asked him to make a design related to Taiwan because he was feeling homesick and thought that an image might mentally transport him back to his home country. Never wanting to disappoint his friends, TOP made a drawing of the island with a ‘Taiwan’ logo. His friend loved it, so they decided to make T-shirts with the design on them.

In February 2012, TOP and some former classmates started a design company. Even though he was very excited at first, the project meant he had to work long hours, not allowing him time to paint or express himself through his art. Ten months later, he decided to quit and dedicate all of his time to being a freelancer. He has been selling his paintings for the past year and has also been commissioned to design spaces for different exhibitions such as the one at Nangang Exhibition Hall.

PACK tAIwAn wItH You!

A year ago, TOP met his wife A l i s a , a r e p o r t e r w i t h w h o m he shares a passion for art and expression. After having a look at TOP's designs, Alisa had the idea of starting a small business creating postcards about Taiwan. TOP's images started out as little islands, which transformed into animals, ending up as a set of postcards that together form the island of Taiwan with drawings of the diverse fauna of each region. Although it is a very recent project, many people have already expressed interest in this rather unique way of presenting Taiwan. According to Alisa, most of their clients are foreigners trying to catch that artistic vibe of Taiwan as well as Taiwanese who live abroad or have friends abroad.

Each postcard has a portion of the island and an illustration of the most representative animal of that region. On the back, there is a description in Chinese and in English of the species presented on the postcard and a map of the world on which the island of Taiwan is circled with the words ''Taiwan here!'' in the bottom right

corner. Alisa came up with the words 'Pack Taiwan With You!'' and a friend from Norway helped her with the text translations.

One of the postcards features the elegant scops owl, which lives on Lanyu island and is called the ''Duduwu'' by the island’s indigenous inhabitants (the Tau tribe) because of the sound it makes at night. Another one presents the Formosan black bear, a protected species that inhabits the central mountain range. With sober colors and very particular images, through these postcards Taiwan comes to life for anyone who is looking for a special souvenir.

After three months of preparation, they made a f irst ser ies of f ive hundred postcards and sold them all in approximately a month. They have now started their second series, hoping to have the same luck as before, although it's clearly not luck that attracts their clients. They are also thinking about designing jewelery on the same theme, but since that project would need a big investment, they may go for notebooks as their next step, before turning their hands to silver owls and bears. In the meantime, TOP has started learning how to handle metal. He proudly showed me their wedding rings, all part of his work.

More tHAn wordsIn a recent exhibition, after quitting

his job and starting as a freelancer, TOP decided to paint over some oil paintings he already had to celebrate the new in what he called

a ''ceremony'' which ''restarted'' his artistic life. He showed me some poems he had written with four characters in a beautiful work of Chinese calligraphy, and gave me one as a gift. Alisa explained that he can make wonderful poems with just the names of people and some facts about their lives. He combines characters with his astounding calligraphy technique and produces very touching poetry. Some of the characters looked snake-like, since this is the year of the snake. He said he changes the design according to the animal corresponding to each year.

TOP and his wife combine their creativity to design new forms and to attract the eye towards something extremely special and powerful. There are no words to talk about the art that results from this, which packs its own worlds with it and beats the arbitrariness of any language.

For more information about TOP’s artwork visit:

http://topspen.wix.com/topspenhttp://taiwanlike.wordpress.com

Marina Burana is an A rge n t i n e a n w r i t e r born in 1986. She has published two books of short stories in Spanish a n d i s n o w w r i t i ng plays in English. She speaks French and reads Ancient Greek. She also plays violin, paints and studies Chinese in Taipei.

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T aipei American School hosted members of the Chicago Symphony on campus at the end of January. Distinguished musicians from the Chicago Symphony taught masterclasses on instrumental technique and

repertoire to TAS upper school students. Other members of the Chicago Symphony discussed their educational and professional careers with students. This marked the first time that Chicago Symphony members visited a high school outside of the United States and presented their Dream Out Loud outreach program to students. Cynthia Yeh (principal percussionist) and Oto Carillo (French horn) shared their varying pathways towards a professional music career and offered personal insights into their lives in an orchestra, as well as the challenges and rewards of practice and the power that music has to inspire an audience and empower those who perform.

J. Lawrie Bloom, the C h i c a g o S y m p h o n y Orchestra's pr inc ipal clarinet, worked with member s o f t h e TAS IASAS Woodwind Trio, focusing on musicianship a n d s m a l l e n s e m b l e p e r f o r m a n c e s k i l l s ,

again providing students with insight into the powerful impact that chamber music can have on an audience. Three string chamber ensembles from the upper school orchestra had the incredible opportunity to work with the Associate Concert Master Yuan-Qing Yu. She spent considerable time rehearsing with these groups, providing feedback on their ensemble and technical skills while also discussing her own personal playing experiences with the groups and an attentive audience.

The Salamandrum Duo percussionists Tomer Yarif and Gilad Dobrecki visited TAS at the end of February and performed a percussion concert. They also spoke about their careers and answered questions. Those who attended this concert were enchanted by how personable these musicians were and by their willingness to engage with the audience. Representatives from the CKS National Concert Hall also attended to provide information about their performance with the National Symphony Orchestra on February 23rd.

At the beginning of March, TAS hosted a chamber music concert in the Auditorium. The Hong Kong Piano Trio, led by Aywen Wang, performed Mozart’s Piano Trio in G major, K.564 and the Piano Trio in F minor, opus 65 by Dvořák. This concert was a wonderful opportunity for the TAS community to again appreciate the wealth of talent that is accessible to our students.

Professional musicians Inspire and empower tAs student musiciansTExT: STEPHEN ABERNETHY, UPPER SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR IMAGES: TAS

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ItYspecial topic Coffee MorningHuman trafficking and Its Impact on taiwanThursday, April 18, 10:30 am – 12 pmJoin us for a presentation by Major Leanne Duncan of the Salvation Army, who will provide facts and stories reflecting the realities of human trafficking in Taiwan, highlight what the Salvation Army is doing to combat human trafficking, and describe what YOU can do to help STOP THE TRAFFIK! Cakes will be provided by Yeh! Cakes. The Center’s Coffee Mornings are brought to you by Impact.

BooK CluBs: The Casual Vacancy by J.K. rowlingThe morning book club will meet Tuesday, April 16, 10:30 am onwards. The evening book club will meet on Thursday, April 25, 7:15 pm onwards. For more in format ion about the Center’s book clubs, email [email protected].

eCCt-ICrt International Charity golf CupFriday, April 19, 2013Royal Kuan Hsi Golf & Country Club, HsinchuTo register a team of four, visit www.ecct.com.tw.If your company is interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Adam McMillan at [email protected].

Events at The Center

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tttOrphanage Club

TExT: TINA YUAN AND BRANDON HUANG

CHung YI outIngSunday, April 14th

On April 14th, Orphanage Club members will act as big brothers and big sisters for their guests at Chung Yi. The day’s events will include games and sports as usual, although specific venues and activities have yet to be decided. As always, the Orphanage Club welcomes any interested volunteers to act as chaperones.

sPrIng FAIrSaturday, April 20th

This April, Taipei American School will host its annual Spring Fair, which attracts thousands of people from the Taipei community each year. Orphanage Club will have three game booths set up to entertain children and adults alike. The games will be Shoot-A-Shoe, Bean Bag Toss and Ring Toss, and there will be fantastic prizes suitable for all ages! Furthermore, both classic and recent designs of TAS Orphanage Club sweatshirts and T-shirts will be on sale. Profits will be used to support the monthly Chung Yi and Cathwel orphanage outings. Also, a wide variety of greeting cards and gift items will be sold, with all proceeds going to the Puli Christian Hospital to aid aboriginal children and fund other worthwhile projects.

FleA MArKet regIstrAtIonBegins Tuesday, April 23rd

Table registration for the Flea Market (May 11th) will begin on Tuesday, April 23rd and will continue every Tuesday and Thursday thereafter until all tables have been taken. Registration will take place in the FDR hallway from 4 pm to 5 pm, and is only open to members of the TAS community. In addition to a NT$300 deposit, tables in the FDR hallway are NT$1,500 each and tables in the cafeteria are NT$1,200 each. This will be a great opportunity to sell any unwanted items from home!

ruMMAge donAtIonsThe Orphanage Club always welcomes donations of any

kind for its Rummage Sale, to be held on Saturday, June 15th from 10 am to 5 pm.

Please visit our website at www.orphanageclub.com All inquiries can be directed to [email protected]

or to our sponsor Mr. Arnold at [email protected]

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april 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw14

TexT & Images: sarah Chen LIn

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Is Religion the Answer?:

Connecting Environmentalism

with Buddhism

B e i n g p a r t o f T a i w a n Youth Climate Coalit ion (T W Y C C, 台灣青年氣候聯盟 ) h a s g i v e n m e t h e

privilege to come in contact with dozens of other environmental NGOs throughout Taiwan. It has also given me the opportunity to experience another dimension of environmental activism; never have I invested so much of my heart and energy trying to encourage sustainability and never have I been so exposed to the harsh realities of pushing for sociopolitical change. One can’t help but wonder how well-established NGOs have persevered, since it’s been observed that i t’s diff icult to maintain an NGO in Taiwan. Tzu Chi (慈濟; the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation) was, in my mind, a legendary NGO I’d always wanted to come in contact with. But I never had the chance… until a week ago.

Tzu Chi is a Taiwanese humanitarian NGO internat ional ly known for aiding the poor and the vulnerable, particularly displaced refugees fleeing natural disasters and war zones. Within Taiwan, they’ve founded hospitals (including one in Taipei, in the Xindian district) and a university in Hualien to provide medical care and

education for the less economically privileged. Tzu Chi even has its own TV channel (DaAi Television; 大愛電視台), where TWYCC was once featured in a documentary about how Taiwanese youth are helping Taiwan transform into a better place, socially and environmentally.

Tzu Chi has invested a great deal in healing the environment, just like many other Taiwanese environmental NGOs. Yet one can’t help but wonder how they became so successful and well-known. How did an organization that began with thirty original members in 1966 turn into one with more than 70,000 volunteers worldwide? How did they touch the hearts of so many and how did they manage to garner enough funding to establish over 4,500 recycling stations around Taiwan? One of their greatest accomplishments is recycling PET bottles to be turned into fabric. Just last year, Tzu Chi donated eco-blankets made from PET to flood victims in Malaysia, a task that couldn’t have been accomplished without the efforts of thousands of people.

My first contact with Tzu Chi was through a workshop on recycling, one that was very different from all the other workshops I had ever attended. We held hands, sung songs about opening our hearts, and even learned basic sign language. The speakers wore warm smiles and their voices were ever-so-gentle. My main purpose for attending was to observe how they interacted with their audience.

Tzu Chi was founded on principles

of love and compassion. Dharma Master Cheng Yen, the founder, often preaches Buddhist teachings on DaAi Television about how helping others voluntarily nurtures our soul, keeps us grounded, and abates human greed, the main culprit in environmental degradation. One should learn to live a simpler life and learn to differentiate between wants and needs. According to Buddhist philosophy, if the heart is calm and simple, the person will naturally do the right thing. As an environmental activist who has always believed real change begins from the heart and has sought to find the best way to inspire others about the environment, I can’t help but wonder: could religion guide the way to a more effective environmental movement?

Official Tzu Chi website: http://www.tzuchi.org/T W Y C C f e a t u r e d o n D a A i Television: http://media.newdaai.tv/?v=8823

B o r n a n d ra i s e d i n Venezuela by Taiwanese parents, Sarah has been exposed to world cultures s i n c e s he wa s yo u ng. She graduated with an Environmental Science degree from Southampton University in the UK, was a former radio host for an environmental program at Radio Taiwan International, and currently works as a project manager in the Civil Engineering Department at National Ta iwan Un ive rs i t y , a s T W YC C ’s media coordinator, and as a freelance photographer.

• The average Taiwanese person uses two plastic bags each day.• Taiwan is the first and only country in the world that still recycles plastic bags.• It takes about five hundred years for a plastic bag to biodegrade.• Recycling efficiency increases when recyclable materials provided are clean.

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15www.communitycenter.org.tw APRIL 2013 15www.communitycenter.org.tw APRIL 2013www.communitycenter.org.tw APRIL 2013www.communitycenter.org.tw

S o.....I have been languishing i n w h a t c a n o n l y b e described as a coffee/latte rut. Becoming increasingly

tired of mediocre lattes and watered-down coffee at abominable prices (not to mention a COT deadline that was right around the corner), I was starting to become disheartened. Enter Rachel Lanning Sawatzky and her SWEET recommendation that ripped me from the mire and landed me in Dazhi, face-to-face with Kooka Coffee.

[Cue: Hal le lujah chorus and angelic sunbeams.]

What was my first indication that I was going to love this place? The name. I LOVE the name of this coffee shop. The café is seemingly named for the kookaburra bird as indicated in Chinese (which I cannot read) within their menu (you can tell a lot from a picture).

Upon entry into Kooka Coffee, there are a couple of tables that offer choice seats, as they are fixed perfectly for coffee and tea drinkers alike to bask in the early afternoon sun. If you were to sit at one of these tables, as I did, one wall boasts random pictures, travel tickets, and other diverse randomness, while to my left there was a long counter just beyond the cashier that offered further seating options. The black ceilings didn’t exactly assist with lightening the place up, but Kooka has that artsy, you-are-sort-of-cool-just-sitting-in-here kinda feel, so I inferred that because they probably

want to keep the mystery alive, limited lighting is required. The music was jazzy and low key, that feel-good Sinatra-y type music that will mellow out even the harshest of moods. To complement the artsy and eclectic ambiance, the flooring is cement and one entire wall is a blown up picture of a subway. So cool.

As for the coffee? Well, let me preface by saying my expectations were low. Yes, I’m a pessimist (ahem, real i s t, thank you…) but when you’re in a rut, you become jaded, much like a walking Eeyore. As I browsed the menu options I noticed that some of the coffees listed (Caffe Romano, Caffe Kooka, Kooka’s Special Iced-Coffee with vanilla ice cream and my choice, the Café Tiramisu), had the kookaburra bird next to them indicating that they were “Kooka’s Specials.” There was also the crown icon, which meant that the coffee was a “popular item,” i.e. cappuccino and the caffe latte. So with ALL that being said, I ordered and I waited. I sat. I read, waited some more, and then there it was. Much like the previously mentioned angelic beams and songs of glory, the tiramisu latte was placed before me, and it took all I could not to do a little foot dance of excitement. Oh. My. Gosh.

If this thing tasted as good as it looked….well, there just are no words. NO WORDS. I hesitated slightly and then took a sip.

My first thought upon drinking it?Thank th e h eaven s f o r t h i s

beverage. Other thoughts that came to my mind? Creamy. Hot. Flavorful. A latte that delivers. I mean seriously, I could barely form a coherent thought. It was glaringly apparent why this latte had that little bird next to it. It's special, alright. Surprisingly not too sweet, this drink has just the right amount of flavors working together to make it a delightful pleasure to drink. It had a touch of dark natural cocoa bite with additional chocolateness in each sip. It’s almost as if it changed from a tiramisu latte to a caffe mocha as I approached the bottom of the mug. It's a special day when a latte gets tastier as you're going through it. Bonus!

Color me happily caffeinated and out of my rut! Kooka was the cure!

As a whole, this area is a lot of fun to explore and is bustling with college energy and fun shops. The café has free Wi-Fi and is the perfect place to bring a friend or to just drop in solo with a good book. Prices start at around NT$80 and go up with the specialty lattes.

Aly Cooper is an expat wife of two years who enjoys adventures with her five-year-old son, reading, eating, blogging, having A LOT of coffee with friends, volunteering and spending free weekends exploring what the island has to offer with the family. http://caffeinatedblisstaiwan.blogspot.twGot a suggestion for our resident caffeine addict? Send them in via [email protected].

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TexT & Images: aly Cooper

Is Religion the Answer?:

Connecting Environmentalism

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Kooka Coffee

Kooka Coffee – Open: Every day, 8 am - 10 pmLane 57, Dazhi Street, Zhongshan District (Make a right out of Dazhi MRT Exit 1 and walk straight until you hit the lane on your right)

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If you have a guest visiting you from abroad who still confuses “Taiwan” with “Thailand,” putting that aside, show them

a good time with a unique taste of Taiwan’s culture. Before you rush out the door to Taipei 101 though, consider some alternative destinations that showcase Taiwan’s history, culture, and modernity.

If you live in Taiwan long enough, you will realize that, away from downtown, buildings are not built to impress. Faded four-story structures with visible cracks are splotched with dark gray streaks. If you take a stroll in the tiniest alleys, you will realize how cramped the city can be. My heart sinks when I look down with a bird’s eye view from Yangmingshan and see a cityscape that reflects minimal city planning. Amidst the bustle and crowding, however, you can find some hidden cultural and historical gems that showcase some of the best of what Taiwan has to offer.

XIMen red House (西門紅樓) The Ximen Red House is one of

Taiwan’s best preserved historical bu i ld ings. Des igned by Kondo Juro and built in 1908, this unique structure, which gets its name from its red brick facade, original ly served as a recreational area for the Japanese during their occupation of

Taiwan. When Mainland Chinese i mmigrants se t t l ed in Ta iwan, The Red House Theater became a hotspot for Chinese drama and opera performances. I love this building not only because of its unique structure but also because of the historical artifacts and continuous use and preservation of the monument. The building underwent a renovation in 2010 with the goal that it would be a development center for cultural and creative industries in Taipei. The Red House consists of sixteen boutiques and showcases art exhibitions and historical photos and objects. There are restaurants, cafes, shops, and theaters, but the interior setting and decoration still reflects an older time in Taiwan. The 16 Creative Boutique (16工房) at the back of the building displays fashionable and creative products. Visit their website at: http: //www.redhouse.org.tw/index_en.aspx

F u r t h e r m o r e, i f y o u p i c k a

weekend to visit, you can experience the Creative Bazaar: forty or fifty booths se t up by enthus ias t i c, energet ic young des igners and musicians who showcase their talents and sell creative products. As an extra bonus, the area around the Red House is known for its gay-friendliness. Well-known gay bars and cafés surround the building. At night, the Ximending district fills with nightlife and creative fashion. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to be enveloped by history and creative young minds.

I f t r a v e l i n g b y p u b l i c transportation, the easiest way is to take the MRT to Ximen Station.

TExT: LEAT AHRONY IMAGES: CRAIG FERGUSON


Where to go with out-of-town guests

If have visiting

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Sanxia Old Street (三峽老街)Don’t overlook this traditional

street in southwestern New Taipei City. Sanxia nestles beside several rivers at the base of the hills, and as the Chinese saying goes, the best location (i.e. good feng shui) is where there are mountains and water. In the past it was an important trade center for goods, especially tea and fabric dyes. Over time, however, as the use of river transportation declined, it lost its importance as a commercial center. Luckily, its cultural value has remained undiminished.

The architecture that lines Sanxia Old Street dates back to the days of Japanese rule in Taiwan. There are no fancy glass windows or speedy internal elevators; instead, you’ll find buildings in the traditional Japanese colonial style with red brick exteriors. If you look closely, you will notice the first and last names of the housing occupants and their occupations carved onto the surfaces of these old buildings. If you’re wondering why they remain standing, you’ll be interested to know that the merchants who lived along the street were quite affluent, and therefore could afford durable imported building materials. Some even hired European architects!

While in Sanxia, don’t forget to visit the famous Qingshu Zushi Temple. Enjoy the classical temple arts, worship traditions, and the famous columns, which are al l hand-carved. You may also want to purchase a souvenir or two while in town; Sanxia Old Street stores sell a wide variety of products including handmade soap, Chinese calligraphy brushes, lacquered wooden boxes, and jade jewelry.

Taipei City buses numbers 702, 705, 812, and 910 will get you to Sanxia Old Street, or you can take the Bannan MRT line, get off at Hsinpu Station, and transfer to the Taipei Bus 910 line to Sanxia Station.

Shilin night Market (士林夜市)This modern, hot dest ination

receives millions of visitors every year, and I put it on the must-do list because even though it has become extremely commercia l, i t s tays true to its distinctive structure and atmosphere. Taiwan has numerous night markets, which seem almost as common as 7-Elevens, but the Shilin night market is still my favorite. Try to go on a weekday rather than on the weekend to avoid shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

As you walk through the main lanes and food alleys, your nose will tickle with the aroma of local e a t s: s c a l l i on pancake s, huge fried chicken cutlets, super-sized sausages, barbecued whole corn, st ir-fried squid, oyster omelets, bubble milk tea, and of course, the famous stinky tofu!

I go for the nightlife and abundant cheap retail stores. You can find almost everything at Shilin night market for extremely affordable prices. The quality varies from poor to excellent, so some digging is required. If you have a foreign face, remember to bargain to avoid getting ripped off. I purchase earrings there, but I make sure to select silver ones; the plastic earrings have attractive

prices but break very easily and may irritate your ears. For clothing, the street stalls generally have a no-try, no-return policy, so unless you are positive the clothing will fit, feel comfortable, and look presentable on you, I would pay the extra few hundred NT dollars and purchase clothes at one of the larger retail stores. The same goes for shoes. Rows of shoe stores copy fancy designer brand shoes and sell them at a flat price of NT$390. If you only want shoes for a one-night event, this is an excellent resource, but for proper footwear, I highly recommend going to an established shoe store. At Shilin night market, you’ll find both copies and originals.

For public transportation, take either a bus or the MRT to Jiantan Station (not Shilin).

These are only a few of the many destinations to visit in Taipei, but they do deliver the full package from history to modernity, culture and food.


Where to go with out-of-town guests

i b b k il d

Leat Ahrony is a business undergraduate student at the University of Victoria (UVic) in Canada. She began her journalism career in high school writing for the Centered on Taipei magazine. She has a weekly online column for the UVic newspaper, The Martlet, and regularly writes print news and culture articles. She plans to earn her B.A. in Commerce and continue a side career in Journalism.

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the reverend dr. donald F. decker: A tribute

TExT: SUE BABCOCKIMAGE: COURTESY OF REV. DR. DECKER’S FAMILY

APRIL 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw18

T he Community Services Center respectfully pays tribute to the Reverend Dr. Donald F. Decker, a social justice and human

rights advocate and one of the first counselors to join The Center and its counseling team, in 1988.

Born in Monticello, Minnesota on April 17, 1921, Don graduated from the University of Minnesota, where he studied to become a high school h is tory teacher. Whi le at tending university, he also worked as a part-time diner short order cook and pie maker at a local pie factory.

Hitchhiking home one evening, he was picked up by the Rev. Stan Newberg, a Presbyterian minister. P a t r i c i a A n n M a r u s a r z , D o n’s daughter, says that ride and subsequent conversations with the Rev. Newberg changed her dad’s life and career path.

After having earned graduate degrees, which included a Masters of the Science of Theology; a Masters of Divinity; and a Doctor of Minis try, Don’s active ministry began at the highly respected Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago where he worked with diverse immigrant communities and inner city families and youth for social justice and social transformation.

He later accepted a position, in 1959, as pastor at the Garfield Ridge Presbyter ian Church in Chicago, Illinois, a position that he held for 26 years. While in Chicago, he became certified and licensed as an Alcohol Counselor and Family Therapist, working as a psychologist at the Chicago Industrial League and the Chicago Lawn Mental Health Center.

Don’s deep insight into Scripture, his firm commitment to social justice, and his profound understanding of human nature led him to become actively involved in the civil rights movement

of the 1960s, which included traveling to the ‘Deep South’ and marching with Martin Luther King, Jr.

His daughter Pat also shared the following story. In 1968, at the Chicago Democratic National Convention, her Dad linked arms with a group of pastors that had wedged themselves between the mob of protesters and the police in an attempt to bring about a peaceful outcome during the riot. Pat explained, “I was still up that night, when he came home…his suit was soaked with tear gas. All he said was ‘Don’t tell your mother.’”

W h e n D o n r e t i r e d f r o m f u l l -t ime min i s t ry, he appl i ed to the Presbyterian Church’s (USA) Overseas Mission Volunteer Program and soon found himself in Taiwan, where his professional training, experience, and expertise in community building and development was quickly recognized and appreciated.

In 1988, Don was approached by the Community Services Center’s original co-directors, Joel Wallach and Gale A. Metcalf, and was asked to become part of The Center’s first team of counselors for the Counseling Program, which was to serve the Taipei international expat community.

Don was greatly admired by his Center colleagues. His was a clear voice of reason and insight. His wit along with his warm and generous a p p r e c i a t i o n o f h u m a n n a t u r e contributed to the quality of our counseling team’s efforts. For those who knew Don and worked with him, he will be long remembered and greatly missed.

Shortly before he passed on, Don wrote this poem to be shared with those who had touched his life:

An inheritance is more than the property, the organs, the heirlooms that a person leaves on one’s survivors.

An inheritance is the raison d’être of one’s life, the élan vital, the chi, the spirit of the person.

The heir receives something of the shared life of the donor.

The heir receives some of the donor’s ideas, insights, the meditations of life. The gift includes the poetry, the essays, the mysteries, the challenges and struggles that were accepted and were overcome, or that were overwhelming that shaped the donor’s l i fe . A mong my kee psake s an d scraps of one sort or another is the inheritance I leave to you.

* * *I would like to express my sincere

appreciation to Don’s family, especially to Pat Marusarz, Wendell Decker, Sharon Carlton, and Frances Decker for their generous support and sharing of information about Don and his many adventures with life.

April 17, 1921 – november 1, 2012

Suzan Babcock has been associated with The Center since 1988, as a counselor, lecturer, trainer and contributor to Centered On Taipei. Currently she is trying to figure out how to create a balcony veggie garden.

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N o mat t e r i f you a r e a phys io the rap i s t, chiropractor, Chinese medicine practitioner or a conventional Western medicine doctor, one of the most common patient complaints is lower

back pain (lumbago). When lower back pain attacks, it dramatically affects people’s lives, disrupting work, sleep, and movement. The causes of lower back pain are plentiful and range from abnormal foot pronation, degenerative disc disease, restricted hip motion, rheumatoid arthritis, infections, or even prostate cancer. This may sound frightening, but it is important to keep in mind that most back pain is structural and is either caused by a local problem or another distal mechanical problem.

Assuming that your back pain is caused by structural problems, my experience has taught me that one must first recognize the structural misalignment, whether it be the ankles, knees, hips, or the lumbar spine. This is easily done by measuring the length of the legs compared to each other and then realigning them. If they are aligned and there is still lower back pain, then the problem is likely the lumbar spine itself. To treat the lower back effectively, we must combine massage, chiropractic therapy, and strengthening and stretching exercises. Many treatments do not include strengthening and stretching (rehabilitation), but it is these exercises that treat the root of the problem.

There are exercises that one can do daily to address the issue. First and foremost, it is important that you are able to touch your toes and that you do so each day. This will ensure that the tendons of the lower back and hamstrings are not shortened over time. Secondly, sitting cross-legged forces the lower part of the spine to tuck under and curve, which opens and stretches the bottom vertebrae. Finally, you must exercise the contraction and expansion of the spine, perhaps by doing yoga. Strengthening the lower back lies not only in building the lumbar muscles but in learning to engage and strengthen the abdominal muscles. Successfully mastering this will help prevent back pain now and in the future.

Further, in climates where one easily sweats, the body tends to lose its internal fluids on a daily basis. This leads to low levels of internal lubrication. When internal lubrication is lacking, it’s very easy to incur sudden and acute injuries. The occurrence of such injuries indicates that the body is lacking these thick fluids. To prevent injury, consume water as well as a daily dose of omega oils. You can take deep sea fish oil (not capsules as the cooking process harms the oil) or eat oily fish such as salmon.

The spine needs to be “alive” and flexible like bamboo, not “dead” like a metal pipe. My method is to keep the spine flexible in both directions (touching your toes and leaning back as though the back of your head was trying to touch your heels), to exercise such that your abdominal strength is equal to your lower back strength, and to maintain the internal oils at sufficient levels.

TexT: Shaun RamSden

Shaun Ramsden is a native Australian. He has a Bachelor of Medicine from the Beijing Chinese Medicine University and numerous Diplomas in Remedial Massage Therapies. In addition to running his own Physical Therapy and Massage Clinic he enjoys training in different styles of martial [email protected]

The Treatment of Lower Back Pain


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A f u n l i t t l e p h o t o g r a p h i c adventure for groups is the scavenger hunt. These can make

a great icebreaker for a newly formed photo club, a team builder for a work group, and a lot of fun for groups of children. No special photography skills are needed to get started. For those of you with a budding interest in photography, a scavenger hunt can serve as a means to sharpen your observational skills and is an excellent exercise in creativity and lateral thinking. A scavenger hunt is simply a game in which participants look to take photographs of a list of items over a predetermined time frame or in a predetermined area. They can be undertaken as a team or they can be done individually.

You may choose to award some prizes for participants. The prizes need not be elaborate or expensive as of course winning isn’t the main purpose of the competition. The aim is generally to have a bit of fun, shoot some cool photos, and possibly meet a few new people. If you do decide to give out prizes, possible categories may include:

• first to complete the list

• most creative• best interpretation• best inclusion of photographer in the photograph

Coming up with a list of things to look for and photograph is fairly easy. Just brainstorm a few ideas, write them down, and away you go. A list could be developed by the organizer ahead of time, or the whole group could meet for a coffee, devise a list, and head on out. If good ideas are not coming, there are plenty of lists that can be found online with a bit of Googling. Here’s a possible list to get you started:

• a scene from a movie• mismatched socks

• a pink sports car• fruit that’s out of season• a spelling mistake on a public sign• ingenuity• circles• a local landmark• anger• local colorCreate a Facebook or Flickr group

for easy sharing of the photos after the fact and encourage participants to upload and share their pictures among the group. Give it a go today. If you don’t belong to a photo club, then this could be a great chance to start one.

Have fun!

Photography Scavenger Hunt

TExT & IMAGE: CRAIG FERGUSON

Craig is a professional photographer and has worked with the likes of Lonely Planet, Monocle, Asia Business Traveller, Asian Geographic and many more. In addition, he also teaches regular photography workshops and individual classes in and around Taipei. Visit his website at www.craigfergusonimages.com.

mARch 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw20

Kindermusik I-C 0-18 mos. Thursday, April 11 7 Jennifer Chau 9:15am - 10:00am The CenterKindermusik I-D 0-18 mos. Thursday, April 11 7 Jennifer Chau 11:15am - 12noon The CenterSpanish Conversation Tuesday, April 16 6 Ana Palazuelos Berasategui 12:30pm - 2:00pm The CenterXindian Area Hike: Countryside in the City Wednesday, April 17 1 Richard Saunders 9:30am - 12noon Xindian MRT Sta.Chinese Calligraphy Friday, April 19 3 Jennifer Tong 12:15pm - 2:15pm The CenterAll Wrapped Up Friday, April 19 1 Sally Duh Chu 10:00am - 12noon The CenterBasic First Aid Plus Handling Medical Emergencies in Taiwan Monday, April 22 2 Dr. Peter Guérin 12:30pm - 2:00pm The CenterMeeting a Local Artist: Studio Tour Thursday, April 25 1 Yang Tze-Yun and Rosemary Susa 9:00am - 2:00pm Corner of Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6 and Lane 290Incredible Italian Friday, April 26 1 Heather Martin Lowder 10:00am - 12noon The CenterSky Lanterns and Waterfalls in Pingxi Township Tuesday, April 30 1 Jennifer Tong 8:30am - 3:00pm Corner of Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6 and Lane 290Gentle Yoga II Wednesday, May 08 4 Bonnie Wiseman 9:30am - 11:00am The Farès Academy Dojo

Activity First Meeting Date # of Sessions Instructor Time Meet @

Courses at The Center


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Bak

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Bak

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Bake It Yourself: Bake That Cake!TexT & Images: Cheryl Chee

If you find yourself looking blankly at your brand-new oven, all fired up with enthusiasm yet not sure how to take that first step into the world of

baking and decorating, then you’ve come to the right place!A simple cake is a great project for novice bakers. You can either bake

from a cake mix – never turn up your nose at ready mixes and all manner of products that make taking the first step easier! – or you can try your hand at one of the simplest cake recipes around, described here. Unlike most recipes, for this one you just throw all the ingredients together in a bowl, mix, pour the batter into a greased cake pan, and bake. This recipe makes enough batter to fill two 20-centimeter (8-inch) round shallow tins.

simple White CakeIngredients:2 cups or 250 grams self-rising flour2 tsp baking powder1 cup or 250 grams castor or fine sugar1 cup or 250 grams butter, softened4 eggs

1 Using either shortening or a specialty oil-based pan release coating, grease two 20-centimeter (8-inch) round shallow cake pans, then line the bottom with baking paper. This will prevent the cakes from sticking to the pans.

2 Pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees Ce l s ius. Remember: always pre-heat the oven to the right temperature before you use it. It’s also best to get an oven thermometer to measure the exact temperature in the oven. Do not rely solely on the oven thermostat. Many otherwise good cakes have been ruined because the oven temperature was wrong.

1 Beat all ingredients together in a mixer for one minute. You can then add in any flavorings you wish.

3 Pour mixture into the two greased and lined cake pans.

4 Bake for 35–40 minutes. To test the cake to see if it’s done, press the center with your fingers. If the cake springs back, it’s done. If your fingers leave an indentation, put it back into the oven for a few minutes more.

5 If you are using metal pans, loosen the edges of the cakes with a palette knife, then turn the pans over and pop the cakes out onto a cooling grid. If you are using silicone pans, DO NOT use a knife to loosen the edges. Just turn them over and push the bottom of the pans with your fingers. The cake should come out cleanly. Leave to cool.

Cake FillingIngredients:½ pint (about 235 milliliters) whipping creamAbout a dozen strawberries

This is the simplest filling to prepare. You can either use ready-whipped whipping cream or you can whip it yourself. If you purchase whipping cream, please note that non-dairy whipping cream is more heat-resistant than dairy cream, so it is easier to work with but is not as tasty. 1 To whip dairy whipping cream, chill your mixer’s

balloon whisk and metal bowl first. Dairy whipping cream is very sensitive to whipping and to heat, so it will curdle if you don’t chill it first. Depending on your mixer, whipping takes 3–5 minutes at medium speed. Once the cream is able to stand up in peaks on its own, stop the mixer to prevent the cream from curdling. Divide the cream into two bowls.

2 Take about six or seven strawberries and cut them into small pieces. Leave about four strawberries for garnishing. Dry the cut strawberries thoroughly with a paper towel then add them to one bowl of whipped cream and mix carefully.

3 Place one cooled cake onto a pretty plate, spread the strawberry and whipped cream mixture on top, then top it with the other cake. Note: the bottom of the cooled cake should face upwards so the final cake surface top looks smooth and straight. Place eight dollops of whipped cream at regular intervals on top of the cake, then place half a strawberry on top of each dollop.

4 Chill the cake for at least an hour before serving.

This cake is great eaten with lime or lemon sorbet. Bon appetit!

Cheryl Chee holds several certifications in cake decorating and sugar art, and founded Bake It Yourself in 2003 in Singapore. Bake It Yourself is a cake decorating specialty store, course center, and bakery that makes cake decorating accessible to all keen bakers. She recently opened a branch in Taipei. For more information, visit www.b-i-y.com.tw or call the store at (02) 25811-800. You can also email her directly at [email protected].

Have a baking or cake decorating question? Ask Cheryl! Email your queries to [email protected] and Cheryl will answer your questions in a future column.

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 21 2013/3/25 6:54:59 PM


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Meeting Adam McMillanTexT: Laura OsbOrne

“It was a challenge, and I l ike chal lenges.” Adam McMillan has a determined smi l e on h i s f ace a s he

says this. “I didn’t understand anything!” It was this challenge that snared Adam when he first set foot in Taiwan having just left college; a six month visit that became four years and since then has become a life based here. I was intrigued to discover how and why this man from Tennessee, who confesses to enjoying climbing around power equipment, became the Director of the Community Services Center last November.

Adam explains that he was on a path to becoming a Unitarian minister but decided to take some time out after grad school to teach English and travel Asia. He and a friend arrived in Taiwan. What was it he found so compelling about this country? “It was an assault on every sense,” he says, “my sense of smell, sight, touch, taste and sound.”

“I became very frustrated as soon as I got here because I didn’t understand anything,” he explains, “so I started studying Chinese and I got really into it and that became the main focus.” Adam admits to a passion for understanding complex engineering systems and technology, and this passion extends to languages. After two years of non-stop studying in Taipei, Adam moved to Hualien, which was still a very quiet fishing village at the time. “That may seem strange,” he laughs, “but my motivation was that at that time there were only seven foreigners living in Hualien so

there was more opportunity to be completely immersed in Mandarin.” He is clearly not a man who takes the easy route! “It was actually a great place to live. I lived in an old Japanese house and was able to do hang gliding and mountain biking; it was paradise in a way.”

After returning to the US for a brief period, since 1998 Adam and his family have been based in Taiwan. “From then, my career decisions have been based around staying in Taiwan.” He explains that he and his wife “had come to the conclusion that we couldn’t think of a better place for our kids to grow up.”

So wha t p rompted the sh i f t from corporate life to a non-profit organization? With a background predominantly in technology or industrial maintenance companies, the Directorship of The Center seems a long way from Adam’s previous roles. “When I went into the solar industry I thought that it was something I could be passionate about, but it wasn’t,” he explains. “I didn’t really feel passionate that I was doing something positive.”

“However, I had the opportunity to serve on the board of the [Taipei] American School and that was incredibly meaningful. I felt like I was contributing to something good and I felt that I was having a positive impact on the school. I see my position now at The Center as an opportunity to regain that feeling of being able to make positive contributions to something that is good.”

As a foreigner fairly new to Taiwan I want to understand more about

The Center’s role in the community. What is it that Adam so firmly believes in?

He expla ins that The Center was set up in response to a horrific event wi th in the internat ional community in Taiwan. It was started in a determined effort to ensure nothing similar would happen again. “We provide an important and invaluable service to the international community,” he explains. “The counselors save lives. I think that the continuing education, and just being here… provides a lot of people with a sense of community that means they don’t need counselors. That’s the first line of safety.” With the countless classes and trips organized by The Center, it is certainly true that it provides an invaluable source of information and a great meeting point for people new to Taiwan.

Adam explains that in the last three years the utilization of the counseling services at The Center has increased by some 20%. “I see The Center as helping to make the business climate in Taiwan better for foreign businesses, whether they employ foreigners or not. We help to make the climate in Taiwan more conducive for those businesses to exist.”

Adam rounds off our meeting perfectly as he says, “This is a great place to live and I think The Center is part of the equation that makes this a great place to live.”

Laura Osborne is a former corporate lawyer, now a mum – and still wondering which allows her more sleep. Her roots being in the English countryside, she has fallen in love with Taiwan's beautiful outdoors.

WorShip DirECtory aND CommuNity GroupSlistings are now available online at http://communitycenter.org.tw/life-in-taiwan/worship-directory and http://communitycenter.org.tw/life-in-taiwan/community-groups.

We need your help to keep this magazine in print

Centered on Taipei is a not-for-profit publication that has been available free of charge since it was established in 2000. For many years advertisements covered production costs; however, in

the past few years, as has been the case with so many print publications, Centered on Taipei’s advertising revenue has decreased substantially resulting in an unsustainable financial situation.

Without further support, Centered on Taipei is at risk of closing its

doors for good.

It is for this reason that we are turning to you, our readers, for help. Whether you’re a long-time reader or someone who is picking up a copy for the very first time, if you value the

information and entertainment you find in Centered on Taipei, please consider donating.

Every donation, big and small, will put us one step closer to reaching our fundraising goal of NT$400,000.

We believe Centered on Taipei is an important resource for the international community in Taiwan and a crucial link between the community and the Community Services Center.

We hope you agree.


For more details visit www.communitycenter.org.tw.

Donate NT$1,000 and you’ll receive a Center coffee mug

SupportCentered on Taipei

Donate NT$100,000 and Richard Saunders will take a group of up to 25 people “off the beaten track” on a privately guided day trip or hike, plus you’ll receive a year of banner advertising on the Off the Beaten Track page of the magazine.

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 22 2013/3/25 6:55:34 PM


We need your help to keep this magazine in print

Centered on Taipei is a not-for-profit publication that has been available free of charge since it was established in 2000. For many years advertisements covered production costs; however, in

the past few years, as has been the case with so many print publications, Centered on Taipei’s advertising revenue has decreased substantially resulting in an unsustainable financial situation.

Without further support, Centered on Taipei is at risk of closing its

doors for good.

It is for this reason that we are turning to you, our readers, for help. Whether you’re a long-time reader or someone who is picking up a copy for the very first time, if you value the

information and entertainment you find in Centered on Taipei, please consider donating.

Every donation, big and small, will put us one step closer to reaching our fundraising goal of NT$400,000.

We believe Centered on Taipei is an important resource for the international community in Taiwan and a crucial link between the community and the Community Services Center.

We hope you agree.


For more details visit www.communitycenter.org.tw.

Donate NT$1,000 and you’ll receive a Center coffee mug

SupportSupportCentered on Taipei

Donate NT$100,000 and Richard Saunders will take a group of up to 25 people “off the beaten track” on a privately guided day trip or hike, plus you’ll receive a year of banner advertising on the Off the Beaten Track page of the magazine.

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 23 2013/3/25 2:30:43 AM

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Taipei Fish Market – Addiction: Aquatic development TExT AND IMAGES: VERITY MACKINTOSH


Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 24 2013/3/25 2:30:46 AM


Verity Mackintosh Photographywww veritymackintosh.com

O nce you have v is i ted Taipei’s monuments and touristy sights and are ready to sink your teeth into the cool culture that the city

has to offer, it can be difficult as a non-local living in Taipei to find anything that will really blow your mind. We all know that these places must exist, but unless you are out beating the streets, you probably won’t find them doing a random Google search. It’s a strange but true aspect of modern life in Taipei: discovering the gems of this city is still heavily dependent on word of mouth. So we will be ever grateful to the friends that introduced us to the Taipei Fish Market (台北魚市) – Addiction: Aquatic Development. This is truly one of Taipei’s hidden gems.

We immediately felt at home, relaxing into the Japanese-inspired minimalist yet funky design aesthetic coupled with great service and exceptional food – we couldn’t believe our luck, or that we hadn’t discovered it until now.

Conveniently located across from the local wholesale vegetable market, the street entrance is decorated by street vendors with the best range and prices of produce I’ve discovered within the city boundaries.

A friendly concierge greets you as you enter Addiction through the Aquamarine room. Cleverly designed to feel more like an educational marine lab than a fishmonger's workspace, this room has large vats filled with pumping water and marine life that includes a huge range of sea creatures – from fish to sea urchins, crustaceans to molluscs. These are brought in fresh every day, and you can select your catch and have it prepared for you right on the spot.

The second level is where the Japanese design aesthetic of Addiction really stands out. This area is tastefully decorated and

designed to help foot traffic flow around the aisles to discover the treats within. I couldn’t believe my luck finding wall fridges stacked with imported meats, the shelves full of oils, vinegars, sugars, cooked foods, raw foods, and a chiller full of local desserts. Then there’s the deli section, stocked with sashimi, sushi, salads and dressing, fresh produce, specialty beverages. You name it, it’s there and all beautifully presented.

Tucked in behind the fridges is a 12-meter sushi bar where you can consume the fresh and beautifully presented sushi that Addiction has on offer. It’s reasonably priced and a great spot if you can’t wait to eat your purchases, or need a break from shopping. If you are more of an oyster and French chardonnay fan, don’t miss the seafood bar, which stocks a fresh selection of crustaceans and shellfish paired with a fabulous wine list.

All of this is great, but you really haven’t experienced Addiction until you have had lunch at the Charcoal Gri l led Seafood Barbeque restaurant. This outdoor space fits around a hundred people and, while it is under an awning for protection from the elements, it remains very much an outside dining experience, one in which you can directly select the fresh produce that will be grilled for you and brought to your table. Cleverly placed planter boxes give the restaurant a lovely al fresco feel. If you strike a fine day, the sun drenches this spot, making it a perfect place to chat away the afternoon with friends while sipping a freshly poured Asahi or a glass of wine and sampling the freshly grilled eatables.

Altogether Addiction comprises ten areas. With great staff and a fantastic range of products, you will find that it will take more than one visit to fully appreciate everything that it has to offer.

Addiction: Aquatic development18, Alley 2, lane 410, Minzu east road(02) 2508-1268open daily 6 am - 9 pm

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 25 2013/3/25 2:30:48 AM

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TExT: KARI SCHIRO IMAGES: SHANA GARCIA

The Center’s Spring Bazaar and Luncheon

O ur sincerest thanks to everyone who participated in The Center’s Spring Bazaar and Luncheon on March 8. With over 200 people in attendance and a total of 31 vendors showcasing their wares,

the event hall was teeming with good cheer, boisterous conversation, and great shopping! The vendor offerings ranged from fun (confetti soap for the bath, anyone?) to flavorful (cupcakes, chocolates, cheeses, coffee, wine, oh my!) to just plain fabulous (hand-sewn children’s clothing, bedcovers from India, handcrafted jewelry, and so much more) – and nary a soul went home empty handed!

Thank you to Allianz for their generous sponsorship, Pernod Ricard for donating the delicious Jacob's Creek sparkling wine, and the Regent for providing a beautiful venue, outstanding service, and exquisite food. The Center is tremendously grateful to the vendors, who made the event such a shopper's delight, and to all attendees, who made the event feel like a true celebration of International Women’s Day and our community! Finally, a huge thank you to Bianca Russell, Shana Garcia, and all the volunteers without whom the event would not be possible!

A portion of the funds raised from the Bazaar will benefit Stop the Traffik to raise awareness of and prevent human trafficking in Taiwan. The remainder helps support The Center and its mission. In particular, these funds allow us to provide our counseling services to anyone in need, regardless of their financial situation. Over half of The Center's counseling hours are provided on a subsidized or pro bono basis; your support allows us to continue these important services. Thank you so very much.


Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 26 2013/3/25 2:30:53 AM


T aiwan was ruled by the Japanese from 1895 to 1945, and their occupat ion deep ly a f f ec ted Taiwan, especially its architecture

and inter ior des ign. Many of the Japanese-era buildings have disappeared, and many Japanese influences have faded, but some have been adopted by Taiwanese and can still be seen today. The tatami room is a case in point. In Taiwan, we call tatami “die” (疊), and one of these rooms is often found in Taiwanese homes, including many newly built apartments.

Usually this kind of special place will be a Japanese-style room, a room that is surrounded by pull windows and sliding doors, its wooden floor slightly higher than that of the adjoining rooms. The Japanese design is simple yet creates an elegant visual experience that is matched by the distinct scent exuded by the tatami mats, which is soothing and calms the senses. In combination with soft, indirect lighting, it creates an environment that can make you feel in harmony and at peace.

One reason that tatami mats can create such a special feeling is that they are completely natural products: tatami mats are made from rice straw. After harvesting, the straw is sun-dried then bundled into a tatami mat and bordered with fabric in characteristic Japanese patterns. Like most organic materials, the straw interacts with its surroundings, absorbing the moisture in the air. It will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Until some time ago, tatami mats were handmade in traditional tatami

workshops. These traditional tatami workshops can still be found in Tainan, but unfortunately tatamis sold in the tatami shops in Taipei are now all factory produced.

Tatami mats come in predetermined formats. Here in Taiwan, the mats are 90 cm x 180 cm (a little wider than the original Japanese tatami mats in the Tokyo and Kansai regions, which are 85 cm x 190 cm). Hence the size of a tatami room depends on how many tatami mats are put inside, and are designed in multiples of 90 cm x 180 cm. For example, in a tea house, 4.5 pieces of tatami (1.25 ping or 7.29 square meters) are usually used.

According to Japanese tradition, the corners of the tatami mats should not face each other when they are placed on the floor, as this will bring bad feng shui and, thus, bad luck. When arranged correctly, the tatami room will be an auspicious place for prayer and meditation, a tea ceremony, and sleeping. Of course these uses are changing today. The tatami room may be used as a spare bedroom, a guest room, or a second dining room, and is also a place for people to interact, to sing karaoke, socialize, or just hang out.

Why not create a tatami room in your apartment during your stay in Taiwan?

I-Xin Tatami & Wallpaper Shop (一新疊席壁紙有限公司)115 Hangzhou South Road, Section 1台北市杭州南路一段115號(02) 2321-5740

Her-Ting Tatami Shop (和庭行疊席有限公司)133 Bade Road, Section 2台北市八德路二段133號(02) 2711-0062 Ming-chu Tatami Shop (民族疊蓆行)425 Bade Road, Section 4台北市八德路四段425號(02) 2766-0446

Tong-Fong Tatami & Wallpaper Shop (同豐疊席壁紙行)316 Wenlin Road, Shilin台北市士林區文林路316號(02) 2881-9308

Huifa Tatami Shop (輝發疊蓆行)348 Yonghe Road, Yonghe City新北市永和區永和路二段348號(02) 2929-2253

Jeng-Sen Tatami Shop (正盛疊蓆行)231 Baoan Street, Section 1, Shulin, New Taipei City 新北市樹林區保安街一段231號(02) 2681-4043

I Xin Tan Tan T tami & Wai & Wai & W llpaper Shop

Tatami shops in Taipei

Bin is an interior designer with almost thirty years of experience in Taiwan. In addition to running his own interior design studio (www.inkstone.ws), he recently started a small home maintenance service company (http://housewizard.wordpress.com/), in order to share his local knowledge about the ins and outs of home decoration with the expat community of Taipei. Whatever your household question may be, he’d love to hear from you.

T t

TATAMI (たたみ) & Japanese rooms

TexT: Bin Huang and naTalie KöHle images: naTalie KöHle

ask

bin

Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 27 2013/3/25 6:56:26 PM

No matter who you are, and wherever you are from, it’s not hard to feed yourself properly and healthi ly. Expatriates

may be puzzled by the many colorful and sometimes strangely shaped foods in local markets and on the shelves of shops in Taiwan. Attending a market tour guided by a local food expert and taking cooking classes with a local cooking teacher are great ways for newcomers to come to grips with all these exotic new edibles. Whatever you eat though, try to eat fresh, eat local, and eat seasonal.

During the mid-1980s, at about the same time that the Italian “Slow Food” movement began, o rgan i c agriculture in Taiwan began to attract more attention among farmers and the government. More recently, following the introduction of the “food miles” concept from the UK, other sustainable methods of agriculture such as natural farming, Shumei natural agriculture, permaculture, and organic farming have been introduced to Taiwan.

Organic farming is an agricul-tural method that uses non-synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Hormones, livestock antibiotics, food additives, and genetically modified organisms are also strictly regulated.

natural farming is an ecological farming approach that differs from organic farming. Originating in Japan, natural farming means no tillage, no fertilizer, no pesticides, no weeding, and no pruning. Often on natural farms, animals are not penned.

Shumei natural agriculture is a method that, according to Shumei.org, “relies on understanding the subtle physical relationships and spiritual bonds that exist among all the elements involved in the cultivation of food: the earth, sun, rain, wind, the farmer, the people who eat the food, and the society in which they live.”

According to this philosophy, the soil contains enough nutrition for plants and crops. Fertilizing comes only from weeds and other natural waste from the fields because other fertilizers nourish pests and harmful bacteria in the soil. Too much fertilizer also means nitrate residue, which can also harm humans.

Permaculture is a philosophy and method that “develops sustainable

a rch i t ec ture and s e l f-ma in ta ined horticultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems, with the aim of taking care of the earth and its people” (Wikipedia.org). This method applies to the sustainable concept of recycling and non-waste of resources.

a tOur tO a Shumei natural agricultural farm

On Feb rua ry 22nd The Cen t e r organized a tour to Happiness Farm located in Tamsui. The farmer, Dr. Li (an optometrist by profession), started using Shumei natural agriculture in 2004 to find a way to help his daughter, who suffered from atopic dermatitis. Surprisingly, she was cured after six months of eating food from their farm. The Shumei natural agriculture method is still practiced and promoted by the family today.

It was raining the day of The Center t r ip, bu t th i s d idn’t dampen our enthusiasm for exploring the farm. Clad in raincoats and holding umbrellas, we followed Dr. Li as he walked through the fields. Among the trip’s highlights were picking carrots straight from the fields and tasting Chinese toon from the tree. Due to its pronounced aroma, Chinese toon is puréed and mixed with olive oil and salt to make Chinese pesto. Chinese toon pesto can be cooked like Italian basil pesto and fried with rice as well.

SuStainaBle agriculture

TexT & Images: Ivy Chen

EAT FRESH, EAT LOCAL, EAT SEASONAL


Apr_2013_p3-end.indd 28 2013/3/25 6:57:07 PM

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE


One of the many things I have had to come to terms with as a teenager is the feeling of competition – the biting and insidious need to best others while under pressure. Competition

creeps its way into the classroom, the sports field, and even the midst of our closest friendships, uninvited, unbidden, and perhaps worst of all, sometimes uncontrollable. Yet at the same time, it can be a normal, positive force that enables us to do our best and think quickly in the midst of sticky moments. So, what do we do about it?

There is an ancient Greek myth, about a Spartan boy and a fox, that might tell us the answer. It doesn't take a devout Classicist to tell you that Spartans lived in a Machiavellian, Darwinist society in which competitive activity was highly encouraged. The myth is as follows. A Spartan youth finds a small fox and steals it out of vanity, hiding it under his cloak for fear of getting caught and bringing shame upon himself. In a most un-adorable manner, the fox, desperate to escape, begins to claw and bite at the child's stomach. Yet rather than admit that he stole a fox and "lose to the other children," the boy did nothing and the fox ate its fill and killed him. While King Leonidas of Sparta might have argued the child died a noble death, I argue that he died in ignominy. It was not the fox that claimed the boy's life – rather it was his shameful inability to control the need to best his peers. The child's demise shows us that in the realm of competition, it is always better to be rational than to win at any cost, because our judgment clearly becomes impaired by our own ego.

Intense feelings of competition are not only destructive to our judgment, but they also prevent us from appreciating

others and learning from them. I recently returned from a school-sponsored speech and debate competition where I learned this first hand. What made the experience unique was how well we collaborated as a team, even though each of us was hoping for a solitary medal. In order to do anything well, whether it's public speaking or playing sports, we need to surround ourselves with good friends who bring out the best in us and who enable and inspire us to perform well. If we fixate on competing, we blind ourselves to the merits of their achievements and so we cannot learn from them and thereby do not make ourselves better in the process. The strong cohesion of the team this year helped my school to excel – we did not waste time feeling envious of each other. Rather, we worked as a single unit, training hard and appreciating each other's abilities to build a strong foundation from which we all drew strength.

Conversely, I can't deny that a little competition is healthy – in fact, it's normal. Society is largely based on a fight for survival. There's a reason why more often than not, the cheetah will always catch the turtle for lunch. But, as we are not simple animals, we have the power to take the best parts of competition – the pressure, the desire to shine and excel, the rush of adrenaline – and harness them, making them our own, while leaving out the jealousy, the envy, and the spite. It is a rare gift indeed, and we should treasure it. As competitive as we may feel, we have to keep our desire to win as a source of personal inspiration and as a reserve of energy; it should not be a projected emotion used to hurt others. Tame your inner fox, lest it claw its way out and consume you utterly.

CompetitionTexT: Nick AckerT

Nick Ackert is a senior at the Taipei American School. Always eager to discuss current events, politics, and community, he has written for both of the school newspapers. He also regularly pens creative writing pieces about whatever pops into his head. He hopes to study Latin, Ancient Greek, and International Relations in college.

For more information on Happiness Farm visit:http://www.shumeifarm.tw/pw/index.php?m=area#main_start

Other useful information about sustainable agriculture:Organic Agriculture Information Center 有機農業全球資訊網http://info.organic.org.tw/supergood/front/bin/cglist.phtml?Category=104849

Organic agriculture certified labels on food packages:http://info.organic.org.tw/supergood/front/bin/ptdetail.phtml?Part=logo001&Category=104860

Organic shops in Taipei and online:Healthy Kitchen (健康廚房) 16, Lane 70, Zhongcheng Road, Section 2, Tianmu台北市士林區忠誠路二段70巷16號 (02) 2834-6345

主婦聯盟 (membership required) http://www.hucc-coop.tw/map1.asp?area_no=001柑仔店 http://www.orangemarket.com.tw/market_09.htm里仁 http://www.leezen.com.tw/big5/main2.asp#綠色小鎮 http://www.earthlife.com.tw/store.php無毒的家 http://www.yogi-house.com/loction.php

After we surveyed the fields, a coal fire brazier was ready in the farm’s dining room. A table piled with a healthy and colorful lunch prepared by Mrs. Li made us feel hungry. Every ingredient comes from either Happiness Farm or another farm that practices sustainable methods. The food looked appetizing and tasted great: simple, healthy food that marked a perfect end to a great day.

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to terms with as a teenager is the feeling ocompetition – the biting and insidious need tbest others while under pressure. Competitio

creeps its way into the classroom, the sports field, and even the midst of our closest friendships, uninvited, unbiddeand perhaps worst of all, sometimes uncontrollable. Yet Yet Ythe be normal, force that enables

Competition"Anything you can do, I can do better..." — Annie Get Your Gun

Interested in taking a tour or class with The Center? Check out what we have on offer this month on page 20. For a full list of spring tours and courses, visit The Center’s website at www.communitycenter.org.tw and click on “Activities Catalog” under the “What’s On” menu.

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30 april 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw

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#14 Tienmu E. Road | Telephone 2871-1515 | [email protected]

taipei european school (tes)April 27, 6:30 pmA Gala Evening: East Meets Westhttp://www.taipeieuropeanschool.com/index.php2 Songshou Road

suhu Paper memorial museumUntil June 1stFlowing Scenery: Mu-ge Huang Solo Exhibitionhttp://www.suhopaper.org.tw/en/en_index.html68 Changan East Road, Section 2

taipei Fine arts museumUntil May 19thTrue Illusion, Illusory Truth: Art Beyond Ordinary ExperienceGalleries: 1A and 1Bhttp://www.tfam.museum/ 181 Zhongshan North Road, Section 3

national Palace museumUntil December 31stRare Books and Secret Archives Treasures from the Collections of the National Palace MuseumGallery: 103

http://npm.gov.tw221 Zhishan Road, Section 2

taipei american school (tas)April 20, 10 am – 3 pm33rd Annual PTA Spring Fairhttp://www.tas.edu.tw800 Zhongshan North Road, Section 6

national museum of historyUntil May 26thExhibition: Xiao De-Yang’s Stone Carving from the Heart 2F, Corridorhttp://www.nmh.gov.tw/en-us/Home.aspx 49 Nanhai Road

taipei expo ParkApril 13 & 14hTaipei Traditional Market Festivalhttp://www.2013market.com.tw/ Taipei Expo Park - Yuanshan Park Area

taipei ZooUntil December 31stSpecial Exhibit: All About the Snakeshttp://www.zoo.taipei.gov.tw30 Xinguang Road, Section 2

taipei artist villageUntil April 21stExhibit: Landscape of Spectacle Venue: Treasure Hill Artist Villagehttp://www.artistvillage.org/?lang=en2, Alley 14, Lane 230, Dingzhou Road, Section 3

national taiwan museumUntil September 1stSpecial Exhibition: The Dongsha AtollGallery: G101http://ntm.gov.tw2 Xiangyang Road

the red room3rd Saturday of every month, 6:30 – 10:30 pmStage Time & Winehttp://www.redroom.com.tw/2F, 117 Da-an Road, Section 1

sPot taipei – Film houseDaily Noon to Midnight, 6 showingsAvant Garde Cross Cutural FilmsIn the former residence of the US ambassador http://www.spot.org.tw/index_e.htm18 Zhongshan North Road, Section 2

Just a few of the things that are going on around Taipei this month...

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Centered on Taipei April 2013

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