September cot & catalog

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

September 2015, Volume 16, Issue 1

Centeredon TAIPEI

stories from taiwan

2015 fall & wInter aCtIVItIeS CatalOG InSIDe

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3www.communitycenter.org.tw SEPTEMBER 2015

5 LETTER fRoM ThE EdiToRS

7 CEnTER GaLLERy SEPTEMBER 2015

9 EvEnTS aBouT Town CEnTER Book CLuBS

10 CoMMuniTy A Witness to the Aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor

13 CoMMuniTy Seen and Heard - Humble Heroes

14 CoMMuniTy A Pleasant Surprise and Brief Encounter with the Taipei Community Services Center

Special Supplement2015 faLL/winTER aCTiviTiES CaTaLoG

19 hEaLTh Supporting Children’s Learning: Make Time to PLAY!

20 CoMMuniTy Sharing Joy with Taiwan’s Indigenous Children

22 ouTLook Culture Shock! Adjusting to Life in Taiwan

23 ChinESE kiTChEn Taiwan Is a Paradise For Seafood Lovers

24 CRoSS-CuLTuRaL Making Taiwanese Friends

26 CoMMuniTy Adopt a Shelter Dog … and give a Deserving Animal a Chance

29 off ThE BEaTEn TRaCk The Beautiful Village of Shuitou

30 CSC BuSinESS CLaSSifiEd

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September 2015 volume 16 issue 1

CovER: aftermath from Typhoon Soudelor, nearby the Taipei Japanese School, Taiwan

This month's cover selection was taken by Justine o'neil shortly after Typhoon Soudelor swept through northern Taiwan leaving mass destruction in its wake. Thousands of trees were uprooted, especially in the Tianmu expatriate neighborhood of Taipei.

for more information, please go to our website atwww.communitycenter.org.tw

Centered on Taipei is a publication of the Community Services Center, 25, Lane 290, Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6, Tianmu, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 02-2836-8134fax: 02-2835-2530e-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 2015. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner.

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4 SEPTEMBER 2015 www.communitycenter.org.tw

CR ad Center Magazine.indd 1 5/20/2015 10:20:51 AM

“LEARNING THROUGH PLAY”

Taipei Youth Program AssociationTaipei Youth Program Association

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expat perspective


CoMMuniTy SERviCES CEnTER

Adam McMillan

Grace Ting

Suzan Babcock, I-Wen Chan, Katherine Chang, Hui-Shiang Chao, Jung Chin, Chiao-Feng Chung, Wendy Evans, Cerita Hsu, Joyleen Huang, Carol Lee, Emilie Ma, Ming-I Sun, Kuang-Shan Wan

Joanne Chua

Eva Su, Michael Mullahy

Monica ChengPamela LinRosemary SusaJohn ImbrogulioJane WangJustine O'Neil Kathryn RookeGloria GwoBunny PachecoBeth Verne

Alison Davis Bai, Miyuki Boice, John Imbrogulio, Sharon Landon, Shan Lee, Fiona Mackelworth, John McQuade, Renee Nicolaci, Monica Pellizzaro, Gloria Peng, Emmy Shih

Bai Win AntiquesCostco Wholesale TaiwanEuropean Chamber of CommerceGrand Hyatt TaipeiHao Ran Foundation

Concordia ConsultingICRTSan Fu Global

Director

office Manager

Counselors and Consultants

Counseling Admin.

Counselling interns

Accountant General Ledger Activities Coordinator Coffee Mornings Coordinator Cross-Cultural TrainerCommunicationsEvents Coordinator Mandarin Chinese TeacherProgram SupportSystems Manager

volunteers

Benefactors

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].

PublisherEditorsAdvertising ManagerMagazine EmailTelFax

Writing and Photography Contributors

Community ServicesCenter Editorial Panel

Printed by

Community Services Center, TaipeiSuzan Babcock and Richard SaundersNaomi [email protected]

Ivy ChenNick ChenWendy EvansNatasha KanapathyAmy C. LiuRuss McClayJoseph ReillySteve Rigden

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]

Kathryn Rooke Richard SaundersMax StoneRosemary SusaGrace TingAndrea ToerienJane W. Wang

It’s been one month since Taiwan experienced the wrath of Typhoon Soudelor, which left downed trees, traffic lights and power lines, mud slides and people homeless in its wake. Those who looked directly into the face of the typhoon

have a renewed respect for the destructive power of wind and water and the generosity of family, friends, neighbors and total strangers.

This month’s issue features a powerful photo essay and eye-witness account by Andrea Toerien about the aftermath and destruction she witnessed in Wulai and the nearby Guishan Elementary School.

On the other side of the Taipei Basin, people in Tianmu were rallying together in an effort to quickly clear fallen trees, debris and trash from the streets. Silent heroes stepped forward in this community effort without any hesitation or desire for public recognition, as Nick Chen succinctly points out in his article “Seen & Heard – Humble Heroes”.

At the Center, the momentum continues to build for the October 16th Roaring Twenties Auction. For us, this annual event is a time to celebrate our history, accomplishments and service to the international community and to ask for continued community support to carry on the services and programs which help make a difference in the lives of many people and families here on Taiwan. So, please come join us for an evening of lively entertainment, prizes and merrymaking at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Taipei.

If you are new to Taiwan or to the Center, this issue of Centered on Taipei (COT) features the 2015 Fall/Winter Activities Catalog, filled to the brim with opportunities for newcomer orientations, field trips, hikes, cross-cultural activities, Mandarin Chinese language instruction, yoga, photography, cooking classes with the experts and even special activities for children.

Please feel free to stop by the Center for a cuppa or for some stimulating conversation and be sure to pick up your own copy of COT to take home with you.

Richard SaundersCo-editor

Suzan BabcockEditor

Naomi KalyAdvertising Manager

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

Please send email submissions, comments, and feedback to [email protected].

COT is printed on FSC certified 100% post-consumer recycled fiber. The paper is certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council which promotes environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests.https://ic.fsc.org/

Sue and Richard

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Roaring Twenties Auction! 16th October, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Taipei

For those of us who've lived in Taiwan for a matter of only weeks or months, the Center is a place where we first feel part of a community, where we meet friends,

learn Chinese and ask umpteen questions on everything from where to get a leg wax to where to find a doctor!

For those of us who’ve lived here longer (even a lifetime) the Center sometimes becomes even more important – a place of refuge if things get difficult, someone to talk to if things get lonely, and a number to call in times of crisis.

For all of us, the Center's Annual Auction is somewhere to meet new friends, celebrate old ones and to eat, drink, dress up, and shop!! All in support of the Center.

In celebration of our Auction’s 20th year, on Friday 16th October at The Grand Hyatt Hotel, our theme is “The Roaring Twenties!”

Expect a photo booth, glamor and prizes for all pockets. This year we want every member of our community to go home with a treat, be that a bottle of wine, an antique Tibetan chest, or some great British chocolate.

All too often, the Center is somewhere that comes to mind only when we need help. When life is good (and in Taiwan, under the sun, in the sea or up a mountain, life is often good!) we forget about it and how much we can all value feeling part of a community. Help us to continue to help others and join us for the Center’s Roaring Twenties Auction!

Email Kathryn, [email protected] to reserve your space now at the early-bird price of NT$3,800, or a table of ten at NT$38,000 (normal price NT$40,000).

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A percentage of all proceeds of items sold at the Gallery will go to the Center. Please remember that by displaying your items or shopping at the Gallery, you will be helping the Center to continue to provide

valuable services to the international community.

Our LOcaL Taiwan auThOrs’ BOOksheLf DispLay

The Center encourages loca l authors to p lace their books on our Local Taiwan Authors Bookshelf Display area for members of the expat community to see and purchase. Join the ranks of such well-known authors as Richard

Saunders, Amy C. Liu, Cheryl Robbins, Nick Kembel and photographer Justine O’Neill.

yang Tze-yun arTwOrk“Refreshing” is a word often used

when viewers stand before a piece of artwork by Yang Tze-Yun. The Center is happy to present the work of this well-known artist and calligrapher, whose work is internationally recognized and respected.

sepTeMBer2015

cherry hiLL anTiquesIn the Gallery this month, Cherry

Hill Antiques will display a wide range of handmade Chinese ethnic-style jewelry, featuring intricate knotting combined with old and new jade, cloisonné beads, lapis coral and other

semi-precious stones for purchase. Other gift items on display will include Chinese-style bags, placemats and coasters. Stop in and shop early, for these are very popular items.

gaLLery

For inquiry please contactwww.facebook.com/bonjujuchocolatesT: 02-2711-6126M: 0932 002 048

Gaoliang Bomb (Red) Tea Liquor (Blue)

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8 auGuST 2015 www.communitycenter.org.tw

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CSC newS

events about townMUSICTwo top groups play the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall this month!

Maroon 5September 14 & 15 Time: 8 pm

Bon Jovi September 28 Time: 8 pmVenue: The Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall Jingmao 2nd Road, Nangang DistrictPhone: (02) 275-5200Tickets: www.viagogo.comwww.twtcnangang.com.tw/

The Riverside Live HouseA great place to listen to live talent in the Ximending area, an old area of Taipei, trendy and rich in cultural diversity.Venue: 177 Xining South Road, Wanhua DistrictFor schedules & tickets: (02) 2370-8805 www.riverside.com.tw/

For FOODIESTaipei Eats presents a three-hour cultural food tour through

well-known neighborhoods, stopping at eateries offering local and fusion specialties.Venue starting point: 369, Zhongxiao East Road, Section 5Phone: 0920-997-781 Email: [email protected] www.taipeieats.com

TEA TIMEThe Wisteria Tea House Built during the 1920s, over the years this Japanese-style wooden house has become a popular meeting place for poets, political figures and seekers of solitude.1, Lane 16, Xinsheng South Road, Section 3, Da’an DistrictPhone: (02) 2363-7375 www.wisteriateahouse.com

ART GALLERIES and MUSEUMSThe Cube Project SpaceLocated in the Gongguan area, The Cube pays particular attention to trends in the international contemporary art scene, with refreshing exhibitions.2/F, Alley 1, Lane 136, Roosevelt Road, Section 4Phone: (02) 2368-9418 www.artsinasia.com/

Current Exhibition until October 4, 2015 – “The Starry Heavens Above and the Moral Flow Within” – artists: James Hong, Yin-ju Chen

Museum of Contemporary Art39 Chang’an West Road, Datong DistrictCurrent Exhibition until October 11, 2015 – “In the Name of Art” Hong Kong Contemporary Artwww.mocataipei.org.tw/ Open: Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am to 6 pm

National Taiwan MuseumXiangyang Road, Zhongzheng District (inside 228 Peace Park)Current Exhibition until November 1 – “Vivid Ancestor Paintings: A Plains Aborigine Exhibition”Phone: (02) 2382-2566 www.2.ntm.gov.tw/

WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONSThe Taipei International Women’s Club (TIWC) has a longstandingcommitment to charity, education and the promotion of cross-cultural awareness.On September 22, the membership will celebrate

India as the selected country of appreciation with a luncheon program of lively Indian dancing, a genuine Indian buffet, music, cultural presentations, henna designs and more.Date: Tuesday, September 22Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pmVenue: The Shangri-la Taipei Far Eastern Plaza Hotel201 Dunhua South Road, Section 2 For more information contact: [email protected]

CELEBRATION OF CONFUCIUS’ BIRTHDAYSeptember 28Confucius (551-479 BC) was a sage, scholar and philosopher who emphasized the importance of education. Venue: the Confucius Temple275 Dalong Street, Taipei CityTime: 6:00 am - the ceremony begins immediately after the gates to the temple are shutNote: Tickets can be purchased about 5 days in advance at the temple and always sell out quickly.Regular temple hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 8:30 am - 9:00 pmSunday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm

THE CENTER BOOK CLUBSThe morning and evening book clubs will be reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce. Come join us and our lively discussions. For more information please email [email protected] (morning meetings) or [email protected] (evening meetings).

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community

A Witness to the Aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor

i woke with a start. What was that sound? Opening my window, I looked overhead and saw military helicopters flying overhead. This was strange. My curiosity aroused, I threw on my clothes, grabbed my

camera and rushed outdoors. It wasn’t until I was halfway to Wulai that I noticed I was almost out of gas, which turned out to be a good thing.

It was on Xinwu Road, the main road up from Xindian to the community of Wulai, that I encountered the first military roadblock. I pointed to my nearly empty gas gauge indicating that I wanted to continue to a nearby gas station. They waved me through, but I didn’t get very far before I was stopped again, this time near the Guishan Elementary school. Once again, I was allowed to pass through the roadblock.

TexT/Images: andrea ToerIen

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What I saw, as I slowly drove along the roadway, rocked my world. I was shocked at the amount of debris in the road. I had no idea how bad the flooding was, so I decided to follow the soldiers and camera crews. We were allowed to attend a military briefing outlining the plan of action, confirming the locations of where people needed help and, more sadly, those who had died.

With the help of a reporter’s GPS, I was able to find the exact location of my good friends who lived in Wulai and get their names and information entered into the rescue mission’s database. Relieved, I set out once more, this time following a team of Tzu Chi volunteers.

They led me through small alleyways steeped in mud, people’s belongings and debris. Eventually, we came to the severely ravaged Guishan Elementary School. Another surprise awaited me. What I saw were scores of cheerful

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Tzu Chi volunteers busily and efficiently working side-by-side with soldiers as they tugged and pulled fallen trees away from the school, cleared first floor classrooms of ruined books, children’s drawings, destroyed chairs and desks. It was impossible to stay sad when I saw how upbeat and energetic everyone was. Some were wearing back braces, but that didn’t deter them from carrying belongings out of the damaged classrooms and nearby homes, or from cheering on the soldiers who had to carry heavy tree trunks on their backs.

However, my sadness returned when I was slowly making my way over the bridge to Wulai. I began to hear the melancholy ringing of a bell. Below, on the banks of the swollen river, was a Buddhist monk dressed in flowing orange robes, praying as family members stood nearby burning incense and offering prayers for the dead.

I stood there remembering how, the week before, I had stopped in the same spot and watched an elderly woman trying to pick papaya fruit, without much luck. She disappeared for a few minutes and returned with a net, but she still couldn’t reach them. She dropped the net and started to climb up onto the wall. I continued to watch in awe as this elderly woman got onto the top of her roof to pick the papaya. Today, all that was left of that memory was the broken stump of the papaya tree.

I went to look for her neighbors. One told me that a 90 year-old man didn’t survive and that others were missing. Their houses had been washed away. I went back home and looked for the papaya lady’s house on Google Maps. It was then that I realized that the whole row of houses in front of her house along the river bank was gone. I hope she is safe, but even now I can still hear the ringing of the monk’s bell in my mind.

I am a South African who has been teaching English in Taiwan for the past fourteen years. I love to capture the human element behind disasters and special events.

Note: Those wishing to help the Guishan Elementary School may contact Principal Lin directly at 0928-365-192

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l a s t m o n t h ’ s T y p h o o n S o u d e l o r s e n t p e o p l e s c u r r y i n g t o s e e k s a f e s h e l t e r f ro m r e l e n t l e s s

winds, lightning and heavy rain. In Taipei, fallen trees made main roads and side streets impassable and over four million householders island-wide lost power. Emergency services relief efforts struggled through the typhoon despite road blockages, electrical and communications breakdowns. Island-wide, it was reported that close to 20,000 large trees were destroyed. The post-typhoon clean-up effort has been nothing short of a miracle because of the EPA, military, emergency services and the spontaneous efforts of citizens al l working to lend a hand in the cleanup.

O n e o f T a i w a n ’ s u n i q u e characteristics is her people. Countless

v is i tors comment how they have fal len in love with the Taiwanese. Taiwan residents, locals and expats have a strong spirit of community and community service, which is especially evident in times of natural disasters or crisis. There are many good neighbors and humble heroes in Taiwan that

community

Nick Chen is originally from NYC and has been a Taipei resident for 25 years. He works at the Pamir Law Group.

Seen and Heard – humble heroesTexT: nICk CHen Images: rUss mcClay, andrea ToerIen and web Images

come from all walks of life, different countries, cultures. Todd Bretzlaff is one of those individuals.

Early Sunday morning, August 9, 2015, Typhoon Soudelor hit Taipei with its full force. By midday, the eye of the storm was overhead. The city held its breath waiting for the second half of the typhoon, which was expected to bring more torrential rains, flooding and high winds. At this time, people reported seeing Todd Breztzlaff on Bei-an Road in front of the American Club dragging heavy tree limbs out of the road so that vehicles could pass safely.

When my wife and I saw him, around noon, he was still busy removing fallen trees to clear traffic lanes for private and public and emergency vehicles. We later learned that he had been there since six in the morning. When my wife referred to him as a ‘community hero’, he just shrugged his shoulders, smiled and kept on going. Hail a humble hero.

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community

L ast May, my wife and I were on our way to Singapore when circumstances altered our travel plans, providing us with

an unexpected stay in Taipei. In order to pass some time, I logged onto my Facebook account from our hotel room and began writing about our dilemma. Within seconds after posting, I received a reply from a fr iend in Shanghai suggesting that I check out the Taipei Community Services Center’s Coffee Morning. Not quite understanding what this was about, I shot back a PM to my friend asking what the heck she was talking about.

I was glad that I did.When we arrived for the Center

Coffee Morning presentation, the room was packed. The speaker, Dr. Nick Coburn-Palo, was just about to begin

his talk on “Taiwan’s future and how it could possibly define the history of Asia in the 21st century”. It was a fascinating presentation, but what was even more informative to my wife and I were the questions asked by members of the audience during the Q & A session about Taiwan, and the chats that we had with several members of the Center’s staff after the event ended.

When asked to write about our visit for the September issue of Centered on Taipei by Sue, I was happy to do so. Here are my reflections.

Building upon an organization’s o r i g i n a l c o r n e r s t o n e s i s ke y t o i t s cont inu ing success. F rom my understanding the cornerstones of the Community Services Center include its core, the counseling program, an orientation program for people newly

arrived in Taiwan, an extensive offering of educational and cultural activities for the foreign community, and a force of enthusiastic volunteers. These are winning attributes for engaging, responding and cultivating cultural and social transition supports for the populations being served by the Center.

While a stranger to Taiwan and one who had accidentally “washed ashore” for a brief interlude, I left Taiwan with a sense of appreciation for the leadership and commitment of those associated with the Taipei Community Services Center.

TexT: max sTone

A Pleasant Surprise and Brief Encounter with the Taipei Community Services Center

max stone was a “wash ashore” from singapore, who happened upon the Center as the result of a friend's recommendation.

Where is COT being seen these days?Last spring, we created a fun photo contest asking our

readership to take photos of people holding a copy of COT. There is still time to participate. Send us your photo and be

sure to include your name, location, date and how to contact you with each submission. Enter now and go for a prize.

employees of the Center and family members are not eligible to enter.

the center’s cOt photo contest ends October 1st

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2015 Fall & Winter Activities [iii]

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Center!

It has been a long, hot summer here in Taipei and it will still be hot when the new school year begins this month and the Center’s activities kick into gear in September. But that is okay. The air conditioner is on and we are all here waiting for you to come in and see us.

We have a lot of great activities for you to join this fall—ranging from Survival Chinese classes to some new neighborhood and special site tours to a great stress busting yoga workshop. Take a look inside this catalog and we are most certain that you will find something to do, learn about, or try your hand at this semester.

Speaking of kicking into gear, for anyone new to Taiwan we are offering a newcomer orientation program on September 17-18 called “Kick-Start Your Stay in Taiwan.” This two-day workshop is chock-full of tips, tools, stories and useful information to help you build a strong foundation for your new life in Taiwan. For more information please refer to page “v” of this catalog or just call or email us at the Center.

So, take a few minutes to look over the catalog and sign up for some classes and tours. You will be so glad that you did.

Grace Ting Office Manager

Rosemary Susa Programs Coordinator

August 2015

Advance registration and payment is required for all Center activities. Registrat ion may be done by phone, emai l or in person; onl ine pre-registration is also available via the Center’s website. Please go to www.communitycenter.org.tw/whats-on/pre-register.

Payment for most activities is due at least one week prior to the start or actual date. Should a class become fully subscribed and a wait list created, payment is due upon request.

Please note that we cannot guarantee your place until full payment is made. If you are unable to visit the Center, please call us for alternative payment options.

Center office hours are Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

CancellationsThe Center reserves the right to cancel any activity or program that does not have sufficient enrollment. We make every effort to notify registered participants promptly.

Refund and Credit PolicyActivities cancelled by the Center: • Fullrefundwillbeissued.Refundsmaybecollecteduntilthelastdayof

the semester.

When a participant cancels a tour or activity registration, no refund will be issued. However, credit is available on the following terms:• A full creditwillbe issued if youcancel your registrationat least one

week prior to the first meeting. After that time, we are unable to give credits.

• CreditmaybeappliedtootherCenteractivitieswithinthecurrenttermor to the term that immediately follows.

Welcome To The Center

Tel: 02-2836-8134 E-mail: [email protected]

http://www.communitycenter.org.tw

Registration Information

P.S. Please be sure to join us for our monthly topic coffee mornings. Our first one—our fall welcome event—is scheduled for September 10th. For the full schedule, please see our ad on page “ix” of this catalog.

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SEPTEMBERSep 07 to Nov 04 Survival Chinese I 27 $ 5200Sep 07 to Nov 04 Survival Chinese II 28 $ 5200Sep 07 to Dec 16 *Chinese Study Group II (Intermediate) 29 $10000Sep 07 to Nov 04 Evening Survival Chinese I 30 $ 5200Sep 08 to Oct 30 Chinese Conversation A 31 $ 5200Sep 08 to Dec 15 *Chinese Study Group I (Beginner) 32 $10000Sep 15 to Dec 15 *Fitness Boot Camp 16 $ 6500

Sep 17 to Sep 18 Kick-Start Your Stay in Taiwan: Newcomer Orientation Workshop 1 $ 3500

Sep 24 to Dec 10 *Kindermusik 17 $ 6200Sep 24 Confucius Temple and Bao An Gong 2 $ 500Sep 25 Taiwanese Please 37 $ 1200Sep 29 POW TOUR: In the Steps of the Men of Kinkaseki 3 $ 1600

OCTOBEROct 02 Japanese Cooking 38 $ 1200Oct 14 Trendy and Fun: Yong Kang Street Tour 4 $ 900Oct 19 to Dec 07 *Signing Time I (6 mos.-18 mos.) 18 $ 4000Oct 19 to Dec 07 *Signing Time I (19 mos.- 3 yrs.) 19 $ 4000

Oct 20 to Oct 27 Get Smart With Your Smartphone or Tablet and Take Better Photographs 23 $ 1200

Oct 21 “The Last Printing Press: Preserving the Culture and History of Traditional Chinese Printing” 5 $ 900

Oct 22 to Nov 05 Printmaking Workshop 24 $ 2800

Oct 27 “The Shi Dong and Local Market Tour” or “What Is That Vegetable and How Do I Cook It?” 6 $ 500

Oct 29 Taiwan and Beyond: A Workshop for Expat Spouses 7 $ 1500

Oct 30 American Southern Cooking: It's Not Just Biscuits and Gravy! 39 $ 1200

NOVEMBERNov 03 to Dec 15 Chinese Conversation B 33 $ 4800Nov 04 to Dec 16 Yoga Workshop 20 $ 7800

Activity ActivityCourse # Course #$$$ $$$ Dates Dates

Fall/Winter Activities at a Glance...

Nov 05 Taoyuan County: Daxi Old Street, Lake Tzuhu and the Garden of Generalissimos 8 $ 1400

Nov 06 Introduction to Bread Making 40 $ 1200Nov 06 to Nov 20 Make Your Own Chinese Chop 25 $ 3000Nov 07 Bordeaux vs. New World: An Evening of Wine Tasting 9 $ 2200Nov 09 to Dec 16 Survival Chinese I 34 $ 4800Nov 09 to Dec 16 Survival Chinese II 35 $ 4800Nov 09 to Dec 16 Evening Survival Chinese II 36 $ 4800Nov 10 Exploring Taipei's Bike Paths: A Ride's Tour 10 $ 650Nov 12 What's Your Personality Type? 21 $ 1200Nov 13 Wrappers and Rolls! 41 $ 1200

Nov 18 Exploring Taipei's Evening and Night Markets: A Street Foodie's Tour 11 $ 700

Nov 20 Holiday Cake Decorating 42 $ 1200Nov 23 Hiking Gueizikeng 12 $ 500

DECEMBERDec 01 Exploring Yangmingshan: A Walk in the Buffalo Meadow 13 $ 700

Dec 03 Beyond Di Hua Street--The Dadaocheng Area: An Insider's Tour 14 $ 600

Dec 04 Oodles of Chinese Noodles 43 $ 1200Dec 04 to Dec 11 Porcelain Painting 26 $ 2400Dec 05 First Aid, CPR- AED Course 22 $ 2600Dec 08 Shilin to Neihu Hike 15 $ 700

To guarantee your place, early registration is encouraged. For courses marked with an (*), space permitting, registration remains

open throughout the semester. Please contact the Center at 2836-8134 for more information.

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Arts, Culture & Tours in Taiwan

2015 Fall & Winter Activities [v]

# Activity Day(s) Dates Instructor

The Community Services Center | Tel: 02-2836-8134, e-mail: [email protected]

# of Sessions Time $$$ Meet@ Description

Transportation included Snacks, lunch or meal included Space permitting, registrations are ongoing* Please check www.communitycenter.org.tw for the most recent updates.

1

Kick-Start Your Stay in Taiwan:

Newcomer Orientation Workshop

Thu & Fri Sep 17 to Sep 18 2 8:45am -

2:00pm $3500 The Center Jane Wang and Anne Jacquet

You’ve landed in Taiwan; you’ve found a place to live; work and school have started. What next? Brought back by popular demand, the Center’s Newcomer Orientation is a two-day workshop filled with tips, tools, stories, space for exchange, and useful information to help you build a solid foundation for your new life in Taiwan. Our team of experts will guide you through everything from cultural differences to practical matters to smooth your way as you settle in. Lunch each day is included.

2 Confucius Temple and Bao An Gong Thu Sep 24 10:00am -

12noon $ 500Yuanshan MRT Sta., Exit 2

Jennifer Tong

Join Jennifer for a tour of the historic Confucius and Bao An Gong Temples which were both built in the 1800's. Bao An Gong is a Taoist temple, dedicated to the god of medicine. The Confucius Temple, a concrete symbol of Chinese Confucian culture, serves as a center for Confucian study in Taipei. Located just across the street from each other, these temples make for an interesting study with their contrasting forms and functions.

3POW Tour:

In the Steps of the Men of Kinkaseki

Tue Sep 29 8:30am - 3:30pm $1600

Corner of Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6 & Lane 290

Michael Hurst

It is not a well-known fact, but in 1942, the Japanese began bringing Allied POWs to Taiwan from Southeast Asia and held them under horrendous conditions until Japan surrendered in 1945. The largest of the six camps on Taiwan was in Kinkaseki, today's Jinguashi. This fascinating tour will take us from Ruifang to Jinguashi via Jiufen along the route taken by the POWs and will include stops at the Gold Mining Museum (admission fee included) and the POW Memorial Park on the site of the camp. Bring water, a packed lunch and rain/sun protection as needed.

4 Trendy and Fun: Yong Kang Street Tour Wed Oct 14 10:00am -

2:30pm $ 900Dongmen MRT Sta., Exit 5

Ivy Chen and Yasuko Hondo

Yong Kang Street is a bustling little enclave in downtown Taipei. Since the expansion of the Metro's #2 (red) line, this hip little neighborhood has become an even more popular place to shop, eat and people watch. Join Ivy and Yasuko who will take you beyond the obvious storefronts and eateries for a tour, which will include a visit to an old Japanese house and a private tea tasting in a special hidden shop. There will be time to enjoy lunch at the Japanese house (at your own expense) before our tea tasting (included in fees). This tour officially ends at the tea tasting but, if you have some time, you may make one last stop at an interesting local cafe before taking the MRT home.

Arts, Culture and Tours in Taiwan

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Transportation included Space permitting, registrations are ongoing* Please check www.communitycenter.org.tw for the most recent updates.Snacks, lunch or meal included


5

The Last Printing Press:

Preserving theCulture and History of Traditional Chinese

Printing

Wed Oct 21 9:00am - 12noon $ 900

ZhongshanMRT Sta.,Exit 2

Jennifer Tong and ChangChieh-kuan

Movable type and the use of the traditional printing press is almost obsolete in the modern world of computer printing. Chang Chieh-kuan, owner and founder of Rixing Type Foundry, is working to preserve this traditional craft and teach it to new generations. Join us for an informative lecture, demonstration and tour of this remarkable little workshop, which houses over 150,000 character molds that make up the traditional Chinese character matrix. It is one of the last centers creating traditional movable type molds left in the world. A souvenir set of your name in Chinese characters will be yours to take home as a fun memento of your visit.

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“The Shi Dong and Local Market Tour” or

“What Is That Vegetable and How Do

I Cook It?”

Tue Oct 27 9:00am - 11:00am $ 500

Shi Dong Market Entrance #2

Ivy Chen

Bright, colorful and noisy, the Shi Dong Market is the place for all your produce needs. Join Ivy and learn some helpful hints and tips on what to buy, where to buy it, and how to be sure it's fresh. Ivy will also show you how to select fresh fish, seafood and other items of interest. Time permitting, this informative tour may include stops at various smaller area markets.

7Taiwan and Beyond:

A Workshop for Expat Spouses

Thu Oct 29 9:30am - 12:30pm $ 1500 The Center Anne Jacquet

and Jane Wang

As an expatriate spouse, you face unique challenges as the pillar and constant in your mobile family. Whether this is your first move or your fifth, you and your family members will experience life in your host country in your own individual ways; and balancing everyone's needs and perspectives, including your own, is no easy feat. This fun and productive workshop will take you on a journey to explore and better understand the culture of Taiwan; how to handle the important role you’ve taken on for your family; and equip you with new insights, skills, and resources for a happy and healthy stay in Taiwan and beyond. Refreshments included.

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Taoyuan County: Daxi Old Street, Lake Tzuhu

and the Garden of Generalissimos

Thu Nov 05 8:30am - 3:30pm $1400

Corner of Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6 & Lane 290

Richard Saunders

Daxi was once an important hub for trading indigo and tea, but is now best known for several very fine old streets and as the final resting place of former ROC President Chiang Kai-shek. We start this tour at Lake Tzuhu, where Chiang Kai-Shek and his son Chiang Ching-kuo lay in state in a pair of impressive mausoleums connected by a 1.8 km walkway. Next we will visit the unusual Garden of Generalissimos, a grassy park studded with several hundred busts and statues of the late CKS. (This is a photo op not to be missed!) We will finish with a stroll around historic Daxi town. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water, a packed lunch, and sun/rain protection as needed.

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9Bordeaux vs. New

World: An Evening of Wine Tasting

Sat Nov 07 7:00pm - 9:30pm $2200

John's Tianmu Area Home

Mark Pygott and John Imbrogulio

Back by popular demand! Join the Center for our second special evening of wine tasting, led by Mark Pygott and hosted by John Imbrogulio. Mark, previously both an importer and assistant winemaker in England and France, is currently a wine educator, consultant, writer and Master of Wine student based in Taiwan. During this relaxed but informative class, Mark will lead you on an exploration of whether Bordeaux retains its pre-eminence when compared to those regions that have mimicked the Bordeaux style in the rest of the world. Red wine will form the heart of this tasting class but the excellent whites of Bordeaux and the wines they have inspired elsewhere will also be enjoyed. This class includes seven wine tastings and a light fare of yummy nibbles to pair with each wine. Spend a great Saturday evening with the Center!

10 Exploring Taipei's Bike Paths Tue Nov 10 1 9:00am -

12:30pm $ 650Zhishan MRT Sta. Exit 1

Beth Verne

Taiwan is known for its cycling culture and Taipei, in particular, is an extremely bike friendly city boasting nearly 250 km of dedicated bike paths. If you haven’t yet been out on the paths and are looking for a chance to do so with someone who knows the ropes, then join Beth for a leisurely bike ride along the Keelung and Danshui Rivers. From the MRT we will walk a short distance to the riding path and nearby bike rental shop. From there we will ride to the Guandu Temple where we will have a short time to explore the temple before cycling back to Tianmu. This 18 km ride is designed for recreational cyclists who are confident on a bike and who want to explore one of Taipei’s beautiful bike paths. Bike rental fee included. If you wish to bring your own bike, please contact the Center for details.

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Exploring Taipei's Evening and Night Markets: A Street

Foodie's Tour

Wed Nov 18 5:30pm - 8:30pm $ 700

Yongchun MRT Sta. Exit 4

Ivy Chen

We've taken you to many daytime markets so we decided it was time to explore the evening and nighttime scene in Taipei--and we're not staying in Shilin!! This tour begins at the Hulin Evening Market to see where many locals stop after work to buy their evening dinner; and then, carries on to the Songshan District’s bustling Raohe Night Market where you will find opportunities to sample a variety of tasty treats, snacks and drinks. If you’ve always wanted to try some of Taipei’s night market delicacies, but didn’t know where to start, here’s your chance with Ivy as your guide on this culinary Taipei adventure. Tour ends at the Songshan MRT Station (Green Line)

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12 Hiking Gueizikeng Mon Nov 23 9:30am - 12:30pm $ 500

Fuxinggong MRT Sta., Exit 1

Richard Saunders

This walk/hike explores the area around Gueizikeng, a nature park in the hills just above the hot springs area of Beitou in northern Taipei city. After exploring the nature park, we will climb up to the foothills of the Mount Datun range to enjoy the fine views over Beitou, Taipei and beyond. On the way down we will make a short detour into a scenic little gorge to see the temple hidden inside. This walk, which is suitable for regular hikers, is mostly on surfaced paths, with lots of steps on both the ascent and descent. Wear sturdy shoes with a good grip. Bring water and rain/sun protection, as needed.

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Exploring Yangmingshan:

A Walk in the Buffalo Meadow

Tue Dec 01 1 9:00am - 1:30pm $ 700 Jiantan MRT

Sta. Exit 1

John Imbrogulio, Suzan Babcock and Sylvie Ko

Yangmingshan National Park is just a short ways away from Taipei’s busy streets and a lovely place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Starting from the Jiantan MRT we will take a local bus up the mountain to meet our YMS National Park volunteer guide who will take us on a walk through Qingtiangang (aka Buffalo Meadow), a beautiful and popular section of the park. Although the buffalo no longer graze there, this grassland area offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountain peaks and is a great place to begin exploring Yangmingshan. Bring your Easy Card for the bus, water and a packed lunch to enjoy at the park, and sun/rain protection as needed.

14Beyond Di Hua Street--The Dadaocheng Area:

An Insider's TourThu Dec 03 10:00am -

1:30pm $ 600Daqiaotou MRT Sta. Exit 1

Jennifer Tong

Join Jennifer, a lifetime resident of the Dadaocheng area of Taipei, for a fun insider's tour that takes you beyond the fabric market and usual Di Hua Street area stalls. We will begin at the neighborhood's bustling open-air market, then carry on with stops at some of the many fascinating local area shops. Sip tea at a little teashop; shop for lanterns, bamboo baskets, and baking supplies; explore a Chinese herb medicine store; and hunt for great gifts at some of the area's trendy new stores. There will be time for a short break at either a local rice noodle restaurant or at one of the lovely little cafes (not included).

15 Shilin to Neihu Hike Tue Dec 08 9:00am - 2:00pm $ 700 Jiantan MRT

Sta. Exit 2Richard Saunders

This fine, surprisingly unspoilt ridge hike on the edge of the city connects the Grand Hotel with central Neihu, and follows the ridge of steep, wooded hills that rise above the Keelung River. Climbing over a string of small peaks, the trail finishes with an exciting climb down the rocky slopes of Mount Jinmian and ends at the Xihu MRT station (Brown Line). The trail is steep, rough and rocky in parts. Proper shoes with a good grip are a must. Bring water, lunch and rain/sun protection as needed.

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Family, Fitness & Health

16 Fitness Boot Camp Tue Sep 15 to Dec 15 9:30am - 10:20am $6500

Tianmu Baseball Park

Colleen Peterson

Join Colleen for a high intensity workout aimed at getting your heart pumping and building strength. This class incorporates a warm-up, three circuits and a cool down, taught at three levels. It's fun, fast and really works! Requires a reasonable level of fitness. Bring plenty of water, a yoga mat and towel. The first class meets at 9:15am in front of the Baseball Stadium by the large baseball and bat statue.

17*Kindermusik (walking

toddlers up to 3½ years old)

Thu Sep 24 to Dec 10 9:30am - 10:20am $6200 The Center Jennifer Chau

What better way to build family bonds than to sprinkle music and movement throughout your day? Learn how to do just that with Kindermusik at the Center. Each lesson is packed with engaging, age-appropriate activities to introduce musical concepts to your young learner: singing, dancing, creative movement, finger plays, story time, instrument exploration, and MORE! This is a multi-age class for walking toddlers up to 3½ years old. Take home materials (music, book, and instrument) included.

18 *Signing Time I (6 mos.-18 mos.) Mon Oct 19 to Dec 07 10:00am -

10:50am $4000 The Center Ashlee Chan

Join the Center’s latest course addition for parents and little ones. Signing Time is a research-backed program that helps children to communicate even before they can talk by introducing a child’s first 100 words in signs, songs and stories. Its benefits include: helping to reduce frustration by giving children a way to communicate, building vocabulary; teaching social skills and manners; boosting self-esteem; and, using active learning to engage children’s bodies and minds in learning. Take home course materials included.

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19 *Signing Time I (19 mos.- 3 yrs.) Mon Oct 19 to Dec 07 11:00am -

11:50am $4000 The Center Ashlee Chan Please refer to Activity #18 for course description.

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Stress Free and Feeling Great:

Intensive Yoga and Meditation Workshop

Wed Nov 04 to Dec 16 6 9:30am - 12:30pm $7800

The Farès Academy Dojo

Ann Lu

In our busy modern lives we have all experienced stress and the negative effects it can have on our mood and health. Whether it shows up as insomnia or nervous system imbalance, stress, if not properly managed, can adversely affect our wellbeing and quality of life. This six-week yoga program of three-hour sessions provides an intensive stress reducing and mood enhancing experience that goes beyond a normal yoga class. By working with a variety of practices, including Asana (poses), Pranayama (breath work), meditation techniques, and guided imagery, you will be empowered with skills to manage your mood and stress. Take home recordings will allow you to continue the program at home. Bring a yoga mat and blocks, towel and water. No class on November 25th.

21 What's Your Personality Type? Thu Nov 12 12noon -

2:00pm $1200 The Center Carol Lee

The Myer's Briggs test and other similar tests are used to assess personality traits based on theories developed by Carl Jung. Information gained about oneself by taking this type of test can be used to select a career path, make life decisions and even choose a life partner. Join Carol Lee, a Center counselor, to learn about personality traits and discover your personality type. During the first thirty minutes participants will complete a simple assessment. The remaining time will be spent on interpreting test results, group discussion and activities. From the results of this fun and friendly personality assessment you will learn about your personality type; your preferences as to how you gather information and make decisions; and, how your “non-preferences” can be developed.

22 First Aid, CPR- AED Course Sat Dec 05 8:00am -

12noon $2600Taipei American School

Stephen Kuhlke and Shane Lawson

In this intensive, one-session class, Stephen Kuhlke and Shane Lawson, both qualified CPR instructors, will teach you how to recognize and respond appropriately to cardiac, breathing and first aid emergencies in adults, infants and children until medical personnel arrive. Red Cross First Aid/ CPR/AED certification and downloadable manual included. Light refreshments will be provided.

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Hobbies & Skills

23

Get Smart With Your Smartphone or Tablet

and Take Better Photographs

Tue Oct 20 to Oct 27 12:30pm - 2:00pm $1200 The Center St. John Dunn

There’s a quote out there that states, “The best camera you have is the one that's with you”. For most of us these days, that’s our smartphone or tablet. The image quality on these devices is only getting better and better, but no matter how good it gets, taking a good picture requires some small amount of skill and certainly some photographic knowledge. Join this class to get the best out of your smart device. We will explore some basic photographic principles, practice some techniques and look at one or two apps to help you get the most out of the pictures you take.

24 Printmaking Workshop Thu Oct 22 to Nov 05 3 10:00am - 12noon $2800

Yili Arts Studio Tianmu

Kristi Thornbury

This workshop is an introduction to the printmaking process. Participants learn to carve, ink and press stunning linoleum block prints. Using a variety of carving tools and textural effects, participants can create prints ranging from bold and minimalist to astonishingly intricate. We wrap up the workshop using mixed media to prepare colored backgrounds for printing. No experience necessary. Cost of all materials included.

25 Make Your Own Chinese Chop Fri Nov 06 to Nov 20 3 12:30pm -

2:00pm $3000 The Center Jennifer Tong

The Chinese Chop (Seal) has been used for hundreds of years as the “official” means of adding one's signature to important documents. Not only does it serve a legal purpose but it is a beautiful art object as well. In Taiwan today, legal documents are still signed using a person’s personal seal or chop. Historically, Chinese emperors, as well as art collectors, have used their seal to show their appreciation of a painting or calligraphy piece. In this class Jennifer will share with you some of the history behind the use of chops and then expertly guide you in making a simple chop of your own. Materials to produce two chops included.

26 Porcelain Painting Fri Dec 04 to Dec 11 12:30pm - 2:00pm $2400 The Center Michelle Tan

Whatever your level of expertise, this workshop will teach you all the steps required to produce a beautiful piece of painted porcelain. Learn the basic techniques of pen work and how to apply colors to create a beautifully painted china plate. If you are looking for a new hobby, this may be the perfect course for you! Cost of all materials and firing included.

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Learn Chinese

27 Survival Chinese I Mon & Wed Sep 07 to Nov 04 9:10am -

10:30am $5200 The Center Gloria Gwo

Would you like to be able to communicate with shopkeepers, taxi drivers and co-workers? Whether you've just arrived in Taiwan or have been here awhile, this is the class for you. Learn spoken Mandarin in a relaxed and informal environment right here at The Center. Course materials included.

28 Survival Chinese II Mon & Wed Sep 07 to Nov 04 10:40am -

12noon $5200 The Center Gloria Gwo

This course builds upon the skills learned in Survival Chinese I and offers approximately 20 hours of language instruction for people who would like to upgrade their basic skills and go one step further with Mandarin. This class is also suitable for anyone who has taken some basic Chinese lessons and would like to continue with his or her studies. Course materials included.

29 *Chinese Study Group II (Intermediate)

Mon & Wed Sep 07 to Dec 16 12:10pm -

1:30pm $10000 The Center Gloria Gwo

This is an intermediate Chinese language course for students who have completed our Beginner Study Group Course or already have a foundation in writing and reading characters and wish to continue their studies. Books not included in course fee.

30 Evening Survival Chinese I

Mon & Wed Sep 07 to Nov 04 6:30pm -

7:50pm $5200 The Center Gloria Gwo Please refer to Activity #27 for course description.

31 Chinese Conversation A

Tue & Fri Sep 08 to Oct 30 9:10am -

10:30am $5200 The Center Gloria Gwo

This class will focus on using and practicing what you've already learned in Survival I and II and help you to advance in your study of spoken Chinese. New topics will be introduced each lesson. Classroom time will be supplemented with occasional outings to local shops, restaurants and businesses. Sound like fun? Then sign up and join this practical, task-based class.

32 *Chinese Study Group I (Beginner)

Tue & Fri Sep 08 to Dec 15 25 10:40am -

12noon $10000 The Center Gloria Gwo

This is an intensive Beginner Chinese language course that focuses on learning how to read and write characters. A review of Survival II lessons will be included. Prerequisites: Survival Chinese I and II or completed approximately 40 hours of language instruction. Books not included in course fee.

33 Chinese Conversation B

Tue & Fri Nov 03 to Dec 15 12 9:10am -

10:30am $4800 The Center Gloria Gwo Please refer to Activity #31 for course description. This class will offer a selection of new topics to enhance your spoken Chinese.

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Learn Chinese/What's Cooking

34 Survival Chinese I Mon & Wed Nov 09 to Dec 16 12 9:10am -

10:30am $4800 The Center Gloria Gwo Please refer to Activity #27 for course description.

35 Survival Chinese II Mon & Wed Nov 09 to Dec 16 12 10:40am -

12noon $4800 The Center Gloria Gwo Please refer to Activity #28 for course description.

36 Evening Survival Chinese II

Mon & Wed Nov 09 to Dec 16 12 6:30pm -

7:50pm $4800 The Center Gloria Gwo Please refer to Activity #28 for course description.

37 Taiwanese Please Fri Sep 25 1 10:00am - 12noon $1200 The Center Ivy Chen

In this class Ivy introduces you to a local hand-held favorite—the Chinese Hamburger or “Gua Bao." Served in a fluffy cut bun, this “hamburger” is traditionally filled with pork belly, mustard greens, ground peanuts and cilantro, but Ivy likes to serve hers with a variety of fillings and will prepare a selection suitable for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. Ivy will also prepare Stir Fried Beef with Morning Glory (Kong Xin Cai) and a seasonal vegetable for you to enjoy.

38 Japanese Specialties: Yakitori and Soba Fri Oct 02 1 10:00am -

12noon $1200 The Center Yasuko Hondo

With so many of us trying to cook and eat healthy food, Japanese cuisine is a great choice, offering a variety of appetizing options from which to choose. In this class, Yasuko will demonstrate how to make Yakitori, traditional grilled chicken and vegetable skewers, which in Japan are eaten as either a meal or snack. Her next dish, Soba Noodles with Walnut Miso Sauce, comes from the Japanese countryside and is a satisfying and delicious variation from how you may typically see soba noodles served. Her last dish is Sunomono, a light and refreshing Vinegared Cucumber Salad. Foodie, healthy eater or vegetarian? This class is for you!

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What's Cooking

39

American Southern Cooking:

It's Not Just Grits and Gravy!

Fri Oct 30 1 10:00am - 12noon $1200 The Center Adam McMillan

Join Adam, the Center's director and avid home cook, for a taste of southern cooking brought to you all the way from Tennessee. In this down-home cooking class Adam will prepare a hearty meal of Black-eyed Peas, Hush Puppies, Coleslaw and one mystery dish, to be determined by local market availability. If you’ve never experienced US southern cuisine, y'all come on down to the Center and give it a try!

40 Introduction to Bread Making Fri Nov 06 1 10:00am -

12noon $1200 The Center Emily Quah

Homemade bread seems like such a difficult thing to make but with a bit of knowledge and skill (which you can now get here at the Center) you will soon be able to smell the tantalizing aroma of baking bread coming from your oven. In this class Emily will introduce you to the basics of bread-making with a demonstration of three delicious and easy to make breads to serve at home: Basic White Sandwich Loaf, Olive and Rosemary Fougasse, and Soft Milk Rolls.

41 Wrappers and Rolls! Fri Nov 13 1 10:00am - 12noon $1200 The Center Ivy Chen

Served in restaurants and street stalls alike, tasty vegetables and meat served in a variety of wrappers make for great appetizers, snacks and even light meals. Try your hand at making these tasty rolls: Tofu Wrappers with Vegetables; Taiwanese Spring Rolls with a variety of ingredients; Spicy Pork and Sweet Potatoes in Lotus Leaves.

42 Holiday Cake Decorating Fri Nov 20 1 10:00am -

12noon $1200 The Center Eva Lu

The winter holidays are just around the corner and wouldn’t it be great to be able to serve some amazingly decorated cakes and cupcakes to your family and friends? Join Eva for this fun, hands-on class and turn your home-baked goods into holiday masterpieces. Take six beautiful cupcakes (decorated by you) home to your family and a tasty recipe to bake your own when they beg for more!

43 Oodles of Chinese Noodles Fri Dec 04 1 10:00am -

12noon $1200 The Center Ivy Chen

Noodles are a mainstay of Chinese and Taiwanese cuisines. However, not all noodles are made alike. Join Ivy for a lesson in preparing three distinct dishes using three very different noodle types: Stir Fried Rice Noodles with Beef and Oyster Sauce; Stir Fried Glass Noodles with Chili Paste and Minced Pork; and, Handmade Wheat Noodles with Tomato Soup. Hao chr!

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TexT: NaTasha KaNapaThy, MasTer of arTs iN speech-LaNguage paThoLogy, cerTificaTe of cLiNicaL coMpeTeNce froM The aMericaN speech-LaNguage aNd heariNg associaTioN phoTo: web iMage

Supporting Children’s Learning: Make time to PLAY!

H opefully, summer provided the opportunity for children and parents alike to relax, e x p l o r e , r e j u v e n a t e ,

and play. Having time to engage in unstructured, fun activities can help prepare people of any age for new beginnings and changes often brought about by the arrival of autumn. For many people, September is a time to refocus and concentrate on the i m p o r ta nt ta s ks o f wo r k i n g a n d learning.

During all the stages of childhood, one of the most important tasks to focus upon is playing: this is true both during the more relaxed months of summer and throughout the busy school year. Although there is pressure to enrol l ch i ldren in c lasses and activities beginning at a very young age, time spent playing is valuable in many ways.

The imporTance of playParents want to do everyth ing

they can to support their children’s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p o t e n t i a l fo r academic success; however, we must remember that more structure and academically-focused activities are not necessarily beneficial to learning. Happily, recognition is increasingly being given to the importance of play. Providing children with hours of unstructured time and the opportunity to play for fun is beneficial in numerous ways that extra classes, tutors, and workbooks are not.

As a speech-language therapist I am most interested in how play specifically supports the development of oral language skills and literacy.

Luckily, play supports development in all areas. An infant who reaches for a rattle and grasps at the objects around him is learning to explore the world and developing important motor skills. When an infant spends time looking at his mother while she recites nursery rhymes or sings songs, he is learning about the sounds and rhythm of language which lay the foundation for later sound and letter knowledge necessary for reading.

BenefiTsA young child playing with blocks,

paints, boxes or dough, continues to develop fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. This is called constructive play, and focuses on creating things and reaching goals set by the child (not by a parent or teacher!). Rough and tumble play gives a child the opportunity to develop her sensory awareness, gross motor skills, and problem-solving skills.

From the age of 2 years until 7 or 8, dramatic and pretend play may consume much of a child’s free time. Although parents and older siblings can engage in dramatic and pretend play with a child, playing with peers or even alone also has many benefits. During dramatic and pretend play, children experiment with new vocabulary (such as medical terms when pretending to be a doctor), practice different voices and more complex sentence structures associated with different roles, hone verbal negotiating skills, experiment dealing with scary emotions (such as sadness or anger), increase their ability to remember story content, and improve story-telling abilities.

UnsTrUcTUred playTimeWhat can active and involved parents

do to facilitate their child’s play, and opportunities to learn through play? One of the most important things we can do is to provide our children with unstructured time: periods of 45 to 60 minutes for children aged 2 years and older that is not parent- or adult-directed. We can also provide space, age-appropriate materials (such as blocks, sand, water, old boxes, or dolls), and an attitude that lets our child know that getting messy and expressing even negative emotions is OK. While providing space, materials, and a positive attitude is often enough, unstructured periods of time can be the perfect opportunity to join your child in play. When playing with your child, get down on her physical level and fol low the chi ld's lead: avoid thinking about what he/she should be doing or learning dur ing p lay t ime. Remembering that messes, rough-housing, and nonsense are valuable parts of play which provide opportunities for children to improve motor skills, social skills, language skills, and cognitive skills. However, it is even more important to remember to provide our children with time to play freely and for fun.

Natasha is an American-certified speech-language pathologist who moved to Taiwan one year ago. She has worked with children of all ages in California, Nevada, the Northern Mariana Islands, Beijing, and Taipei.

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T a r o ko, o n t h e e a s t c o a s t o f Ta i w a n, i s fa m o u s fo r i t s magni f i cent gorge, i t s m o u n t a i n s a n d s p l e n d i d

cliffs. It’s the home of the Truku, the twelfth aboriginal tribe recognized by the Taiwanese government. Upon my return in October last year, I set into motion a plan to create a not-for-profit project in the hope of sharing access and resources of the world with children in the nearby indigenous villages. I hope to bring new possibilities and a

new outlook on life, to build confidence and to bring the outside world closer to these children who have limited choices. Many of them are left behind in the village with grandparents or a relative while their parents go to work in the cities. Although I did not have a concrete plan on how I would produce the best learning environment for these aboriginal children, I knew for certain that whatever I offered must be fun and entertaining, and that food must be involved!

community

Kaixin Living WorkshopsSharing the world with Taiwan’s indigenous children, while learning about theirs TexT & PhoTos: Amy C. Liu

After leaving Taiwan for four years to work in Shanghai, and then completing a year-long world cultural journey at the end of 2014, I was debating whether, for my next career move in the intercultural training field, I should stay in France or Germany. Instead, I returned to my beloved Taiwan. I saw the smiles on my Truku aboriginal friends’ faces beckoning and welcoming me to return. I’ve returned and I’m home – in Taiwan and in Taroko, to share the world I know with my beautiful Truku friends, and it’s time for me contribute back to the community I respect so much.

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First, it was important to understand their culture, their needs, and their interests. I reached out to twenty local indigenous friends in the mountains I had become friends with when I wrote my book Taiwan A to Z: The Essential Cultural Guide. The principal of a nearby elementary school with limited resources, yet with 66 very happy children, offered advice on how best to motive kids in the villages. I brainstormed with a Taiwanese couple, the Pengs, who also had the love and passion for providing a better education for these children.

A f t e r s e v e r a l w e e k s o f t h i s I concluded that the chi ldren were fascinated and curious about foreign travelers who frequently visit their beautiful land, and yet they have no opportunities to connect with them.

It wasn’t until I ran into Roma Mehta, who shared her successful experience in participating in a village project, that I gained the courage and motivation to give it a try and bring foreign friends to the village to engage in an exchange with the locals. Roma became the very first teacher of this project to visit the

village in December 2014, sharing a painting workshop with the children.

And the result is Kaixin (happy) Living Workshops (開心學堂).

Kaixin Living Workshops are held monthly in the villages of the Taroko area, and participation is free for the indigenous children. Foreign guests or teachers volunteer their time and cover their own travel expenses, and share their country and its culture with the children. The teacher and the students thus enjoy authentic interactions and cultural exchange, and learn from each other.

We h av e a l r e a d y s u c c e s s f u l l y d e l i ve re d e i g ht wo r k s h o p s w i t h teachers from India, Canada, Japan, F ra n c e, H o n d u ra s & N i c a ra g u a, Switzerland & Columbia, the USA, and Germany. The village children have enjoyed painting, photography, cooking, book reading, picture frame making, team-building activities, baking, and playing American football.

Kaixin Living aims to bring the world and “global” perspectives to children in the abor ig inal v i l lages around Taroko. It’s where a genuine friendship

begins, conversations are shared, ideas exchanged, cultures understood, and delicious food tasted.

I sincerely invite friends from around the world to volunteer your time as a teacher to spend a Sunday (from 9:30-12:30) with village children by sharing your culture, your talent and your smiles with those beautiful, happy aboriginal children. Open your heart to village children, and open the windows of the world to these aboriginal kids!!

A m y C . L i u i s a n i n te rc u l t u ra l t ra i n e r a n d e x e c u t i v e c o ach in Ta iwan. She i s the author of “Taiwan A to Z” and has dedicated over 20 years of her l ife in promoting cultural understanding.

You can see the workshops and the fun times had here:- https://vimeo.com/131398774- Taroko 123 on Facebook


Sept 15_p3-end.indd 21 2015/8/24 10:45:48 PM

outlook

22 September 2015 www.communitycenter.org.tw

G r e e t i n g s n e w c o m e r s ! Welcome to Taipei!! We are glad you are here!!!

For some of you, your move to Taipei is your first experience living in a foreign country. Others may be more accustomed to the expatriate life, but wonder how Taipei will differ from other places you’ve lived. You will soon find Taipei to be a great place to live!

Twelve years ago my family and I began our journey here in Taipei. We have enjoyed it so much that we anticipate being here for about another ten years before moving back to the USA. As you talk with expatriates who have lived in a variety of other countries, you will discover that a majority of expatriates prefer living in Taiwan over other countries they’ve lived in. There are numerous reasons why Taiwan is such a pleasant place for foreigners to live. Taiwanese people are usually very friendly towards foreigners, and you are likely to find a number of locals who speak at least some English. Other strengths that Taipei has to offer include an excellent transportation system, public safety, affordable and good quality medical care, reasonably pr iced din ing and enterta inment options, and a good variety of city, beach, and mountain experiences.

Culture ShoCkMoving to a new country brings

about various stresses and strains, but can also lead to growth and happiness. As you adjust to life in Taiwan, you are likely to go through various phases of change until you feel adjusted and more comfortable living in this new country.

These phases are often described as three different stages: the Honeymoon, the Slump, and Equilibrium. These stages can be summarized as follows:

During the Honeymoon stage, new experiences are fresh and exciting. A new land lies open before you, waiting to be discovered, a place where the people are intriguing and the sites are fascinating. However, after some time, one grows weary of all the newness and longs for the familiar. Your mind fil ls with unanswerable questions: “Why don’t people here do things like they do back home?” “Where can I find my favorite food?” In other words: “Why can’t things just be normal?” Welcome to the Slump stage of cross-cultural adjustment. During this phase expatriates may idealize their homeland, and find endless fault with their new land. During this period it can be helpful to share your negative feelings with supportive expatriates, especially those who have already navigated through the Slump. Remind yourself of the new people, places, foods and experiences that you do enjoy. Once you endure the Slump stage you will successfully pass through this period and into Equilibrium. This final stage is not paradise or bliss, but is a time of relative contentment, of feeling more at home. Taiwan is now familiar to you. You have found where you like to shop, how to procure or make your favorite foods, and you have supportive relationships with people here.

Smoothing the tranSitionClearly, every expatriate hopes to

successfully navigate the first two stages and arrive in Equilibrium in a

timely fashion. Certain things you do early on in your time here in Taiwan will help you transition through these stages and feel at home here. During the Honeymoon stage of cross-cultural adjustment, you often feel excited about new experiences. Do all that you can to take advantage of this stage and use the added energy that you feel to build supportive relationships that will carry you through the Slump.

Bui lding new relat ionships in a foreign country can be challenging and often requires more effort than we experience in our home country. The best balance of friendships will include friends in three categories of people:

1) Local people (Taiwanese); 2) Compatriots from your home

country, and 3) Fellow internationals from other

countries. Good candidates for local Taiwanese

friends include neighbors, co-workers, and parents of your child’s friends. We foreigners greatly benefit from our local Taiwanese friends. These friends help us navigate the mysterious cross-cul tura l s i tuat ions that we encounter, and he lp deepen our experience of Taiwanese culture. Second, making friends with people from our home country gives us the opportunity to interact with others who are going through similar cross-cultural adjustments, or have already navigated through them and reached Equilibrium. Building relationships with compatriots also provides us opportunities to continue celebrating our traditional holidays in a more festive atmosphere. Finally, our life is further enhanced by making friends

Wendy Evans, one of the therapists at the Community Services Center, is a Certified Counselor as well as a Registered Dietitian with more than twenty years of experience in working with weight management and eating disorders. In addition to working with these issues she offers help to people struggling with various issues including couples’ relationships, depression, anxiety, parenting, substance abuse, and cross - cultural adjustment.

TexT: Wendy evans PhoTo: Web image

Culture Shock! Adjusting to Life in Taiwan

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with expatriates from other countries. These relationships can broaden our global horizons even more than foreign travel. During travel we have brief encounters with various people from countries we choose to visit. However, because Taipei attracts foreigners from many countries, we can take the time to develop in-depth relationships with people from countries we may never even visit. Think of your time in Taiwan as an opportunity to learn more about other people and their cultures

and traditions, through your global friendships.

geTTing furTher heLpMany expatriates find that living

cross-culturally brings to the surface emotional wounds that have not fully healed. They discover that the stress of cross-cultural living leaves them overwhelmed by issues that seemed more manageable in their home country. Such issues might be marriage/relationship tensions,

depression, family-of-origin issues, a n x i e t y, a d d i c t i o n s , p a r e n t i n g chal lenges, substance abuse, etc. If you find yourself struggling with these or other concerns, p lease reach out for help from one of our caring professional counselors at the Community Services Center. While settl ing into Taiwan and this new culture, p lease connect with the services and activities offered at the Center. We hope that you will discover that we “strive to help you thrive.”

The island of Taiwan is surrounded by the ocean, which is abundant in wild and farmed seafood. Different varieties of seafood can be found in different parts of the island, and at different seasons. When buying seafood, tell the fishmonger how you’d like it cooked. Here are some useful Chinese phrases to use when buying seafood in a traditional market.

1. Please remove the bones for me. (This can be used for fish, chicken or other fillets of meat.)

→ Qing bang wo qu gutou. 請幫我去骨頭2. How do I cook this (fish), please? → Qing wen zheige (yu) zenme zhu? 請問這個(魚)怎麼煮？3. I want fish for soup. → Wo yao zhutang de yu. 我要煮湯的魚 I want fish for steaming. → Wo yao zheng de yu. 我要蒸的魚 I want fish for pan-frying. → Wo yao jian de yu. 我要煎的魚 I want fish for braising. → Wo yao hong-shao de yu. 我要紅燒的魚 I want fish for deep-frying. → Wo yao zha de yu. 我要炸的魚

purchasingChoose a fish that has clear, bright and

prominent eyes. The scales must be intact and gluey to the touch. The gills should be bright red in color, not grey-brown.

preparaTiOnMost fishmongers at traditional markets and

supermarkets will kill, scale, gut and clean fresh fish, and will fillet it upon request.

TiLefish/hOrse-heaD fish 馬頭魚 [matouyu]

T i lef i sh i s p ink and white in color. I t’s found in the oceans surrounding T a i w a n , a n d espec ia l ly in the east and northeast. The main season is from spring to fall.

Tilefish can be pan-fried, steamed, braised, or grilled.

Tilefish is soft, so be very careful when turning the fish while pan-frying, or it will break apart.

ruBy snapper 長尾鳥 [changweiniao]Ruby snapper can be from half a kilo

to six in weight, and can be found in the northeast, east and sometimes in the south of Taiwan.

The flesh is soft but firm, and can be pan-fried, deep-fried, steamed, in soup or grilled. It can also be used for sashimi.

BanDeD Drepane 金龍／金鯧 [jinlong/jinchang]

Banded drepane is found on the west co a st o f Ta i wa n. The best season is

summer to winter. The flesh is a little firm, and it can be steamed, fried or braised.

MOnOcLe BreaM 黃擬烏尾冬/包公雞 [huang ni wuweidong/baogong ji]

Monocle bream is found in the ocean all around Taiwan, but especially in the northeast, east and south. It’s in season all year round.

The flesh is firm but soft, and the skin is rich in collagen. It’s good for steaming, frying, grilling and braising.

yeLLOw sea BreaM 赤鯮 [chizon]Yellow sea bream can be found all around Taiwan. The best season is

summer to winter. The flesh is firm but delicate, and it’s best cooked by frying or grilling. It also can be braised.

TexT & Images: Ivy CHen

Taiwan is a paradise for seafood Lovers

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cross-cultural

TexT: Jane W. Wang PhoTo: Web image

How to Win Friends and Influence People… Taiwan Style

Making friends with Taiwanese people is very

different from making friends in the U.S. where

I grew up… and I still remember the first times I

learned just how different it is.

What’s in a birthday party?Fresh out of college as a young professional in Taipei, I’d

made a few close Taiwanese friends at work. One year, on my birthday I wanted to invite different groups of friends to one big birthday dinner, and part of the fun would be that they could meet each other.

But my Taiwanese friends implored me in private, “Do we have to go to this dinner?”

I was taken aback. No one in the U.S. would treat a friend’s birthday celebration as if it was a chore. “What’s wrong with coming to this dinner?” I retorted, somewhat peeved.

“I t’s aw k wa rd,” my f r i e n d s re p l i e d. T h ey we re uncomfortable with having to mix with new people. “Wouldn’t it be nicer for you too,” they asked, "if you could celebrate your birthday multiple times with each group of friends?”

It simply hadn’t occurred to me to do so. In the U.S., it’s common practice to celebrate birthdays by inviting all your friends to one big party. In fact, socializing of any kind, be it a barbecue, happy hour, or holiday party, often involves gathering different assortments of people into one big event — the more the merrier!

Meeting new people is a constant in American social life, and the ability to make connections amidst a sea of strangers is a necessary life skill in the U.S. Yet in Taiwan, as I later learned, meeting new people in large networking settings is quite uncommon — and uncomfortable.

individual versus GroupWhereas Americans are trained since junior high school

to be individuals with their own class schedules, their own group of lunchtime buddies whom they choose, and parties where they learn to mingle, Taiwanese students grow up with a much stronger sense of loyalty to the group — their families, their class, their clubs. In Taiwanese junior and senior high schools, it’s the teachers who rotate to different classrooms; the students stay in the same class with the same classmates all year, and hence they get to know their classmates day in and day out in an almost familial way, replete with inside jokes and camaraderie borne of familiarity.

The Taiwanese emphasize this intimate dynamic in their friendships, and there is a strong difference between the friends they know well and strangers outside their close circles. Taiwanese people typically make new friends through club activities, introductions via friends, or, if a big group is gathering together, organized activities or outings. There is no need for and no practice in making individual small-talk in order to make new connections.

hoW then can We meet neW taiWanese people?Back as a graduate student in Boston, I learned first-

hand how to mingle, the Taiwanese way. Every Chinese New Year, a very generous matron would treat all the Taiwanese students in Boston to a banquet at her home every year — and even gave each of us a red envelope with two dollars inside! One year, I decided to attend on my own to make some new Taiwanese friends in Boston.

When I arrived, though, I realized I didn’t know how to

Sept 15_p3-end.indd 24 2015/8/24 10:47:40 PM


“meet” new Taiwanese people. Everyone sat in clumps of friends, eating, chatting. No

one seemed keen to meet new people, but were there mainly to enjoy good food with friends. I considered my usual approach in these situations — to make some eye contact, and at the appropriate segue, introduce myself with a friendly smile, “Hi, I’m Jane”, then ask each other what we’re doing in Boston, or at this party.

Yet somehow, my usual ways felt awkward, abrupt, and intrusive in this setting.

So what did I do instead? That evening, I learned the contextual way of making a connection. Rather than interrogate people with direct questions about themselves, I made friends with the food tables instead (which I was quite happy to do). Then, while gathering food from different dishes onto my plate, I’d make comments or ask a question about the food to other folks who were gathering food next to me. Once the ice was broken, conversation flowed from there. And that is how I ended up having lovely conversations with some new Taiwanese friends that evening — by putting the focus on the shared context, not directly on the individuals.

Over the years, I’ve had Taiwanese friends confess to me that self-introductions, questions about what they do for fun, and even “how are you?” are difficult to answer. Indeed it’s important to note that for many Taiwanese, meeting random strangers without shared context and introducing oneself based on a few nuggets of information about interests is disconcerting. It would put many Taiwanese people more at ease if we began with comments about the shared context first.

Making friends across cultures stretches us to become aware that our own well-intentioned gestures of friendship may be interpreted differently due to different notions of what makes a friend, what makes a person, and what makes a person comfortable in social settings. Yet with more background knowledge and an attitude of curiosity to learn more, we can also gain immeasurably from our cross-cultural friendships — a better awareness of our own culturally colored notions, a better understanding of the culture we have moved to, and an experience of the rich array of flavors in which friendship and human connection can be expressed.

Thankfully, my Taiwanese friends tolerated my missteps and we remain good friends years later. In fact, I think they found my reactions amusing, as I did theirs, and it helped us uncover more about our own cultural assumptions. Sense of humor is an essential spice when we experiment across cultures. Enjoy your cultural adventures in Taiwan!

Born in Taipei and raised bilingually in the United States, Jane W. Wang is a cross-cultural consultant at the Community Services Center and an instructor of Communication and Multiculturalism at Shih-Hsin University in Taipei. She works with expatriate leaders, teams, and families to deepen understanding of Taiwan's culture for more effective interactions and a successful stay overseas. For more on the Center's cross-cultural programs, please see: http://www.communitycenter.org.tw/cross-cultural/.

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culture

Adopt a Shelter Dog… and give a Deserving Animal a Chance

The pleasures of dog ownership are varied: some people

love the affection, some the companionship on long

walks, and the happy greeting you get when you walk

through the door after a long day at work. I cannot

imagine not having dogs in my life and my home. It

would take a stone-cold heart not to find a puppy in the

pet shop window cute. I understand why people fall for

a puppy. There is however a well-documented dark side

to supporting the pet trade. Puppy farms are common

knowledge nowadays, and if you don’t know, a quick

search on Google will reveal all. The puppy farm is a

worldwide occurrence; it’s not unique to Taiwan.

The perils of rearing puppiesI often find it strange (although I’m guilty

of it myself) as to why people so often want a puppy. After all you are getting a dog, the puppy phase is fleeting, and you will spend hopefully fourteen years living with the adult dog. It’s also ridiculously hard work to look after a puppy properly. Many of the people who contact me ask about housebreaking a puppy. I tell them it’s simple, but not easy, and although that seems like a contradiction, it’s not. An eight-week-old puppy will need to go to the bathroom every two hours on average: that’s twelve times a day! He is physically not able to hold his bladder at that age. At twelve weeks it’s on average every three hours. At four months you hit the golden moment when you only need to get up once in the night to take the puppy out. I said it was simple. There are many other issues to deal with too: the training, the chewing phase and many more.

adopTing an adulT dogWith this in mind, I find it strange that people so

often reject the idea of adopting an adult dog from a shelter. There are many advantages to adopting a mature dog. The first one is right there: it is an adult dog, and what you see is what you get. You know for sure how big this dog will be. But there’s more. The reasons each person decides to bring a dog into their life are varied, but each dog is an individual too. You may want a dog to accompany you on long walks into the hills. My dog, Bugsy’s idea of a good walk is to the corner of our street to go to the bathroom. Nothing would ever make him want to go hiking. Worse is when you have a dog that ideally needs to go for a long run beside a bike twice a day to burn off its energy, and you don’t want to or are not able to. Another common complaint I receive is destructive behavior, which is commonly due to stress or boredom. Exercise is a crucial part of solving the problem here.

finding The perfecT dog for youThere are some fantastic shelters here in Taiwan,

run by people who devote their lives to rescuing dogs. There are also numerous individuals who have in some cases over forty dogs in their care. If you went to one of these places they would be able to match a dog exactly to your needs, or equally importantly be able to say if a dog is not a good fit for your lifestyle. If you have children they would be able to say whether or not a particular dog is

TexT & Images: sTeve rIgden

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Adopt a Shelter Dog… and give a Deserving Animal a Chance

good with kids. I have visited Animals Taiwan many times, but obviously don’t know their dogs as well as they do. But if someone asked me which dog would enjoy hiking and is nice and calm, and friendly with people and other dogs, I would say without hesitation that Uni fits the bill perfectly. Or if I was asked if I knew of a small- to medium-sized dog, that was friendly and playful, affectionate and liked a nice walk, I’d instantly suggest Merry from Sean McCormack’s Sanctuary. If someone showed me a litter of eight-week-old pups, all I could say is that at this moment in time this one is more confident than that one. But that may well change.

Teaching an OLD DOg new Tricks

Also an adult dog with a little training will very quickly be able to go the whole night without making a mess, and he or she has already gone through the chewing phase, although it’s still good to leave a dog with a bone or a chew toy, as they find the gnawing action therapeutic and relaxing. Adult dogs are also calmer than pups. Basically when you adopt an older dog, the hard part has been done. It is completely untrue to say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The adult dog you take home will be amenable to training, and easier to train than a young pup, as it will be settled and calmer, and less easily distracted.

You are also saving a dog’s life. The space you free up in a shelter will quickly be filled by another dog: a dog that may have been destined for euthanasia somewhere else. So if you are thinking of adding a dog to your life, have an open mind, visit a shelter, and see if there isn’t one there waiting for you.

If you insist on having a puppy, the shelters often have these too. Otherwise nearly every weekend Zhang Ma Ma is outside the Jianguo Flower Market near Daan Station. She doesn’t bring all four hundred of her dogs, just a selection of the puppies she is caring for.

geTTing TO knOw yOur DOgSo you have been to a shel ter,

discussed with the staff what you are looking for in your new canine companion, and found the dog you want to adopt. What should you do when you get home? It’s easy to see your dog and feel sorry for him; maybe he has scars where he had to fight over scraps of food. Possibly he has a foot or a leg missing from being caught in a trap. There are many things that could have happened in the past. However the first thing to do is remember dogs live very much in the present. Don’t look at them and feel pity, as it will pour through to them via your body language and they will think there is a problem now. They will be uneasy around you because of it. All those things and more could have happened,

and that’s why the day you adopt them is such a happy, positive time, because they have their forever home. Therefore you should project happiness and calmness, which will relax the dog and make him feel safe.

The next step is to go for as long a walk as you can both manage. The longer the better. You don’t need to do anything special, just go for a long walk. It’s a good way for the dog to check you out, there’s no pressure and you can relax in each other’s company. When he is good and tired, take him into his new home. Put his bed in a quiet corner so he can see and hear what’s going on from a distance. Put some water down and give him his dinner. Try and avoid putting a food bowl in a corner, as it’s quite easy to cause a dog to guard their food if it’s placed in a corner, so let’s start on the right path.

Let him be for a day or so. If he comes to you, give him a treat and p ra i s e h i m; m ay b e o c c a s i o n a l l y encourage him to do so, but take things as slowly as the dog wants to. Start getting into a routine of taking him out when you get up, and at regular times through the day. If he knows he will go outside soon he will try and hold on and go to the toilet then. If he doesn’t know when he goes out, he has no incentive to hold on. When he goes to the toilet outside praise him and give him a treat. Never tell him off for going to the toilet inside, it actually makes housebreaking much harder. One of the best methods for training a dog is to praise and reward behaviors you like and to ignore ones you don’t like. So if he one day decides to sit at your feet, praise him; if he lies down on his bed,

27www.communitycenter.org.tw auGuST 2015

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praise him. You are just telling him all the things that it’s OK to do. And all the while you’re building his trust in you.

heLping OuTThere is obviously far more I could say

about training. But if you have a solid routine, patience, remain calm, reward good behaviors, take him on nice long walks and let him get to know you at his pace you will be on the right path. And in time you will see how grateful he is to you for giving him a home.

If you don’t have the time or space for a dog, there is still a great deal you can do. All shelter dogs appreciate a good walk, and if you contact the shelter, they can arrange a time with

you to take some dogs out. You could also help out by bathing the dogs, or helping clean their kennels. Whatever you can do would be so appreciated.

DOg sheLTers arOunD TaipeiThe SanctuaryFor adoptions or volunteering, contact Arnold on 0917-454-250

Animals Taiwan E m a i l t h e m a t a d o p t i o n @animalstaiwan.org or [email protected]

Zhang Ma Ma Phone 0936-108-187

If you can’t find your dream dog in one of these places, I will be amazed!

Steve Rigden came here from England with his wife 3 years ago. He was born into a house with dogs. He has trained and competed with dogs since the age of 13 and worked with the largest dog behavior company in the world in England. He spent 4 months this year in the USA learning how to train service dogs, protection dogs, drug and bomb detection dogs, agility dogs and more. On his return he formed Taipei Dog Training this year. He works with any dogs for obedience and sports etc. He also specializes in behavior problems and will never turn any dog away as long as they have an owner willing to work with them. He spends time every week at the Dog Kingdom training dogs there to help them get adopted. www.taipeidogtraining.com

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C onsidering the immense pummeling the is land of K inmen rece ived dur ing two decades of war with

mainland China, it’s amazing that any of Kinmen’s exquisite southern Fujian-style architecture survived, yet Kinmen has probably the finest collection of historic structures in the ROC. Parts of the island are a huge open-air museum of beautiful old houses, temples, family shrines, memorial arches, traditional tombs and other relics that surpasses a ny t h i n g to b e fo u n d o n Ta i wa n. Ironically the war that nearly destroyed Kinmen’s cultural riches is probably the very thing that saved its beautiful villages from the ugly, functional architecture that spoils the overall appearance of the otherwise fascinating old cities of Tainan and Lukang, since the island missed out on the economic miracle that has

transformed Taiwan during the last few decades.

Shuitou village, near the southwest t ip of the is land, has perhaps the finest collection of all. At one end is the Eighteen House Complex of the Huang Clan (頂界十八間), built by a rich Chinese trader to house his family and descendants. Elsewhere in the village though, the strict, almost military formation of these residences makes way for a delightfully higgledy-piggledy muddle, which makes the village feel more like a lived-in community. The buildings, many of which were in a sad state of disrepair when Kinmen National Park was declared in 1995, have undergone a major restoration program, and the village is now a wonderfully atmospheric place for a leisurely stroll.

The most stunning architecture at Shuitou is a remarkable collection of fifteen buildings built in the 1920s and 30s, displaying exuberant Western influences. These are the houses of Kinmen natives who settled overseas (in the British and Dutch colonies of Malaya and the Dutch East Indies), and became rich traders. On returning home these émigrés (known variously as Peranakans, Babas or Straits Chinese) built mansions a n d a v i l l a g e s c h o o l , a l l h e a v i l y

influenced by the colonial architecture familiar from their former homes. At the center is possibly the finest ensemble of buildings on Kinmen, with the wonderful Deyue (“moon viewing”) Tower (得月樓) at its center, built in 1931 as a lookout tower to warn the village people of approaching raiders or pirates. Access to the upper floors is by ladder, which could be hauled up in case of attack, and a secret escape passage leads to a neighboring house.

A number of traditional Fujian-style houses in Shuitou have been converted into simple but attractive homestays, and if you have your own transport this is a great place to be based while exploring Kinmen island.

The beautiful village of Shuitou TexT & Images: rICHard saUnders

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 now.

For more ideas on places to go and things to see in Taiwan, visit Off the Beaten Track at http://taiwandiscovery.wordpress.com/

RICHARD SAUNDERS EXPLORES TAIWAN'S LESS-TRODDEN PATHS

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September cot & catalog

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