This Month in Taiwan, February 2016

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The Indigenous Culture of Taiwan

Building partnerships in Taiwan

by Leah List

Foreigners, there are over half a million of us. Invariably, some of us stay and start businesses, even families here. It is clear a great many of us find fulfillment and purpose in Taiwan, but are we contributing to Taiwan and, if so, how? Why are we here?

“It’s a real good excuse to explore all of the things that Taiwan has to offer,” Spencer Huang replied when I asked him about why he, and his partners (who are French and Taiwanese), chose to start their business Research & Development Cocktail Lab (R&D).

They spend a great deal of time crafting new drinks which highlight local ingredients and support local farmers. Huang mentioned a specific Taiwanese farmer who works to produce pesticide free limes. Moved by the farmer’s passion, Huang extolled his work and said that R&D is very interested in creating good bonds with the local Taiwanese because “we at R &D are proud of what Taiwan has to offer.”

Places like R&D, which innovate and develop a unique range of products, are still relatively few in Taiwan. “Taiwan is very open, but not as open as it should be to foreign businesses,” Christine Wu, a Taiwanese-Japanese American who moved to Taiwan in 1996 admits. “It does more good to have the expats in Taiwan, because they do contribute...and bring creativity into the mix.” Wu is the owner of Granola House. One of the first to produce granola in Taiwan seven years ago after she noticed the absence of her favorite healthy snack in Taiwan, Wu employs Taiwanese citizens, and contributes to the organic, healthy food movement in Taiwan. Though Wu was introducing a relatively foreign, new product to Taiwan she didn’t find she faced any unique obstacles. In fact, she’s observed Taiwan is becoming increasingly open to new ideas and concepts.

Evidence of growing openness is also apparent in the recent ruling which allows foreigners to gather and perform works of art, albeit unpaid. This change was lauded by one expat, Brook Hall, who has lamented Taiwan’s protective performance laws, and who recognizes the impact partnerships between foreigners and Taiwanese people can make when both are allowed the freedom to liaise. During Hall’s time in Taiwan, he

has produced a number of shows and even used his connections in Broadway to train Taiwanese actors and performers (some of whom went on to perform on Broadway themselves).

Since the ruling, Hall has produced and directed Wait Until Dark with the Lab Space.

Not only did he hire a Taiwanese assistant director and include Taiwanese actors in the production, but the Lab Space staff also worked tirelessly to translate the entire play into Chinese. From there, they created subtitles which were projected on the wall for the duration of the play.

Frank Wei, a Taiwanese citizen enthusiastic about environmentally conscious agricultural practices, discovered aquaponics several years ago. Excited to bring the concept to Taiwan, he was soon disappointed by the complete lack of “aquaponics information in Chinese”. Wei had perceived the flagging agricultural sector and had grown concerned about the increasing percentage of imported produce. “Most of the Taiwanese people love their homeland,” he said while explaining that they want to engage their community in agricultural practices, but “don’t know how”. Wei believed aquaponics could enable those communities to garden within Taiwan’s diminishing available space and without massive investments.

He eventually found a partner and they launched the first Taiwanese aquaponics company, MyFarm. As their business grew, so did the value of learning from experts residing in countries more experienced with aquaponics systems. Realizing this, the two invited an expert from Australia for three months to aid in their expansion. Together, using what they’d learned through experimentation, the internet, and their hired expert, they built systems for schools, communities, even nursing homes. Ultimately, MyFarm began selling aquaponics products and Wei, more interested in education, chose to leave and begin anew with “Aquaponics Innomaker”. Through Innomaker he instructs community members wishing to build their own aquaponics system and runs aquaponics experiments.

Wei has continued to partner with foreigners who are doing their own aquaponics experiments in Taiwan and he hopes more people in Taiwan will get involved. He recently built one of his systems for a mixed community of foreigners and Taiwanese at the Red Room.

It can be easy, at times, to create a stereotypical group of foreigners who come half-heartedly teach, leech off Taiwanese goodwill and leave. Yet, my inquiries revealed we are hardly monolithic or identical. We have different purposes and interests, but in each case, both Taiwanese and foreigners benefited from building partnerships.

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Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Shen Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Jin (Metal) Yin Yang: Yang

The Fire Monkey

The Monkey is ninth of the 12 animals in the 12-year-cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

February 8, 2016, is the first day of the Year of the Monkey.

Monkey years: 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 People born in a year of the Monkey are smart, intelligent, with a dynamic personality.

Although well known for their gentleness and honesty, monkeys love play and are known to be masters of practical jokes. They learn fast and can respond quickly whenever an opportunity arises.

Monkeys could have a good year if they focus and are disciplined. Unexpected fortune could befall them in the second and twelfth lunar months. They should be careful about being careless or greedy and be wary of untrustworthy people.

Health issues can be avoided if they do not take risks and pay attention to their food intake. Relationships may take a back seat this year but romance could be in the air in the seventh and twelfth lunar months.

Type of Monkey

Birth Year

Characteristics

Wood Monkey

1944, 2004

Always ready to help others. Compassionate, with strong selfesteem, but stubborn

Fire Monkey

1956, 2016

Ambitious and adventurous, but irritable

Earth Monkey

1908, 1968

Frank, optimistic, and fearless

Gold Monkey

1920, 1980

Smart, quick-witted, and confident, also irritable and stubborn

Water Monkey

1932, 1992

Smart, quick-witted, fond of being in the limelight, but haughty

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金門

古寧頭 Guningtou

金門國家公園 Kinmen National Park Peanut Candy

莒光樓 Jyuguang Tower

金門貢糖 金門由台灣管轄，位居中國海岸只 有幾哩遠，曾是國共戰爭緊張對峙的 第一線，國民黨於戰爭最後在1949年 撤退至台灣。今日，金門坐擁許多飯 店及重要歷史性地標，吸引著全球各 地歷史熱愛者的朝聖，也是遊歷台灣 時不該錯過的目的地。

酉堂別業 Huang Family Youtang Garden, Shueitou

金門酒廠 Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc.

Located just a few miles off the coast of Mainland China and administered by Taiwan, Kinmen was once the frontline in the fierce battle between the Communists and Nationalists, which led to the Nationalists escape to Taiwan in 1949. Today, Kinmen is home to many hotels and historically significant landmarks. Kinmen attracts history buffs from all over the world and is a destination you don’t want to miss when visiting Taiwan. 風獅爺 The Wind Lion

翟山坑道 Zhaishan Tunnel

蚵仔麵線 Oyster Vermicelli

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FEATURING NON-PROFITS

volunteering:

Boost your career options

In today’s world, it is even more important to get invloved in community building. Employers would recruit a candidate with volunteering experience over one without.

Volunteering is a perfect way to explore new fields and to gain a real insight into your chosen path.

The act of giving of yourself to help others.

Often followed by a rush of happiness at knowing you’ve made a difference, but sometimes frustration occurs at going unappreciated or unacknowledged.

However, many people volunteer tirelessly anyway, not wanting or needing any validation or applause for what they do. http://www.urbandictionary.com

ARTS COMMUNITY

LIBRARY 2F No. 177, Sec.1, Jianguo S. Rd, Taipei 空軍總部「圖書館」2樓 台北市大 安區建國南路一段177號

The Red Room is an ever-expanding community, exploring and extending the boundaries between audience and performer; a notfor-profit platform for events developing a culture of learning to listen to each other, what is around us, and our selves. 紅房是一個持續擴 大延展的社群，不斷地將在聽眾與表演者之間的分界線上探索和延 伸。一個非營利平台，藉由活動來發展學習聆聽別人、圍繞著我們以 及我們自己的文化。

red.room.taipei@gmail.com

HEALTH

Colympia Sports Club is an international charity that makes use of play and physical exercise to instruct and empower children,women and low-income familes who are facing tough times.

How you can help: We are bringing our services to St. Ann’s Home, battered women shelters and orphanages in Taiwan. Donations will contribute to *Sports equipment

www.redroomtaipei.com

HEALTH

We are a small group of charity workers who offer an island wide one-stop-shop free service, from assessment, through installation and training. From a simple communication aid for the child in school to a head controlled mouse for the paryalsed patient, our team has seen these technical devices restoring dignity and independence to people who can so easily remain forgotten.

*fitness trainers of all areas of expertise e.g.

Yoga, martial arts & general excersise *Volunteers

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Colympia Sports & Marketing Taipei, Taiwan Branch Office 69-1 Xingming Street Section 1 New Taipei City, Danshui 25154 Office: 0979246124

We are fully dependent upon charitable donations and need your financial help to expand our outreach service to reach out to more people in need.

http://www.colympiapromotions.com http://www.Nbbagroup.org

ow you can help: We run an island wide home outreach program. Areas of disability we serve include Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Cord Injuries, Motor Neuron Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Brain Injury etc.

www.icebreakerpro.org

Facebook: https://goo.gl/jRuXNa

CHILDREN

EMPOWERING WOMEN

Taipei Happy Mount is an 80 year-old Christian NPO facility taking care of mentally disabled children, located in Bali, New Taipei City. Happy Mount provides professional services for mentally and physically disabled, autistic, and attention deficit disorder in the hopes of helping them live their lives with confidence.

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ow you can help: Become a Friends of Taipei Happy Mount with monthly donations. We also welcome sponsorship of essential equipment and facilities, to ensure high-quality medical care to the disabled.

Email: thmc@happymount.org.tw www.happymount.org.tw

The Garden of Hope runs shelters, call centers, counseling programs and other services for women and girls who have suffered domestic violence, rape, sexual assault and other problems. We advocate gender equality and an end to all form of violence against women. Our focus is on empowering girls and young women so that they can realize their full potential and take charge of their lives.

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ow you can help: We are always on the look out for volunteers to help out at our office with events and activities, or work together with our shelters on a longer term basis. Please get in touch and we will send you an application form.

Email: international@goh.org.tw www.goh.org.tw

ANIMALS

HEALTH The PACK Sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates, and rehouses or provides lifelong quality care to some of Taiwan’s neediest animals.

How you can help: PACK can only do all of this with YOUR help. You can choose to make a one-off donation or monthly sponsorship, or hold a fundraising event.

Organizational skills, hands-on volunteer work, walking dogs, play with cats, paint, move, clean, or build are all ways you can support. We are always in need of woodchip cat litter, slip leashes, flea spray, and blankets. We are hoping for dog cots, a couple of washing machines, and a refrigerator.

Email dawn@thesanctuarytaiwan.org

(PACK is a UK-registered charity, #1163828.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/ThePACKSanctuary http://thesanctuarytaiwan.org/

The Community Services Center is a non profit foundation established in 1987 with a simple mission of providing help to the international community. We also run a 24/7 crisis hotline, for which we cannot charge.

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ow you can help: Part of our mission is to help regardless of an individual’s ability to pay. So we need money more than anything else. Every year our expenses exceed our revenues by NT$5 million. Consider donating to our children’s scholarship fund, our general scholarship fund, or our crisis response fund. These funds are used to help pay for counseling sessions for people who cannot otherwise pay fee that covers our costs, about 50% of our caseload. You can also volunteer, write for our magazine, or simply stop by and say hello.

www.communitycenter.org.tw

www.facebook.com/TheCenterTaipei

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The Indigenous Culture of Taiwan

戰祭 Battle Festival (Mayasvi) 特富野 Tifuya： 105年2月1日至4月30日期間，擇1日放假。 February 1st, 2016 to April 30th, 2016 One day off. 達邦Daban： 105年2月15日。 February 15th, 2016

TSOU Mayasvi Festival

The Mayasvi Festival is unique to the Tsou people. Villagers hold a huge battle, and pray to th Gods to keep their warriors safe in order to protect the village.

This festival is held in two major tribes ( Daban, Tifuya ); Ares, Amo is worshipped and the event is held in front of the village club and square.

The festival kicks off by a welcome divine song and after three days and two nights of singing and dancing, at midnight on the third day, the tribe gathers to sing ancient divine songs as a closing ritual the festival.

Mayasvi is the most important festival for the people from Daban and Tifuya from Tsou in Alishan Mountain. All the warriors attending will wake up very early in the morning; put on traditional costume, and proceed to pick up the God flower (dendrobium).

鄒族 戰祭Mayasvi

Mayasvi祭典主要是針對部落舉行大型征戰，為祈求戰神保佑勇士，以保護整個部落的大生命。 祭典在二大部落（達邦、特富野）舉行，主要是祭拜戰神(Amo戰神名字)，在會所及廣場前舉行。由 迎神曲揭開序幕，經過三天二夜的歌舞，在最後一天午夜，吟唱送神曲結束。

Mayasvi是阿里山鄒族達邦和特富野二大社年度最重要的祭典。當日參加的各氏族勇士都會起個大 早，穿上傳統服飾，上山採擷「神花」石槲蘭。等到天亮後，再將石槲蘭種植在庫巴(KUBA鄒族男子 集會所)入口左右及屋頂，表示歡迎天神降臨。 主祭者在族人一切準備就緒後，率領勇士登上庫巴，依照禮儀分發紅木(樹皮)，讓勇士束在刀帶與 手臂上，隨後取石槲蘭「神花」，讓勇士插在傳統皮帽與腰際，以驅邪近吉。 隨後，主祭者會率領參與祭典的勇士們，將庫巴內的炭火移到廣場中央。然後，再將豬放在「神 樹」雀榕前，由主祭者與長老用矛刺殺小豬。眾人將豬血搽在神樹的樹幹、樹葉上，以供奉戰神。 後來，再由主祭者指派數名勇士爬上神樹，將神樹的枝葉砍除，讓戰神降臨。等到神樹的枝葉砍除 後，大家就圍繞著神樹，吟唱古老的「迎神曲」祭歌。 儀式在繁複的「團結祭」、「男嬰初登聖所 禮」、「成年禮」、「送神禮」等儀式之後，再由主祭者帶領祭眾，沿著通往各氏族道路至各家報 平安。 注意事項： 1. 為了避免遊客破壞了祭典的神聖性，上山觀賞遊客務必要遵守族人習俗，以免發生事端。 2. 祭典正確時間由部落各氏族領導者，透過長老會議下決定正確日期，而今年時間確定在2月25 日、26日達邦、特富野兩大社的男子集會所「庫巴」(Kuba)舉行。 3. 資訊參考：阿里山國家風景區http://www.ali-nsa.net/user/Article.aspx?Lang=1&SNo=03001989 怎麼去： 1.國道1號→嘉義系統(272K)下 →82號快速道路→國道3號→水 上系統(300K)下→台18線公路 → 在石棹接169線→抵達特富野 →抵達達邦。 2.國道3號→水上系統(300K)下 →台18線公路→在石棹接169線 →抵達特富野→抵達達邦。

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高雄捷運 Kaohsiung MRT Routes

國家體育園區 World Games

美麗島 Formosa Boulevard

夢時代購物中心 Dream Mall

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TAIPEI SIGHTS A must-see for visitors to Taipei, the Lin An-Tai Historical Museum is one of the best examples of a traditional chinese courtyard house. It is famous for its carvings of dragons, vases and bats, and the six dragons represent the six sons of the Lin family.

Lin Chin-Ming, a native from Anxi County of Fujian Province, traveled across the strait to Taiwan during the Qing Dynasty. About 200 years ago, he built a house that was named An-Tai to remind him of the home he left behind in Anxi County.

The house is a 2-partitioned and 5-annex old house with a square courtyard. After major renovations were completed in 2000, the Historical House and Museum was opened to the public and is one of the city’s major scenic spots.

Southern Fujian style architecture incorporates courtyards, woods and gardens to allow the inhabitants to enjoy the beauty of nature. Meandering brooks and undulating mountains, step stone trails and rocks are part of the landscaping.

Elements of Feng Shui inspired design include the Crescent shaped pond that brings wealth, protects, fights fire, supplies water, and cools.

The paved front yard is made up of red stones and the pillow-shaped stones, gate pillars and hollows for door axles are all carved and made from one stone piece. Chinese characters signifying good fortune and longevity are printed on the two sides. Most of the wood and stones are used in the house are China firs and Guanyin stones.

Lin An Tai Historical House & Museum No. 5 Binjiang St., Taipei

www.lin-an-tai.net

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