Kia Ora Kiwi

Finally I phoned and asked my boss for leaves, and the result was good. And my aunt would stay in the hospital tonight. Tonight I guess my Mom and I could have a good night to sleep at last.
If all the things go well, I think I could inform my decision to a net pal in January. Perhaps she could be my guide, I hope so. Now I am looking for some travel information. I am excited but nervous that I lose on the street. Also I have a sense of presentiment that I may meet the friends who studied in the same primary out of Taiwan.
That is perfect to stay in blue sky, green land and sheep herding with warm weather.
I think this week I need to apply my passport and also need to take the photo, so today I tried to take a photo to know what emotion would be better in formal photo. This is not the photo for passport.

附註：等我回來，我會面對我的牙齒矯正

The way to South

I need the inspiration to wrte my assignment for note-taking of Language and Culture course. So this afternoon I decided to ride my scooter to head to the South of Kaohsiung city. I think that watch aircraft taking off and landing would be fresh to me. This weekend I went alone. Next I ordered a cup of mocha milk with a piece of tiramisu cake.

And I watched several airplanse landing and taking off. Perhaps this also corresponds my mood now.My Mom asked me whether I told to my classmates about my decision in winter break, I still not tell them. But I just want to sure the fact and then I would inform them in middle January. Anyway, this afternoon was very hot, I felt that the Santa Claus stayed in summer christmas.
After this afternoon, I found that I would like to collect the aircraft models. No wonder one of my good friends chose to fly to the U.S to make a thorough study of the aerospace engineering field.
I cannot figure out why I love to appreciate the different kinds of architecture and draw it on drawing. Only the inner desire? or this is the lifetimes persistent? Anyway, I photographed many photos this afternoon, but I chose the more photos related with architecture to show. The next 2 photos made me feel that I took the time machine to went around 1 centary, I felt familiar when I saw that.

You can click it to see more photos.

A happy ending after the election

Last night, I almost watched the television all night and watched different programs to know different views. Originally I was afraid of that the result would let the DPP(Democratic Progressive Party, green reflects this party, and it supports the disadvantaged groups, also the position is independent) win too much. In this way, another party, KMT (blue symbolizes the KMT, long ago they lost the political power of chine and fled to Taiwan, originally they claim they are real chinois and regime, but now they tend to take Taiwan as exchange for interest) would get angry. Fortunately, the night before the election, one of KMT members had been shot, such a shocker to reverse the situation. I don't want to comment for the episode, this is the police's job.
So, KMT took the 3 seats in the five cities' mayor, and the rest of 2 seats have taken by DPP, I think it saves the face of president, he need to assist the campaign of KMT candidates, so hard working. In addition, I have read the news in chine's websites, their people looked happy and congratulate for KMT's victory.
As for DPP, they won in real benefits. The seats of councillors increased from 117 seats to 130 seats, and KMT decreased 130 seats from 183 seats. So far, the game resulted in a draw, 130:130.
Next, these five cities account for more than 60% Taiwanese citizens, the DPP won 52% in the total votes, while the KMT to obtain 44% votes. In addition, there are many young KMT members who study in chine went back to vote with a 80% discount airfare to return for election. The result would make the DPP supporters letdown, and then 2012 DPP would prepare better than this time; moreover, the overseas Taiwanese who live in Japan and U.S. would buy the plane ticket back to Taiwan for election. Anyway, I like the result of election, it is a happy ending. As long as our people lost the game, our people would not get angry and crazy. All they would do is to cry in silence, and expect next time they work harder to win.
It is not really a good time to quarrel for Taiwanese. I have confirmed that the inflation in the Vietnamese from Viet. This is a sad news. As for the problem between North Korea and South Korea, I think they would not fight, unless chine wants to fight and support NK.

The gifts I send to children

Toys always work for children. And I usually send the stickers, cards and little toys as gift for my students. They can collect the stars to convert the gifts. In this way, they would like to have the good performance every class. When you talk to children the game rules and show the toys, you would see the bright eyes in sudden.
Girls like the girly cards often, some also love the dragon more than girly cards. And most boys like the car, dragon or some cute beasts.
Does European collect this kind of cards in childhood? I wonder to know, but I guess no? As for me, I used to collect more than 1000 cards to appreciate. The one thing that I am not very into is stamp collection.

Seal Painting

Today I let children to creat a work with the seals. And I think that seals always work for children. I used to collect different stamps to seal on the paper when I was little, I never pretended to be like a mature lady to use my Mama's jewelry. I liked to collect the business card and take my Papa's mobilephone to pretend to be a white-collar worker, university student or doctor. Anyway, I just wanted to pretend that I have some things to do at that time though it was stupid.
Most children put the paper in transverse direction, only one put his paper in the direction of straight.
Last, I think the last work did well and clear to see the animals, also the image has depth of field on work.
Tomorrow is a big day, and I would get up early to vote.

Just feeling what I want to say now

About my life, I think I am being tired in Taiwan. All I can say to my aunt is Buddha bless her. Her physical and mental condition is from bad to worse. I have told my Mom stop complaining the things of the past, just let the bygones to be bygones, otherwise, what you will attract when you say with the law of attraction. So my Mom every day talks to herself a sentence "contribute with bliss, and endure without complaints", which was spoken by a great nun in Taiwan.
There are many factors lead my aunt to have the exceptional circumstances. But most important part is that my aunt is used to get into a blind alley. She cannot have a happy day. It made me think of a story related with Earth Store Bodhisattva. He said he would save the poor in the underworld (hell) as long as the poor could speak out the pronunciation "ha"; however, he forgot one thing that the poor are always angry and sad, they could not laugh, in this way, they always could not speak out "ha".
This time no one could disrupt my life plan. What if my aunt really needs to go to surgery, then just do it. I told to my Mom that the only thing I could do is to arm her upstairs and downstairs. We are not professional caregivers, besides that, that we need to cut our coat according to our clothes. We have tried best to treat her with patience. I think my aunt should be glad that my Mom is not her Mom, what if my brother and I did the same things like her, then we would be beaten by my Mom.
Whatever, I want to leave Taiwan in winter. No, she cannot delay my life plan. She can't.

The story of Morin Khuur

About the horse-headed fiddle, Morin Khuur, is the instrument most associated with Mongolian traditions and culture. Why called it "morin"? Because mor(in) means the sound of horse. In ancient time, horse is not only the important transport but also the good friends for Mongols, especially for men. So many songs and poems were written extolling the horse. There are several visions for legend about how the Morin Khuur was first created, and all based on a little boy's love for a dead horse.
Long ago, there was a poor boy who had the magical horse which could run faster than a wind and even fly on wings. The horse gets killed by jealous rich man who was loosing all the races. He was very sad and made a musical instrument from the horse to mourn and to express his sorrow in remembrance of his best loyal friend. It was unlike today's horse-headed fiddle. It used to be made of horse ribs and its base of horse skin; however, nowaday all of the part made of wood. Besides the head of fiddle is carved of wood and placed at the top. As for the two strings are made of long tail hair of horses, also this is a unique handmade way that makes the strings to produce heavenly sounds as the horse to mourn.

Learning how to give up

This week I learned a lesson through playing chess. Every day I am used to playing chess at least one time. And I would like to figure out the different possible in the process. I found that I need to give up some chess to obtain larger base. It made me think a lot before I do it. Same in the life, you must face to choose one and give up another. And then you would think of the comparative advantages and the opportunity cost before you choose.
There is a saying of go game, that is "上手に捨てた方がよい。" in Japanese. And I thought over and over again, I found most people want to get more and more in life. But you cannot eat your cake and have it at the same time. It made me feel has no more regrets. In the past, I have many regrets. I think it is good that I face to fail and accept the result of fail first. To quote a sentence "prosperity is a great teacher; adversity a greater", which I have heard from my teachers. I believe one day that the fate would lead me to learn the bridge. Long, long ago, there was a teacher suggested us play the bridge to realize the philosophy of life, she told us life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing those you hold well. I still remembered at that time I could not understand it at all, because I didn't know how to turn it all around when you hold the bad cards. Perhaps time can talk. Just be patient to experience it from my heart, then I would figure it out one day.

Morin Huur

I have several Mongols friends, they are kind but aren't usually online. Just only one signs in MSN every day and chats with me often. To me, I am really interested in the endless steppe. Because in Taiwan, the mountain terrain more than two third, we don't have the species of horse. I have tried to imagine that one day I experience the life of Mongols. It would be interesting. I don't know how Western look the Mongols. The impression of Genghis Khan or messed up that the chine image of "The Travels of Marco Polo"? At that time, it's the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire.
Anyway, Mongols has been divided into two countries, the inner Mongols became a part of chine, and outer Mongol was independent by the assist of Russia. I'm glad the people of Mongolia are super friendly with our people, but this is bad that there is no direct flight route from Taiwan to Mongolia. Besides their archery and horsemanship, I am also curiosity with their music, especially the horse-headed fiddle, which they call as Morin Huur.
I hope my city could promote their musical instrument and have the festival related with them. In this way, their people could come to Taiwan more. In my mind, I welcome Tibetian and Mongols to immigrate to Taiwan.

Gardening Exhibition

Last week my Mom went with me to the floral exhibition, and she was very happy to see those melons and plants, therefore we decided to go to there once again yesterday morning. And then we saw those melons grown up and the new is we found the corn.Moreover, this time I want to find the place which reveals the gardening works. Of course, my Mom was very happy to take lots of the photos.
If you want to see more, you can click here to see. And next photo is wax gourd, it cooked with water then becomes a kind of sweet drink.
After that, my Mom and I went to buy some food, among those food I would like to introduce the seaweeds especially, it tasts really great.
Finally we were on the way home, because the afternoon we decided to listen to the Hakka singers in the council for Hakka affairs. But the photos were not good, then I think we would go to there next week and take the photos.

Set out to Hengelo

After finished my midterm exams, I could do many things. Replying the letter to me is not most difficult, because I am always talkative. But I have many ideas for little gift in return, therefore I need a day to decide to. And Linda is so sweet to send a card to my Mom as the birthday card in greeting. My Mom appreciated her very much. Moreover I got a pair of Dutch clogs, it looks nice.
We talked about the custom, and this is first time I try to draw our goddess, before I thought it is too hard to draw, I'm afraid of blasphemy against our gods. Also the image I drawed is our biggest goddess, Mazu. We think she is like a mother to guard Taiwan. As for the envelope I chose, I have read the entries our people wrote on blog, and I forgot why I would see the frogs in terms of the Netherlands. But in recent 2 years, I found that I changed to like the frog iamge, perhaps someone sent me a frog as a gift.
Do you notice a brown bear which looks like to see the envelope? That is a little gift I made for Linda. I hope she would like it. Many people ask me what kind of toys I like. In general, as long as the toys, I would like it. And I guess they never thought that our people like to take this kind of small staff out for photograph. It's not expensive but I think that bear is cute and could be with Linda whenever she is down or up.
Temple culture and religion are not easy to explain and introduce for Western, so I will depend your attitude to tell you more or less. Sometimes I also skip that topic, I don't like to offend other's beliefs. But I have heard that Dutch are well-known for open-mind and tolerance. That's why I would like to try my best introducing our custom relatied with religion. Our thought are influenced by Buddhism even the people who has no religious belief. I used to believe Buddhism since I was born, I needed to recite the different kind of Sutras to my Mom, yet since I was 10, I feel that good-heartedness cannot meet with recompense, also bad people don't get the bad rewards in the world. So I told to my Mom that I could not see the retribution on bad people, and why she didn't let me know other religions then choose what I want to believe in. At the beginning, she felt angry. But finally her friend who also believes in Buddhism told her let me experience and choose one. Don't force the children on religion. I think I still experience and understand the different religions.
I guess Linda would receive my letter before next next Monday, I hope the letter would fly faster.

The way I go

To me, Thursday's presentation on stage made me have the greatest pressure. Because I need to wear on the formal dress after the disccussion with my partners. Basically I always wear the blue jeans with t-shirt. And one of my partners who minors in French, she always likes to dress like a lady in beau monde. Although this is very hypocritical, I had to seek the help of my mother. After the presentation, that girl changed her attitude a lot. Originally she asked me the master plan, I told her that I would not study the master after graduation and the place I want to go to the Netherlands, anyway, she just thinks the USA, the United Kingdom or Germany are best I would go. However, I just feel very impatient with the pretended person. Every day she says how much classical music, British literature and French she loves. Yet, I just asked her one sentence then knew she prentend to live in upper class. I don't like to make friends with false people, but sometimes I need to deal with those people. I hope Europe would have fewer false people, and I would feel confortable.
In my mother side's family, I have 12 cousins, and one of them studied in France before 20 years ago, she is my eldest cousin. And then three of them studied in Australia. Also one has not studied out of Taiwan but took the doctor of the marine field. Compared with our previous generation, I think it is nothing. My grandfather studied in Japan for automotive field. So I don't need to be informed where should I go to study. I dislike to follow blindly.

On the way to Saitama

Actually I finished the letter for my Japanese penpal faster than Algerian penpal, yet this week my room was in messy, I lost the finished letter in my room. Finally today I found it, and I wrote down the address and name then sent it. I guess she would receive the letter before next Tuesday. It's really great that Japan is closer to Taiwan. As for the letter from Taiwan to Algeria must take 1 month to arrive. And the letter from Algeria to Taiwan must take 3 weeks.
The letter I sent for is a Japanese girl who majors in German. Basically Japanese admire German cultre very much, the brands from German also sell well in Japan. The difference between Taiwanese, our people seldom crazy for German culture, but the rich peopl love to buy German goods. Even though German brands are like their spirit of low-key, our rich still can find their goods to buy. On the contrary, the goods from the USA and France are popular and well-known in Taiwan.
I found it is interesting to exchange the letter with different countries, because different people have the different ways to elaborate the letter. And she uses the diary style to write the letter. As for me, I like the graphics more than text. And our smile culture has been integrated into the letter.
I know that there is a thought for Dutch, full of courtesy and full of craft. Yet our people have the simple mind. I think that there is no garden without its weeds, so I think it's culture difference. Since our people are too enthusiasm and easy to trust the people, we used to be cheat many times. I modified my personality because of the lessons of history. I will observe each other's culture differences and sincerity to give back, but I agree that the saying "More pay, fewer complaints" from our elder.

I think this weekend I need to spend the time replying the letters. Sorry that I cannot add more pen pals now. There was a TW net pal told me to add her Polish pal as pen pal; however, I suggested her try to introduce Taiwan as she could. I believe she can do it, don't think I am super, haha.

Late letter to Algeria

The above photo is the letter I got from Asma who lives in Algeria. All I can say is sorry that I reply too late for my Algerian friend, I know how much she looks forward to my letter in reply. And she spends the effort more and more, I am moved.
When I saw the envelope she printed by printer, it made me want to use my colorful envelope, and in Asia which have the closer relationship with ancient chine would know this year is "tiger year". I just reminded it while I saw the ruler she gave me with lion icon. My Mom said it is cute like a cat, not fierce like a tiger.
And you would see Algeria flag in the right, and Taiwan's flag in the left. Actually I always think it is fake flag. It's just my personal opinion, just ignore me.
In addition, she told me finally she majored in politics at the university, and she asked me that she wanted to know more about Taiwan. I have asked her what field would she love to know first? She chose the culture first. It's not easy to introduce all, also I cannot just show the texts or pictures only, therefore I spent more time to edit the content and make the booklet. Anyway, I hope she would enjoy reading it.
A beautifl island, thy name is formosa Taiwan. And the first map made by Dutch.

Aboriginal Theme Park

I rode my bike to the Aboriginal Theme Park this morning. These years I was crazy for any things related with Austronesian. I think my heat of the Austronesian would continue for a decade. All I want to do is to pass down the culture. I have read a sentence by a linguist. She said that it is the greatest irony when she looks at the mother tongue is going to die. So do I.
Austronesian people prefer to use simple symbols coupled with vibrant colors. Then you can see it. As for the flags, those are the election flags to make citizen know the number who they are, after 27th, you would not see the flags anymore. It's one of local culture in Taiwan, I guess it's fresh to see in other countries.
Last, I have uploaded the other photos here. Click it, you can watch more photos.

Midterm Week

I am in midterm week, and my classmates said that is "Midterm Weak" not "Midterm Week." So far I just have 3 subjects to prepare in examination now. Actually my schedule is flexible than my classmates. From Monday to Wednesday I have 2 subjects in total 4 credits each day, then Thursday only a subject for 3 credits. Friday is a happy day because only 2 credits for a subject, yet sometimes we have the class meeting or department meeting on Friday.
As for the part-time job, I work on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday afternoon. The rest of the time I need to prepare a big examination, therefore I need to study the books which related with administration and the basic knowledge of the law, also the ancient chinois works. I seldom mention what I must read in that big examination, because the friends would think I study hard. However, it's not true. Most examinee study more than 8 hours a day, in addition, they concentrate on preparing it only. I just try to get closer the admission criteria year by year. Last year I narrowed the score distance from 6 points to 3 points, I hope next year I would pass it.
This month I adjusted something, such like adding 2 hours to take the Yoga course. I am really happy for that, but I really want to improve my calligraphy capacity and resume my Aikido course. In this way, I need to arrange 4-6 hours in a week. Now all my brain is to arrange the interest courses from Monday to Friday after graduate from the university. I have considered adding the courses as the following:
1. Kendo (Japanese fencing)
2. Taiko (Japanese drum)

3. Pottery

4. Wing Chun (A kind of boxing from chine and created by a woman but at last it made chinois kungfu renowed internationally by a chinois American Bruce Lee)

5. Bridge game
6. Kyudo (Japanese archery)

7. Archery
8. Horsemanship
9. Photography
10.Stargazing club
Last, I think I just can choose one what if I want to learn, oil painting or Asian ink painting. Moreover, it's also hard to choose one between Kyudo and Archery. Anyway, I am really looking forward the graduation, then I could have the time to arrange.

The Floral Exhibition III

When I entered into the fruit garden, I was impressed and touched. It made me think of our farmers and traditional rurals. Also I would think of the buffalo. I seldom eat the beef, because when I saw the beef I would think of the buffalo till the land with farmers, yet today the beef which not killed by buffalo, I still feel guilty when I eat the beef. Last time, my classmates told me that chicken also need to wake up human beings in traditional rural. I think I would eat less chicken meat.
In addition, I would recall the memory of childhood. My grandma (mother side)'s home also the same kind of melon shoring. I remembered once rainny night I found a snail and kept it for a while.
Reaping is a kind of moving. I feel sorry that our government always has the American value in economic field, therefore they don't take care well in farmers and labors.
My Mom and I met a woman here, she told to us what if her home has the same kind of shoring, it would be great to see the green plants every day. I seriously thought the sentence, what I want to learn the agronomy and botany just in order to meet the extraordinary achievement.
Next, I thought of my Dad again. I wanted to try a new way to get along with him. After all, he is my Dad, and he just doesn't how to express his love for me.
This is a happy way. In here, I found many amazing things and thought of many words from the elder, they taught me lots of philosophy of life. And I also reminded my teacher had taught us how to plant the vegetable or melons when I was 7 in the elementary school. The simple world but happy.
Looked at the fruitful melons and plants, my heart is filled with joy. But I don't know how to express my joy into the words.

The Floral Exhibition II

I really like the square-shaped watermelon, it looks cute. Also, watermelon is one of my favorite fruits.
So many vegetables show here, and also the crowded people here. I just try my best to take the photos.

It is a cultivated watermelon. I am curious with European eat watermelon often or not.
Next we went to a trade show to buy the black fungus. It is healthy for the blood vessel. So my Mom decided to buy it.
The vendor also recommended us to buy the healthy food which made of the maidenhair (gingko) tree. Yet I thought it's enough to try the black fungus now.