Sunday, March 29, 2020

Taiwan Culture Immersion Program

 

Roland Park Country College Preparatory School and Gilman Private Preparatory School from Baltimore, Maryland, 20 students came to Taiwan Cultural Center of Taipei Economic & Cultural Representative Offices for a day's Taiwan Culture Immersion program on Wednesday 3/4/2020.  It was a success!  The 10th and 11th students learned the following subjects:

1. Historical Events Discussion

Better understanding of 228 incident in 1947, Taiwan and American Civil War in 1861- 1865 - Q & A session.

2. Social Studies

A metaphor of "yam" and Taiwan in terms of geography & history to understand the deep and inseparable relationship. The "Yam" represents Taiwanese people's resilient way of living. 



3. Art and Drama Projects

A journey to the West (西遊記) - shadow play art projects. 


4. Contemporary Arts Exhibits

Ceramic /Pottery Exhibits - a showcase of Taiwan’s contemporary national arts culture.

Summary

All 20 students focused on the differences in culture and history between Taiwan and America through the  Q/A session.  They were motivated by and engaged in the discussion and demonstration.  They had a ball through groups “Shadow Play” project.  Without scripts in hands, they organized into 4 groups to ad lib and improvise as much as possible.  They cast all major characters, Buddhist Monk Tang, Monkey King, River Monster, Pig Monster and Cow Monster from "A Journey to the West", one of the four great novels of Chinese literature, with innovative approach & contemporary plot.  They would brainstorm and freewheel into modern comedy and tragedy.  The dramatic effect was as hilarious & thrilling as you could imagine!
"bobui - two crescent-shaped wood blocks" thrown on the floor asking the fortunes to be told and a better tomorrow during this critical moment under coronavirus outbreak was one of the high-lights as well.

Friday, March 27, 2020

一個變化的世界



2020316日上週一,馬里蘭州實施封鎖政策以來,整個一週過去。我非常感激,我的最好的朋友(我自稱她為救命恩) - 退休的美國空軍護士,Jen-Jen, 邀請我去看望她在阿靈頓國家公墓的已故丈夫。今天是他的生她每年都會。她告訴他, “春天終於到了!”但是,我們正處於空前致命的全球冠狀病毒大流行。她衷心希望疫情將很快結束,我們大家在一起為最壞的情況做準備。



今天,2020326日,是本週唯一的晴天預報。一週,陰沉和雨天使道路陷入泥濘。我的心充滿了感。她拿著燃燒的,香氣在一排排大理石墓碑上,上面刻有簡單的文字,出生日期和去世日期,戰爭和家庭成員。我在歷史戰爭,國家和國際戰場上士兵。我沒有想我們現在所面對的世界


在全球冠狀病毒爆發期間,一個美麗的世界突然變成了怪異的尋常。她手持的香,混合著寒冷的春冷風到波托馬克河上灌木叢後面,五角大廈的三架高聳的美國空軍紀念館。我們以及現場維護人員和一家我看的家庭親戚成允許進。墓地裡那種寧靜的,我記憶猶新的對911產生的不自然的靜止- 2001年,我當時在蒙哥馬利縣政府工作。

美國總統,和備受尊敬的白宮冠狀病毒特別工作組,在電視提出不同尋常的 冷靜和信心 建議,預示著最壞的情況還沒有到來。 326日是該病毒迄今為止在歐洲最致命的一天,在26個不同的國家/地區 - 1,918例死亡。美國一天之233人死亡!仍然不祥的是,這個數字每天都在增加!我們聽的越多,我們對未知的未來就越擔心。我們這些高風險的人群!我們有多脆弱!當我看到雷根際機的美國航空公司經過華盛頓紀念碑時,我感到多麼恐。對這座象徵著美紀念碑敬畏和敬意;然而,它仍然讓我想起2001年飛機墜毀在五角大樓上的那股巨大的白煙從遙遠的天際升。我從我辦公室的13樓目睹了五角大廈的

堅強! 我們高風!我們一起, 我們一起鼓說:春天終於到了!冷雨和冠狀病毒將持續下去