by Angel Chen 陳恩潔The low but continual singsong of prayer echoed through the tranquil spring air, draping the area with a mysterious atmosphere. Glinting under the March sunlight, the delicate bronze sculpture of a moon and star atop the huge cupola left any observer an impression of solemnity. This is the Taipei grand mosque, and a group of Muslims gather here every Friday at noon to accomplish their obligation of attending a Jumah gathering.
A brief history of Muslims in Taiwan Though easily ignored, there are in fact about 60,000 Muslims in present Taiwanese society, making up 0.3% of the whole population. The earliest footprints left by Islamic religion can be traced back to the time when a group of Hui people came to Taiwan with Koxinga (鄭成功) in 1661. Some unoffocial mosques were built back then. However, instead of prospering, Islamic culture gradually declined and was almost eradicated during the period of Japanese colonialism. It was not until the retreat of the KMT from China did there come another influx of Hui Muslims—the famous general Bai Konxi was a leading figure of this batch of immigrants. Today, Taiwanese born Muslims are decreasing as they gradually assimilate into the mainstream culture. But we also have great numbers of Muslim migrant workers from Southeast Asia and other foreign countries. A Muslim’s story in Taiwan Min Htin Lay was among this group of foreign Muslims in Taiwan. After an appointment arranged by the director of the mosque, I was fortunate to interview this young Imam. With a polite manner, he courteously welcomed me into his room at the back side of the mosque. Sitting among stacks of books written in Arabic—including Quran, Hadith, and other Islamic teaching materials—he gently began telling his story. Born in a Muslim family in Myanmar, he attended an Islamic private high school. Upon listening to an Islamic teacher that visited his village, he yearned to learn Arabic and decided to pursue a college degree in Syria after graduation. During his stay in Syria, he was introduced to a Taiwanese Muslim girl by his boss’s Taiwanese wife. After one year of mail communication he married her when she visited Syria, and the couple moved to Taiwan soon after that. Having lived in Taiwan for seven years and established a family of four here, Min Htin Lay considers Taiwan a lovely place but with certain difficulties. The inconveniences one might face as a Muslim in Taiwan Speaking of his life in Taiwan, Min Htin Lay pointed out three major inconveniences for Muslims to practice their beliefs in everyday life—food, the toilets, and places to pray. According to Islamic dietary law originated from the Quran, Hadith, and Sunnah*, some foods are explicitly forbidden, including blood, pork, and any food dedicated to gods other than Allah. These foods are called the non-halal food, and Muslims would usually only eat foods that are under the “Halal* Certificate.” Since pork plays a highly important role in the Taiwanese diet, it is very hard for Muslims to find things to eat. Min Htin Lay mentioned a solution for this: he always arranges for his daughters to eat vegetarian food at school in order to avoid lard and other pork products. The second inconvenience faced by Muslims in Taiwan is the toilets. Known as a religion that highly esteems hygiene, the Islamic faith has particular rules for going to the toilet. One important rule requires the use of water to clean oneself. According to another interviewee, Debby Permana Yusuf, recent scientific experiments have proven that water best assures our level of cleanliness. However, since Taiwanese public restrooms usually only provide toilet paper instead of bidets*, Muslims find it difficult to use toilets in public places. “A solution to this,” Debby explained, “is to prepare a bottle of water and bring it everywhere you go.” “There are prayer rooms everywhere back in my hometown or in Syria, but not here in Taiwan.” The praying ritual conducted by Muslims five times a day is called Salah. As one of the five pillars in the Islamic faith, it is a highly important religious obligation. But prayer rooms can rarely be found in Taiwan. Many Muslims thus postpone their prayers and do them all at once after returning home from work. In addition to these, Muslims in Taiwan also face problems with education. Since Taiwanese public schools do not include Islamic ethical teaching in curriculums, young Muslims do not have access to proper religious education, Min Htin Lay indicates. He also disapproves of the trend among Muslim women of not wearing Hijabs even though it was more difficult to make friends with “weird” face coverings. Taiwanese society has long neglected the Islamic culture, but it represents an important people group in Taiwan. It is important that we pay more attention to the unique community and soften the tense inter-cultural relationship in the future. *Quran, Hadith, and Sunnah: Islamic holy books *Halal: Means permissible or lawful in Arabic *Bidet: A shower faucet provided in the toilet compartments in Muslim regions
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by Kevin Huang Have you ever thought about escaping to an imaginary world where fiction becomes reality? Taking all our childhood fantasies into mind, virtual reality, or VR, has given us the means of turning those fantasies into reality. VR is essentially a technology that lets the user simulate being in a different environment. The concept of it used to be one as far-fetched as that of the existence of unicorns but with the current advances in technology, we have never been closer to making that idea a reality and virtual reality is what makes it all possible. While its prominent use has been that for gaming, VR has all the potential for it to thrive in the different aspects of our lives such as our education, entertainment, the military, and many others.
With the introduction of the Oculus Rift by Oculus VR, a pair of electronic gaming goggles, a few years back, we were presented with a new breakthrough in the world of gaming. Gone were the days of smashing our controllers as we received the ability to see into a different world through those goggles. It wasn’t long before other major companies began taking part in this new unexplored field. Nintendo and Sony were quick to develop their own versions of the technology and the popularity has simply exploded. While current development still revolves around gaming, the potential for VR can’t be ignored. The one thing that VR brings to the table is the fact that we can do whatever we want without having to do it in real life. So what are some of the potential uses that could come with it? Limitless Education Outside its current uses for entertainment, VR has some serious potential in other fields. Education is one area that cannot be overlooked when we think about VR. We have always read about the different historical events within our textbooks but with VR in the picture, we now have a way for us to actually experience these events. It would provide us with a more interesting take on the subjects we learn at school while bringing in the option to interact with what we are learning. VR also has the ability to save the resources needed in our current-day education. Many companies have began developing different means of using VR as a medium for education. Google recently came out with the Google Expeditions Pioneer Program, which is a program that uses VR as a way for expedition teams to take students and teachers on field trips anywhere. Discovery has also started using the technology as they introduce Discovery VR, a program that lets you experience Discovery Channel shows in a whole new way. These educational programs are the leading pioneers in what could become the next level in the education for future generations. The VR Doctor? VR has also been making its way into the our hospitals and therapy centers. A platform called Bravemind has offered hundreds of hospitals, universities, and military bases the ability to help patients with traumatic experiences by having them undergo therapy within VR. VR allows these patients to be put under environments that mirror their past traumas which can be used for rehabilitation. Medical students will be provided the ability to practice surgery without resorting to cutting open an actual animal or body. Surgical Theater is one such program that allows doctors and patients the ability to explore and interact with the human anatomy. VR is on its way to completely revolutionizing the medical world. Where Else? Many benefits and potential of VR can be seen in other fields as well. Chemistry students will gain the ability to perform their experiments without actually having to use expensive and potentially dangerous ingredients and equipment. Military combat drills can be simulated in a different reality which could prevent our combatants from injuries. Architects can now put up models of buildings that will put the ones we have now to shame. The possibilities with VR are literally endless as it offers a way to do anything without repercussions. But while VR seems like the next best thing since sliced bread, we have to also keep in mind some of the cons that it brings. A Gift or a Curse? The most dangerous thing about virtual reality is the fact that it’s a different reality, one that we can create ourselves. The implication of this is both rewarding and terrifying as we realize the possible addiction issues that could come along with it. If offered the chance to escape the hardships of society, who wouldn’t say no to living in VR. Society could easily be broken down as people leave their everyday jobs to pursue the wonders the VR world has to offer. Also, what would happen to those who can’t afford the technology? They would be left to clean up the mess. We also have to keep in mind that the concept of VR is still very experimental and the laws and regulations regarding it are still a blurred line. What if we end up frying our brains because of this experimental tech? What if serious crimes are committed through the use of VR but no law or regulation is set in place? There are just as many potential problems as there are rewards when it comes to VR. VR is a technology that is said to be one that will revolutionize the world. While the future for the technology certainly seems bright, it is up to us to understand it and recognize the problems that could come with it. One thing is for certain and that is the fact that VR is here and there are still many things that we can do with the technology. by Grace Hyeonju Lee‘Reunion of dispersed families in Korea’
Some readers might not be interested in this article or the current political issues regarding North Korea and neighbouring countries. However, some experts think a war could soon break out – a war of ideology with nuclear weapons that could lead to World War III. And Taiwan would not be excluded. 1. History of Korea before the Korean War Korea was often caught in a conflict between China, Russia, and Japan as each sought to make it a colony. Japanese colonial rule lasted from 1910 to 1945, and it was an ambivalent experience for Koreans. The Japanese used forced labor on Koreans and treated them like slaves. Speaking Korean or using it in any form was prohibited. But the Japanese government left Korea after they were defeated in World War II. Many people, even including Koreans, do not realize that Korea was occupied by the United States and the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. The United States proposed temporarily dividing the country along the 38th Parallel as a way to maintain its influence on the peninsula, which bordered Russia. ‘UN forces’ transport vehicles recrossing the 38th Parallel as they withdraw from Pyongyang in 1950′, Time Life Pictures—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty 2. History of the Korean War In 1948, the anti-communist southern administration declared itself the Republic of Korea led by Syngman Rhee, who was installed as the South Korean leader by the Office of Strategic Services. In the North, the Soviets backed a Stalinist regime under their client Kim Il-sung, who fought alongside communist forces during the Chinese civil war and was the grandfather of North Korea’s current dictator, Kim Jong-un. He created the North Korean Peoples’ Army, equipped with Russian tanks and artillery. Soon after, the communist northern administration, based in Pyongyang, declared itself the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. ‘Phases of the Korean War’, by Mcdougal Littell 3. Aftermath of the Korean War A civil war ensued that devastated Korea. Estimates vary, but at least two million Korean civilians, up to 1.5 million communist forces, and around 30,000 US, 400,000 South Korean and 1,000 UK troops are believed to have died. ‘Soldiers take care for two lost infants’ Technically, the Korean War has still not ended. The fighting stopped when North Korea, China, and the United States reached an armistice in 1953. But South Korea did not agree to the armistice, and no formal peace treaty was ever signed. 4. Current situation of North Korea North Korea has been actively carrying out missile tests until the United Nations Security Council placed new sanctions on the country. Those sanctions significantly choke off fuel supplies and order North Koreans working overseas to return home, in what may prove the last test of whether any amount of economic pressure can force the isolated country to reverse course on its nuclear weapons program. We all must have come across videos, photos, or stories of how one defector successfully escaped from North Korea. The starvation, and disease in North Korea is unreal to us, however, since it is carefully concealed by the government. ‘Parasites found in the body of North Korean soldier defector’ Access to more pictures of concentration camps in North Korea: Click here 5. What can we do as students? The public should be more aware of this oppressed nation and this dangerous situation. Nowadays, we spend almost one sixth of our entire day on social networking sites such as Instagram™ and Facebook™. We are all concerned about global issues regarding human rights, LGBTQ rights, and feminism. We strive to voice our support for the activists and voluntarily advocate ourselves for them. However, have we ever thought of the human rights of North Koreans? What is the role of the United Nations? Many students must have wondered why we are powerless and that there is nothing we can do about it. Hence, we tend to be indifferent. But there are ways we can at least be a part of letting them be free – to know about it, and to speak about it. Tools we use online can be turned into powerful weapons to allow North Koreans to communicate with the outside world. Encountering outside information might make them realize that they have been brainwashed and indoctrinated by their government. As the English philosopher Francis Bacon put it, knowledge is power. By Belinda Chen(Photo credits: The Fur Commission USA)
“ Oh dear, is that genuine fur ?” Wearing animal fur products today is usually frowned upon, marking you as a selfish and ruthless human being in the eyes of animal rights activists. Yet a large portion of people remain adamant about wearing animal fur products. As an indestructible industry valued at more than $40 billion annually worldwide, the only plausible method to alleviate the cruelty placed upon the animals is by establishing a reinforced legislation system to enforce animal welfare in the fur industry. In this article, I’m not going to include detailed statistics and data to prevent my readers from dozing off; I would simply like to raise awareness of the incomplete protection of captive furbearers raised for the fur industry throughout the world. To defend the captive furbearers, we must first acknowledge some basic facts about the global distribution of the fur industry. The majority of the captive furbearers are raised within the European Union (EU), contributing up to 63% of the global mink production and 70% of fox production. Other countries with thriving fur industries include China, Russia, the United States, etc. Fortunately, in January 2013 the EU established legislation for the humane killing of animals that extends specifically to fur animals. However, China, Russia, and the U.S have failed to do so. Existing Animal Welfare Legislation? In the U.S., captive furbearers suffer from a federal exclusion from the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA). If HMSA can be approved and applied to livestock, why not also for captive furbearers? HMSA applies to livestock such as cattle, calves, horses, and swine, protecting them from dying in writhing pain by enforcing the use of certain devices for stunning the animals into unconsciousness before slitting their throats. Why doesn’t the U.S attempt to apply the HMSA to all captive furbearers? The killing process isn’t the only unacceptable part of the fur industry – the lack of animal welfare in farming the animals is also a major concern. In essence, animal welfare states that animal should enjoy the following five freedoms: (1) Freedom from hunger and thirst, (2) freedom from discomfort, (3) freedom from pain, injury and disease, (4) freedom to express normal behaviour, and (5) freedom from fear and distress. Again, the EU legislation for animal welfare applies also specifically to captive furbearers. Why doesn’t the Animal Welfare Act in the U.S apply to captive furbearers? This implies that the majority of fur ranches in the U.S, where captive furbearers are raised, may not be the best environment. In other words, regulated standards are not imposed for cage sizes, cage density, sanitation, veterinary care, food/water, ventilation, handling, etc. Inadequate maintenance of the environment and animal care will result in distress of the animals, consequently upsetting the physical and psychological balance of the animals. All in all, if those suffering captive furbearers can’t be free from being skinned for our selfish reasons, at least allow them to be free from living and dying in agony! I believe that as an industry that rolls in massive profits, it is viable to demand the application and reinforcement of animal welfare legislation for the slaughtering and farming of furbearers. The creation of fashion does not need to involve barbaric treatment of animals. (Photo credit: https://fluoresblog.blogspot.tw/2016/12/why-i-dont-buy-mink-lashes.html) by Joanne PoonShopping online is a global purchasing trend as it is convenient. But behind this handy trend has arisen an enormous environmental problem.
The Current Situation in Taiwan In 2016, KPMG, one of the largest international accounting firms, did an overview about E-commerce in the Asia Pacific region. According to the report, Taiwan’s current online shopping population accounts for 86.1%, ranking 17th in the world and Asia’s largest. It is attributed to Taiwan’s network and transportation system, which are exhaustive. Besides, E-commerce is timeless and spaceless, as consumers can purchase all they want without any limits. Ease of comparison is one of the characteristics that attract shoppers to shop online, they can compare the offering and pricing which save their time. But see from another perspective, is online shopping really impeccable? The Problems Caused Tang Jianxiong, an old clothes recycler, mentions that about 72,000 tons of old clothes are discarded every year in Taiwan. At a rate of 3.2 pieces per kilogram, about 230.4 million pieces, which is equivalent to 438 pieces of clothing is thrown away every minute. Since buying clothes online is too convenient and the prices may be much cheaper than buying in brick-and-mortar buildings, impulse shopping is more likely. This fashion trash finally grows into the burden of the earth. Besides, garbage is generated during the logistic processes. When people purchase overseas, especially from mainland China, the shops and the logistics company will overpackage the commodities to protect them. According to the Taiwan Environmental Information Centre, in 2015 the total length of tape used by the Chinese express industry was approximately 17 billion meters, enough to circumnavigate the Earth’s equator 425 times. And about 9.9 billion containers were consumed in the same period, and nearly 8.3 billion plastic bags were used. According to Xing Kai, the chairman of a Beijing logistic company Yiside, sealing a box requires an average of 1.1-1.5 meters of tape, and the misuse of tape caused the reuse rate of express boxes to be only about 20% in 2015. Although Taiwan is an environmentally friendly place with high recycling rate, the boxes and the tape cannot be recycled under this situation. How Can We Fix the Problem? In recent years, many companies have discovered the problems created by online shopping and try to deal with it. For example, Decathlon, a French sportswear brand and one of the largest in Taiwan, pack things banana-style rather than in layers. Banana-style means putting all the things in one plastic bag. For example, when customers buy ten products, other shops will pack it with separate parcels, but Decathlon will only use one. Some people may complain about it because the clothes may become wrinkled, but the CEO said that they are sharing their environmental protection concept to the public. Apart from the above, individuals can do something to reduce the waste after receiving their parcels. For example, shops use a lot of plastic bags which we can reuse. Besides, if we want to send fragile goods, we can also use buffer material. This can cut down on the waste produced. We cannot stop people buying from the Internet because it does simplify our life, but the trash created does damage our planet. We should aim to strike a balance between them in order to save the planet. by Andre HoolihanOn February 27th, 1947, agents from the Kuomintang-government backed tobacco monopoly confiscated contraband cigarettes from a woman in Taipei’s Datong district. When the woman demanded their return, she was struck with a pistol. As the agents fled the scene, an agent shot and fatally wounded a bystander.
In the days that followed, semi-organized Taiwanese groups attempted to push the Kuomintang out of Taiwan, but by early March a military force arrived from China and began more than a month of indiscriminate killing and looting. These events would come to be known as the February 28 incident, a date which marked the start of martial law and violent government repression in Taiwan. Today, February 28th is a day of remembrance dedicated to those lost to the years of terror. Some, however, use the February 28 incident as an excuse to tell a different story. For scholars like Chu Hong-yuan, a researcher and professor at the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica and a former Kuomintang (KMT) National Assembly member, it is an opportunity to justify the actions of the former military government. “I would say it all started with a mistake.” That was how Chu described the incident, an uprising which is estimated to have led to the death of ten thousand Taiwanese civilians. He has spent the past thirty years researching the February 28 incident, and has written over fifteen papers on the subject. “You have to understand,” he explained to me, “for the Mainland soldiers who came to reclaim Taiwan, the Taiwanese, who had spent fifty years under Japanese rule, looked too much like the Japanese. It created a psychological complex for the soldiers.” He blames this distrust for the hostilities which grew between Taiwanese citizens and Mainland Kuomintang soldiers in the wake of Taiwan’s retrocession in 1945. Chu argues that the incident itself was sparked by communist infiltrators, both in youth groups and organized crime, who worked to inflame the situation in the wake of the shooting on February 27th. He also alleges that reports of violence were overstated by the Western media, ostensibly to justify the position of pro-Taiwanese independence factions within the United States Government. Contemporary foreign observers and modern historians tend to refute Chu’s research. Reports published in the West described startling brutality, and excerpts from Chiang Kai-shek’s personal journals suggest that he was aware of the extent of the violence in Taiwan: “The soldiers have landed in Taiwan and restored order… It is evident that we will need to rely on military power in recaptured territories.” Chen Cui-lian, a history professor at National Taiwan University, advocate for transitional justice, and fellow February 28 incident researcher argues in her work that the incident was in fact the fault of high-level Kuomintang leaders, up to and including Chiang Kai-Shek. In an article published in February of last year she argued “Chiang Kai-Shek held the highest office of government, sent soldiers to Taiwan, and shielded Governor Chen Yi in the wake of the incident. How can we believe that he was not responsible?” Ultimately, the answer to this question seems to lie in politics. Chen, who feels no love for the Kuomintang, is comfortable placing the blame squarely on their shoulders, while Chu, whose fortunes have been shaped by the Kuomintang for much of his life, is unwilling. It is unfortunate that the study of history, especially the study of a moment as pivotal as the February 28 incident, should be so thoroughly shaped by politics. by Chris LyndThe #MeToo movement is a worldwide campaign appealing to women to demonstrate the prevalence of sexual harassments/assaults. #MeToo went viral as the article “Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades” was published by The New York Times in October 2017. After that, Hollywood stars began to share their experiences from the sexual harassments/assaults of certain figures with the world. Earlier this year, The New York Times announced the “Time’s Up” movement. Jointly founded by 700,000 female farmworkers and Hollywood celebrities, #TimesUp is the response to #MeToo and the Weinstein effect.
Statue of Harvey Weinstein by Plastic Jesus PURSUIT I quote from the Time’s Up website, “Powered by women, TIME’S UP addresses the systemic inequality and injustice in the workplace that have kept underrepresented groups from reaching their full potential.” To be specific, the movement encourages men and women all over the world to stand up and fight against the sexual harassments/assaults in working fields. Unsurprisingly, it is quite a success. More and more people now stand up to share their stories and feelings. However, as #MeToo and #TimesUp take the world by storm, the dark side of them gradually comes to light. Jennifer Lawrence and her Red Sparrow male co-stars in London DARK SIDE A few weeks ago, female actor Jennifer Lawrence visited London to promote her new film Red Sparrow. For the photo shoot, Lawrence wore a beautiful yet flimsy Versace dress, while her male co-stars wore shirts, jumpers, jackets and heavy coats. When the pictures were released, the public went mad. They accused the film company of using her body as an advertising tool. Nonetheless, the actor claimed that the dress was her choice. To clarify herself, Jennifer wrote on Facebook, “This is sexist, this is ridiculous, this is not feminism. Over-reacting about everything someone says or does, creating controversy over silly innocuous things such as what I choose to wear or not wear, is not moving us forward.” She’s right, isn’t she? The pursuit of #MeToo and #TimesUp is meant to raise awareness of, empathise and seek justice for the oppressed. Sadly, the points of the movements are often misinterpreted or even twisted by some. There’s more. People may gradually choose not to speak their mind for being afraid of the onslaught coming from the public once they discuss the popular issues with different perspectives. For example, I wrote a post from a perspective that I don’t believe on a social forum a few weeks ago, “… I hate those women who wear strappy dresses. They are too sexy.” The fact is though, I really love to see women wear strappy dresses. The post was used intentionally as an experiment to observe and analyse people’s reactions. I was inundated by aggressive comments and hate messages. Even though some people backed me up, I was accused of being sexist and old-fashioned. The backlash was so great that I had to delete the post. Later, I wrote another post to explain the real reason of writing that controversial one. Still, many people chose not to believe me, and they called their relentless commentaries justice. It was hopeless. JUSTICE Our trending mindset has become absolute, forming worldwide (especially with social media) white terrors and witch-hunts. If someone says anything slightly disrespectful to a certain gender, race, belief, etc., even just a normally acceptable joke, in the #MeToo era he or she will be judged and punished by the public’s hatred. It is definitely good that people acknowledge the inequality in our society. Stand up and fight against the injustice we must. But we should know what is the right thing to do rather than feed the world with gibberish wrapped with justice. The world looks forward to what #MeToo and #TimesUp movements may bring about. We just have to use them carefully. Image sources: https://www.timesupnow.com http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/harvey-weinstein-statue-oscars http://www.radiotimes.com/news/film/2018-02-22/jennifer-lawrence-responds-to-red-sparrow-photocalls-no-coat-controversy-i-am-extremely-offended/ by Aria HsiaWalking down the streets of Taipei today, it is not difficult to spot a young person sporting tattoos across their body, proudly flashing their inked artwork. However, until recent decades, tattoos have long been interpreted as a symbol of rebellion, linking them to delinquents, gangs, and other negative connotations. I hope to trace the development of the tattoo stigma in Taiwan by first understanding the historic and cultural symbolism of tattoos in Taiwan, then uncovering the public’s hostility towards tattoos, and finally exploring their gradual resurgence into mainstream fashion today.
Diving deep into the past, tattoos have been a part of traditional culture since the very beginning of Taiwanese civilization. Their roots can be traced back as early as 1,400 years ago, as tattooing is an important custom in six of Taiwan’s ten major aboriginal tribes: the Atayal, Saisiyat, Paiwan, Rukai, Puyuma and Tsou. The Atayal tribe is most recognized for their facial tattoos; regarded as a rite of passage, boys are rewarded with their tattoos only after completing the gruesome task of headhunting, which has been banned since the Japanese Colonial Era (1895 –1945). As for girls, they had to master the skill of looming before they earned their tattoos. Only those with tattoos could marry, and it was believed that only they could cross the rainbow bridge into the afterlife. As many aboriginal tribes were forced to relocate under Japanese rule, the practice was eventually abandoned. Despite originally being an important custom in Taiwanese aboriginal culture, tattoos gradually lost their meaning and significance as western traditions took their place. Meanwhile, across the shore in China, tattoos were a highly effective means of punishment dating back to the Zhou and Han Dynasty. The shame that the criminals felt at having to reenter society with a mark upon their body derived from the traditional Confucian filial piety that one must avoid damage to the body. While the arrival of Western and Japanese customs greatly affected Taiwan’s aboriginal culture scene, the Han brought along their own prejudices against tattoos. From these instances, it can be observed that despite being of similar cultural origins, the perception of tattoos vary vastly in Asia. Tattoos are nothing new to Taiwan, yet were still regarded with some degree of curiosity, albeit caution, in the late 20th century. Taiwan in the 1980s saw a surge in gang activity, many congregating in the area that is now known as Ximending. Ximending still remains a popular gathering place for young people, thus it is no surprise that the area is now home to Taipei’s very own “Tattoo Street”. It appears to be a universal custom for gang members to adorn themselves with tattoos, either as an oath of loyalty, or to demonstrate their rebellious attitude. This plays a large role in the criminal stigma attached to tattoos, as many Taiwanese parents forbid their children to get tattoos. However, in the recent decade, the hostility towards tattoos has shifted into tolerance, as tattoos evolved from a symbol of rebellion to a new form of art. Regarded as one of the most liberal countries in Asia, Taiwan has come a long way since its early days of tattoo-shaming. Whereas in South Korea where celebrities must cover up their tattoos on television, Taiwan celebrates diverse body art through the annual Taiwan Tattoo Convention, an event that showcases tattoos from all around the world. In an attempt to understand the current opinions on tattoos among Taiwanese college students, I created an online survey. To my surprise, only 3% of the students in my class had tattoos, and they were all international students. I was shocked by the results, until I remembered that most of my classmates were barely nineteen, thus just over the legal age of eighteen to get a tattoo in Taiwan. However, a large majority of the students responded that they would consider getting a tattoo in the future, to commemorate an important memory or event. As my research on Taiwan’s perception on tattoos comes to an end, I have discovered that the consensus that while most Taiwanese people do not harbor any ill feelings against tattoos, they are hesitant to commit to a permanent engraving on their skin. For now, they will stick to temporary tattoo stickers. by Arielle Esteban© Pat Canova
Finding a decent bathroom to do your big business can be hard, especially because the National Taiwan University campus has many buildings that are either brand new or ancient, and thus it has many bathrooms that vary in quality. And being in Taiwan, public bathrooms often have more squatty potties than a sitting toilet. After interviewing international students at NTU and investigating some of the listed bathrooms, thankfully, the quest to find the perfect water-closet ends here. Read on to see the list of the best and worst bathrooms at NTU based on functionality, cleanliness, and the presence of a porcelain throne. Worst Bathroom 1. Liberal Education Classroom Building On the outside, the Liberal Education building stands out in its state-of-the-art architectural design that puts it in the center of the brick-clad buildings of NTU’s northwest campus. You would think that its bathrooms reflect the white, futuristic newness of the building but you’d be wrong. Instead, you’re greeted with pink tiles from wall to floor and a pungent smell of a bathroom well-used by people but not as well-maintained. “The outside of the building looks nice,” stated an NTU sophomore. “But the interior is the exact opposite.” The cubicles house mostly squatty potties but opening the doors are only for the daring—or those who really can’t hold their bladder much longer. There is a sitting toilet, but its condition makes you wonder if people either failed in their hygiene training growing up or are simply assume that there is a self-cleaning button in that cubicle. Nevertheless, only use the bathrooms in this building with caution and even then, with a nose clip. 2. Computer and Information Network As you walk into the bathroom of the Computer and Information Network building, grimy gray tiles greet you, along with a stuffy atmosphere that makes you almost want to leave as soon as you arrived. The air is stuffy and damp and this dimly lit bathroom forces you to play a game of hide and seek as you maneuver your way into finding the best position to squat. The lack of proper lighting also has you hoping and praying your foot doesn’t slip into the narrow tub. And when you do manage to squat and conduct your business, your hands reach for the glistening silver toilet paper holder and find that there is no actual toilet paper. The bathroom does have one porcelain throne but the cramp and tight room makes it hard to actually do your business comfortably. Moreover, the stall is right next to the hallway entrance—meaning that any person walking by could hear you fart, or worse. “I would rather hold my pee in than go here,” says Han Sol, a first-year exchange student. “It is definitely not the best place for taking a dump.” Best Bathrooms 1. Social Sciences Building Newly renovated, the bathrooms of the Department of Social Sciences are well-ventilated and private. Gray, uniform tiles line the bathroom walls and floors which gives it an appearance of a prison cell rather than a comfort room. This seems to give an effect of keeping visitors away because almost every bathroom in the building is empty, even during class rush hours. While squatty potties are the majority, there are two to three cubicles that are reserved for porcelain thrones. The cubicles are roomy, with plenty of space and hooks and shelves to place your belongings, and the toilet paper holders aren’t empty. Additionally, perhaps it’s because of the wall material or just the locations of the bathrooms, but sound doesn’t seem to travel as well in the bathrooms. And it is because of these factors that allow you to comfortably take a dump. 2. Department of Geography The bathrooms of the Geography department gleam with white and rose-colored tiles and you catch a whiff of lemon-scented air freshener when you walk past the flapping wooden doors. The bathroom is well-lit and two porcelain thrones greet you, and cubicles are equipped with an alcohol spray for cleaning the toilet, as well as a toilet seat cover. While the bathrooms of this building are obscurely located, as most are hidden behind the elevators and there are no signs, they are not hard to find and location-wise, provides you with a discrete and private place to do your business. The Dept. of Geography is also conveniently located right next to Lu-Ming Hall and several food spots, so next time you’re grabbing a bite to eat and need to use the restroom, just drop by the Dept. of Geography. While most bathrooms on campus are generally clean and functional, it is usually the lower floors that have the most number of users, and thereby, can be smelly and not the best place to take a dump. The general rule is, the higher the floor you go, the better the bathroom quality. Happy bathroom hunting! by Nathalie Jennifer RepenningSpring Break is just around the corner. For students this means two things: Partying and traveling. While partying is not something you want to do alone, you may consider going on your own for traveling. Do you think that`s just as sad as to go out alone? Reconsider!
At a first glance of course, traveling with friends or someone you already know seems to be the better option. Going with someone else will make you feel safer – both before and during the trip. You know that you will always have someone by your side for sightseeing, picture taking and nightlife as well as someone to help with difficulties and problems that might show up. This knowledge is indeed a huge advantage of traveling with friends. But this is only one way of looking at it. Alone but not lonely Firstly, traveling means exploring and getting to know something you do not. But if you travel with friends you might miss exactly this. Foreigners can be future friends you just do not know yet, and will never know, as you naturally rather stick to your friends when traveling in a group. Starting a trip alone does not mean you will be alone all the time! You will meet and greet other people and catch up with them more easily – simply because you are dependent on them, not only to get a picture taken for you but also for conversations and trips. Additionally, you will meet people who are heading to same destinations as well so you might have along part-time travel buddies. Ultimate freedom Traveling with someone means compromising all the time. Suppose you want to see a certain this place, try out a dish or just leave a current location – for all this you won`t need to argue, plan and compromise with anybody if you are by yourself. You can just do it! Traveling alone gives you the ultimate freedom to do and be what you want. Of course, this means you need to know what you want. Going solo for unknown places can teach you exactly this. It will help and benefit you in figuring out what you want and wish – not only for traveling but also for life generally. All you have to do is to embrace the unknown. Let yourself grow and learn by traveling alone. Discovering more How about difficulties and problems? Being alone in a difficult situation can be painful – yet it is common knowledge that people are often much stronger than they think they are. Going solo will teach you to solve problems and overcome any difficulties and improve your self-confidence. Whatever might come up along your way, you will figure it out! So you do not only learn more about yourself and your true wishes but also discover strengths you haven`t known before the trip. Many people who have travelled alone describe it as an almost religious experience of connecting with themselves. Traveling solo can change you and let you discover so much more than any tour with your friends. So your friends dumped you for spring break traveling? Well, take the chance and go by yourself to discover places, people and yourself! |
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May 2024
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