by Crystal Shih
Why go to Australia? Now you can see koalas in Taipei! Taiwan, after America, Japan, and Germany, is the fourth country outside Australia that has koalas on display. Did you stand in the long lines under 38-degree heat for three hours in order to take a 20-second glimpse of the two sleepy koalas? Or did you notice that the streets had become filled with products with koala images, from clothes to key chains? Yes, the two koalas, Patrick and Harley, have certainly fascinated us. Patrick and Harley arrived at the Taipei zoo on July 31, from the Currumbin Sanctuary on Australia’s Gold Coast. On the first day, about 60,000 people visited the zoo. The visitors in the first week amounted to 350,000 people. Matthew Jackson, the wildlife supervisor from the Gold Coast had worried that the koalas would be maladapted. Fortunately, the noisy crowds seemed not to affect the two guests too much. If the two male koalas can adjust themselves well to the environment of Taiwan, two female koalas will join them in the next two years. In fact, the two koalas didn’t come all of a sudden. This project had been in the planning stages for six years. And four years ago, 6,000 eucalyptus trees were planted in Tamshui to feed the two bears. We all know koalas feed on eucalyptus leaves, but actually the picky bears will only eat from a few among more than six hundred species of eucalyptus trees. The zoo also built a “Koala Building,” which includes two indoor and two outdoor showgrounds. The inner showgrounds were designed to be kept at a temperature of 25 degrees celsius to make the koalas feel comfortable. “Koala” is derived from the language of Australian aborigines and means “no drinking.” It’s not true that they don’t drink any water but they do drink little because they take a lot from the eucalyptus leaves. On average they sleep 18-20 hours a day. This is also caused by their diet, since the eucalyptus leaves are high-cellulose and low-calorie. They sleep to prevent the loss of calories. Koalas are more active at night. Therefore, you had better visit them at dawn if you don’t want to see two drowsy bears. They seem to be slow-moving all the time. However, if you think they are snail-slow, you’re totally wrong. When a koala runs for its life, it is as fast as a rabbit. Moreover, it may surprise you that they can swim. “They are so cute,” is the first impression of most visitors. Koalas have the basic characteristics of so-called cute things: a fuzzy body, a big head, and short limbs. Although the koala’s head is big, the capacity of brain is small. Hence, they are not very intelligent. Koala bears are not really bears. They are arboreal marsupial animals. The fetus is only in the uterus for one month. It will then stay in the mother’s marsupium for another six months. Normally speaking, The female koala gives birth to one baby at a time because the marsupium is not big enough for two. The average life span of koalas is ten years. Patrick and Harley are both two years old. We just celebrated their first birthdays on September 8th and October 26th. Have you not felt the whirlwind of koalas? The fuzzy toys we see everywhere appear so innocent and cute that people can’t help liking them. However, these toys are after all are not the real thing. Why not find some time to feel the magic power of koalas by yourself? If you are interested in getting more information, there is also a website for you to check out: http://www.koala.taipei.gov.tw.
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by Vovo Chen
People used to complain about the incomplete educational system at NTU, but now no more complaints. Our own fine arts department, the department of Theatre and Drama, has finally come into being this summer. Being the first of its kind in a National University, it has proven NTU once again to be the best university in Taiwan. Though a new member the Drama department may seem to be, students of DFLL shouldn’t be unfamiliar with it. Most of the time we share the same classroom building, the Audio-Visual center because they use the stage so often. Also, the chair of the Drama Department, Prof. John Hu, is originally a professor of the DFLL and now teaches Drama in both departments. In he tradition of NTU, the curriculum of the Drama department encompasses both theoretical and practical approaches, stressing both quality and creativity in design, acting, and directing. By studying masterpieces of both ancient Chinese operas and Western dramas, students can achieve a comprehensive understanding of the history of theatre East and West. As a result, the first year covers Introduction to the Theatre, Stagecraft, Basic Design, Acting, Performing, and Playwriting. These required core courses provide students basic knowledge of theatre and drama and at the same time equip them with stage experience. In their second year, students take design courses such as Lighting Design, Stage Design, and Costume Design. Optional courses include Modern Drama, Tragedy, Comedy, Shakespeare, Theories of Theatre, Translation and Adaptation, Voice Training, and even Make-up. In addition to these professional courses, the drama department also encourages students to take courses in other departments to obtain knowledge essential for their own needs. Though still in a testing period, the Drama department has already designed a complete program to prepare its students for careers in fields such as directing, script writing, acting, or stage and lighting design. Only in its first year, the department has only taken forty-four students through the J.C.E.E. this past summer. Hopefully with this small class, the instructors can give individual attention to students and they can become more involved in their courses. “The professors know each one of us; thus, the interaction between professors and students is very positive,” commented one of their students. Since there are only seven professors so far, only a limited number of courses are open to students from other departments. Therefore, if you really have a great passion for theatre and drama, you might want to consider double majoring, or you can apply to their graduate institute after you get your first degree. If you need more information, you can check on website “www-ms.cc.ntu.edu.tw./~theatre/” –or simply visit their office, located in the building of the Music Graduate Institute, which is between the old library and the basketball courts. by Ying-ying Shih
“The most terrifying movie-going experience of the decade.” “Genuinely chilly.” “The scariest movie ever made.” Do these lines strike you as familiar? If you are a moviegoer, you must have read them in all sorts of movie reviews – all of them about the most controversial movie of last summer summer – The Blair Witch Project. The film has stirred a great deal of controversy not only because it is scary, but also because it was produced in a way which might alter the future of the movie industry. Made with merely US$35,000, this movie has brought in US$137 million in the U.S. alone, making it the most profitable movie in the history in terms of net income. No stars, no special effects, not even a script. The success of this movie has astonished everyone inside and outside the business. However, is it truly a movie that deserves so much acclaim? During the summer, a trend for horror movies seemed to flourish along with the growing heat. “The Blair Witch Project” \was the one I looked forward to the most. After all, how can a horror movie lover like me miss “the most terrifying movie of all time”? Not until the end of the summer did the witch finally land in Taiwan. I couldn’t wait to see it. I began my “witch hunt” by reading some excerpts outside the theater which describe the nausea people felt during the movie and the aftershocks people had after they saw the film. I thought this must be it; this is the movie that’s going to bring some real terror. The movie began. At first I was quite bothered by its shaky camera work, and started to miss the steadiness of old-fashioned films. Then I tried to focus more on the plot (if there is one) and to get involved in the spooky atmosphere. Patiently and earnestly, I watched for 77 monotonous minutes (notice this is an 87-minute film). Eventually, the situation started to improve and the feeling of fear gradually developed as the actress began shrieking continually. Just when I was getting ready to be really frightened, all of a sudden the movie ended with a final scream. God knows how shocked I was when I saw the credits on the screen. I guess the most fearful moment for me was when my friend sitting next to me started to tremble fiercely and sink her fingers into my right arm. Perhaps I am being a little too harsh on the Blair Witch. I have to admit that I was quite impressed by the director’s originality, which gave him the idea to produce a movie that looks homemade. The actors’ skill at improvising conversations should also be recognized (though they have also been criticized for their excessive use of four-letter words). In spite of all this, The Blair Witch Project remains an innovative experimental work. Now the film is being shown in major theaters around the world, with dozens of websites marveling at its success. It has even caused the movie industry to question its methods of filmmaking. I wonder how a movie with all its crudity could cause such a frenzy. I’ve been searching for reasons why I was not frightened by “the witch.” Is it because I am not a believer in witchcraft? Probably. Does that mean I am bolder than others? Doubtful. Some people told me that I was not afraid because I knew the story wasn’t “real.” Yet even though people know that most movies aren’t real, they are still moved by romantic movies, fascinated with action films, and scared by horror stories. If I don’t feel a thing about the Blair Witch (like the many people who created anti-Blair Witch websites), it must say something about the movie. I agree wholeheartedly with the film’s director, who said that “real terror is psychological terror.” I also believe that what’s unseen can sometimes be even more horrifying than what can be seen, a theory well demonstrated by this particular film. But somehow, watching the Blair Witch didn’t inspire psychological terror but just made miss the good old days of Hitchcock movies, the time when no special effects were needed to make fear reach into the deepest level of our minds. Next time a movie is labeled “real” or a “documentary,” I’ll surely think twice before I am tricked – or rather bewitched – into buying a ticket. by Cindy Lo
Wind, fire, water, and earth are the four elements of the universe according to the Western tradition. What is the fifth element that completec this circle of fullness? Genius French movie director, Luc Besson, gives us an answer—life. What kind of person would think of a lively answer like this? Let us trace his growth as a filmmaker and see if we can find the elements that compose the life of Luc Besson. Born on March 18, 1959, in Paris, Luc Besson is a shining star in his field. His abundant creativity generates from his childhood experiences. Following his scuba- diving-instructor parents, Luc grew up around the waters of Mediterranean, where he fell in love with the blue sea and was enchanted by dolphins. At the age of ten, he made up his mind to become a marine biologist specializing in dolphins. However, at seventeen he was involved in a diving accident which badly injured him, especially his inner ear. When he was told he could never dive again he had to give up his childhood dream. He returned to the “civilized” city of Paris and went to a boarding school. Being unable to dive again seemed to be a tragedy for Besson, but his close interaction with nature has greatly influenced his style of filmmaking, which has been praised for its “stunning use of wide lens photography and fluid camera movement.” We can see this in his gorgeous film about sea divers, The Big Blue, which was so loved by French audiences that it was released twice. School life was extremely boring for him. According to an interview, he recalls that “There was nothing to do but steal things, or take drugs, or smoke. All I wanted to do was escape into my little world, so I would write.” During this time, he also conceived the story of best known film, The Fifth Element. Besson finally decided to drop out of school and found odd jobs working on French films. For the first two years he wasn’t paid and was frequently on the edge of starving. He used to eat only when he was able to. “ I ate a lot on Friday because there was the weekend afterward.” This is how Luc Besson started his film career. You may wonder why he persisted so long. He once admitted: “I would like to be a painter or singer. My voice is terrible, and I can’t draw. I express myself with a little design, a little music. I’m not good enough to do one, so I do many things in movies.” Then, he traveled to Hollywood where he spent three years. In 1983, at the age of 24, he finally made his first film. Shot in black and white without any dialogue at all, Le Dernier Combat (The Final Combat) was praised highly, and won twenty international prizes. The interesting thing is that he never dreamed of becoming a famous director, and he wasn’t even crazy about movies at first place; “I have no TV. I don’t know about movies, just what I like.” Each of Bresson’s films has its own character. For example, Subway is a comedy set in an actual Paris subway, while Atlantis is a documentary about life under water. On the other hand, Taxi is a fast-paced film about car racing. Though they use different styles, they all share the same qualities–the warmth of humanity, the decay of society, and, especially, fantastic visual imagery. He also combines European and American filmmaking techniques. There is more to excite us. Luc Besson’s latest film, Joan of Arc, is due to be released in France and the U.S. this fall. It will be Besson’s first film set in the middle ages, and will star John Malkovich, Faye Dunaway, Dustin Hoffman, and Milla Jovovich (Besson’s wife) as Joan. Besson is continually challenging himself, and giving us the fifth element of life. Translated by John Hsu
On 21 September, an earthquake whose magnitude was 7.6 degrees on the Richter scale shocked Taiwan, causing the death of more than 2,000 people. More than 10.000 people were injured…“ This was what I read on the Internet when the electricity came back on at my house. Because of the media I knew the extent of the damage that the earthquake had caused. I saw people who had lost their family members, and saw many buildings that had fallen down. However, I also saw people entering into the villages which had been cut off to save those afflicted by the earthquake. Many people donated food and money. This earthquake reminded us of some problems which still exist in Taiwan, including a lack of necessary equipment to help victim, bad building construction, and a lack of an efficient government systems in case of emergency. In the first place, people did not know how to save the people who were buried beneath wreckage. Although Taiwan rescue groups worked courageously and passionately, they could not know where the survivors were. Rescue teams from Japan, Korea, the U.S., Mexico, Spain, and other countries came to help us look for the victims that were trapped under the buildings. They brought high-tech equipment which we did not have. It is a pity that we lacked this equipment not because of money, of which we have enough, but because we spend twice as much money to buy defensive weapons. Even though we have defensive weapons we cannot save people, which is ironic. Second, when tall buildings were constructed, neither the government nor the purchasers inspected the stability of the whole structure. Therefore, there were construction companies that could use poor materials, construct buildings badly, and sell them at high market prices. A lack of standards in construction safety can be seen in the fact that some newly constructed buildings collapsed, while old apartments building made ten or twenty years ago remained intact. I think that ten or twenty years ago, there were few builders who dared to use small steel bars to build columns. Nevertheless, we found many tins of cooking oil filled with cement in the columns of even new buildings. The municipal governments seem to ignore the importance of inspecting new buildings carefully. Third, we did not have an efficient government system that could help us in times of emergency. The government could not understand the seriousness of the accident at once and did not react until the next day. Furthermore, the central government and the Taichung municipal government did not contact each other until very late, and so could not cooperate effectively. Instead of collaborating, they wasted a lot of time criticizing each other. I consider that both the central and the municipal governments have little experience. They did not know how to react in this big disaster, nor did they know to establish a system for emergencies. After the earthquake, we should form a group which can assist in times of emergency, with the cooperation of all local as well as national powers. The earthquake caused much death and suffering to all people of Taiwan, especially to those who lost their family members or friends. The problems of lack of organization, of building standards, and of rapid assistance can be solved gradually. I believe, and hope, that the government has learned how to organize itself better in a similar situation. I know that this earthquake has left a profound imprint in our hearts, but I also know that in time the bitterness and the pain will disappear from our memory. By Anne Elizabeth Sheu
Darkness. Everlasting darkness. Every which way I turn. I stretch out a trembling hand and reach out for something—for anything. All I grab is mist. I am adrift in a sea of nothingness. I scream out in panic and hear footsteps running toward me. A cool hand restrains my thrashing and gently brushes away a few wisps of hair on my face. I do not cry. I am too terrified to cry. I clutch at the hand—the only material thing left in the world—and beg hoarsely to know what has become of me. I jump at the sound of my own voice, superimposed upon the darkness. The reply of the unseen is calm and soothing. You are sick, The Voice seems to say. You are sick, and you must be patient. Little by little, through overheard snips of hushed, whispered conversations outside my door, it dawns on me. I am blind. My family is gone. Akin to none, I am now alone. The house went up in flames—claiming three lives and wiping out the world as I knew it. My eyes have not escaped the smoky hellfire. I will never see again. The voice, the first voice that cut through my consciousness those awful moments when I awoke, came to me again. It could have been a few hours later or it could have been a few months later—I had lost the will to keep track. The Voice stroked my hand and told me that I was better now, that I would be taken to a nice place with other children. To play with, The Voice said. No! I said. My temper tantrums occurred regularly, even daily, but nothing compared with my kicking and screaming when they came to take me away. No! I shrieked. Other voices—harried voices—pleaded and cajoled, but I struggled all the more. Then, I felt a firm hand on my shoulder and I knew The Voice would not leave me. I stopped kicking. They took me to the unknown. An environment with strange corners and alien objects, the unknown was fearsome. I had fallen. Again. The Voice picked up and cradled my huddled form at the bottom of the stairs. I was crying with helplessness, with frustration, with absolute despair. With my head snuggled next to The Voice’s strong, unyielding chest, I listened and tried to understand as The Voice taught me. Use your heart, The Voice said, sounding deeper and more resonant. Use your heart. Reach out with your heart and your senses. Let your senses see for you. Let your senses be your eyes. I tried. Gradually, I stopped falling. But something was wrong. I had also stopped thinking. I moved like a zombie, slept like a log. No flights of fancy in the daytime; no coming of dreams during the night. There is no more beauty in the world, I replied to The Voice’s insistent inquiries. The Voice said nothing more. But the next day, The Voice brought me an easel and a box of paints. Leading my hand to the overflowing box of vibrant colors, The Voice told me that many people believe that our lives are a blank canvas. What we decide to put on the canvas is our own choice. We can stroke heavy black lines across it or we can cover the canvas with all the colors of the rainbow. It can be beautiful, The Voice said. All was silent. Suddenly, I swept the box of paints on the floor and ferociously ripped the canvas to shreds. A face distorted with anger whirled on The Voice. How can I paint without seeing? Of what use are the paints and the canvas without the eyes to see? It’s all but ebony paint on black canvas to me. Just ebony paint on black canvas. For the first time, The Voice was reproachful. Have you forgotten everything I taught you? The Voice asked. You must learn to use your heart. You have an advantage over everyone else—the power to tune in to your inner-self. Losing the ability to see the outside world is precisely the reason you can detach yourself from all mundane matters. By locking yourself in your own mind and heeding only your heart can you eventually gain the power to step out of the restricted boundaries of the conscious. Slowly, I pick up a paintbrush. The Voice puts a new square of canvas on the easel and arranges the kaleidoscope of paints in an order I would remember. And I start painting. In total darkness, I try to make my piece of the world into something other than ebony paint on black canvas. My paintbrush flies across the canvas, pausing now and then to be dipped in a bottle of paint. There is harmony in the universe and peace in my heart. I paint and paint and paint. * In time, people from all over the world gravitate to the small, run-down orphanage. They want to see the little blind child whose paintings are works of wonder. Marveling at the indescribable beauty they see, people ask how she accomplished it. Just close your eyes and paint with your unconsciousness, she tells them, use your heart and your painting will be—“Beautiful,” The Voice whispered. The little girl nodded and smiled and painted on. by Esther Huang
Everything felt like a dream. From the day of my arrival at Harvard to the end of the summer session, what I experienced was like a fantasy. Was I really studying in the university that educated Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and countless other remarkable people? My emotions were in a tumult when I stepped into the classroom on the first day of class. One part of me was filled with excitement and intent on adventure, but the other part wanted nothing more than to take the next plane home. All kinds of thoughts flashed through my mind at that moment. Would I be able to keep up with the class? Was my English good enough? Did I have the courage to make foreign friends? What should I do if I had trouble with my courses or about anything else? The only thing I could do was smile nervously. To be honest, I was quite surprised when I received Harvard’s letter thanking me for choosing their school to spend the summer. When I was filling out the application forms, I was stunned by the fact that they did not request any transcripts. To be more specific, for accepting summer school students, grades are not a major criteria at Harvard. Consequently, you do not have to worry about your English abilities or your past academic performance as long as you can manage to pass their summer courses. Harvard’s Institute for English Language Programs (IEL), which is a special program at Harvard, is designed for students whose English is as a second language. The IEL’s goal is to improve your English skills and teach reading, writing, listening, and oral training. According to IEL students, it is tough but rewarding, for your English drastically improves after being a part of this program. Calculus and Expository Writing, which are the courses that I took, are basic requirement courses in Harvard. My calculus professor was a former teacher at Harvard University, and has taught this course for a long period of time. Unlike most math teachers in Taiwan who only know how to show students how to calculate formulas, he knows how to grab students’ attention. When he explained a thesis or formula, what he would do was give simple examples from our daily lives. At Harvard, comprehension is more important than mere practice. Expository Writing is a course emphasizing on writing clear and insightful essays. It teaches you how to organize your arguments and persuade your readers. In this class, I read essays about the myth of American education system and racial discrimination, etc. Writing expository essays was a difficult task for me because I have never actually written anything on education or racial issues. Good writing skills are invaluable no matter what field you are studying in. The reason is because you need to know how to write coherent and persuasive arguments in your reports whether you are still in school or whether your future career is. Studying hard is not the only issue in Harvard. Around the campus grounds, you can see posters relating to student activities everyday. You can pick the ones that you are interested in, such as the orchestra or athletic tournaments, etc. My personal favorite was taking rowing lessons at the Weld Boat House. I felt overwhelmed trying out a sport that I never had any contact with. I was totally enchanted by the glamorous scenery along Charles river. Rowing was not as dangerous as I thought. You don’t have to worry about whether or not you have any rowing or sailing experiences. The only basic skill you must have beforehand is to know how to swim. Besides attending activities around the campus, Boston is worth taking a look at. You can go on a whale- watching tour and scan the horizon for humpback whales. Or you might take the Freedom Trail and understand how Boston influenced America’s history. If you are interested in art, you can go to the Museum of Fine Arts and admire Roman sculptures, impressionism paintings, Egyptian mummies and so on. If you are a baseball maniac, don’t miss the Boston’s Red Sox baseball games. Don’t hesitate, for you will lose the chance to see different aspects of Boston. Wasn’t all this like a fantasy? Do you want this fantasy to come true? Go ahead and take a look at Harvard’s website at http://www.harvard.edu or the Harvard Summer School at http://summer.dce.harvard.edu and request for an application. If you prefer to contact them directly, call Harvard Summer School at 51 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-3722; (617) 495-4024. by Maggie Chan
Blazing sunlight, sweltering sea breezes, over-flowing tourists and booming traffic – yes, this is definitely la Plaza de Catalunya (the square of Catalonia), the most lively and crowded square in the city of Barcelona, a multidimensional city famous for its unique modern architecture, Romanesque and Gothic monuments dating back to the first century, remarkable collections of Picasso and Miro, and flourishing contemporary music, dance, theater and literature. Barcelona is the city that fills you with everlasting vitality and inspiration. It is indeed the Xanadu for tourists. But what makes the city the first and best choice for tourists remains a mystery. During the daytime, Barcelona is the sacred land for lovers of modern architecture and antique fanatics, even archaeologists. Visitors are welcomed at the renowned Museu Picasso and Fundacion Miro (the Miro Foundation). The magnificent works of Antonio Gaudi – Sagrada Famila, La Pedrera, Park Guell – are open eight hours a day; and so is the exquisite Palau de la Musica Catalana (the Palace of Music) by Domenechi Montaner, one of the most famous architects in the world. History fans get the chance to drop by the Museu d’ Historia de la Ciutat (Museum of the History of the City), the Cathedral, and explore the ancient relics of Roman times by strolling through the adjoining Barrio Gotico (the Gothic Quarter). La Ramblas, which is the most picturesque boulevard in the city, is also one of the main tourist attractions. Embellished by exotic kiosks and miniature greenhouses located on each side of the avenue, La Ramblas stretches for more than 2km from la Plaza de Catalunya to the port area, where a statue of Christopher Columbus marks its end. For first-time visitors, La Ramblas also provides all kinds of souvenir shops, boutiques and shopping areas, including the most visited market of Barcelona, Mercado de La Boqueria, and the celebrity-inhabited La Plaza Real (Royal Square). Nevertheless, besides art-lovers and shoppers, what is it that attracts huge throngs of tourists to this hot, humid Mediterranean city? Is it post-Olympic fever? Or the tropical climate? The relaxed lifestyle? The answer reveals as night gradually falls. Disguised by the shadow of night, the city turns into a paradise for party-goers. “It’s just that the people in this city like to go out at night,” says Frances, a college student who has lived in Barcelona for almost three years. The colorful nightlife is simply irresistible. Due to the lifestyle of the Spaniards, office hours normally start at 10 a.m., followed by a long “siesta” between 2 and 5 p.m. The city then wakes up again at about 6 p.m., when cafes and restaurants reopen for people after work. As night falls crowds starts to swarm into the streets. The regular time for dinner starts around 9 p.m., when tourists begin to stroll La Ramblas, which turns into a tremendous outdoor caf? at night. Hundreds of people sit next to each other along the street, chatting freely while enjoying music played on local instruments, street-corner skits and folk dancing mixed with champagne, wine, and exquisite Spanish cuisine. The highlight of the evening, however, is just about to begin on the other side of the city: at the other end of the luminous La Ramblas, rhythmic beats stir up the air from across the wharf. Maremagnum, a multi-functional shopping mall, that turns into a gigantic discotheque at night, and hundreds of people are indulging in its exhilaration as the beat goes on. Roaring rhythms, shrill tunes, flashing lights, noisy crowds: the party has just begun. “I’m here just to have fun,” says a 22-year-old Canadian girl sitting at the bar, who is currently between jobs. “I was told that Barcelona is the place where I can party as much as I want, and I’m pretty sure I’ve come to the right place.” Souls are temporarily lost in this mysterious universe and aren’t found until 5 in the morning, as the port area reopens. Then, the city returns to stillness and the streetlamps silently die out. The city wakes again at 10 a.m. – noon on Sundays – and everything begins again. This is Barcelona, the city that spans nearly twenty centuries, and it reamins a paradise for tourists that never loses her charm. |
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May 2024
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