by Miranda Lo
I was flabbergasted the first time I knew I was going to talk to a two-and-a-half-year-old on the phone. What am I going to say? I wondered. Plucking up my courage, I dialed the number given. “Hello! This is Auntie Miranda,” was how I started, “What’s your name?” I raised my tone a bit higher to make sure I sounded as friendly and merry as if I were part of Mickey and Minnie’s gang. Then, some babbling came through from the other end of the phone, so I continued, “How are you?” “I am two years old.” Uh-oh… Kids are lovely, and their mistakes are even lovelier. I work as a telephone English teacher. I sing, teach lessons and have free conversations with them. Some kids are shy; some are bold. However, they have one thing in common: their parents want them to pick up English as early as possible. That’s why our members mostly range from mere months to five years old. Parents participate in this learning game. You can hear lots of hints in the background, blended with their kids’ uncertain mimicking. At times, answers are simply echoed by those drooling cradle dwellers who haven’t even collected enough teeth to articulate the entire twenty-six letters of the alphabet. You would be surprised to find how zealous parents can be. Some get fidgety if their kids are not responding and are delirious with joy when “Tommy” or “Pom Pom” reacts by turning left, right, and jingling the bell when singing along. Savvy parents always drain the service and make very good use of it. They would make a long introduction in the beginning or grab the phone asking how to say so-and-so in English at the end because they want to practice English as well. I remember once we had a “special” member who pretended to be 20 years younger in order to enroll in the service. I guess she was just too crazy about our materials. When telephone calls come flooding in, chances are we’ve talked to more than five Kevins within three hours. Most kids have an English name aside from their Chinese ones. There are always popular names, such as Elvis, Coco, Pluto, Minnie, etc. And there’re always the unforgettable ones, such as “First,” “Daily,” and I should never forget to mention “Lord.” I have yet to be figure out whether they named him Lord for religious reasons, or if they longed for their son to be an aristocrat, or if that’s just their way to mock Christianity. But I do know it’s hilariously funny to hear myself saying, “How are you, Lord?” “Now Lord, bend down and touch your toes,” “You did a great job. Thanks for calling, Lord!” Conclusion? Parents really have unfathomable ingenuity when it comes to naming. And their arbitrary nonconformity is simply off the wall. You might want to ask whether these kids truly benefit from telephone English. I’ve got no definite answer. Take two 3-year-olds. One is fluent and confident in English, the other has no idea what I’m talking about. Each kid has his own unique learning process – slow or fast – and parents can be instructive or misleading, slothful or way too hasty. I’ve dealt with a lot of attitudes from kids too. I hate to say it, but some bratty kiddos would push me around: “Sing louder! No, you are too loud! …I don’t want to sing it anymore!!” More than that, some “careless” kids would hang up on me or flood my eardrums by pressing random buttons on the phone. Last month, a senseless kid even requested songs by F4. Oof, what a disaster! #Volume 7 Issue 2
0 Comments
by Yvonne Lee
Cursive is known as the foremost script in Chinese calligraphy; the Cloud Gate Dance Theater is known as the best dance troupe in Taiwan. Can the two be related? The answer is yes. On December 1, these two art forms were successfully combined and, again, the Cloud Gate Dance Theater succeeded in presenting to the world the wonders that modern dance can achieve. “Cursive” is a dance that started off from the calligraphic script bearing the same name but is in no way restricted to it. The choreographer/art director Lin Hwai-min said, “We ‘stole’ the essence of calligraphy to create this dance. What we would like to express is the flow of spirit and power within each and every move so that a brand new type of dance is created.” Indeed, in some ways Chinese calligraphy is a kind of dance, and Lin has enabled these ink lines to come alive on stage. The dancers of the Cloud Gate Dance Theater were trained as usual to become familiar with the theme of this dance. They had to read a series of books about calligraphic theory, history, as well as calligraphic masterpieces. Besides reading materials, the dancers were also required to practice calligraphy in order to feel the movement of the art. As a matter of fact, you can see one of their joint practice calligraphy works exhibited in the main hall of the National Theater during their nine-day performance in Taipei. Having been trained in Taijiquan and Quikong, during practice these dancers were put under the spotlight and were asked to “feel the movement” of each stroke they saw and then express it with body language. Lin said the calligraphy practice was indispensable. This practice enabled the dancers to really perceive what the renowned Chinese calligraphers felt when they composed famous calligraphy masterpieces. The Cloud Gate Dance Theater has always been popular not only because of their outstanding artistic performance but also because of their unique stage design. This time the dance theater invited a group of outstanding stage and set designers to create a stage that had never been seen before. Using amplified calligraphy models as background and special lighting, the stage and setting were fully integrated with the dancers’ moves and steps. In the seventy-minute performance, the stage was loaded with surprises. During the opening, the backdrop was torn off like a piece of paper and the dancers suddenly emerged from the seven holes on the stage in special spotlight beams. Dancers, all dressed in black, turned and twirled like calligraphic strokes spread on the white paper. One of the solo dances embodied the basic eight rules of the character Yong (永字八法) with the dancer demonstrating every single stroke with her body movement. In some scenes, huge cursive characters were projected on the stage or even on the dancers in beige tights. The black-and-gray stage was indeed an inscription book and the dancers were the characters on it. Amid the white scenes with black characters and red stamps, dancers moved smoothly along with the cello music or twisted fiercely with the Chinese percussion tune. It was as if the flat Chinese calligraphic characters had all jumped out of the paper and merged with the dancers in front of the audience. “Cursive” is undoubtedly an important representative piece of the Cloud Gate Dance Theater. Not only is the theme of the dance innovative, the production cost is among the highest ever mounted by the troupe. Yet the expectations it drew all over the world have won it various sponsorships and the dance will soon be performed in the US as well as other European art festivals in 2003. On December 1st , 2001, we in Taiwan were the very first who were privileged to appreciate the harmony of dance and the Chinese written art. #Volume 7 Issue 2 by Sean Huang
Recently, wine is getting popular in Taiwan, either on business occasions or in restaurants. Most people know something about wine, but not everyone knows how to taste and enjoy wine properly. I used to know little about wine, but after participating in an introductory wine class, I learned the basics of correct wine tasting and serving. Most people believe that one should drink white wine when eating fish and seafood, and red wine while eating meat. Generally speaking, the acid in white wine could reduce the smell of seafood, and the tannins in red wine could reduce grease. However, that’s not always true. The flavor of the wine depends less on color than its ingredients and where it was produced, so the principle is that light flavored wine should accompany light food, and mellow wine with stronger tasting food. In order to experience the taste change, experts advise people to drink light white wine first, then mild red wine, and then strong red wine. But in the end what you drink depends on personal preference. If you are hosting a wine-tasting party, there are three basic steps to be a good host: checking, tasting and serving. A host has to check two things, temperature and the identity of the wine. Temperature affects the flavor of wine. The best temperature to drink white wine is between 10-12℃, and it is better to chill wine in advance – but never put ice in it, or the quality of the wine will change. As to red wine, keeping the temperature a little lower than room temperature could help release the aroma in the drinker’s mouth. Some restaurants are not above exchanging an order for a cheaper wine, so you should check the identity of the wine to make sure it’s exactly what you ordered: from its date, brand, and the name of the winery. The second procedure is to taste wine, according to three aspects: by sight, smell and taste. The appearance of wine directly corresponds to its quality. Limpid and bright are the two fundamental factors. The color of white wine darkens from straw to brown as it ages; in contrast, a red wine would become lighter. As for smelling, first you take an initial distinguishing whiff, then you swirl the wine in the glass to enjoy the full benefit of the bouquet. While the most important part of a wine’s taste is its balance between sweetness and sourness, tasting wine also has do with feeling its body and texture in your mouth. After making sure that the wine you order is in good condition, you have to indicate to the waiter which of your guests want wine. Ladies are served first, and the host last. Your guest should show the pourer equal courtesy and remember to look at the wine waiter when he or she is serving. Knowing how to taste wine the right way can not only help you in social occasions, but can also inspire you to enjoy wine more. Not everyone needs to have professional wine knowledge, but with some common sense, something good may happen next time you host a wine party. (Special thanks to Creation Wine & Spirit, Inc., for providing information for this story) #Volume 7 Issue 2 by Joyce Huang
Dingy back-alley shops with ginseng propped against the windows, dusty tomes of lore written in the language of scholars and ghosts, jars of curious ingredients lying around on the shelves, complete with a replica of the human body studded over with needles – Western preconceptions of Eastern Medicine usually take the form of a slightly Orientalized, more Zen form of witchcraft. In this age where science is hailed as king, ancient forms of healing are losing their authority to the meticulous precision of modern medicine. In Taiwan, however, Eastern medicine is still a popular art, surviving through the oft-mentioned 5000 years of Chinese culture and history, and with reason. Contrary to popular misconception, Eastern medicine is not a field easily entered; it isn’t a trade where any quack can just set up shop and start doling out prescriptions. There are three roads in Taiwan to a legal practicing license for Eastern medicine: the first requires completion of an eight-year university course at one of the two universities in Taiwan that actually possess an Eastern medicine department; the second, a bachelor’s degree in any department, plus five years’ training in an Eastern medicine course. These university graduates must then pass an exam on the subject. It is also possible to become a licensed Eastern medicine doctor without going through university, but that road is long, winding, and ultimately the most difficult of the three. One must first pass an exam of seven subjects (including Chinese, Biology and Herbalism), another exam of nine subjects (of which only fifteen out of 2855 people passed this year), intern for eighteen months, and practice in a hospital for two years. There are those who have been walking this road for decades now, with no end in sight. What this amounts to is that if you choose to visit an Eastern clinic that has been legally licensed, the staff there should be no more or less trustworthy than those found in the typical Western hospital. Another question to be addressed is why any rational person would agree to have their feet painfully massaged or needles stuck in strategic places over their body when they could just as well swallow a few pills with a glass of water three times a day. The answer? Western Medicine is taken in small doses only because it is finely distilled; an accidental overdose could very well be lethal. It is aimed specifically at a particular symptom, and while most of the time it’s probably quite successful in curing that problem, side effects may start cropping up that aren’t much better than the original illness – chemotherapy is only one of the most extreme cases. Eastern medicine, on the other hand, goes to work from the basics. Its main goal is to promote overall health, not just treat the symptom at hand; its ingredients are natural, plant-derived, and usually much less harmful to the human body. The down side is that it works very slowly, requiring patience and perseverance and, above all, time – of which the modern businessperson is usually in pretty short supply. There are ways to speed up the process, among them acupuncture, but in the end, like cold medicine, they touch only the surface and not the foundation of the problem. If one compares Western medicine to the atomic blasts that ended countless lives instantaneously with their explosions during World War II, Eastern medicine is the radiation sickness that swept away countless more afterwards - except, of course, they heal instead of kill. One might argue that, while Eastern medicine is based on an immense reservoir of experimentation results, the reliability of those experiments is far inferior to the strictly controlled method that characterizes their Western counterpart. Though an Eastern medicine practitioner might know that powdered rhinoceros horn cures heat-related illnesses, he probably has no idea of which components are responsible, or how it could be applied to maximum effect. This situation is now undergoing a change; there is an active effort to combine modern technology and technique with the vast experience amassed within Eastern medical doctrine. Eastern medical treatment these days can be quite a nouveau affair – for NT$1300, you can receive a medical check-up in the Chinese Medical College’s Eastern medicine department; in place of listening to your heartbeat or sticking something down your throat, they take a snapshot of your tongue with a specialized instrument and, from there, diagnose your health condition. Finally, a potential patient might be scared off by the somewhat notorious ingredients employed by Eastern medicine. Rhinoceros horn, children’s urine and cat’s meat are just a few of the usual suspects; unfortunately, there’s not much to be done about that. The Eastern medicine doctors over the ages have used what works, and what works doesn’t always adhere to the guidelines dictated by our finer sensibilities. In the end, it all boils down to a matter of individual taste - quick and strong or slow and steady? Tablets or smelly soup? Aspirin or ginseng? East or West? Your choice. by Abel Lei
Everybody knows that exercise is beneficial to us, but there are still a lot of people who do not take exercise regularly. Take me for example, I seldom took exercise because I always behaved like a stupid robot in sports. However, everything changed when I discovered aerobics. Under my coach’s guidance, I can enjoy sweating and be proud of my precise movements. I don’t seem to have inherited a sports gene from my parents, but I can still do aerobics with little difficulty. Everyone can do well in aerobics, as long as his or her physical condition is good. There are many kinds of aerobic exercise. Generally, we can divide it into three types: energetic aerobic exercise, Hit-Dance exercise, and special aerobic exercise. Perhaps most of us are much familiar with “Hi-Low” aerobics, which is similar to the “one more, two more” we all see on TV but accompanied by pop music; and “Step aerobics,” which has become very popular recently. Hit-Dance aerobics moves with different kinds of music, such as Hip-Hop, Jazz, Latin, and Funk. As for special aerobics, this is the most unique and attractive but also the most complicated form. It includes bodycombat, bodypump, spinning, total-body conditioning, Qi-Gong, RCT core training, and Chi-ball. After trying them by myself, I would like to introduce three special exercises I am especially fond of: bodycombat, bodypump, and spinning. Bodycombat, my favorite, is an exercise that combines the moves of many martial arts, such as Karate, Tai Chi, kick-boxing, and boxing. With motivating music, precision movements, and fantastic instructors, bodycombat can not only burn excess fat but also increase muscle intensity. Besides these health benefits, every time I experience some kind of conflict in my life, I can simply imagine kicking the person as hard as I can! If you want to strengthen and tone your muscles but don’t go for workout machines, bodypump would be an excellent choice. This kind of exercise uses barbells with different weights to work every muscle group in your body. Accompanied by familiar pop music, you’ll find it works immediately. Bodypump is also safer for beginners who want to stay in shape. Can you imagine that a stationary bicycle would be used in aerobic exercise? It’s called spinning. According to your coach’s suggestion or your own goals, you can choose from morning wake-up, cross training, stamina training, mixture training, and “pushing the limits.” Not only can you enhance your cardiac, muscular, and kinetic energy, and lower your cholesterol level, but you can also improve your mental health as well. Even though spinning may be the most exhausting for beginners, it is best for reducing physical and mental pressure. Would you like to try aerobic exercise? The cheapest and most convenient way is to join a Latin, Hi-Low, Step, or Bodycombat course in a physical education class here at Taida. Otherwise, you could join a gym like California, Alexander, or Gold’s Gym, where you can choose from many other courses as well. What are you waiting for? Feel the excitement and get fit! #Volume 7 Issue 2 by Kim Douglas
Our world is turmoil. Terrorists are committing horrendous strikes in the United States and people everywhere seem to be petrified by the possible dangers posed by mass terrorism. Behind all this destruction lies perhaps the most preeminent organizer and financier of international terrorism in the world today. Over the past few years (and especially the past few months) Osama bin Laden has developed into a household name. This unique revolutionary, driven primarily by his mission and desires, has been able to provide dynamic leadership for the al-Qaida, which is perhaps the biggest terror-wreaking mechanism known to man today. Bin Laden has been the only terrorist to ever openly declare a “jihad” (Holy War) on the United States. Bin Laden has stated that “all Americans are targets,” leaving us to ponder how could an individual have such blatant disregard for the lives of innocent civilians, not to mention how he came to be so influential. What events could have led to the development of such a destructive human being and why exactly are bin Laden and his allies causing this destruction? Is bin Laden simply a mentally-troubled Saudi billionaire who abandoned his life of luxury in order to live in Afghanistan and plan terror strikes against the U.S, or is there more to this man meets the eye? Osama bin Laden was born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1957. His father Muhammad bin Laden was at the time a small time builder and father to about 50 children with several different women. Bin Laden received most of his schooling in Medina and later Jedda. The oil boom of the 70’s led to rapid economic development in the Middle East, and this period enabled the bin Laden family business to develop into one of the largest construction companies in the entire area. This period was instrumental in solidifying bin Laden’s relationship with the Arab elite. Osama later moved on to Abdul Aziz University where he majored in management and economics. During his school years Osama was very promiscuous and would frequently visit bars and nightclubs. He was a heavy drinker and a womanizer for which he often found himself in the middle of huge scuffles. Bin Laden’s transformation as an involved member of Islam was propelled when the family company was given a very important project to refurbish two holy mosques. He started reading Islamic literature and soon began his interaction with local Muslims. Bin Laden’s development as an organizer and military leader began shortly after the Soviet Union invaded and later conquered Afghanistan, a move that shocked the Muslim world to the core. Bin Laden was determined to free his Muslim brothers from Soviet wrath. At the time he was only in his 20’s but was successful in building Islamic solidarity, and training a formidable army which would later defeat the Russians and force their withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was by now a hero but was far from content. In his mind this was just a stepping stone in achieving his overall goal. Bin Laden was convinced that only an Islamic government could shield Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Muslim world from the evils of encroaching westernization. To understand Islamic leaders like Osama bin Laden and his passionate hatred towards the U.S., one needs to understand his motivation and religion. Islam is a very conservative religion. Most Islamists believe that their religion and way of life is seriously threatened by westernization. They believe that western civilization is driven by mere greed and lust for material possessions. After World War I, western powers penetrated the Muslim world and carved it up into stake-like entities. During this period the people’s way of life changed dramatically. In the end these nations suffered widespread chaos and economic instability. Bin Laden hates the United States with a passion and blames them for the crisis and trouble afflicting the Muslim world. He is convinced that the U.S. presence in the Middle East, particularly in his home country Saudi Arabia, prevents the establishment of Islamic governments which he believes are vital for restoring prosperity and pride to the Muslim world. Bin Laden’s mission from day one has been to force the U.S to withdraw from the Middle East and to cease from interfering with their internal affairs. Since the U.S. has refused he has made it his mission to terrorize the U.S until they meet his demands. He has therefore waged a jihad on the United States. One must understand that a jihad can range from full-scale war utilizing huge forces to terrorism. The Islamist terrorists are clearly aware of America’s military superiority and since a frontal assault would be unsuccessful, they have sought alternative methods of waging a jihad from a position of apparent inferiority. This method involves terrorizing the U.S into withdrawing from the Muslim world. Therefore from the territories of Islam arose a group of people theologically motivated and well equipped with means and methods, who have set out to attack the U.S., dying for the cause of an Islamist jihad and harassing America incessantly until their abode is one of everlasting torment. It is a fact that a jihad never ends and lasts until judgment day. So does that spell doom for the U.S.? Many Islamists believe that the world is hostile to them only because of their commitment to Islam. They also believe that as long as Islam exists, then U.S. hostility exists, and as long as U.S hostility exists the struggle exists. Behind the struggle lies Osama bin Laden and although the U.S continues to hunt him down he’s still alive and still bears an unconceivable hatred for the United States. #Volume 7 Issue 2 by Christine Chen
“Dear Santa, I have been very good this yer! and Plys may I have Jasmin a stuff anml and sweet valley kids books! Love, Chelsea,” wrote seven-year-old Chelsea, with her utmost sincerity and endeavoring to keep each letter inside the margin. Half-erased pencil marks were still evident, for her grip wasn’t strong enough for such a subtle task. But she was determined to impress Santa. She had waited another full year for this, and a year seems like forever when you’re seven. Using her crayons, she drew a fully decorated Christmas tree and the jolliest red-nose reindeer beside it. Then, with her mother’s help, the letter was mailed to the North Pole carrying Chelsea’s steadfast faith, along with millions of other kids’ letters to Santa. And evidence corroborates the children’s belief. Their requests are actually granted in real life. Picture yourself inside a post office. You see elves categorizing mounds of letters, making a list and checking it twice. The ultimate aim of these Santa’s little helpers is to make sure that no letter is left unanswered by December 24th. Now you might look out the window fully expecting a snowy panorama with a more-than-conspicuous sign that cries NORTH POLE at the top of its lungs. Instead what do you see? It’s downtown Manhattan with its prosperous commerce and jammed traffic. One thing does fit your anticipation, though: the usual fast-paced atmosphere has succumbed to the holiday spirit. Feeling a bit disoriented? Don’t be. These elves are really volunteer employees from the United States Postal Service. They are participating in a charity campaign called “Operation Santa Claus.” It all began some 70 years ago, during the hardship of the Great Depression. A few clerks in Manhattan’s general post office rescued some “Dear Santa” letters doomed for the dead letter office in Minneapolis. The heartbreaking wishes for food and clothing evoked their compassion. Efforts were pooled to fulfill these requests. Thereupon, the benevolence seemed to sprawl all over the metropolis. People started to show up voluntarily expressing their desire to help out, physically or financially. Thus the gears of “Operation Santa Claus” started to turn, and they never stopped. Nowadays, volunteer charity workers congregate at the James A. Farley Building on 8th Avenue, where all mail to the North Pole is sent. After postal workers have opened and sorted them, they’re open for the public to read and answer. Friends, colleagues and families come here to receive, as much as to give, for everyone here seems to be bathed in the warm holiday spirit. Also, drives for cash donations are held. The money is used on parties hosted at low-income district schools and gifts for the children there. Limited by resources, only a fraction of letters from the New York metropolitan area could be answered by the original “Operation Santa Claus.” But don’t be disheartened; philanthropy is not New Yorkers’ privilege. Similar operations are now held annually across borders by various facilities to help those in need. Santa Claus literally does exist. And there’s not just one, but dozens. As the holidays approach, look around. Do you see any elves or Santa? If not, why not become one yourself? #Volume 7 Issue 2 |
Authors
The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
|