centered on taipei october 2012

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e s C e n t e r

October 2012, Volume 13, Issue 2

The PorcuPine Dilemma: inTimacy anD DisTance

hiking uP sacreD moTher Peak

surviving confinemenT: reflecTions on Zuo yueZi

visiTing rixing TyPe founDry

a Big Thank you To our aucTion Donors

Centeredon T A I P E I

cover storyTim BuDDen

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3www.communitycenter.org.tw OCTOBER 2012

5 EdiTOR's LETTER

6 RiChaRd RECOmmEnds naTiOnaL ThEaTER and COnCERT haLL: OCTOBER 2012

7 CuLTuRaL CORnER What’s for lunch? Biandang!

8 CEnTER GaLLERY ThE CEnTER’s FavORiTE Finds

9 OFF ThE BEaTEn TRaCk sacred Mother Peak

10 aRTs laughter: the Best Medicine

12 OuTLOOk intiMacy and distance

14 COvER sTORY a cut ahead: tiM Budden

16 PhOTOGRaPhY lines

17 COFFEE CORnER cocoro cafe CEnTER EvEnTs

18 COmmuniTY tas orPhanage cluB

19 aCTiviTiEs aT ThE CEnTER EvEnTs aBOuT TOwn

20 aROund TaiPEi rixing tyPe foundry

22 COmmuniTY a tale aBout a shoW

23 CsC auCTiOn dOnORs

24 EnviROnmEnT food safety in taiWan

26 CROss CuLTuRaL PERsPECTivEs surviving confineMent

27 BOOk REviEw MockingBird By kathryn erskine

28 GEnERaTiOn Y seeking siMPlicity TasTEs OF TaiPEi

29 ChinEsE kiTChEn essential cuPBoard contents ii

29 CsC BusinEss CLassiFiEds

insidE BaCk COvER POsTCaRd PERFECT

contents October 2012 volume 13 issue 2

COvER imaGE: Floating World is a paper cut based on the delicate patterns of veins in decaying leaves. Says artist, Tim Budden, “I attempted to replicate their complexity by pouring paint onto paper, letting it dry, then cutting out the shapes and patterns I saw.” See page 14 for more about Tim’s spectacular artwork.

Centered on Taipei is a publication of the Community Services Center, 25, Lane 290, ZhongShan N. Rd., Sec. 6, Tianmu, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 02-2836-8134, fax: 02-2835-2530, e-mail: [email protected]

Correspondence may be sent to the editor at [email protected]. Freelance writers, photographers and illustrators are welcome to contact the editor to discuss editorial and graphic assignments. Your talent will find a home with us!

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner.

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4 OCTOBER 2012 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Publisher:managing Editor:

Editor:Co-editor:

advertising manager:Tel:

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writing and Photography Contributors:

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Center Editorial Panel:

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Oct_p3-end.indd 4 2012/9/24 9:05:24 AM


As I write this, we are less than a week away from the Charity Auction Dinner. As you read this, the night will have come and gone. I hope all of you who

attended had a wonderful time and I’d like to thank each and every one of you who worked so hard to make it all happen. Without you, The Center couldn’t keep doing what it does.

This month we have a wealth of fabulous articles for you. Our cover story is a piece about British-born artist and long-time Taipei resident, Tim Budden written by Catherine Shu. Tim uses paper-cutting as a medium through which to discover and express himself and we’re very excited that he will be teaching a class about this at The Center in early November. Make sure you check the details and enrol early to ensure your place! If you’re looking for somewhere to go to take advantage of the lovely cooler weather we’ve been experiencing lately, take a look at Craig Ferguson’s piece about Rixing Type Foundry - a true slice of Taipei’s printing history. Want something a bit more outdoorsy? Richard Saunders is leading a hike up Sacred Mother Peak this month. He introduces us to the intriguing story behind the peak’s name in Off the Beaten Track.

We a l s o h a v e a v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g p i e c e a b o u t “conf inement” (zu o yu ez i) - a per iod of res t and recuperation for women who have just given birth. Serina Huang, our resident Taiwanxifu, explains more about this mysterious and oft-misunderstood practice. For those of you who have slightly older kids and are looking for something equally as curative, Aly Cooper has worked her magic yet again and discovered a cafe that not only makes great coffee but has a Lego table to keep the shorter members of your entourage amused whilst you indulge.

No matter what it is you’re looking for, don’t forget that Centered on Taipei is your magazine, written by your community for your community. If you would like to contribute to the magazine, whether with your writing or photography, please write to me with your ideas at [email protected]. Right now we would really love to see more photography – so dust off your cameras and show us your Taipei or let us know if you are able to help out our writers by providing photography for their articles. Also, if you would like to write but you’re not really sure about which topics to cover, let me know. There are always stories waiting for someone to write them! As always we welcome your news and views.

Kath

COmmuniTy SERviCES CEnTER

Publisher:managing Editor:

Editor:Co-editor:

Advertising manager:Tel:

Fax: email:

Writing and Photography Contributors:

Community Services

Center Editorial Panel:

Printed by:

Community Services Center, TaipeiMichael BoydenKath LiuRichard SaundersPaula [email protected]

Leat AhronyIvy ChenChristine Chien-RixonAly CooperNeev ExleyCraig FergusonBrook HallMonica HessBrandon HuangSerina HuangTing Ting HuangShereen Lee

Siew Kang, Fred Voigtmann

Farn Mei Printing Co., Ltd.1F, No. 102, Hou Kang Street, Shilin District, TaipeiTel: 02-2882-6748 Fax: 02-2882-6749E-mail: [email protected]

Michael Boyden

Grace Ting

Suzan Babcock, Fawn Chang, Katherine Chang, Jung Chin, Wendy Evans, Cerita Hsu, Perry Malcolm, Eva Salazar-Liu, Ming-I Sun, Cynthia Teeters

Amy LiuMonica ChengKari SchiroRosemary SusaBianca RussellGloria Gwo

Nancy Achorn, Alison Bai, Shana Garcia, Lily Lau, John McQuade, Bunny Pacheco, Gloria Peng, Ruth Reynolds, Jenni Rosen, Julia Ruggiere, Kari Schiro, Desta Selassie, Michelle Smith, Anita Town, Priyanka Waidande, Lillian Yiin 3M TaiwanBai Win AntiquesBP Taiwan Ltd.BreitlingChina American PetrochemicalConcordia ConsultingCostco Wholesale TaiwanCrown Worldwide Movers Ltd.Four Star Int’lGrand Hyatt Hotel, TaipeiHSBCICRTMetacity Development CorpProQCSan Fu Gas Co. Ltd.Smerwick LtdSongfu LiStandard Chartered Bank

interim Director:

Office manager:

Counselors:

newcomer Orientation Consultant: Accountant:

Communications: Programs Coordinator:

Events Coordinator:Chinese Teacher:

volunteers:

Premier Sponsors:

The Community Services Center (CSC) is a non-profit foundation. CSC provides outreach and early intervention through counseling, cross-cultural education and life skills programs to meet the needs of the international community in Taipei. CSC offers the opportunity to learn, volunteer, teach and meet others. Check out our website www.communitycenter.org.tw and drop by The Center to chat with us about our programs. you can also email us at [email protected].

LETTER FROm ThE EDiTOR

Amy LiuKristen LowmanJohn McQuadeJenni RosenRichard SaundersKari SchiroCatherine ShuMaria TanBritta VastersTina Yuan

www.communitycenter.org.tw

Centered on Taipei is printed on 50% post consumer waste content stock. We have also replaced the glossy laminated cover with a softer aqueous based resin coating which makes it easier to recycle. By committing to post consumer paper stock we support the market for recycled fibers and reduce environmental impact.Recycling paper uses 60% less energy than manufacturing paper from virgin fiber. "Every ton of recycled paper saves enough electricity to power a 3 bedroom house for an entire year." (http://www.greenseal.org/index.cfm)

Richard SaundersCo-editor

Kath LiuEditor

Paula LeeAdvertising Manager

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OCTOBER 2012 www.communitycenter.org.tw6

TICKETING OFFICES: • NTCH: TO (02) 3393 9888 • ERA: (02) 2709 3788

For full details, please log on to the Culture Express website at http://express.culture.gov.tw or take a copy of the monthly program from Cks Cultural Center, available from mRT stations, bookshops and ticketing offices.

richard saunders

This month at the CKS National Cultural Center there’s an emphasis is on the epic. Unfortunately there’s no opera this month, but we have something almost as grand: William Walton’s stunning Belshazzar’s

Feast (1931), a work that made the composer (already highly regarded after the appearance of his lyrical Viola Concerto two years before) truly one of the British ‘greats’. The work, which depicts the fall of Babylon, sets several passages from the Bible, and although it plays for only forty minutes or so, the forces required for a performance are vast, as befits the highly dramatic subject. The piece calls for no less than three choirs (including a children’s chorus) and a very large orchestra (including piano, organ and 2 harps!), amplified at key points by not one but two brass bands, and a crucial baritone solo who features in one of the work’s most unforgettable moments. Despite the huge forces required, it’s become one of the most often performed and best-loved pieces of English music around the world. It’s an extraordinary sonic spectacular, and the performance on October 13th looks set to be a thrilling night. In an interestingly odd bit of programming, Belshazzar is coupled with the Te Deum (c. 1690) by the far earlier (and far more restrained) French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier. The prelude to the work is one of those pieces of classical music that most of us know, but have no idea what it’s called, appearing (among other places) at countless wedding ceremonies and as the theme music to the Eurovision Song Contest.

Keeping it epic, and with a deeply religious undertone as well, Bruckner’s sublime Eighth Symphony (1887) is one of the crowning pinnacles of Romantic orchestral music. A shattering expression of the Austrian composer’s Catholic faith, complete with terrifying doubts, a really good performance of this towering masterpiece is both deeply unsettling and immensely moving. The best place to start with this vast work is probably with one of its best recordings (Karajan’s two DG performances are personal faves). Like many profound works of music it takes a rare alignment of the planets, plus a crack conductor and orchestra, to do the work full justice. Here’s hoping the performance on October 16th (incidentally coupled with another odd bedfellow – Tchaikovsky’s genial Rococo Variations) will unleash some of its enormous power.

Far less epic, but just as wonderful in its own way, is the program of four French orchestral classics being performed on October 27th. Debussy’s ravishing Nocturnes and Albert Roussel’s magnificent ballet Bacchus and Ariadne provide plenty of Romantic ardor. The Roussel is relatively little-known in Taiwan, but it’s marvelous stuff, which will have the toes-a-tappin (well, mine anyway). More Roussel, please! Continuing in the spirit of the dance, we have the orchestral version of Ravel’s delectable Tombeau de Couperin suite (originally for piano), a set of light, Baroque-style dances, each dedicated to a friend who was killed in the First World War. That leaves the last work: Saint-Saëns and his… er, dramatic Cello Concerto, which fits a great deal of melody and drama into its short, 20 minute duration.

It’s another good month for lovers of classical music!

national theater & concert hallOCTOBER 2012

NatioNal theaterKirov BalletSwan Lake (complete ballet) October 31

NatioNal CoNCert hallNoam Sheriff & Michel BeroffBerlioz Symphonie Fantastique and Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G October 3 rr

el Bacha 2012 Piano recitalPiano music by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and RavelOctober 4

Fugitive JourneyRimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Prokofiev’s 1st Violin ConcertoOctober 5 rr

richard GallianoThe French accordion player plays Chinese and Western worksOctober 8

Debussy touchPiano music by Debussy and Ravel October 9

levin Piano recitalWorks by Liszt, Mussorgsky and GriegOctober 10

Belshazzar’s FeastWalton’s spectacular oratorioOctober 13 rr

Divine revelationBruckner’s Eighth Symphony October 16 rr

oxana Yablonskaya & alexis SorianoBeethoven and Chopin piano concertosOctober 17 rr

the english ConcertThe Baroque orchestra plays Bach and VivaldiOctober 18 rr

Fire on iceOrchestral works by Prokofiev, Mussorgsky, Shostakovich and RachmaninovOctober 19 rr

Vienna Boys’ ChoirOctober 23 – 24

Guangzhou Symphony orchestraRachmaninov’s hyper-passionate Second SymphonyOctober 26 rr

an evening with BacchusOrchestral works by Ravel, Debussy, Roussel and Saint Saëns October 27 rr

Staatskapelle DresdenOrchestral works by Wagner and BrahmsOctober 28 rr

Devil’s trill Featuring radulovicClassical crossover: works for violin and ensembleOctober 30

RICHARDReCommenDs

rr: richard recommends

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Corner Cornerultural CornerCornerultural ultural ultural ultural Amy's 台

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Once I dozed off on the t ra in heading back to Taipei from Taroko Gorge in Hualien. I was woken

up by the familiar fragrance of the delicious Taiwan Railway lunchbox, known as biandang (便當). I turned to see a mother and her son sitting across the aisle from me holding their bamboo chopsticks, scooping rice and

pork chop from a rectangular paper box against the backdrop of the beautiful blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. This lunchtime scene was, for me, the essence of Taiwan – so local and so beautiful; a scene that makes me nostalgic for the flavors of, and good times had, whilst eating these tasty boxed lunches during childhood trips by train. Taiwan Railway boxed lunches are pleasant memories; they were always the highlight of long train journeys. Before the cardboard boxes of today, they used to be served in a round, stainless steel box with the Taiwan Railway logo embossed on the cover and filled with delicious food.

JaPanese origins, taiWanese style

Biandang lunchboxes became an established part of Taiwanese

culture during the Japanese occupation from 1895-1945 where lunchboxes (called O-bento in Japanese) were commonplace. Although the idea may have originated from Japan, the contents of the Taiwanese lunchbox d i f f e r. I n a t r ad i t i ona l Taiwanese lunchbox you will

typically find a pork chop, tofu and boiled egg which have all been stewed in soy sauce. In addition there will be some stir-fried vegetables, and pickled radish on top of a serving of white rice packed into a thin wooden or cardboard box. This boxed lunch may seem simple by today’s standards but they used to be regarded as a luxury by people in the old days, when a slice of pork

was commonly shared between an entire family during a meal. Lunchboxes from Fenchihu (奮起湖), on the route between Chiayi (嘉義) and Alishan (阿里山) have remained particularly popular and have become a tourist attraction in their own right.

Nowadays biandang include a pork chop, fish fillet, or chicken drumstick; often there is also a vegetarian

option. A standard lunchbox will typical ly set you back between NT$70-80 while a top-end lunchbox costing NT$500 can be found at more exclusive establishments! At school, children eat a lunchbox either brought with them to school in the morning or freshly made and personally delivered to the school by one of their parents at lunchtime. They can also buy them from the school canteen. Office workers often buy a lunchbox rather than eating out at a restaurant; laborers squat down at their construction site to eat them and politicians eat them during their meetings. Boxed lunches can be bought from hawkers on the street, from restaurants, or at convenience stores. Alternatively, small buffet- style restaurants (自助餐, zizhucan) offer a selection of dishes from which their customers can create their own biandang.

Biandang culture is a unique aspect of the Taiwanese way of life. Rather than going out to eat during your lunch hour or bringing your own sandwich along, consider j o in ing your Ta iwane s e colleagues for a lunchbox in the common room. This can help build rapport with your Taiwanese peers, plus it’s fun to occasionally do things the ‘local way’!


What’s for lunch? Biandang!

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In the spirit of global cultural exchange, an international organization with a thriving branch here in Taiwan is celebrating its 5th birthday. InterNations is an invitation-only expatriate community present in over 300 cities worldwide. It was designed for "people living and working abroad" to connect with each and with all “global minds.” Each month, local events are held which bring both expats and locals together in a fun and festive environment. The website: http://www.internations.org/ is a wealth of information for anyone contemplating a move anywhere in the world! Here you'll find “Expat Guides”, “Expat Magazine”, and links to information and InterNations events held around the globe. In Taipei, we are fortunate to have our very own chapter: http://www.internations.org/taiwan-expats, led by Francis Morris of El Salvador. I met up with Francis recently at a monthly DinnerNations evening held at Kunming Islamic restaurant. When I arrived I knew only one other person and by the end of the meal, I'd not only made some new friends, we had already planned a get-together for the following weekend! Request your invitation today. Hope to see you at the next event!

The Center's The Center's The Center's Favorite FindsFavorite FindsFavorite Finds

a hui’s oil Paintings In October, The Center wall features beautiful oil paintings from Lin Shu Hui. When appreciating her paintings, you can feel the rhythm of her heart and joy of life from the dancing colors.

cherry hill antiques p r e s e n t s t o t h e Center Gal lery this month a wide range of handmade Chinese ethnic-style jewelry f ea tu r i ng Ch inese knott ing combined

with old and new jade, cloisonne beads, lapis coral and other semi-precious stones. All components come from old Chinese items that are sourced by Li Chiao Upham during her travels in Asia. For more information please visit: www.cherryhill.tw or call (02) 2541-7575.

Patricia kortmann’s Jewelry Patricia is a long-time resident of Taipei and has held numerous jewelry exhibitions here over the past years. Patricia creates her pieces from a wide assortment of gems such as aquamarine, citrine, amethyst, fluorite, rose quartz, crystal quartz and pearls. Her works are all one-of-a-kind creations and blend the rich variety of contemporary-style gemstones with handcrafted ethnic silver and gold beads. Patricia also offers to custom design and create personalized pieces of jewelry.

discover taiwan books for sale at the centerA Foreigner’s Travel Guide to Taiwan’s Indigenous Areas by Cheryl Robbins (NT$350)The Real Taiwan and the Dutch – Traveling Notes from the Netherlands Representative by Menno Goedhart and Cheryl Robbins (NT$450)

A percentage of all proceeds of items sold at the Gallery go to The Center, so please remember that by displaying and shopping here you are helping us to provide much needed services to the

international community.

October 2012 GALLERY


RECOMMENDED BY MONICA HESS

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Richard Saunders is a trained classical musician and writer who has lived in Taipei since 1993. He has written several books (available at The Center and in bookshops around Taipei), including Yangmingshan: the Guide (a complete guide to the National Park on Taipei’s doorstep) and Taipei Escapes I and 2, which together detail sixty day trips and hikes within easy reach of Taipei city. A fourth book, a guide to Taiwan’s offshore islands, is due out at the end of the year.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACKRICHARD SAUNDERS EXPLORES TAIWAN'S LESS-TRODDEN PATHS

sacred mother Peak

On November 9th, 1980, a group of five hikers from a walking club in Taipei set off from Pinglin on a hike over the mountains to Yilan in the east. According to one account, on

the way they became lost, and as darkness settled over the mountains, they arrived at the spot now known as Sacred Mother Peak. Seeking deliverance from their nasty predicament, they prayed, not to Guanyin as you might have expected, but to the Virgin Mary. Suddenly there appeared, in the top of a nearby tree, a ghostly, white-clad figure. The men found their way off the mountain safely, and to commemorate the perceived miracle, a statue of Jesus on the Cross was erected at the top of the hill, while a large and impressive Catholic church marks the site where the figure appeared. Incidentally the sighting was taken very seriously – it appears on official lists of Twentieth Century Marian Apparitions. Thus this unique and extraordinary combination of scenic hiking route and Catholic pilgrimage site had its origins.

Sacred Mother Peak (聖母峰) is like nowhere else in Taiwan. Of great significance to local Catholics, it’s also a great hike through beautiful countryside, and quite a good workout to boot (there are 700-plus meters of vertical climb to accomplish from the trailhead to the top). The summit is a huge memorial to the Catholic belief, with a large (and, truth be told, rather ugly) concrete platform reached by a flight of steep concrete steps, which climb past metal plaques representing the fourteen Stations of

the Cross. In the center of the platform stands a statue of Christ on the Cross. And what a view! The coastal hills, pancake-flat Lanyang Plains, the Pacific Ocean and even Turtle Island are all spread out below. It’s a slightly surreal place, and definitely a one-off, in Taiwan at least.

getting there: C l i m b i n g S a c r e d M o t h e r P e a k i s p r e t t y

straightforward. The summit is an important place of pilgrimage for local Catholics, and the path, although it climbs a long way, is fairly clear and wide; walkers who can scale Mount Cising (Seven Star Mountain) in Yangmingshan should be ready to tackle this one. The route is described in detail in Taipei Escapes I (on page 217).

To find more unusual and little-known places around Taiwan, visit Off the Beaten Track at http://taiwandiscovery.wordpress.com/.

sacred mother Peak is one of the hikes that the Taipei hikers will be tackling one weekend in October (the date is yet to be set). if you’d like to join us and are not on the group mailing list, send an email to [email protected], and i’ll be glad to send details of the hike.

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LAUGHTER:the best medicine

in this fast-paced world, we rarely have time to appreciate its little wonders. We tend to focus on the big picture and in the past few years our focus has often been on the bleak economy. Yet when a group of world-class artists tours the globe to bring joy and laughter into our hearts, we welcome this interruption and carve a moment out of our busy schedule

to remind ourselves that at the end of the day, laughter is still the best medicine. And in Taipei Arena on the 8th of September, laugh I did. The brilliant artistry of Saltimbanco, the longest running Cirque du Soleil touring show, has inspired me to once again pause and appreciate the beauty and extent of what we humans can create as the show, featuring as it does stunning acrobatics, spectacular athleticism and agility, unparalleled choreography and costumes, soulful music and mind-blowing set designs.

arts

music and mind-blowing set designs. music and mind-blowing set designs. music and mind-blowing set designs.

TExT: MARIA TAN

IMAGES: COURTESY OF SALTIMBANCO

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Saltimbanco, from the Italian saltare in banco, which means to “jump on a bench” showcases the colorful inhabitants of a metropolis. Its baroque visuals drew the audience into a dream-like fantasy. Spectators fell into a hushed silence in anticipation of perfect landings from acrobats who had mastered incredible stunts. People held their breath whilst watching acrobats fly from one trapeze to the other. All were mesmerized by the skillfulness and precision of the juggler. A favorite scene of mine was the interaction between Eddie (juggler, clown and a representation of the child within us) with a male spectator. The audience member was able to mimic Eddie, earning him a huge round of applause from both the audience and the performers.

Of course no great performance can do without music and the ethereal soundtrack, performed live by five musicians and two singers

on a raised platform on stage, complemented the show superbly. The lyrics, both invented and derived from various languages, were perfect for such an extraordinary performance. The sound effects were also spot on, and the vocals of La Belle, the ever-present town crier, were movingly soulful.

The bright colors of the costumes and the eclectic make-up accentuated the character of each performer. And if you think being a performer is already tough enough, each of the artists in this show applies his own make-up by following an application guide in a book. Despite there being a huge amount of costumes, only four wardrobe employees travel with the tour, plus the two or three extra hands that are hired at each location.

Saltimbanco (the third Cirque du Soileil show to be seen in Taipei) arrived with 180,000 pounds of equipment, eighteen containers filled with technical material, thousands of costumes and more than ninety cast and crew members. Cirque du Soleil’s reputation for breathtaking performances has indeed preceded it as extra matinees were added in Taipei just a few weeks prior the show in response to the demand. To quote Publicist Maxime Charbonneau, “Taipei proved to be once more a real success, with more than 40,000 tickets sold already for ten shows only. Kaohsiung was also extremely successful for a first; we will surely come back here.”

Maria has a background in Business and Communications. She teaches English in Taiwan to both adults and kids alike. In her free time, she does freelance writing, a lot of reading, and shopping. You can reach her at [email protected]

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TExT: CHRISTINE CHIEN-RIxON


One day in an i cy co ld w i n t e r, t h e r e w a s a porcupine couple. They tried to keep each other

warm but they were hurt by each other’s quills. They cared about the pain they were causing to each other so they decided to move apart. Apart, they had to bear the cold weather by themselves. They tried many times until they found a suitable distance where they could both keep warm but not hurt each other.

tWo desiresThi s s to ry encourage s u s to

consider “intimate distance”. At what kind of distance can we feel comfortable with the people we love or like? “We all want more in t imacy than we can s tand,” says Dr. Carl Whittaker, a family therapist. We face an incredibly difficult dilemma that is known as the “intimacy conflict”. This dilemma is borne out of two desires which seem to be at odds with each other. On the one hand, we want to be in a relationship, to feel like we belong, to give and receive love. On the other hand, we want to be free, autonomous and not overly controlled by another. We want both closeness and distance, togetherness and separateness, love and independence.

This is a confl ict which goes back to our childhood years. As infants, we feel totally united with our mothers and do not realize that we are separate selves. Much of childhood is spent trying to achieve a sense of our independent identities. When things become too scary for us, however, we scoot back to Mom for comfort and a shot of security before venturing away from her again.

fear of intiMacy

In marriage there is often one partner w h o w a n t s m o r e c l o s e n e s s, u s u a l l y (but not always) the wi fe, whi le the other w a n t s m o r e d i s t a n c e . As she pushes for more intimacy, he becomes uncomfortable and withdraws, which scares her so she seeks more closeness. If the wife were to give up and keep a distance, the husband would probably become anxious and seek greater closeness.

We all experience this conflict, but those who have had more emotional pain in previous relationships will experience it to a higher degree. A person who has been abused, neglected or abandoned growing up, for example, will want intimacy like anyone else but will have a great fear of it. In childhood, they learned that to be loved was to be hurt. They might solve this conflict by unconsciously choosing to marry someone with a limited capacity to love. They are married but they are not too close to their spouses.

What i s the so lu t ion to th i s universal confl ict? How can we choose one desire over the other? According to Whittaker, these desires are complementary. The more we have of one, the more we have of the other. Our capacity to be separate depends on our capaci ty to be connected. And the more we can be ourselves, the more we can relate to another in a healthy, intimate way.

Even though lots of people do not know what they want in their life, they have some idea of what people expect they should be. Therefore, it is difficult for them to be themselves,

and to find a comfortable level of intimacy.

Potential Marital conflictW h e n w e s t a r t f e e l i n g

uncomfortable in our relationship, “v i c t i m , b l a m i n g” e m e r g e s . We all try to adjust in different relationships, such as parent-child, husband-wife, boyfriend-girlfriend, or with friends. For instance, with intimacy, marital conflicts are created by the spouse who wishes certain behaviors from the other. “But only if s/he really wants to – if I have to tell her/him, then it’s no good.”

We want to spend more t ime with people we love, but when we spend more time with them we feel frustrated. We play bargain as part of the game of life: you be this for me and I’ll be that for you. It is bound to lead to problems.

Another issue which strongly influences intimacy and distance is self-disclosure. Male and female intimacy (self-disclosure styles) tend to differ and this can lead to stress and misunderstandings. Men may try to hide their weaknesses and emphasize successes. Women try to share experiences and build up a relationship. When men talk, they try to fix the problem or seek a solution. When a woman talks, she wants empathy, but he thinks she wants a solution. Without a clear awareness of our differences we don’t take

The Porcupine Dilemma: Intimacy and distance

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enough time to understand and respect each other, which may lead us to become resentful, demanding, judgemental and intolerant. Furthermore, culture has a major influence on self-disclosure. Westerners tend to disclose more than Asian people do.

your oWn self-disclosure levelThe fo l lowing ques t ions are f rom Using

Interpersonal Communication Skills by Rudolph F. Verderber. Check those which you feel comfortable disclosing to others.

☐ Your habits, how you spend your spare time.☐ The music you like or dislike.☐ Your educational background and how you feel

about it.

☐ Your personal view of politics.☐ Your personal view of religion and beliefs☐ The things that bother you now and your

reaction to them.

☐ Your personal qualities that you are proud of.☐ Details of the unhappy things in your life. ☐ Details of the happy things in your life.☐ What you regret in your life and the reasons. ☐ What you cannot complete, your dreams. ☐ The secrets that make you feel guilty. ☐ Your view of what kind of marriage a couple

should have.

☐ How to keep your body fit.☐ What you like most about your body.☐ The part of your appearance you do not like

and want to change.

☐ The person you hate the most in your life and why.

☐ Whether you abuse alcohol and drugs.☐ Your relationship with people with whom you

have had sex.

This checklist can help you understand to which level you are willing to disclose yourself to others and be more aware of your desired intimacy level. Then you can consider whether you have found a comfortable distance with the people you love and care about.

Chr i s t ine Ch i en -R ixon i s a counselor, career and executive coach. With over twenty years exper i ence in coach ing and consulting, she helps clients to define and achieve their objectives and goals in their work and life. Her specializations include executive coaching, leadership consulting and career transition, counseling and training. Prior to living in Hong Kong, Christine has worked in the UK, Japan, and Taiwan.


Oct_p3-end.indd 13 2012/9/24 9:06:02 AM

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During a hike up Yangming-shan one stormy day, artist Tim Budden was surprised to see pairs of butterflies

soaring playfully in the heavy rain. “You think of them as being very

delicate, that if you touch their wings they will die,” says Budden. “But here they were hanging out in this gale and they seemed to be enjoying it together.”

Butterflies are now a recurring motif in Budden’s intricate paper cut artworks, which are filled with swirling colors, delicate patterns and mysterious shapes. Many deal with the tension

between a place and its inhabitants, whether it is a butterfly trying to keep afloat in gusty winds or an expat struggling to make sense of Taipei’s chaos. For Budden, paper cutting serves not only as a link to a rich cultural tradition, but also as a medium for self-exploration and growth.

Before moving to Taiwan, Budden bui l t puppets and set pieces for a theater company and created a critically acclaimed comic series. After arriving in Taiwan however, Budden gave up art to teach English. H i s n e w c a r e e r a d v a n c e d a n d Budden was eventually promoted to

department head at a school, but he began to feel uneasy.

“I was bored out of my skull. I didn’t know why. I got more and more upset and depressed,” says Budden. “I kind of had a breakdown and then it came to me. I realized I had to leave this place. I had to go back to my art.”

a neW discoveryAround that time, Budden found

a book about paper cuts created by retired women in China. He was struck by the similarity between their designs and the black-and-white line art he had used in his comic strips.

TExT: CATHERINE SHU IMAGES: COURTESY OF TIM BUDDEN


A Cut Ahead: Artist Tim Budden sees worlds of possibilities in a sheet of paper

Oct_p3-end.indd 14 2012/9/24 9:06:06 AM

Budden’s comic book past i s evident in his first paper cuts. Many feature a narrative centered around a little boy named Daniel, a composite character based on Budden and his young son. Each large, intricate hanging had to be painstakingly planned in order to prevent it from tearing or collapsing.

“My dad’s an engineer. I can enjoy the way I’m designing and the way this connects with that,” says Budden. “But there is also a side of me that loves looking at abstract paintings and big messes. I realized I had to change the way I was working to free myself up.”

Over the past two years, Budden has gradually begun incorporating more organic shapes into his work and re-interpreting animal and plant motifs seen in traditional paper cutting.

Budden’s newest works draw on the pieces of natural ephemera he collects on his walks: bits of wood, leaf skeletons found on a road in Hualien, seashells from the shores of Lyme Regis, near where Budden’s parents live in England.

intricate designsInspired by a friend who is an

abstract painter, Budden begins his working process by splashing different colors of paint onto paper. After it dries, he carefully traces an intricate image of butterflies and flowers over it. Then, before making his first cut, he takes another look at the swirls and blobs of color to see if any other forms emerge.

Along with his style, Budden’s career has also evolved over the last six years. Though his paper cuts attracted plenty of media attention after a well-received solo show at Suho Memorial Paper Museum last winter, Budden wants to combine his teaching experience with his love of the art form instead of focusing solely on exhibiting new pieces.

B u d d e n , w h o h a s t a u g h t workshops at Suho and the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei, starts each class with the basics: the proper way to hold a knife, how to cut smoothly through paper and slice out different shapes. Students also get a look at contemporary paper cutting art and the work of different artists.

The most important part of each class, however, is when students create their own paper cuts. Budden teaches students to work with a basic motif, such as a butterfly, but they are encouraged to design its interior. Each sheet of paper becomes a chance for self-exploration.

“Some people might have a very simple flower shape or a sun shape,” says Budden. “Others created violent, jagged shapes.” Budden wants his students to see paper cutting as a chance to take a venerable tradition and make it their own.

“P a p e r c u t t i n g i s n o t j u s t something you stick on your door for Chinese New Year,” says Budden. “Hopeful ly s tudents wi l l come away with the idea that you can put something of yourself into a piece of art and discover things about yourself.”


Artist Tim Budden sees worlds of possibilities in a sheet of paper

Catherine Shu moved to Taipei in 2007 to join her husband and study Mandarin. At first she thought she'd only stay for two years, but this city's alluring medley of quiet cafes, raucous temple festivals and indulgent street foods convinced her to stay indefinitely. Catherine blogs at shuflies.blogspot.com.

Join tim for a two session, hands-on workshop at the center this november!discovering yourself through paper cuttingnovember 1 and november 159.30 am – 12 noonnt$1400email [email protected] for more information.

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Lines are everywhere. We c a n s e e t h e m in natural features, s u c h a s t r e e s o r

shorel ines, as wel l as in man-made structures such as buildings. In photography, these are often referred to as leading lines.

L e a d i n g l i n e s a r e a very useful compositional technique that serve to draw the viewer’s eye through the photo. They lead the eye to another point in the frame or out of it altogether. A leading line can be almost anything either straight or curved. A river bank, road, shorel ine, shadow, fence, tree line, bridge, flock of birds – all can work as leading lines.

eMPhasizing relationshiPsL ine s c an h e lp emphas i z e a

relationship between foreground and background e lements in a photograph, or illustrate the concept of distance. We often want to have our leading lines begin from one corner of the image and walk the eye through the photograph. Some care often needs to be taken to ensure that the line doesn’t appear to cut the photo in half, as it would if we started our leading line at the edge or in the center of the picture.

Vertical lines offer suggestions of power, strength, dominance and growth. Think of trees, human figures, skyscrapers, towers, power

poles and the l ike. All seem to be reaching for the sky, yet also anchored by gravity to the ground. Pay attention to them when lining up your photo and try to ensure that your vertical lines do indeed look vertical, nicely lined up with the edge of the frame. It's common for people to turn their camera sideways when taking photos with a lot of verticals.

Horizontal l ines may suggest peacefulness and a sense of calm. That can be expanded upon to suggest a general sense of rest and stability. Perhaps the most common example of a horizontal l ine in photography is that formed by the horizon. This serves as a dividing point in the image, and where you place this dividing point is of critical importance. If you remember last issue's lesson on the rule of thirds, you'll know not to put the horizon

through the center of the frame.The next line-related composition

to look at is diagonal lines. These are particularly useful in suggesting depth and perspective in an image. They are the most dynamic of all lines, giving a strong sense of action, speed and motion. Whereas horizontal and vertical lines represent stability and strength, diagonals give rise to feelings of unresolved tension.

D iagona l s h e lp to d raw the viewer’s eye through a photograph, with multiple points of interest where they intersect. This is especially useful in images that have a lot of activity within them. Constructing the photo so it contains diagonals helps to bring a simple structure to an otherwise chaotic image.

So next time you’re out with your camera, pay attention to the lines you include in your photo as well as the ones you leave out.

LinesTExT & IMAGE: CRAIG FERGUSON

Craig is a professional photographer and has worked with the likes of Lonely Planet, Monocle, Asia Business Traveller, Asian Geographic and many more. In addition, he also teaches regular photography workshops and individual classes in and around Taipei.


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Seven years ago, kids/babies were not on my radar. Like, AT ALL. I was the not-so-subtle eye roller when someone's kid started running around screaming like a wild banshee while I

was trying to enjoy a meal in peace. Flash forward to the present day: I'm a mom. A mom who recognizes the power of a Lego table in a coffee shop. God, how things change. Stay with me – this is going somewhere, and then you will thank me.

A couple of weeks ago my girlfriend and I met up to try out a coffee shop in Tianmu. Mind you, it's Friday afternoon and my son is whipped, cranked out and REALLY not in the mood for me to go on yet another coffee bender. The whining started instantaneously upon being seated. I was in the process of doing the infamous eye roll at my own kid and silently mouthing to my friend that this was not going to work when she saw it. Behind the middle of the support beam in the middle of the room was a tiny oasis for mother and child alike. A Lego table. I swear to you, I think beams of light were shooting out of it – it was that magical. Wyatt was ecstatic. I was ecstatic, and I had not even ordered my coffee yet. The coffee! The menu was a mini scrapbook… adorable, but one that I couldn't read because it was all in Chinese and Japanese. There were some scattered pictures throughout, but I figured I was safe ordering a latte. Hot, foamy,

adequate creaminess with a touch of raw sugar, it made for a lovely afternoon treat. To clarify for my friends sans kids, just because the café is home to a Lego table does not by any means turn this coffee shop into a daycare. It must be a well-kept secret, as there were only two kids in the whole place. The decor was country/colonial-y with wooden rafter beams, shelves of crafts for sale, and overhead lights that looked to me like they could be watering can spouts. Cocoro gave off that kind of comfortable warmth that made you want to stick around for awhile, like you were in someone's home. Shoot, it's probably good they didn't have a couch in there: I could have been there all afternoon. Cocoro Cafe is definitely a place I'd go back to – and I promise, if you're there with your screaming kid(s), I won't roll my eyes.

After taking some pic tures of the menu, my girlfriend in all her awesomeness translated the coffee selections for me. Cocoro uses Segafredo coffee beans from Italy, and they have a number of coffee options rang ing anywhere f rom a n A m e r i c a n o t o a banana mocha latte. S e r v e d i c e d o r hot, prices range from NT$110 to NT$140.

TExT & IMAGES: ALY COOPER, STOCK PHOTOS

Cocoro Café

Aly Cooper is an expat wife of one year who enjoys adventures with her five-year-old son, reading, eating, blogging, having A LOT of coffee with friends, volunteering and spending free weekends exploring what the island has to offer with the family.Got a suggestion for our resident caffeine addict? Send them in via [email protected].

7, Lane 166, Zhongcheng Road, Section 2, Shilin 士林區忠誠路166巷7號

sPecial toPic coffee MorningThursday 18th October, 10:30 am - 12 noon. Beautiful Taiwan. Richard Saunders will give an illustrated presentation on Taiwan and its outlying islands, introducing its beautiful countryside, fascinating culture and stormy history.

Book cluBs: A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by xiaolu guoThe morning book club will meet Tuesday 16th October, 10:30 am onwards. For more information email [email protected] evening book club will meet on Thursday 25th October, 7:15 pm onwards. For more information, email [email protected].

tastes of taiPei: shaffer’s kitchenThursday October 18th, 6 pm - 10 pm7, Lane 42, Yixian Road, Xinyi District台灣台北市信義區逸仙路42巷7號(02) 8789-4088Please see page 28 for further details

Events at The Center

rang ing anywhere f rom a n A m e r i c a n o t o a

atte.

Aly Cooper is an expat wife of one year who enjoys adventures with her five-year-old son, reading, eating, blogging, having A LOT of coffee with friends, volunteering and spending free weekends exploring what the island has to

Got a suggestion for our resident caffeine addict? Send them in via

Oct_p3-end.indd 17 2012/9/24 9:06:19 AM

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Taipei American School upper school students now have the opportunity to study English, Government and Politics with Dr. William Stanton, who recently retired after thirty-four years in the Foreign

Service. He will pursue his passion for education at TAS. His demonstration lessons in Upper School Principal Dr. Richard Hartzell’s Comparative Literature classes last year provided a glimpse of what this scholar, diplomat and teacher-at-heart will add to the TAS community.

Dr. Stanton assumed his position as Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on August 28th, 2009. He previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission at both the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, Korea (2006-09) and the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia (2003-06). His other Asia-related experiences include assignments at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, including one as Minister Counselor for Political Affairs; as Deputy Director for the Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs; and as Special Assistant for East Asia and Pacific Affairs for the Under Secretary for Political Affairs.

Dr. Stanton has received three Superior Honor Awards, one Superior Group Award, and several senior performance awards. In 2011, he received the Charles E. Cobb Award for Initiative and Success in Trade Promotion. He holds the rank of Minister Counselor.

TAS has a unique and special relationship with AIT, and a succession of AIT directors have provided invaluable support to the school. Since Dr. Stanton’s arrival, he has shown himself to be a true friend to TAS and a true friend to education. He had long intended to turn to teaching following his retirement. His love for Taiwan and admiration for the school convinced him to remain in Taipei and join the distinguished faculty at TAS.

a new addition to Taipei american school upper school Faculty: dr. William stantonTExT: KRISTEN LOWMAN, COMMUNICATIONS/MARKETING OFFICER IMAGE: TAS


ttOctober is a busy month as the Orphanage Club begins its 43rd year of helping improve the lives of

orphans and needy children in Taiwan and the outer islands. Orphanage Club also helps orphans in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Korea, Cambodia, and the Philippines. The club always welcomes those willing to help.

The ch i l d r en o f t h e Chungy i and Cathwel (Cathol ic Welfare) Orphanages wil l enjoy day long outings on October 7th and 20th r e s p e c t i v e l y. F o r e a c h o u t i n g, Orphanage C lub member s and helpers should meet at TAS before 8 am; they will return before 5 pm. For the Chungyi outing, the kids will be watching a movie and playing at the kindergarten cave. Plans for the Cathwel outing are still tentative. If you are interested in joining either outing, please contact us at our email, as we always need and welcome

additional adult chaperones.On October 13th we will have a

third rummage workday. We will mainly be sorting and pricing the donat ions for the F lea Market/Rummage Sale on November 10th. We welcome everyone to help us!

On October 23rd and 24th we will be hosting our fabulous Halloween sale. Cards in a diverse range pf designs and Halloween costumes will be sold starting from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm in front of the faculty dining room. We will be selling a variety of Taipei American School sweatshirts and T-shirts which were designed by the club’s members.

In addition, registration for our Flea Market on November 10th will start from October 23rd. The registrations take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 pm to 5 pm in front of the faculty dining room until all tables are rented. Places will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Tables in the cafeteria cost NT$1,200 each, while tables in the hallway cost NT$1,500 each. There is also a mandatory deposit fee of NT$300.

Finally, we will be hosting several booths at the International Food Fair on October 27th. There will be a Hallmark booth, a sweatshirt booth, and three game booths. The Hallmark booth will be selling cards and gift items, while the sweatshirts booth will sell TAS sweatshirts and T-shirts ranging from NT$400 - 650. Moreover, we have three games booths — a ring toss, bean bag toss, and (back by popular demand), a ping pong ball and a shoe game of chance. The games sponsored by the Orphanage Club are ideal for all children, but there’s something for everyone in the family, plus the prizes are wonderful. Just think, by coming you’ll help orphans and needy children while you try your luck!

tOrphanage Club: Embracing OctoberTExT: BRANDON HUANG AND TINA YUAN

Any questions? Please contact Mr. Arnold at [email protected] or [email protected] taipei american school (tas) is located at 800 zhongshan north road, section 6, shilin 11152 taipei.

Oct_p3-end.indd 18 2012/9/24 9:06:21 AM

Activities at The Center

activity first Meeting date # of sessions instructor time Meet @The Art of Tea: A Taiwanese Tea Ceremony Tuesday, October 02 1 Jackson Huang 9:45am-1:30pm Lu-Yu Tea Culture InstitutePorcelain Painting Workshop Tuesday, October 02 2 Michelle Tan 12:30pm-2:00pm The CenterCPR/AED American Red Cross: Tuesday, October 02 2 Stephen Kuhlke & 6:00pm- 7:30pm Taipei American SchoolAdult, Child and Infant Gary Pettigrew Lost in Taipei: Navigating Public Transportation Thursday, October 04 1 Kath Liu 10:00am-1:30pm The CenterIt's All About the Rice Cooker Friday, October 05 1 Ivy Chen 10:00am- 12noon The CenterMedical Services In Taiwan Friday, October 05 1 Juchi Tang-Liu 12:30pm-2:00pm The CenterSelf-Defense for Boys: Boys Empowered Monday, October 15 6 Antoine Farès 4:00pm-5:00pm The Farès Academy DojoNortheast Coast Scenic Tour and Walk Tuesday, October 16 1 Richard Saunders 8:30am-3:00pm The Corner of Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6 and Lane 290Taipei Hospital Tour Wednesday, October 17 1 Juchi Tang-Liu 10:30am-2:00pm The CenterIn & Out of the Box Workshop Friday, October 19 1 Jim Clark 9:30am- 2:00pm The CenterSelf-Defense for Women and Girls Friday, October 19 6 Antoine Farès 4:00pm-5:00pm The Farès Academy DojoSlacklining in the Park Saturday, October 20 1 Guan-Jang Wu 10:00am-12noon Tian Mu Baseball ParkPOW: In the Steps of the Men of Kinkaseki Tuesday, October 23 1 Michael Boyden & 8:30am-3:30pm The Corner of Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6 Michael Hurst and Lane 290Creating an "All About Me" Book Tuesday, October 23 3 Doranne Awad 12:30pm-2:00pm The CenterLin Family Garden Thursday, October 25 1 Jennifer Tong 9:30am-12noon Fuzhong MRT Sta. Exit 3Sassy Sizzling Plate Friday, October 26 1 Sally Duh Chu 10:00am- 12noon The CenterSurvival Chinese I Monday, October 29 13 Gloria Gwo 9:00am- 10:20am The CenterSurvival Chinese II Monday, October 29 13 Gloria Gwo 10:30am- 11:50am The CenterBuild A Bag Tuesday, October 30 1 Anita Town 10:00am-11:30am Zhongshan MRT Sta. Exit 3Evening Survival Chinese II Wednesday, October 31 12 Gloria Gwo 6:30pm-8:30pm The Center


taipei fine arts Museum

Until December 30th2012 Taipei Biennial Exhibit: Modern Beasts/The Resurrection of ImaginationDon’t miss the excitement of this limited engagement…Galleries: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Floorshttp://www.tfam.museum/ 181 Zhongshan North Road, Section 3

national Museum of history

Until October 7thWinners of Chen Chin Art and Culture Award: A Joint Exhibition 4F Room 401http://www.nmh.gov.tw/en-us49 Nanhai Road

Museum of contemporary art

Until November 11thCrush on EMU: Invisible Line, Exploring Digital Language, Representing Digital EnvironmentFacing this so-called “third wave revolution” of our civilization…Venue | MOCA Taipeiwww.mocataipei.org.tw39 Changan West Road

national Palace Museum

Until October 14thFantastic and Extraordinary: The Realm of Wu Bin’s paintingGalleries: 202 & 212Until January 16thPainting Anime: Imitating Zhao Bosu's

Illustration of the Latter Red CliffGallery: 102 http://www.npm.gov.tw 221 Zhishan Road, Section 2

national dr. sun yat-sen Memorial hall

Until November 7thPraising for Life – Aegean Series: Yo Jung-ping Pottery Sculpture ExhibitionGallery: 1F Culture CorridorJust a short ride on the Blue Line to the Hall, and the gardens are beautiful...http://www.yatsen.gov.tw/en/505 Renai Road, Section 4

sPot taipei – film house

Daily Noon to Midnight 6 showingsAvant-garde cross-cutural filmsHave a cup of coffee, see a good film, absorb a little cultureFormer residence of USA Ambassador http://www.spot.org.tw 18 Zhongshan North Road, Section 2

national taiwan Museum

Until October 28thHistory and Modernity: Shanghai Historical Images ExhibitionGalleries: 200http://formosa.ntm.gov.tw/web/en 2 Siangyang Road

suho Paper Memorial Museum

Until November 3rdPaper, Landscape and My Journeys: Ming-Jen Hsu Solo Exhibition

http://www.suhopaper.org.tw/museum/exhibition/index.html68, Changan East Road, Section 2

the red room

On the 3rd Saturday of every month from 6:30 – 10:30Stage Time & Wine: A monthly event hosted by The Red Room. Everyone is welcome to take the stage for five minutes and share anything – a poem, a song, a scream, silence, a dance, a blog entry, an excerpt from a book, a monologue or anything else you can think of. Everything is welcome to this culture of listening…http://www.redroom.com.tw/2F, 117 Da-an Road, Section 1

gold ecological Park

Open All YearThe Site of a Gold Rush in Northern Taiwan http://superspace.cca.gov.tw/en/local_culture_page.asp?rid=38 Jinguang Road, Jinguashi, Ruifang, New Taipei City

the red house

Until December 2015The Red House: A Century of Stories and BlessingsIn a cool part of the Old Town…www.redhouse.org.tw10 Chengdu Road, Wanhua District

Just a few of the things that are going on around Taipei this month...

taipei taipei t

Evening Survival Chinese II

aipei fine arts Museum

Until December 30th2012 Taipei Biennial Exhibit: Modern

taipei taipei t fine arts Museum

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A page out of printing's historyRixing Type Foundry

TexT & Images: CraIg Ferguson

One of the four great inventions to come out of China, movable type dates back a millenia. Today, in the computer era, it’s effectively obsolete. Movable type involves the use of molds to make

up the individual components needed for printing words and characters. Today, the Rixing Type Foundry in Taipei is one of the few remaining places that make these molds. It has what is probably the last collection of traditional Chinese characters of this form anywhere in the world.

Located close to Zhongshan MRT station, The Rixing Type Foundry was established in 1969. Current owner, Chang Chieh-kuan is the son of the founder and has been there since the earliest days. He originally apprenticed in a relative's print store, beginning in 1967, and upon his father's request, quit that job to join the Rixing Type Foundry in 1970. During its peak up to thirty workers could be found on-site. Now, it's just Chang and his wife, although they are often assisted by a rotating team of interns.

20 october 2012 www.communitycenter.org.tw

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The beginningsHoused in the workshop are over 150,000 copper molds

that make up the traditional Chinese character matrix. These are broken up into 4,500 to 10,000 characters in seven different sizes and three different fonts. Also, there are a smattering of English and Japanese characters on the shelves. In the future, Chang aims to have all the Big5 characters – approximately 13,000 – in the same set of sizes and font styles.

The characters are made by pouring lead into copper molds. These join others on the shelves, arranged by stroke order. Someone familiar with the layout of the shelves can easily find hundreds of characters per hour, although the casual visitor may find the going slower at first. The process of seeking out the characters is a little like learning to type. During my visit, it took just a few minutes to pick out the characters in my wife's name.

goals for The fuTureSpeaking with Mr. Chang, he told of three different

goals that he currently has for the Rixing Type Foundry. In the short term he wants to make the workshop more presentable for visitors. Currently most visitors are individuals coming in out of curiosity or seeking a unique gift. Occasionally larger groups of students come by as well. Utilizing his team of interns, Mr. Chang hopes to rearrange the basement area of the workshop to make it more suitable for presentations so that he can better communicate the history of the workshop.

In the long term, the aim is to create a kind of interactive working museum. Opening up a second location will allow more machines to be added to better give visitors a hands-on interactive experience. One key goal is to facilitate knowledge transfer because the creation and use of the molds and characters is a unique and now almost obselete process that Mr. Chang doesn't want to see die out. The desire is for the site to be more of a workshop than a museum, one where visitors can learn everything from designing and making fonts to printing books with complete character matrices. Visitors will be able to learn as much or as little of the process as they want.

Mr. Chang hopes that more people will come and visit the foundry, and that they will be open to learning about and understanding the whole culture of traditional printing techniques.


Rixing Type Foundry

TexT & Images: CraIg Ferguson

rixing Type foundry 13, lane 97, Taiyuan road, Taipei台北市太原路97巷13號 (Close to Zhongshan MrT station)

Thanks to Peter Lin from Topology Travel (www.topologytravel.com) who acted as interpreter and made my visit easier.

Oct_p3-end.indd 21 2012/9/24 9:45:05 PM

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It should work. The whole “if you build it, they will come” mentality...it works...I think.

“It” refers to the small musical I'm directing and co-producing called [Title of Show]. The name comes from the blank on a form for application to the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The show itself documents the creation of that show in the form of a writing exercise of two friends agreeing to document their conversations about creating their show. The audience watches the show get made from the inside out and, more importantly, the relationships that become a part of that process. The original show became a huge cult favorite off and on Broadway and around the USA. It’s quirky, a bit irreverent, honest, and very, very funny.

Mandy Roveda, known to many in Taipei as one of the two ringleaders of Taipei Players, is probably ultimately responsible for the decision to do it. We had just finished working together on the mega-sized musical Anything Goes which I directed at the Taipei International Convention Center. She got pretty excited about the possibility of an Asian tour that was talked about at the closing night champagne party, but when those plans fell through and the makeup came off, we were all stubbornly wanting to continue working on something creative.

Then Mandy introduced me to Cat Tsai, a recently-returned-from-New York Taiwanese actress ready to stretch her talent muscles in her hometown. Cat was the perfect partner for my oft-dreamed of local theater company, and she knew the show. Butterfly Effect Theatre Company was born. Mandy brought in Brandon Thompson, another regular Taipei Player and the charismatic frontman of the band Adoga, and I had had the pleasure of working several jobs with talented Taiwanese musical theater regular Ming Lee. Holly Chang, who worked on both incarnations of Anything Goes joined on as our musical director, and our ship was ready to sail.

With our team assembled, we set off for a three-month non-stop rotating tour of local dance studios for near-daily rehearsals. Having spent more than ten years in the local entertainment business, I also had connections to the Central Motion Pictures Building, and was delighted to hear they were eager to host their first stage show.

Now, our team grows. I’ve pulled in designers I've worked with or noticed, and I'm assembling my own “dream team” for this real first in Taiwan. We've chosen a smaller show that is easy to manage, easy to move in case audiences want it in central and southern Taiwan, and, like the characters in the show, we're hoping we can create a hit. In the words of one of the songs:

So the decision’s made and we’re on our way and we may lose or maybe we might... be nine people’s favorite thing....

TexT: Brook Hall Images: CourTesy of Broadway asIa llC

[Titleof show]

by Hunter bell and Jeff bowenlicensed by broadway asia llc

A co-production of ripple Productions LLc, butterfly effect theatre co., and taipei Players

Venue: central Motion Pictures building Auditorium (中影商業大樓演講廳)3F, 260, bade road Section 2 (台北市八德路二段260號3樓)

dates: october 12th at 7:30 pm; october 13th – 14th at 2:30 and 7:30 pm

tickets: Available through the National theatre website (www.artsticket.com.tw,) or through 7 eleven and the ticket windows at eslite books, caves, etc.

tickets cost Nt$650 with a discount of 20% for groups of ten or more; there is no advance seating assignment, so arrive early for the best places!

the musical runs for 90 minutes without an intermission, and is in english with Mandarin subtitles.

Due to adult themes and language, the show is not recommended for children under thirteen.

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3 M taiwanallianzamerican chamber of commerce in taipeiamerican club in chinaamerican institute in taiwanarlo chou's Photo studioasian tigers Mobility - taiwanasusaudi taiwanaustralian officeBayer taiwan co., ltd.bespoke cellarBluebell hong kong ltd., taiwan BranchMichael Boydenthe Brass MonkeyBrilliant art handicraft co. ltd.British american tobacco co. taiwanBritish trade and cultural officecanadian trade office of taipeicanmeng avedadavid chiangchina airlinesfrank chungJeanne & Brently cooperdianne cornellcorning display technologies taiwan co., ltd.crown Worldwide (taiwan) ltd.cs accessoriesdelta air lines, incedx educationeiger lawembassy of the republic of the gambiaencin co./Wine casaengaging Minds Worldwideformosa optical (tianmu Branch)france taiwan chamber of commerce and industryfusion flamegeorge Pais Beauty Parlorgray gleasongorgeous Me!grand hyatt san franciscogrand hyatt seoulgrand hyatt taipeigrand victoria hotelgranola househarvie's of edinburgh ltd.heineken Brouwerijen B. v. taiwan Branchthe howard Plaza hotel taipeihyatt regency tokyoicrtikea taiwankatya ilieva-stoneinkstone interior design studioitalian coffee companyJardine food services (taiwan) co., ltd.tania lai

liaison office of the republic of south africa in taiwanlily's collectionamy liulollypoplutetiaruth MartinMelchers trading gmbh, taiwan BranchMetropolitan spirits ltd.Miaoli Wind companyMinistry of foreign affairs, (r.o.c.)nestle taiwan ltdnew zealand commerce and industry officeoffice of the President, republic of chinasebastian ottePalais de chinePernod ricard taiwan ltd.Persimmon lanePretty nailsQ Britanniathe regent taipeiregus taiwan taipeithe ritz-carltonrobert Bosch taiwan co.royal choice limitedsaffronsalmat asia limited taiwan Branchrichard saundersshangri-la's far eastern Plaza hotel taipeisheraton taipei hotelsifen Jewelry co. ltd.space concepts ltd.the sparkle spastate of alaska office in taiwangladys stoviceksuperior realty co., ltd.swire coca-cola Beverages ltd., taiwan Branchtaipei city government, Mayor's officetaiwan adventurestaiwan folk arts Museumtaiwan lemongrass house, ltdtsar and tsai law firmvilla 32vin, vino, Wineneil Wadeelena WangWaterford Wedgwood taiwan ltd.Wendel's german Bakery & BistroBill and lisa WestWillie's deliWonderland nursery goods co., ltd.a. Ping Wuyang tze-yunyour expat coach and Moreyvonne yuanzulu nyala game lodge - south africa

Thank YouThank you to our donors

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. saint Basil

We thank everyone who gave time, energy, enthusiasm, or financial support to the 2012 Center Auction.

Oct_p3-end.indd 23 2012/9/24 9:06:39 AM

Every culture and its people h a v e t h e i r w a y t o g r e e t and welcome each other. Taiwanese do this by saying

“你吃飽了嗎?”(H a v e y o u e a t e n enough?). This simple question clearly implies the importance that the Taiwanese people see in food.

Taiwan is famous for its culinary delicacies, the various ways of cooking and the beautiful landscape with rice fields, fruits and opulent seafood. But recently the food sector has been rocked by scandal and the strong confidence which Taiwan people used to have in their food safety has been shaken. Facing these challenges in 2012, Taiwan can find its way out by looking back in time and refocusing on its original strength.

AgriculturAl foundAtionsTa i w a n's ‘e c o n o m i c m i r a c l e’

in the 1960s was unique in the world. Agriculture has served as the foundation for Taiwan's economic

miracle, Taiwan’s indispensable role in the global supply chain and evolution into a high-tech bastion. At that time, the government harnessed its power to steer the economy and convert l imited land and resources into development technology, transforming Taiwan from an agricultural society into an industr ia l economy and

moving the country toward economic modernization.

N o w i n 2 0 1 2 , m o s t o f t h e production of the high-tech sector has moved to Mainland China and for this reason, it does not benefit the Taiwanese society by creating new jobs. Although only about one-quarter of Taiwan's land area is suitable for farming, virtually all farmland is intensely cultivated, with some areas suitable for two and even three crops a year. However, increases in agricultural production have been much slower than industrial growth. Agricultural modernization has been inhibited by the small size of farms and the lack of investment in better facilities and training to develop more profitable businesses. Hence, the numbers of people working in Taiwan's agricultural business have steadily decreased from 1974 to 2002.

BAck to BAsicsFinally while facing all the current

trends and big challenges, the solution must be a modern return to and strong focus on Taiwan´s core strength. The agriculture sector and a sustainable approach. What are the benefits? Many changes obse rved in the environment are long term, occurring slowly over time. Organic agriculture considers the medium- and long-term effect of agricultural interventions on the agro-ecosystem. It aims to produce food while establishing an ecological balance to preserve soil fertility and prevent pest problems. Organic agriculture takes a proactive approach as opposed to treating problems after they emerge.

According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture

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Food safety in Taiwan

TexT & Images: BrITTa VasTers

Oct_p3-end.indd 24 2012/9/24 9:51:17 PM


Britta Vasters is from Germany a n d w o r k i n g a s a C S R -consultant in Taiwan. After work ing fo r the European Pa r l i a m e n t , t h e G e r m a n Government and also in for the German Chamber of Commerce in Shangha i focu s ing on Env i ronmenta l Protection, she came to Taiwan to promote sustainability and organic agriculture. For this reason, this year she organized the first participation of a Taiwanese delegation at the World Organic Trade Fair in Germany to create a better understanding and mutual exchange.

Movemen t t h e ro l e o f o r g a n i c a g r i c u l t u r e , w h e t h e r i n f a r m i n g , processing, distribution, o r c o n s u m p t i o n, i s t o sustain and enhance the health of ecosystems and organisms from the smallest in the soil to human beings. I n p a r t i c u l a r, o r g a n i c agr icul ture i s intended to produce high quality,

nutritious food that contributes to preventive health care and well-being.

Organic agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. This principle states that precaution and responsibility are the key concerns in management, development and technology choices in organic agriculture. It means not using pesticides or any other toxic additives for the quick profit. Taiwan is set up for the change into sustainability and organic agriculture: it is a modern and democratic country with high-education standards, but even more importantly, Taiwanese care about, and show great awareness of, their environment.

A big step was already taken this year when Taiwan participated for the first time in the World Organic Trade Fair in Germany, the world´s leading exhibition for sustainable agriculture called BioFach. Every year, representatives from politics, associations, and NGOs, plus VIPs and other opinion formers and figures of public interest come together. There the organic stakeholders discuss matters concerning the future of the market and use this joint platform for shaping the future. In 2012 Taiwan not only took the chance to represent itself and its organic achievements, but also used the time to exchange experiences and visit organic farms, companies, factories and stores in Germany.

Hopefully, a change to organic agriculture will benefit Taiwan in many ways and especially will help the Taiwanese people to trust in food safety again.

Oct_p3-end.indd 25 2012/9/24 9:51:38 PM

Dur ing my pregnancy Taiwanese friends were eager to educate me about the importance

of observing a unique Chinese postpartum ritual cal led zuo yuezi. In fact, it quickly (and unexpectedly) became the most common topic at dinner parties, often accompanied by commentary on how sad it was that Westerners did not follow suit.

Sitting the monthZuo yuez i (坐月子, l i terally

‘sitting the month’), is a period of postpartum confinement that lasts from between thirty to forty-five days after birth. Zuo yuezi has been an important ritual in Chinese society since at least the Song dynasty (AD960 to 1279). Traditionally, a woman is cared for by her mother-in-law. This might sound odd, but as a woman marries into her husband’s family the mother-in-law assumes the role of caring for the new mother and infant.

The s e day s zuo yuez i i s b i g business and many women choose to check into luxury ‘confinement centers’ (坐月子中心, zuo y uez i zhongxin) that offer pampering and comparatively more freedom than being under the mother-in-law’s care. Other women remain at home but order in special confinement meals (坐月子餐外送 zuo yuezi can wai song). And some opt to do what we did – hire a confinement carer (月婆 yue po) to cook and care for mother and baby at home.

From a Western perspective, zuo yuezi at first appears either overly indulgent or unduly restrictive. The basic premise is that a woman is weakened by the experience of giving birth and needs to rest and eat restorative foods to recover. No rushing off to restaurants or the supermarket: during zuo yuezi a woman should stay in bed and not venture outside. During this time

a woman is not supposed to do any housework, watch television, read books, receive visitors, or spend time on the Internet. And to prevent getting a chill she should avoid washing her hair or taking a shower, and abstain from eating or drinking anything cold. Despite this, many modern women bend the rules, for instance they wash their hair but make sure they blow-dry it thoroughly afterwards, or they may invite over close friends.

Chinese swear by zuo yuezi. They believe it not only allows a woman to bounce back to her former health (and figure) quickly, but also prevents illness in old age such as joint problems or headaches. It also ensures she ages gracefully, and many people have told me how, having completed zuo yuezi, I will look younger and more beautiful than other Caucasian women when I am older.

the benefitS of reSt A l t h o u g h i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o

empirically prove the benefits of zuo yuezi, my own experience has convinced me that it works. I did not practice zuo yuezi with my first child, who was born in Australia as a premature baby. After five weeks of ferrying back and forth from hospital I was exhausted and emotionally fragile. Photos show me looking haggard and bloated, with sallow

skin and bags under my eyes. I was on medication for months to increase milk supply, and also on antibiotics as I struggled to recover from the birth. I also suffered migraines and dizziness for around a year and a half.

In contrast, after forty days of zuo yuezi I feel energetic and positive. Several people have remarked on my glowing skin and bright eyes. Lactation has not been a problem and I even have a freezer full of excess breast milk. The ‘baby blues’ I experienced just

after my first child never eventuated, and most days I am happy and positive. And despite eating several dishes of special confinement food throughout the day (and night) I managed to lose 13kg of weight without trying – although I wish that was all I have to lose.

feeding your recoveryThe zuo yuezi diet aims to provide

a mother with warming foods to rebuild her strength after childbirth, replenish her blood supply and boost breast-milk production. There are regional variations on classic dishes but the basic theme is soups and dishes made of whole-grains, legumes, seafood, proteins (eggs and red meat), vegetables and certain fruits. Although there are vegetarian ver s ions o f zuo yuez i cu i s ine, traditionally it includes offal parts such as liver and kidney. Chinese herbal medicine is also imbibed constantly as a tea and in soup.

Zuo yuezi food can at first taste bland because it contains little or no salt and few spices. Most flavoring is provided through ginger, sesame oil and rice wine – the latter consumed liberally in cooked soups and even distilled into water. One of the most famous restorative zuo yuezi dishes, sesame chicken, is a deceptively simple chicken soup dish made with lashings of rice wine and sesame oil.

As a foreigner I was less bound by

Cross Cultural PersPeCtives

Surviving confinement

TexT & images: serina huang

reflections on zuo yuezi

october 2012 www.communitycenter.org.tw26

Oct_p3-end.indd 26 2012/9/24 9:52:27 PM


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“I don' t think I'm going to like i t at a l l . I think it's going to hurt.

But af ter the hurt I think maybe something good and s t rong and beautiful will come out of it...”

When we meet fifth grader Caitlin Smith, her world seems to be anything but good and strong and beautiful. It is a world where her mother died when she was 3, and her beloved brother Devon was recently killed, along with several others during a school shooting. Life is hard enough due to her Asperger’s Syndrome – which makes it more difficult for her to make friends and make sense of colors and emotions. But back before what Caitlin refers to as The Day Our Life Fell Apart, Devon figured out everything for her. He used to show

her what to do, how to act, and what not to say, so that people wouldn’t laugh or stare. Now there’s no one to decipher the colors and emotions that Caitlin can’t understand. She turns to textbooks and dictionaries, easy for her to understand because they’re full of facts in black and white. After reading the definition for the word “closure”, Caitlin knows this is just what she and her father need. And she is determined to find it. In her search, she discovers that not everything is really black and white – the world is full of colors, messy and beautiful. And perhaps if she "works at it," Caitlin and her father can have Closure and Empathy, too.

Although this book could have been completely depressing, I closed it feeling strangely uplifted – as if Caitlin’s journey from black and white to color was somehow my own.

Kathryn Erskine pulls this poignant tale off wonderfully – it is sad, but sad in a way that gives the reader hope. Erskine delivers a stunning and tender portrayal of grief and recovery, with a voice that is unique and brilliantly rendered. Mockingbird offers insight into the behavior, mannerisms, motivations, and thought processes of someone living with Asperger’s. By the end of the book, I felt a greater understanding for how Caitlin’s mind worked and a deeper empathy for families dealing with this particular neurological disorder. This book is highly recommended for children, teens, and adults alike – it’s is definitely deserving of the National Book Award, and will leave readers aching to understand one another despite their personal problems.

zuo yuezi conventions than most Chinese women. This gave me space to decide which rules to follow and which to bend. I abstained from showering or washing my hair for 28 days, which I found strangely liberating. And other than for medical reasons, I remained indoors for the full month and received few visitors. But I found it hard to stay stuck in bed all day, and when not resting would instead play with my toddler, potter around the house or blog on the Internet. I didn’t have a strict mother-in-law around to chide me, but perhaps I would have recovered even faster if I had rested more.

Sesame Chicken (麻油雞)

Ingredients2 tablespoons sesame oilMedium knob of ginger, sliced1/2 chicken, chopped into large pieces1 teaspoon brown sugar750ml rice wineWater

Method1. Wash the ginger, dry and then cut into

slices with the skin remaining. 2. Heat the sesame oil in a large wok

or saucepan. Add the ginger, and fry until fragrant and almost crisp.

3. Add the chicken pieces and allow to brown evenly. Sprinkle on the brown sugar, and then pour two-thirds of the rice wine over the chicken. Continue to cook for a few minutes until it comes to a boil.

4. If using a wok, transfer chicken to a large saucepan. Cover with the remaining rice wine and top with drinking water to cover the chicken. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer until the chicken is tender (around 40 minutes).

S e r i n a H u a n g e n j o y s s a m p l i n g Ta iwan’s cu l i n a r y creations, exploring n e w p l a c e s a n d discovering cultural insights. She recently gave birth to her second child, and is writing about her birthing and postpartum experiences. Her blog is at http:taiwanxifu.com

Mockingbird by kathryn Erskine

Published in 2010 Published by PhilomelisBn: 0399252649

Shereen Lee is a sixth grader attending Taipei American School who has a passion for writing and reading in spired by her family and friends. Want more? Go to her blog at http: //booknuttereviews.wordpress.com.

TExT: SHEREEN LEE

Oct_p3-end.indd 27 2012/9/24 9:06:52 AM

“It was so nice to go to sleep early and wake up early with the sun in Cambodia,” said Noam Gordon, at a Shabbat dinner. By comparison, on

their one-week trip to Taipei, they were going to sleep past midnight. When I landed in Taiwan this summer, after nine months in Canada, my eyes became sore from the domino line of restaurants, 7-Eleven, Family Mart, boutiques, fruit stands, drink stores and more.

The modernization of the world has changed our lifestyles; sometimes we miss the simpler days when phones did not exist, and organic vegetables were the norm. Waking up at 6:30 am and going to bed at 1 am was the norm in my high school days. No matter how dark the sky is, Taipei is a city that never sleeps, and work never seems to stop. The priorities of people have changed and it isn't always about living happily. But the truth is that it does not take much to live joyfully.

The first time I went to Walmart in Canada, I faced nearly fifty different types of deodorant. The purchaser has to consider the brand, price, scent, and size. What happened to the days when our options were limited? People tend to get overwhelmed when they are given too many choices. Variety is great, but sometimes just a few is enough. Think about it. There are options and distractions everywhere now, but are you ever satisfied?

As we age, we crave space, peace, and fewer distractions.

In my opinion, this would be the perfect place for a university student to live. How can you study with a street full of stores and night clubs? When you have a chance to travel more widely, it can change the way you see the world and forces you to appreciate what you have. Going back to the basics we can live simple and happy lives.

I longed for some outdoor activity in the hot scorching sun after hibernating indoors during the Canadian winter. My new favorite exercise is Yoga. It intrigued me that slow stretching movements can be so strenuous. When you are in a classroom filled with natural sunlight and a breeze, in a strong bare feet stance, it feels natural and simple.

Living simply does not mean living in a cave. It means thinking with a simple, practical, and logical mind. The wealthy often look at the poor and think, "How can they find joy in their lives with so little?” I would love to become wealthy one day, but not like royal families. I want to possess what I need. Life can be extra colorful and spicy with a few delicacies, but know your limits. You cannot cut yourself off completely from modern society, but you can try to adjust daily habits and actions, aiming towards a more natural and simple life.

Take ten minutes in the morning to sit outside and enjoy whatever view you may have. Look towards green trees and flowers, and just breathe and relax. Think simple - all you need is whatever brings you happiness.

seeking simplicity TExT: LEAT AHRONY

Leat Ahrony is a business undergraduate student at the University of Victoria (UVic) in Canada. She began her journalism career in high school writing for the Centered on Taipei magazine. She has a weekly online column for the UVic newspaper, The Martlet, and regularly writes print news and culture articles. She plans to earn her B.A in Commerce and continue a side career in Journalism.

TExT: KARI SCHIRO AND NEEV CHARAN IMAGES: COURTESY OF SHAFFER’S KITCHEN

The Center’s foodie friends are in for a treat in October because Tastes of Taipei is headed to one of the city’s latest epicurean

additions: Shaffer’s Kitchen! Specializing in meticulously prepared Western-style dishes, the restaurant is the brainchild of husband and wife team Howard and Jennifer Shaffer, who met as students in Taipei in 1975 and married two years later. However, their life story is not

one which revolves around food. Interestingly, the Shaffers have spent most of their professional lives in the shoe manufacturing business, in Taiwan, China and the United States. Now retired, they are back here in Taiwan to focus on food - something Jennifer has always had a passion for. Howard explains, “Just a little over a year ago…Jennifer surprised me with a question. She wanted to know if it would be OK for her to start a restaurant – would I agree? My response was that not only would I agree, but that I would do all I could to support her in that effort. One year later Shaffer’s Kitchen opened its doors for business.”

And now Shaffer’s Kitchen is opening its doors to The Center on Thursday, October 18th for Tastes of Taipei! For the event, Jennifer and Howard have created a special set menu, which is sure to embody the restaurant’s founding philosophy of eating “fresh and pure, without additives or other ‘surprises’”.

The menu for the night will be:appetizer (choose two): Goose Liver Pate (1 pc) or Blini (1 pc) or shrimp Cocktail soup (Cappuccino of Roast Pepper) or salad (Greek watermelon)Main course (choose one): Beef wellington** (for 2 people) or scallops and angel hair Pasta or Pork Chops and Rice dessert (choose one): Crepe suzette or Chocolate Torte**Please tell the restaurant when making your reservation if you would like this dish.

thursday october 18th, 6 pm – 10 pm7, Lane 42, Yixian Road, Xinyi district 台灣台北市信義區逸仙路42巷7號(02) 8789-4088


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29www.communitycenter.org.tw OCTOBER 2012 29www.communitycenter.org.tw OCTOBER 2012www.communitycenter.org.tw OCTOBER 2012www.communitycenter.org.tw

shaohsing Wine 紹興酒 [shaoxing jiu]

Shaohsing wine, originally from a city to the south of the Yangzi River called Shaoxing (紹興), is made from glutinous rice, wheat and selected rice yeast. In Taiwan, it is made in the town of Puli (埔里) in central Taiwan. An improved traditional brewing method is employed and it is stored in an earthen jar for at least two years; ’Aged Shaohsing wine’ (陳年紹興酒, chennian shaoxing jiu) stands for over five years, while ‘fine aged Shaohsing wine’ (精釀陳年紹興酒, jingniang chennian shaoxing jiu) rests for ten years before being bottled. Alcohol content ranges from 14.5% to 17.5%. Shaohsing wine can be used for cooking and for drinking as well (it’s usually drunk warm).

red yeast rice 紅糟 [hongzao]Fermenting white glutinous rice

and m o n a s c u s p u p u re u s (紅麴 ; hongqu) produces red yeast wine, and a sediment known as red yeast rice which is used to color and enhance the flavor of dishes such as tender fish with red yeast rice (糟溜魚柳; zaoliu yuliu) and fried marinaded pork with red yeast rice (紅燒肉; hongshao rou). Red yeast wine itself is used for both drinking and cooking.

ferMented Black soy Beans 豆豉 [douchi]

B l a c k s o y b e a n s f e r m e n t e d with yeast and salt are used with vegetables or meats for stir-frying, steaming, braising, making sauces and soups. Dishes that use fermented black soy beans include steamed pork ribs with fermented black soy bean

(豉汁蒸排骨, chizhi zheng paigu).

ferMented (sPicy) Bean sauce (辣)豆瓣醬 [(la) douban jiang]

Broad beans or soy beans are fermented with salt (and sometimes with chili to add a spicy flavor) to make this sauce, which should be stir-fried in hot oil to release its fragrance and impart its aromatic flavor. It is used for marinating, stir-frying, braising, stewing and making soups in dishes such as ma-po tofu (麻婆豆腐 mapo douf u), and beef noodle soup (紅燒牛肉麵 hongshao niurou mian).

sWeet Paste 甜麵醬 [tianmian jiang]

Sweet paste is made by fermenting soy bean, flour, salt, sugar, and sesame oil. It is used for stir-frying, s t ew ing and s auce f o r mea t s, especially Peking Duck (北京烤鴨 Beijing kaoya).

tofu cheese/ferMented old tofu 豆腐乳 [doufu ru]

Tofu cheese is tofu fermented with yeast and salt. Additional ingredients such as chili, sesame oil, soy bean and white or red rice yeast can be added to create a different flavor. It is used in marinades, stir-fries, braising, dips, and sauces in dishes such as stir-fried water spinach with tofu cheese (腐乳炒空心菜 furu chao kongxincai). It is also popularly served with rice congee.

chili sauce 辣椒醬 [lajiao jiang]Chili sauce is made from red chili,

salt, sugar and/or vegetable oil. The degree of heat depends on the type of chili that is used: the smaller the

chili the spicier it is. Chili sauce is used for giving a spicy flavor to foods, especially Sichuan cuisine such as spicy eggplant (魚香茄子 yuxiang qiezi).

sesaMe Paste 芝麻醬 [zhima jiang]

Sesame paste comes in white and black forms, but the white one is more commonly used for cooking and is the kind usually referred to as ‘sesame paste’. It is made from roasted and ground white sesame and i s u s ed fo r mak ing s a l ad dressings in recipes like cold noodles with sesame sauce (芝麻醬涼麵, zhima jiang liangmian), shredded chicken with mung bean jelly (雞絲拉皮, jisi lapi) and bang-bang chicken (棒棒雞, bangbang ji).

taiWanese BBQ sauce 沙茶醬 [shacha jiang]

This is a Taiwanese version of satay sauce, which was brought from South East Asia by Taiwanese immigrants. It is made of shallots, garlic, chili, fish, salt, spices and vegetable oil. Ground peanut is added in one kind. It is used for dips, stir-fries, braising, gril l ing, marinating and salads. Dishes using the sauce include stir-fried beef with BBQ sauce (沙茶炒牛肉 shacha chao niurou).

xo sauce XO醬 [XO jiang]XO sauce refers to a superior sauce

made with scallops, dried shrimp, Chinese ham, shallots, chili, soy sauce and vegetable oil. It is used for stir-frying, steaming, and flavoring noodles in dishes including stir-fried radish cake with XO sauce (XO醬炒蘿蔔糕 XO jiang chao luobogao).

the essential contents of a taiWanese kitchen

cuPBoardTExT: IVY CHEN IMAGES: TING TING HUANG

Oct_p3-end.indd 29 2012/9/24 9:06:59 AM


Listings are now available online from http://communitycenter.org.tw/life-in-taiwan/worship-directory and http://communitycenter.org.tw/life-in-taiwan/community-groups.

Listings are now available online from http://communitycenter.

Worship dirECtory aNd CommuNity groups

CsC BusinEss CLassiFiEd

hair dresserWeB consultant

WeB consultant Beauty

#14 Tienmu E. Road | Telephone 2871-1515 | [email protected]

Oct_p3-end.indd 30 2012/9/24 9:07:03 AM

Richard Saunders is a trained classical musician and writer who has lived in Taipei since 1993. He has written several books (available at The Center and in bookshops around Taipei), including Yangmingshan: the Guide (a complete guide to the National Park on Taipei’s doorstep) and Taipei Escapes I and 2, which together detail sixty day trips and hikes within easy reach of Taipei city. A fourth book, a guide to Taiwan’s offshore islands, is due out at the end of the year.

Richard Saunders is a trained classical musician and writer who has lived in Taipei since 1993. He has written several books (available at The Center and in bookshops around Taipei), including

Richard saunders

Qinbi is one of several beautiful eastern Fujian-style villages in the Matsu islands, one of taiwan's remotest outposts, lying just off the coast of china. richard's guide, the Islands of taiwan, which describes the sights, culture and history of Matsu and taiwan's other outlying islands in depth, will be out in December.

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centered on taipei october 2012

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