Centered on Taipei magazine - Community Services Center

A publication of the Community Services Center 

<strong>Centered</strong> 

on TAIPEI 

December 2012/January 2013, Volume 13, Issue 4 

cover story 

a QUest For tradition 

Understanding Food allergies 

taipei’s Fabric Market 

all aboUt HanUkkaH 

exploring Food Moods witH graci kiM 

wHat tHis Magazine Means to Me 

2013 spring & sUMMer actiVities catalog inside

ContentS December 2012 volume 13 issue 4 

5 lEttEr from thE EDitor 

6 riCharD rECommEnDs 

national ConCErt hall: 

DECEmbEr 2012/january 2013 

7 Cultural CornEr 

ChiCken Soup 

8 CEntEr GallEry 

thE CEntEr’s favoritE finDs 

9 off thE bEatEn traCk 

Water Curtain Cave 

9 

10 CovEr story 

a QueSt for tradition 

12 Community 

taS 

eventS at the Center 

14 orphanage Club 

spECial supplEmEnt 

2013 Spring & Summer aCtivitieS Catalog 

19 hEalth 

underStanding food allergieS 

10 

20 profilE 

graCi in the kitChen 

22 Expat pErspECtivEs 

belle of the ball 

23 CoffEE CornEr 

glaCio iCe Cream SpeCialtieS 

24 photoGraphy 

Snapping fireWorkS 

25 ask bin 

fabriC marketS and SurroundingS 

26 GEnEration y 

hanukkah 

20 

27 tCm CornEr 

building a Strong ConStitution 

28 CsC 

What the magazine meanS to me 

29 ChinEsE kitChEn 

taiWaneSe SWeet SoupS 

30 CsC businEss ClassifiED 

insiDE baCk CovEr 

poStCard perfeCt 

CovEr imaGE CourtEsy of 

profEssor tsai yushan. 

An original male leg-covering 

of Puyuma tribe that Professor 

Tsai used for analysis (part of 

the collection at Fu Jen Catholic 

University). Read more on page 10. 

22 29 

<strong>Centered</strong> 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: coteditor@communitycenter.org.tw 

Correspondence may be sent to the editor at coteditor@communitycenter.org. 

tw. 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. 

www.communitycenter.org.tw DEC 2012/jan 2013 

3

4 DEC 2012/jan 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw

LEttEr From thE EDitor 

Publisher: Community Services Center, Taipei 

Editor: Kath Liu 

Co-editor: Richard Saunders 

advertising manager: Paula Lee 

tel: 0926-956-844 

Fax: 02-2835-2530 

email: paulalee@communitycenter.org.tw 

Writing and Photography 

Contributors: Nancy Achorn 

Leat Ahrony 

Marina Burana 

Ivy Chen 

Michelle Cheung 

Aly Cooper 

Fang Shao Neng 

Craig Ferguson 

David Gill 

Katharine Susa Gill 

Monica Hess 

Bin Huang 

Brandon Huang 

Community Services 

Center Editorial Panel: 

Printed by: 

Siew Kang, Fred Voigtmann 

Farn Mei Printing Co., Ltd. 

1F, No. 102, Hou Kang Street, Shilin District, Taipei 

Tel: 02-2882-6748 Fax: 02-2882-6749 

E-mail: farn.mei@msa.hinet.net 

Community SErviCES CEntEr 

www.communitycenter.org.tw 

Director: Adam McMillan 

office manager: Grace Ting 

Counselors: Suzan Babcock, I-Wen Chan, Fawn Chang, 

Katherine Chang, Jung Chin, Wendy Evans, 

Cerita Hsu, Perry Malcolm, Eva Salazar-Liu, 

Ming-I Sun, Cynthia Teeters 

newcomer orientation Consultant: Amy Liu 

accountant: Monica Cheng 

Communications: Kari Schiro 

Programs Coordinator: Rosemary Susa 

Events Coordinator: Bianca Russell 

Chinese teacher: Gloria Gwo 

volunteers: 

Premier Sponsors: 

Serina Huang 

Ting Ting Huang 

Graci Kim 

Natalie Köhle 

Amy Liu 

John McQuade 

Shaun Ramsden 

Michael Russell 

Richard Saunders 

Rosemary Susa 

Maria Tan 

Sonya Walter 

Tina Yuan 

Tsai Yushan 

Nancy Achorn, Alison Bai, Wen Finamore, 

Shana Garcia, Lily Lau, John McQuade, 

Bunny Pacheco, Gloria Peng, Ruth Reynolds, 

Jenni Rosen, Julia Ruggiere, Kari Schiro, Desta 

Selassie, Emmy Shih, Michelle Smith, Anita Town, 

Lillian Yiin 

3M Taiwan 

Bai Win Antiques 

BP Taiwan Ltd. 

Breitling 

China American Petrochemical 

Concordia Consulting 

Costco Wholesale Taiwan 

Crown Worldwide Movers Ltd. 

Four Star Int’l 

Grand Hyatt Hotel, Taipei 

HSBC 

ICRT 

Metacity Development Corp 

ProQC 

San Fu Gas Co. Ltd. 

Smerwick Ltd 

Songfu Li 

Standard Chartered Bank 

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 csc@communitycenter.org.tw. 

The weather has finally agreed to get cooler, the festive 

season is approaching and another year is drawing to a 

close. I hope that 2012 has been a peaceful, happy year for 

all of you and that 2013 brings good luck, good health and 

good times! 

Here at <strong>Centered</strong> on Taipei, we’re getting into the 

festive spirit! Leat Ahrony explains the stories and 

traditions behind Hanukkah, Ivy Chen gives us a taste of 

Taiwan’s many and varied sweet soups (a perfect winter 

dessert), Craig Ferguson teaches us the trick to capturing 

photographs of fireworks just in time for the New Year 

extravaganza and Aly Cooper clues us in on where to go 

for a real indulgent seasonal treat at Glacio. Keeping with 

foodie delights, Serina Huang profiles Graci Kim, a Korean 

Kiwi living here in Taipei who has her very own YouTube 

cooking show based around mood cooking. 

And what better mood food than chicken soup Amy 

Liu shares the secret behind the Taiwanese people’s love of 

and belief in a steaming hot bowl of chicken soup. We also 

have a very special cover story this issue about Professor 

Tsai’s work on rediscovering Taiwanese aboriginal textiles. 

Marina Burana chats with Professor Tsai about what 

sparked her interest in this topic and what has kept her 

interest alive through years of hard work. An article that 

is close to home for many of us who love our magazine is 

Nancy Achorn’s article about what <strong>Centered</strong> on Taipei 

has meant to her in a recent move to Taipei from Greece. 

Anyone else with a story to share about how the magazine 

helped them settle in is more than welcome to submit - we 

always love to hear from you! 

No matter what it is you’re looking for, don’t forget 

that <strong>Centered</strong> 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 

coteditor@communitycenter.org.tw. 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. 

Stay safe and well during this festive Season and we will 

see you again in the new year! 

Kath 

Kath Liu 

Editor 

Richard Saunders 

Co-editor 

Paula Lee 

Advertising Manager 

<strong>Centered</strong> 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) 


5

RICHARD 

ReCommenDs 

riChard SaunderS 

December’s monthly program from the National 

CKS Cultural Center once again boasts some stellar 

concerts, along with a healthy quota of unintentional 

laughs, courtesy of several hilarious event titles (first 

prize this month is a tie between “Love and Death VI – Love 

or Hell!” & “Arise from Horizon”). A couple of amusing 

concert adverts also raise a smile (will someone please tell local 

conductors that those deep “lost-in-the-music” poses aren’t 

dignified but merely pretentious). At least they provided me with 

a welcome giggle after a hard day’s work…. 

Right, quickly on to what actually matters – the music – and 

there’s no moaning there. The run-up to (and aftermath of) 

Christmas is celebrated in fine style this year. That long-running 

group of versatile vocal virtuosi known as the Swingle Singers 

is equally at home in both difficult contemporary music and 

light, fun arrangements of classical and popular favorites. Glee 

fans will know them through the jaunty ditty that accompanies 

the closing credits each week. No prizes for guessing which 

genre the ensemble (fifty years-old this year) will be featuring in 

their Taipei recital (on the 19th December), but it’ll certainly be 

light, fun and astonishingly assured. For those that prefer their 

classical music as the composer meant it to be heard, the concert 

on Christmas Eve couples a seasonal fave, the Nutcracker Suite, 

with Poulenc’s much loved Gloria, a magnificent setting of text 

from the Catholic mass. This is late, great Poulenc, seamlessly 

blending almost austere magnificence with a couple of the 

composer’s most achingly beautiful melodies. 

There are plenty of excellent non-seasonal programs during 

the next two months to please classical music aficionados who 

simply want to hear some great music. The wonderful French 

violinist Augustin Dumay plays a program of, er, French violin 

classics on December 5th, including Ravel’s stunning Tzigane 

and Chausson’s gorgeous Poeme. He does however throw in a 

Czech gem for variety: Dvorak’s four Romantic Pieces, while the 

orchestral strings get to shine by themselves in the Serenade by 

another very fine Bohemian composer, Josef Suk. 

Sticking with string instruments, one of the world’s great 

string quartets, the Juilliard, is in Taiwan for a rare performance 

on December 14th, with a weighty program of late Beethoven 

and Mozart quartets. No easy listening this, but those with the 

necessary stamina (and these works are too much for me so far) 

should grab their tickets before they sell out. 

More string quartet greatness is in town in January, with the 

Jerusalem Quartet. To my shame I’ve never come across them 

before, but quartet mavens regard the group as one of the finest 

working today. In their varied program an early Beethoven rubs 

shoulders with Borodin’s Second String Quartet (the one with 

the famed Nocturne slow movement). Rounding out the concert 

is a return to profound depth: Shostakovich’s fifteenth (and last) 

quartet. This is one of the (many) DSCH quartets that I don’t 

know, but, like the late symphonies (which date from the same 

time) it’s apparently a reflection on mortality. Hopefully it’s not 

quite as dark as the Fourteenth Symphony (perhaps the most 

disturbing and upsetting piece of classical music that I’ve ever 

heard), but surely food for thought for those that can take it. 

national Concert hall 

DECEmbEr 2012/ january 2013 

NATIONAL CONCERT HALL 

Vitus: Teo Gheoghiu 2012 

Concert 

Works for piano by Debussy, 

Scriabin and Brahms, and 

Rachmaninov’s Third Paino 

Concerto 

December 1 

Family Concert by Ju 

Percussion Group II 

December 2 

Augustin Dumay 

Works for violin and orchestra by 

Chausson, Suk, Dvorak and Ravel 

December 5 RR 

Andrei Gavrilov Piano Recital 

Works by Chopin and Prokofiev 

December 7 RR 

Song of Soul: Faure’s Requiem 

Plus Franck’s Symphony in D minor 

December 8 

2012 Taiwan Connection 

Orchestral works by Beethoven and 

Brahms 

December 9 

Zhang Hao-Chen Piano Recital 

Pieces by Schumann, Balakirev, 

Debussy, Beethoven and Liszt 

December 12 

Alexander Kobin Piano Recital 

Works by Beethoven and Schumann 

December 13 

Juilliard String Quartet 

Works by Mozart and Beethoven 

December 14 RR 

Arise from Horizon 

Bruckner’s magnificent Sixth 

Symphony, plus Mozart’s Haffner 

Symphony 


Oriental Fantasy: Lin Wei-qi 

Piano Recital 

Works by Debussy, Ravel, Balakirev, 

Chopin and Debussy 

December 17th 

RR: Richard Recommends 

Klazz Brothers & Cuba 

Percussion 

December 18th 

A Capella Christmas with 

Swingle 

The amazing Swingle Singers 

do their own inimitable take on 

seasonal classics 


2012 NTCH Christmas Concert: 

Java Five 

More jazzy vocal gymnastics on a 

Christmas theme 

December 21-22 

Ju Percussion Group Winter 

Concert 

December 23 

Christmas Feast Concert 

Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and 

Poulenc’s Gloria 


ECO Christmas Concert 

Music by Bruckner and Bach 

December 25 

Lu Chia-hui Piano Recital 

Works by Liszt, Bartok, Albeniz, 

Chopin and Bach 

December 29 

NSO New Year Concert – 

Forever Love 

Verdi arias and orchestral excerpts 

December 31 and january 1 

2013 

Love and Death VI – Love or 

Hell! 

Orchestral music by Mozart and 

Prokofiev 

january 10 – 11 RR 

NSO Masters and NSO – 

Emperor and Hero 

Beethoven’s Eroica symphony and 

Emperor piano concerto 

january 13 

Jerusalem Quartet 

String Quartets by Borodin, 

Beethoven and Shostakovich 

january 14 RR 

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. 

TICKETING OFFICES: • NTCH: (02) 3393 9888 

• ERA: (02) 2709 3788 

6 

DEC 2012/jan 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Amy's 

ultural 

Corner 

台 

灣 

Chicken Soup: 

Comforting and healthy 

The German family I spent a month with during 

Christmas in Frankfurt a few years ago could not 

understand why I always craved soup for dinner. 

Soup is a comfort food to many Taiwanese, and it 

was especially soothing during the freezing, snowy days of 

the Christmas holiday season when I was in Germany. 

Soup features on almost every Chinese menu; it is a 

staple, and often a meal in itself. It should come as no 

surprise that there are an amazing variety of Chinese 

soups. Furthermore, the Chinese are especially obsessed 

with chicken soup, as it has been used by the Chinese to 

treat illness for centuries. As in other parts of the world, 

chicken soup is believed by the Taiwanese to cure colds, 

sore throats or an achy body. 

disease. Homemade chicken soup is both nutritious and 

good for the body and the soul. 

The curative powers of chicken soup are not simply 

an old wives’ tale. There is medical evidence it can help 

relieve cold or flu symptoms. Drinking it ups the intake 

of fluids and provides easily absorbed nutrients; the 

steam from hot soup can also reduce nasal or bronchial 

congestion and sooth a sore throat. Even if you don’t 

believe that certain chicken soups can have healing 

powers, a bowl of soup, lovingly prepared, can at least 

make us think we feel better — and it certainly has the 

ability to comfort. 

Editor’s Note: For more about Sweet Soups, see Chinese 

Kitchen on page 29. 

healing QualitieS 

Many of you will have heard or learned about yin 

and yang ( 陰陽 ). A large part of Chinese medicine is 

based on the concept of these two forces, which rule the 

universe. Yin and yang can be described as opposite or 

complementary forces. Depending on the context, yin 

refers to the feminine, darker, cooling forces; while yang 

represents the masculine, lighter, hot forces. 

So, in Chinese terms, illness is a signal that the yin 

and yang forces are out of balance. This imbalance 

leads to disharmony and blockages of energy flow in the 

body, thus causing disease. For example, if you have 

a cold, according to the Chinese principles of yin and 

yang, it’s because there is too much yin in your body. 

A Chinese herbalist might prescribe a soup designed 

to restore the yang force. Similarly, a fever might be 

treated with a yin soup. 

The secret of a good Chinese soup lies in the stock (no, 

I can’t cook, but I’ve checked with my mom!). Chicken 

is the primary meat of choice for preparing good stock 

to help restore physical strength so chicken soup made 

with a number of Chinese herbal ingredients to balance 

yin and yang is thought to increase energy, to strengthen 

body functions and to have an effective healing effect. As 

a result, after drinking chicken soup, one’s body should 

be neither too ‘warm’, nor too ’cold’, but neutral. The 

beauty of Chinese herbal soup is that it is not only drunk 

to correct imbalances and restore energy during times of 

illness, it is also drunk frequently in Taiwanese homes 

for its delicious taste and to care for the body, preventing 


7

GALLERY 

Dec 2012/Jan 2013 

The Center's 

Favorite Finds 

TEXT: MONICA HESS 

Color Creativity + home décor 

tien tung gallery 

This month the Gallery features the wonderful artwork of 

Huan Yuan Chen and other artists from Tien Tung Art Gallery. 

Priced between NT$700 and NT$1,800, these beautiful scroll 

paintings make great gifts or an excellent addition to your 

home decor. Tien Tung also accepts custom orders. 

lemongrass house taiwan 

Lemongrass House Taiwan is proud to present to you a 

range of aromatherapy, bath and household products. Light 

up your life with Sniff Soy Candles from Australia, or indulge 

your body and mind with delicious handmade bath products 

from Planet Yum Australia. 

Sahar Shaikh 

On the sideboard display 

this month is Sahar Shaikh's 

exclusive collection of fabulous 

short and long Indian kutis, tunics 

and scarfs. 

The other day I took a different route home, and on the 

way noticed an interesting sight within walking distance 

from the Dunhua/Xinyi intersection: brightly colored 

canvases in a well-lit, inviting studio. I went in to inquire 

and learned that Escape Artist is “a painting studio with 

an attached cafe, offering a peaceful oasis from the 

enveloping urban environment.” 

The idea is to offer a “social painting experience” with 

no boundaries (beyond that of the pre-stretched canvas 

you purchase). I like that the atmosphere inside felt like 

a place where you could discover your inner Picasso 

(or Miro or Monet or fill-in-the-blank) and “escape” the 

hustle and bustle of city life – at least for a few hours. If 

you’ve never painted before, you can browse through a 

basket of inspiration cards (swatches of different images 

and patterns) to see just how easy it can be to create 

something amazing. 

Children are welcome to join in, as long as they can 

reach the paint containers. Prices for a blank canvas 

range from NT$1,200 – NT$4,800, depending on size. 

When your masterpiece is complete, it’s packaged 

in a sturdy cardboard box with a handle, for easy 

transportation. 

To schedule your own “escape”: 

Address: 1F, 68 Wenchang Street, Taipei 

Phone: (02) 2707-0767 

Hours: Tues – Sat: 10 am – 11 pm / Sun: 10 am – 10 

pm / Friday and Saturday evenings: If a group of ten or 

more arrive after 9 pm, then EA will remain open until 1 

am. 

Email: ea@escapeartist.com.tw 

Website: http://www.escapeartist.com.tw/ 

Happy Painting! 

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. 


OFF THE BEATEN TRACK 

RICHARD SAUNDERS EXPLORES TAIWAN'S LESS-TRODDEN PATHS 

Water Curtain Cave, nantou County 

As a kid growing up in England I never dreamed 

I’d end up living in the Far East. In fact in those 

days I doubt I even thought I’d ever visit the 

mysterious Orient. About the full extent of my 

exposure to Chinese culture (apart from a tablecloth mum 

once embroidered using the ‘willow pattern’ design she’d 

traced off a plate) was watching Monkey on TV. In those 

days I had no idea that the series was based on a Chinese 

classic (Journey to the West). In any event the mad antics 

of Monkey, Pigsy and Sandy made a bigger impression 

than the fabulous scenery of the locations. 

In the novel, the Water Curtain Cave is the home 

of the monkey king, Sun Wukong, and this wonderfully 

evocative name has been adopted for several of Taiwan’s 

most enchanting waterfalls, in Taoyuan, Chiayi, Yunlin, 

and Hualien counties. Perhaps the most beautiful (and 

certainly the most mysterious) lies in a remote spot in the 

central county of Nantou. This waterfall requires a miniexpedition 

to reach, and can only be approached by those 

with their own wheels. The last leg of the trip, following 

the valley of the Ping Lai Stream ( 坪瀨溪 ) on which Water 

Curtain Cave lies, is one of the scariest public roads I’ve 

ever negotiated by car in all Taiwan, and nerves of steel 

are needed if you intend to drive the last three kilometers 

to the trailhead. There’s hardly enough room for a car 

to pass along the one-lane track in some places, and a 

sheer drop on the left waits for the careless; pray no one 

is coming the other way! En route, the road passes a 

fascinating natural curiosity, the Pinglai Peculiar Rock ( 坪 

瀨奇景 ), a large boulder precariously lodged in the top of 

a narrow cleft. 

The trail – when you finally reach it – is quite gentle, 

wandering up the valley and crossing a vertigo-inducing 

suspension bridge across an awesome canyon cut through 

the mountains a few hundred meters downstream 

from the Water Curtain Cave. From here can be seen a 

breathtaking yet unnamed waterfall nearly a hundred 

meters high, plunging gracefully over the sheer cliffs of the 

canyon wall into the main stream below. 

Water Curtain Cave ( 水濂洞 ) itself is hidden until the 

last moment, when the full force of the main stream 

plunges sixty meters free of the cliff into the canyon: a 

place of spectacular beauty. 

While enjoying the magnificence of the scene, spare 

a thought for the path builders: until this route was 

constructed a few years ago, Water Curtain Cave was 

almost inaccessible, and the only way to its foot was via 

a dangerous, 3-hour wade up the canyon, with its deep 

pools and cascades! 

more information on Water Curtain Cave can be found 

on richard’s blog, off the beaten track at 

http://taiwandiscovery.wordpress.com/ 

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 in January 2013. 


9

cover story 

A Quest for Tradition: 

Taiwan Aboriginal Textiles 

Text: Marina Burana 

Images: Fang Shao Neng and 

courtesy of Tsai Yushan 

She is petite. Her eyes are 

sincere and she smiles nearly 

all the time. We talk in a 

very strange mixture of 

French and Chinese and laugh at our 

absurd neologisms. In the eighties 

she studied at the École National Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in 

Paris, and now reminisces about that wonderful time when she had 

just arrived in that wild bohemian city to obtain a degree in Design. 

Those years are long gone now, but Professor Tsai YuShan still 

has the same fraîcheur (freshness) of those passionate people who 

dream intensely. 

Professor Tsai has worked as an Associate Professor at Fu Jen 

Catholic University since 1993 and is the author of four books 

about weaving technique theory and the creation of textiles. One 

of Professor Tsai’s academic specialisations is Taiwan aboriginal 

textiles: she does exquisite reproductions and has dedicated years 

of her life to studying, understanding and honing the necessary 

techniques needed to weave, embroider and analyze the astounding 

patterns of the yuanzhumin (Taiwanese aboriginal people). Her 

work is both colorful and sober, and it covers a wide variety of 

fabrics, weaving and embroidering processes. She explains that she 

hasn't found any book with a complete structural analysis of these 

types of Taiwanese aboriginal textiles, and so she has been working 

hard in her personal quest for a more profound and detailed 

understanding of that unique world. 

The color of Identity 

The Taiwanese aborigines descend from the Austronesian peoples 

that settled in Southeast Asia and Oceania, and they share the 

languages and culture of the Austronesian family, differentiating 

them from the Han Chinese communities which migrated to 

Taiwan from China. The various tribes are distributed throughout 

10 dec 2012/jan 2013 www.communitycenter.org.tw

Taiwan and although they don't 

speak the exact same language, they 

have certain similarities in the way 

they live and in the way they dress 

– especially the latter. The many 

geometric patterns found in their 

textiles tend to vary only a little from 

tribe to tribe. The weaving patterns 

of the Atayal tribe consist of stripes 

and diamonds, which can also be 

found in designs of the Seediq tribe. 

But although some may only have 

a small variation in pattern, there is 

a strong difference in color. While 

Yami woven textiles are mostly blue 

and white, others like those of the 

Pingpu tend to be more colorful and 

playful. The Paiwan tribe's creativity 

in textiles is superb and their patterns 

go beyond the use of geometric 

shapes, plus they use delicate or 

powerful colors. The Tsou tribe, 

on the other hand, seems to have 

lost its tradition of weaving but its 

women still know how to adorn their 

black towel turban with straightline 

stitching or cross-stitching and 

pompoms. 

What all tribes have in common, 

though, is their geometric shapes: 

diamonds, zigzag twills, straight 

lines; some also have flowers, 

animals, or leaf patterns; they are 

all part of the tribes' expressions on 

different fabrics. Others have rich 

brocade patterns or use the same 

kind of materials, such as cotton, 

linen or bark: ramie (a flowering 

plant in the nettle family Urticaceae, 

native to eastern Asia) used to be 

the main material used for clothing. 

Each tribe interprets the world in 

its own way. Sometimes they mirror 

nature on their textiles, other times 

that intimate and complicated 

scenario of rituals which permeates 

the day-to-day relationship with 

their past, their traditions and their 

families can be seen. Their cultures 

and their identities are all in the 

presence of colors and the presence 

of that powerful tool of geometry. 

Hard work 

Professor Tsai has used many 

resources in order to recapture the 

magic of the old aboriginal textiles, 

from research in museums, private 

collections, collection catalogs, 

and photographs, to meeting with 

aborigines and asking about their 

special techniques when weaving and 

embroidering. 

The Institute of Textiles and 

C l o t h i n g a t F u J e n C a t h o l i c 

University was sponsored by the 

Council of Indigenous Peoples of 

the Executive Yuan for a “Teacher 

Qualification Training Program for 

the Aboriginal Traditional Crafts 

of Dying and Weaving”, a program 

in which fifteen aboriginal students 

were trained to teach others how 

to give life to their traditional arts 

and crafts. A course on shuttle 

weaving in this program used charts 

with symbols and numbers based 

on Professor Tsai’s analysis of the 

traditional old fabric structure. 

This helped students to reproduce 

Atayal traditional fabrics with a 

dobby loom. After this course, Tsai 

YuShan accepted a commission 

from the Taichung County Cultural 

Center, working on their museum's 

collections of other tribes' traditional 

fabrics. In these last few years she 

has been part of a research group on 

Taiwanese aboriginal clothing and 

culture, a project organized by Kobe 

Design University of Japan. 

Taiwan Aboriginals have for 

the most part lost their traditional 

brocade skills; however the tribes on 

the island of Lanyu (Orchid Island) 

and in Taidong have retained this 

ability. Tsai and some Japanese 

scholars met a Puyuma weaver from 

this region who was still weaving 

a traditional fabric, and although 

asking questions and taking pictures 

was all they could garner from 

this meeting, Professor Tsai could 

decipher, thanks to her knowledge 

and experience, the structures and 

materials used, which she then 

combined with her weaving skills to 

create a formidable result. Weaving 

was particularly difficult since the 

aboriginal's back strap loom is 

different from her dobby loom, but 

after a few years she finally mastered 

it. She spent many hours trying to 

decipher how the 'up and down' 

threads and the 'across' threads 

interact in order to later record her 

findings on what is called a 'weaving 

draft', a specialized standard code on 

a paper graph. With that complicated 

tool she can start her reproduction 

and also make her own variations. 

All her books have these graphs to 


11

help students, professionals and 

amateurs make their own personal 

combinations. 

This means a lot of hard work and 

concentration, qualities Professor 

Tsai YuShan certainly doesn't 

lack. From her years as a student 

at the Department of Fine Arts at 

the Chinese Culture University in 

Taiwan, she has developed a strong 

sense of commitment to what she 

likes and to what she wants. Those 

later years in France only served to 

strengthen her endeavors. She spoke 

little French and she started as a 

common student, but finished as one 

of the best, receiving congratulations 

f r o m a l l h e r t e a c h e r s f o r h e r 

dedication and will. She now focuses 

on studying southeast Asian textiles 

on their pattern color and technique. 

When I told her how amazed I was 

that she chose to engage in such a 

complex job she just said 'It's what I 

like to do'. 

Enjoying the Tradition 

Professor Tsai YuShan has spent 

a great deal of time in museums and 

at home, sitting down in front of her 

dobby loom, recovering that elegant 

and important tradition that speaks 

of the peoples of Taiwan. This year 

she has put together an exhibition at 

the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan 

Aborigines, in which she presented 

a total of 103 pieces of thirteen 

different tribes. Her next exhibition 

will be at the Bai Win Gallery run by 

Faye Angevine later in 2013 as part 

of a wider showing of Aboriginal 

artwork. 

Tsai YuShan's work is definitely 

one of the most important when 

it comes to recovering old woven 

treasures. She made her way through 

the colorful patterns and succeeded 

in making astonishing reproductions 

full of life, creativity and a sense of 

identity. When I said goodbye after 

our meeting, she lit up the room with 

a bright smile that reminded me of 

those patterns and colors she has so 

beautifully brought back to life. 

Marina Burana is an Argentinean writer 

born in 1986. She has published two books 

of short stories in Spanish and is now 

writing plays in English. She speaks French 

and reads Ancient Greek. She also plays 

violin, paints and studies 

Chinese in Taipei. 

To read more about Professor Tsai’s work, see: 

Recovering lost woven treasures: Translation and Transformation 

By Tsai YuShan 

Published by Tsai Hsuanchu Published in 2012 

ISBN 978-957-41-9248-9 

12 

november 2012 www.communitycenter.org.tw

scholars in residence 

at taipei american 

school 

coMMUNIty 

TEXT: MICHAEL RUSSELL, COMMUNICATIONS/ 

SPECIAL PROJECTS 

IMAGE: TAS 

Taipei American School (TAS) has initiated an 

exciting new program over the past two years that 

provides our students with unique opportunities 

to engage with and learn from world-renowned 

experts for extended periods of time. The Joanna Nichols 

Visiting Scholar program brings a relevant, distinguished, 

and stimulating figure to TAS for one month each year to 

share singular insights and experiences with our students. 

The first two scholars in residence were journalist 

Mike Chinoy, in 2011, and “Mathemagician” Dr. Arthur 

Benjamin, in 2012. Both Mr. Chinoy and Dr. Benjamin 

kept very busy schedules at TAS and immersed themselves 

in the school community: teaching two or three classes 

a day; advising student clubs and activities, such as the 

math team and the student newspaper; presenting at 

assemblies for students at nearly every grade level at TAS; 

and giving presentations for parents, alumni, and other 

community members. Through this program, TAS hopes to 

broaden student horizons, inspire passions, provide unique 

opportunities for development of meaningful experiences, 

and enrich the overall learning environment. 

During his time at TAS, Mr. Chinoy, a former CNN 

correspondent who covered the Tiananmen Square 

demonstrations and many other events of major global 

impact, said: “The world is becoming an increasingly 

complex, inter-connected place, and the need to better 

understand what is happening across the globe, and how it 

can affect one's own life, has only become more important. 

I hope I will be able to encourage students to get more 

excited about — and engaged in — understanding history, 

current affairs, journalism, and the dramatic changes in 

communications technology that are shrinking borders 

and turning all of us into ‘global citizens.’” Mr. Chinoy’s 

visit gave students the chance to engage in unique learning 

experiences, such as a conference call discussion with a 

United Nations Assistant Secretary General about U.N. 

operations in conflict resolution and rebuilding, a viewing 

of unreleased home movies of President Nixon’s visit to 

China, and a simulation of North Korean peace talks, with 

the guidance of a reporter who has first-hand experience 

with those talks and the figures involved. 

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 

(STEM) learning was the primary focus of 

“Mathemagician” Dr. Benjamin, a hugely popular TED 

talk speaker and math professor from Harvey Mudd 

College. Teaching classes in math and other subjects was 

just a fraction of his impact, as he gave astounding, funny, 

thought provoking performances at assemblies for upper, 

middle, and lower school students and parents. Reflecting 

on his visit, one student explained, “His presentations 

in both math and Theory of Knowledge classes were 

extremely eye-opening because they highlighted the ways 

in which math could actually be fun and interesting to 

the ordinary student. Dr. Benjamin was able to portray 

problem-solving as less of a task, and as more of an 

intellectual exploration.” He expressed a desire to not only 

amaze and entertain students, but to broaden horizons 

and impart an appreciation for the beauty of mathematical 

theory and structure, the fun and creative process of 

exploring STEM fields, and the vast array of possibilities 

that these fields present. 

With the extended length of the scholars’ stays at TAS, 

students are able to build relationships with figures who 

are unmatched resources for expansive information and 

high level thinking that the average student might not 

be exposed to at the university level, much less in high 

school. Our Model United Nations teams, debate and 

public speaking competitors, student journalists, robotics 

teams, and science fair participants among others have 

demonstrated the new knowledge and insight these experts 

provided. TAS is extremely fortunate to have such a 

rewarding program made possible by a gift to the Friends 

of TAS. Visiting experts for the next two years are already 

lined up: Dr. Benjamin Elman, Chair of the Department of 

East Asian Studies at Princeton University, and Dr. David 

Spergel, Chair of the Department of Astrophysical Sciences 

at Princeton University, in 2014-2015. 

Events at The Center 

SpeCial topiC Coffee morning 

Thursday, December 6th, 10:30 am - 12 noon. 

This month we will be discussing volunteering around 

Taipei. Come in and meet a few of the organizations you 

can lend your time to and, as always, enjoy a cup of coffee 

with us! 

Mark your calendars for January’s Coffee Morning which 

will be held on 17th January. 

book ClubS: The Help by kathryn Stockett 

The morning book club will meet Wednesday 12th 

December, 10:30 am onwards. For more information email 

coteditor@communitycenter.org.tw. 

The evening book club will meet on Thursday 20th 

December, 7:15 pm onwards. For more information, email 

melanie.k.leonard@gmail.com. 


13

t 

Orphanage Club 

TEXT: TINA YUAN AND BRANDON HUANG 

pearl S. buCk ChriStmaS party preparation 

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, December 20th to December 22nd 

To ensure that this is a spectacular luncheon and party, we 

will decorate the entire TAS cafeteria, purchase and wrap 

each child's gift, and prepare individual packages to be 

taken home at the end of the party. We welcome everyone 

to assist on Friday and Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm. It is 

truly a "Santa's workshop." 

pearl S. buCk ChriStmaS party 

Sunday December 23rd. Set up begins 9 am, party commences 

12 noon. 

The Orphanage Club members with other volunteers will 

serve our guests a sumptuous feast. Entertainment will be 

provided by TAS students. People interested in helping set up 

the party beginning at 9 am are welcome. Although most guests 

leave after 3 pm, the cleanup usually lasts until after 5 pm. 

angel treeS 

Until January 11th 

Angel trees are still up in front of the middle school office 

and at the entrance of the new high school building (the D 

block). Please pick up angel-shaped cards hung on the trees 

and purchase gifts requested by the orphans. These gifts will 

be distributed for the Pearl S. Buck Foundation Party as well 

as for children at both Cathwel and Chung Yi Orphanages 

who will have Chinese New Year parties in January 

sponsored by the club. 

CathWel and Chung yi outingS 

Saturday January 19th and Sunday January 27th 

As usual, the guests will be paired up with an Orphanage 

Club member for a day of fun. Each child will receive the gift 

he or she requested on the Angel Tree. The club purchases 

any gifts not donated from the tree. We are always looking 

for adults willing to help supervise meaningful, funfilled 

days. Please contact us at the email below if you are 

interested. 

firSt book Workday 

Saturday January 12th 

In order to prepare for our annual book sale in March, 

we’ll be holding our first book workday from 9 am to 5 pm. 

We’ll be sorting the donated books and organizing them into 

different genres alphabetically to price and box them for the 

sale. We welcome everyone to help us! 

paCk and mail Shopping 

Thursday January 31st and Friday February 1st 

We’ll be heading to Carrefour to buy canned foods 

and snacks that are to be sent before Chinese New Year 

to twenty-five poor families in Taiwan. The next day a 

delegation will go to Dihua Street to purchase a variety of 

traditional foods enjoyed by locals during the celebrations. 

Again we welcome others to join us. 

raffle tiCketS and prizeS 

Anyone wanting to purchase raffle tickets for our annual 

drawing or having prizes to donate can contact us also. We 

appreciate everyone's support. 

14 

novEmbEr 2012 www.communitycenter.org.tw 

Please visit our website at www.orphanageclub.com; 

for enquiries, email our sponsor, Mr. Arnold, at arnoldr@tas.edu.tw

2013 Spring & Summer Activities 

www.communitycenter.org.tw novEmbEr 2012 

15

Welcome To The Center 

December 2012 

Registration Information 

Dear Friends, 

Congratulations! If you are reading this letter and looking over this Activities 

Catalog it means that you have in some way become aware of the Community 

Services Center. 

You might be a volunteer or current activity participant who we see each week; 

you might be a newcomer who just walked into the Center for the first time; or, you 

might be reading this online and have never even set foot into our office. It really 

doesn’t matter because you are now connected to the Center and all that we have 

to offer you. 

Inside this catalog there are sixty ways for you to learn a new skill, visit a new 

place, and meet other people who share your interests. Also inside is information 

about our Counseling Program, which is why the Center exists in the first place. 

And, if that isn’t enough, the schedule for our monthly special topic coffee 

mornings is also included so that you can mark your calendar and be sure that 

you pay us a visit some time during the Spring/Summer 2013 semester. 

So, what are you waiting for Register for a course or tour. Come to a coffee 

morning. Get and stay connected to the Center. We’re here for you. 

We can’t wait to see you! 

Advance registration and payment is required for all activities. We are 

pleased to announce that online pre-registration is now available via The 

Center’s website. Go to www.communitycenter.org.tw/whats-on/pre-register. 

Please note that we cannot guarantee your place until full payment is made. 

If you are unable to visit The Center, please call us for alternative payment 

options. 

The Center office hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm. 

Cancellations 

Please be sure to register early. By paying at least one week before an 

activity begins you can help to ensure that we have sufficient enrollment to 

conduct it. The Center reserves the right to cancel any activity or program 

that does not have sufficient enrollment. We make every effort to notify 

registered participants promptly. 

Please help us save time as well as show courtesy to our instructors by 

not waiting until the last minute to confirm your participation. 

Refund and Credit Policy 

Activities cancelled by The Center: 

• Full refund will be issued. Refunds may be collected until the last day of 

the semester. 

Grace Ting 

Office Manager 

Rosemary Susa 

Programs Coordinator 

When a participant cancels a tour or activity registration, no refund will be 

issued. However, credit is available on the following terms: 

• A full credit will be issued if you cancel your registration at least one 

week prior to the first meeting. After that time, we are unable to give 

credit. 

• Credit may be applied to other Center activities within the current term 

or to the term which immediately follows. 

Tel: 02-2836-8134 

E-mail: ce@communitycenter.org.tw 

http://www.communitycenter.org.tw

The Community Services Center | Tel: 02-2836-8134, e-mail: ce@communitycenter.org.tw 

Arts, Culture & Tours in Taiwan 

# of 

# Activity Day(s) Dates Time $$$ Meet@ Instructor 

Description 

Sessions 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

Arts, Culture and Tours in Taiwan 

Jingmei Area and 

Fairy Footstep Rock 

Hike 

Guandu Temple: 

Seeking Wealth and 

Fortune 

Lin Lui Hsin Puppet 

Museum Tour and 

Show 

Celebrating Chinese 

New Year: Di Hua 

Street Tour 

Longshan Temple, 

Bopiliao and Wanhua 

Herb Street Tour 

Wed Jan 23 

Mon Jan 28 

Thu Jan 31 

Tue Feb 05 

Wed Feb 20 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

9:00am - 

12noon $ 500 

9:00am - 


10:00am - 


9:45am - 


9:30am - 


Jingmei 

MRT Sta. 

Exit 2 

Guandu 

MRT Sta. 

Exit 2 

Lin Lui Hsin 

Puppet 

Museum 

Shuanglian 

MRT Sta. 

Exit 2 

Longshan 

Temple MRT 

Sta. Exit 1 

Richard 

Saunders 

Jennifer Tong 

Robin 

Ruizendaal 

Ivy Chen and 

Rosemary Susa 


From the Jingmei MRT station we will begin our adventure 

with a short, but steep climb up concrete steps to the Fairy 

Footstep Rock to see a lovely piece of countryside in the 

middle of the city. Legend has it that the foot prints imbedded 

in the rock face belong to one of the Eight Immortal Gods. 

We’ll end the tour with a visit to a tiny, but old temple in the 

Jingmei Night Market below. Wear sturdy shoes. 

Originally built in 1661, Guandu is Taiwan’s oldest temple and 

is dedicated to Mazu, Goddess of the Sea. It is one of the 

most interesting to visit as it is built against a cliff and features 

two caves, one of which extends quite far into the hillside and 

houses many deities representing the God of Wealth. Join 

Jennifer to learn about this fascinating temple, explore the 

caves, and be one among the many seeking their fortune for 

the upcoming Year of the Snake. 

Used for religious, entertainment and communication 

purposes, puppetry holds a significant place in Chinese and 

Taiwanese history. The Lin Lui Hsin Puppet Museum, a lovely 

little gem in the midst of the Dadaocheng area of Taipei, is 

dedicated to preserving and sharing this piece of local cultural 

heritage. Join the Center for a tour with the curator whose 

passion for puppetry brings the museum to life. After the tour, 

enjoy a delightful puppet show. Children welcome. 

Macy's at Christmas. Harrod's at Easter. Di Hua Street at 

Chinese New Year! Join Ivy for a tour of the famous Di Hua 

Street market area and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes 

of the holiday. Included will be a quick walk around the fabric 

market making this your one-stop tour of the neighborhood. 

Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year 

celebration. Visit the very old and atmospheric Longshan 

Temple where you will not only learn about the history of 

the temple, but also be able to view colorful lanterns made 

especially for this auspicious occasion. Included in this tour is 

a visit to the Bopiliao Historic Block and the nearby Wanhua 

Herb Street, a complete Taiwanese cultural experience. 

Transportation included 

Lunch or meal included 

Please check www.communitycenter.org.tw for the most recent updates. 

2013 Spring & Summer Activities [iv]



# of 




6 

7 

Ecologically Grown: 

Farm Tour and 

Vegetarian Lunch 

The Shi Dong and 

Local Market Tour or 

What Is That Vegetable 

and How Do I Cook It 

8 Exploring Scenic Wulai: 

Hike and Tour 

9 

10 

Tea Tasting and 

Walking Excursion of 

the Old Tea District 

The Grand Hotel: 

History, Rumors and 

Secret Tunnels 

Fri Feb 22 

Tue Feb 26 

9:00am - 

3:00pm 

Tue Mar 05 1 8:30am - 

3:00pm 

Wed Mar 13 

Mon Mar 18 

11 Little Burma Tour Thu Mar 21 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

$ 1400 Corner of 

Zhongshan 

N. Rd., 

Sec. 6 and 

Lane 290 

Ivy Chen 

9:00am - 

12noon $ 500 The Center Ivy Chen 

$ 1200 

9:30am - 

12:30pm $ 500 

9:30am - 

11:30am $ 600 

10:00am - 

12noon 

Corner of 


N. Rd., 

Sec. 6 and 

Lane 290 

ABC 

Tea Shop 

Jiantan 

MRT Sta. 

Exit 2 

$ 500 Nanshijiao 

MRT Sta. 

Exit 4 

Richard 

Saunders 

Jackson 

Huang 


Ivy Chen 

Transportation included Lunch or meal included Please check www.communitycenter.org.tw for the most recent updates. 

Join Ivy on a visit to an ecologically friendly farm, established 

by a local eye doctor in search of a source of pesticide-free 

food. Learn all about the special techniques they use to grow 

their rice, fruits and vegetables. Tour the farm, help pick 

some vegetables and enjoy a delicious vegetarian lunch. 

Bright, colorful and noisy, the Shi Dong Market is the place 

for all your produce needs. Join Ivy and learn some helpful 

hints and tips on what to buy, where to buy it, and how to 

be sure it's fresh. Ivy will also show you how to select fresh 

fish, seafood and other items of interest. Starting from the 

Center, this informative tour includes stops at various smaller 

markets along the way. It’s one Center tour not to miss! 

This tour begins at the impressive spectacle of the highest 

cascade in northern Taiwan, Wulai Waterfall, plunging 80 

meters in a series of drops into a deep gorge. After a short 

hike to take in the beautiful landscape further up the gorge, 

we will visit a nearby aboriginal village, with shops selling 

souvenirs and snacks. We'll take the little train back down the 

gorge to Wulai village and return through beautiful mountain 

scenery to Taipei. Wear comfortable shoes, bring a packed 

lunch and rain gear--just in case. 

Come to the ABC Tea Shop to learn about the different types 

of tea and participate in a hands-on brewing and tasting 

demonstration. With many years in the tea industry, Jackson 

Huang will share his wealth of knowledge of the history of 

tea in Taiwan. Afterwards, he will take the group on a walking 

tour of the Old Tea District, including a stop at the City Tea 

Association. 

Join the Center for a fascinating tour of the Grand Hotel and 

learn about its history, folklore and colorful past. This is also 

your chance to visit one of its secret passageways, which 

for many years was the object of much speculation. Where it 

leads, no one really knows. If they do, they aren't telling! 

On the other side of town, far away from Tianmu, is a small 

neighborhood known as “Little Burma.” Join Ivy as she walks 

you through this tiny enclave of spice shops and small eateries. 

If you're not too full after snacking on some of the tasty treats 

available, you can stay and join Ivy for lunch. 

2013 Spring & Summer Activities [v]



# of 




12 

Xindian Area Hike: 

Countryside in the 

City 

Wed Apr 17 1 9:30am - 


$ 500 Xindian 

MRT Sta. 

Richard 

Saunders 

This short and fairly easy walk never strays far from the 

city, yet explores some remarkably secluded and attractive 

countryside. From the suspension bridge of Bitan we will 

take a short climb up to the fine viewpoint of Hemei Hill. 

Next we’ll be rowed across the river in the quaint old Xindian 

Ferry boat for a leisurely walk beside the river back to the 

city. Upon your return there are some nice little places to 

stop for coffee or lunch, if you have time. This walk has 

several short, but steep, climbs up steps. 

13 

Meeting a Local Artist: 

Studio Tour Thu Apr 25 

1 

9:00am - 

2:00pm $ 1400 

Corner of 


N. Rd., 

Sec. 6 and 

Lane 290 

Yang Tze-Yun 

and 

Rosemary Susa 

Visit the private studio and Art Museum of Yang Tze- 

Yun, a Taiwanese artist, well-known for his avant garde 

calligraphy and abstract painting. Meet the artist, learn about 

his work, and enjoy the lovely environment he has created 

in the countryside of Sanzhi.You will also be treated to a 

demonstration of his distinctive calligraphy technique. Bring a 

packed lunch for the ride home. 

14 

Sky Lanterns and 

Waterfalls in Pingxi 

Township 

Tue Apr 30 1 8:30am - 

3:00pm 

$ 1500 

Corner of 


N. Rd., 

Sec. 6 and 

Lane 290 


We start this tour at the beautiful Shifen Waterfall, the widest 

in Taiwan. From there we will continue to Shifen Village where 

you will have the chance to decorate and send off your own 

paper sky lantern. After a bit of wandering and time to shop 

we will take a short train ride to the quaint town of Pingxi 

where we will rejoin our bus for the ride back to Taipei. Wear 

comfortable shoes and bring a packed lunch. Cost of one sky 

lantern and entrance fees included. 

15 Discover Maokong Sat May 04 

1 

11:00am - 

4:00pm 

$ 1200 Taipei Zoo 

MRT Sta. 

Exit 2 

Katy Ho Boyden 

Join Katy for a tour of the Maokong area known for its tea 

cultivation, tea cuisine, beautiful day and night-time views 

of the city below, and the gondola ride which transports you 

there. This tour includes a visit to the Taipei Tieguanyin and 

Paochung Tea Promotion Center, a chance to sample some 

varieties of Formosan tea and a tasty tea meal at the "Big Tea 

Pot" restaurant. Bring your Easy Card for the gondola. 

16 Eating Taiwanese Thu May 09 1 11:45am - 

1:30pm 

$ 900 

Golden 

Formosa 

Restaurant 

Tianmu 

Sally Duh Chu 

Join Sally, our resident foodie and trained chef, for a mouthwatering 

lunch at the Golden Formosa Restaurant in Tianmu. 

Enjoy a selection of local delicacies such as Crispy Fried 

Spareribs, Wild Mountain Chicken Slices, Fried Tofu with 

Garlic Sauce, and Stir Fried Rice Noodles with Pumpkin. 

The "Hungry Girl" gives this restaurant the big thumbs up! 




2013 Spring & Summer Activities [vi]


Arts, Culture & Tours in Taiwan/ 

Family, Fitness & Health 

# of 




17 Flat Hike: “I HATE 

Steps, but Love to 

Hike” 

Tue May 14 1 9:00am - 

1:30pm 


$ 1000 

Corner of 


N. Rd., 

Sec. 6 and 

Lane 290 

Richard 

Saunders 

Enjoy the sights and sounds of the great outdoors, but aren’t 

so crazy about steps Here's your chance to join Richard on 

a moderate Yangmingshan National Park hike which follows 

the level "Butterfly Path" along the wooded shoulder of Mt. 

Datun and ends at a landscaped pond in a pleasant, park like 

area where we will have time to rest, eat our lunch and then 

return back to the bus. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water, a 

packed lunch, and rain gear--just in case. 

18 Gentle Yoga I Wed Jan 16 

to Mar 13 

8 

9:30am - 

11:00am 

$ 3200 The Farès 

Academy 

Dojo 

Maria Moberg 

Yoga doesn't need to be hard or difficult to do. The focus 

of this course is to teach easy yoga postures, breathing 

exercises and meditation to help you open up the body, mind 

and spirit. Enjoy the gentle stretches and traditional yoga 

poses in a non-competitive environment where everyone is 

encouraged to practice within their own abilities. It is suitable 

for beginners and anyone requiring a gentler exercise 

program. Bring water, a yoga mat and towel. 

19 Kindermusik I-A 

0-18 mos. 

Thu Jan 24 

to Mar 21 

7 

9:15am - 

10:00am 

$ 4500 The Center Jennifer Chau 

Kindermusik is a developmentally appropriate music and 

movement class that enhances the bond between parent and 

baby. Your baby will thrive on musical and rhythmic activities 

designed to lay the foundation for a lifetime love of music. 

High-quality "take home" materials are included. Enrollment 

is limited; please register early. 

20 Kindermusik II 

18 mos.-3yrs. 

Thu Jan 24 

to May 23 

14 

10:15am - 

11:00am 

$ 8000 The Center Jennifer Chau 

Kindermusik is a developmentally appropriate music and 

movement class that enhances the bond between parent and 

child. Your toddler will thrive on musical and rhythmic activities 

designed to lay the foundation for a lifetime love of music. 

High-quality "take home" materials are included. Enrollment is 

limited; please register early. 

21 Kindermusik I-B 

0-18 mos. 

Thu Jan 24 

to Mar 21 

7 

11:15am - 


$ 4500 The Center Jennifer Chau Please refer to Activity #19 for a full course description. 

22 Eat Right for Your 

Blood Type 

Fri Jan 25 1 12:30pm - 

2:00pm 

$ 500 The Center Dr. Dustin Wu 

Are you A positive or B negative Do you know what foods 

suit your blood type best Let Dr. Wu unravel the mysteries 

of what types of foods best suit your blood type to gain the 

maximum health benefits. 


2013 Spring & Summer Activities [vii]



# of 




23 Your Next Career Step Tue Jan 29 

24 Fostering Your 

Young Child's 

Future Success 

25 Self-Defense for Boys: 

Boys Empowered 

Tue Feb 26 

Mon 

Mar 04 

to Apr 22 

26 Taipei Hospital Tour Wed Mar 06 

27 

28 

Self-Defense for 

Women and Girls 

Fri 

Kindermusik I-C 

0-18 mos. Thu 

Mar 08 

to Apr 26 

Apr 11 

to May 23 

1 

1 

6 

1 

6 

7 

4:00pm - 

5:30pm 

$ 500 The Center Ralph Whalen 

4:00pm - 

5:30pm $ 500 The Center Ralph Whalen 

4:00pm - 

5:00pm 

9:30am - 

1:00pm 

4:00pm - 

5:00pm 


Academy 

Dojo 

Antoine Farès 

$ 600 The Center Juchi Tang-Liu 


Academy 

Dojo 

Antoine Farès 

9:15am - 

10:00am $ 4500 The Center Jennifer Chau 

Career satisfaction involves matching a paid or unpaid job 

with your unique talents, interests and values. Whether you 

are seeking your first position, considering changing careers, 

or looking for volunteer opportunities this class will help you 

clarify your next career step. This workshop will be conducted 

by Ralph Whalen, a Taipei American School counselor. 

When do people start learning skills necessary for building 

successful careers The answer: childhood. The foundation 

for later success in the world of work is built in the early years. 

This course, geared towards the parents of elementary-age 

children, will help you to learn how you can assist your child 

to cultivate good work habits, develop proper attitudes, make 

wise decisions and learn key skills. 

We live in an ever-changing world and today's young boys 

are faced with many challenges and obstacles. Studying 

martial arts is a well known way to prepare young people, 

both mentally and physically, and give them the confidence 

to stand up to any challenge they meet. In this class students 

will learn the Rules of Engagement and how to handle 

physical and verbal aggression. For boys ages 8-14. 

Don't wait until you are faced with an illness or medical 

emergency to find out about the medical services in Taiwan. 

Join Juchi, a nurse practitioner with experience both in the 

United States and Taiwan, for a tour of Taipei Veteran's 

General Hospital and the National Taiwan University Hospital 

(NTUH) to learn how to access both private clinic and 

National Health Insurance covered care. Tour ends at NTUH. 

“Self-defense” is not just a set of techniques; it’s a state 

of mind, and it begins with the belief that you are worth 

defending. Any woman has the power within to defeat an 

attacker and this program will bring it out. In this class, you 

will learn the most common strategies recommended to 

cope with both stranger and non-stranger assailants. This 

is a great class for friends or moms and daughters to take 

together. For ages twelve and up. 

This is a new session of our Kindermusik Infant program 

and early registration is recommended. Please refer to 

Activity #19 for full description. 




2013 Spring & Summer Activities [viii]


Family, Fitness & Health/ Hobbies & Skills 

# of 




29 

Kindermusik I-D 

0-18 mos Thu 

Apr 11 

to May 23 

7 

11:15am - 

12noon $ 4500 The Center Jennifer Chau 

This is a new session of our Kindermusik Infant program 

and early registration is recommended. Please refer to 

Activity #19 for full description. 

30 Gentle Yoga II Wed 

Apr 17 

to May 29 

7 

9:30am - 

11:00am $ 2800 

The Farès 

Academy 

Dojo 

Maria Moberg 

Please refer to Activity #18 for a full course description. 

31 

Basic First Aid Plus 

Handling Medical 

Emergencies in Taiwan 

Mon Apr 22 

and Apr 29 

2 

12:30pm - 

2:00pm 

$ 1000 The Center Dr. Peter 

Guérin 

Taught by the Regional Medical Director for the AIT, this 

classroom, video-based, instructor-led course will cover 

first aid basics and how to deal with medical, injury and 

environmental emergencies. Learn important skills such as 

how to treat bleeding, sprains, broken bones, snake bites, 

and shock. In addition, find out what to do, where to go, and 

how best to transport someone if you are ever faced with a 

serious injury or medical emergency in Taiwan. 

32 What is Acupuncture 

and How Does it Work 

Thu May 02 1 12:30pm - 

2:00pm 

Hobbies & Skills 

$ 500 The Center Dr. Dustin Wu 

Acupuncture, a major component of Chinese traditional 

medicine and culture, is now practiced worldwide. If you've 

ever wondered if acupuncture might work for you, join 

Dr. Wu who will teach you about the history and scientific 

interpretation of acupuncture and how it is used to treat a 

variety of conditions and illnesses. 

33 

English Conversation: 

Speaking with 

Confidence 

Tue Jan 15 

to Feb 26 

6 

12:30pm - 

2:00pm 

$ 2100 The Center Bunny 

Pacheco 

This course is for adult learners who already have some 

knowledge of English and who want to improve their 

conversational skills. It is for students who want to speak 

with confidence, fluency and accuracy. The course will 

focus on helping students to improve their spoken English 

through structured dialogues, pair practice, current events 

discussions and grammar exercises. 

34 Chinese Lantern 

Painting 

Thu Jan 24 

to Feb 07 

3 

12:15pm - 

2:15pm 

$ 2400 The Center Jennifer Tong 

In this class, Jennifer will teach you the basic skills of 

Chinese painting, or if you have already taken her previous 

painting class, will work with you to develop your technique. 

She will then guide you to paint a beautiful paper lantern 

ready to hang in your home. Cost of all materials included. 


2013 Spring & Summer Activities [ix]


Hobbies & Skills/ Learn Chinese 

# of 




35 Skin Care and 

Make-Up Workshop 

Fri 

Mar 15 

and Mar 22 

2 

12:15pm - 

2:15pm $ 1600 The Center Claire Yeh 

This two-session workshop will teach you the basics of skin 

care and proper make-up application. Using products you 

already own, Claire, a professional make-up artist, will teach 

you how to apply a perfect day make-up and then show you 

how to turn your daytime look into nighttime glamour. A small 

set of brushes to take home is included in the cost. Please 

bring your own cosmetic products to the class. 

36 Shadow Puppet 

Workshop 

Sat Mar 16 1 10:00am - 


$ 700 Lin Lui Hsin 

Puppet 

Museum 

Robin 

Ruizendaal 

Join The Center on a Saturday morning for a fun and 

educational Shadow Puppet Workshop suitable for adults 

and children ages five and over. We'll make the puppets 

and put on our very own shadow puppet show. After the 

workshop you can stay and visit the fascinating Lin Lui 

Hsin Puppet Museum at your leisure. Workshop and 

entrance ticket are included. Children under twelve must be 

accompanied by an adult. 

37 Spanish Conversation Tue 

Apr 16 

to May 21 

6 

12:30pm - 

2:00pm $ 2100 The Center 

Ana Palazuelos 

Berasategui 

This course is for adult learners who already have some 

knowledge of Spanish and who want to improve their 

conversational skills. It is for students who want to speak 

with confidence, fluency and accuracy. The course will 

focus on helping students to improve their spoken Spanish 

through structured dialogues, pair practice, current events 

discussions and grammar exercises. 

38 Chinese Calligraphy Fri Apr 19 

to May 03 

12:15pm - 

2:15pm 

Learn Chinese With Gloria Gwo 

3 

$ 2000 The Center Jennifer Tong 

This class is an introduction to the traditional style of Chinese 

writing using brush and ink. Jennifer will instruct you on the 

correct way to hold the brush and maneuver it to produce 

beautiful results. If you’ve taken calligraphy or brush painting 

before, Jennifer will work with you to improve your technique 

and form. Cost of all materials included. 

39 Survival Chinese I Mon & 

Wed 

Jan 14 

to Mar 06 

14 

9:00am - 

10:20am 

$ 5300 The Center Gloria Gwo 

Would you like to be able to communicate with shopkeepers, 

taxi drivers and co-workers Whether you've just arrived 

in Taiwan or have been here awhile, this is the class for 

you. Learn spoken Mandarin in a relaxed and informal 

environment right here at The Center. Course materials 

included. 




2013 Spring & Summer Activities [x]


Learn Chinese 

# of 




40 Survival Chinese II 

Mon & 

Wed 

Jan 14 

to Mar 06 

14 

10:30am - 

11:50am $ 5300 The Center Gloria Gwo 

This course builds upon the skills learned in Survival Chinese 

I and offers approximately 20 hours of language instruction 

for people who would like to upgrade their basic skills and 

go one step further with Mandarin. This class is also suitable 

for anyone who has taken some basic Chinese lessons 

and would like to carry on with his or her studies. Course 

materials included. 

41 Chinese Study Group III 


Wed 

Jan 14 

to May 01 

26 

12noon - 

1:20pm $ 9700 The Center Gloria Gwo 

This is an advanced Chinese language course for students 

who have completed Study Groups I & II and wish to continue 

their studies. Books not included in course fee. 

42 Chinese Study Group I 

Tue & 

Fri 

Jan 15 

to May 10 

25 

9:00am - 

10:20am $ 9400 The Center Gloria Gwo 

This is an intensive Chinese language course that focuses 

on learning how to read and write characters. You need 

to have attended Survival Chinese I and II or completed 

approximately 40 hours of language instruction. Books not 

included in course fee. 

43 Chinese Study Group II Tue & 

Fri 

Jan 15 

to May 10 

25 

10:30am - 

11:50am 

$ 9400 The Center Gloria Gwo 

This is the second part in our intensive Chinese language 

course that covers spoken Chinese plus learning to read 

and write characters. You need to have attended Survival 

Chinese I+II and Study Group I or completed approximately 

80 hours of Chinese language instruction. Books not 

included in course fee. 

44 Evening Survival 

Chinese I 


Wed 

Jan 21 

to Mar 06 

12 

6:30pm - 

8:30pm 

$ 5700 The Center Gloria Gwo Please refer to Activity #39 for course description. 

45 Survival Chinese I Mon & 

Wed 

Mar 11 

to May 08 

14 

9:00am - 

10:20am 

$ 5300 The Center Gloria Gwo Please refer to Activity # 39 for course description. 

46 Survival Chinese II Mon & 

Wed 

Mar 11 

to May 08 

14 

10:30am - 

11:50am 


47 Evening Survival 

Chinese II 


Wed 

Mar 11 

to May 08 

12 

6:30pm - 

8:30pm 


48 Summer Survival 

Chinese I 


Wed 

Jun 17 

to Jul 31 

14 

9:00am - 

10:20am 


49 Summer Survival 

Chinese II 


Wed 

Jun 17 

to Jul 31 

14 

10:30am - 

11:50am 



2013 Spring & Summer Activities [xi]


What's Cooking 

# of 





50 It's All in the Sauce Fri Jan 18 1 10:00am - 


$ 1000 The Center Sally Duh Chu 

The secret to many a tasty dish is in the sauce. Join Sally 

who will teach you how to make five different sauces: Sweet 

& Sour, Ginger Vinegar, Oyster, Red Chili and Spicy. She will 

also teach you how to prepare your own chili oil and pepper 

salt, two major staples in Chinese cooking. Then, enjoy a 

feast as she demonstrates how to use these delicious sauces 

on a selection of appetizers, salads, and main courses. 

51 Indian Vegetarian: 

Cooking Curries 

Fri Jan 25 1 10:00am- 


$ 1000 The Center Dee Sharma 

What better way to serve veggies to your family than in 

a delicious and satisfying curry. Join Dee who will share 

three of her favorites: Mushroom and Fenugreek Curry, 

Chickpea Curry (Cholle), and Kashmiri-style Potato Curry 

with Nuts (Dum Aloo). She will also demonstrate a nice 

surprise side dish to go with them. 

52 Delicious Dumplings Fri Feb 01 10:00am- 

1 


$ 1000 The Center Ivy Chen 

Here's your chance to try your hand at dumpling making. 

In this hands-on class, learn how to make delicous Boiled 

Dumplings with Pork and Cabbage and Fried Dumplings with 

Assorted Vegetables. In addition, Ivy will also prepare her 

delicious Hot and Sour Soup and a seasonal vegetable to 

round out the meal. 

53 Decorative Fruit and 

Vegetable Carving 

Tue Mar 05 

to Mar 19 

3 

12:15pm - 

2:15pm 


With surprisingly little time and effort, you can make meals 

more fun to prepare, serve and eat. Learn to dress up food, 

choose garnishes that complement the main ingredient of 

the dish, and create the mood you want to establish--dainty, 

elegant or casual. Cost of all produce and a small carving 

knife is included. Students will be given a short list of basic 

kitchen utensils to bring from home. 

54 Taiwanese Please Sat Mar 09 1 10:00am - 

1:00pm 


Join Ivy on a Saturday morning and grab this chance to learn 

to prepare some of her favorite Taiwanese-style dishes. Enjoy 

a feast of Gong Bao Chicken, Stir-fried Beef with Coriander, 

Fried String Beans, Spicy Eggplant and a couple of surprises. 

In addition, Ivy will show you how to make a simple and tasty 

sauce in a jar as well as offer her expert advice about which 

ready-made sauces are best to buy to stock your kitchen 

cupboard. 




2013 Spring & Summer Activities [xii]



# of 




55 

Indian Vegetarian: 

Snacks, Appetizers and 

Chutneys 

Fri Mar 15 1 10:00am - 


$ 1000 The Center Shakha Gupta 

Learn how to make tasty Pakoras (vegetable fritters), 

Vegetable Cutlets (which can be eaten on their own or 

used as "burgers") and Veggie Puffs, all accompanied by 

homemade Mint/Cilantro and Tamarind Chutneys. Perfect 

for tea time, snacks or as appetizers, these delicious 

morsels will be a wonderful addition to your recipe collection. 

56 Tantalizing Thai Fri Mar 22 10:00am - 

1 


$ 1000 The Center Saithip 

Tantiwongkorn 

Fragrant and flavorful, Thai food is always a favorite at the 

Center. Saithip returns with another great menu selection 

which includes Green Curry Chicken, Thai Herb Omelette, 

Steamed Fish with Lemon and Pumpkin in Coconut Milk. 

57 All Wrapped Up Fri Apr 19 

1 

10:00am - 



Join Sally for a class in preparing the Chinese way of 

serving delicious morsels of food in a "wrap." Tasty and light, 

these dishes make for great spring and summer meals. 

Enjoy Minced Shrimp in Lettuce Leaves and Chinese 

Pancakes with Shredded Pork and homemade Duck Sauce. 

This class will also include a hands-on pancake-making 

demonstration. 

58 Incredible Italian Fri Apr 26 1 10:00am - 


$ 1000 The Center Heather Martin 

Lowder 

Come to the Center for a little taste of Italy and learn to 

prepare some of Heather's favorite family recipes. The menu 

for this delicious meal includes Tomato and Feta Bruschetta 

with Garlic Crostini, Mushroom and Asparagus Risotto, 

Basil Pesto Pasta with Chicken, and if you are not too full, a 

Traditional Tiramisu. 

59 

Cake and Cookie 

Decorating: Magical 

Marzipan 

Fri May 03 1 10:00am - 


$ 1000 The Center Eva Lu 

Learn the art of modeling marzipan from Eva, a trained 

pastry chef and cake decorator. Modeling with marzipan is a 

unique style of cake decorating that produces stand alone, 

cute themed novelty items or exquisite cake and cookie 

toppers. Once you have learned the basic techniques, 

you'll open the door to a completely new dimension in cake 

decorating. This fun course is suitable for students of all 

levels. 

60 Fantastic Fish Fri May 10 1 10:00am - 



This class covers three ways to prepare fish--steaming, 

baking and frying--using three different types of locally 

available fresh fish. Learn how to properly prepare and 

fillet a fish and how to buy the right fish for your dish. 

An accompanying seasonal vegetable dish will also be 

demonstrated. 


2013 Spring & Summer Activities [xiii]

Counselors 

Since its inception in the mid-1980s, 

the Community Services Center has 

been blessed with an exceptional team of 

professional counselors. All counselors at 

the Center have at least a Master’s level 

degree in their field; most have more 

than five years of experience delivering 

face-to-face counseling, and some hold 

special qualifications. 

To s c h e d u l e a c o u n s e l i n g 

appointment, simply call the Center at 

(02) 2836-8134. We’re open Monday 

through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. For 

new clients, an intake counselor will 

ask you for some basic information 

about your preferences and needs. For 

example, will the counseling be for an 

adult or child, whether you require 

spoken English or Chinese, if you prefer 

a male or female counselor, when you 

are available for counseling and if you 

prefer a particular counselor. Then, as 

soon as possible, you will be contacted 

to set up an appointment. For urgent or 

after hours counseling and intake, call 

0932-594-578. 

The following is a brief introduction 

to each counselor to help familiarize 

you with their backgrounds and areas 

of expertise. More detailed information 

is available on our website at www. 

communitycenter.org.tw/counseling. 

Suzan Babcock 

M.C. Ed., MIIM 

Sue has an M.C. Ed. in Counselor Education 

from St. Lawrence University and a Master's degree 

in International / Intercultural Management from 

the Graduate School for International Training 

(SIT). Her areas of professional interest include: 

individual and group interpersonal relationship 

counseling, loss and bereavement work, life and 

career coaching, and cross-cultural issues counseling. Before coming 

to Taiwan, Sue worked with a number of U.S. communities in crisis, 

including diverse populations, as a community organizer and crosscultural 

negotiator. 

Fawn Chang 

MA/LMFT 

Fawn holds a Master's degree in Marriage, Family and Child 

Counseling from the University of Southern California. For two years, 

she studied in the Ph.D program in Organizational Behavior at CSPP 

(the California School of Professional Psychology). Fawn has 10 years of 

clinical experience working with children, teenagers, adults, and families 

in both the U.S. and Taiwan. She is a contracted Counselor/Instructor 

with Taipei City Hall, NTNU (the National Taiwan Normal University), 

and the EAP (Employee Assistance Program). Fawn's practice 

consists of working with children and their families on issues, such as 

behavioral/relationship related difficulties, learning disabilities, academic 

achievement, cultural adjustment, parenting, and career planning. Fawn 

uses family and marriage therapy, solution focused therapy, cognitive 

behavioral therapy, and Adlerian therapy in her practice. 

Katherine Chang 

M.S. 

Katherine has an M.S. in Counseling, specializing 

in School Counseling from San Diego State 

University. She also holds an American School 

Counselor (PPS) credential. Her areas of professional 

interest include school-aged children with emotional, 

social or academic difficulties, working with teachers 

on behavioral and classroom management strategies 

and providing support to parents in addressing their children’s social and 

emotional development. Katherine has been in Taiwan since 2009 and 

has experience working as a Lower and Middle School Counselor at the 

Dominican International School in Taipei. 

Jung Chin Psy. D. 

Jung has a Doctor of Psychology from the University of Denver. 

Her areas of professional interest include psychotherapies (including 

comprehensive evaluations and professional 

treatments) for sexually abused children, 

adolescents and adults; survivors of domestic 

violence; children, adolescents and adults who are 

experiencing emotional and behavioral problems. 

She is also interested in assessment (intelligence, 

emotion and personality) for children, adolescents 

and adults. Jung has also studied in Melbourne, Australia where she 

earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology from Deakin University 

and at Western Michigan University where she earned her M.A. in 

Counseling Psychology. 

Wendy Evans 

MSW, ACSW, RD 

Wendy holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from 

Michigan State University and a Bachelor’s of 

Science degree from Indiana University in the field 

of nutrition and health. 

Wendy has more than 12 years of clinical 

experience and was accepted into the USA 

Academy of Certified Social Workers in 2000. In 

addition to being a certified counselor, Wendy 

is also a Registered Dietitian. Her primary counseling interests are 

helping adults, couples, and teens struggling with issues pertaining 

to marriage, parenting, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, 

substance abuse, and emotional eating. Through raising five children 

internationally, Wendy has a deepened understanding of the challenges 

of cross-cultural living. 

Cerita Hsu 

MA, MS 

Cerita is a Licensed Counseling Psychologist in 

Taiwan. She received her two Master's degrees in 

Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy from 

Boston University, Massachusetts and Cal Poly 

Pomona, California. 

Cerita has clinical experience working with 

children, adults and families in both the U.S. and 

Taiwan and has counseled adults in individual, 

2013 Spring & Summer Activities [xiv]

couple, and family therapy. Some areas that her work focuses 

on include anxiety, depression, emotional disturbance, 

trauma, substance abuse, cultural adjustment, loss, and 

family and relationship issues. 

In counseling with teenagers and children, she has 

experience working on issues, such as fear/anxiety, anger, 

depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 

oppositional defiant disorder, school adjustment, peer 

relationship, and abuse issues. She uses solution focused 

therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and 

structural family therapy in her practice. Her experience in 

child, adult, marriage and family counseling covers diverse 

cultural groups in the expatriate setting. 

Eva Salazar-Liu 

Ph.D. 

Eva has a Ph.D in Counselor 

Education and Counseling Psychology 

from the University of Toledo, Ohio. 

Her areas of professional interest include 

marital relationships, divorce, women’s 

issues, grief, cross-cultural relationships 

and issues. Eva has been associated 

with The Center since 1987 and returned to the Center's 

Counseling staff this year after a four-year leave of absence. 

Eva is concurrently teaching Psychology, Educational 

Psychology and Graduate Research as an Associate Professor 

at Ming Chuan University. 

Perry Malcolm 

MSW, LCSW 

Perry is a clinical/psychiatric social 

worker from the state of Georgia in 

the U.S. Growing up in Athens, a 

large, Southern university town which 

had an ever competing atmosphere of 

academics, sports and art, has given 

him a rich variety of experiences which 

inform his current clinical work with individuals (teens and 

adults), couples and families from all walks of life who may 

find themselves in transition or trouble. Issues may include 

depression, anxiety, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, 

obsessive compulsive disorder, crisis intervention needs, 

post trauma issues, men's issues and cross-cultural marriage/ 

parenting. Perry has been affiliated with The Center since 

his arrival in Taiwan and has been working fulltime there for 

eight years. 

Ming-I Sun 

MSW, LCSW 

Ming-I is based in the Hsinchu branch 

of the Community Services Center. 

Ming-I is a licensed clinical social worker 

(LCSW) both in the U.S. and Taiwan. 

She obtained two Master's degrees in 

Developmental Psychology and Social 

Work. She is also affiliated with the 

Infant Mental Health Team of the Taipei Psychotherapy 

Center. She is contracted as a clinical supervisor at the 

Taipei Early Intervention Team of Taipei City Government. 

Ming-I’s specialties include: parenting consultation, 

floor time therapy for autistic children, play therapy for 

school-age children, child adolescent developmental and 

learning issues, difficulties on emotional regulation (e.g. 

depression or anger management), expatriates’ adjustment 

issues, and any trauma or loss related issues. 

Ming-I can provide individual or group counseling 

services. The address of the Hsinchu office is No. 11, Lane 

51, Daxue Rd., East Dist., Hsinchu City 30080. The 

contact number is 03-571-0023 ext. 3208. 

Cynthia Teeters 

MSW, LMSW 

Cynthia has a Master’s degree in 

Social Work from Columbia University 

and is a licensed social worker in New 

York. She works primarily with adults 

and teens and provides counseling 

to individuals, couples, and families. 

Her areas of expertise are depression, 

anxiety, emotion regulation, borderline personality disorder, 

substance abuse, relationship issues, bereavement, sexuality 

and HIV/AIDS. She also conducts adoption home studies 

and counseling for adoption-related issues. 

2013 Spring & Summer Activities [xv]

— Kobe Bryant, LA Lakers 

— Fred Couples, 2012 Senior Open Champion 



— A-Rod, NY Yankees 

Please check www.communitycenter.org.tw for the most recent updates.

One man’s food 

may be another 

man’s poison: 

understanding 

food allergy 

health 

TEXT: MICHELLE CHEUNG CHI-KWUN 

(STATE REGISTERED DIETITIAN OF HEALTH 

PROFESSIONS COUNCIL (UK)) 

Food is essential to our life 

as it provides energy and 

nutrients. All of us eat to 

survive, and most of us 

enjoy eating. However, some people 

cannot tolerate some kinds of food 

and may develop an adverse reaction 

after ingesting. 

differenCeS betWeen 

food allergy and food 

intoleranCe 

A r e f o o d a l l e r g y a n d f o o d 

intolerance interchangeable 

Although both are reactions to food 

they are different. Food allergy can 

be serious and life-threatening; even 

eating a tiny bit of food that one is 

allergic to can cause immediate and 

severe reactions (symptoms may 

occur from within minutes to two 

hours after eating) such as nausea, 

vomiting, diarrhea, nasal congestion, 

stomach cramps, shortness of breath, 

angioedema (swelling) of the lips, 

face, tongue and throat, etc. This 

abnormal response to a food protein 

involves the immune system and 

there is no cure; a complete and strict 

avoidance of the food allergen is the 

only protection from the adverse 

reactions. 

The prevalence of food allergy in 

children has shown an increase of 

18% between 1997 and 2007. Eight 

foods cause 90% of allergic reactions 

in the United States: 

Milk Eggs 

Wheat Soy 

Peanuts Tree nuts 

Fish 

Shellfish 

On the other hand, food 

intolerance reactions are of slower 

onset (symptoms occur between 

hours and days after ingesting) and 

do not involve the immune system. 

Food intolerances, such as lactose 

intolerance, Coeliac disease and 

wheat intolerance, are much more 

common than food allergies. 

diagnoSiS of food allergy 

Visit your doctor if you suspect 

you have a food allergy, which 

can be tested via a skin prick test, 

specific IgE and basophil histamine 

release. Once the allergenic foods 

are suspected, following a restricted 

or tailor-made diet should result in 

the disappearance of symptoms or at 

least a significant reduction. Such a 

diagnostic diet may be prescribed by 

a dietitian and should be supervised 

by the doctor. 

hoW to avoid an allergiC 

reaCtion 

Basic tips for take-away meals 

1. Read the menu thoroughly 

2. Ask the waiter/waitress if in 

doubt 

3. Inform the chef if booking in 

advance 

4. W a t c h o u t f o r h i d d e n 

ingredients 

-Peanut oil used in cooking 

-Peanuts in satay sauce, 

chocolate, ice cream or candy 

bars 

-Nuts in cakes or desserts 

5. Always bring an emergency 

treatment kit (injectable 

epinephrine) 

nutritional management 

Nutritional management is 

important for those suffering from 

a food allergy. Prolonged food 

avoidance may lead to specific 

nutrient deficiency and consequently 

a disorder may arise. Talk to a 

dietitian regarding the diet plan, 

which should include: 

1. To t a l a v o i d a n c e o f f o o d 

allergens 

2. Education on food allergy 

3. Alternative nutrient sources 

4. Sample meal plan 

A food challenge test may be given 

over a few weeks after which the 

suspected allergenic food will be 

reintroduced to the diet. Recording 

any allergy symptoms that occur 

when the food is reintroduced helps 

to confirm the diagnosis, although 

not if a severe reaction to the food 

has previously been noted. 

M i c he l l e C he u n g 

has recently arrived 

in Taipei from 

Hong Kong. She is 

currently a full-time 

mom to 2 but was 

previously working as a Dietician in 

Hong Kong. 


19

ProFIle 

Exploring the food-moods of Taipei – 

Graci in the 

Kitchen 

TEXT: SERINA HUANG IMAGES: COURTESY OF GRACI KIM 

She’s smart, she sassy, she 

loves to eat and loves 

exploring new places 

and new foods. Oh, and 

she has a beautiful singing voice 

and has authored an interactive 

children’s e-book, too. Meet Graci 

Kim, the vivacious star of the 

online cooking series, Graci in the 

Kitchen, produced and filmed right 

here in Taiwan. 

a korean kiWi in taipei 

Graci is a ‘Kowi’ – a Korean 

Kiwi – who arrived in Taiwan in 

March 2012 for two years’ intensive 

Mandarin study at the National 

Taiwan University. Most people 

new to a country need a period of 

adjustment, but within a few months 

of arrival Graci had already started 

filming her own cookery and food 

series. Oh, and become Mom to her 

cute dog, Yoda, who also stars in her 

videos. According to Graci, Graci 

in the Kitchen started in January 

this year as a blog 

to record recipes. 

H a v i n g m o v e d 

away from home to 

Wellington with work, 

Graci found herself 

homesick for family and 

‘all the yummy food from 

home.’ Graci sees food as not 

just providing sustenance, but also 

having an emotional connection: 

‘Food was what we always talked 

about as a family,’ she recounts. 

Before too long, friends began to 

hunger after her unique mood-based 

recipes and her private blog became 

public. As her website grew in 

popularity, she decided it would be 

easier to show people how to cook 

rather than write about it. She made 

some inquiries and, voila, Graci in 

the Kitchen was born. 

mood-baSed Cooking 

Each Graci in the Kitchen episode 

is themed around a mood. ‘Imagine 

you enter a restaurant,’ Graci 

explains ‘and on the menu instead 

of ordinary dishes like spaghetti 

bolognaise, there is a list of moods.’ 

Many of Graci’s recipes utilize 

natural scientific remedies, for 

example if you have a headache 

she suggests trying a spicy 

meal rather than reaching 

for an aspirin, because chili 

is a natural painkiller. 

Other recipes are more emotive, 

tapping into comfort foods, the elixir 

she craves when feeling stressed, 

homesick or vulnerable. 

Each mood-based episode is not 

just about food; it also includes 

an uplifting quote and a musical 

performance. So she aims to heal 

the body, the mind and also the soul. 

Her approach reminds me a little of 

the Chinese poem Eat, drink, man, 

woman ( 飲食男女 , yǐnshí nánnǚ), 

around which Ang Lee’s awardwinning 

1994 film of the same name 

was based. The poem puts forth 

that since eating and drinking are 

fundamental part of our lives – and 

relationships – we may as well enjoy 

the very best. Life is, after all, for the 

living. 

ShoWCaSing taipei 

Although many episodes are 

filmed in Graci’s quirky kitchen, 

filled with her many gadgets and 

adorned with positive quotes, several 

episodes venture out to showcase the 

vibrant fabric of Taipei life. In one 

recent episode Graci (and Yoda) buy 

graci in the kitchen episodes can be viewed on her website 

(http://graciinthekitchen.com/), or online through youtube. it has 

also been picked up by four internet-based television networks, 

including being featured on koldcast tv network’s Food and 

Cooking Channel, and The Food Channel. She already has 

logged hundreds of thousands of views since her episodes were 

logged on the online channels last month, a sign that this rising 

star already has many fans. 


herbs at the Holiday Flower Market, and in 

another she samples local delicacies (including 

some unusual offal parts) at the Shilin Night 

Market. Through her eyes, the viewer glimpses 

her discovering life in Taiwan. 

‘I love Taiwan,’ Graci gushes. ‘I love the 

mix of its crazy hustle-bustle underpinned by 

a homely feel. People are so friendly, and I 

love talking to people I meet on the street. In 

this respect, it reminds me a bit of being back 

in New Zealand,’ she explains. ‘And I am 

constantly discovering new things, like the 

Raohe Night Market and even things such as 

fresh Chinese water chestnuts (lingjiao).’ 

all in the family 

To Graci, family means everything. The 

Kims are all talented cooks, and their love of 

food has obviously rubbed off on Graci. Her 

father, a self-taught cook, is a restaurateur in 

Auckland (‘a labor of love’), and when she was 

growing up Graci worked as a waitress in the 

family business. Mum, a successful business 

woman who became a Member of the New 

Zealand Order of Merit earlier this year, is also 

a dab hand in the kitchen, not to mention that 

six more of Graci’s relatives work in the food 

or restaurant industry. Not surprisingly, family 

features strongly in Graci in the Kitchen, both 

through recipes from home (witness Koreaninfluenced 

kimchi pancakes) and visually (one 

sister recently performed her own original song 

in an episode). 

T a i w a n x i f u ( T a i w a n 

daughter-in-law) is the pen 

name of Australian expatriate 

food, travel and culture 

blogger Serina Huang. Her blog is 

at: http://taiwanxifu.com 


21

exPat PersPectIves 

Te Bele of te Bal 

TEXT & IMAGES: MARIA TAN 

I’ve been lucky enough to get invited to two 

weddings this year. Out of the blue, a colleague 

said, “I’m getting married next Saturday, can you 

come” The invitation was so simply made that I 

didn’t think it was for real until I saw her holding a list of 

people she planned to invite. 

My colleague explained that she wanted to get married 

this year but that she had to do it so soon to take 

advantage of an auspicious day in the Chinese calendar. 

Apparently, it’s quite typical among Taiwanese to have 

their signs checked and the date chosen carefully so that 

any astrological clashes can be avoided. After consulting 

the masters, she discovered she should either get married 

the next week or wait for another six months. She chose 

to get on with it. The engagement was set to be in the 

morning and the wedding in the afternoon. 

I was very excited as it was my first time to take part in 

a Taiwanese wedding. I arrived early and was eager to see 

what the reception would be like. The venue was a special 

“reception only” place in one of those off-the-road places 

that display wedding pictures on its façade and is only 

open on certain days. There was a big wedding picture of 

the happy couple and some name card-sized photos for 

guests to take home. I went to register my name in the 

wedding book and went to the powder room to say hello 

to my friend. She was drop-dead gorgeous. Her make-up 

was exquisite, but it was that glow in her that made her 

look so beautiful. 

Taking my seat next to my other colleagues, we waited 

and chatted. The bride came out in a magnificent white 

gown with her father. When the groom met them, the 

bride kissed her father and the couple bowed as a sign 

of respect. Food was served lauriat-style – big plates 

or bowls placed on the Lazy Susan in the middle of 

each table and people helped themselves. As I was 

concentrating on the food and admiring the variety 

of dishes, trying each and every one, my newly-wed 

colleague materialized in another gown, this time 

daffodil-yellow in color. She and her new husband went 

around and stopped at each table, toasting the beginning 

of their married life. 

When the reception was about to end, the couple 

once again disappeared, and when we were about to 

leave the place, I saw them at the door with a basket 

of candies. The bride was once again in another gown, 

this time in duke blue. I thought this mini-fashion show 

was unique to her wedding. After all, every girl’s dream 

wedding IS somehow unique on its own. However later 

I went to another wedding reception and this time the 

bride had not three but four gowns. She started with the 

classic bridal white dress, later changed into bright red, 

then maroon, and then bid us goodnight in a peachcolored 

gown. 

This perked my curiosity. I mean, FOUR dresses Back 

home, it’s so hard to find the “right” dress and we have 

to choose just one. But here in Taiwan, brides don’t 

need to narrow down their choice to one. I learnt that 

usually brides will wear white at first but then change 

into something else during the meal, and can choose 

the colors they want for their other gowns. When asked 

what they symbolized, my friends told me they don’t 

really mean anything – brides just like to change dresses. 

The minimum number of changes is two and some wear 

up to five. 

Brides here in Taiwan need not worry about being 

upstaged. They truly are the belle of their ball! 

Maria has a background in Business and 

Communicaitions. She teaches Eglish 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 

maria.tan@outlook.com 

22 


Glacio Ice Cream 

Specialties 

coFFee corNer 

TEXT & IMAGES: ALY COOPER 

I 

have an undeniable sweet tooth. 

I just can’t help myself. So 

when my hubby and I passed by 

this ice cream shop on our date 

night we HAD to go in. Flipping 

through the menu I was faced with 

paralyzing indecision. Yet again. 

I think we’ve covered this before. 

Decision-making, well it’s just not 

my strong suit. As I kept flipping 

between the coffee desserts and 

the chocolate, my husband wisely 

abstained from assisting me, so that 

he couldn’t be blamed later. I asked 

the waitress what she recommended 

and without skipping a beat she 

suggested the Vanilla Coffee 

Affogato. My agreement with this 

suggestion was equally decisive. 

This particular coffee 

confectionary dream contains 

espresso, vanilla bourbon ice cream 

and Bailey’s irish cream liqueur. 

Oh. My. Gosh. Espresso, ice cream 

and alcohol Some may call this 

the perfect trifecta. Some being me. 

It was presented to me (I kid you 

not) on a silver platter. O.K. So I’m 

not quite disillusioned enough to 

think they did this just for me, but 

still it was pretty special. With the 

ice cream in the middle, the liqueur 

and the espresso remained in two 

separate carafes to be poured by the 

consumer onto the ice cream. I was 

giddy. My husband was laughing 

at me but I didn’t care. It was pure 

decadence. I mean, talk about a 

dessert that packs a punch. Whoa – 

it was so very good. I can’t attest to 

their coffee drinks, but really, why 

would you come here to get “just” 

coffee when you can get the silver 

platter of deliciousness In addition 

to the Vanilla Coffee Affogato they 

also had a chocolate and orange 

option. The vanilla version on the 

menu, however, has a Humming Bird 

icon next to it, seemingly marking 

it as “extra special” (my words, not 

theirs). In terms of ambiance, when 

I actually didn’t have my head in 

my ice cream dish, I realized that 

Glacio was pretty cute. They had 

the black-and-white fancy-diner 

motif going on, there were blackand-white 

wrought iron chairs for 

the pub tables, single roses on each 

table and comfy booths at each 

corner of the shop. Overhead there 

was funky black track lighting that 

made you momentarily forget you’re 

in a shopping mall. Then again, if 

a dessert is that yummy, who cares 

where it is It’s pricey at NT$250, 

but a nice once-in-a-while treat. 

glaCio | att 4 fun – 5th floor, 12 Songshou road, Xinyi district 

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. http://caffeinatedblisstaiwan.blogspot.tw 

Got a suggestion for our resident caffeine addict Send them in via coteditor@communitycenter.org.tw. 

WorshIP DIrectory aND coMMUNIty GroUPs 

listings are now available online at http://communitycenter.org.tw/life-in-taiwan/worship-directory and http://communitycenter.org.tw/ 

life-in-taiwan/community-groups. 


23

photography 

Snapping 

Fireworks 

Text & Image: Craig Ferguson 

Wi t h t h e n e w y e a r 

c e l e b r a t i o n s f a s t 

approaching, one thing 

you can count on seeing 

over the next couple of months is 

fireworks. So how do you go about 

photographing them 

Well, the good news is that it’s 

quite easy, but there are a few things 

you’ll need. First, make sure that you 

have a camera that can be operated 

manually. Look for a “B” or bulb 

setting. You’ll also want to be able 

to focus manually. If you leave 

autofocus on and try to take photos 

like that, it’ll just hunt for something 

to lock onto in the black sky and 

you won’t get anything. Once you 

have the camera, you’ll need a sturdy 

tripod. This is a must as we are going 

to have exposure times of a few 

seconds and any camera shake will 

ruin the picture. Some kind of remote 

release is required as well. It doesn’t 

matter if it’s wired or wireless, as 

long as it’ll let you trip the shutter 

without needing to touch the camera. 

It doesn’t matter how many auto 

modes your camera has. All those 

little icons of flowers and mountains 

are useless for fireworks. With your 

lens set to MF, focus on something 

in the distance. Once you are happy, 

recompose so that the camera is 

pointing to the area of sky where the 

fireworks will be but make sure you 

don’t change the focus. You may not 

need to do this if you are in an area 

with buildings, bridges etc. If your 

camera doesn't allow you to focus 

manually, then see if it's possible to 

either lock the focus, or turn off the 

focus. Check your camera manual 

for this as all cameras have different 

options for this. Then you can use 

autofocus once to get things set up, 

and leave it at that setting. 

With your ISO set to 100, shutter 

set to B, aperture between f8 and f16 

and remote release in hand you’re 

ready. Selecting an aperture between 

f8 and f16 gives you plenty of depthof-field, 

and the shutter at B allows 

you to leave the shutter open for 

as long as you like. Press and hold 

the release button once to start the 

exposure and let go to stop it. A little 

trial and error may be required, so 

take as many shots as you can, with 

differing shutter times. If you can 

see the place where the fireworks 

are being launched from, you could 

try opening the shutter when you 

see the launch and closing it when 

the firework goes out. Or, you could 

leave it open and catch a few bursts 

of fireworks on the same exposure – 

hold a black card in front of the lens 

between bursts to cut down on any 

stray light. 

All DSLR's and many of the 

better compact cameras have the 

aforementioned “B” setting. If 

your camera doesn't have it, then 

look for the “M” setting. Select 

an aperture as mentioned above 

and for the shutter speed, dial in a 

speed of around 5-10 seconds and 

experiment from there. The photo 

that accompanies this article had a 

speed of three seconds, but that was 

because it was quite bright and I was 

fairly close. If you're farther away, or 

the fireworks are higher in the sky, 

you'll need a longer time. 

Good luck and remember to stay 

safe and warm when you’re out 

photographing fireworks on these 

cold winter nights. 

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. 


Fabric Market and 

Surroundings 

ask bin 

TexT: Bin Huang and naTalie KöHle images: naTalie KöHle 

One important aspect of any 

interior decoration project 

is choosing fabrics that 

give the right accent to 

your overall style. You can use fabric 

to cover sofas and chairs, to make 

sofa cushions, bed sheets and covers, 

curtains, tablecloths, and napkins. 

Fabric can even serve as wallpaper. 

DiHua Street Fabric Market 

The most important place to buy 

all kinds of fabric in Taipei is the 

Fabric Market located in one of the 

oldest parts of Taipei: Dihua Street. 

Spread across three floors, there 

are more than one-thousand stores 

inside the market selling everything 

from fashionable new patterns and 

designs to traditional Taiwanese 

and Japanese floral prints; silk for 

making traditional Chinese dresses 

to high quality uni-colored cotton 

imported from Japan; basic cotton 

for making bedsheets and blankets to 

tweed and other woolen fabrics for 

making warm jackets and overcoats. 

You can also find thin gauze for 

curtains, thick textured fabrics that 

can be used for upholstery and 

cushions, fake fur for lining winter 

coats and blankets, as well as kinds 

of other specialized materials for 

reinforcing and lining tailor-made 

clothing and bags. 

While some of the patterns and 

designs are quite Chinese in style, 

and may not match a more purist 

home or dress sense, you can also 

find high quality plain linens and 

cottons in the market. Many of these 

fabrics are imported from Japan. 

They may not be cheap, but the 

quality is excellent. 

ZHongyao ( 仲嶢 ) 

One of my favourite shops on 

Dihua Street Fabric Market 

21 Dihua St., Sec. 1 

Zhongyao ( 仲嶢 ) 

Stall 59, 2F., 21 Dihua St., Sec. 1 

( 台北市迪化街一段 21 號 2F, 59 號攤位 ) 

the 2nd floor of the fabric market 

is No. 59, Zhongyao. It specializes 

in Taiwanese peony flower prints. 

Whereas most shops only carry a 

very limited range of traditional 

color combinations – namely light 

blue, red, pink, green, and purple 

– t h i s s m a l l s t o r e f e a t u r e s a n 

amazing variety of these prints in 

many different and unusual color 

combinations. It is the largest 

collection of these fabrics that I 

know of in Taipei. 

Using this fabric for interior 

decoration will give your home some 

unique Taiwanese accents – you can 

use it to make table clothes, cushions, 

and bed sheets. When you use it to 

make curtains, you don’t need to 

place flowers on the windowsills, as 

your windows will already seem to be 

in bloom! These traditional patterns 

also make very original carry bags, 

purses and dresses. 

If you don’t know how to sew, 

don’t worry! Conveniently situated 

on the third flood of the market are 

many tailor shops that are ready to 

help you. From table sheets to bed 

sheets, sofa covers, and curtains, to 

dresses and costumes, you name it, 

and they will make it for you. These 

tailor services come in especially 

handy if you want to use matching 

fabric to create different accessories 

for your home. My advice is that 

no matter what item you want to 

get made, go to the third floor first 

to check with the tailors how much 

fabric you need, and then buy the 

fabric after. If you are planning 

to make curtains for your new 

home, likewise you should first 

measure the width and height of 

your window and go to the third 

floor to chose a curtain style before 

purchasing your fabric. 

Small Art Yard ( 小藝埕 ) 

1F., 1, Lane 32, Dihua St., Sec. 1 

02-25521321 

( 台北市迪化街一段 32 巷 1 號 1F) 

Art Yard ( 民藝埕 ) 

67, Dihua St., Sec. 1 

( 台北市迪化街一段 67 號 ) 

02-25521367 

www.artyard.tw 

As the fabric market is in one 

of the oldest parts of town, it is 

definitely worth taking the time to 

discover the area nearby. In the 

immediate vicinity you will find 

plenty of stores that sell all kinds of 

accessories for dresses, costumes, 

handbags, and other DIY projects. 

An interesting feature of many of 

these stores is their professional 

dying service. They are able to dye 

any fabric to match the color of an 

already existing fabric. Of course 

this comes in extremely handy when 

you need to mend a dress. 

SMall art yarD ( 小藝埕 ) 

This is another favorite of mine 

in the area. It sells beautiful handprinted 

fabrics with modern designs. 

The stylish patterns and color 

combinations of these fabrics will 

harmonize perfectly with a more 

contemporary interior decoration. 

And if you are tired after so much 

fabric shopping you can enjoy a 

good cup of coffee in Luguo Café 

which is located on the second floor 

of Small Art Yard. You could also 

walk over to Art Yard ( 民藝埕 ) , 

and enjoy Chinese-style tea with 

complementary traditional tea snacks 

and sweets ( 茶點 ), served in the cozy 

tea house on the second floor, which 

is tastefully furnished with retro 

furniture and retro décor. 

Bin is an interior designer 

with almost thirty years of 

experience in Taiwan. In 

addition to running his own 

interior design studio (www.inkstone. 

ws), he recently started a small home 

maintenance service company (http:// 

housewizard.wordpress.com/), in order 

to share his local knowledge about the 

ins and outs of home 

decoration with the 

expat community of 

Taipei. Whatever your 

household question may 

be, he’d love to hear 

from you. 


25

generaation y 

hanukkah 

TexT: LeaT ahrony 

Long stretches of holidays 

throughout the year 

never seem to end, 

especially when you come 

from a background of mixed 

cultures. My Taiwan and Israeli 

heritage allows me to celebrate 

b o t h C h i n e s e a n d J e w i s h 

holidays, and one of my favorites 

is Hanukkah, which involves 

lighting eight-days’ worth of 

candles. 

The sTory of hanukkahh 

Every Jewish festival has a 

story behind it, and Hanukkah 

commemorates the mystical 

miracle of lights. Over 2,500 

years ago, the Syrian King 

Antiochus forced the Jewish 

people to worship Greek gods 

by installing a statue of himself in 

the Jewish temple. This is a violation 

of one of the Ten Commandments, 

which forbids the worship of idols or 

statues. As a result, a small group of 

Jews called Maccabees rebelled. This 

is an important event in Jewish history 

- a three year war. The result was 

that Jerusalem was recaptured from 

the Syrians, but - devastatingly - the 

temple was destroyed. 

The Jews lit a lamp (a menorah) 

whilst repairing the temple - a symbol 

of God's presence - so that it could 

be rededicated to Him. They could 

only find one small jar of oil, enough 

to burn for one day, but the lamp 

miraculously stayed alight for eight 

days. The menorah (called a hanukiah 

in Hebrew) is a special candle holder 

with nine stemmed candelabrum 

(holding eight candles to be lit, plus 

one “servant” candle to light the 

others). Hanukkah is celebrated by 

Jews worldwide to remember how 

God looked after the Jewish people at 

a difficult time. 

The TradiTions of hanukkah 

Growing up in Taiwan, our Jewish 

community arranged Hanukkah 

parties filled with music, dreidal 

games, and an assortment of 

traditional Hanukkah foods. I must 

admit it isn’t the healthiest holiday 

as many traditional Hanukkah food 

items contain a lot of oil. However, it 

comes only once a year! 

Latkes, which are crispy pan fried 

potato strips, are a must. The trick 

is not to mush them into one lumpy 

patty because you want the edges to be 

golden and crispy. The other popular 

delicacy at this time is deep-fried, 

jelly-filled donuts, called sufganiot. 

Normally dishes like Israeli salad, 

star-shaped cookies, apple sauce, 

grilled salmon and fruit are added to 

the table. There is always something 

special for the children as well. 

Besides the parents’ Hanukkah 

gift, every child receives a bag filled 

with hanukiah-imprinted golden coin 

chocolates. Decorations are put up 

on the walls prior to the party and 

every family brings their hanukiah. 

After saying a short prayer 

and singing the traditional 

Hanukkah songs together, 

candles are lit. 

hanukkah in Canada 

Moving to university in 

C a n a d a m e a n t l e a v i n g m y 

familiar celebratory traditions 

in Taiwan. But no matter where 

you go, traditions are traditions 

and variations are not drastic. 

Here in Victoria, the Jewish 

community holds several 

Hanukkah parties for singles 

and families, whether it is at the 

Chabad Center, the Synagogue 

downtown, or at private Rabbi 

parties. Christmas, Hanukkah 

and any high holiday is a time 

for celebration but is also a 

good excuse for a family gathering. 

This is the one part I missed most last 

year. It was during winter break, and 

my roommates went back home to 

spend time with family. With Skype 

and email though, I can feel connected 

to back home, and with the support 

of some local friends and the Jewish 

community, loneliness eventually drifts 

away. Before you know it, the eight 

days pass, and we look forward to the 

next holiday. 

Every Jewish holiday to me is 

special, but Hanukkah is mystical, and 

lighting the candles while singing the 

traditional songs lights up my heart. I 

find it interesting how both Christmas 

and Hanukkah involve the concept of 

“light”. I will not return to Taiwan 

this December, but my hanukiah, 

candles, and matches are already 

in place. No matter where you are 

placed, one should never feel lonely, so 

find friends and family, and embrace 

the warmth of the miracle of lights! 

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 <strong>Centered</strong> 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. 


The Art of Building a 

Strong Constitution 

TEXT: SHAUN RAMSDEN 

tcM corNer 

Creating a strong constitution for your child 

starts a long time before pregnancy. It is very 

important that the body has enough high quality 

materials to create life with. If you were to build 

a house the first step would be to find the best materials to 

use in constructing the foundation. In general, according 

to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the first son and second 

daughter take the mother's constitution, the second son and 

first daughter take the father's. But even though there is a 

strong genetic component we can still alter the foundation 

of the foetus' growth through correct preparation before 

pregnancy. 

Both the man and the women need to adjust their 

bodies. The female's adjustment is slightly more 

important, as she must carry the foetus. Correct 

preparation will not only help to prevent miscarriage but 

it will also increase the chances of a pleasant pregnancy 

with fewer complications. The single most important 

indicator for knowing the current state of the female 

reproductive system is through the observation of 

menstruation. It should be regular, come about every 

twenty-eight days, arriving about one week before the full 

moon. There should be no pain, diarrhoea, pre-menstrual 

syndrome (PMS), nausea or dizziness. In the middle of 

the cycle there should be no excessive discharge and most 

importantly there must be enough blood that is not dark, 

not purple and without clots. It is blood that is the basis 

of the female body and the most important to regulate. 

Once the period and the blood are fully regular then it is 

safe to become pregnant. 

It is possible to tell the strength of a child’s constitution 

by looking at the size of their wrists and ears. Most 

people who have a strong build tend to have a thick 

skeletal system and those with a weak constitution are 

thinner. The constitution in and of itself is similar to the 

foundation of a house. The house can be changed and 

altered but not the foundation on which it was built. 

In ancient China they believed that having children at a 

younger age was better in some ways as the body was 

internally more healthy. But they also understood that 

those who had children older had much better life skills. 

No matter what age you are the path to healthy children 

begins with having a healthy body long before pregnancy. 

Regulating the period is very easily done with Chinese 

herbal medicine but the secret of keeping it regular lies 

in leading a healthy lifestyle. For women the single most 

dominant factor that disrupts the balance is anything 

that is cold. This means cold drinks, cold water and cold 

weather. It is especially important to stay away from 

anything cold during menstruation. For this reason it 

is suggested to dress warmly, to not use ice or to drink 

refrigerated beverages and never to swim leading up to, 

during, or immediately after menstruation. There are 

also certain foods and drinks that are cold in nature and 

should be avoided or at least not form a major part of 

your diet such as green tea, watermelon and ice cream. 

Eat with the seasons, sleep early, exercise daily, dress 

warmly and health will come naturally. 

Shaun Ramsden is a native Australian who spent eight 

years in Singapore and six years in China and has recently 

relocated to Taipei. He has a Bachelor of Medicine from the 

Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and a Diploma in 

Massage from the Australian College of Natural Medicine. 

In addition to running his own TCM clinic (www. 

classictcm.net), he enjoys writing books on kung fu, TCM 

health cultivation and Chinese medicine. On the weekends 

he teaches martial arts and qi gong on Yangmingshan. 

www.communitycenter.org.tw 

DEC 2012/jan 2013 

27

csc 

What the magazine 

TEXT: NANCY ACHORN 

means to me 

We’ve been expats for a 

long time, and although I 

always look forward to 

living in a new country, 

the actual transition is not always 

easy. After nine years in Asia, we 

were lucky to have three years in 

Europe, the last two of which were 

in Greece. There was so much 

more of Europe to see, and our 

time there had gone by too fast. 

I was not feeling ready to leave 

behind the beautiful scenery, 

amazing history, and great 

friends I’d made in Athens. 

Walking in the footsteps of 

history I’d read about all my 

life was a privilege I was not 

eager to give up. 

hard to Say goodbye 

My husband starting working in Taiwan a 

few months before the kids and I arrived, so he came back 

to Greece for our pack-out with an armload of reading 

material to help me get started learning about Taipei, 

our new home. I procrastinated. The pile moved from 

coffee table to bookshelf, and finally to my suitcase. Yes, 

it would be great to start thinking about the practicalities 

of living in Taiwan but no, I was not emotionally ready 

to leave Greece yet. So it was well after our house was 

packed and shipped, and we were on the beach on 

Skiathos Island soaking up our last few days of Greek 

sun, that I finally got out the stack of books, magazines, 

maps and brochures on Taiwan and started reading. 

the diSCovery of Community 

I was reluctant and ready to be disappointed at what 

my re-entry into Asian society would bring. Instead, 

my attitude changed completely that day, and it was all 

because of reading <strong>Centered</strong> on Taipei. Every article 

I read told me that I was about to become part of a 

thoughtful, intelligent, very switched-on community 

focused on enjoying and appreciating life in Taiwan. 

Not only that, but the central mission of those involved 

at The Center appeared to be so much more then just 

making friends, attending activities, or where to shop or 

go out to lunch. These people were actively supporting 

an organization dedicated to making sure that no-one 

who moves here does so without the resources they need 

to get connected, meet people, and share the common 

experience of living in a new place. These did not sound 

like people trying to survive their overseas assignments, 

but people who had made Taipei home and saw this as an 

opportunity and experience not to be missed. Some were 

people who had lived here for many years, but instead 

of leaving the welcoming of newcomers to others, they 

were leading hikes, running book groups, teaching classes, 

scouting coffee shops, 

training volunteers and 

creating a safe place for 

people like me to join in. 

As I closed my <strong>Centered</strong> 

on Taipei magazine and 

lay back, the Aegean Sea 

was just as beautiful, the 

sadness of leaving friends just 

as bittersweet, but now I was 

also excited about Taipei. If 

so many people were finding 

great things to do in Taipei, 

how could I fail to do so I 

breathed easier, the knot in my 

stomach releasing as I began to 

picture myself as a member of this 

community. I scanned the rest of my 

reading pile, but nothing there spoke 

to me like <strong>Centered</strong> on Taipei did. 

For me, this was the turning point in 

stepping way from Greece and moving 

forward, toward Taipei. 

a Safe plaCe for all 

The other day I was driving on Zhongshan North 

Road, trying to avoid motorbikes, find a parking place 

and get to a school meeting on time. My husband 

was traveling and I was stressed, feeling alone and 

uncomfortable. As I passed the entrance to Lane 290, 

I pictured Grace and Rosemary at their desks working 

away, and thought about how welcomed I felt the first 

time I walked into the Community Services Center. The 

same way I feel whenever I walk in The Center’s door. I 

thought of Jenni laughing as she signed me up for every 

class I’d circled on my list, and Gloria inviting me to 

join a Mandarin study group. I drove on down the road, 

comforted by the realization that here, in the midst of all 

the unfamiliarity, the busy traffic, and Chinese characters, 

The Center is a place I am connected to. I have resources 

available, emerging friendships, people to laugh with, and 

a way to contribute so these things will always be there 

for the next new people to arrive. 

Reading <strong>Centered</strong> on Taipei that day has made all 

the difference in the world. Because of it, I made The 

Community Services Center my first stop, and I suspect 

it will be my last when we leave. For now I can relax and 

take my time getting to know the beauty of Taiwan, its 

people and all the friends I will make here. 

Nancy, originally from America, has 

been living overseas for over 12 years. 

She and her family have had endless 

adventures living in Korea, China, 

Malaysia, Denmark and Greece, and 

are now enjoying making friends, 

exploring and learning about Taiwan. 

28 


taiWaneSe 

SWeet SoupS 

TEXT: IVY CHEN 

IMAGES: TING TING HUANG AND IVY CHEN 

Taiwanese desserts, unlike their 

Western counterparts, can be served 

anytime. Taiwanese don’t have a specific 

teatime break, but tea snacks (both 

savory and sweet) are served with tea 

at any time during the day. Taiwanese 

desserts include cakes, sweet soups and 

others. This month we will look at sweet 

soups, perfect on a cold winter day. 

Sweet soups ( 甜湯 , tian tang) are made 

of beans, roots, tapioca or nuts; most are 

cooked in water, with sugar added. Some 

examples of sweet soups are: 

Red bean soup ( 紅豆湯 , 

hongdou tang); 

Green bean (mung bean) 

soup ( 綠豆湯 , ludou tang); 

Green bean and Job’s tear 

soup ( 綠豆薏仁湯 , ludou 

yiren tang); 

Red bean and rice ball soup ( 紅豆湯圓 , 

hongdou tangyuan); 

Peanut soup ( 花生湯 , huasheng tang, 

made from shelled, bleached and cooked 

peanuts); 

Lotus seeds and white wood ear soup ( 蓮 

子銀耳湯 , lianzi yiner tang; wolfberry is 

usually also added); 

Red bean and tapioca soup ( 紅豆西米露 , 

hongdou ximi lu; sometimes coconut milk 

is added for an exotic flavor); 

Taro and tapioca soup ( 芋香西米露 , 

yuxiang ximi lu; made from cooked taro 

purée and tapioca in coconut milk and 

sugar); 

Sago in honeydew syrup ( 哈密瓜西米 

露 , hamigua ximi lu; made from cooked 

tapioca in honeydew juice with coconut 

milk to serve); 

Black sesame paste ( 芝麻 

糊 , zhima hu; made from 

ground black sesame seeds 

cooked then thickened 

with rice flour in water, 

with sugar to serve); 

Sweet potato ball/taro ball soup ( 地瓜圓 

/ 芋圓湯 , digua yuan/yuyuan tang; made 

from cooked sweet potato or taro and 

mixed with tapioca to make balls, which 

are cooked in water and served with a 

sugar soup). 

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

taipei City hall 

December 31st at 7:00pm 

New Year’s Eve Count Down Party 

Music, dancing, food, drinks, and 

fireworks from dusk til dawn. Be there 

or be square… 

Venue: Civic Plaza 

http://www.tvbs.com.tw/project/ 

tvbs_g/activity/2012_taipei_en/ 

News_1.aspxcode=20111209155128 

1 Shifu Road, Xinyi 

taipei fine arts museum 


Modern Monsters – Death and Life of 

Fiction 

Galleries: 1st, 2nd & 3rd Floors 

http://www.tfam.museum/ 

181 Zhongshan North Road, Section 3 

national palace museum 

Until June 20th 

Lifting the Spirit and Body – The Art 

and Culture of Snuff Bottles 

Gallery: 303 

http://www.npm.gov.tw 

221 Zhishan Road, Section 2 

the red room 

On the 3rd Saturday of every month 

from 6:30 – 10:30 pm 

http://www.redroom.com.tw/ 

2F, 117 Da-an Road, Section 1 

national museum of history 


A Special Exhibition - The Petit 

LOUVRE 

1F Rooms 101, 102 & 103 

http://www.nmh.gov.tw/en-us 

49 Nanhai Road 

museum of Contemporary art (moCa) 

Until December 30th 

The VW New Beatle – A Modern 

Interpretation 

Until February 8th 

Wang Qingsong – The History of 

Monuments 

Venue | MOCA Taipei 

www.mocataipei.org.tw 

39 Changan West Road 

national taiwan museum 

Until Febrary 24th 

Taiwan's Gems – Wen Stone Exhibition 

Galleries: G301 & G302 

http://formosa.ntm.gov.tw/web/en 

2 Siangyang Road 

Spot taipei – film house 

Daily: Noon to Midnight, six showings 

Advant Garde Cross Cutural Films 

www.redhouse.org.tw 

10 Chengdu Road, Wanhua District 

the red house 

Until December 2015 

The Red House: A Century of Stories 

and Blessings 

www.redhouse.org.tw 

10 Chengdu Road, Wanhua District 

International Community Choir's 

Christmas Concert 

December 9th 4pm onwards 

Guy Lott Auditorium, Taipei American 

School. 

NT$300 Available from choir 

members, the Center, or at the door. 


29

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beauty 

eduCation 

hair dreSSer 

#14 Tienmu E. Road | Telephone 2871-1515 | GP168@hotmail.com.tw 

food and drink 


David gill 

David Gill is a long time resident of Taipei and travels frequently as the Asia-based representative of an 

aerospace company. A photography hobbyist since he was a teenager his favorite shots are everyday 

subjects or scenes that often pass unnoticed. “As an amateur photographer, I focus on shots that please 

my own eye. New and unusual sights and sounds are fantastic and many of us rightfully spend a lot of time 

and money seeking them out. For me that typically includes a camera around my neck and bag over my 

shoulder. But taking a moment to consider what’s at your doorstep, on the way to work, or right around the 

corner has every chance to be pretty fantastic too – and creates the opportunity for a photo that connects; 

at least with yourself, maybe a few others if you’re lucky.”

A Haven of Comfort 

Located in the heart of Tunhua Financial 

District, Howard Green Garden combines 

the best of shopping with a relaxed living 

environment. 

Well served by a network of transportation for 

convenient access, the 52 well-appointed 

rooms and comprehensive facilities provide 

busy executives a delightful stay with total 

peace of mind. 

No.9, Lane199, Tunhwa N.Road, Taipei, Taiwan 

TEL02 2545 9888 FAX02 2719 8344

Centered on Taipei magazine - Community Services Center

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