Centered on Taiwan - Fall 2023

Centered on TAIWAN

COVER IMAGE

Silver Grass Image by Sam Chang/unsplash

For more information, please go to our website at www.communitycenter.org.tw

COT Team

FROM THE EDITOR

Please send email submissions, comments, and feedback to coteditor@communitycenter.org.tw

“We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.”

~ George Takei

COT is now a digital publishing platform that allows you to share content in multiple ways. Discover and share our Taiwan stories in a more accessible way, anytime, anywhere.

Art, Photography and Writing Contributors

Wina Appleton

India Taipei Association

Alton Beaune

Lutetia ART-at-TAC

New Page Books

Elsewhere Theater Company

Aparna Ganesan

Gemma Green

Steven Leach Group (SL+A)

Julie Hu

Cahleen Hudson

Roma Mehta

Kerry Nockolds

Tobie Openshaw

Taipei European School

Jessica Wang Simula

Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society

Lucy Torres Margot Zhang

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!

Publisher Adam McMillan

Centered on Taiwan is a publication of the Community Services Center, 2F, No. 238, Zhongshan N. Rd., Sec. 6, Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan 111032 Tel: 02-2836-8134 Fax: 02-2835-2530

Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner.

COT publishes 10 editions in full, magazine format online with only 4 printed editions (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring) each year. COT is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified 100% post-consumer recycled fiber. See the FSC rules mandates here: https://ic.fsc.org/

COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER

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.

Director

Office Manager Counselors Consultants

Counseling Admin.

Adam McMillan

Mandy Wang McCarthy

I-wen Chan, Katherine Chang, Hui-shiang Chao, Chiao-Feng Chung, Cerita Hsu, Lily Lin, Miranda Lin, Emilie Ma, Kuan-Shan Wan, Zoe Wu

Anne Cheng, Tom Cole, Mary Langerstrom Ximena Lopez, Sofia Vintimila

Joanne Chua

Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Fall edition of Centered on Taiwan, also now available online. A warm welcome to those who are newcomers to Taiwan. We hope you will find our stories uplifting and informative. We would also love to hear from you if you have stories to share, or your own take on photos of this beautiful island.

Fall is a time of change and the unpredictable weather patterns we are experiencing reflect that change is inevitable. Gemma Green's review of this year's International Women's Day highlights the importance of legacy and ancient wisdom as we prepare for what lies ahead.

Read one couple’s brave breakaway story to Rethink Priorities and give themselves a fresh beginning. Coming up in October this year, the Asia Rainbow Ride 2023 is an island-wide bike ride open to all. Steven Leach Group (SL+A) shows that heritage and innovation can co-exist by offering their expertise to meet the needs of The Center’s new location.

Tobie Openshaw shares the first part of Preparing for Emergencies in Taiwan to help you to make plans relevant to any disruptive event. Pallavi Saxena’s solo exhibition All Our Homes is a collection of mixedmedia floral abstract paintings that encapsulate the “sweetness of chaos” of home life.

India-Taipei Association celebrates International Day of Yoga under the theme "One Earth, One Family, One Future." The Taipei European School celebrates its 30th Anniversary on the occasion of Europe Day, the 9th of May, 2023.

At the Center, we have exciting programs and gatherings planned for the fall, including the Center’s Annual Auction Fundraiser in October. Check out our website for the new Fall & Winter catalog that is now available online and at The Center.

As a non-profit organization, the Center offers COT free for all, supported by those who can. Get in touch if you would like to advertise or sponsor in future editions.

Subscribe to the COT at this link and never miss an issue.

https://centered-on-taiwan.com/

With immense gratitude for our diverse community

Roma

Counseling Admin. Assistant

Accountant

Programs Manager

Events Coordinator

Communications

Mandarin Chinese Teacher Systems Manager Intern

Coffee Mornings Coordinators

Volunteers

Matina Chen

Monica Cheng

Lucy Torres

Sammy Driessen

Pia Munk-Janson

Gloria Gwo

Samson Assamnew

Lily Altamirano

Stephenie Meadows, Melany Zwartjes

Sophie Lin, John Imbrogulio, Jessica Wang Simula, Yuk Lin (Jan) Tsang, Petra Yu, SzuHan Wang, Miyuki Boice.

Roma Mehta Editor coteditor@ communitycenter.org.tw

Katia Chen Graphic Designer katia@ communitycenter.org.tw

Naomi Kaly Advertising Manager naomi@ communitycenter.org.tw

CHINESE CLASSES

SEPTEMBER 4 – OCTOBER 18

Monday & Wednesday mornings

Survival Chinese 1, 2, and Refresher

IT’S ALL ABOUT FOOD

September 15

October 6

October 13

October 20

October 31

Taiwanese Healthy Cooking Market to Table

Incredible Indian Cooking

Italian-American Dishes

Little Burma Tour

TIME TO EXPLORE

September 14

September 22

October 3

October 5

October 14

October 19

Shung Ye Museum

Green Dragon Ridge Hike

Neihu Hills Hike

Tamsui Photography Tour

Keelung Islet

Jiufen and the North Coast

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AND SIGN UP EARLY TO SAVE YOUR SPOT!

ARTS & CRAFTS

September 18

September 20

October 16

October 17

October 30

Have Fun with Art

Chinese Knotting

Photography Class

Acrylic Pouring

Painting with Bubbles

W h a t : A 1 3 0 k m c i r c u i t a r o u n d T a i p e i w i t h 8 s e c t i o n s t o c o m p l e t e

W h y : S h o w y o u r s e l f t h e m o u n t a i n s y o u c a n c l i m b R a i s e m o n e y f o r T h e C e n t e r

W h e n : T w o W e d n e s d a y s a m o n t h f r o m S e p t e m b e r t o D e c e m b e r

C o s t : N T $ 6 0 0 0

( T h i s i n c l u d e s s e v e n h i k e s a n d o n e b i k e t r i p a l l w i t h a g u i d e )

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n e m a i l c e @ c o m m u n i t y c e n t e r o r g t w

TES 30th Anniversary and Europe Day Event

Taipei European School Celebrates 30 Years!

Taipei European School (TES) celebrated its 30th anniversary this year!

The Taipei European School (TES) unites British, French and German Sections at its two campuses in Tianmu and YangmingShan. The Sections joined together in 1992, and this academic year the school celebrates its 30th anniversary as a leading international school in Taiwan and the region.

“

Mighty oaks grow from little acorns” - the Taipei European School, a unique school, which is the only one of its kind in the world, formally celebrated its 30th Anniversary on the occasion of Europe Day, the 9th of May, 2023.

From humble beginnings in 1992, when three separate schools, the French School, the German School and the British School came together under one European campus roof. The school now has nearly 1,800 students, with graduate classes of 80+ students moving to prestigious universities around the world every year.

The passage of 30 years has certainly seen Taipei European School grow during a period of great change in the world in which our faculty and students operate, whether it be pedagogically, technologically, or sociologically, to name but a few.

The school has been able to adapt, grow and flourish over the course of time with the great dedication of the hundreds of teachers, staff, and the many thousands of families that have joined the school over the years. The school’s motto is ‘ Learn and Flourish ’; students learn in a multicultural, multilingual and holistic educational environment and flourish within the highly supportive environment in which physical, mental, social and emotional wellbeing are given high priority. These students flourish academically, but even more importantly, beyond the classroom, in whichever path they wish to follow.

TEXT: KERRY NOCKOLDS IMAGES: TES

30th Anniversary Secondary Orchestra performance

Guests at the TES 30th Anniversary and Europe Day 2023

Academic excellence is obviously a core goal of any educational institution, but the Taipei European School looks to help students to grow in many other ways as well. The TES Community Values of: Respect; Responsibility; Creativity; Participation; and Perseverance, are part of the “DNA” of the school and are lived and breathed in the daily lives of the students and school community. We build these values in tandem with important skills and attributes that our graduates develop and then take forward beyond their school life. Upon graduating our students will demonstrate leadership, independence, global citizenship, critical thinking skills, communication skills and show empathy, whilst being lifelong learners, so that they can thrive in the ever-changing world.

As the ‘ European School ’ in Taipei, we created ‘One School' from three to focus on developing European culture and values to help achieve our shared vision and mission. Consequently, ‘Europe Day’, the 9th of May, is one of the most important events of the year for the school. This is the day we celebrate with Representatives from the European Trade Offices and European Chambers of Commerce in Taipei, as well as other organisations in the community, which help and support the school and our students. As an international school, this event enables students to stay in touch with the school’s European heritage. This year we combined the school’s traditional ‘ Europe Day ’ celebration with our official ‘ 30th Anniversary celebrations’ and brought the students from both the primary and secondary

campuses together to perform. With the combined orchestras and choirs of the younger and older students, the presentation was very impressive, culminating in the finale “ Ode to Joy”, sung in the four different languages of the school, namely: English, French, German, and Chinese.

Whilst the Europe Day event represents the official ‘30th Anniversary Event’, the school has been celebrating throughout the academic year 20222023. The theme for this year is one of the central mission ideals ‘ Doing well by doing good’! The students and community have raised money for local and international charities and the good feeling of being able to support these groups provides much motivation for doing more of the same in the future.

Whilst celebrating a strong 30 year history, the school is of course futurefocused and there are significant

developments to come in the physical structures of the school to support teaching and learning. As well as new buildings and renovations, Taipei European School strives to be a leading educational institution in terms of curricula development and modern pedagogy. The school aims to recruit the best teachers and staff possible, and maintains an exciting and highly relevant programme of continuing professional development and staff training.

If the past is an indication of the future, we can be sure of one important fact: our graduates going forward into the world will be a credit to themselves, the school and the wider community.

Kerry Nockolds is the Director of Community Relations and Marketing at Taipei European School

TES Foundation Chairman, Dr. CV Chen

Mr John Nixon MBE - CEO of TES welcome remarks

Primary Chinese Flag dancers performance

Primary Choir performance

When I arrived at the Museum of World Religions, I did not expect to end my day roaring out loud, thrusting my fists forward in a rare moment of community connection, but that is exactly what happened, and it felt liberating.

The event was Bridging Ancient Wisdom and the Modern World, organised by the Museum of World Religions and the Red Room, to celebrate International Women’s Day with the #EmbraceEquity. In reality it was more than a celebration, inspiring, educational, thought provoking and rooted in the history of Taiwan’s indigenous females.

Expecting to see mostly women in the room, I was emboldened to see men. One of the speakers Elisa Chiu couldn’t have voiced it better when she said “ we need more allies, it’s a movement ”. The men I met from the USA, Mexico and Taiwan all expressed that they were keen to support. JJ. Chen, photographer said, “ one common thread was, regardless of their

Bridging Ancient Wisdom and the Modern World

respective environment, just how hard it is for women to thrive in a generally male-dominated environment. That’s certainly nothing new but hearing it directly from each of their perspectives was eye opening just how much we, males, take everything for granted”.

We started the day with video messages collected from the female Elders of the tribes of Taiwan, Kanakanavu, Atayal and Paiwan, represented by indigenous women sharing their stories. The remaining 13 tribes of Taiwan were honoured in name and image. The themes of their stories were moving, the impact of colonialism on the women’s language, culture and identity still present today as they expressed the hardships of fitting into a society forced upon them. The strength of the role of the mother and the wisdom passed down through generations was enlightening to hear. I couldn’t help but think of my own mother and how easy it is to take this relationship for granted. I am guilty of not calling enough, and certainly not telling her how her love and wisdom continues to shape me into the woman I am today.

This theme continued as we heard from a panel of talented, dedicated speakers. Elisa Chiu– CEO of Anchor Taiwan, Romona Guan – Global Value

Business Director at FiO Taiwan, Lou Mo - Artist and Curator, Dr. Malabika Das – Health and Wellness Practitioner and Mulinung Tangiradan – Indigenous Culture and Youth, made for a diverse panel of women, all keen to share their own wisdom and experiences. The session was moderated expertly by Dr. Christie Chang as she allowed space for each speaker, whilst encouraging us to connect, ask questions, and share our own experiences. It is rare to find not only a safe space, but a brave space. One where I feel unbridled by my own anxieties. As a regular Red Room Rendezvous patron, I know that the Red Room culture prides itself in the warmth of listening and connection at all of their events and this was no exception.

TEXT: GEMMA GREEN IMAGES: JJ CHEN

Panelist Malabika Das

Moderator Christie Chang

The first question put to the panel asked them to define what wisdom they would wish to pass down to the next generation. Interestingly, they all responded with answers relating to their mothers. We were all clearly moved by Mulinung sharing that “ as a girl my mother told me that there is nothing I can give to you, I don’t have a beautiful house, a nice car, money, even this land does not belong to me. Your life and breath belong to the almighty and you have to give to yourself. The only thing that I can give is belief and the courage to face challenges, legs to walk forward, eyes to see the truth, hands to work hard, and the spirit to live”. I found myself feeling glad that I came, strengthened by being in a room full of women willing to be vulnerable, honoured that the panel had taken the time out of their Saturday to share their wisdom.

was useful to hear practical advice, as a woman in a man’s world “we have 3 options, 1. do nothing, 2. fight within the existing system or 3. go outside of it and make something new ”. She chose to make something new and I felt grateful that she had, not only as a model to young Taiwanese women, but to all women. Mulinung acknowledged the division of labour within the tribes of Taiwan is changing. Whilst traditions are still passed down, men can become weavers and women hunters. My own assumptions challenged, I felt privileged to be in this space with these incredible women.

with empowering women from diverse backgrounds ”. Alexandra – Event Attendee

The final question to the panel summed up what we were all feeling. Christie asked the panellists to return to the question of what is the one thing that you would pass down to the next generation? Mulinung answered simply “愛 - love”.

This continued unabated throughout the morning. Romona spoke with humour about being a woman in the world of tech, defiant in her belief that women should be collaborating rather than in competition and to tell the next generation “ don’t worry we will back you up ”. Lou was fascinating as we heard about her experiences as a lone Asian female travelling in West Africa for her art, often asked what are you doing here? Calling on all of us to reflect on the importance of trust, “how do we want to be in the world with others, how do we trust them and allow them to trust you?” Malabika spoke fondly of her spirituality and the importance of knowing our whole selves to act with intent. “ Visualise things, and put your intentions out there, things will come your way”.

It was clear that Elisa had built a company from the ground up and it

Throughout the session, we were treated to full simultaneous interpretation. Live translation by Priya meant that this was the first event I had attended in Taiwan that felt fully inclusive and accessible for English or Mandarin speakers. Priya spoke excellently in both languages, picking up on all the nuanced answers and expressions of a live discussion.

“ I was very impressed with how accessible this event was. As I mentioned to a few people I met on the day, I was looking for a way to celebrate International Women’s Day in Taipei. I couldn't ask for a better-found opportunity to meet and discuss ideas

It was then that I was roaring out loud, thrusting my fists forward in a rare moment of community connection as Malabika asked us to roar like lions, powerful, strong and majestic. It was the perfect end to a day full of connection and optimism. I was reminded that as women we are positive, passionate, funny, humble and open. We seek to empower each other to not hold back. Go out there, make change happen, make mistakes, be brave, we are here to support you.

If that is not a clear message to #EmbraceEquity, then I don’t know what is.

Love and Wisdom

Gemma Green

For more information and photos, visit: https://redroomtaipei.com/ celebrating-women-in-taipei-iwd-2023embrace-equity/

Gemma Green is a Taipei resident since January 2020, Gemma Green has a background in UK NGO management and community work, which has allowed her to use her time volunteering for a number of projects in Taiwan. Keen to learn more about Taiwanese society and its people she is passionate about writing, photography and the stories that are within us all.

Panelist Mulinung Tangiradan

Panelist Romona Guan

Panelist Elisa Chiu

Panelists Lou Mo

Community Announcements

Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society

The Taiwan POW Camps Memorial Society is holding the annual FEPOW (Far East Prisoners of War) Day on Saturday August 12th at the Spot Theatre (台北之家－光點電影院) - 18, Zhongshan North Road Sec. 2 (台北市中山北路二段18號) in downtown Taipei.

Doors open at 6pm and the program commences at 6:30.

In addition to a display of POW artifacts and a memorial service for the POWs, the films ‘The Railway Man’ and ‘Enemy, My Friend’ will be shown.

Everyone is welcome but space is limited so reservations are a must.

Email: society@powtaiwan.org by Thursday August 10th. http://www.powtaiwan.org/

Fall & Winter Catalog

https://communitycenter.org.tw/what-we-do/activities/

10:30-12:00, second Tuesday of the month., contact Julie Hu at: mcelroy22000@yahoo.com

AUGUST 8

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama, 2022

SEPTEMBER 12

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, 2020

OCTOBER 10

The Emptiness of Our Hands: 47 Days on the Streets by Phyllis Cole-Dai and James Murray, 2004

A Midsummer Triptych: Elsewhere Theater’s Dangerous Art

Taipei audiences enjoyed Dangerous Art just before the dragon boats launched at the end of June. This program of three modern plays was mounted by Barry Hall’s Elsewhere Theater Company in partnership with Red Room. Mr Hall directed his triptych as a set, with an eye for correspondences. The Guling Street Avant-Garde Theatre (牯嶺街小劇場) provided the venue.

our monthly book club online or in-person every first Thursday of the month. Members get to submit suggestions and vote for the next read! And you can exchange books at our trolleys or online.

https://www.newpage.life/books or

FB: New Page Books

ETC is raising the bar for resident English-language theatre in Taiwan. Standards are professional, plays are insightfully chosen, and in this case audiences walked away with many ideas about art to kick around. Watch for a full review in our September edition of Centered on Taiwan.

Elsewhere Theater Company

https://www.facebook.com/etcproductions

The print version of the Fall & Winter catalog is available at The Center.

JOIN THE NEW PAGE BOOK CLUB

TEXT: ALTON BEAUNE IMAGE: ETC

MORNING BOOK CLUB

Zhongshan North Road, Section 6, Shilin District, Taipei, Taiwan ROC 111-52

Steven Leach Group –The FUTURE is NOW

The Future is Now, a dynamic theme for a company that has recently celebrated being in Asia for 51 years. Steven Leach Group (SL+A) is an Interior Design and Architectural Consultancy Company. A value led business, with a focus on cutting edge design solutions, SL+A shows that heritage and innovation can co-exist. In 1972, American Architect Steven J. Leach established SL+A in Hong Kong and have since grown their portfolio to a total of 8 offices across Asia, with their Taipei office opening in 1992. Steven passed away in 1996 but his belief and passion for the business of design lives on in SL+A today.

COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

In Taiwan, you may recognise buildings such as the inimitable Taipei 101, with elements designed by SL+A. Thanks to SL+A’s commitment to environmental issues within the design industry, in 2011, Taipei 101 achieved the status of the largest and tallest green building in the world by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system and the certification provides a framework for healthy, efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. SL+A’s observatory design

for Taipei 101 was awarded PLATINUM LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance.

SUSTAINABLE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Implemented green building Exterior Management Plan, and Integrated Pest Management, Erosion Control, & Landscape Management Plan

• Reduced water use by 39%

• Reduced potable water use for landscape irrigation by 100%

• Building automation & measurement system monitoring emissions reduction reporting 71% of on-going consumable waste stream diverted from incineration

• Reduced particulates in indoor air

distribution to improve indoor air quality

• Outdoor views provided to more than 67% of occupants

• Green Education Program & Tours Since then, SL+A have designed a number of successful LEED projects across Taiwan, winning a multitude of awards for their creativity, such as the 2023 Professional MUSE Gold Award in the Office Interior category for their design of the Crédit Agricole CIB office Taipei. The award praised SL+A for their design of a human-centric workplace that promotes mental health, wellness, and well-being. SL+A are not afraid to take an experimental approach to turn their client’s vision into a reality.

TEXT: GEMMA GREEN IMAGES: SLA

Crédit Agricole CIB office Taipei was awarded the 2023 MUSE Gold Award in the Office Interior category

FOCUS ON COMMUNITY

Central to the success of this approach is their focus on community. SL+A believe in building partnerships with their clients, working towards a common goal with a common purpose. They seek to build a genuine connection with their clients to understand their dayto-day lives, resulting in liveable design solutions that work for all.

As Asia's premier green building consultancy firm, clients can be confident that their projects will have sustainability at their core.

Gemma Green is a Taipei resident since January 2020, Gemma Green has a background in UK NGO management and community work, which has allowed her to use her time volunteering for a number of projects in Taiwan. Keen to learn more about Taiwanese society and its people she is passionate about writing, photography and the stories that are within us all.

SL+A’s Community-led Design for the Center

In August 2022, the Community Services Center moved to a new location that required a unique approach to the design of the new work areas. SL+A offered their expertise pro-bono, assisting in the development of the new space to meet the needs of The Center’s current and future projects. The Center can now cater to the needs of the Taipei community thanks to SL+A’s dedication to community-led design.

Featuring a classroom, teaching kitchen, event room and counselling rooms, the space is both modern and functional. If you're planning an event or activity and looking for a venue or even a partner to collaborate with, then reach out. Contact csc@ communitycenter.org.tw or give them a call at (02) 2836-8134. Their doors are open not only to individuals but also to volunteer groups and organisations seeking a regular and consistent space to thrive. Similarly, if you have any questions or comments about Steven Leach Group (SL+A) or would like to request a project, you can contact the Taipei office at: SL+A INTERNATIONAL ASIA INCORPORATED | 李肇勳室內設計 taipei@sla-group.com Beach

This conscious value-led approach extends not only to their design principles, but also to their community work across Asia. As part of their 51-year celebrations, SL+A raised a substantial NT$407,000 for the Taipei Orphan Welfare Foundation 失親兒福利基金會, the funds going directly towards improving the lives of orphaned children in Taiwan.

The celebrations were part of the Taipei 2023 Annual Group Meeting organised at Sea to Sky. It brought together SL+A’s regional offices from Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai, along with partners, vendors, and sponsors, where the event showcased collaboration, creativity, and compassion. The Taipei Orphan Welfare Foundation contribution reinforces SL+A’s dedication to give back to the communities in which they operate and showcases the inherent compassion of the company to serve the larger community of Taiwan.

SL+A raised NT$407,000 for the Taipei Orphan Welfare Foundation 失親兒福利基金會 as part of the Taipei 2023 Annual Group Meeting

In celebration of their 50th anniversary, their Taipei office organised a beach cleaning event at Wanli, New Taipei City on Nov. 25, 2022. The Taipei office celebrated the occasion by giving back and showing appreciation for the people, environment, and community at large.

The SL+A Group Directors

After more than ten years in the finance industry in Hong Kong, Wina and her husband Jeff moved to Taiwan at the end of 2020. They bought a piece of land, handbuilt their own house and started growing their own fruits and vegetables.

Rethinking Priorities

What was the catalyst for your move?

We were always interested in growing food and leading a more sustainable life. For many years in Hong Kong, we would grow herbs and vegetables on our rooftop garden, like basil, rosemary, mint, kales, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, courgette, etc. We even had a worm farm where we recycled our kitchen scraps and made our own fertilisers. Our rooftop garden was our sanctuary to connect with nature amidst the hustle and bustle

of the city. It is so rewarding to watch our vegetables grow from seeds. At that time, it seemed like a dream to be able to grow food on a bigger scale… something we wanted to do one day, perhaps after we retired.

In June 2020, the pregnancy test from our 7th round of IVF fertility treatment came back negative. That’s when we decided it was time for a lifestyle change, to a slower pace of life, closer to nature, to give ourselves the best chance of starting a family. Within a week, we resigned from our

corporate jobs, and sold and gave away most of our belongings. After serving our 3 months notice at work and bidding farewell to our friends, we moved to Taiwan in October, where Jeff is originally from.

Jeff always aspired to building a house with his own hands. Buying a piece of land made sense, to also grow food on a bigger scale. We spent about half a year travelling and getting to know Taiwan, volunteering in natural building projects and scouting for a piece of land we could call home.

Come to think of it, our circumstances led us to chase our dream 20 years ahead of time!

Tell me about the house you built from scratch and how did you learn the skills?

We spent about a year designing and building the house, from mixing concrete for the foundation to welding the metal framing, putting up the roof and walls to wiring and plumbing, selecting our favourite paint colour to making furniture like wardrobe, bed,

TEXT & IMAGES: WINA APPLETON

kitchen cabinet, sofabed, etc.

For me, the best thing about our house is the fact that we designed and built it with sustainability in mind. For example, we harvest rainwater for daily use which reduces carbon footprint from treatment and pumping of mains-water, and we use composting toilets which greatly reduces water usage and provides nutrients for our soil. Leveraging passive design concepts, we built our house facing south to take advantage of winter sun, designed the layout to maximise cross ventilation and used proper insulation to help moderate unwanted heat gain and loss. These features, plus the small size of our house means it requires fewer resources to run and maintain, significantly reducing energy consumption.

Both of us have Masters degrees in engineering, but most of what we learned were from books, the internet (including YouTube), some volunteer work and a lot of trial and error. There are so many resources out there; for example, the Australia government website has detailed expert advice on sustainable building practices.

How are you feeling with your move?

Our house was completed in August 2022, and we moved in since. It is amazing waking up to nature everyday. When we lived in the city, we had to get away to really connect with nature. Here we wake up and we are immediately spoiled by nature.

I love that we have bountiful vegetables at our doorstep. It sparks a lot of inspiration. Both of us love cooking and it is such a privilege to have fresh organic produce that we can forage from our garden. We eat much healthier now, we don’t eat out much and don’t eat a lot of processed food. It is so satisfying to be able to grow the food on our plate. There’s a kind of comfort knowing where our food comes from, and knowing that we are reducing carbon footprint and reducing plastic packaging waste that unfortunately comes with a lot of store bought products.

As we grow our food based on permaculture principles, we also feel much more connected and feel we are doing our part to give back to the earth

in our own small way. For example, by not tilling the ground, composting and using cover crops, we are helping store carbon from our atmosphere, where it is harmful, and pulling it back into the earth, where it is useful.

We also live a less consumerist lifestyle, we don’t need as much stuff, and don’t have this constant craving of wanting more stuff.

Any ideas on how a city dweller can live more sustainably?

Living sustainably doesn’t have to involve moving to a rural area or growing your own food. It starts by being aware of your carbon footprint. Little things like saying no to disposable cutleries, avoiding single-use water bottles, bringing reusable bags to a store, making your own coffee/ food at home, using energy efficient light bulbs/ appliances, thinking twice before buying something new “will I still need this in 3 years?”, opting for “slow” fashion that is better quality

and longer lasting, using more public transportation, can bring about change. All of us have the power to make a difference. Quoting my mentor in faith, Daisaku Ikeda

“A great human revolution in just a single individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and, further, will enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.”

A bountiful harvest of fresh produce from the land

Wina Appleton is of mixed British and Malaysian-Chinese heritage. After 12 years in finance, she is now reconnecting with nature and learning to live more sustainably. She is an active member of Soka Gakkai International (SGI). https://www.sokaglobal.org

Rainbow Ride

Olivia Wu, co-founder of the Asia Rainbow Ride, shared the genesis of this event in an interview. She has been an advocate for the LGBTQ community for over a decade and has created a professional practice around wellness and healing for the past 15 years. When a friend told her about the Asia Rainbow Ride, she thought it would be a great way to bring the community together while overcoming difficult challenges.

The ride is a three-day, 206-kilometer cycling event that takes place in Taiwan. The event is open to people of all

ages and identities. The organizers also wanted to collaborate with the Red House, and last year, the Taipei City government joined the opening ceremony.

The first ride was during the pandemic year, 2020. It was safer to be together in an outdoor space, while following protocols of safe distancing. The event started as a passion project for Wu and her team. They wanted to create a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ community.

In its four years, the Asia Rainbow Ride has grown from 33 riders in its first year to 108 riders in 2022. Riders and volunteers come from all over the world, representing a wide range of ages, identities, and backgrounds participated.

The Asia Rainbow Ride is now an official NGO. This means that the event is more sustainable and that it can provide more support to the LGBTQ community. Individual and corporate signups create a diverse group of riders, ages 18-65 years. The ride has a 50-50 gender balance, and they are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all people, regardless

Participants

2020 33 riders

2021 77 riders

2022 108 riders

of their gender identity. Supporting other NGOs is also a part of their mission.

“Goals for the future are centered around health and wellness. Our focus is on being involved and active. This is an endurance event, and safe for riders. We have collaborated with a tour guide company. It is a diverse community where you can meet people from different backgrounds, cultures, ages and orientation as allies.”

Wu said that the most important thing she has learned through this journey is that it is important to be aligned to who you are and what you do. She also said that the Asia Rainbow Ride has helped her to grow as a person and to develop her character.

“The Asia Rainbow Ride is a positive force for good in the world. It brings people together and it helps to promote acceptance and understanding.”

We cycle for love and to create a positive impact on humanity.

TEXT: ROMA MEHTA AND OLIVIA WU IMAGES: ASIA RAINBOW RIDE

Lisa and Olivia are co-founders of the Asia Rainbow Ride

Roma is a creative consultant, visual artist and event organizer. She enjoys organizing events and workshops that foster cross-cultural expression.

October 20-22

Join us at Asia Rainbow Ride 2023, celebrating diversity and cultures across Taiwan in this exhilarating journey. Pedal towards unity and inclusivity, experiencing breathtaking landscapes and immersive cultural encounters. Let's embrace diversity together and create a brighter future. Sign up Today!

The ASIA Rainbow Ride will take place this October 20th~22nd, 2023 during Taiwan’s Pride month. The trip is a fully supported three-day, two-night cycling event along the northwest coast of Taiwan.

This is a ride, not a race. We’ll bike a total of 206 kilometers over the three days.

We partner with Taiwan Bike Tour, a professional bike tour company for our logistics. About 50% of the cycling will be alongside cars on the road, and 50% will be on designated bike paths. There will be cycling instructors guiding traffic and leading the route. There will be rest stops and a lunch stop over the duration of the day.

There is a pace for every rider. Whether you are a seasoned cyclist or a beginner. We will have support vans in case anyone needs to be transported to the hotel. Bike mechanics, as well as medical personnel, will travel in our group to ensure everyone’s safety.

亞洲彩虹騎行將在十月驕傲月期間的2023 年10月20~22日舉辦。此次的自行車之為期三 天兩夜，從台北西門紅樓往西部濱海，再往返 台北西門紅樓，約206公里。

這是一場旅程，不是競賽。我們將盡量依照 騎士的自我評估速度分隊。騎乘將以自在的節 奏進行，並有休息的時間。

我們與台灣樂騎合作，會有專業的領騎團隊 帶領。50%的路線會是一般道路，50%會是 自行車道。過程中有領騎指揮並引導交通，也 會有休息補給站與午餐時間。

無論您的騎行速度如何，每個人都能參加。 我們有支援車可以將騎累的騎士載往飯店提早 休息。支援團隊也有自行車技師與醫療人員協 助參加者的安全。

Registration link:

https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/834102023-asia-rainbow-ride/?lang=en_US

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/asiarainbowride

Website: https://www.asiarainbowride.com/

Corporate Team participation

Gathering for the ride out in front of Ximen Red House

Communicating Effectively

What messages do you deliver to others, especially when under stress, through your facial and body language, your tone of voice and use of words?

Virginia Satir, who was a universallyknown therapist, regarded as the “mother” of family therapy, deeply understood the impact that communication styles had on interpersonal relationships. She suggested that there are four commonly used communication strategies or behaviors that people use, especially in stressful situations. I think readers will quickly recognize some, and maybe all of them.

COPING

BEHAVIOR 1: BLAMING

“It’s all your fault!”, “Come on, what’s your problem?”, “I am NOT angry!!!” Many blamers talk in this way. Their tone of voice sounds anxious, angry, or frustrated. Their attitude appears forceful and aggressive. The feelings they often experience are frustration, anger, distrust, discontent, repressed hurt and loneliness. When under stress, they are inclined to actively try to control others and situations, which may intimidate people. They value the context of the problem and their own perceptions and feelings. However, the perceptions and feelings of others tend to be ignored by them. Blamers are clever for achieving leadership and have strong, aggressive energy. If, however, they are made aware of their aggressive coping behaviors, they will be able to communicate more effectively.

COPING

BEHAVIOR 2: PLACATING

“It’s all my fault!”, “Sorry, sorry, I should have….”, “Whatever you like, I like.”, “Please, I can’t do it without you.”, “Would you please stop being angry at me?”. A person who uses placating behaviors to diffuse tension

or conflict, even when they are not to blame, uses tones that show nervousness, being overly cautious, and even fearful. The emotions they often experience are sadness, selfpity, helplessness, anxiety, sensitivity, hurt, and repressed anger. They tend to feel less important or less valuable than others. Such individuals place high value on maintaining harmony within relationships, despite the cost of repressing their own feelings, needs and/or rights. They are caring, gentle and friendly, but these resources are frequently applied to others, but sadly not to themselves.

COPING BEHAVIOR 3: BEING SUPER-CAUTIOUS

Thinking patterns or internal conversations within an overly cautious person may include: “I need to be logical and rational at all times and not show emotion.” The conversational tones that cautious people use are calm, controlled and extremely formal and polite. However, their facial expression may be rigid. They are rarely in tune with their emotions. Colleagues and peers regard them as being smart, intelligent, efficient and scrupulous about information and details.

COPING BEHAVIOR 4: RESPONDING IN AN IRRELEVANT MANNER

When facing conversational stress or confrontation, some individuals will try to change the subject, or divert the conversation away from the topic that is causing conversational conflict.

If an individual is unaware of what coping strategies or behaviors are being put into action, they may think that the individual using them is quite odd, or even disrespectful. Tones used may sound unnaturally relaxed or frivolous. When this type of coping behavior becomes a habit, they find it hard to deal with conflict effectively.

These coping behaviors do have a positive side

Even though blaming, placating, super-cautious and irrelevant conversational behaviors are less effective when communicating with others (especially when under stress), they do have their strengths.

Virginia Satir recommended adding positive strategies and coping behaviors to a person’s way of communicating. Once these are practiced and in place, the individual will begin to notice positive shifts in conversational outcomes. Additional rewards will be internal shifts of awareness and selfrespect, becoming more grounded, confident and emotionally aware.

TIPS

Before speaking, check-in to see how tense your body is. Do a few relaxation movements to ease your body’s tension. Take slow, deep breaths.

If a conversation suddenly becomes stressful, place your hands quietly next to your body and speak in an attentive and relaxed manner. Keep your eyes at the same level as the eyes of the person whom you are going to talk to, so that you can see and relate to them better. Speak slowly, calmly and with care. Enroll in meditation classes or watch on-line videos. With time and practice, noticeable shifts will occur, and those awkward or stressful conversations will be handled with greater ease.

Dr. I-Wen Chan is a licensed psychologist both in Taiwan and Maryland USA. She uses an integrated approach composed of Satir Model and mindfulness to work with individuals challenged with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and adjustment issues.

TEXT: I-WEN CHAN IMAGE: WEB IMAGE

An Architectural Gem

Taipei is more famous for the natural beauty of the mountains than city architecture. However, there are few architectural gems and one of them is the Lin Family Mansion, situated in the Banqiao district. Originally constructed in the 1850s, it became very rundown in the 1950s, but enjoyed a total restoration in the 1980s, and is now a shining example of Chinese architecture, while also offering one of the most beautiful Chinese gardens in Taipei.

Yingyin, one member of the Lin family, moved from China to Taiwan in 1778, and his son Pin Hou Lin joined him in 1782, to work in a rice factory. Over the years, he gained experience and established his own business selling rice and then, later, salt and became a very successful businessman and landowner. Pin Hou had five sons and in the 1840s, two of them built a small place in Banqiao as part of the business. Then in 1851, they decided to expand this into a mansion and, two years later, they moved in. After that, they designed the three courtyard garden so that they had more space to entertain guests. However, when the Japanese occupied Taiwan, the Lin family returned to China and the house lay empty for many years. Once Japan left Taiwan, there were many changes in society

and refugees moved into the mansion. At one point there were around 300 families living in the house and grounds and it became known as Lin Hou Village.

In the seventies the movement to preserve historical buildings began to grow and the Lin family bequeathed the house to the government, along with funds to start a restoration project. By 1986, the house had been restored and was opened to the public.

As you stroll through the courtyards, looking at small bridges spanning the ponds and pavilions in the corners of the garden, you get a glimpse of a life from two centuries ago. Colorful tiles decorate the walls, including my favorite green tiles with intricate patterns, and huge banyan trees provide shade in the summertime. It is something of a tranquil oasis in the middle of the modern concrete jungle.

If you’d like to see this place for yourself, you can visit at any time or come with us on our Center tour on Thursday, September 21. Jennifer Tong will give you a more detailed explanation of the history of the house and gardens and you’ll get a guided tour inside the main house as well. Hope to see you there!

https://communitycenter.org.tw/event/1128/lin-mansion-tour/

Lucy Torres is the Programs Manager at The Center and enjoys organising different activities and events that cover topics from Taiwanese culture to environmental awareness.

TEXT & IMAGES: LUCY TORRES

Emergency Preparedness in Taiwan A Brief Guide in Three Parts Part u

(This is an excerpt from the book EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN TAIWAN which is currently in production and will be available later this year.)

INTRODUCTION

Taiwan is no stranger to natural disasters, of which typhoons and earthquakes are the most common. Nowadays, the elephant in the room is the threat of war. So it should be said that while we do not believe that war is imminent, we suggest you follow the old adage of “Hope for the best while preparing for the worst.” The following suggestions and thoughts are relevant to any disruptive event, and the focus is to get YOU to start thinking and to make plans suitable to your circumstances.

MENTAL PREPARATION

Your worst enemy during an emergency situation is panic. If you have taken the time to think through various scenarios in advance, and prepared for them, even if just a little, you will be able to face it.

How dependent are you on the following? Imagine how you would you deal with these being disrupted, not reliable, or simply unavailable:

● Cell Phone service

● Internet connectivity

● Electricity supply

● ATMs

● Refrigeration

● Water supply

● LP gas supply

● Fuel supply

● Credit and Debit Card services

WHAT PLAN DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND WHAT EMERGENCY SUPPLIES DO YOU HAVE?

In any disaster or emergency situation, one of the first decisions you need to make is “Do I stay or do I go?” You may choose to shelter in place, relocate to another safe location, or to leave the country. Consider the following for yourself and your loved ones:

FIRST DECIDE: SHELTER IN PLACE OR BUG OUT?

Shelter in Place if Go to Government shelter if Bug out if

Your building is undamaged/lightly damaged.

You still have water, electricity, gas.

Your location seems removed from the area of attacks.

Your bug-out location (or the route to it) is compromised.

Your bug-out location (or the route to it) is compromised.

Stores are open, supplies are still available.

A viable evacuation plan is forthcoming.

Your home is unlivable — but the area is deemed safe.

Transportation is not available.

Routes to bug-out locations are cut off.

You or a loved one are injured/need emergency care.

Food/water is not available.

Your area/district appears to be targeted.

Your building is severely damaged.

Your water is cut off.

Your electricity/gas is cut off.

Food supplies are running low and resupply is unavailable

Entry/exit points are being cut off.

Any news of a targeted campaign against foreigners.

TEXT: TOBIE OPENSHAW WITH JOHN GROOT IMAGE: WEB IMAGE

YOU SHOULD:

● Monitor any available news sources (ICRT FM - 100.7 MHz.)

● Message regular updates of your status and plans to a trusted circle.

● Use secure apps like Signal or Telegram

● Bring family members to your place to shelter together.

● Monitor gas carefully in case of leaks. Avoid open flames.

● Even when sheltering in place, have vehicles packed, fueled and ready to go.

AIR RAID SHELTERS VS EVACUATION CENTRE:

● Air Raid/Bomb Shelter is usually the basement parking garage of your building or somewhere nearby. That’s where you go when the missiles/bombs are falling. No resources will be provided. You have to bring your own.

● Evacuation Centre would be in a sports stadium, school gym, etc. with basic sleeping facilities (cots, sleeping bags at best). Identify your local one in advance. Google “Taiwan Emergency Evacuation Shelters”.

● Aid, water, food and medical services will be funneled to the emergency shelters.

● So if you need it that’s where it will be. If you DON’T need it, consider opening a spot for someone in more need and be self-sufficient.

● Go to the Emergency Shelter first to register/be accounted for/receive news, before setting off on your own, if you have a place prepared.

Tobie Openshaw is a South African documentary filmmaker/photographer based in Taipei. He experienced the 9/21 earthquake of 1999 and produced eyewitness reports on disasters such as Typhoons Morakot and Soudelor, and the Tainan apartment building collapse of 2016. He is a founder of the “Taiwan Disaster Preparedness/Bug Out Group” on Facebook.

Yoga for Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

One Earth, One Family, One Future

This year's theme for International Day of Yoga captures the essence of "One Earth, One Family, One Future." This theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and inspires a shared commitment to unity, compassion, and a sustainable future for the global community.

International Day of Yoga (IDY) highlights the timeless importance and universal appeal of yoga. This day was proposed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. June 21 was chosen because it is the summer solstice, the longest day in the northern hemisphere, and has historical connections to the origins of yoga.

“Yoga is an invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. It embodies unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a holistic approach to health and well-being.”

~ Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

TEXT: APARNA GANESAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL, INDIA-TAIPEI ASSOCIATION IMAGES: INDIA TAIPEI ASSOCIATION

IDY celebrations were held at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei on June 18. At the Peace Memorial on June

The India Taipei Association (ITA) held a curtain raiser event for the 2023 IDY in Taichung on May 21st with the support of the Taichung City Government. The diversity of participants at the event, from young children to the elderly, from Taiwan to India and beyond, is a testament to the fact that yoga has become a mainstream form of exercise around the world.

One of the prominent events of this year's International Yoga Day (IDY) celebrations was held at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei on June 18. The event began with a Kathak dance performance by Shiva India Dance group from Taiwan, followed by chanting. The India Taipei Association worked with Integral Yoga and Okido Yoga in bringing together teachers from several cities in Taiwan for the event. Despite the unexpected heat and bright sun, over 500 participants practiced yoga and meditation with vigor and enthusiasm. The event was supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Taipei City Government.

On June 18, the Taiwan Yoga Development Association held an event in front of the National Taiwan Museum in Peace Memorial Park, focused on meditation and the benefits of sun salutations.

The India Taipei Association hopes to conduct regular yoga events and spread awareness about yoga across Taiwan with the support of local governments and yoga associations in Taiwan.

On June 21, close to 700 students of the China Yoga Association gathered at the Taipei 101 plaza to practice yoga. u

May 21st curtain raiser event for IDY 2023 in Taichung.

Lutetia ARTat-TAC

For the autumn 2023 season, ART-at-TAC will present three monthly exhibitions of Taiwan-based artists at Lutetia Cafe TAC store.

Opening on 4 August is Pallavi Saxena’ s solo exhibition All Our Homes.

All Our Homes is a collection of mixed-media floral abstract paintings that encapsulate the “sweetness of chaos” of home life. According to Saxena, “while the artist in me rushes for my quiet moments, my most inspiring times are the ones I get to share with my husband and son.” Adopting abstract florals as the basis of her expressions, Saxena’s artistic drive turns the emotional upheavals of personal, family life into something beautiful to the eye. The stories behind each painting may elude the viewer, and one suspects they derive from the seemingly mundane, emotional moments of daily family life; the paintings, however, elicit direct emotional resonance from the viewer.

According to Saxena, she is always working towards “a sense of self-understanding and growth through her work”. Her creative process is akin to a personal journey: she observes the raw emotions, then allows the drive to present something beautiful turn the emotional upheavals of family life in a new country into universal abstract painterly language. Saxena creates a world where art and life constantly feed into each other - showing the ease of living with art, and demonstrating that artistic inspirations can come from the day-to-day.

All Our Homes opens on 4 August at Lutetia TAC Store (751 Wenlin Road, Shilin District), with an opening reception from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Come along to meet the artist and have a chat.

ART-at-TAC continues the artistic season with monthly exhibitions for 2023. In September we present a group show of ceramic paintings by Taiwanese artists based in Taipei. Opening in October is the solo exhibition of joyful paintings by Qingqing Li, titled Dancing and Thinking with My Brush. All art sales at ARTat-TAC are commission-free. 10% of the proceeds of all art sales goes to charities of the artist’s choice. The opening events are a space for people to meet and enjoy art; everyone is welcome.

Follow our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lutetiaartattac/ for the latest news and links to artists.

Jessica Wang Simula was born in Taiwan but has lived in six different countries since adolescence before relocating back to Taiwan with her family over three years ago. Having worked in the arts in Shanghai and London, she is interested in how the arts can start new conversations, build communities and connect people.

TEXT: JESSICA WANG SIMULA IMAGES: PALLAVI SAXENA

“In Love With The World” is a collection of 50 1/1 portraits inspired by the gifts of spring - the abundant, pastel-perfect, delicate beauty the world offers us.

To me, abstract portraits on the blockchain are part self-constructed identities, anchored within the liminal digital and physical realms of realities. This collection seeks to reaffirm the graceful and moldable nature of identities, meanwhile embracing the playfulness of gacha games that are popular among NFT collections.

Listening to the Overtones of Fissures

Launched in 2019, the Green Island Human Rights Art Festival ushers in its 4th edition this year. With three subtopics, Listening to the Overtones of Fissures links the White Terror, contemporary reflection, Green Island, and human rights to hopefully widen the distance between contemporary art and history so as to carefully listen to the overtones from the fissures and the other side through art. For more information:

https://gihraf.nhrm.gov.tw/home/zh-tw

The

2023 Green Island Human Rights Art Festival

5/17 Wednesday ~ 9/17 Sunday 2003

Red Room Rendezvous:

to Shopping in a Taiwanese Supermarket Guide

If it’s your first visit to Taiwan, then going shopping in a local supermarket could be tricky, especially if you can’t speak or read Chinese. So, I prepared a small guide that could hopefully make your daily shopping easier!

Soy Sauce

(jiang you)

Born in Beijing, Margot was introduced to the secrets of tasty Chinese cuisine alongside her mother and grandmother. She did her first jiaozi (dumplings) and her first dough for bao there, where she learned all the gestures and tricks, as naturally passed from mother to daughter.

Since her arrival in France, she has taught Mandarin in several French universities. In 2008, she created a blog to share her simple and authentic cuisine and quickly established herself as a reference in Chinese cooking within the French-speaking blogosphere: recetteschinoises.blogspot.com

Margot is also the author of several Chinese cook books, dating back to 2015. Now back in Asia, she continues her professional activities around writing cook books, hosting cooking classes and consulting for professionals.

https://recetteschinoises.blogspot.com/ Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/recettesdunechinoise

kjWhen living in Taiwan, you may want to cook some basic Chinese dishes, and the first condiment you must have is soy sauce. The shelves of soy sauce in an Asian supermarket are as long as the shelves of yoghurt in Europe. Here are some tips on how to choose a good one:

To start, it is better to choose an all-purpose one, which suits all kinds of cooking.

Always read the ingredients list of the soy sauce. The shorter the list, the better, because that means it’s a natural one without any food additives.

Here are two soy sauces that I frequently buy in the supermarket:

1. Jinlan soy sauce, with zero additives 金籣無添加原味酱油

2. Wan jia xiang naturally brewed soy sauce, with zero additives 萬家香 零添加纯釀酱油

Tips: Soy sauce is a fermented product, it’s better to keep it in the refrigerator, if you can’t finish it quickly.

If the basic soy sauce is too salty for you, then the one with reduced salt is an option, but they contain more additives. What I usually do at home is mix some water with the all-purpose soy sauce to make it less salty.

TEXT & IMAGES: MARGOT ZHANG

醬油

Wheat Flour 麵粉 (mian fen)

Wheat flours in Asia are classified by their gluten strength . There are generally 3 types of flour: the low strength gluten flour 低筋麵粉, the medium strength gluten flour 中筋麵粉 and the high strength gluten flour 髙筋麵粉. The medium one is the equivalent to the all-purpose flour in Europe, the low one is good for making cakes or muffins and the high gluten flour is for baking heartier items, like brioche, bread or pizza dough.

You can also choose whole-wheat flour to make bread or brioche, but it is not suitable for Chinese dumplings (jiao zi).

Rice 米 (mi)

There are so many choices of rice in Taiwan, we can easily get lost. Taiwanese rice is classified by the place of production and the type of rice. There are two main types of rice. The Japonica rice 梗米 has a short, rounded shape and a soft and chewy texture. Most of the rice sold in Taiwan is this type of rice. The other type is the Indica rice 籼米, which has a long and thin shape, and is much less sticky than the Japonica one. Local Indica rice is rare, so if you like this variety, it is better to buy Thai rice or Indian rice. Personally, I appreciate the rice produced in Hualien 花蓮, Taitung 台東 and Yilan 宜籣.

Taiwanese rice is really delicious, but you need to follow the right cooking instructions, as indicated on the package. The use of a ricecooker is recommended, or, if you don’t have one, you can steam it or just cook it in a saucepan.

Here is a very simple way to cook Taiwanese rice: 1 cup of round rice and 1,1 to 1,2 cups of pure, or mineral water

Wash the rice several times with running water. Drain it and then add the pure or mineral water. Put it all in the rice-cooker or in the saucepan.Leave it for 10 minutes before cooking. If you choose the saucepan, bring it to boil, then lower the heat to minimum and cover with a lid. Keep cooking for about 20 minutes until there is no more liquid inside. Turn off the heat and leave it for 5-10 minutes before serving.

low strength gluten flour

medium strength gluten flour

high strength gluten flour

I usually buy organic Taiwanese rice. These are some recommended brands.

Cahleen Hudson

Cahleen Hudson is a documentary family photographer based in Taipei, Taiwan. She loves photographing the beauty in everyday rituals because she believes this is what she'll want to look back on and remember 30 years from now. Her work is made up of candid, unposed moments that tell the story of how a family makes a life together.

https://www.cahleenhudson.com/

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