Tang Global Seminar Blog

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 14

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 14 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/24/2023 - 00:00

As part of a Tang-funded global seminar this summer, a group of 14 undergraduate students from CU embarked on a three-week program immersing themselves in Taiwanese life, culture, politics, and history. We'll be showcasing a series of blog posts from these students to share what the experience has been like in their words.

post # 14 Deonnie Mosley

During my three week stay in Taiwan, I learned many things about travelling abroad. Since it was my first time ever going out of the country, I was quite nervous that I would mess things up getting there or while there, but I found that wasn't very likely as I went through the motions. Taiwan felt like such a safe and enriching place to be. I never felt the intuitive need to be hyper aware of my surroundings 24/7, it felt very comfortable traveling around the city. There were so many sights to see and places to visit, many of which have historical importance or just general/cultural importance.

One of the things I was most worried about while visiting was the language barrier since I was one of the few non-Mandarin speakers in my group. Even though I don't speak Mandarin, I felt the locals were extremely kind and willing to do their best to ensure I got whatever I was needing and we would find a way to communicate with one another. It felt so nice to be able to still communicate with people even if it was outside of conventional means and really just drove the fact that Taiwanese people are very hospitable and kind. Taiwan is definitely a place I will be visiting again.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 13

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 13 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/17/2023 - 00:00

post # 13 Lauren Funston - A Cat Lover’s Guide to Taiwan

It’s no secret that I’m a cat person. If you asked anyone else on this trip to describe me, I think that might be the single personality trait that they would come up with. I’ve shown pictures and videos of my two cats, Nila and Faith, to pretty much anyone who will listen for the past few weeks… but anyways, this isn’t about my cats! Instead, I’m going to introduce all the various new cat friends I’ve gotten to meet throughout my time in Taiwan.

Taiwan, just like me, seems to have a huge love for cats. Dogs are popular too: there are several dog species that are native to Taiwan, and the subway is filled with illustrations of cute dogs misbehaving as a warning… but cats are everywhere too, and if you get lucky enough, you might spot a real one.

The first and most obvious place to look for cats in Taiwan would be cat cafes. Yes, they’re a worldwide phenomenon, but they have several in Taiwan and Taipei specifically. I’ve attempted to go to several on this trip but only got into one as the other ones unfortunately didn’t have space for all of us. But still, for a first-time cat cafe experience, it was a treat! The cats were all (mostly) very sweet, but they did seem a bit overwhelmed to be suddenly introduced to almost a dozen foreign 20-year-olds. However, I still managed to get quite a few very cute pictures. Overall, it was a great way to spend a day off.

But if you thought the cat cafe had a lot of cats, you’d be in for a surprise when we visited Houtong – an entire village of cats! Houtong is famous for mostly consisting of cats rather than people, and it lived up to its reputation. The cats here were also all surprisingly sweet and seemed very friendly with humans. A few of them allowed us to pet them. Many were seen whiling the day away while napping on a rooftop which truly brought peace to my soul. The area itself was also incredibly beautiful, a little mountain village nestled away from the big city life of Taipei. You can even buy food to feed the cats or any cat-related merch you could possibly desire from the small stands located right next to the train station.

Finally, I also got a chance to visit the Hello Kitty-themed 7/11 in Ximen! This 7/11, while operating like a regular 7/11 store, also has lots of Sanrio merchandise like plushies for sale, and just has the cutest interior decoration of any convenience store ever. So yes, even though Hello Kitty isn’t a “real” cat, I thoroughly enjoyed this cat experience just as much as the other ones.

Finally, I also got a chance to visit the Hello Kitty themed 7/11 in Ximen! This 7/11, while operating like a regular 7/11 store, also has lots of Sanrio merchandise like plushies for sale, and also just has the cutest interior decoration of any convenience store ever. So yes, even though Hello Kitty isn’t a “real” cat, I thoroughly enjoyed this cat experience just as much as the other ones.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 12

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 12 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/10/2023 - 00:00

post # 12 Reiley Mei

Two of my friends and I were eating at a crowded roadside restaurant in Tainan, and the only seats open were at a table with an older Taiwanese woman. The three of us all speak mandarin at a second year university level, and she spoke no English. Additionally, she told us she had a throat illness so couldn’t speak loudly. This, in combination with the fact that the restaurant and road both were very loud made it hard to hear her. Despite all of that, this conversation was one of the most pleasant and interesting ones I have had the privilege of experiencing on this trip.

She had lived in Tainan her whole life, and sold insurance for a living. Together with Robert I figured this out. We worked in tandem, some of the words he knew and others I did. She enjoyed selling insurance and liked Tainan, although she has traveled around Taiwan to other places within the country. I had initially asked her to help me order noodles, because I couldn’t read the name of the dish in traditional characters, so I asked her what the name of these noodles is in Chinese. The rest of the conversation all followed from that, and she was incredibly kind and patient with us.

Since she had been there when we got there, she naturally finished before us. When she finished, she was trying to tell us something but none of us could understand what she was saying. She disappeared into the kitchen for a little bit, and then came out and told our tour guide that she had treated us to some traditional Taiwanese snacks. Our tour guide translated this, and we thanked her profusely. As soon as our tour guide was about to tell us what the snacks were, the woman told her to only tell us after. We ate them all, and they were all very good. Despite being all new flavors and textures for us we all thoroughly enjoyed them. It turns out that the snacks were pig skin, duck blood, and seaweed. This interaction encompasses the hospitality and kindness that I have experienced in Taiwan and the amazing group that are the Taiwanese people.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 11

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 11 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 08/03/2023 - 00:00

Best day in Taiwan -- post # 11 Ericka Peacock

My experience in Taiwan has been incredible so far. We’ve done so much, from day trips using the high speed railway to local cooking classes in Taipei. However, what I’ve really enjoyed while being here are the student led activities.

These projects allow us to research a topic we find interesting about Taiwan or Taiwanese culture, present our findings to the class, and take the class out on an excursion to learn more about the topic. For one of our groups, we went to Wulai to learn about the Atayal people, as well as other aboriginal tribes of Taiwan.

We started the day by Ubering over to Wulai in small groups. Even just the drive over was breath-taking; a good change in scenery from the cityscape we’ve all grown used to. When we arrived, you could feel how small and close-knit Wulai was. For the hour we had of free time, I walked around the whole town twice, taking pictures and enjoying the quietness of meandering about on my own.

After some free time, we met at a local business right in the city center to participate in a weaving class. A local woman from the Atayal tribe demonstrated how to weave a simple pattern, then let all of us students try our hand at it on some bookmarks. Some of us were natural born weavers and, according to Atayal tradition, would be granted a facial tattoo for our talents and deemed worthy of marriage. Others were not as fortunate (myself being one of those people). While I might not be the best weaver, I had a great time enjoying this experience with my fellow classmates.

After the class was over, the owners of the business gave us tea and mountain pepper ice cream, a flavor which may be my new all time favorite because it was so delicious! We were free to explore the area on our own or make the trek back to the hotel. Thankfully, a group of us were all interested in seeing the waterfall, so that’s how I spent the rest of my day. We hiked over to the waterfall and took tons of pictures while there. I only wish the camera could capture just how phenomenal the sight was. On our way back to the bus station, we found a local swimming hole and decided to make a small detour. It was the perfect way to cool off after a long day. Overall, the day was amazing and really helped open my eyes to the natural beauty of Taiwan.

Photo 1: A picture I took of the river while I was walking around town.

Photo 2: The end product of my weaving work, as well as some local turquoise jewelry I purchased while in Wulai.

Photo 3: A quick photo of the waterfall we saw after our hike. The camera does not do it justice!

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 10

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 10 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/27/2023 - 00:00

Post # 10 - Caid Law

I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to travel to Taiwan through this year’s Tang Fund Global Seminar. As someone who had never traveled anywhere in Asia, this experience has expanded my worldview in all the best ways. I have met wonderfully kind and interesting people, tasted new foods (including some new favorites, like grass jelly and mountain pepper), and learned a wealth of information about Taiwanese and Chinese cultures. Five years ago, when I first aspired to travel to Taiwan, I would have never imagined that I would get to go there before finishing my bachelor’s degree. I also could have never anticipated how much I would love the island and its people.

I am passionate about studying both history and modern social life (really two sides of the same coin), and this immersive experience has truly been the best of both. It is one thing to learn about a foreign culture and the narratives of its history in books or on the internet, but it is entirely different to feel the memories and emotional impact of a space by existing within and among the content you are learning. One such experience on this trip for me was visiting Taiwan’s Presidential Office Building, where I could see evidence of Taiwan’s complicated multicultural past in the architecture and feel the Republic of China’s pride in its democracy in the air and around every corner. Another was in the town of Wulai, where our group was warmly welcomed by an Indigenous Taiwanese couple who graciously shared their language, weaving skills, and way of life with us.

This trip has been an amazing challenge for me as well. I have gotten more confident at using public transportation, stepped out of my comfort zone by saying yes to unfamiliar foods and karaoke in front of new friends, and endured basically the opposite climate to Colorado with relative ease. I have found it surprisingly easy to communicate with locals despite not knowing any Mandarin before the trip, though I have also learned several key phrases and am now inspired to learn more Mandarin for when I return to Taiwan or explore mainland China in the future.

Even while in Taiwan, it was hard for me to internalize that I was actually there. It felt like a dream to experience the mountainous subtropics, step inside centuries-old temples, and have such meaningful connections with people who live on the opposite side of the world from myself. This was not a vacation (though sometimes it felt like it was), but instead a rewarding educational opportunity that has given me more insights and perspective than I could have ever asked for. I highly encourage anyone interested but hesitant about studying abroad through the Tang Global Seminar to take the plunge and apply. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 9

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 9 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/20/2023 - 00:00

Post # 9 - Emmeline Nettles

I am writing this blog post with still a week left of this seminar, but I am already mourning its end. This trip has been a whirlwind of cultures, histories, and what it means to be Taiwanese in today's increasingly globalized society.

Having never traveled to anywhere in Asia before, my experience in Taiwan certainly makes me want to return. Even with my limited Mandarin skills, I have engaged in meaningful experiences and activities that have allowed me to learn directly from the peoples living in Taiwan, from the Aboriginal Tayal people to the Hakka and others. I have seen past the news headlines that have Western readers on alert, and witnessed how the realities of daily living do not often reflect the doomsdays presented in media, which does make me wonder how my own country is characterized outside of the US.

Although it may seem odd that this realization only came after traveling far, far away, this program has encouraged me to feel pride of my own cultural roots. Where I am from may not be how I call myself in every introduction, but the upbringing I was given is what has allowed me to engage with the more-rural norms and lifestyles in Taiwan. I am grateful that what used to make me feel self conscious has now become my greatest asset in cross-cultural connection.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 8

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 8 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/13/2023 - 00:00

Post # 8 - Emily Stamos

Taroko Gorge
Hualien County, Xiulin Township, Taiwan

This week, I had the honor of exploring Taroko Gorge, located in Taiwan’s Hualien County. It was by far the most beautiful place I have ever visited. The picture above shows me gazing over the pristine blue water flowing through the gorge. Known for its beauty, it is a popular tourist attraction for hiking and camping. One thing I noticed was that although there were very few trash cans in sight, I did not see any litter as I walked along the trail. This sharply contrasted my past experiences hiking in America, where usually at least some human-made trash can be found on any given trail. Throughout my trip, I have noticed a lack of litter in public areas, which just highlights the communal focus of Taiwanese culture. Each person respects the land and works to preserve it so others can experience the same beautiful attractions for years to come.

A young island, Taroko Gorge shows evidence of Taiwan’s ever-changing geology, as rocks shift and fall throughout the year, changing the landscape. This picture shows a beautiful boulder that had fallen into the water by the trail. Along the walls of the gorge and on this boulder, striations of different kinds of rock show the complex history of the mountains. Made of marble, granite, and quartz, many different colors and textures make up the canyon. The towering stones show signs of erosion from wind and water over millions of years, showing the long history that led to Taiwan as we know it today. Several waterfalls along the gorge add to spectacular beauty of the area.

The ancestral home of the Truku people, Taroko Gorge is an important place to the history of Taiwan’s indigenous people. The Truku people originally came from the Atayal tribe, but due to the remoteness of the mountainous terrain and separation over time, they developed their own distinct traditions and dialects. Today, they are a part of the 16 officially recognized indigenous tribes of Taiwan. Several parts of the trail I traveled on were sectioned off, as they were areas designated for the Truku people to live and hunt. The Truku people are known for their expert craftsmanship, especially weaving. In the early 1900s, the Truku people, while outnumbered, fought valiantely against Japanese soldiers trying to take over the land, leveraging their knowledge of the land. In the end, the Japanese declared victory, as they got another indigenous tribe to fight against the Truku. From a guide at the Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines in Taipei, I learned that Taroko Gorge was once considered for classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Center for its cultural significance and beauty.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 7

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post # 7 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 07/06/2023 - 00:00

Post #7 Emily Landingham

Something I’ve experienced and loved learning about while in taiwan was the diversity in foods across the different area’s we have gone. It’s really cool to me, because I think about Colorado, which is 103,641 square km, and the food is pretty standard. Denver metro area, Colorado Springs, etc. you know what you’re ordering. Even across different states most of the time something like say a burger is very standard with what goes on it, unless the place specifically says it specializes in something.

Meanwhile Taiwan, which is comparatively at 36,197 square km has a different taste and agenda of meals. When we traveled to Tainan, the famous dish of Taiwan, Beef noodle soup, was actually served as a breakfast dish. It also had a different type of noodle than the spirally type I ate in Taipei The shaved ice as well, another renowned Taiwanese dish, had a different taste in Tainan. There were options fresh fruit, red bean and pudding, and the ice was similar to American snow cone. Taipei’s shaved ice though had a milky flavor, with ice cream on top and fruit layered in it. All of it was good, nonetheless.

Both were major cities not to far distance wise, with different tastes. it’s been really interesting experiencing the food culture in Taiwan. I came here wanting to try new things, and without even trying I’ve been able to. It’s fun learning and experiencing the variety of food in Taiwan from each region, it’s definitely going to be one of the top things I’ll miss when I’m back in America.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post #6

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post #6 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/29/2023 - 00:00

Jenna Reeves Taiwan Blog #6: A Look into Taiwanese Indigenous Groups - The Tayal People

On May 28th our class was led on an excursion to Wulai where a group of four of us taught the rest of the class about Indigenous Taiwanese groups, more specifically about the Tayal people. They led us to a Meilu Workshop to practice the traditional weaving of the Tayal people. We were told of the importance behind their signature facial tattoos that signify their identity along their path to the ancestors on a rainbow bridge as well as the gender roles of the women being master weavers whereas the men's roles of being master head hunters. Before we sat down to begin our journey of 'masterful weaving’ we were each given a string of yarn with different colors and paper that were specialized to each officially recognized indigenous group. I was given the Bunun tribe who I was told were great singers and hunters. As we worked we were given some tea and at the end, we each got some black peppercorn ice cream that left us all craving more.

After weaving, a couple of us asked for a handmade necklace that the owner could create within less than an hour with only a glance at the design (insane skill and experience). We packed our goodies and eventually, it was time to say goodbye, but before then the owner poured us some celebratory drinks and we cheered our shared experiences and elation with a final “ganbei”! We had only been together for a couple hours but it became a memory shared for a lifetime. I may not be wifey material when it comes to weaving, but I am one step closer to Tayal tradition and living than I was before, and that will change the way I think about indigeneity for life.

On our journey back home to the bustling streets of Taipei we ran into a shortage of Ubers. We started to walk towards the bus station when a man called out to us, he was an Uber driver, and to our marvel was also an Atayal member with unique traditional face tattoos. We took his offer for a ride to the MRT and conversed about his life story in broken Mandarin. He had a multitude of boar heads alongside his dash and plenty of personal souvenirs. Between his military life, head-hunting, and telling us to join the military to bulk up, he made the car ride one to remember. At the end of the day, his unique perspective on life gave us one more peek into the private life of the Atayal Taiwanese Indigenous group and some great stories to tell back home.

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Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post #5

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Memory and the Politics of Heritage in Taiwan Global Seminar: A Journey of Cultural Exploration by University of Colorado Students post #5 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/22/2023 - 00:00

#5 Megan Quinn

A unique experience of my time in Taiwan reveals the truly inviting and joyful spirit of the Taiwanese people. Sitting down in this restaurant a cat climbs into my lap and makes itself at home. Without hesitation or worry this sweet 'mao' welcomes me and shows the inherently kind culture that Taiwan embodies. Being Taiwanese to me means that I can feel safe and welcomed to new places despite my differences to the people here. At this restaurant I also ordered my first meal in Mandarin having to explain that I was vegetarian and couldn't eat the meat on the dish. The cooks smiled and assured me that they did understand what I had said despite my difficulties and pronunciation. Each interaction and small act of kindness contributes to my view of Taiwan, as this island is truly characterized by the people within it. Just like this abnormally friendly cat, the people here take care of one another and find value in the small actions that make this place so warm.

A rainy afternoon in Taipei is common but doesn't stop the locals from continuing about their day. A mom and her two kids are seen zipping by on their scooter, dressed head to toe in colorful ponchos. In the city it is common for people to zoom by on their scooters carrying goods, food for delivery, or even a few kids in order to quickly navigate the busy roads. Being Taiwanese can be seen in their resilience and efficacy of transportation in all weather types. I could never imagine families back home piled on a motorcycle in the rain with kids on both sides, but here it is just everyday life. Everyone in Taiwan is accustomed to the busy and small streets that favor small scooters rather than large trucks, and a stormy day is no problem.

In Walui, the mountainous village home to the indigenous Atayal tribe, the natural beauty of the land is absolutely stunning. The village encapsulates the history and culture of the Atayal, one of 16 officially recognized tribes. Aftering meeting with a local Atayal woman, she taught us a few weaving techniques and welcomed us to the town of Walui. The intricate weaving is traditionally done by the women of the tribe, and when they have proven their skills they receive face tattoos that have special meaning. The tattoos signify her skills and the loom and mean she can marry. The beautiful waterfall was just a small hike up from the town and the river water was a gleaming turquoise. Walui was one of the most scenic and culturally rich places I have yet to visit in Taiwan!

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