Language Barrier

Taiwan oh Taiwan......! Although I lived here for years but my body physical still startled when the weather changed drastically. The winter hit me again, and I caught a cold. These days recent is rainy days, close a whole week the rain falls dripping. Taiwan has four seasons and it's quite different from my own country. In Indonesia we only have two season span the year, which are rainy season and dry season. Almost along the years we such have the same temperatures.

As a rainy day today, I can barely go out for neither jogging or do other exercise like I had done in every morning. As a result for all this rain, I just stay inside my lovely house. It's almost 9 o'clock, after I finished my breakfast I had watched TV. The sound of rain falls on the roof disturbed my auditory, I couldn't watch the TV seriously. Thereafter I'm spinning around my room like intoxicated, until involuntarily I compelled to open my room's window.

The rain still dripping, while from a distance I looked at a couple under the rain quarreling. Be careful I stared  them, they are my neighbor. His name is Chang Chao Bo but people only called him Chang according his surname. In Taiwan and other Chinese people always summoned their surname. Mr. Chang is married a Vietnamese girl, her name is Kim Cuc, they have been married for two years.

I've heard they always fighting due to misunderstanding. Two years is not enough for Kim Cuc to completely understand Chinese. Unfortunately, Mr. Chang is such impatient person, so that when they argued a small thing he always instantly furious, worse yet sometimes he beats his wife.

In the other hand, Kim Cuc also such a selfish woman even very cynic. When her husband got angry because he didn't understand what Kim Cuc talking about, she always went to her friend's house and ignored her husband instead. She has bad tempers.

Once a while, Mr. Chang ordered a tablespoon and she gave him some sugar instead. ''How can I eat my soup with sugar,'' Mr. Chang pitched fierce. ''You such a gig,'' answered Kim Cuc. Eagerly Kim Cuc put the sugar into her husband's soup. Wide eyes Mr. Chang looked what his wife had done. ''You are really insane, I will take you go to the psychosis doctor then,'' said Mr. Chang. ''I'm not mad, you are crazy not me,'' Kim Cuc yelled and left her husband alone.

I myself experienced, it's really difficult to distinguish Chinese accent words. Sugar in Chinese called 糖 (Tang) and tablespoon is 湯匙 (Tang Chi). If you didn't pay attention when Chinese people talk to you, maybe you will often misunderstand what they meant. One word has four different tones (First tones, Second tones, Third tones and Fourth tones). Like the pronunciation ''Tang'' it's also could be mean ''Lie Down'' (躺=Tang) and ''Hot'' (燙=Tang).

I thought it's a big problem among foreign brides in Taiwan, even though the government provided them a free Chinese language course but still some of them hard to can speak Chinese. By the way when we want to marry people from others countries, it's important to learn their language first to avoid misunderstandings. Don't let language barriers will alleviate the happiness in the family.
How about you? Are you ready to marry people who speak different languages?

The Miracle Of Love, True story!

~The use of miracles as spectacles to induce belief is a misunderstanding of their purpose~


Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.

The new baby was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his sister in Mommy's tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.

The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the Creek United Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee, USA. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute. But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor.

Finally, after a long struggle, Michael's little sister was born, but she was in very serious condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents the was very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new baby they found themselves having to plan a funeral.

Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. ''I want to sing to her,'' he kept saying. Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over. Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids never allowed in Intensive Care.

Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didn't see his sister right then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket. The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, ''Get that kid out of here now. No children are allowed.''

The mother rose up strong in Karen and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse's eyes, her lips are firm line,''He is not leaving until he sings to his sister.'' Then Karen towed Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazed at at a tiny infant losing the battle to live. After a moment he began tossing. In the-pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang;

''You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.''

Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and became steady. ''Keep on singing, Michael,'' encourage Karen with tears in her eyes.

''You never know, dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away.''

As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's ragged, strained, breathing became as smooth as a kitten's purr. ''Keep on singing, sweetheart.''

''The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms.''

Micahel little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. ''Keep singing, Michael.'' Teras had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen glowed.

''You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please don't take my sunshine away....''

The next day,...the very next day...the little girl was well enough to go home.
                                                                       

The story submitted by Cindy.

Abu Nawas & King Aaron

World smartest, cleverest and has millions ideas in his mind, he is Abu Nawas. Possibly everybody knows about this tale, due to the tale is funny but also very interesting among ancient folklore. I was reading the story since I was very young,  maybe when I was in elementary school. The story always caused my reflections run into my imagine and I began to fantasize. Here, I try to remember one of thousands Abu Nawaz's tales, I hope you guys lick one's lips to reading it.

Back to my point!

On one day, The King wanted to test Abu Nawaz's smartness, so he invited Abu Nawaz to the palace. ''You want me, your Majesty,'' greeted Abu Nawaz. ''Yes, you have cheated me three times and that's too much, I want you to leave the country, otherwise you will have to go to jail.'' said The King. ''If that is what you want, I will do what you said.'' said Abu Nawaz sadly. Then ''Remember from tomorrow you may not step on the ground of this country anymore.'' The King said seriously. After that Abu Nawas left The King's palace sadly.

The following morning the King ordered his two guards to go to Abu Nawaz's house. The guards were very surprised, they found Abu Nawaz still in his house, and he had not left the country yet. Instead leaving the country, Abu Nawaz was swimming in a small pool in front of his house. ''Hi, Abu Nawaz! Why haven't you left this country yet? The King ordered you not to step on the ground of this country anymore, didn't he?'' said the guards angrily. 

''Sure he did,'' answered Abu Nawz calmly. ''But look at me! Do I step on the ground of this country? No, I do not step on the ground. I am swimming on the water.'' continued Abu Nawaz. The guards were not able to argue with Abu Nawaz, so they left Abu Nawaz's house and went back to the palace. The guards reported what they had seen to The King. The King was curious in Abu Nawaz's excuse not to leave the country. Therefore The King ordered his guard to call Abu Nawaz to come to the palace.

Abu Nawaz came to the palace on stilts. The King wondered and said, ''Abu Nawaz, I will surely punish you because you haven't done what I have said, you have not left this country.'' The King continued ''And now, look at you, you walk on stilts like a child. Are you crazy?'' The King pretended to be furious. 

''I remember exactly what you said, your Majesty,'' Abu Nawz answered calmly. ''This morning I took a bath in the small pool in my house, so that I had not stepped on the ground, and since yesterday, I have been walking on this stilt. So you see, your Majesty, I do not step on the ground of this country.'' The King was not able to say anything.

The End

Stilts Walkers

Just Be Your Self

~I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I need to be~

       Over fifteen years is not a short time to live in another country. Perhaps it's quite difficult for other people but luckily not for me. Since I am spending my whole life living abroad, I almost didn't understand what is the important role to live in my own country, neither I can financed myself nor I could find a good job.

       As a stranger in a strange country, sometimes I couldn't believe if I can settle my life as soon, mingling with native and learn about their cultures and traditions, as long as I didn't forget my own country's cultures and traditions anyway. In Taiwan I can so easy to find a countryman, due to lots Indonesian people lived in Taiwan.

         Most of them are domestic workers and some is married to indigenous, I stumbled across where places they had often visited and I gathered with them. They made such a group and they will meet when they have a day off. For foreign brides, the government provided a shelter as well as places they learn languages for free.

        When I was a child, I am not one of the lucky kids who have pleasure in their life. I don't have a good life and education either. Whatever I was still trying to learn about everything when I have a change. My experiences have built my own life, show me my happiness path and teach me how to stand up. Even though sometimes I must came a rest and confessed I was no longer afford to welcome my next day. Maybe it's the reason why I am enjoying living abroad.

        A new country and new traditions given me a big influence in my life, but I only pick the good one up. I still understand and I realized who am I and where I came from. I wonder when I saw many Indonesian people just like completely forgot about their origins. How big influences they have gotten? How much time they have spent stayed abroad? That's very regrettable if they transformed quickly the way they were dressed up, they way they were spoken even sometimes they tend didn't recognize fellow itself.

        I had intended asking them a simple question about how long they have been working in Taiwan, and what they was earned span of the year working overseas. Some of them will be honest told me about their aim work and their goals, some just told me bullshit, even lied themselves. I can tell due I saw and I knew many and many Indonesian workers in my neighborhood. They often came to my house just to share their problem over worked, sometimes I also helped them out to solve their problem, and I'm pride about it.

       They came to Taiwan in various types of work, some works as care giver, domestic helper and as machine operators at factories. Whatever, no matter what your occupation, and how long you been staying and working in Taiwan, don't ever forget about who you are and be yourself as well. There is a retrospective pondering about your basic goals for a brilliant future. Don't let your environmental situation changed your basic attitude and your habit. Remember! Your family puts their hope highly in you.
Be positive
Be honest
Be peaceful
Be good
Be yourself!!

''A lie can travel halfway around the world.....while the truth is putting on its shoes''  ~Mark Twain~




   

   
   




   

Love At First Sight

''When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew.''  ~William Shakespeare~

    Love is something invisible, we can't see it, we can't touch it, but we can feel how it was. Like the wind; blowing, sweeping even roaring around us. We can't ever get to see it, but we can feel it.

    As for me, I'd like to think that love at first sight is possible. Why? Because I experienced it myself with my current partner, and I still have him present in my life. We have been together for over two years now and I don't think to get a second due I want to maintain my love affair till my rest, (I wish).

       Not everyone has the same idea as mine, there are many also didn't believe in love at first sight. Moreover they thought that love at first sight basically dumb and sometimes plunging merely lust. I myself cannot distinguish the difference between ''love and lust.'' When we love someone, automatically we get lust itself, I guess.

      When you had lured and you love someone, certainly you don't have a real reason to why you love them, it's everything. There is an innate romanticism attached to the thought of meeting someone and having them hitting enough emotional triggers immediately to just know. I had a memory when at the first time I got a message from someone, the guy just asked me how long I been in Taiwan and whether I can speak Chinese anyway. I said, I can only speak a little Chinese at that time. Thereafter I often got his phone even just to say hello, but I really enjoyed it.

      I continue to think of him fondly every day even though I have never seen him before. The strange feeling come and lead me like I am someone lost in the middle desert. I have this overwhelming feeling like I just want to make him happy till I decided to meet him. I was caught by surprised when I saw him, my heart trembling and I couldn't take my eyes off him. I casually looked away after a few moments as to hopefully not make it awkward, but I felt compelled to look back up, he instantly looked back again locking eyes.

      While he asking me a question, I almost instinctively at him again and I twitchy answered his question. I'm starving at that moment, and if someone wants to buy me a sandwich, I can live with that, but when the guy asked me to have a coffee or something to breakfast, I just can say, no thanks. I'm hungry but I never have the gut to tell him. We stood on the street and talking on a level that I never get to with some of my best friends. And then he leads me to go to Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall and we are walking around for a while. Timidly I also took some pic with him, and it was my exquisite memory ever.

      It's only taken a few days after I met him, and firmly I fell in love at my first sight. Fortunately, my feeling requited, and totally with him I tied my heart and love. The day after we talked and joked naturally together while I fell for his heart, his spirit, his humor and his looks. It all sounds so silly and maybe it is, but I would not deny that I believed in love at first sight.

                                            *Wise man say, only fools rush in
                                               But I can't help falling in love with you
                                               Shall I stay, would it be a sin
                                               If I can't help falling in love with you*
                                               
                                               Like a river flows
                                               Surely to the sea
                                               Darling, so it goes
                                               Some things are meant to be

                                               Take my hand
                                               Take my whole life too
                                               For I can't help falling in love with you

                                             

                       

                                         
   














   
   

   

   

Wife Sacrifices (A true story of an Indonesian worker in Taiwan)

''Dreams do come true, if we only wish hard enough. You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it''  ~James M. Barrie~

 This is a true story that I heard from someone, her name is Desy (not her real name). She comes from a rural town, eastern Indonesia. Two years ago, Desy came to Taiwan to earn some money for her family on purpose. Desy has a son, and she left her son with her husband. Desy parents, both her mother and father was dead when she was very young. She only put her hopes to her husband to take care of their son, while she was away.

      Desy husband is unemployed, therefore she financed all family needed include goods and maintenances. As everyone knows that quite hard to find a job with a decent salary in Indonesia, so that she decided to come to Taiwan, even it's firmly difficult for her to leave her family.

     She was one of those hard-working, diligent woman, come, as if by mistake, into a fierce family as her employer. The boss is such grumpy person yet his wife is very fussy. Desy hired to take care a 86 year old grandmother. Unfortunately, also the grandma very talk active and she had senile diseases.

     The day passed was hard, she suffered continually, working as care gives and she was doing all house hold duties. She learned the heavy cares of grandma, the hard work of a kitchen. She washed the greasy pans and dirty clothes; she took the garbage to the street each morning and brought up the water, stopping often on the stairs to breathe.

     This life lasted for two years which at every the end of the month she always sent her miserable money to her husband, to fund his life and son. Before she come to Taiwan, Desy and her husband borrowed lots of money, so that they need to pay back all those debts.

     Even though the horrible life she got, Desy tried to stand up and continued working. She thought it was her destiny, she must try to face the fate. Desy cares about her son's future, as she told me, she wants to give her son a good education.

     Everything is fine till one Sunday she got the phone from her sister, telling her, that her husband didn't back home almost a week. No one knows where's he went, even their son. How shocked she was, her visions become blurry and finally she couldn't see anything, she fainted instantly.

     Likes the birds broken its wings, she completely lost her control. Desy keeps crying and yelling day and night, thereupon her boss supposed she was mad. One in the morning she came to my house and she told me all about her sadness.

''Nu, I have to think that I want to end my life soon.'' Desy said to me.

''Are you nut!'' I yelled loudly. ''What happened to you, Desy?'' I asked.

''My husband went away with another woman, and she is my niece.'' She sobbed.

''I know about it, your lady boss told me yesterday when I met her at market.'' I said and tried to calm her.

Desy uttered a cry and turned toward me excitedly; ''I can't, I can't......I can't take it anymore.''

Field

       ''Don't you remember, you want to give your son a good education and build your own house? Stick to it, and try to forget yours bastard, useless husband!'' My voice getting furious, and scolded her husband like I was her. Desy calm a while and her face bowed, I saw her tears fell down.

''I cannot afford, my family was completely broken.'' Desy noticed, tortured and angered her.

''I know how was difficult in your life, but it's worth to begin your new life instead.'' I mentioned.


She wept for whole days from despair and from disappointment. Her boss was almost send her back to Indonesia, she couldn't work properly because she always minded about her problem. There is nothing more humiliating than to back hometown without any money. Desy already sent all her money to her husband.

      Moreover I have heard that her husband didn't pay the debts was, even didn't pay his son's school tuition. The money that Desy sent wasted for his chubby regardless his son, even his wife sacrifices.
It was 6 o'clock in the morning, and I still in bed, when my phone was ringing and I answered. There is Desy on the phone, in a hesitating voice, full of anxiety she told me;

''Nu, I am at my agency office right now.'' Desy noticed.

''Hahhh, what are you doing there?'' In a little bit startled I asked her.

''I decided to back home to make clear my problems, furthermore I also want to divorce with my husband, if everything running well, I will be back to Taiwan soon. My boss lend me some money and I will pay it back when I come to Taiwan again.'' Desy talked all her points.

''Well, I can only hope, you will solve your problem soon, but I still afraid you couldn't handle it.'' I said.

''Not to worry Nu, I have thought all day and night about all what you said, you're right, I must rise up again and start over my new life.'' Desy said enthusiastically.

''Ok, good luck dear friend, and God Bless you.'' I answered her and hoped she will have a better life in the future.

She is a diligent maid, Desy works like a beaver, therefore her boss like her and even they were very fierce, they become more pleasant. Desy boss considers to remain her to work for them.

As Desy told me, the flight will depart at noon, four o'clock, and I guess it might be in the middle night she well arrives in Indonesia. Good bye Desy, see you soon.


~You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it~

   

   






 
   
   

Coutryside (Taiwan)

If you live in Taiwan don't count how long you been and how far you know about Taiwan. No matter where you come from, but you could compare your own city in your motherland with cities in a small island called Taiwan.

101 Building, Taipei City

      Taiwan several years ago well known as 1 of 4 Asian Tigers Economy is a small island belong to Republic of China (ROC), a state in East Asia. Before I came to Taiwan, I thought Taiwan is a country, in fact it's not. Taiwan is an island which has for all practical purposes been independent since 1950, but which China regards as a rebel region that must be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. The residents of the state itself called their own island as FORMOSA. Formosa is Taiwan historical, especially prior to 1945, from Portugese; llha Formosa, it's mean ''Beautiful Island.''

        Taiwan is a beautiful island. Taiwan very famous with its beautiful mountains, beaches and cities. The biggest city in Taiwan is Taipei as capital city, located in the north. Kaohsiung is noted with its harbor located in the south. Both Taipei and Kaohsiung play an important role in the country's developments. Many big buildings and substantial offices built in that city. Some significant businesses also running from both cities.

Kaohsiung Harbor

     As a modern city, people run their business everyday almost 24 hours. Taiwan also has a strong emphasis on education and work. If you pay a special attention, you will see how busy the city in the morning due to the people go to work and schools. The crowded will start again in the afternoon, when the people returned home. I really impressed with such activities. It's no wonder if the country had a big progressed and changed just in a short time. Either Taiwanese or Chinese well-known very diligent, hard-working and studious. Sometimes I imagined if Indonesian people just like them, maybe Indonesia no need to send its citizen to go to work overseas. 

       Night markets are places where you can grab some bites, buy some clothes, and souvenir also provided. Many visitors came from other countries, they came to Taiwan as tourists and some as students on purpose. Taiwanese themselves got a big influence from foreigners involved their costumes and traditions. The main language in Taiwan is Chinese Mandarin, nowadays known as a top language in the world besides English. A lot of poeple from other countries came to Taiwan just want to learn Chinese language. My friend from Italy and Brazil can speak Chinese very well, otherwise I just spoke a little Chinese.

Shilin Night Market, Taipei

     Such other countries in Asia, Taiwan has rural town. In advance, I didn't know if in Taiwan also has so many villages, just like in Indonesia, but more contemporary. Taiwan also has a small population of aborigines who comprise about 2 percent of the total population. I stayed at suburbs place, so that many former and gardeners. Most people in my place like to do something in some traditional ways. I thought only Indonesian people washed their clothes in the rivers, but also in Taiwan some people did. I live in a township somewhere in Hsincu County, my place is more feasible as countryside. Partly people in my neighborhood are retired. They fulfill their days with many activities, such gardener and plants. Sometimes I got complementary vegetables from them. They said, it's more healthy to eat vegetables from their own crops. I thought so, and it's cheaper than we bought from supermarkets.    

        Certain traditional manner is when they want to get clean water. Most people got the clean water directly from the mountain, me included, even though some still bought in the supermarkets. The water from the mountain is more fresh and clean. They installed faucet filter and water hose washed every day. While in the long term it does not rain, we took a long line to fetching the water. Everyone should not cut in line or jumping the queue, we must wait our turn. Sometimes in the summer, I took more than two hours to take the water because there are too many people want to take it. It's Okey, besides I enjoy the queuing, I also gathered with them. I like had a conversation with them due to improve my Chinese language skills.

Queuing