Taiwan

寧兒的安親班週六舉辦朗讀比賽，教師依小朋友就讀的年級準備比賽用文章。

寧兒小二，拿到一篇標題為「I Love Taiwan」的文章，介紹台灣種種面貌。文章分為六個主題，Population and Languages、Social Customs and Etiquette、Food and Drink、Taipei City、Chinese New Year、Discover Taiwan - Hot Spring，每位小朋友上台前，抽籤確定朗讀的Topic。

內容對台灣只概廓素描，並不特別深刻，然而藉此讓外籍友人對台灣有粗淺的認識，挺實用的，轉刊分享！

另外，若準備出國旅遊，另有一份「中華民國國際青年之家協會」印製的『旅遊天使教戰手冊』（贊助編寫和印製這本手冊的是交通部觀光局），教導如何在一分鐘內，介紹最精彩的台灣 ─ http://www.yh.org.tw/word/2007youthbook.pdf（順便更正，第12頁講台北101的英文部分最後一個字，應是 popping，不是shopping. 第23頁的標題，應是「教老外說中文」，不是「教老外說英文」。）

- by Eve

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Population and Languages

The number of people in Taiwan is over 23 million. Because the island is so mountainous, this means that most of the population has to live on the flat western plains. The result is that Taiwan is the second most crowded area in the world after Bangladesh. There are about 1,500 people per square mile on Taiwan.

The first people to live in Taiwan were the aborigines. They have been in Taiwan for a very long time. Some scientists think that they first came to the island 15,000 to 20,000 years ago from south China. There is a very interesting fact about them. It is believed that after they arrived in Taiwan, some of them left in their small boats and traveled from one island to another along the Pacific Ocean. So the wide area of Austronesia with its different ways of life on each island there developed from just a few Taiwanese aborigines who left Taiwan thousands of years ago.

Today, the population is made up of Taiwanese, mainland Chinese and aborigines. There is also a group of Chinese called the Hakka. They are Chinese but have managed to keep their own language and customs.

They were the first Chinese to come to Taiwan followed by people from Fujian whose language became Taiwanese. Most of the mainland Chinese came to Taiwan in 1948. This was because of political problems in China. Today the Taiwanese make up about 70% of the population, the Hakka about 14%, the mainlanders about 14%, and the aborigines 2%.

There are several languages spoken in Taiwan. Taiwanese (also known as Minnanhua) is spoken by 80% of the people. However, the only official one is Mandarin Chinese.

Social Customs and Etiquette

Like many countries, Taiwanese have their own customs, many of which come from China.

In many ways, “Face” is possibly the most important social idea in Taiwan. Of course, throughout the world, people do not like to lose face, but in eastern countries it is particularly important not to embarrass people. If someone does something silly, it is important that others try to protect the person’s feelings.

Taiwan is a place where people often give gifts. They can be given on many different occasions, not just birthdays. In Chinese New Year, children are given gifts of money. In weddings, the happy couple is also given money. Money is given in red envelopes, as red is thought of as the color of good fortune.

When visiting a Taiwanese home, it is usual to bring a gift. This can be fruit, chocolates or wine. When you give a gift you should give it with both hands. The person receiving it will put it to one side to open later. Taiwanese do not open the gift in front of the person giving it. And another thing to remember is that it is considered respectful to greet the eldest person first when you come into Taiwanese’ house.

Food and Drink

Food and drink have always been important in Chinese culture and it is the same in Taiwan. In fact, people will often say hello by asking you if you have already eaten. They may even do this in English! A visitor to Taiwan will soon notice how many restaurants and snack bars there are. Not only that, but there are also many tasty opportunities to eat at stalls on the streets and at traditional night markets.

Chinese food of course, is famous throughout the world. The two basic foods of China and Taiwan are rice and noodles. In fact when the Taiwanese ask you if you have eaten, it actually means, “Have you eaten rice?” They use rice a great deal and in situations which may seem strange to a foreigner. For example, at breakfast, they often make a kind of watery rice porridge and put pickles vegetables in it. There is also sticky rice which is served on special occasions.

Another food often eaten on special occasions is noodles. Noodles became popular in China because they were easy to carry and to store. For a long time, scientists were not sure who invented noodles first. It now seems likely it was the Chinese, because noodles 4000 years old have been found there. Nowadays there are many different kinds of noodle dishes. One type that a foreigner will not be so familiar with is “soup noodles” which are very common in the night markets. Beef noodles, a Taiwanese food developed from Chinese cuisine, are very popular.

In general, much Taiwanese cooking is based on rice, seafood and vegetables. This is because there was not enough farmland in Taiwan to produce much meat. Therefore it had to be used for growing vegetables. Because of this, and because of Buddhism, it is easy to find vegetarian restaurants in Taiwan. However, Taiwan’s own native cuisine has also become known around the world, and if you try it just once, you will remember it forever.

Taipei City

Taipei City is the most modern and the largest city in Taiwan. In Taipei, there are more then 3 million people, but more than half of the 3 million people are from the southern or central Taiwan who came to work and live in this city. There are several famous tourist spots. Taipei 101, three major night markets and Tamshui Fisherman’s Wharf.

First of all, Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world, is located in Xin-Yi District – one of the most prosperous areas in Taipei – and it is not only a business building but a shopping mall; consequently, it attracts many tourists to visit and utilize it as a background in their pictures. In addition, the seven colors of the rainbow of the lighting bars on the outside of the building change everyday to represent each day of the week: Monday through Sunday.

Secondly, night markets can best represent nightlife in Taipei. The three major night markets, Gongguan night Market, Raohe Street Night market, Shilin night Market, in Taipei are very popular. There are varieties of foods in each night market, with pricing of the food sold there lower than those in stores.

The last one is the Fisherman’s Wharf. Many singers often hold a vocal recital here. Of course, many couples date here; thus, it is a good place for couples or tourists to date or visit. It also offers many entertainments for people to relax. How do we get there? Besides driving a car, you can also choose to ride a bicycle or go there by bus after you exit the Tamshui Station of MRT. In addition to these activities, Lover’s Bridge is another beautiful spot we must visit because the bridge not only crosses the sea, but also has lighting on the surface of the bridge. If you stay there at night, you are going to see a beautiful scene.

To sum up, there are many popular places where it is worth a visit. Wherever you want to visit Taipei, I believe that you will enjoy visiting these places because they will give you a deep impression and fall on love with them.

Chinese New Year

People celebrate many festivals in Taiwan. A visitor can find them very enjoyable and colorful. The traditional festivals also help to keep Taiwanese culture alive in the modern world. Because they are set by the lunar calendar, the date changes every year in the western calendar.

Chinese New Year is the big event of the Chinese year. It is a time when families, no matter how far away they live, come together to eat and talk. Traditionally, the mother and daughters will prepare special foods such as sticky cakes and rice and special dumplings.

Although there is special food, some people do not eat meat on New Year’s Day. This is to bring them long and happy lives. On other new Year’s days, they will visit other relatives, give respect to parents-in-law and welcome the God of Wealth. Because farming used to be so important, farmers also have some special celebrations and make traditional drinks. From the 10th to the 12th days, relatives are invited for dinner.

The house is specially decorated with flowers and short poems written on red paper. As we have seen above, red is considered lucky. Children and elderly people are given money in red envelopes. The floor is not swept in case good fortune is swept out the door, too. Firecrackers are set off and traditional folk activities, such as lion dancing, are enjoyed in the streets.

Today, perhaps not many people believe in the old ideas about good and bad fortune. However they often like to follow the old traditions to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Discover Taiwan – Hot Spring

Hot springs, the hot tears of the earth, are one of the most precious gifts that the earth has given to us. Ever since ancient times, people have recognized the rejuvenating and therapeutic properties of these natural resources. Taiwan is ranked among the world’s top 15 hot spring sites, harboring a great variety of springs, including hot springs, cold springs, mud springs, and seabed hot springs. The island can proudly regard itself as one of the regions with the highest concentration and greatest variety of hot springs in the world.

More than one hundred hot springs have been discovered in Taiwan, located in different geological areas including plains, mountains, valleys, and oceans, The highest concentration of hot springs can be found in northern Taiwan, where the Tatun Volcano is located. Along both sides of the central mountain range, covering an area that to the north is bordered by Yilan and to the south by Pingtung, the largest number of hot springs can be found. Hot springs found here make up more than 80% of all hot springs in Taiwan.

As hot springs generally come from deep below the surface of the earth, when they emerge they bring along a high concentration and great variety of minerals that are mostly foreign to the human body and benefit our general health. Specific properties of hot springs vary, depending on chemical composition, mineral concentration and water temperature. Taiwan has a great variety of springs, both cold and hot.

Because most of Taiwan’s hot springs are located in beautiful scenic areas, when going to soak in one of the numerous hot springs you will not only be able to get away from the hectic life in the city but will also be given the opportunity to enjoy gorgeous scenery while listening to the voices of nature, thus adding a new dimension to recreation and health. Therefore, coming to Taiwan on a hot spring tour will definitely pay off!