Excursion

Off to Pingling - the tea place! I will write more after I am finished on my lucky day excursion, sponsored by TLI (Taiwan Language Institute)

Work experience?

So what does a Philosophy/Asian Studies major do while interning in Taipei at a social welfare NPO? Whatever they want me to do, which, currently, is to design and format their website - a talent far removed from what I have studied in school. However, after interning this summer as a proto-chemistry intern at a solder making factory, I am used to being asked to step outside of my "normal" academic and talent bubbles. While I do not qualify myself as a website designer, there have been quite a few advantages for doing this type of project abroad:
1) Having the time to look up words and lingo on an online dictionary (as opposed to being at a conference and not knowing even the topic because they speak so quickly). So far my vocabulary list has expanded from Taiwanese slang (like using "shiyou" instead of "tongwu" for roommate)to include computer terms (website design 網頁設計， homepage 網站首頁，link 連結， etc...), but also the material that needs to be posted (NPO 非營利組織, social change 社會變遷(which is a lot simpler in simplified chinese....), seminar 研討會 etc...). AND say them all - which I'd better learn quickly. I have a meeting tomorrow morning for my plan of this website.....

The Begonia Foundation

A couple of you have been wondering what kind of work I would be doing at the Begonia
Foundation. Before I elaborate on my current projects, what the Begonia Foundation (海棠金会 @ http://www.npocenter.org.tw/) is and what they do needs to be further discussed.
The Begonia Foundation was founded in 1993 and served as Non-profit Organization (NPO) seeking to train and expand other NPOs and NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations). They currently offer a variety of services, such as training courses and consultations, to many organizations around Taiwan and, more recently, China. The training programme that the Begonia Foundation organizes helps instruct these NPOs/NGOs in how to manage the formal documentation (filling out proper legal forms: 公文), distribute jobs efficiently through the NGOs’ personnel, approach theoretical situations (such as providing shelter, food, and legal assistance to flood damage victims) in a practical manner, and many more. Unlike many current NGOs/NPOs, the Begonia Foundation specializes in training organizational management rather than a particular “aid” service (i.e. saving Taiwan’s endangered butterfly (Actually, I met this guy. He was really nice – there is a certain butterfly native only to Taiwan, and, unfortunately, it was also a “flood victim”. Last year’s huge typhoon knocked out a lot of nests.)). Because of these management courses, the Begonia Foundation has helped train around 5, 000 NGO/NPO participants. Their network is vast, but the organization itself only consists of 8 people, 4 of which seem to be the main workers, and the people I always see in the office.
Taiwan is the not the only place that the Begonia Foundation seeks to help out other NGOs. In the past couple years this group has put a larger emphasis on outreach to the international community. While they seek mainly to unite similar Taiwan and mainland Chinese NPOs/NGOs, in hopes that a larger group will better develop their ideas of social change, they also participate and help host numerous international conferences as well. As a Taiwan organization with very limited working persons, their English communication is greatly lacking. This is where the St. Olaf 4-week intern comes into play.
While I will not have the opportunity (or have the Chinese skills!) to participate or assist in any current training courses (I missed a large conference when I came in), there are other ways that I am aiding the Begonia Foundation to achieve, at least in part, their goal of moving international. The first project I started was a simple task: translate the “thank-you” notes from the most recent international conference. It was not easy, even after studying Chinese for 4 years. As I was doing it, I realized how lucky I am to know English (sophisticated English). Most international things that I will do in my life will be that much easier. I will not have to struggle for 6 years to perfect this widely spoken language. However, this being said, I am more than happy to spend those years learning Chinese instead. But it’s one less hindrance for a possible career, and it makes me feel good.
My more recent project is a little more exciting. But I’ve written enough today, so I’ll tell you more about it later. 再见！

Survival - making it to the first weekend

When you are preparing and doing last-minute packing (or last second changes at the airport), the base-root question (as opposed to the square-root question...) is "will I need this?". It comes in the form，　ｈｏｐｅｆｕｌｌｙ　ｌｅｓｓ　ｏｆｔｅｎ， of "Will I need this blow-up inner tube or will I　ｎｅｅｄ　ｔｈｉｓ outfit I haven't worn in 2 years, but just maybe I'll wear it now?". Don't be ridiculous. My dad tells me on a monthly basis that we only use 20% of our clothes 80% of the time (80/20 principle in action). Bring that 20%.

Believe it or not, but those info sheets found in the "study abroad packets" that not many people (excuse me, students) read have some helpful info. It's hard to find some products (like deodorant) in China, but easy to find others (like ginseng toothpaste). Clothes, so long as you are medium sized, are also really really really cheap at the night markets - and come in bad English or cute patterns depending where you shop.

I don't like money belts/purses (whatever you want to call them). Yes, the keep your "goods" safe, but it's a hassle to access at the airport and on the street. Get a bag with an inside zipper or hook if you want "anti-theft" proof.

Also, bring your favorite over-the counter medicine. You will get sick. Don't believe that you are "invincible", because you're not. You will also get diarrhea. The great food in Asia comes at a price for the 1st week. But after the 1st week, if you try to eat American "greasy" food, you'll have a stomachache. Oh, the irony.


Prepare for slight different ways of doing normal things, such as using squat toilets and getting take-out soup in a bag (they assume you have your own bowl). Garbage cans are hard to find (subway stations always have them). Always keep an open mind. Always. Smile a lot. And you'll be just fine, just fine.

Space and Living Areas

Room and board for me is super cheap in Taiwan. Currently I am living in an "International House" off on the south end of Taipei city for only $74000 NTD (new taiwan dollars) per month. This includes a bathroom, sink, shower, bed & bed set, air conditioning, a balcony AND a roommate =D
Once I figure out how to post pictures on this thing, I will do so.

Why is it that when I get a cheap hostel room, everything is provided, while, in America, when I go to my dorm room I'm expected to bring my own sheets? You'd think it'd be the other way around. On top of that, there are caretakers who come in an clean once a week. This happened both here, in Taipei, and the university I stayed with during Asian Con in January (Beijing). Is it job opportunities? Some factor about the culture?.....

Lacking

A lot of you asked what I would be doing while I'm in Taipei and what kind of internship it was. I held these questions at bay because I actually had no idea...until now.

I currently am the foreign summer intern at the Begonia Foundation. They are a very small body of people (8 total) that organize other (hundreds)of NPO's and NGO's (non profit/gov. organizations) in order to help current disasters, fundraisers, and other welfare events.

Theoretically I am going to help them by doing a couple different things. One big job is translation - no one in the foundation can speak or write English fluently. I have spent the last day and a half translating some very flowery and formal "thank you" notes from an international conference's attendees. How do you translate "most cordially"???? I have also started to compile a list of vocabulary that I needed to look up on nciku.com (online Chinese dictionary). It is now 4 pages long, and counting (from these letters). Here is one of the letters (in very, very poor chinese grammar) -- good luck translating back into English:
朋友们和同事，

官教授和Dr. Lu, 谢谢您们。再一次你们的有扰和会议的条理超过了我的预料。因为我是一位住在日本的意大利的学者, 我真认为你们的组织的方法和使别人更舒服的方法都很重要。我觉得意大利应该学习您们的榜样。
对您们的SE 文章，我非常感谢。您们的陈述很有意思。我也认为这个会议提供在中间和里边亚洲国家的SEs 的机会学习。这个会议的陈述, 讨论和问题帮助提高我们的SE知识，还把一些看法成为清楚。一方面住在亚洲国家以后，我学 给别的同事指责是不好的事，因此 这样的行为 不应该做。另一方面，因为在英国上学，我也学给别的同事这样的指责是很好的事，对别人工作的发展是最重要的方法。我们的主意和看法 不同的时候，我还认为共享 看法虚虚心心的很重要。如果我们的活动是这样的，因为我们的合作很亲密，很永恒， 所以我们可能建立一个基础。
有一些与会者已经联系了我。因为他们对未来 合作的活动有兴趣，所我真知道这个会议促进了很大的合作精神。明年我们已经有一些对比研究。在别的亚洲国家我们可能做陈述这个对比研究。不带说，如果您们跟我一起想合作，我可能。对在外边和里边的日本学者 的评论和怎么发展我的工作的主意, 我都感谢。
有的人在伊斯坦布尔我可以看，有的人我希望未来 看。

Kind Regards, Rosario

For a good number of you, that was just a bunch of nonsense. All you need to know is that translating formalities into chinese (like "fruitful treasure") has interesting consequences.

Today, however, was the rehearsal for a large conference that is happening on the 8th. I'll post pictures tomorrow! (I hate taking photos. Don't ask me why. I don't know. probably because I'm awful at it).

Food

I suppose I'll start off this blog with a favorite pastime. 
One of the largest differences between Eastern cities and Chicago, let's say, is the sheer number of places (and variety!) that one can find something on the go, sitting down, while driving your flashy moped, etc.  Food and drink is cheap and everywhere in Taipei.  Even if you were to have no home, car, air conditioning, job, or true love - this is still at least one thing you can still buy: the baozi on the nearest street corner.  A person could live on $1 USdollar a day if they knew where to go.  And this isn't just market snacks, but actual meal stuffs.  On the other hand, those who were hit hardest during the most recent turn of the economy in America know all too well that $1 is less than pocket change - good for a snickers bar, if even that.

Even more interesting is the art of food-getting in the narrow streets, often smelling of steamed something or hairy pig.  The other day my coworkers shepherded me around some of these streets getting the day's lunch.  I expected us to choose a sit down noodle restaurant and then return to the office.  I wasn't joking when I mentioned I was being shepherded around.  We ended up going to 6 different places, picking and choosing what looked good and compiling it all.  It was like going to a Forever 21 store*** and sailing among rows of food.  This, I was okay with.  This, I could definitely live with.

As I sat down to partake in the many things in front of my face (and stomach), I wondered what exactly made getting food in Taiwan exciting.  I know that the fact that America doesn't offer certain kinds of things (like pig's feet, a green vegetable I'll call "spicy plant", taro root, etc) as a "regular" meal (but, of course, can be found....).  But it's something else.....maybe the fact that something so necessary and foundational to any place is so easily accessible.

***Forever 21: clothing store that is brimming with anything and everything.  A guy's worst nightmare.