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Students: Apply by January 31 for the OFTaiwan Award

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LAST UPDATED: JANUARY 12, 2020

The OFTaiwan Award, co-sponsored by TaiwaneseAmerican.org and the Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Student Association (ITASA) awards student organizations that host programming about Taiwanese heritage, culture, and identity. Recipient organizations will be selected based on their events’ and program’s impact, content, and engagement with attendees. 

All high school and college student organizations planning events and programs about Taiwan or Taiwanese Americans are eligible. The organization does not have to be a Taiwanese American student group (for example, a global health student group discussing healthcare in Taiwan would qualify). Programs must be hosted by a student organization, but can occur on or off campus, free or ticketed, and open or closed to the public. 

In the application process, please discuss how your organization has and will help diasporic Taiwanese and/or your local community learn more about Taiwan. Examples of meaningful programs are documentary screenings and discussions, panels and forums, and identity-building workshops. 

For the inaugural year, we will be awarding up to five organizations in the following denominations: 

 

AwardNumber of recipients
$500 1
$300 1
$100 3

Dates & Deadlines

  • Submissions will open from January 13 to January 31, 2020.
  • Winner will be announced on February 8 during the ITASA East Coast Conference at the University of Maryland – College Park. Organizations do not have to attend the ITASA conference in order to apply. 
  • All applicants will be notified of results by email on February 8, regardless of whether they are ultimately selected. 

Judgement Criteria 

Content: Meaningful introduction of credible, cited information about Taiwan’s culture, history, geography, or identity. Ability to foster productive dialogue and empower students to walk away with a richer understanding of Taiwan

Impact: Quantitative and qualitative impact on the community (number of attendees, depth of experience, etc.). Ability to sustain interest of new members or significant development of existing members

Engagement: Creativity, uniqueness,  and originality of program; level of effort by host organizations 

Panel of Judges

TaiwaneseAmerican.org Board of Directors member
TaiwaneseAmerican.org Editor in Chief
OFTaiwan representative
ITASA Board of Directors member
ITASA National Board President

Application

The application for this grant can be found here. Please note that the event does not have to be completed at the time of application submission, but the grant is not awarded until after the event has been executed, contingent upon documentation and write-up. The following information is required: 

  • Basic Information
  • Application form about  school, organization name, and detailed information for logistical purposes.
  • Statement of Interest (800 words or fewer)
    • Statement documenting the organization’s event (or event proposal) and how it has fostered meaningful engagement among students with Taiwanese heritage, history, and/or identity. Strong statements will include learnings from the organization’s leadership and/or takeaways from members.
  • Relevant Media 
    • Up to 10 relevant pieces of media in the form of photos, video, or material slides. Submission of media by the organization indicates permission for TaiwaneseAmerican.org to publish on their website and social media platforms in perpetuity.

Contact

Please contact Eric Tsai, Program Director oftaiwan@taiwaneseamerican.org

FAQ

What event can we use to apply?

Events hosted during or planned for the current school year (2019-2020) are eligible. Past events require documentation (photos and a writeup of impact). Planned events require a proposal and will be awarded after the documentation is provided following their execution. There is no preference for past or planned events, but proposals must be realistic and the expectation is that they will be executed as closely to their plan as reasonable. 

What types of events would be good for this?

We are interested in innovative and creative programming designed to foster productive discussions about Taiwanese heritage, history, and identity. We’re providing a few examples of meaningful events below, but we love hearing your ideas!

  • Workshop: Bringing in a credible speaker with expertise on a specific aspect of Taiwanese history, current affairs, or culture. Example topics include indigenous Taiwanese culture, contemporary Taiwanese literature, or Taiwanese foods.
  • Movie Night: Hosting a movie that centers Taiwanese culture or history and facilitating a post-screening discussion. Examples include KANO (history of Taiwan under Japanese rule), Formosa Betrayed (history of Taiwan’s White Terror era), and Panay (Taiwanese indigenous cultures and issues). 
  • Forums & Discussions: Bringing together a panel of academic experts and students to discuss Taiwanese social issues or current events. Examples of discussion topics include same-sex marriage legislature in Taiwan, the 2020 election cycle and Taiwan’s political structure, and US-Taiwan relations

Some of these topics are sensitive or politically charged. How can we host more inclusive programming? 

A moderator can bring balance to discussions that might be controversial; we encourage student groups to explore sensitive topics together in ways that are productive and considerate of different perspectives and backgrounds. Please note that this grant has no political agenda and focuses instead on rewarding student groups that prioritize meaningful engagement with Taiwanese heritage, history, and identity. 

My school doesn’t have many Taiwanese or Taiwanese Americans, and our organization is really small. Will I be disadvantaged?

We see tremendous value in hosting programs in communities with underrepresented Taiwanese or Taiwanese American students. Cross-cultural programming also brings together diverse perspectives on familiar topics; we encourage you to apply regardless of the size of your Taiwanese American community or organization. 

Why is it called the OFTaiwan Award?

OFTaiwan was founded by Eric Tsai and Jenny Wang, who wanted to create more engaging, productive ways for Taiwanese Americans to learn about Taiwan. Their vision included collaborative workshops for students from all backgrounds to learn about and discuss key issues on Taiwanese history, heritage, and current affairs. Ultimately, they wanted to educate communities about Taiwan by providing information and facilitating discussions about its political atmosphere, current events, and historical relevance.

In 2019, OFTaiwan joined TaiwaneseAmerican.org to design programs that help students learn more about Taiwan, starting with the OFTaiwan Award. TaiwaneseAmerican.org aims to highlight and connect those who identify with Taiwanese identity, heritage, or culture by sharing interesting people, events, organizations, and perspectives from our community. This joint effort encourages creativity and collaboration among students and fosters community-based learning.

19 Things That Happened in Taiwan & Taiwanese America in 2019

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As the decade draws to a close, we’re sharing just 19 of the many things that happened in Taiwan and Taiwanese America in 2019.


PODCASTS & MUSIC

(1) Emily Wu launched Ghost Island Media in Taipei

Ghost Island Media is a podcasting startup based in Taipei that (1) grows the Mandarin podcasting market in Taiwan, and (2) increases the presence of English content coming from Taiwan. Their first show, Waste Not Why Not, is an English-language science show on environmental policies and innovations, using case studies from Taiwan when possible to showcase the country’s many contributions to the sustainability space. They also have an English-language current affairs show titled “The Taiwan Take” (“there are global issues, and this is The Taiwan Take”) for international members who have any sort of stake in Taiwan and Asia. Their Mandarin-language show, called 「大麻煩不煩」, investigates evolving cannabis legislature in Taiwan. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4PhW1XpJ0h/

(2) Cynthia Lin launched the Taiwanese Diaspora podcast

The Taiwanese Diaspora podcast explores the stories and heritage of Taiwanese people around the world by interviewing Taiwanese and diasporic Taiwanese entrepreneurs, artists, students, and more. These interviews, conducted in English, Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, and more, help illustrate the rich complexity of Taiwanese heritage and identity. 

(3) Phil Lin launched Bite Size Taiwanese

Bite Size Taiwanese is a tiered podcast series designed to introduce listeners to Taiwanese Hokkien. Co-hosts Phil Lin and Alan Chen, with curriculum designer Phín-tsì Kí,  share an extraordinary passion for the once-forbidden language, and interweave practical linguistic applications with poignant points about its heritage and history in their show. 

(4) Irene and Kevin launched The Thought Spot

Taiwanese Americans Irene and Kevin share their passion for art, humanity, and “damn good conversation” in an introspective podcast series, The Thought Spot, with topics spanning from toxic masculinity to the effects of social media to the Asian American experience.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3TI7K4jsHh/

(5) Peter Lin released New Age, Old Ways

Taiwanese American jazz trombonist Peter Lin released New Age, Old Ways, an eight-track album with original compositions and comic book illustrated by Kelly Lin. Drawing from the inspiration of his personal life experiences, the repertoire serves as a spotlight on Peter Lin’s musical storytelling. 

(6) Ching-Shan Chang won the Golden Eye Award

Taiwan-born Ching-Shan Chang, a New York-based multimedia composer, became one of the youngest-ever and the first-ever Taiwanese to receive the prestigious Golden Eye Award at the 8th International Film Music Competition in Zurich, triumphing over 321 composers from 46 countries. 

BOOKS/LITERATURE

(7) Kathy Cheng (@trickytaipei) debuted Hey, Taipei

Hey, Taipei is a crowdfunded English-language picture book about Taipei. Envisioned by the founder of Tricky Taipei (a blog and digital community covering design, food, and lifestyle in Taipei), Hey Taipei is on its way to becoming the de facto children’s gift for tourists in Taiwan, as well as a special touch for overseas Taiwanese kids who would otherwise rarely find their own stories and histories reflected in children’s books. 

(8) Abigail Hing Wen debuted Loveboat, Taipei

Abigail Hing Wen’s debut YA novel has been described as “an intense rush of rebellion and romance” in the lineage of Jenny Han (To All the Boys) and Sarah Dessen (Just Listen). When eighteen-year-old Ever Wong’s parents send her from Ohio to Taiwan to study Mandarin for the summer, she finds herself thrust among the very over-achieving kids her parents have always wanted her to be, including Rick Woo, the Yale-bound prodigy profiled in the Chinese newspapers since they were nine—and her parents’ yardstick for her never-measuring-up life. Unbeknownst to her parents, however, the program is actually an infamous teen meet-market nicknamed Loveboat, where the kids are more into clubbing than calligraphy and drinking snake-blood sake than touring sacred shrines. 

(See also: The Love Boat: Taiwan documentary by filmmaker Valerie Soe: 2019 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Filmfest opening night film, 2019 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival official selection, 2019 Urban Nomad Film Festival closing night film (Taipei, Taiwan), and 2019 CAAMFest spotlight honoree (San Francisco). A great year for Valerie and the Love Boat: Taiwan team.) 

(9) Esmé Weijun Wang published The Collected Schizophrenias (Graywolf Press)

Wang’s essay collection, The Collected Schizophrenias, won the 2016 Graywolf Nonfiction Prize and was published in February of this year. The book, an “intimate, moving” chronicle of mental and chronic illness, became a New York Times bestseller. 

Other releases in 2019: Sex & Taipei City (Red Hen Press) by Yu-Han Chao, Release: A Bulimia Story (Blue Jaguar Healing Arts) by Stephanie Syd Yang, The Unpassing (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) by Chia-Chia Lin, Our Wayward Fate (Simon Pulse) by Gloria Chao, The Hell Screens (Camphor Press Limited) by Alvin Lu, REBORN (New Degree Press) by Amy Hsuan Chiu

FOOD/CULTURE/TRAVEL

(10) Win Son Bakery made the best breakfast plate in New York

From the makers of Win Son comes Win Son Bakery, a Taiwanese American bakery offering a Brooklyn take on classic Taiwanese breakfast (think guai guai cortados, mochi donuts, pork fan tuans with the correct brand of pork floss). 

(11) BuzzFeed’s “Worth It” took on Taiwan

BuzzFeed’s “Worth It” show partnered with the Taiwanese Tourism Bureau for the ultimate Taiwanese food adventure, “trying delicious foods at their famous three different price points: affordable, middle tier, and luxury.” Their episodes investigate different takes on soup, dumplings, and chicken. Says BuzzFeed showrunner Katie LeBlanc:  “For this special edition of ‘Worth It,’ we’re excited to expose our audience to Taiwanese culinary culture, working with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau to highlight the best the country has to offer in a fun and truly unique way.” 

(12) Nas Daily shared Asia’s “Secret Country”

In a Facebook video that has garnered over 5.6 million views, blogger Nas Daily takes viewers to a not-so-secret (at least for us) country and shares a ton of fast facts about why Taiwan was ranked the #1 country for expats around the world. 

POLITICAL & SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

(13) Love Won in Taiwan

Taiwan made history by becoming the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The  decision passed on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. While this wasn’t a comprehensive or absolute win, many still have hope that Taiwan will set a progressive example for other countries in Asia and around the world. In October, over 200,000 people attended Taiwan’s Pride parade, the largest in Asia. 

(14) New York’s Keep Taiwan Free rally shared support for Hong Kongers, Tibetans, and Uighurs

In 2019, the annual “Keep Taiwan Free” rally not only pushed for recognition of Taiwan at the United Nations and other international forums, but emphasized regional solidarity with people suffering under the authoritarian regime of the Chinese government, including those in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet, as well. Throughout the year, the Keep Taiwan Free team raises awareness about Taiwan’s exclusion from the global community, helping to safeguard human rights and democracy against the Chinese Communist Party’s aggression. 

(15) The United States and Taiwan celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act

April 10, 2019 marked the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), one of the most significant documents authorizing US-Taiwan relations built upon shared values of democracy. Congress members passed the TRA as a framework for US-Taiwan cooperation in diplomatic, political, economic, and cultural affairs; because of this, the US has assisted Taiwan in maintaining its defensive military capabilities and established a de facto diplomatic office in Taipei (the American Institute in Taiwan). 

(16) Andrew Yang became the first-ever Taiwanese American presidential candidate

As of 12/24, Venture for America founder Andrew Yang has become the fourth-ranked Democratic candidate for United States presidency. Yang’s platform includes universal basic income, or a “freedom dividend” to cushion against the economic impact of automation. But for Taiwanese America,  “what Yang represents to fellow Taiwanese Americans is [actually] the limits of representation, and how little the situation of Taiwan and its people might change on the remote chance that one of them is elevated to the highest office in the United States.” (Catherine Chou for Popula)

(17) The Taiwanese American Citizens League launched the 2020 Census “Write in ‘Taiwanese’” campaign

Every 10 years, the United States counts every person living in the United States — citizens and non-citizens. The census shapes public policy and funding towards our communities. Counting everyone ensures fair and equal representation. The campaign calls all who identify as Taiwanese and Taiwanese American to check “Other Asian” and write in “Taiwanese” on the 2020 Census. 

(18) Overseas Taiwanese geared up to vote in Taiwan’s upcoming elections

Ed Liu launched “Sea Formosa,” a touching video series on diasporic Taiwanese who would be returning home to vote in the January elections. “Your mission,” reads one message to Taiwanese Americans, “is to keep Taiwan free.” 

Before we close off the list with #19, a look at our honorable mentions:

(1) Domino’s Taiwan released a “boba pizza” because of course

But if a Fulbright research fellow endorses it… we might have to try it, too.

(2) Brian Tseng became Taiwanese America’s favorite comedian

The Economist’s 1843 Magazine called him “Taiwan’s answer to Stephen Colbert,” but comedian Brian is in a spectacular league of his own. Born and partially raised in the United States, Brian skips cheap, easy quips about Asian American pop culture and goes straight for political satire in a country not particularly known for its sense of humor. His favorite subject? Taiwan’s relationship with China.

(3) Netflix released A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities

Netflix’s original series, A Taiwanese Tale of Two Cities, is a T-drama featuring a Taipei holistic doctor and San Francisco engineer who swap places (okay, there’s a lot more romantic juiciness to that) and confront cultural differences (like within the first 6-ish episodes, there are references to Mazu/temple culture, interracial relationships, the 2008 financial crisis, martial law blacklisting, veganism, stinky tofu). It’s wild.

(4) Taiwanese and Taiwanese Americans stood, and will continue to stand, with Hong Kong

The fates and histories of those in Taiwan and Hong Kong are inextricably linked.
(Read: I’m Taiwanese American. Here’s Why I Stand with Hong Kong) 

(19) Finally, on a personal note, in 2019 I witnessed the extraordinary depth of passion-driven work. So much of diasporic Taiwanese engagement is conducted by volunteers who, in addition to advocating for Taiwan both locally and internationally, culturally and politically, have (mostly) separate careers and livelihoods. The founder of this very site is a pediatrician in his spare time. The director of TACL’s “Write in ‘Taiwanese’” campaign fits national coalition-building into the already-taxing workflow of a Manhattan business manager. Many of the incredible thought leaders on #TaiwanTwitter have academic or professional interests that only intersect with Taiwanese issues by way of great thoughtfulness and navigation. Taiwanese American social organizations, hosted in community centers and churches, are sources of hope and home, sustained only with enormous effort; and most summer camps for diasporic youth are run by adult alumni taking PTO to offer back the same enriching experiences that they had. Hundreds, if not thousands, of overseas Taiwanese will be returning to vote in the upcoming elections. Think of the tremendous career and social expectations already internalized by immigrants and their children: now add onto that the work of community building, of identity formation, of heritage preservation. This is Taiwanese America, these are my people, and I am so honored and so proud to be a part of it all. 

臺灣加油!

LWC, editor-in-chief

 

Census Day is April 1, 2020: Write in ‘Taiwanese’

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Every 10 years, the United States counts every person living in the United States — citizens and non-citizens. The census shapes public policy and funding towards our communities. Counting everyone ensures fair and equal representation. We are calling all who identify as Taiwanese and Taiwanese American to check “Other Asian” and write in “Taiwanese” on the 2020 Census. 

Please support the Write In Taiwanese Census Campaign by any of the following –

1. Purchase a Campaign Tshirt or a Sweatshirt through the Census Campaign Store https://www.bonfire.com/store/counta-write-in-taiwanese/

2. Donate any amount through Venmo (@taclorg) and PayPal (tacl@tacl.org); please be sure to note the donation is for the Census 2020 Campaign

3. Visit us at tacl.org/census-2020 and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @write.in.taiwanese.census

4. Host your own #CounTA campaign with materials found in our media kit

 

2020 ITASA East Coast Conference: Recognize to Reconnect

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ABOUT ITASA

The Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association (ITASA) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that connects, inspires, and empowers the Taiwanese American student community. ITASA’s annual East Coast Conference (ECC) attracts nearly 400 undergraduates nationwide who attend workshops led by prominent Taiwanese American speakers, social events to meet fellow students, and interactive discussions about culture, identity, education, and leadership.

OUR VISION

Identifying with our Taiwanese heritage can be challenging because of Taiwan’s limited visibility, unique history, and continuing political turmoil. Taiwanese-Americans, in particular, are stuck trying to balance both American and Taiwanese cultures. That struggle leads to questions like:

– What does being Taiwanese-American mean for me?
– What defines Taiwanese culture?
– How has my heritage influenced who I am?

This conference is a space where such questions can be openly and honestly discussed. We hope attendees will take the opportunity to understand our Taiwanese heritage, exploring how it influences who we are, and begin to reconnect with this sometimes overlooked aspect of our lives. We believe that our theme of Recognize to Reconnect is important not just for conference attendees but for all Taiwanese-Americans. Thus, our conference is complemented by a social media campaign with the hashtag #iRecognize. Recognition is the first step to change. We hope that by inviting our speakers and attendees to participate in this campaign, we can effect a real change both in our community and across the country, ultimately raising the overall visibility of Taiwanese-Americans as a whole.

OUR THEME

2018 was a great year for Asian-American representation. From actors playing leading roles in Netflix films to hosting the Golden Globes, we are finally in the limelight. Yet beyond the joy of seeing faces like our own on the wide screen, we should also reflect on our identities and the journey we’ve taken to be here. Despite this new wave of representation, Taiwanese-Americans are still taking a backseat. The media remains fixated on large and extrusive Asian countries, under-representing smaller but significant countries like Taiwan. Due to our distinctive heritage, this conference seeks to explore our unique history and struggles. Hence our theme this year – Recognize to Reconnect – is a challenge to both recognize our insecurities and struggles, as well as an invitation to reconcile with our identities.

Census Day is April 1, 2020: “Write in ‘Taiwanese'”

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Every 10 years, the United States counts every person living in the United States — citizens and non-citizens. The census shapes public policy and funding towards our communities. Counting everyone ensures fair and equal representation. We are calling all who identify as Taiwanese and Taiwanese American to check “Other Asian” and write in “Taiwanese” on the 2020 Census. 

Please support the Write In Taiwanese Census Campaign by any of the following –

1. Purchase a Campaign Tshirt or a Sweatshirt through the Census Campaign Store https://www.bonfire.com/store/counta-write-in-taiwanese/

2. Donate any amount through Venmo (@taclorg) and PayPal (tacl@tacl.org); please be sure to note the donation is for the Census 2020 Campaign

3. Visit us at tacl.org/census-2020 and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @write.in.taiwanese.census

4. Host your own #CounTA campaign with materials found in our media kit

Community organizer Danny Chen with “Our Youth in Taiwan” director Fu Yue
TACL Campaign Director Christina Hu sharing the #CounTA graphics and media kit with President Tsai in New York City
TACL Campaign Creative Director (and TaiwaneseAmerican.org editor-in-chief) Leona Chen in the slogan crewneck
TACL Campaign collegiate lead and ITASA national president Roy Cheng in the Call to Action tee

Taiwanese American Summer Camp: Does the 3rd Gen Need It?

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At the beginning of the summer, I received a Facebook reminder that the early-bird registration discount for TAF (Taiwanese American Foundation—the largest and longest-running summer camp for children and teens of Taiwanese descent in the US and Canada), was ending in just a week.

Always a sucker for a good deal, I brought up the idea with my husband about sending our daughter. We both had attended the camp as teenagers and young adults, and considered it an essential part of our formative years. We still vividly remember the euphoria of arriving for the week, the intensity of our small group sessions, the emotional goodbyes, and the crushing, post-TAF blues.

Yet when our eldest child reached TAF-going age, we wavered.

“Do our kids have issues with their identity? Do they really need to boost their Taiwanese-American-ness?” we wondered.

Living in southern California, our children’s school was approximately 20% Asian and another 25% multi-racial, with many of the latter group being part-Asian. Most of our daughter’s closest friends were Asian-Americans like herself (indeed, sometimes we had trouble picking her out from the crowd), a stark contrast to my own elementary school, where the only other Asian girl in my year moved away in 3rd grade, leaving me the lone representative of my race.

Besides her current diverse environment, we had also recently returned from living in Singapore for the past six years; our children were not only bilingual in Mandarin and English, but also bicultural, able to fit in at the various local camps in Taiwan we threw them into every summer with little difficulty.

“Does she really need TAF?” we asked each other.

“What is it, like a match-making camp?” a non-Taiwanese friend of mine joked when I mentioned it to her.

“Only for the lucky ones,” I said back to her with a wink (yes, my husband and I met at TAF, but that’s a story for another day).

Formed in 1980, TAF is a volunteer-run, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to foster personal growth and develop servant leaders in the Taiwanese American community for the benefit of society. Every summer over 250 campers get together at TAF’s flagship event for a fun-filled week of learning about themselves and their Taiwanese heritage.*

My first year was the summer of 1991; I was 12, and at the peak of pre-teen insecurity, anti-parental angst, and self-identity uncertainty. After a week at TAF, however, I came home completely transformed—in mind and in spirit. I had never been around that many Taiwanese-Americans before, which was itself a novelty, but there was something about the energy, the fun, the connections, the shared experiences, and unreserved acceptance—in short, TAF promptly became not only the most important part of my summer, but of my entire life. I went on to attend TAF every summer for the next eight years, holding coordinator and counselor positions, and spending the rest of the year counting down the days until TAF week.

As expected, however, life got busy. In late college, I had summer internships that conflicted with TAF week; then, I graduated, got my first job, got married, had kids, moved abroad, and TAF got shoved into a “fond memories” box, along with my old camp yearbooks and name tags.

Then one day I looked up; we were back in the US, our daughter was 11 years old, and TAF was dangling an early-bird discount in front of us.

We made a quick decision and signed her up for the Juniors program. “What the heck,” I told my husband, “at least we’ll know some of the people in charge and can ask them to keep an eye on her for us, right?”

At drop-off, we checked out her dorm room, gave her a big hug goodbye and made a brisk exit, leaving her in a circle of campers and counselors who were playing “Stella Ola Ola,” a game I had played nearly 30 years prior.

The week passed quickly; she video-chatted with us every night, a mandate in the Juniors program. By mid-week, she had lost her voice, another aspect of TAF of which I was not unfamiliar. I asked her if she had talked about being Taiwanese in her small group at all (“No,” she responded) or spoken any Taiwanese words (“Bah-tsàng,” she said. “Oh, and boba, does that count?”). We returned for the weekend parent’s program, running into old friends whom we had not seen in decades, and remembering the bonds we had shared.

I remarked to one of these friends that my husband and I had not been sure if we should send our kids to TAF at all—listing all the reasons why they didn’t need it, and perhaps could benefit more from, say, coding or tennis camp. She was also married to a second-generation Taiwanese-American and had high school-aged children, and I asked her what her decision-making process had been.

She surprised me by saying that her decision had very little to do specifically with Taiwanese-American identity, but much more with wanting her children to learn about communication, leadership, and other “soft skills” that she herself had learned from her own attendance at TAF. “I learned all of those life skills at TAF,” she said, “not at any class I took in high school or college.”

I considered her words. I had read numerous media and research reports stating that the enigmatic EQ—as opposed to IQ—is what sets leaders apart from the rest, that the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions and identify the emotions of others, is what makes a smart person into a successful one. I thought about the rotating themes of TAF—Identity, Ethics and Values, Communication, and Leadership—and how this fit into the development of higher EQ.

As I continued to discuss the TAF experience with my friend, I, too, began to appreciate that so many of my strengths in being an effective leader, team member and even friend, spouse, and parent, came from skills that I had acquired and developed at TAF. Adapting to various styles of communication, how to build strong relationships, how to lead with compassion and respect, and understanding my own values—these are all concepts that I learned at TAF, and not in any textbook or syllabus of any course I took throughout my education.

After we got home, my daughter went through her own post-TAF blues depression (seemingly less painful, though, than what I experienced way-back-when, before text messaging and FaceTime existed). She names TAF as the BEST PART of the entire summer, and that’s high praise, considering her summer also included a class trip to China, multiple camps in Taiwan, and a week of eating chocolate croissants in Paris. Her little brother, after hearing his sister rave about her week, can’t wait to go, too.

In summary, TAF was the best part of our daughter’s summer. She learned valuable life skills that likely won’t be taught anywhere else, AND my husband and I get a week to ourselves.  In case there’s any doubt, just stating it outright here: we’re DEFINITELY sending both kids next summer.

Raised in Michigan and a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Stephanie Suga Chen is a former partner of a New York City-based investment fund. She is also the author of the Straits Times bestselling novel, Travails of a Trailing Spouse, and an upcoming yet-to-be-named sequel. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook @StephanieSugaChen.

*Paragraph is from TAF’s website: https://www.tafworld.org/

North America Taiwanese Engineering & Science Association: 2019 UTHF Conference

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Join 2019 UTHF Conference and learn WHAT YOU MUST KNOW on the latest trend of 5G and Intelligent Connectivity.

You will learn what exactly is 5G? How much faster is it compared with 4G? And, what is 5G for? How 5G, combined with AI, IoT, will enable the next generation killer apps that will change how we work, live and play.

Yet, all of the above is just the beginning. It’s time to learn more about 5G and exploit the endless innovation opportunities.

Join us for a half-day conference to gain insight from a lineup of the industry’s most renowned experts and thought leaders:

Highlights of selected topics and speakers:

  • 5G Global Trend – What you need to know

    • Jefferson Wang, Accenture, Managing Director, Global 5G Offering Lead

  • Combining 5G and AI to develop killer apps

    • Paul McLachlan, Ph.D., Head of Data Science (San Francisco), Ericsson’s Global Artificial Intelligence Accelerator

  • More featured presentations including 5G Securities (A10 Networks) and more.

  • Panel Discussions

  • Raffle

NATEA Website: http://www.natea.org/

NATEA LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13521738

NATEA Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/416690628715682/

NATEA Annual UTHF Tech Conference: https://UTHF.org

Screening: Lost Black Cats – 35th Squadron Movie

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「導演楊佈新耗費六年、走訪美中台三地而完成的紀錄片《疾風魅影─黑貓中隊》，聚焦於台美合作的「快刀計畫」中一支重要且神秘的隊伍——「黑貓中隊」，前空軍35中隊。

It took Director Johnathon six years and numerous traveling between China, Taiwan, and US to finish the documentary film “Lost Black Cats – 35th Squadron”. The spotlight focuses on Taiwan-US collaborative “Project Razor” and one secretive yet significant squadron – Black Cats, former 35th squardron airforce.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Cat_Squadron

影片顯見的看點，絕對能滿足軍事武器迷和歷史迷，如其揭露的絕密的任務、頂尖的飛行員、U－2高空偵察機這台號稱世界上最難駕馭的機種之一⋯⋯。另一個看點則是它所包含的傷口——飛行員可能在訓練時死亡；熬過訓練之後，可能因對空導彈殉職或被俘虜——電影的簡筆敷蓋處理，進而產生令人不安的空缺。更有甚者，作為一部圍繞國共爭鬥為起始的紀錄片，其本身連動的議題，不管是顯而易見或隱而未宣的部份，都對台灣觀眾具可看性。

Fulfilled with highlights in the film, ensuring satisfying viewing for military weapon fans and history enthusiastic, it entails declassified secretive missions, top aviators, and U-2 spy plane, one of the most difficult plane to master. Another highlight is the wounds and sorrow it bears — Aviators risked their lives during training (nearly 10 deaths); after training, they could be captured could die by missile strikes. The unsettling void created by the simplistic touch revealing wounds enlarges itself. On top of it, as a documentary film spinning on KMT-Communist civil war, the issues evolving around it, be it plain obvious or well hidden, are of high significance to viewers caring about Taiwan.

「中共是敵人嗎？到中國出任務會覺得像回家嗎？」當成員被問及於此，進而觸碰兩岸關係；答案幾乎沒有懸念，「是敵人」。那時，身在軍隊，如此對峙，一切必須分明。那現在呢？話沒有問出口。有家人在中國的，已經可以頻繁往來；所忠於的政黨，恰有與從前相反的政見；世界離開得很快，是否自己被留在原地？明知故問的事是個錨點，停在受訪者剛好在軍隊，出了任務，想要活下來的這個時候。歷經俘虜二十年，被釋放之後卻無法回國，論及被拒絕的原因，他們則歸因為：因為蔣介石更秉持著軍人該「不成功便成仁」的態度。不得歸來的1982年，是「先總統」的軍魂遺毒？還是即便時移境遷，自己仍被留在那個60年代的怨？敵人若不再是敵人，那背叛你的國家呢？」 ～放映週報，焦點影評

“Is Communist China enemy? Do you feel like you are going back home on the spy mission to China?” When asked these questions, further touching cross strait relations, they answered without any hesitation: they are enemy! Then, enlisted in the army, which side you are fighting for is deadly clear. How about now? There is no answer to such question. For those who still get family in mainland China, they can visit each other and interact with each other frequently and easily. The party they fought with their lives for is acting with an opposite stand than before. The whole world moves on to the next game rapidly and they wonder if they are the only ones left behind and stuck in the past. The anchor point dwells within the quadrant where the interviewers went on missions for the army, trying to survive in any way possible, and yet after being captured for 20 years, they could not go back to the country who asked them to risk their lives. They think the reason being the attitude from Kai-shek Chiang goes as “If you fail a mission you should not have come back alive” The 1982 they cannot go back to their country, is it the remaining toxin from the “former great leader”, or is it the hatred with whole world moving forward, they are still left stuck in 1960? When enemy is no longer viewed as enemy, what says you on the country that turns its back on you?

*本活動支持NY4HK活動，於放映座談結束後， 會邀請香港朋友來花十五分鐘分享他們的行動與理念。

The event runs by a studio/group supporting NY4HK. After the showing and director discussion with audience, our HK friends will have the stage to pitch their activity and voice to us.

TAP NY: 15th Annual Mets Taiwan Day

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Come join TAP-NY as the NY Mets host the 15th Annual Taiwan Day at the Mets stadium for an exciting game with the Mets playing the Phillies!

Taiwanese comedian, social worker and Youtuber Tsai Aga will be throwing the honorary first pitch.

If you would like to support and donate to Taiwan-based charities, please visit https://give2asia.org/fund/?fwp_location=taiwan, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to look through different projects.

Grab your tickets soon before they fill up! The deadline to purchase tickets will be August 31st. For any additional information, please e-mail Harrison Wang at Harrison.wang@tap-ny.org.

2019 Taiwan Film Festival (Boston)

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The first Taiwanese Film Festival of Boston will be inaugurated on May 26th and 27th. The Festival welcomes six newly independent Taiwanese documentaries to the Boston. Please join us and explore the richness of Taiwan.

*May 27th is Memorial Holiday

Host organization: Taiwan Film Festival of Boston

Co-host organizations: TCCNE, TAA, NEACP, NE Hakka, MITROCSA, HTSA

Ticket Information

  1. Early bird: 1-Day pass $24; 2-Day pass $40 (sale ends on 4/30)
  2. Regular: 1-Day pass $30; 2-Day pass $50
  3. Group tickets: for party with 20 people or more, contact us for more detail (taiwanfilmfestival.boston@gmail.com)
  • Free for kids under 6. Please indicate the number of children under 6 while registering
  • Day pass is only valid on the indicated date
  • The ticket is non-refundable
  • There is no seat assignment, but we will have enough seats for all ticket holders
  • No door purchase ticket. Must purchase in advance