Getting to Know the Sunflower Generation

A Fulbright Year Learning from Taiwan's Youth

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Coronavirus: Am I Worried?

I’ve had many communications from friends and family asking about the coronavirus situation here in Taiwan. It’s true that we’re right next to China, which is the point of origin and (so far) the epicenter of the global outbreak. Nonetheless, I feel as safe here as I would in the US. Read on for more about how COVID-19 has affected my Fulbright year so far, and why I’m not worried. Or, not very worried, anyway.

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Tiles: Art and History

These beautiful tiles are a traditional Taiwanese decorative art. During the colonial era (1895-1945) they were imported from Japan. Now they’re made in Taiwan. Their construction is impressive: both the textured surfaces and the brilliant colors can last for over a hundred years. The patterns all have symbolic meanings. My friend Annie studies the meaning of flowers in literature so I chose a few flower designs to explore the symbolism.

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Preserving Taiwan’s Past: Military Housing for Americans and Chinese

In 1945, Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Chinese government took over Taiwan from the Japanese colonial government that had ruled since 1895. In 1949 the Nationalists lost a civil war with the Communists, and they moved their government and military to Taiwan. Something like two million Chinese, mostly soldiers, administrators, and their dependents, moved to Taiwan in those four years.

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The Weirdly-Emotional Experience of Watching Taiwanese People Counting Votes

It hardly seems like the sort of thing to make grown men cry: Taiwanese people counting votes by hand. But I saw it happen to one of my colleagues on election night. I also had a first-hand report from another friend who found himself tearing up at the sight. And I get teary, too, every time I see it. Here’s why: Taiwanese vote counting is a beautiful ritual that goes right to the heart of what democracy means.

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Election Watching with Beyonce

On January 11, Taiwan held presidential and legislative elections. The incumbent president, Tsai Ing-wen, was reelected, and her party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) held onto its majority in the legislature. In the days before and shortly after the election I linked up with a group of fellow Taiwan-watchers to see how the candidates were campaigning and to better understand what the elections meant to Taiwan and the US.

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