Foot Massage in my memory

My initial impression of foot massage was from one of my relatives whose occupation was a massage therapist. He owned a store with black glasses which blocked light from outside. Thus, I always thought massage was conducted in a dark environment, which aroused my fear without doubt. I received foot massage once from him. During the whole procedure, I felt pain all over in my foot. I even felt pain after the massage was finished. And the relative started to say that my liver was poor, my digesting system was weak, and my body needed more nutrition, which later became a guide for my parents to improve my body condition. They picked Chinese herbs which were said to improve my health status. At that time, I really thought that foot massage was a way to punish people. How could people feel relaxed after foot massage!!?? I couldn’t understand.
Later, I memory about foot massage was connected with a blind singer, Bing-hui Li. He became famous because of his song “wandering to Danshui”. Many TV programs invited him to share his career as an impaired-massure. That was how I knew about an impaired-massure’s life was like. My impression toward this occupation was blind people, low-income, and difficult. They had to rely on other people who took them to their working place.
Now, my impression toward foot massage is associated with bright and clear parlors along the street, which is very different from the past one. I still feel very amazed when watching at the new type of store for foot massage. Different from the dark room which aroused my fear, this new decoration really eases my nervousness toward foot massage. However, now I still cannot gather my courage to give it a try. I still can vividly remember the pain I felt in my childhood. I may try again when my life style becomes more healthier.

SharonZheng

Face (Mianzi)

Face (Mianzi)
People in Taiwan care a lot about their dignity, in other words, they care a lot about their faces (Mianzi). Most of the Taiwanese tend to would pop their faces (mianzi) in front of others. The main reason why people do such kind of thing is they want to earn others’ respect and higher social status.

On the contrary, if you make people lose their faces (mianzi) in public by revealing their secrets or something they don’t want others know, people would think of you as a rude person because you insult this person to some degree.

In order to keep their mianzi, people usually only share something positive with others during the chatting, conversation, or interaction with others in public.
For instance, if a man lost all of his belongings, in order to save his mianzi, this man might simply act as if there was nothing happened to him.

Saving mianzi doesn’t only happen to men, women also do similar things. For example, when Taiwanese women encounter some thing bad such as domestic violence, rape, or conflict with their husbands, most of Taiwanese women would choose to remain silent instead of asking help from others. The reason why these women do not reveal the negative sides of their lives is they want to save their mianzi so that the society won’t treat or see them with special attitude.

In short, in Taiwan society, you need to save face (mianzi) not only for yourself but also for the ones that you interact with. In this way, you can show your respect to others and earn others’ respect at the same time.

The proud of Taiwan? - Tzuchi

On March 11th we watched a series of video clips made by a group of Taiwanese students introducing Taiwan. I appreciated the hard work on gathering so many fabulous pictures and I did like the video very much because it reminds me how beautiful the island is. However, there is one point mentioned in the clip that I don’t really agree with. Here I want to share my idea with you guys.

In the “famous people/thing” part of the clip, they mentioned Tzuchi (慈濟), the most famous foundation and charity from Taiwan. As we all know, Tzuchi was established by the Dharma Master Cheng Yen in 1966, mainly dedicate themselves to education, medicine and humanistic culture. Of course, we Taiwanese are all very proud that we have such a charitable organization. But after I read the article from the journalist Hu muqing (胡慕情), I don’t really think that Tzuchi deserved such praise from Taiwan and other countries.

Here is the article. http://gaea-choas.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-post_8012.html【災後半年】慈善有界線

As we all know, after the catastrophe on August 8 in 2009, Taiwan government and Tzuchi help the victims to rebuild their home. The most controversial part of the rebuilding is the “temporary residence” or “eternal home.” The local residents are mainly separated into two parts: the ones who want to stay at the shelter or the temporary residence, and the ones who want to go back to their shabby hometown. Doubtlessly we should respect their choices. Hence it is the government and Tzuchi's responsibility to fulfill their needs and help them to get back on their feet.

However, Tzuchi use their great love and mercy as a disguise, but in fact intruding the locals’ life. Tzuchi helps the local to rebuild their home and at the same time adds some “Tzuchi” flavor to their house: the big rocks with description to remind the broken-hearted locals of how the tragedies happen to their family members, roads named by Tzuchi, and disturbing the locals’ religious beliefs.

Of course Tzuchi is helping out of good will, but we have to make sure there’s a boundary between helping and invasion. Also, we Taiwanese should rethink whether Tzuchi is really Taiwan’s proud.

Judy Chou, Eng dept. FJU

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2010.03.24 AM 00:50
I found an nice article talking about what Tzuchi have done.
慈濟的愛，不如一碗白飯
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/Bernstein/15990229

Guanxi “關係”

In regard to the discussion about the term, guanxi, in our textbook, I have a complex feeling towards the phenomenon that the social network of Taiwanese people is based on guanxi, which is a kind of relationship Taiwanese people share with other people around them or in their lives. As mentioned in class, if I establish a guanxi with a vender owner; in other word, I become a frequent patron, I may be treated some additional service which needs no payment for. This kind of guanxi can be extended to my friends if I introduce them to the vender owner. They possibly have the same service like I receive from the owner.

As a Taiwanese person, I don’t find this social network between people complex. We can benefit people around us and receive some assistance from people whom we share guanxi with. Sometimes, when I am in need of help which my parents cannot offer, they ask for their friends who can help. And they help me without asking for any repay at that moment. Once we use guanxi to ask other to help us, we are expected to repay when being asked for help in the future, which is considered as obligation and etiquette of asking for favor. This guanxi system really makes me feel warm in heart. The practice of guanxi can be seen everywhere. That is a part of our lives.

However, sometimes I do find this system troublesome. I will feel unfair if someone uses guanxi to win a position in job instead of using his or her ability. Though feeling so, I won’t complain too much because I live in this society. Besides, everyone may do that. That is the way our society goes.


Sharon zheng

Orientation

This is a blog for students of Fu Jen Catholic University, who have taken the course Chinese Culture in Foreign Language-English, to reflect and express themselves about what they've learned and obtained in or outside the class.

The basic requirement of the blogging for the course is to post at least 8 articles.

We are group number 2. The group members are Judy Chou, Sharon Zheng, Ann Chang, and Ayai Kojima.