La Isla Formosa: Celebrating Taiwan!
18 Nov
Tiac/蟻 男 @Flickr
Well, it’s getting colder here in Kimchi Land and that means the year is almost out. I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t give a shout out to my former home of Taiwan to celebrate their hundredth year of existence. Currently, I live in South Korea and I love it. Even though I might feel frustrated sometimes and miss my family and friends in the US, I do truly love my life in Korea. That said, there was a time when I had little to no interest in Korea and it’s people/culture. So when I first left the USA I decided to live in Taiwan (ROC). A country that is still considered by many to be a part of China (PROC), but it only takes a few moments in Taiwan to realize it is definitely not China. Sure they both speak Mandarin and come from a similar background but the vibe of Taiwan is all its own. I asked my friend and fellow blogger Rhonda Mix from Bamboo Butterfly to help me out in celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the Republic of China. Here’s what she had to say:
On October 10, 2011, Taiwan celebrated the 100th anniversary of the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, which led to the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC). The Taiwanese government declares the anniversary of this event a National Celebration, and the holiday is often referred to as Double Ten Day. The Republic of China, fleeing imperialism, relocated to Taiwan in 1949.
Taiwan has become one of the Four Asian Tigers, a title also given to Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea due to rapid industrialization and economic growth from the 1960′s to the present. The country is a world leader in manufacturing information technology (over 80% of the world’s notebook computers are made in Taiwan) and serves as a role model for aspiring developing nations.
Though the last 100 years have brought great changes to the nation, the courage and strength existed for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years within the souls of the Taiwan’s aboriginal people who inhabited the island long before the ROC set up shop. Through the years the inhabitants of Taiwan have fended off Dutch, Japanese, and Chinese dictatorship.
Taiwan has unfortunately, yet to be admitted into the United Nations and still viewed by many as a province of China, even though over 122 countries have business deals/ties with the country.
- Taiwanese aboriginal dance
Taiwan has plenty to be proud about and the aboriginal people of Taiwan faced persecution long before the immigrants from China came into the picture. A spirit of perseverance pressed on through the years and with the establishment of the ROC on the island, the country became more determined than ever to claim its rightful place in the world. Hopefully, one day, the world in turn recognizes Taiwan as its own independent nation, separate from China.
For more from Rhonda check out the following links:
and now a few images to get your travel lust going:
TAIWAN UP!
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