Lunar New Year recently passed, and I wanted to share with the world how profoundly meaningful it was to a significant portion of the world population. It is more than just a vacation, and with roots going back thousands of years, there are many interesting and colorful traditions involved. It is a time for families to have a reunion, no matter where they are or how busy their lives are, to pay respects to the foundation of family. It is an auspicious time to share blessings and attract more good fortune. Reading through the essays from my students, I learned quite a bit.

Here is a summary:

1) The Lunar New Year begins on the first day of the lunar calendar, which is different the the Roman calendar used by most of the world. Because it coincides with the moon cycles, the holiday falls on a different day each year, usually at the end of January or beginning of February.

2) There are 14 days of this holiday, beginning with the New Year’s Day and concluding with the Lantern Festivals. The days in between has some significance and different customs. The students and businesses usually get a week or two weeks off.

3) Some of the customs of Lunar New Year trace their origins thousands of years to a folk tale of a monster named “Nien.” He terrorized villages, eating livestock and people. An old, wise man saved the day when he discovered that Nien was afraid of loud noises and the color red. Since then, people have pasted red on their homes, and set off firecrackers.

4) Before the Lunar New Year’s Day, people work tirelessly to clean their homes, sweeping out all of the bad luck of the prior year. People also go shopping for new clothes, and food for the reunion feasts.

5) On Lunar New Year’s Eve, the family joins together for a “Reunion” Feast. There is much significance and meanings behind the many foods they eat during this meal. They sit around a round table, with the circle symbolizing “eternal wholeness.” They catch up on the lives of the relatives, many of whom they haven’t seen for a year. Family bonds are strengthened by these annual gatherings.

6) Children stay up as late as they can after midnight Lunar New Year’s Day as a tradition to bless their parents with long life. The later they can stay up, the longer their parents will live.

7) The elder members of the family give red envelopes with money inside to bless the children and young family members who can not yet earn an income. The children often sleep with the red envelopes under their pillows to become blessed for the year. They often have to return most, if not all, of the money to their own parents to save it for them, and to pay for school expenses.

8 ) On the first day of the new year, families often go to the temples to pray for good luck and to honor their ancestors. Many temples have races, giving prizes to people who are the first to place a lighted incense stick into the main urn. It is often a dangerous custom, with many people running, shoving and pushing to be first.

9) On the second day of the new year, married women return to their own parents’ homes to have a family reunion. There is more feasting and bonding.

10) The few days after this, many families take advantage of the time off to go on short vacations. It is usually the busiest and most expensive time to travel in Asia.

11) On the 14th day of the new year, the Lantern Festival takes center stage. There are many beautiful lanterns on display in Taiwan, and the national festival this year was held in Miaoli. Also, during this time, people can write blessings on sky lanterns, and let them drift up into the night sky to reach the heavens. It is a beautiful site to see hundreds or thousands of these shining lanterns floats gently into the sky.

At Kang Ming Senior High in Sigang, Tainan, Taiwan, students competed in an English Essay Contest on Lunar New Year to share their experiences with the rest of the world. The top essay was written by Erica in 11th grade.

This is her essay:

When a foreigner walks down the street during Lunar New Year, they witness people celebrating and truly satisfied because of the “Lunar New Year” holiday. They may hear the firecrackers and see the couplets on the walls, but what they might not comprehend is the true spirit that lies behind these material things and why Lunar New Year is important to me and all Taiwanese people.

Foreigners see the couplets without understanding them. The written words are not only auspicious, but also have rhetorical flavor. One particular thing about couplets is that some single letters are put upside-down. The word “upside-down” has similar pronunciation as “coming here” in Chinese. Thus, couplets represent good fortune is going to “come here.”

The giving of red envelopes is another distinguished tradition. The fiery red envelopes with perfumed fragrances generate smiling faces on every child. Red envelopes are given out to children by elders in the family, as a token of good luck for the new year.

Everyone, regardless of where they are, returns home. It is a time I can avoid stress and enjoy the harmonious atmosphere. My family and I always gather together for a dinner on New Year Eve. The centerpiece of the dinner is usually a hot pot. We take our seats around the Chinese round table, and share something intriguing stories along with wishes for the new year. It gives me power to work harder the upcoming year. To me, it is a time I can regain a balance between schoolwork and leisure. Every one feels warm not only because of the simmering soup in the hot pot, but also out of the concern of the whole family.

The Lunar New Year marks a conclusion of one year, and gives us a fresh start. My parents always tell me to introspect over the last year. It is an opportunity to abandon our bad habits and turn over a new leaf.

I still remember my grandfather telling me, “Taiwan used to be an agricultural society, and everything is provided by the land. Lunar New Year is a chance to show your gratitude, and the spirit of nation is passed down through this holiday. You must bear in mind and embrace these virtues even in the modern times.”

After hearing this, Lunar New Year became even more significant to me. It holds for me my wishes, family expectations, and the inheritance of culture.

“Lunar New Year,” with all of its wonderful tradition, helps us remember the past while anticipating the future. It ushers me, and all of Taiwan together, into a brand new year with all these cherished customs and hopes.

You can read the essays from more students and learn from individual experiences and customs.

Click for student essays from 10th graders at Kang Ming Senior High in Taiwan.

Click for student essays from 11th graders at Kang Ming Senior High in Taiwan.

On Saturday, March 5, 2011, Freddy Lim addressed the crowd of young people at his concert in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. He was somber, and at times angry. He paid homage to the five prisoners killed by Taiwan's Justice Ministry on Friday evening. The resumption of capital punishment in Taiwan has been seen as controversial and has been criticized by the international community.

There are many reasons why the resumption of the death penalty has been especially poignant in Taiwan, as Freddy Lim explains, "The main issue is that every legal system has the ability to make mistakes, and when a prisoner is killed, there is no opportunity to fix the mistake. Taiwan historically has lost many innocent souls to a politically-oriented justice system, and the scars of the past have not healed."

Freddy Lim, the vocalist of the popular metal band Chthonic is no stranger to expressing his outrage over political and human rights issues. When he isn't rocking the crowd at a concert somewhere in the world, he is meeting international human rights leaders, or speaking to a group of young people about the importance of speaking out about one's rights. Freddy's no-fear attitude has earned him the position of being the chairman of Amnesty International in Taiwan and leader of other organizations.

Wherever he goes, he is an advocate that raises awareness about Taiwan, human rights issues, and indigenous rights issues. When asked why he chose to be an advocate aside from his music career, he said, "Life is short, and there is too little time to cheat myself out of having the opportunity to make a difference."

After completing their concert at the 2011 MeGaPort Music Festival in Kaohsiung, Taiwan Freddy and Chthonic prepared for their next concert in London. Chthonic is a metal band from Taiwan known for their meaningful and high-energy messages derived from Taiwanese folklore and indigenous stories. Their songs teach their fans about history and social justice, as well as entertain them with intensity.

One of the great aspects of living and working in Taiwan is discovering the unexpected, and during one of our weekend family trips near our home, we discovered a 2,500-year-old culture. It was yet another great opportunity for our children to learn firsthand, something unique and interesting.

While driving through one of the largest high-tech industrial parks in Asia, taking in the gleaming glass office buildings and cavernous assembly plants, we expected to see why Taiwan is the largest exporter of LCD technology in the world. But instead, we discovered an archaeological site where we could walk in the same footsteps that the indigenous people of Taiwan had left 2,500 years earlier.

Apparently, while excavating an expansive lot for a new manufacturing complex, workers had to dig pretty deep, and uncovered shards of pottery and bones. Scholars were called in, and it was quickly determined by carbon dating and by studying the geology, that they had just begun to uncover an entire village that was 2,500 years old. This was an opportunity, not just to see artifacts, but to study an entire lifestyle of indigenous Taiwanese families during the Neolithic Age of Taiwan.

There are over 1,000 archaeological sites throughout the island of Taiwan, some of them dating as far back as 15,000 years. People in Taiwan can visit theNational Museum of Prehistory in Taitung to understand the earliest history of Taiwan, but nothing could beat the immersive experience our children were about to have. As luck would have it, the archaeological site in Nanke was open to the public for only two days (March 19 & 26), before being closed for further excavation. The village and its content were going to be moved to museums for permanent display.

As we walked down through the grounds, volunteers were stationed at different areas to educate us on different aspects of prehistoric life, and to make sure the artifacts were not disturbed. The first volunteer described the geology and topography of the site, explaining how the active geological forces of Taiwan pushed up the area, so that it wasn’t so deep and inaccessible. He also explained that what was found was a village between two streams in an area rich in food, not far from the coastline. The people lived on fish, shellfish, farming, and hunting native animals, like boar and deer. We inspected vases and bowls that once held grain for the villagers. We walked to an area where houses one stood built on top of wooden posts. We could see what the people ate at the village dump site, where they left shellfish, oysters, and animal bones.

The most striking features available for our observation were the burial sites. We saw skeletons of adults, children, and even an infant. Pots filled with grain were buried next to the bodies to provide them food for the afterlife. The volunteer guides explained to us what we could learn about the people by studying the burial sites. In one site, we learned that a married woman was buried next to a baby. We learned she was likely married, because she was missing one of her canine teeth. In the indigenous cultures of Taiwan at the time, women chose who they were going to marry. Instead of giving a ring, they extracted (painfully) their canine tooth and gave it to the man they wanted to marry. Also buried in her gravesite was a weaving tool, so it was probable she was a skilled weaver in the village. It was amazing to learn how much could be ascertained about a people’s lifestyle 2,500 years ago, but it was all possible by paying attention to the details.

After our quasi-guided tour of the site, we returned to an area where booths were set up to teach children (and curious adults) about prehistoric life in Taiwan. There were many interactive areas, where children were encourage to try the ancient tools and methods. My sons learned about what people ate, how clothes were made (from tree bark), and what tools were used. It was amazing how much the people could do when there was little technology available. In the shadows of a modern computer chip assembly plant, the archaeological site provided a stark contrast between the Taiwanese culture of then and now. Perhaps it was also a revelation that the ingenuity and resourcefulness of people on the island of Taiwan will always be timeless and ageless.

Steve Coolidge, a young man with a mission, is embarking on the walk of his lifetime, with the first step beginning at Virginia Beach, VA, and his last step ending in the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, CA. The journey of 3,000 miles and about a billion steps fulfills a dream of Mr. Coolidge, and it is also meant to inspire people to take a few extra steps in their lives to contribute to the needs of many victims in Joplin, MO.

Steve is being followed and supported by the Katrina's Angels volunteer network, and Steve, in turn, is encouraging those who wish to make a difference for people in Joplin to do so through Katrina's Angels (http://www.katrinasangels.org). They are a completely volunteer organization with an impressive track record of providing assistance to survivors of natural disaster since Hurricane Katrina years ago. That means 100% of all donations goes directly to victims.

Steve Coolidge will make an emotional stop in Joplin, MO, to see for himself the devastating force of Mother Nature and witness the strength of the human spirit.

Mr. Coolidge is currently on his way to Virginia Beach by bus from his home town of Austin, TX, and is scheduled to arrive on Sunday, May 29. His walk will begin on Monday, May 30.

Many are praying for Steve's safe journey and wish him the strength and courage to overcome the greatest challenge of his young life. People can follow Steve on his Facebook Group, Walking 4 Wishes, or on his blog site (http://www.walking4wishes.com).

You’re walking on a glittering beach, looking for seashells, while a lone surfer rides the waves in the distance. You see the tracks of giant sea turtles on the sand. Glancing towards the East, you are charmed by the deep hues of blue sea topped by clear, azure skies. The sound of tribal drum beats beckons you to gaze towards the west, where you see a group of indigenous people celebrating life on the beach, where they have been doing so for hundreds of years. Behind them is a backdrop of awe-inspiring mountains and cliff sides that provides a stark contrast to the sea.

No, you’re not on Fiji, Tahiti, or Hawaii. You are in East Asia’s last remaining paradise… Taitung.

Taitung County is located in the Southeast corner of the island. Because it is the least-populated county on the island, it is also the least-developed. This means that this area is the last place people can visit in Taiwan to experience nature flourishing in an unspoiled semi-tropical environment.

No one understands and appreciates the value that the natural environment brings to the area than the indigenous local population. Taitung is a melting pot of peoples from most of the 14 official indigenous tribes of Taiwan, and the indigenous peoples make up the majority of the area’s population. Leaders and activist in the area are currently leading efforts to block developments that are destroying the natural environment. The building projects, which are occurring without environmental impact studies, and in some cases, without proper building permits, have the real potential of destroying the rare coral reefs, local wildlife, and sea life, some species of which are found nowhere else in the world.

With the increase of tourists to the area from mainland China, the interest in development on the beaches has increased. The local people are not against development, because jobs are welcome. But what they want is for development to be done with their consultation, to ensure responsible planning and reduced environmental impact. They also don’t want people to be shut out of the beaches, which have been the community gathering places for the local tribes for hundreds of years.

Ideally, the local people would like their native homelands to be a haven for eco-tourism and cultural tourism, which the area is well-suited for. People throughout Taiwan, including all ethnic groups and foreigners have joined in peaceful rallies and demonstrations on the beach to attract attention to the cause. They want to save Taiwan’s last paradise, which is likely the last unspoiled paradise in all of Eastern Asia. Even more troubling, a planned dump site for nuclear waste in the southern part of the county near Daren is threatening the grandeur and future potential for Taitung.

Aside from its natural assets, Taitung County has much cultural value to offer visitors. Taitung City is the capital city and the administrative center for the County. It is like other small cities in Taiwan, with schools, department stores, Starbucks, and night markets. There is a different local atmosphere that is colored by the many indigenous peoples in the area. You can find many restaurants selling indigenous cuisine and shops selling indigenous clothing and crafts. Located in Taitung City is Taiwan’s National Museum of Prehistory. In the museum, people can view ancient artifacts from tribal people who inhabited the island thousands of years ago. More importantly, visitors can discover and understand Taiwan’s cultural importance in the world and their link to the Austronesian cultures worldwide. Many people have moved to Taitung City to enjoy a healthier slow-paced lifestyle in a cleaner environment.

Highway 11 is the main highway connecting Taitung City with the rest of the county north and south. Going south, the highway winds around curves on top of the mountainous cliffs along the sea. The views are gorgeous, and there are many kilometers of uninhabited beaches all the way to Daren in the south. The only civilization you will find along the 50 kilometers between Taitung City and Daren are a few lonely fishing villages.

Driving north on Highway 11 from Taitung City, you will pass many natural and cultural attractions along the coast. One of the first attractions you will see is Shiauyeliou. It has some of the most interesting geological formations you will find in the world, coming from a combination of wind and water erosion.

About 10 km north of Taitung City is the sleepy town of Dulan, in the Donghe Township. Dulan has a strong arts community, attracting artists and musicians to reside in an affordable and beautiful setting. Dulan is where tourists go to see Water Running Up, a walking path alongside a small stream that appears to be running uphill. You can also visit Dulan Site, an archaeological site with stone tombs dating to 3,000 years ago.

Driving north on Highway 11 from Dulan, you will find Duli in the Chenggong Township. Visiting the East Coast National Scenic Area Administration there is worth your time. The office, and cultural center are nestled in beautiful parkland between the ocean and mountains. On the grounds of this park is the Amis Indigenous Cultural Arts Center, where visitors can visit traditional houses, and watch traditional performances of music and dance from the Amis tribe.

Further up the coast is Chenggong, a large town that is a notable fishing port. While in town, check out the fishing docks, especially after the boats return from sea with its harvest, and try the fresh, inexpensive seafood. Also, check out the National Aquarium, where you can see many varieties of clown fish, and the only giant white dragon moray eel in captivity in the world.

Just north of Chenggong is another remarkable, must-see site, the bridge to Sanshiantai Island. The famous bridge, with 8 arches, is surrounded by a lush nature preserve. The walk through the preserve, alone, is worth the visit, but one can also enjoy the pebble beach, and after a long walk over the bridge, you can explore the uninhabited Sanshiantai Island.

In the north end of Taitung County is the pleasant little town of Changbin. We found a surprisingly affordable air-conditioned hotel room with 4 beds, bathroom with a bath tub, a television and refrigerator for only NT1,200 (US$40) per night. After a good night’s sleep, we had the energy to explore new sites. We began by exploring the Basian Caves, just outside of Changbin. These natural caves are home to the Eight Immortals. In each of eight caves, visitors can see temples, with monks residing within. It is quite the hike up the cliffside to see all eight of the dieties in their caves.

It took four days to visit many of the noteworthy sites along the coast of Taitung County, and to fall in love with the area. There was so much that we didn’t see, but what we did gain was greater appreciation for Taiwan and we understood what the locals have been trying hard to protect.

The eight arches of the Sansiantai bridge connect the uninhabited Sansiantai Island to Taiwan's Taitung County, one of the last remaining unspoiled paradises on earth. The area provides many wonders of nature for young and old to explore.

On Tuesday, January 24, 2012, the final Academy Award nominees were released out of Hollywood. Notably missing from the final five nominees for the Foreign Language Film category was Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale. During the previous week, the movie’s director, Wei Te-Sheng, had high hopes of achieving official recognition on the movie industry’s most glamorous stage. That level of international recognition would have been a bonafide breakthrough for a Taiwanese film, although having a film that made it on the short list of nine Academy Award nominees as the only representative in East Asia was an honor in itself.

Mr. Wei had already broken the benchmarks for the Taiwanese film industry, directing Cape No. 7 in 2008, a romantic comedy that became the highest-grossing Taiwanese film ever, earning over US $13,800,000 since its release. In 2009, Wei Te-Sheng began production on Seediq Bale, armed with the largest budget (US $25 million) in Taiwanese filmmaking history. The film, which screened in two parts, The Flag of Sun and The Bridge of Rainbow in the Fall of 2011, did well in the Taiwanese box office, but has yet to break even financially. Despite the financial challenges of recovering its investment, the Seediq Bale team has been focused on efforts expand the value of the film. In November 2011, Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale won the 48th Golden Horse Award for the Best Film category. The Golden Horse Awards are considered one of the top honors available to Chinese-language films. The release of the DVD is scheduled for March 2012, and will be instrumental in allowing the film to achieve profitability.

Because the market in Taiwan is limited in size, Mr. Wei and the Seediq Bale Team has turned their attention and efforts overseas, which has paid dividends in the form of reviews in the foreign media and a premier screening of the re-edited combined film, Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale, at the Venice Film Festival. This exposure in Europe led to distribution deals signed with Optimum Distribution in the UK and ICO/BAC in France. WellGo USA Entertainment has signed a deal for distribution in the United States, where there are limited theater screenings already organized for early 2012.

As a groundbreaker, Wei Te-Sheng has been traveling and working hard on promotional efforts, in order to ensure that the benchmarks for future Taiwanese films can continue to grow. In the process of ‘taking care of business’ for the film, Mr. Wei and his team continue to push the boundaries and increase the prestige of Taiwan’s film industry throughout the world. As for the Academy Awards, Wei Te-Sheng’s work fell short, but the expectations of his fans for future opportunities at the Oscars continue to rise.

A ceremony at a construction site in Tainan Metropolitan Park (台南都會公園) marked a significant step in the realization of a dream. The dream began with the aspirations of Wen-long Hsu (許文龍), founder of Chimei Industrial Group (奇美實業集團), to provide free access to fine art and culture from around the world to ordinary citizens in Taiwan. The dream will be complete when construction of the new Chimei Museum (奇美博物館) is complete sometime in August 2012, and when the doors open to the public in December. In preparation for its eventual opening, Chimei’s Founder Hsu and current Chairman Frank Liao (廖錦祥) presided over a ceremonial donation of the museum building worth NT1.3 billion (US$43.88 million), which is built on city land. Accepting the museum building for Tainan City was Mayor Ching-de Lai (賴清德). The Chimei executives presented the mayor with a painting and unveiled a golden statue titled “Angel of Glory,” which will be housed on top of the main dome of the museum.

The new Chimei Museum will be a major attraction for culture in Tainan, a city already known as the center of culture in Taiwan. It will have 40,000 square meters of floor space, and its manicured grounds will cover 9.5 hectares. There will be nothing quite like the building in Taiwan when it is complete, as it will resemble the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, but only slightly smaller.

The new museum will replace the current Chimei Museum, which currently occupies the 5th through 8th floors of the Chimei Headquarters Building in Tainan City. The current museum houses an impressive display of Western art and culture, with one of the most outstanding collections being the over 1000 celebrated stringed instruments, many of which are priceless. Since 1990, the collection of violins has been made available to famous musicians for special performances. Expansion is necessitated because the current facilities cannot house the current collections of over 10,000 pieces, and its limited size restricts access to people who make appointments only. Mr. Hsu believes in unrestricted public access, so he initiated the idea of a permanent museum in 2005. The approach of the new museum will be redesigned to make the displays easier to understand and appreciate by the masses.

Mr. Wen-long Hsu is an amateur violinist and avid art lover who, early on in his successful career, believed in giving back to society and providing cultural enrichment to the masses. In 1977, he established the Chimei Cultural Foundation, which supported the Chimei Museum and other cultural projects in Taiwan. His diligence and decisions made Chimei one of the largest companies in the world, and has placed him on the Forbes’ World’s Richest People list. His commitment to giving back and enriching the lives of human beings through art and culture will certainly provide a lasting legacy.

As an American journalist living in Taiwan for the past 6 years, I have enjoyed the fruits of living on this diverse island, but its people have been struggling to recover economically after the global financial crisis of 2007-2008. Before that, Taiwanese people were recovering from another drain on their economy caused by the steady flight of manufacturing jobs from Taiwanese companies moving their manufacturing to China since before 2000. During that time, along with the flight of companies and skilled labor to China, Taiwan also lost access to foreign investment capital and international markets.

There have been some promising signs of future recovery, however. According to a November 16, 2014 article in the South China Morning Post, Taiwanese manufacturers are beginning to move their operations back to Taiwan. Even though mainland China workers earn a minimum of US $2,472 per year, compared to a minimum of US $8,481 per year for Taiwanese workers, growing risks in the Chinese business environment and benefits of the Taiwanese marketplace are attracting more companies to return. Taiwan has added 89,000 new jobs since 2006.

The signs are positive, although the recovery has been slower than expected. Expectations were set high by the promises of President Ma's governing administration (2008-present). The ruling Koumingtang (KMT) Party touted liberalization of economic activity with China, which they promised would result in more jobs and increased prosperity for Taiwanese people. After 6 1/2 years of governance by the KMT administration, Taiwan's economy saw some improvement, but the results fell well short of expectations, and the citizens expressed their disappointment during the local Taiwanese elections of November 29, 2014. The ruling KMT Party lost leadership positions in unprecedented fashion. Many people believed the KMT losses were a result of slow economic growth, dissatisfaction with the growing disparity between the income classes during the past six years, and they questioned the legislation and negotiation methods of the trade and service agreements with with Beijing.

President Ma Ying-jeou's cabinet, and Prime Minister Jiang Yi-huah resigned from their posts, and President Ma also resigned as Chair of the Kuomingtang Party, stating that the KMT had failed to reform Taiwan quickly enough to meet the public's expectations. The people have spoken through their votes, and new leaders from the "Green Camp" (Democratic Progressive Party and other Independent Parties) prepare for the upcoming Presidential election in Spring 2016. It is an exciting time for the new leadership, but they have the challenging task of finding solutions to give people the change and improvements they are looking for.

I know thousands of people in Taiwan, and most of them feel very insecure and uncertain about Taiwan's future. This past year, over 100,000 recent college graduates could not find a job. I can sympathize with the many parents who invested their savings to educate their children only to find no sign of hope for employment. As a journalist and business entrepreneur residing in Taiwan while observing and learning about Taiwanese society, culture and business, I have my own ideas and thoughts about economic reform that I would like to share for the people's consideration.

Improved relations with China has been a positive development for Taiwan, as a more relaxed environment has produced more opportunities and cooperation for both sides. There is nothing to gain from political and military tension (except for the people who hold power and supply weapons systems.) What I hope to see is for economic and cultural ties to continue to improve between Taiwan and China, but most people would prefer to see the process of negotiations to be transparent and follow the proper legislative procedures, so the terms of the agreements can be as mutually beneficial as possible.

Taiwan should continue to pursue dialogue and participation in other international agreements, such as the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), but because of the lack of transparency in the negotiations, Taiwan's leaders should carefully analyze the terms and make its agreements in a transparent manner in order to ensure equitable benefits. Taiwan should follow the lead of New Zealand, which has been firm in negotiating for terms that are fair for the people of their country. I don't recommend accept terms "as-is" in order to reap potential benefits before weighing what level of autonomy the Taiwanese people will need to give up to gain the benefits.

The Taiwanese leadership should also examine and evaluate its current international agreements and relationships and decide what policies need to be changed to cultivate these relationships. Of course, Taiwan has signed the controversial Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China, but it has also signed the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinsmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC). Taiwan also signed a free trade agreement with Singapore in 2013. I believe that continued efforts with these international partners can make Taiwan a more attractive trading partner.

I also believe that Taiwan's tourism sector is widely underdeveloped for international tourists. Efforts by the Taiwanese government has been focused on Chinese tourists, and I have never really seen any substantial efforts to attract tourists from other countries.

I have worked to promote cultural exchange between the indigenous (Austronesian) tribes of Taiwan and the 400 million Austronesian peoples in 30 plus countries of the Pacific and Southeast Asia, so I believe that another opportunity exists for Taiwan through its Austronesian cultural ties. The 15 recognized Austronesian tribes in Taiwan represent a minority of about 2% of the population, and their culture and language (and DNA) more closely resemble the cultures of Polynesia, New Zealand and Madagascar than the Chinese. Dr. Marie Lin has performed groundbreaking research to show this DNA link. I believe that if more Taiwanese people could take DNA tests, they would be surprised to discover how closely related they are to the world's Austronesian population. What does this mean for Taiwan?

As more Austronesian peoples are discovering their cultural and historic links to Taiwan, there is more interest in cultural and academic exchange. As awareness grows, there is also a growing opportunity for tourism from a marketplace of 400 million people. Indigenous tourism and ecotourism is already growing in Taiwan, but efforts to attract international tourists through Taiwan's Austronesian cultural connection would accelerate that, and develop a type of tourism that has less impact on the environment.

Because of the ANZTEC agreement with New Zealand and the connection with the Austronesian Maori tribe from New Zealand, Taiwan is increasing its cultural activities with New Zealand. But, is anyone prepared to leverage this activity to produce more economic cooperation between the two partners? There may be groups in Taiwan who wish to develop and promote this type of economic development, but in my opinion, they need more recognition and support to create lasting results.

Lastly, I believe the people of Taiwan have a real opportunity in their hands. Being a player in a global economy can bring prosperity, but without self-sufficiency and authoritative self-regulation, Taiwan loses much of its leverage, and puts itself in a weak and vulnerable position with other nations. We can look at the multiple food scandals in Taiwan over the years and see how reliance on food products from Vietnam, China and other countries has put the health of the Taiwanese people in jeopardy.We can also see how lax regulatory oversight and light punishment has led to food industry executives to pursue profits over stricterstandards to protect their customers.

As the future leaders of Taiwan start looking for solutions for the future of Taiwan, they should take the time for self-reflection. If they can enact policies that improve the lives of the Taiwanese people, and the environment, other opportunities will fall into place. Take care of the Taiwanese people, andtheywill happier, healthier, and more productive. In other words, makeTaiwan amore attractiveplace in the world to live and to do business, and the opportunities will naturally come.

When Anna Marie Jarvis petitioned then President Woodrow Wilson for a national holiday, she intended for Americans to share the love and reverance of mothers annually. It began as a tribute to her own mother Anna Jarvis, and after signed a proclamation on May 9, 1914, Mother’s Day grew into an international phenomenon bigger than what Jarvis could have imagined. The annual commemoration has become an important national holiday in many countries, with significant economic impact as well as personal significance.

Mother’s Day is celebrated officially and unofficially in many countries around the world. The celebrations may take place at different times of the year. As in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and India takes place on the second Sunday in May. However, in the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, and Mexico, Mother’s Day fall on a different day.

On the East Asian island of Taiwan, 23 million people take Mother’s Day celebration seriously. People in Taiwan have borrowed many customs from the USA, including Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Father’s Day, especially in recent years. Often, the borrowed American traditions have their own flair and style in Taiwan.

Most people in Taiwan give their mothers cards during the holiday. For some, the holiday provides another reason to have a family reunion. Schoolchildren in Taiwan make Mother’s Day cards in class, just as they do in the USA. This year at school, my sons made special artwork, gifts, and baked special cookies for Mother’s Day gifts.

One of the most unique events related to Mother’s Day in Taiwan are public recognition or awards ceremonies, honoring model mothers. These may be hosted by schools, local governments, business and social associations. Most are humble public gatherings honoring local maternal heroes. Some of these events can be extravagant social affair, designed to make mother’s feel like royalty.

This year, I was invited to cover one such special event. The 2015 Model Mother Awards Ceremony was hosted by the Kaohsiung City Senior Service Association (KCSSA) and held at the E-Da Royal Hotel in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It was unlike any Mother’s Day event I have seen. Mothers throughout Kaohsiung were chosen based on their merits and accomplishments within their families and communities. The KCSSA honored the mothers in a fashion that was unseen elsewhere in Taiwan.

According to KCSSA Chairman Sophia Zheng (曾), since 2011, the association strived to honor mothers by pampering them and giving them an experience fit for royalty. Indeed, when I walked into the extravagant hotel lobby, I saw graceful women adorned in formal gowns and glittering crowns. For many of the elderly mothers, it was the first formal occassion in their lives. The association spoiled the mothers with a professional level of style consulting, hair and makeup service, and formal gowns. By the time they had to make their grand entrance and walk on the red carpet, they were looking their best, and smiling radiantly.

American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Kaohsiung Chief Robert DeWitt welcomed hundreds of attendees with a speech that explained the origins of Mother’s Day in the USA, and honored the mothers in Taiwan. Chairman Zheng , government officials, and business leaders awarded the mothers on stage. After the awards ceremony, the mother’s and their attendees were treated with a first-class dinner and entertainment.

Living in Taiwan for years, I have witnessed a high level of respect for parents and ancestors (and teachers) that is a traditional part of Asian culture. It is no surprise that a holiday that reveres mothers is embraced in Taiwan. The reverence that Anna Marie Jarvis expressed for her mother was truly universal, and has left its mark in many societies that share her reverence. Personally, I believe that every mother deserves to be spoiled in some way, to honor and respect their daily sacrifices they make to their family.