Bliss English Club

My Dear Blissers,

The topic is astonishing enough to arouse curiosity! Is it related with house remodeling, house renovation, or redecoration? The answer will be unveiled in his coming meeting on Oct. 24, 2020! Here is his introduction and agenda:

Intro:

Every company/government goes through administrative reform and reorganization from time to time to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

A dysfunctional government is like a Winchester House.  It has a lot of redundancy, which can be very inefficient and sometimes can be utterly ineffective.  If a government is structured like a Winchester House, can it be fixed?  If it can be fixed, how do we fix it?

Agenda:

Introduction & Disclaimer

Topic 1:

Compare and contrast the structure of the US government and the ROC government.

Exercise 1:  Each team presents its thoughts on the comparison.

Malls vs. the Pharaoh

Exercise 2:  Presidents’ authorities.

Topic 2:

Dysfunction example 1:

The dead water memorial

Dysfunction example 2:

A manager who cannot manage - words from a public hospital’s superintendent.

Topic 3:

Why is it difficult to fix it?

Reason A:

Fix Winchester House without moving to a hotel as a temporary residence.

Fix the government without interrupting the services.

Reason B:

Permanent employees

Reason C:

People refuse to change

Q&A:

Guided Questions:

1

Which service provided by the government bothers you?  If there any public works that you think should be improved?

2

If you are the President of Taiwan, what would you do?

3

If you are the mayor of any city in Taiwan, what would you do?

Date: Sep. 12,2020

Host: Wisely

Topic: “Adventure in New Zealand”

Attendees: Andy Liang, Summer, Stanley, Wisely, Mike Young, Jeff, Uncle Ting, Ellen, Annie, Willy, Emma

Photo link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5uLhzhwMJXJByHo16

Meeting started…

As usual, Wisely presented his meeting by listing his meeting in chorological order.

2020 Adventure in New Zealand

2019 Hang Son Doong

2018 Black Mirrors

2017 How to prepare to go to a mountain

2015 LGBT Issue

2014 Joined Bliss English Club, started from first meeting – “Happy” by Peter

We are awed by this well-listed hosting history in chronological way for self-improvement.

Where are the movie scenes taken?

In the warm-up, he called us attention to some scenes from “The Load of the Rings”

, “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, and told us most are shot in New Zealand.

What is the difference in national flags between England and New Zealand? 1841-1947 colonized by UK, same as UK’s, after independence, their flag takes the UK’s flag smaller on the left and southern cross stars on the right.

The country—its location and map

He told us that to balance the economic importance between South Island and north island, New Zealand moved their capital from Auckland (North) to Wellington (in between both islands).

Size compared with Taiwan

He put Taiwan in the map of New Zealand, clearly about one-fifth of its size.

It is famous for being coined as living Geographical Classroom such as Glacier, Bay, Mountain, Plain, Hill, Subtropical Forest, Volcano, Coast Line and Beach.

Native (Maoli) called New Zealand as Aotearoa-land of the Long White Cloud. New Zealand only has 4 million while Japan130 million in terms of same size. But the country has over 20% national reserve, and encourage foreigners to work as their environmental volunteers.

Developed Country

UN defines Human Development Index criteria such as a long and healthy life, education index, a decent standard of living. In 2018, New Zealand is ranked 14.

Environmental Priority

They maintain and protect their environment because the citizens have environmental awareness like to eradicating exotic species, buy organic food and more than 71% citizens are willing to pay higher price to buy sustainable products. Other than that, government put their efforts on first nuclear-free nation, 3R policy, resource management Act in 1991. Most impressive of all, enterprises evocate ECNZ and ecotourism.

Kiwi—the word they call themselves and one kind of the bird in New Zealand.

Interaction with sea and nature

They determine to protect nature, build barefoot culture which reflect the spirit of looking for simple life.

The values of respecting cultural diversity

In 2013, it became first legitimate same -sex marriage in Asia.synronize with some Europe countries

Excited Activities includes canopy tour, waitomo glowworm caves, skydiving, glacier trekking, gondola, and luge in which Wisely showed us the pictures and thrilling videos he and his wife took in New Zealand.

Crisis Management

He told us when encountering car damage, people should remain calm. Before we go, we need to bring our international driving license and original driving license for rent cars, signing car rental contract and bring back the receipt.

The final picture is Bradrona Activity aiming for raising a fund for women’s cancer care. It is eye-catching and successful campaign!

Attendees’ feedback:

@Wisely I love the way you proceed the meeting. Interestingly and clearly compare NZ and TWN, national flags between UK and NZ. Eco-awareness driven by bottom-up brings NZ to success. Very impressive to watch the videos taken when in skydiving and luge exciting activities. The way they eradicate the exotic species is so determined. Nature protection and energy saving are everyone's responsibility, starting doing from our daily lives, and buying habits which will change the society and the world. Thank you again for the spirit-spread.

@Wisely

When one becomes more knowledgeable, that’s because of you.  But beyond that, you are braver. You dare to experience it doing skydiving.  Your knowledge plus experience are making you a “super power”.   Your presentation was awesome.  It was an enjoyable Saturday gathering.

Along with all the decent comments and feedback from Bro Ting and Bro Jeff and all peers, Wisely has led off making this meetup an interesting and thought-provoking one. 

“Are we feeling exotic?” Maybe yes.  But when we reach out to get a hang of something and become aware of team spirit, we become part of the community.  That’s the worth-praising & positive effect of Bliss’.

@Wisely Dear Wisely,

just love the way you made your honeymoon trip so differently by retrospection everything thing you saw in NZ, including their life style, the way they respect and connecting to nature and how their citizenship and awareness toward protecting and sustaining their environment. (and this the power of citizenships making their government change accordingly)

The comparison you made between NZ and Taiwan from all above respects do arouse not only our curiosity but also our awareness on these important subjects you found in NZ.

We've bear in our mind that these amazing landscapes and exciting activities all count on US, we human, our proactive action Right Now, Right from Ourselves toward our environment.

Thank you, Wisely, for such a great journey sharing with us, physically and mentally!!

Thank you all!

Thanks for this interesting club! I learnt a lot and enjoyed the friendship here.

Host’s feedback

Thanks for all the praise you guys give to me; they transfer into the motivation to make me keep moving forward next time.

General reflection:

We are so happy to taste chocolate, cookies brought by Summer, a friend of Uncle Ting and glad to have our new Blisser, Andy share his cookies with us. It is really a resourceful meeting ever. Stay tune!

My Dear Blissers,

Welcome to join the travel trip sharing this coming Saturday on Sep. 12,2020!

This time we are privileged to invite our energetic, and full-charged Blisser, Wisely to take us to New Zealand which includes the North Land with volcanoes, and South land with natural glacial landscape and more others.  Without further delay, let us follow his footstep to browse NEW Zealand! Let’s go!

Here is his short introduction:

In 2019, there is a huge event happens in my life. Melody and I got married! Even now, I can’t believe that the young man chooses to be this girl’s husband. Cause I never left Asian, we had our honey moon in Southern Hemisphere, New Zealand. Every elder suggested us join a group tour, but we still make our mind by travel alone. Therefore, we got many unexpected and unforgettable experience. Come to this meeting, let me share those interesting events and get to know this country.

Meeting agenda

i.14:30-15:00 Every Member's Brief Hello

ii.15:00-15:40 What’s Special in New Zealand? 

iii.15:40-16:00 Break Time

iv.16:00-17:00 Lets Experience Those Scenes of The Load of Rings

v.17:00-17:30 Discuss & Ramble

Guided Questions

i.Have you ever been to New Zealand? What impression do you have about this country?

ii.Do you have any memories that you are bare foot walking on the street?

iii.If you are a fan of “The Load of Rings” series novels, have you ever imaged those wide and stunned landscape just in front of you and let you can’t breathe?

iv.Share with us the most excited activity or physical adventure in your life.

v.After my meeting, do you find any connection between New Zealand and Taiwan? How will you introduce Taiwan if you have a chance to travel to New Zealand in the future?

Date: Sep 5., 2020

Host: BK

Topic: “Hope Blossoms-Way to Satoyama (In My Mind)”

Attendees: BK, Annie, Ellen, Uncle Ting, Katy, Sofi, Cathy, Angel, Willy

Meeting Link: https://photos.app.goo.gl/S5pH3RYgcDPkfxyd6

Meeting started…..

Our self-disciplined Senior Blisser, BK. He proceeded the meeting as punctually and pinpointed as usual. First, he led a: demo Introduction” for the attendees except for a new Blisser, Katy. Then he invited us to watch a video clip “Taiwan Satoyama”, and read an article, from which he provoked our answers out of his guided questions.

1.According to the article, what is the benefit of satoyama concept?

To keep it short, the benefit is to make the nature sustainable, so it is nature-based concept

2.What SEPLS means? Social-ecological production landscapes and seascapes

3.What is the Satoyama Initiative? It is a global effort to realize “societies in harmony with nature” through landscape approaches to biodiversity conservation and human well-being.

4.Current status: we have loss of nature balance-the preys and predators resulting in the great ecological changes! To slow down the worse and worse process, we need the convention on biological diversity. 

5.An ideal living environment is built through each one of us, the vote and voice of whom will make Select Candidates of Mayor and Congressmen do what we are dreaming of, thus, our landscapes and seascapes will become what everyone believes in.

6.Are there conflicts between ecological and economic developments? City mayors or legislators can make policies balancing between both. As a citizen, we can be alert to make the government do as we like, before that happen, most important of all, we need to have such ecological consciousness to take us there!

Host Feedbacks: BK:

I am so honored to have you all join this meeting because you make this meeting great.

I enjoy the friendship between us just like I enjoyed the satoyama lifestyle for the past years.

Bless all to live out a difference, make a change in the environment around you.

Welcome our new friend, Katy again! Thx for joining today Sofi! Thanks for great hosting and nice gathering! 👍👍👍

Attendee’s Feedback

1. Dear BK, I enjoyed your meeting so much. It reminds me my visits to those beautiful  satoyama in East Taiwan。Tonight, I found an English version of the video you provided for your reference. https://youtu.be/X6HUbQjtgIQ

wow, thanks to uncle Ting , you found the English one ❤️great to see you again, Cathy and your lovely little one , next time if you take her with you, please do let me know , I will invite my little one too

2.https://youtu.be/lKEDA-cz9vk

Dear BK, can’t express how much I love your meeting today ...and I mean it!!

From the subject you choose, environmentally friendly action you've took for     years and the way you hosted and guided Blissers into your scenario and engage Blissers into your guided questions discussion.... what a great meeting I've ever joined!!

I specially love the concept that you asked us the question, about if there's conflict between economic development and ecological protection, what will we choose and make our decision?

The answer lies in everyone's mind differently, so how we reach to a consensus in our society or community?

The answer comes in another question we all shall ask ourselves?

" What kind of environment you and your offspring would like to live after 30 years”?

Your meeting is a great inspiration to all of us, specially to me, you've planted a seed in our mind, surely will take further action to grow the seed into trees in our mother land, Taiwan!!

3.I also found recipe of the bottle of enzyme you made by the leftover, and thank you so much for sharing what everyone can TAKE ACTION from ourselves to preserve our vulnerable environment.

• Dear Katy, I hope you enjoy your very 1st meeting in Bliss and look forward to see you again next time 😉😉

• I also found the recipe of the bottle of enzyme you made by the leftover, and thank you so much for sharing what everyone can TAKE ACTION from ourselves to preserve our vulnerable environment.

• Here it is:https://www.huf.org.tw/essay/content/2993

4.  Yes, we can try to manage a small garden in the balcony and take  advantage of the leftover, everyone /family takes one step, friendly to our community/nature

5. Satoyama concept is only a beginning, the most important is citizenships,  higher quality citizens equal higher quality candidates/ authority. https://www.huf.org.tw/essay/content/2993

6.By the way, dear Blisses... Angel once posted this article with guided questions for Blissers on line input and discussion, the concept of Eternal Village is very close to the Satoyama project BK shared with us yesterday , here I urge and I invite all of you here to take look of this documentary and discuss together with us 😉😉

      https://m.facebook.com/groups/2335853206649952?view=permalink&id=2661555990746337

BK, as a living example, spent most of his leisure time, making his own fertilizer, which can clean the toilet, the sewage, and followingly the river and he also uses these to enrich his soils to plant tall trees and beautiful flowers. His love for the land touches all the participants’ heart! He has successfully planted the seed of “Satoyama” in each attendee today! Stay tune!

Remarks: Angel found another related info: https://e-info.org.tw/node/211004