Teacup Café XL

[Grey_Wolf]

Here is my 1010101010-pic - the text to the tune of 12 days of Christmas:

[GrayMouser]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Why? I mean, could you develop just a tiny bit?

It's part of the complicated history of this little island.
Taiwan was basically settled by Han (ethnic) Chinese, starting about 350 years ago, who displaced the local aborigines (relatives of Filipinos and Polynesians). It was only gradually made part of the Chinese Empire under the Manchus.

Then came the Sino-Japanese War, and in 1895 Japan stripped it away from China and made it a Japanese colony. Japanese was taught in school, Japanese customs were introduced, etc.

Meanwhile, back in mainland China, the Chinese Revolution of 1911 overthrew the Empire and established the Republic of China (ROC). Taiwan remained a colony of Japan until 1945 , when in the wake of WWII it was handed back to China. China at that time was in the midst of a civil war between the Nationalists (Guomindang, older spelling KuoMinTang/KMT) and the Communists under Mao Tse-Tung, which the Nationalists lost. They were expelled from China -which is now officially the People's Republic of China (PRC)- and held on to Taiwan as their last refuge (leading to the joke that the real father of the ROC is the US 7th Fleet)

Most Taiwanese were happy to rejoin China until the KMT actually took over. The Japanese had been stern, even brutal, but honest and competent. The KMT had the brutality but were corrupt and incompetent. There were massacres of the locals and anybody who objected was 'disappeared' in what is now known as the "White Terror"- charged with either being Communists or supporting Taiwanese independence.

The KMT gradually improved, the economy took off, and a policy of localisation and democracy was slowly implemented- the place was still under martial law when I first got here.

So now the population is divided between those who want reunification with China and those who want independence. The independence supporters say that the 1911 revolution celebrated on 10/10 is a Chinese celebration that has nothing to do with Taiwan.

Sorry to go on, but as I say, it's got a complicated history.

[Acalewia]

I'd say

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

The independence supporters say that the 1911 revolution celebrated on 10/10 is a Chinese celebration that has nothing to do with Taiwan.

Yes... it was this last part I didn't know about - that independence supporters didn't like to celebrate and why not.

Being an amateur sinologist myself, I already knew the rest of the history quite well But thanks anyway for telling!

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

I'd love to. At the moment, with so many things on my mind, a few minutes in a sunny garden is precisely what I need

It's been lovely. The sun's low, but still pretty warm (I still got sunburn), some of the trees are starting to colour and the autumn flowers are out in full force. I'm counting eleven butterflies on the asters, enjoying perhaps their last days of sun before hibernation.

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

Sorry to go on, but as I say, it's got a complicated history.

Eh, tell me of one country that hasn't got a complicated history, and I'll be rather surprised.

[Noble Elf Lord]

Such weathers. We got sleet yesterday eve. There's no way anything but a vampire could get a sunburn here. ...I must have natural sunlotion.

[Valandil]

Originally Posted by GrayMouser

It's part of the complicated history of this little island.
Taiwan was basically settled by Han (ethnic) Chinese, starting about 350 years ago, who displaced the local aborigines (relatives of Filipinos and Polynesians). It was only gradually made part of the Chinese Empire under the Manchus.

Then came the Sino-Japanese War, and in 1895 Japan stripped it away from China and made it a Japanese colony. Japanese was taught in school, Japanese customs were introduced, etc.

Meanwhile, back in mainland China, the Chinese Revolution of 1911 overthrew the Empire and established the Republic of China (ROC). Taiwan remained a colony of Japan until 1945 , when in the wake of WWII it was handed back to China. China at that time was in the midst of a civil war between the Nationalists (Guomindang, older spelling KuoMinTang/KMT) and the Communists under Mao Tse-Tung, which the Nationalists lost. They were expelled from China -which is now officially the People's Republic of China (PRC)- and held on to Taiwan as their last refuge (leading to the joke that the real father of the ROC is the US 7th Fleet)

Most Taiwanese were happy to rejoin China until the KMT actually took over. The Japanese had been stern, even brutal, but honest and competent. The KMT had the brutality but were corrupt and incompetent. There were massacres of the locals and anybody who objected was 'disappeared' in what is now known as the "White Terror"- charged with either being Communists or supporting Taiwanese independence.

The KMT gradually improved, the economy took off, and a policy of localisation and democracy was slowly implemented- the place was still under martial law when I first got here.

So now the population is divided between those who want reunification with China and those who want independence. The independence supporters say that the 1911 revolution celebrated on 10/10 is a Chinese celebration that has nothing to do with Taiwan.

Sorry to go on, but as I say, it's got a complicated history.

That IS interesting, GM. I didn't know that Taiwan only had 4 years of history with mainland China in the ROC. I assumed it had been part of ROC before WW2.

The original Chinese settlement you mention - did those Han Chinese speak Mandarin? Or did the use of Mandarin only come in strongly starting in 1945?

[Tessar]

Aww, sad day. Joan Sutherland (super famous opera singer) died.

[shesabrandybuck]

Originally Posted by katya

Awww little Link is in college! So exciting! We've missed you <3

Originally Posted by Noble Elf Lord

Of course we did. How are ya, Link?

Originally Posted by Acalewia

LINK!!!!

-gives her a Mootpounce-



Missed ya

Originally Posted by Grey_Wolf

Hi there Shesa - long time no see - wish u a great day!

Originally Posted by Mari

Hiya Link! I've been keeping up with your life through FB
I'm glad you like it so much.

^^ I've missed everyone so much! I'm glad to be here again . I would very much like to get back into the Teacup groove of things!

Mari, that's why facebook is such a charm, isn't it .

College is going really well, I know, I'm finally there . But, I am going to be moving out next year cossssssssss...drumrollllllll...
I'm studying abroad in Barcelona for a year! As a Spanish Education major, I am super excited to be living in Spain...even though they speak Catalan in Barcelona, it's going to be perfect. I might end up staying there permenantly too, so we'll see! I am super excited for next year ^^. Can't wait to share all of my adventures with you .

[katya]

Wow! That's AWESOME! I can't wait to hear all about how much fun you're having.

[Mari]

And of course you'll come visit the Netherlands, right? Right?!? RIGHT?!?
But no pressure or anything...

()

[shesabrandybuck]

hahaha I actually plan to travel during my breaks while I am over there, so I actually might! Italy is top on my list, though I just have to go back there. I'm ready for it to be summer so that I can go abroad . Super totally excited for my life right now

[katya]

I talked for a long time with the cutest young boy from Italy the other day. But i forgot the most important part- to ask him about Italian pizza. I suppose I could Google it...

[shesabrandybuck]

Italian pizza is CHEESY. I mean, I guess that is pretty much common sense, but it is really cheesy XD. How did you come across a boy from Italy? Please tell me I'm not the only one addicted to chatroulette...XDXDXD

[katya]

Hahaha no, it was in a class I was teaching. Once I found out he was from Italy I had to go talk to him and ask a bunch of questions. He was quite a gentleman.

I am all about cheese. I would give up dairy altogether if it weren't for cheese. But there is a limit, I think. The Hacienda's cheese quesadillas are cheese inside a tortilla with tons more cheese on top. It's like eating cheese with tortilla in it rather than a tortilla with cheese in it. It's so ridiculous.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Before the day is over, Happy Thanksgiving to any Canucks out there. Even the ones in Taiwan. *wave GM*

Cheese is really, really awesome. However, even without it, I still couldn't give up whole milk.

[katya]

I do admit that I would also have to buy milk (generally 2%) for dipping Oreos in. And the Oreos themselves have cream in them.... but anyway that's the only other exception. Oreos are a once in a while thing, cheese is more a part of my life.

[Tessar]

I started writing an angry pop/country song.



You can thank me later.

So... I assumed everyone would make fun of me when they found out that I'm trying to write music now, since that makes me a singer/songwriter.... but surprisingly people have been taking me seriously. I'm not entirely sure how to handle that. There has been a little teasing, but not on the massive level I was expecting. I know what to do when people make fun of me, I'm not entirely sure how to react when people say, "OMG! THAT'S AWESOME! What are you writing?! Can I hear it?!"

It's like.... Oh snap, now I have to come up with something decent. O_o

[katya]

Haha yeah. Sometimes I tell people I write novels and then I have to say "Oh they are not good though you can't read them." I think it's way cool that you're trying to write songs though.

[Tessar]

Originally Posted by katya

Haha yeah. Sometimes I tell people I write novels and then I have to say "Oh they are not good though you can't read them." I think it's way cool that you're trying to write songs though.

It's funny because when I would say, "I'm a singer," people would rarely say, "Oh, sing me something," but now if I mention that I'm trying to write music people go nuts. It's weird.




Also, I love cheese. I always get stuff with massive amounts of cheese on it when I go to Mexican or Italian restaurants. I don't mind eating a tortilla wrapped in cheese, with more cheese on the inside. And no, I would NOT like some more tortilla to go with that cheese.