Season Greeting From The Chens

Greeting to you all,

2009 is an exciting but also a challenging year for the Chens. But, we are so thankful for all.

The first exciting news is that Kaitlyn Chen was born on September 5, 2009 to Peggy and Leo Chen in New York City. She is the first grandchild to Meeilei and Frank and also to Peggy’s parents. Yes, she will be really really spoiled. Meeilei has been in NY twice already since September. Peggy’s parents were there to attend Katilyn’s one-month old celebration also. We are all very excited about having her as the newest member of our family. Leo is always holding her and said ‘Oh, she is so cute, oh, she is so cute!!!’. Yes she is so cute when she is not crying but when she screams, she is not THAT cute J but we all love her anyway.

After 23 years of service at Kimberly-Clark, Meeilei retired at end of June. Meeilei had a very good career and made a lot of close friends at Kimberly-Clark. After retirement, she is tending for her garden, knitting, playing recorder music, and volunteering several charity organizations. But the best deal she got is she can go see her granddaughter anytime she wants to.

The stories of recorder playing in the Chens’ family goes way back. Frank has played recorder for over 7 years. He used to play the soprano recorder. Meeilei started to learn recorder in 2008, She had made tremendous progress in the recorder playing. She can only play soprano recorder because her hand is too small for alto and up. Because of that, Frank switches to the tenor recorder. Since then whenever time permits, Frank and Meeilei will play tenor-soprano recorder duet together. We have tremendous fun playing together. Sneak by our house and you will often hear the recorder practice in the living room.

Leo and Peggy all embark on the education career. Leo was a freelance video-film maker while Peggy worked in a non-profit organization. Being a free-lance video-film maker, his income was limited and inconsistent. With a baby coming a consistent income is a must. Leo got a teaching job at a private school in NYC this fall. He loves his job. Although she is very capable and had made substantial contributions to her employer, Peggy’s employer was in a financial crisis due to the economic recession and was about to let her go. We are very thankful that Peggy was able to find a new employment at the same school Leo is teaching. They both enjoy their jobs and are able to afford a nanny in the house to take care of Kaitlyn during the day.

Victor and Jill continue to have great careers at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Victor is a teaching scholar in his school teaching chemistry to high school students. He really enjoys his job. Jill is a medical faculty at U of M hospital. The couple became a home owner last year. This summer, they went to Montana and enjoyed hiking in the magnificent Glacial National Park. They claims that that is the BEST national park of all.

Frank concluded his sabbatical leave in Taiwan. He has learned so much about Taiwan and has made so many Taiwanese friends in Taiwan. He is very appreciative to Taiwanese hospitality that made him quite felt at home while living alone in Taiwan. During one year sabbatical in Taiwan, he had explored Taiwanese history that was not taught when he was in school many years ago. He is especially appreciative to the Hakka’s culture and their stories. He also re-discovered Hatta Youichi, the Japanese who built Wu-Lai water dam which has transformed Jai-Nan plane into the most productive rice field of the Southeast Asia. His friends include faculty and staffs of the National Chung-Hsing University, faculty of Jau-Yang University, Chi-Kong practice friends and fellowship community in the Wu-Feng Presbyterian Church. He still maintains contact with his friends in Taiwan.

This year is also a great challenge for Frank. He has been ill since June. He has been diagnosed as having the Barrett esophagus, a pre-cancer form of the esophagus, as well as hiatus hernia, and gastritis. He has lost substantial weight. Managing his illness has been very challenging and has consumed much of the time and energy of Frank and Meeilei. Despite this, he is very thankful for finding out this problem early enough before it becomes really unmanageable. He still teaches at UW-Green Bay. In fact, teaching is becoming a very important therapy for managing his illness because of the feeling of accomplishment. Besides that, he had discovered meditation and exercise. With great patience, he believes he will get well soon.

In conclusion, the Chens are very thankful to whatever had happened to us. With thankfulness, we also wish you have a great holiday.

Best Wishes for a peace and blessed year.

Frank and Meeilei Chen

Wisconsin Governor Declared Snow-Day for UW-Green Bay on December 9, 2009; But,...

Wisconsin Governor Declared Snow-Day for UW-Green Bay on December 9, 2009; But, Dr. Chen's car was in the ditch the first time in the United States.

I have been at UW-Green Bay since 2002. Even I had gone through many blizzard, UW-Green Bay never closed its school. But the blizzard on December 9, 2009 was a bit of different. The Governor of Wisconsin declared a snow-day for UW-Green Bay campus.

Dr. Chen, however, was ignorant about checking the news in the computer in the morning. I left home for school at approximately 9:00 AM. Actually, the road conditions were not that bad in Appleton. However, as I was driving into the Brown County, the visibility drops almost to zero and the road was actually not drivable. As I passed Exit 156 on North-Bound Highway 41, I went into the ditch. Fortunately, I had my celluar phone with me. Calling-up 911, a police car came and took me to a near-by gas station. This is the first time that Dr. Chen drove a car into a ditch since he had been in the United States in 1971.

Beyond that 'exciteent' evreything else was fine. The car has to be towed on the next day. I am safe and fine.

I'm Afraid, Lord (A Prayer For Those Who Are Afraid)

One of the typical symptoms of acid reflux is to get a chest pain under moderate exertion. I had a similar symptom when I was walking for 'Crop Walk' in October. After having discussed with my doctor, my doctor decided to order a stress test for me at Theda-Clark Hospital a week after the chest pain episode. The test turned out to be fine. But I found the following prayer (Lord, I am afraid.) on one of the desks in the hospital. I can relate to that prayer. I believe some of the readers in this blog can also relate to this prayer. I decide to share the prayer with my readers.

Here it goes.

God, I'm afraid!

That's hard for me to say.

I want to be strong-

for myself and for others;

I want to believe that all is well,

that everything is under

control.

But the truth is that

I'm concerned,

I'm worried,

I'm afraid.

I'm afraid

of pain,

of the unknown,

of feeling alone,

of being helpless,

of being weak.

God, you are the one who gives

strength to the weak,

comfort to the afflicted,

courage to the fearful.

Come to me, now, God-

not because I am strong,

but because I am weak;

not because I am reach,

but because I am in need;

not because I am brave,

but because I am afraid.

Come to me, God!

I want a miracle, yes!

But above all else,

I just want courage to meet

whatever comes

to me today!

Ms. Wang Played A Piece of Piano Music in A Practice Room of Lawrence University Conservatory

Wang Shuw-Jiing said that when she was a small child, her parent sent her to a piano teacher to learn playing piano. She still remembered playing few songs when she visited Lawrence University Conservatory on November 1, 2009 in Appleton. She was very happy to sit down in front of a piano and played a song she knew in one of the practice room of the Lawrence University Conservatory. It was a very nice song. She turned out to be a fine musician.

Photo shows her in front of the Lawrence University Chapel.

The Chens Thank Sandy and Wen-Tong For Their Generosity

The story on November 2, 2009 told my reader that Ms. Wang of NCHU visited me in Green Bay Oct.31-November 1, 2009. I believe that she had good times in Wisconsin. Many thanks to Sandy and Wen-Tong Lay for their generosity to allow Ms. Wang to stay in Lay's place overnight on October 31 and took her to High Cliff State Park in the afternoon of November 1.

The time of Ms. Wang's visit happened to be the time when Meeilei was in New York City taking care of our grand daughter and I was in relatively poor health and heavy workload at school. We really appreciate Lays' generosity to entertain her during her visit in Wisconsin.

Photo shows Sandy and Wen-Tong.

Dr. Chen Welcomes Ms. Wang Shu-Jiing from NCHU

Ms. Wang Shu-Jiing, a teaching assistant of mine at National Chung-Hsing University while I was on sabbatical leave in Taiwan took a bus ride of 14 hours visited me on October 31, 2009 from Cleveland Ohio. Ms. Wang is currently working at Case Western Reserve University as a 6-month visiting scholar with a support grant from the Taiwanese government. She came the US in April, 2009 and will return back to Taiwan at the end of November. I was very happy to see her. I gave her a tour at UWGB campus then I took her to another Taiwanese friend's (Lay Wen-Tong and Sandy) house to watch American kids coming over 'trick-or-treat' for Hallowin celebration. We had good times.

More stories will follow. Photo shows Ms Wang at UWGB Cofrin Library overlooking the Green Bay.

H1N1 Runs Rampant in Wisconsin

Few weeks ago, I had reported that Wisconsin had the first snow fall on Oct.12. This year, the winter came earlier, so is the flu season. Wisconsin not only has her regular flu, but also the swine flu or the H1N1 flu this year. The swine flu hit Wisconsin very hard. Several colleagues of mine had reported that their children got the swine flu and had to take care of the sick at home. The Wisconsin Public Radio had reported that one middle school at Green Bay District had to close the school because the school could not find enough 'substitute teachers' to help out sick teachers.

UW-Green Bay is prepared for the worst. The university is giving the authority to the chairs, managers, or directors the authority to send 'sick' employees home. The professors are given the authority to send 'sick' students home. Each professor is given a hand sanitizers to protect them from the flu infection.

Few days ago, I was at Kimberly-Clark Health Center and told about the university practice to send sick employees home. My colleague at Kimberly-Clark said that,

'I wish Kimberly-Clark does the same thing as the university to send sick employees home'.

'There is a difference" I said,

"Sick employees of Kimberly-Clark still get paid even they stay home; university professors wont get paid if they take sick leave and stay home."

The Chens are on The Move

Our son, Leo, at the New York City called us last night (Oct.15) and informed us his wife got a director job at his school. This was a fantastic news for them. My daughter-in-law, Peggy, was employed by a non-profit organization. With the economic recession, her organization had tough time of raising money to support employees. Basically, her job was in a limbo. With her new baby and with her husband meager teacher salary, they were basically lived on the edge in the New York City. Now, Peggy gets a new job. With two incomes, hopefully, they can get-by economically in New York.

However, with a baby of less than 2 months, the new parent needs help again. They called their mom to help.

Usually, this would not present any problem when I was healthy and strong, or if I am in the break. It is quite challenging for me that Meeilei would have to go to New York City again for another three weeks starting next week when school work will be at a greater demand.

Friends, please pray for me that I will succeed in this challenge to be able to manage school, home, and my medical care all together at the same time for next three weeks.

Green Bay has the first snow fall on Oct. 12.

You would not believe it; but it is true. This morning (Oct.12, 2009) as I drove from Appleton to Green Bay, I saw snow fall in Green Bay. It is a bit too early. Last year, it was 60F with sun shine at this time of the year.

Meeilei wants to move to California. I think there is merit on her suggestions. After my retirement at UW-Green Bay (in 3 years), I am also thinking of moving to a warmer place to live.

Meeilei is Home; Everything Is Gradually Go Back to Normal

After three and half week-visit of her granddaughter in the New York City, Meeilei was finally home on October 5. I am probably the person mostly happy about it. We went to KC's pool and swim together. After that we had a simple supper and exchanged jokes. We also played recorders together. We had wonderful times. No longer home alone. Everything will be gradually go back to normal.

Dr. Chen's Wedding Ring Came Off his Finger This Morning...

Friends of Dr. Chen know that Dr. Chen always wear his wedding ring wherever he goes. Sadly, this morning (Sept. 30, 2009), his wedding ring came off his finger and dropped on the floor. He found the ring and put the ring in a safe place. This was a heart-breaking, painful, and emotional experiences. Dr. Chen has lost substantial weight in the past few months.

Dr. Chen was sick during the last month of his sabbatical leave in Taiwan and is continuously ill after he arrived in the U.S. on July 15, 2009. He has gone through a battery of medical examination. Here are the results:

1) Blood test results: Clean.

2) CAT scan results: Clean.

3) Endoscope results: permanent damages in the lower esophagus, it is called the Barret esophagus, a pre-cancer state of esophagus but not the cancer.

Beneath this obvious gastrointestinal problems is his severe insomnia problem caused by the anxiety.

During the last two months, His doctor has prescribed several sleeping and anti-anxiety medications. These medications not only did not help; they cause severe side effects on Dr. Chen already weaken health. For example, a pill of 10 mg Lexapro caused him nausea, diarrhea, and stomach upset for three days. Due to the side effects of these medications, he has lost a lot of weight.

This past three weeks had been very difficult for me. My wife is in New York City helping out the new parent of our first grand-daughter. The professor job at UW-Green Bay is very demanding. On top of that, I also need to commute to Green Bay from Appleton every day which takes 45 minutes for each way. Meeilei will comeback home next Monday. Everything will look better then.

Meanwhile, I am take a good care of myself. No big meals after 8:00 PM. If I have evening classes, I will just eat oatmeal after the class, and nothing after the oat meal. I also put the scale away from sight to reduce my anxiety of losing weight. One positive outcome of this painful experience is that I know I have serious acid reflux problem which had been there for a long time and had done substantial damages to my esophagus. I now know I need to well-manage my acid reflux problem so that no further damages for my digestion system. I also realize I need to rely on relaxation techniques for treating my insomnia and other anxiety-related problems. The medication to treat those problems has done more damages to me than the benefit it may provided.

In the conclusion, the bad news is that I had lost a lot of weight. The good news is that I had caught the problems early enough to manage my health problem before it becomes worse. I know some day, I will be able to wear my wedding ring again.

Friends, I appreciate your concern. Your prayers are also appreciated.

The Blue Suit of A Little Dog--A Transcription of A Japanese Children Story

Once upon a time, a very little dog lived with a very kind grandpa. The dog is so little, the kind grandpa called his dog, the 'Little Mouse'.

Little Mouse loves to bark and hunt. Although he is so little, he can bark as loud as a big dog. When Little Mouse was hunting, he uses his nose in search of his prey. Most of the time, he got nothing.

One day, he was successful in finding a cave where a mother rabbit was babysitting with her four little bunny. Little Mouse came to the mother rabbit, and barked as hard as he could. Mother rabbit, however, did not move even an inch from where she was sitting.

"Why you are not afraid? Why you do not run away from me, the hunter?" asked Little Mouse.

"Why should I ? You are so little; you would not do any harm to us. Come, don't be silly. Don't bark. My babies are sleeping. You may wake up my babies. Come to see my babies. Aren't they so cute?" said the mother rabbit.

Little Mouse then stopped barking and went with mother rabbit to see her sleeping babies.

"They are so cute." said Little Mouse.

From that moment, Little Mouse had made friends with the mother rabbit and her babies. He comes to cave to visit them when there were chances.

The days become colder. The kind grandpa made a blue suit for Little Mouse to wear it.

"Isn't this blue suit handsome for you?" said the kind grandpa.

Although Little Mouse looks handsome with the blue suit, he feels uncomfortable with a suit wrapped around his fur skin. One day, he visited the cave again and asked mother rabbit to take the suit off him. Mother rabbit did exactly like that and said,

"This blue suit can be a sleeping blanket for my babies."

When Little Mouse returned home without the suit, grandpa had realized the suit was lost.

"Where is your blue suit?" asked grandpa.

"Lost on the road", said Little Mouse.

"Let's search for it. Trace where did you go and find the suit back." said the grandpa. Grandpa and Little Mouse walk to find the blue suit. Little Mouse pretended that he was searching hard; but in the end, they turned out nothing.

Now Little Mouse walked on the streets without the blue suit, but he actually see the blue suit as the blanket often in the cave where he had made new friends.

Sakura--The Cherry Tree: English Transcription of a Japanese Children Story

San-Lang was a youth of the early 20's. He lived by a river bank of a small village and had a boat which he used that to carry villagers from one side of the river bank to the other side. He always had a smile on his face. All the villagers loved him and he loved all the villagers. He was married and had one child. His wife was pregnant and was expecting another child in October.

Japan was in the war with Russia. San-Lang was enlisted. He no longer could provide villagers service. Instead, other villager took San-Lang dressed in a military uniform to the other side of the river bank and joined the army to fight against the Russian.

Japan won the war against the Russian, but San-Lang did not return. His wife waited for him, days became months, and months became year. In fact, Sang-Lang would never return because he was killed in one of the battles.

With great sadness, San-Lang's wife planted a cherry tree by the river bank. She said to herself, this cherry tree was the substitute of my husband.

Many years had passed. The cherry tree grew to a very big tree. By this time, a bridge had been raised over the river so that villagers did not need boat to cross over the river. The village also had a paved road that buses could carry villagers from one village to another village. San-Lang's wife grew very old and became a grandmother.

Japan was in another war again. This time was with American. American warships had sunk Japanese fleet one after another. To support the war, the Japanese government cut all the trees they could find.

One day, the government found this great cherry tree and was planning to cut down this cherry tree. The grandma sat at the base of the cherry tree.

"Do not touch this tree. This tree is the substitute for my husband who went to war 40 years ago and never returned."

The grandma's resolution eventually saved this great sakura, the cherry tree.

Ice Angel--Transcription from a Japanese Children Story

I got this story in one of Taiwanese Children Books that I brought back to US. They are actually Japanese children stories translated into Mandarin. As Meeilei is in New York City helping out the new parent for our first grand-daughter, I got the luxury to read those children stories and I love all of them. Here is one of the transcription--Ice Angel.

When we think of angels, they are all good looking boys or girls with the wings attached to their shoulders. Well, Ice Angel is quite a different kind of angel. In fact, he is an ugly-looking boy dressed in not-fitted shirt and pant with a sandal even in a cold, winter days. Actually, ice angel is not afraid of cold. He is made of ice. The only thing he is afraid of is fire. Because fire can melt ice angels down.

Ice Angel does not have any friend of his age. Rude city kids often pick up on him, laugh at him, even throw stone at him. Sometimes, they even beat ice angels simply because Ice Angel looks different from the other kid and Ice Angel has no parent. He is indeed an orphan.

But Ice Angel is not the only target of rude city kids. They were also rude to a middle age O-Ji-San who lived alone far away from the city. O-Ji-San lives in the countryside. He is a master of making masks, all kinds of masks. One a while, O-Ji-San will take his masks to the city to sell here and there. At the end of the day, he would buy a bottle of wine and a bag of rice and few vegetable to bring home.

One day, when he was about to go home, he saw a group of city kids harassing Ice Angels. O-Ji-San came forward to ask them to stop.

"Ma-Te, Stop". O-Ji-san yelled.

The kids retreated a little bit but then continue to harass Ice Angel. One kid even threw stone at O-Ji-san. O-Ji-san shifted his body to avoid being hit. The stone hit the wine bottle. A bottle of wine was then gone.

"Ma-Te, Stop". This time, O-Ji-San shouted even louder. The kids finally went away, leaving Ice Angel alone.

O-Ji-San came close to Ice Angel and holding his hands.

"What is your name? Do you have a place to go tonight?" O-Ji-San asked.

"My name is A-Kai. I have no place to go tonight." Ice Angel said.

"Then come to my hut tonight." O-Ji-San holding A-Kai's hands. They both came to the hut in the country side. It was getting dark and cold.

O-Ji-San gathered wood, tree branches, and paper on the mud floor and lighted a fire using a match box. With an initial fire, O-Ji-San blew the wind over carefully with a hand-fan. The fire then gathered force and burning at the center of the house.

"Come close to the fire to keep your body warm." O-Ji-San said to Ice Angel.

"That is OK. I would rather be cold." Ice Angel did not tell O-Ji-San his secret.

O-Ji-San left A-Kai alone and start working on his masks. Ice Angel turned out to be a good singer. He sang one song after another keeping O-Ji-San entertaining.

Since Ice Angel does not have other places to go, O-Ji-San decided to allow A-Kai to stay as long as he wanted. They turned to be a good company. O-Ji-San provided shelter and protection to Ice Angel while Ice Angel sang songs to entertain O-Ji-San. They happily lived together days and months.

One day, O-Ji-San said the A-Kai that he needed to go to town alone to buy few supply for the house and asking Ice Angel to watch the house. The moment O-Ji-San stepped out of the door, the sky became dark. Winds and snow followed. Then it was ice. It was a really bad snow storm rarely seen in this part of Japan.

Hours passed, and A-Kai did not see O-Ji-San returned. He got worried and decided to search for O-Ji-San in the storm.

Ice Angel followed the trail that O-Ji-San usually took to walk into town. After hours of trekking in the snow storm, Ice Angel found a man laying on the snow ground. It was O-Ji-San who had lost consciousness. Ice Angel took O-Ji-San in his back and took him into the hut. O-Ji-San still did not show any sign of life.

Ice Angel then thought about the fire. He has seen many times how O-Ji-San made fire in the past. He gathered wood, tree branched and paper. He lighted a fire with a match box then blew the wind over using a fan. He finally got the fire.

After a while, O-Ji-San finally woke up. The fire was still burning. Snow storm was gone. It was a beautiful day.

"What a dream." said O-Ji-San. Then suddenly, he found something is different. Ice Angel was gone. Actually, Ice Angel has melted away and would never return.

O-Ji-San was sad. But then, he turned sadness into work. He made thousand of Ice Angel face masks (an ugly-looking boy face masks) and gave masks free to everyone he met. He then told the story of how Ice Angel gave his life to save him.

Today, most Japanese family hang proudly this face mask on their wall to remember the life of Ice Angel. If you have one, treasure the mask because the story of Ice Angel is touching.

Americans Are Working Hard To Achieve Their Universal Health Care

After one year sabbatical leave in Taiwan, I have realized that a Taiwanese retired elders live a more secure life than the American retired elders. A Taiwanese elder who is ill at the retirement does not have to worry about his or her medical care because of the universal health care coverage in Taiwan. On the other hand, an American elder who is ill will be afraid to quit because an unemployed American will not be able to afford hefty medical cost without the health insurance coverage provided by his or her employer. One of the reasons that many American elders choose to work is to have a secure health care insurance provided by the employer. The consequence is huge. A sick employee staying at work will not help his health conditions, nor does he contribute much to the employer. Both the employee and the employer are at a loss.

President Obama gave a joint congressional session speech on September 8, 2009, the day after Labor Day. He strongly push for the overhaul of the American Health Care System. We wish that this "universal health care" program will be a success in his administration.

Meeilei and Dr. Chen Are Grandparents Now

The Chens are welcoming Kaitlyn Chen, born on September 5, 2009 to Peggy and Leo Chen in the hospital of New York City. Peggy and Leo now are mom and dad to Kaitlyn while Meeilei and Dr. Chen are grandma and grandpa to Kaitlyn. Kaitlyn weighed 5.7 lb and arrived a month earlier that Meeilei could not finish her knitting project for her.

Meeilei will fly to New York City on September 10 to help out the new parent. Dr. Chen will see his granddaughter on Christmas this year. Attached are few photos with Kaitlyn with her mom and her dad.

Meeilei Grows Tomato, The Organic Way Without Being Told

This summer in Wisconsin is quite cool. Temperatures have been in the range of 60-70 F (or 15-21 C); very few days go beyond 80F (27 C). On August 28, the morning temperature dipped down to 48 F ( or 9 C, that is the temperature for Taiwanese winter). You need to be patient to grow tomato. And my wife, Meeilei, is a very patient person.

After several months of laboring, many tomato plants in her garden finally begin to ripe.

"I will pick up THIS tomato tomorrow", Meeilei pointed to the ripen tomato and said to me one day.

The next day, she walked to the garden to pick up that ripen tomato.

"Oh, no, some animals had bitten MY tomato !! damm..." She yelled and almost swore.

She was about to pick-up that tomato and threw it away but a second thought came in mind, she decided to leave that tomato on the ground near the tomato plant to 'feed the animal'

" I will use that tomato as a 'bait' for animals and will save the rest of my tomatos."

The strategy works like a magic. Animals which had bitten that tomato continued to enjoy the rest of it while leaving the other tomatos alone. The middle photo on top was taken when she first saw the 'bitten' tomato. the third photo was taken a week after she first saw the 'bitten' tomato. Meeilei finally got the rest of the ripen tomato free from the animal bits.

Recently, she also stringed old CD disks near the plant, as to "to scare the birds" from the CD disk reflection. (the top photo)

Meeilei has learned 'organic farming' herself. I had heard similar stories from the organic farmer friends in Taiwan. They usually plant few fruit trees in the outskirt of their fruit garden to feed the pest or animals and they can harvest the rest of the fruit free from pest. They also use reflection techniques to keep the birds off their fruit plants.

You would say, "All Taiwanese think the same."

First photo shows a CD disk hung near the tomato plant, second photo shows the tomato which got the initial bite from an animal. Third photo shows the remaining tomato that animals continued to enjoy leaving the rest of the tomato free.

Feeling Recession Pain--Dr. Chen Received An Appointment Letter And Was Notified For 3% Pay Reduction

UW-Green Bay will start fall semester of 2009 on September 3, about a week from now. As usual, all faculty will receive a formal appointment e-mail from the school authority.

My appointment letter arrived on July 30, 2009. The letter first thanks my contributions to the university and the state, and will appoint me as an associate professor for one full year assignment. The letter then goes directly to the following statement:

On June 23, 2009, the Governor issued Executive Order 285 which requires all nine (9)-month state employees to take six (6) days or 48 hours (prorated for part-time and part-year employees) of unpaid leave (furlough time off) in each of the next two fiscal years. Under the UW System plan for implementing the furloughs, which has been approved by the Office of State Employment Relations, your salary will be reduced by 3.065% for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2011.

Three percents pay reduction sounds like a lot; but it is much better than the other states such as California. My brother-in-law teaches at Southern California State University. He told us all professors in the California received a 15% pay reduction. Even worse, the pay they get now is not really a paycheck, but a paynote. On the paper notes those professor received have the following statement: " The government owes you, ...$50,000..." In other words, those notes cannot be cashed right away. Only when the government says it is the right time to cash, then those teachers can get the real money.

Someone obviously turns this into opportunity. Those people will buy up those government notes with 80% of the note-value. Those people will hope that government will not bankrupt. In that situation, they will have 20% of net profit.

But, do we have faith in California that California will not go bankrupt some day?

Morakot--Taiwanese Are Stucked With And Stunned By Ma's Insensitive and Indifferent Remarks

Just like Americans who had no idea why did they put Bush into the presidential office in 2004, Taiwanese had no idea why did they put Ma into the presidential office in 2008. Ma's incompetence as the President of Taiwan shows clearly in his handling of Morakot rescuing efforts in Taiwan.

First, during the 8/8 flooding event, he and his key cabinet members were in a wedding banquet. After Morakot Typhoon was over, he forgot about his President office position as the commander-in-chief to order Taiwan military to mobilize the rescuing efforts. He had delayed such an order for two days causing many innocent villagers to be buried alive. Third, he refused all foreign aids except the Chinese aids. After public strong reactions to his decision, he finally allowed Americans to send helicopters to participate in the rescuing and the release efforts on August 17, 2009, 9 days after the flooding.

How bad was this 8/8 flooding? According to NPR (National Public Radio), Ma said to the foreign press that Taiwanese lost about 500 lives. I spoke to my Qi-Kong Taiwanese friends on the Skype yesterday (8/18/09). She said it was at least 3 to 4 times of 500 lives. She said that in Pingtung, there was a mountain whose peak height were originally at 800 m before the flooding. After the flooding, the remaining peak height was measured at 400 m. Almost half of the mountain mud, stones, trees were carried by the flood to bury the village near-by.

A CNN poll conducted on August 17, 2009 asking "Should Taiwan's leader stand down over delays in aiding typhoon victims?(Quickvote at CNN.com )" , 82% of the voters out of 13417( http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1033430&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng) said "Yes". Ma although apologized for his mishandling of the rescuing effort, said that he would not resign. In fact, Taiwanese are stucked with the incompetent Ma.

Taiwanese are even stunned by his several "remarks" to the news reporter after the flooding: Here are few examples that my Taiwanese colleagues sent me via e-mail:

On August 10, a young man in the Taitung county saw Ma and cried uncontrollably. He said that in the presidential election, our whole family voted for you. Why it became so difficult to see you after this flooding? Ma replied, "Didn't you see me now?"

According to August 13, Apple Daily's report (Apple Daily is a Taiwanese newspaper.) that a baby of 29 month old in the Na-Ma-Hsiau village of the Kaoshung county (高縣那瑪夏鄉) was buried alive and was pronounced dead. Her two old sisters were eventually rescued after being buried for as long as 2 and 5 minutes. Ma praised these two sisters for their abilities to consciously hold the breath and stayed alive for that long. The doctors said later that no one can consciously holding breath that long. The two sisters were forced out of the breath (or due to suffocation) for 2-5 minutes by the debris they were buried from.

During an interview with foreign press on August 15, Ma used the word 'they' to describe the victims among 5- Q/A sessions as if those 'victims' have nothing to do with him.


Bush's presidency in America cost Americans trillions of money spending frivolously in the Iraq war. Ma's presidency in Taiwan has cost many Taiwanese lives in this flooding disaster. Even worse he could possibly sell-off Taiwan to China.

MORAKOT--Aftermath; While Government Shows Incompetence In Handling The Disaster, Taiwanese Shows Love And Compassion

Ten years ago, when Taiwan experienced century-level-9-21-Earth Quake, the emergency relieve work to rescue and to rebuild the community exhibited by both Taiwan government (Lee Tung Huei then Chen Shuei-Ping administration) and Taiwanese people earned international respect. I remember that the pastor at Memorial Presbyterian Church in Appleton, WI (USA) openly praised Taiwanese people.

In 2009, Taiwan experienced another century-level-8-8-Flooding disaster. The government shows incompetence in handling the emergency rescue and relief while Taiwanese shows love and compassion.

I have a student at National Chung-Hsing University sending me the following e-mail illustrating the current situation of Taiwan, a week after Morakot flooding. She said she was in tears when she sent that e-mail to me. Here is her message:

Dear Dr. Chen

I went back to my hometown in Kaohsiung yesterday, it's very hot right now and let me lazy.Many villagers in Jia-Sen (甲仙) were buried alive during the typhoon. We all hope this disaster will end soon.

President Ma was criticized by delaying rescue; he refused international rescue, except China. Everyday when we turn on the TV, all we can watch is victims crying and the government official showing around. Taiwanese are really sad, or, we're just deserving it.

Our farmers' market farmers also donated some money, even though they also suffered lots of loss. One fruit juice store next to my home in Taichung also donated their 3-day turnover for this disaster.From this typhoon, not only can we understand the corrupt politician deeply, but also feel the love and kindness among Taiwanese.

Yours sincerely,

XXX

Photo on the left the aftermath of the flooding; photo on the right shows Taiwanese volunteers worked to clean-up the mud in the village.

Aftermath--Hiroshima Part 4

“People were burned to char like barbecued. Passengers stood in the subway with hands holding on the handle. They looked like they were alive. But they were all dead.”

“A woman was holding my hands. Her hands, legs, and upper part of the body were severely burnt. An yellowish liquid was oozing out from her eyes. She called me Onesan. I watched more closely, and realized that she is my little sister, Imoto.”

“The rivers in the Hiroshima are also hells. People of severe burn came to the river. People of thirsty came to river. But, very soon, they died and floated on the river.”

“My son asked me what was going on in Hiroshima. I really did not want to tell him about it. I could not imagine that such a human tragedy could happen. But, I had to tell him about it.”

The casualty of Hiroshima atomic bomb was 132,000; seven times more severe that what Oppenheimer had predicted. No survival within the radius of 3 miles of the bomb.

The second bomb was dropped on Nagasagi on August 9. On the same day, Russians also invaded Manchuria. Japan surrendered on August 16, 1945.

Little Boy--Hiroshima Part III

On August 6, 1945, captain Morris Jeppson , and Wyatt Duzenbury, Joseph Stiborik, as well as two other crews carried the uranium bomb, Little Boy, on a bomber from Tinian Island to Japan sky.

“The bomb we are carried today is the most destructive weapon in human history. All other missions would look like small potatoes compared to this mission.”

“Captain, can you tell us what is about this bomb?”

“No, but would not limit your imagination.”

“Is this the chemist’s nightmare ?”

“Not quite.”

“How about the physicist’s nightmare?”

“That is close.”

“I saw Hiroshima”

“Eye goggles on. Here we go”

The uranium bomb was dropped on Hiroshima around 8:30 AM on August 6, 1945. The code name of this bomb is "Little Boy".

Apology to the readers: I lost the Japanese text for this part of the story. I used to be able to translate the English text into the Japanese text; but not anymore now. After many years of non-use, I got rusted in my Japanese ability.

Mr. President, Please Do Not Use Atomic Bomb..Hiroshima-Part II.

Two prominent scientists, Leo Szilard and Julius Oppenheimer, advised President Truman not to use the atomic bomb.

“I was working on nuclear fission in the 30’s .” said Szilard, “ Then I saw German scientists publications. I knew the race was on. It would be a terrible human tragedy for the Nazi to possess nuclear weapon before us. I asked Dr. Einstein to write a letter to President Roosevelt to convince the President to initiate the Manhattan project. Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. I was wrong. Germany did not work on the nuclear weapon. I advised not to use the weapon. Should we test the weapon, we will give the top secret away to the world in general, and to the Russians in particular: Nuclear fission is possible.”

“We will change the rule of the war.” Said Oppenheimer, “ A single atomic bomb can kill 20,000 human beings. How much faith do you have on human being to grant them such a destructive power.”

Japanese Text:

大統領: 原子爆弾を投下しないで下さい

二人の著名な科学者、Leo Szilard とJulius Oppenheimer は大統領 に原子爆弾を投下しないとアドバイスをしました。

この言葉はその科学者から の引用です。

Leo Szilard:

私は 1930 年代、核子分裂を 研究 していました。ドイツ人の核子分裂に関する論文を見かけました。これからレースが始めると考えました。ドイツ人が先に原子爆弾を作れば、人類の悲劇になります。ローゼㅔェルト大統領 宛に手紙を書くように Einstein 博士 に 頼みました。大統領はManhattan プロジェクトを始めました。1945 年 の五月の8日、ドイツは 同盟国に降伏しました。私は 間違いました。ドイツでは、原子爆弾の研究がありませんでした。私は原子爆弾の使用を反対していました。原子爆弾の使用しれば、秘密を漏れてしまうと心配していました。この秘密では ロシア人も原子爆弾が作れます。

Julius Oppenheimer

私たちは 戦争の規則を変えると考えました。一個の原子爆弾は20000人を殺します。人類は、原子爆弾の使用に関しては本当に信頼できますか。

Trinity-- Hiroshima- Part 1

At 5:29 on the morning of July 16, 1945, a light flashed across the New Mexico desert so bright that it was seen from Arizona to Texas. A blind college girl, riding in a car near Socorro in those dawn hours, asked what the flash of light was. Unknown to her and to most of the rest of the world at that moment, the light resulted from the explosion of a plutonium bomb, a test known as Trinity in the Jornada del Muerto, 65 miles northwest of White Sands.

The people present at the test still remember the brilliant light more vividly. That light represented the imminent end of World War II and it changed the world for ever.

Japanese Text:

1945 年、七月の十六日の朝の5時29分、一瞬閃光はNew Mexico の砂漠を輝かしました。非常に明るくて、閃光がArizona から Texas まで 見えました。Socorroの近くで、車に乗っていた盲目の女子学生は何の閃光ですかと聞きました。その時、女子学生を初め世界の人人はその閃光の真実が知りませんでした。

閃光はplutonium 原子爆弾の爆発の結果でした。その爆発は White Sands から西北の方 に65 miles 離れている Jornada del Muerto で、Trinity という原子爆弾の試験爆発でした。その試験爆発に参加した人たちは今でもその明るい閃光を鮮明に思い出せます。あの閃光は第二次世界大戦の差し迫った終わり表示しました。

世界は一瞬間で 変化しでしまいました。

Prelude On Hiroshima

About 8 years ago, as I was at the peak of Japanese learning, I challenged myself to write stories both in English and in Japanese and had my Japanese teacher to edit over my Japanese writing. One of the stories I wrote was about the first atomic bomb that American dropped on the Hiroshima. There were 5-6 short stories strung together on this. I have also presented the English part of the stories in various occasion. These were my favor stories.

So, relax and enjoy the stories.

American Seniors Often Congregate At McDoald In The Morning...

Taiwanese seniors often come to a park or a school campus to exercise in the morning with a group if they can move around. In the afternoon, they may get together under a tree to chat or simply play chess.

What do American seniors do? This morning (8/8; happens to be father's day in Taiwan), I walked to McDonald (It is about 30 minutes walk from my home.) and found a group of American seniors (Most of them were men.) congregate together to chat or to gossip. They greeted me as I walked in because I knew this group last year before I went sabbatical in Taiwan.

McDonald fast food restaurants are attractive places for the seniors to congregate in the morning. First, they offer senior discount coffee. For a 60 cents (approximately NT$ 20), seniors enjoy McDonald's coffee that can be refilled without limit. The breakfast that often consists of muffin and eggs can be as low as $2.00 or NT $60. If the senior id health conscious, he can also order fruit and walnut salad which is also quite inexpensive with a price as low as $2.00.

Seniors congregate here can converse in many different subjects that include sports, or neighborhood gossip. Someone may spend 25 cents to buy a newspaper then everyone else can share and read the rest. Some will even do the crossword puzzle.

It is quite interesting that while men usually congregate at McDonald in the morning, not many American women seniors are here. I wonder where did they go.

The Love Of Mantou, 饅頭, or まんじゅう

Meeilei is a loving wife and also a very fine cook. Having realized that I missed Taiwanese mantou, 饅頭, or まんじゅう, she got into action. She managed to get flour, and yeast and made the mantou herself. Our kitchen in Wisconsin even had a steamer that I can steam mantou whenever I like to eat. She made the mantou on August 3 and they tasted delicious.

It is the mantou of love. I really appreciate it.

Folk Dance Group Grew Last Year To Reach A Membership Near 30

Americans have pass-time activities just like Taiwanese. While Taiwanese spontaneously form membership using free sites at the park or school campus, Americans will recruit members and rent a space to conduct pass-time activities.

One of the activities that I participated in 2007 before I was on sabbatical leave was the folk dance group. This dance group actually grew while I was absent and have reached a membership near 30. Most of them are senior citizens; the group has a tough time to recruit young dancers.

I joined in the dance group through the connection of one of our recorder group, Barb Westhofen, a lady of about 80 years old. I surely enjoy the dance because of the music and because the dance patterns are very mathematical. I had been in the group for about 3 years.

Americans Love Farmers' Market

Americans usually shop at shopping malls or mega-food stores such as Festivals, or Cops-Food. Recently, Americans find out shopping and socializing at Farmers' Market are actually more fun than shopping at the mall or mega-store. Here, at the market, you meet with your neighbors and you can carry few conversations that you would not have them at the mall. Attached are few photos that I took at the Market.

In Taiwan, there are many different kinds of market, from night market to dusk market. Recently, Chung-Hsing University organizes organic farmer market on Saturday. Most Taiwanese markets are bigger than American farmer market except Taiwanese organic farmer's market. The organizer of Taiwanese organic farmers' market once has told me that he got the idea from Wisconsin farmers' market. That is quite interesting. Then the next question is where did the organizer of the American farmers' market get the idea from?

Top left: Musicians play at the Market. Top right: Meeilei posted with her church friend, Judy Philips. Middle, Meeilei shops corn at the market. Lower photo: Crowds in the market.

Man, I Already Miss Taiwan

It is about two weeks for me to move back to the United States; and I l already miss Taiwan very much.

I miss what I usually eat in the breakfast in Taiwan. I miss mantou 饅頭, or まんじゅう in Japanese. This is a steamed lofty-like bread made of flour and yeast. Its low density texture made it very easy to chew, and digest. It is usually eaten in combination of regular milk or soy milk. I also miss yakult, 養樂多 or ヤクルト in Japanese, a kind of drink that made of much good bacteria to help food digestion.

I miss the variety of fruit available on plates every meal when I was in Taiwan. Of course, there were regular fruit such as apples, pears and oranges. But, there are quite a few fruit such as fire-dragon fruit 火龍果, four-season fruit 四季果 which most American even had not heard of the names.

I miss the morning and evening Taiwanese exercise enthusiast crowds in the park or school campuses from Qi-Kong to Tai-Chi, to dance. Americans only drive kids to the park after school for soccer or baseball games. On weekends, occasionally, American families may play baseball together in the park.

I miss the crowds of the dusk-market in every Taiwan cities. There, not only you shop for the bargain, you also had opportunities to chat with friends.

I miss the year of no car and no driving. I could walk to my office in 5 minutes when I was in Taiwan. At noon, I could also walk back and took siesta in my residence. The public transportation in Taiwan is so convenient that I can rely on bus, and trains to go most of the places I like to go.

I miss the health care system in Taiwan. I could walk to a doctor's office in the evening while most American doctor's office will close after 4:30 PM. The doctors in Taiwan are competent. Some of the Chinese-Medicine trained doctor offer patients alternative treatment in which US patients had no such luck.

Of course, there are few things I don't miss in Taiwan. I don't miss rude motorcyclists roaming everywhere even on the pedestrian paths. I don't miss and heat and the humidity of Taiwan summer.

Overall, I still like Taiwan, the place where I came from; the name of Taiwan, someday will become the name of a nation.

I Have Gone Through The Worst So I Understand How To Be Thankful

This is my story on how I had temporary gone through excursive pain and agony in my body and mind. Such experiences have reinforced my faith that we have to be thankful everyday when we can just be ourselves to do everyday chore such as working, play, and rest. Because when you realize those that you and I had taken for granted can be lost one day they are very good reasons that we must be thankful and enjoy the life we have.

The story started when I arrived U.S. from Taiwan trip and visited my doctor for a complete medical check up and some follow-up discussions. The medical report card turns out to be clean. I then discussed my two major complaints with my doctor--indigestion and insomania. Doctor suggested to tackle the insomania problem first.

I have been on temazepine medication for years. This medication belongs to a benzodiazepine drug category which acts to enhance inhibitory effect of a neurotransmitter (GABA). The medication is primarily used to treat insomania patient and is considered to be very safe. However, a patient using such a medication for a long period of time can develop tolerance and the medication would become less effective for the medication.

My doctor suggested me to give my body a temazepine-free two week holiday then come back to this safe drug. During this period of time, my doctor asked me to try few non-benzodiazepine medications. Two medications were used. One of them is the ambien, a medication of the imidiazopyridines chemistry. The other was mesyrel which was actually prescribed by a Taiwanese doctor.

I had developed serious side effects on both non-benzodiazepine drugs. When these side effects came, it looks almost the end of the world at all. I had numbness in both arms and legs. I had chest pain and cold sweet. My throat was always dry no matter how much water I had drunk. My body was sensitive to both hot and cold. My head was heavy, drowsy, and occasionally losing orientation. I lost interest in activities which I usually enjoyed such as playing recorders. I was unsociable and was afraid of meeting people. This was the worst experiences I had ever had. It looked like I was at the end of the world.

My doctor was on vacation when I had side-effect problems and was not available for consulting. I made a decision on my own to stop taking non-benzodiapepine drugs and to go back to temazepine with lower dosage but at the same time supplemented with valerian, a sleeping-aid herb which can be bought from a regular health-food store.

After doing that, I returned back to my sense-of-well-being. Now, I am a regular me who had everything which I usually took for granted. This experience has taught me that everything we have taken for granted can be lost. For that reason while we are enjoying what we are, we must be thankful and live the best of all.

Qi-Kong Alone In The US

I learned about Qi-Kong while I was sabbatical in Taiwan. Coming back to US, I was ready to give it a try: Practice Qi-Kong alone at Dr. Chen's porch with a winter cap.

Unlike Taiwanese who would spontaneously gather together in the park, or school campus in the morning to do various morning exercises which included Qi-Kong, Tai-Chi, Dance, and many others, Americans in the neighborhood do not spontaneously gather to do exercise. Americans prefer pay exercise club membership fee and to do cardiovascular and weight exercises in the club. Since there are no single Qi-Kong group in the club, it means that Dr. Chen has to do this alone at the garden porch.

Taiwanese summer is hot. Even in the morning, the temperature can be as high as 28 C (or 82 F). Wisconsin summer is quite cool. The temperature in the morning is typical 15 C (or 60 F). You need extra clothes besides T-shirt to feel comfortable in the outside.

Attached please find a photo which shows Dr. Chen is practicing Qi-Kong at his Wisconsin home.

Sand Castles

I heard one version of the 'sand castle' stories from one of Pastor Chuck's children sermon in the Memorial Presbyterian Church in Appleton, WI.

Here, I write about my version of the 'Sand Castle' story. Here it goes:

Jenny does not remember how many sand castles she has built over the last 25 years. She is young enough to remember the details of the castles she has built either on her own or with friends or even with parent. She is also old enough to understand the philosophy of building sand castles.

Jenny's first castle was at the shore of San Diego (CA) when she was only 6 years old. Her parent took her over there for vacation. Actually the castle was built mostly by her dad and mom; but Jenny did help from the side using her arms and legs to shore up the sand. The first castle they built was quite elaborate: it is equipped with molt that surrounded outside of the castle, and two cannon battery site. There even sand soldiers either standing or walking to guard the castle. Just about this beautiful castle to finish, a wave coming over high enough to swallow the castle and completely destroyed the castle they had built.

When the family is back to the shore of Lake Michigan of Wisconsin, Jenny began to build castle on her own. The second castlt was completely built on her own. It was only a simple pile of sands with the sands inside the wall carved away to give it a look of sand castle. Later, other friends join in continuing to add features here and there and their castles were becoming more elaborate. But no matter how many castles they had builts, all of them eventually were swallowed and destroyed by the wave.

Jenny now has her own child of 3 years old. This year, Jenny and her husband Mark took the 3 years old baby to the sea shore to introducing sand castle lesson to their child.

Their castle finally finished after 3 hours of hard work. A big wave rushing over from the ocean swallowed and destroyed their castles; just like it swallowed and destroyed other sand castles.

The baby cried sadly. Jenny said to her child not to worry, because everything we had today is only a fleating experience and it will eventually vanish. However, the process of building the castle will make you a better castle builder and also allows you to make friends with other friends. Most importantly, you will have fun of building the castle, and that fun counts all.

My Dear Tennis Friend--Larry Passed Away in February, 2009

Bad Things happen to good people; they had happened to my good friend, Larry.

Last year, I ran a short story about Larry in my other blog--Taiwan Sabbatical--http://chentaiwansabbatical.blogspot.com/

Larry was my tennis buddy in Wisconsin. We have been playing tennis together for Monday morning tennis drill for several years. This was the drill on Monday morning, 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM and it takes great determination to get up in the very early cold and dark morning in the winter days of Wisconsin. Larry also organized Saturday's men's double league on Saturday morning. I also play in that league for many years.

Larry was in the 40's. A physician himself, he ate right and exercised everyday. He was cheerful and no one had expected something bad would happen to him. One day he had a routine physical examination and asked his doctor to check on one of the strange spots on his skin.
Larry's fate suddenly changed when the doctor told him that the strange spot on his skin was actually a malignant form of skin cancer. A follow-up check revealed even a worse news: the cancer has metastasized to his lymph system. Without treatment, he was expected to live for another 6 months. and there were no effective treatments available guaranteed to cure his illness.

Larry told this bad news in one of our gathering. We promised to be his support behind his struggle against his illness. One of the tennis fellow, Robert, also a physician himself, gave him a big hug. Larry's tears ran out of his eyes. So did we.

Larry terminated his physician pracice to get full attention on his cancer treatment. This was a sign of his professionalism because a person fighting for the illness cannot simply gives 100% attention to his patient. He went into his struggle against his cancer. If he could, he always showed up at our tennis gathering to give us update on his treatment.

Larry was diagnosed in April, 2007. His doctor gave him 6 months to live. When I left US for my sabbatical in Taiwan in July, I saw him and promised him to pray for him. We said to each other, "We will fight the odds."

Larry did. He outlived his doctor's fate prediction by nearly 6 more months.


When I came back to US, the first thing I asked was how Larry was doing. My other tennis friend, Mike, told me that Larry passed away in February.

Bad thing did happen to good people. Larry, we miss you.