Month: June 2015

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Introducing Sanzhi 三芝!

Catherine Lee

New house, new town!  Yep, I’m now living in the town of Sanzhi  三芝, variously spelt Sanzhi, Sanshi, Sanjhih or Sanchih, and just to confuse you further, variously pronounced San-ze or San-jer.  We’re on the NW coast of Taiwan, 5 miles (8 km) north of St. John’s University, and about 3 miles SW of the northern tip of Taiwan, a GREAT location! Sanzhi Town and District is the sort of place where everyone passes through in order to get to somewhere else.  They’re on their way north to the beautiful white sand beach just up the road at Baishawan, going … Continue reading Introducing Sanzhi 三芝!

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EDITORIAL: Emergency plans crucial to safety – Taipei Times

Catherine Lee

A nightmare of a week in Taiwan after the Colour Play Party disaster at the nearby water park last Saturday. Almost 500 injured, many critically – so far one has died, others may well follow.  Everybody knows somebody who was there or who has been affected in some way.  There are photos and messages all over social media asking for people’s prayers for the injured. This article sums up well the tragedy of the situation…. EDITORIAL: Emergency plans crucial to safety – Taipei Times. Continue reading EDITORIAL: Emergency plans crucial to safety – Taipei Times

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Summer on the Northern Tip of Taiwan!

Catherine Lee

It’s midsummer and hot hot hot ~ temps in the mid 30’s all day, and still hot at night ~ so the early morning is the time to be out ~ YES! Walked today around the northern tip of Taiwan, Baishawan Beach, Fugui Harbour and Lighthouse (built by the Japanese in 1897 ~ on the actual northern tip of Taiwan), Laomei algal reefs and Shimen Arch. Plus a few fancy places in-between, the wedding plaza, the new Sunrise Inn! Beautiful scenery, stunning views, blue skies and blue sea, and a very nice fresh sea breeze…. it’s really such a great … Continue reading Summer on the Northern Tip of Taiwan!

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Welcoming Rev. Joel del Rosario ~ from EDCP to Taipei!

Catherine Lee

The latest exciting adventure in the ongoing partnership between St. James’ Church, Taichung and the Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines (EDCP) has been the visit to St. James for the last 2 months of Rev. Joel del Rosario – and these last 3 days on his way back home to the Philippines he had the chance to come to Taipei ~ YES! Fr. Joel was previously in charge of several of the churches in EDCP that have been built with money raised by St. James’ Church since 1998. He was also previously dean of the national cathedral in Manila, and … Continue reading Welcoming Rev. Joel del Rosario ~ from EDCP to Taipei!

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Yang-Ming Shan Mountains 陽明山國家公園 ~ Escaping the Heat!

Catherine Lee

Today is Dragon Boat Festival and so yesterday was a day off too – yippee!  So up to the Yang-Ming Shan Mountains to escape temps of 37.1°C recorded in Taipei City…. We had sun and clouds and fog, on and off all day ~ good for walking, but not so good for photos!  First to Erziping 二子坪, then up to Mian-Tian Shan 面天山, Datun Shan 大屯山 and finally along to Qishing Shan 七星山 via the fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng 小油坑 ~ that’s 3 mountains and quite a way in-between, finishing in a foot-bath at the Lengshueikeng 冷水坑 Hot Springs!  It’s the Yang-Ming … Continue reading Yang-Ming Shan Mountains 陽明山國家公園 ~ Escaping the Heat!

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St. John’s University Student Fellowship 2015 Farewell Party 團契送舊!

Catherine Lee

The last full week of term and the last student fellowship gathering for this school year, and so farewell to a lovely group of students ~ we’ll definitely miss you all! Some have been members of St. John’s University Student Fellowship for the last 4 years and graduated last weekend ~ and others have been here in Taiwan for a relatively short time and are returning home to Mainland China, so we said goodbye to them all on Thursday night in Advent Church…. The theme was Cosplay (literally “Costume Play” ~ meaning dressing up and pretending to be a fictional … Continue reading St. John’s University Student Fellowship 2015 Farewell Party 團契送舊!

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St. John’s University Farewells Retiring Faculty and Staff 歡送退休人員聚會!

Catherine Lee

Today St. John’s University said farewell to 6 faculty and staff who are retiring at the end of this academic year, next month in fact ~ and many of them looking far too young to retire!  But several have been here for 25 years, and all are full of plans for what they’re going to do next…. Actually one of them couldn’t come today, but the other 5 were all here – plus about 100 present (and just-retired) faculty and staff, including President Chen Jean-Lien – all here saying goodbye, laden with gifts and flowers!  The whole event was held … Continue reading St. John’s University Farewells Retiring Faculty and Staff 歡送退休人員聚會!