Congratulations to all of you, who visit this website,It means that you have leisure and money to travel enjoying the life. After you read the following four casesYou will know why I said you are luck.

Case 1.

One old couple came in to inquire how to get an US passport.The lady is 57 years old and her husband about 10 years older then her. The man was helping her to fill out the form; it looks like they had hardtime to fill out the form. After I help them and checked all the information, I asked how they would like to pay. They do not have check book, they had to pay by money order, so I asked them to buy one $75.00 and another one for $25.00.  The lady said “No” I only need the passport card, the fee only $20.00,I explained to them that the card is only good for land go through the boarderbetween US and Mexico, or US and Canada, not for air plane. The lady said “Yes! I only need the card, just for the police come to check at my work place, not for traveling. She said we never go to travel.

Case 2.

One man cut in to the line and interrupted me to process passport application for the appointment customer, I asked him, you need help? Yes, I have appointment.What time is your appointment? 1:30PM, Then, just come at 1:30PM, Now is 12:45PM. I had bad feeling that people cut in and interrupt your work. The man came at 1:30PM with his wife and daughter, at that time I remember that he was one refused to sign the application form for his 10 years old son. About 6 months ago,he came with his ex wife and son to apply passport for his son.  To everybody’s surprise,He refused to sign the form, I asked him that do you want your son go to abroad and enjoy the life. He answered “Yes.” Then sign the form. He still insisted not to sign the form and went away, left his ex wife and son so embarrassing before the public.  I did not want to involve into their family affair, but I suggested the woman that she can go to court try to get sole custody,Or wait until the boy older than 14 years old, and then no need his father sign the form.

Case 3.

A disable senior man came in with stick to ask me the direction how to go to our sub-station,I asked why you need to go there. He said I need to rent a box; because you do not have any available here. I need it today, so that I can call to social security office to change my mailing address to the P O Box, I don’t want the check be mailed to my daughter’s house,She takes my money. I asked how old your daughter is, he answered, 42. Does she work? No,She just tries to take any penny from me. I checked with our sub-station to make sure that they have box available there, I don’t want him go there and get the same answer that no box available. Before he goes there, I had a second thought that I should help this senior man to get box here, that would be more convenient for him, so I made a special arrangement for him to get a box right away .It took me so much time to help him even loss my break time, because he does not know his daughter’s home address, I called her to verify, she asked what for my father is at your office, I did not tell her is for applying for a box. She even called back three times to ask what for.

Case 4.

My co-worker asked me to do a favor for him to process his parents’ passports without appointment. From the conversation that I know my co-worker is taking care his parents very good, I was so admiring that he still have good healthy parents,and this couple is so lucky to have such a good son to take care of them.  So, how do you think about those four cases peoples? How nice the man in case 1, so good care to his wife, and how sad they never go to travel enjoy the life, only so scare every minutes that police might come to check their status of citizenship.I definitely do not like the man in case 2, gave up his original spouse and son, he might destroy his son’s bright future, just because he did not want to sign the form and embarrassed them before public. Few months later he showed before me with his new wife and daughter .In case 3, the disable man’s daughter and son do not know where the father is staying,even himself, I found the hospital telephone number from his wrist ring, and help him to find where he is staying. The daughter and son should be punished, and send them to have community service, or military training to learn how to support them self and how to good care their father, and not to get money from their old disable father. In case 4,How lucky my co-worker still has 82 years old parents with good health, and how lucky this old couple have good son to take care of them, even still can travel abroad. So, when will be the next trip for you to bring your parents, spouse, and children to have a good vacation? Enjoy! And good luck to all of you. 

For your reference: 1.       Now there is option that you may apply passport book and passport card. The passport book fee will be $75.00 for the 16 or older, $60.00 for the 15 or younger. Appreciated to effort of passport centers, now routine service will only take few weeks,Even only ten days to get passport book.  Don’t worry that your passport card is missing if you applied, because the passport card only starts to produce in July 2008.

2.       The age for two parents law is 16 years now (before was 14)It means that both parents need to sign the application form, if the child is 15 or younger. It only needs one parent to sign if 16 or 17 years old.

At a noon time, before I have greeting to a customer, the young guy already told me that “I just come in to let you know that I can not walk, but I can not stop walking.” I looked at him; he is about age 25 years old, keep moving his two legs inch by inch front of me, with sweat on his face. I was curious, do I know this guy?  He is not coming for complain something or for passport application, or ask for help, just let me know that he can not walk, but he can not stop walking.  I am not a doctor, is he just make a joke to me?  I was still thinking, but he already turned his body outward, I called him, Sir! It is so hard for you that you can not walk, but you have to keep walking. He looked at me and then walked cripplingly away, left me so many questions mark for me.

I told this event to my coworker, she told me that I just watched TV last night, there is a young lady has the same situation. She was laughed by her friends that she was fat. So she started to exercise and walk non stop and on diet to reduce her weight. She was doing well reducing her weight from a fat lady to 144 pounds, but she still have people’s laugh in her incenter, so she push herself keep non-stop exercise and walking as well as on diet, and her weight slim down to 135 pounds. Her family found that she needs go to see doctor, and put her at hospital for treatment.  One year later she was out from hospital with normal life. Unfortunately, there still was people’s laugh in her deep mind, she was keep doing non-stop walking, and her weight further lower down to 129 pounds, her family told her that you have to wake up, and realize that you are too slim, and too weak, we already tried our best and all money to help you and there is no any penny that we can help you any more. How sad those two same situation stories. Do people needs to laugh for other’s fat, or not good looking outward appearance?  Please pass good words to others, don’t do the thing like Taiwan Bambusicola. If someone calls you “Taiwan Bambusicola”, don’t make mistake that it is a compliment to you. No, It means that you are trouble maker.   The megalaima oorti sounds like a wooden fish.  It likes to build nest in withered trees and is indigenous to Taiwan.  Look carefully, can you identify its five different colors?  The Bambusicola thoracica, “jigouguai, jugouguai,” is so noisy that in Taiwanese it is given the same name as someone who likes to fight and cause trouble.  There are many interesting bird call.  Let’s see if you can make up stories for the different ones.

There was a man about age between 30 -40 years old. He put 50 cents into vending machine would like to get a single 41 cents stamp, unfortunately, there is no 41 cents single stamp, so he was requested by machine to add more money to $8.20 to get a book for 20 stamps. He came to me for help, I explained to him that there are two ways you can do is: Put more money to get one book, or you fill out the refund form, so that we can refund you 50 cents. He answered that yes I need one book, but I want to pay by credit card. So I gave him refund form to fill out and asked him go to counter for one book stamp and pay by credit card. 

Here was the big issue happened:He asked me what your name?My name is Joe.What is your last name?You just put my name is Joe, no need to put my last name, because there is only one Joe in this office.He jump up right away, and yelled very loud to me, what kind of service you have?I answered: Sir! Did I do anything wrong to you?No, you didn’t, but why you did not pass out your last name to me.Sir, I just told you there is only one Joe in this office, no need to put my last name.What kind of service you have? why you do not give me your last name?Sir, from our employee’s manual, I do not need to give you my last name.He kept yelling, what kind of service, and asked my supervisor.My supervisor came and politely asked: Sir, I am the supervisor here, how can I help you.He was not tired to state again the story to my supervisor how bad service I had, why I did not pass out my last name to him.My supervisor showed his badge to him, and asked him: Write down my last name, I am the supervisor here.He still not satisfy, and ask the complain form to complain what kind of bad service I had, because he was keep yelling so loud to my supervisor, so another supervisor came to help, and he argued to those two supervisors, asked for the employee’s manual to verify that employee is not necessary to pass out their last name. 

I was thinking what kind of life this man has?  What kind of life this man’s family has?  How his wife (if he married) can bear her husband’s bad temper like this, just because of 50 cents? and what kind of family education to their children. 

This story is a very minor issue, but he made it as big. Is it necessary treating every minor issue like this manner? I am sorry that I post my cousin’s good article in Chinese. Please ask your friend to translate for you, it is good to read, and please change your attitude to your spouse, if your manner likes this man, life is short. 

May God bless you. 

The priest was so kind to ask everybody to stand up and prayed for me
when I first time went to church.

I am so sorry for my cousin that his first time went abroad was for his brother’s first time and last time went abroad, and passed away in foreign country.

Although I am not a priest, but may I kindly ask whoever read my blog to pray for him and his father, mother, mother in law for a healthy, painless life.

May God bless you, my cousin, his family, and all of us.

First time was beat by my father

Everything has the first time, but be beat is not a good experience. It happened When I was about 8 years old, while I was playing with my aunt and her classmates at the river bank, I did not remember what was the beginning why I fight to one of my aunt’s classmate, she called her big brother (about 23 years old) who was working near to the place we were fighting. He ran to me and gave me a heavy slam on my left cheek, what was worse he threw me into the river. My aunt ran fast back to tell my grandma, my grandma want her to get my father go to save me. Yes! My father was on the way to there., until now, I am still so clearly remember that when my father saw me crying back, he put down his burden from his shoulder and picked up a bamboo sticker, beating me, I was shaken, and running back home to see my grandma, you will see my grandma was so upset to him, said “what a father you are?” your son was beat by someone adult, you should stand at his side and help him to fight that man back, you did not save him, contrarily you beat him, what kind of father you are!!!

Second times was beat by my father.

Sorry!  I have to tell you more my bad behaviors and was beat by my father second times, but I can tell you that it was the last times beat by my father in my all life, by then I never made bad behavior again and let him mad. The story it happened at my age about 9 years old, I picked up some baby watermelons with my two younger sisters from the field, we opened them and eat, you know they test like what? So we threw them away, if you were my father, you will also be so angry and beat me.

First time have seen my father cry.

My young sister called me in May 2005, said “our father doesn’t look good, his pacemaker is popping out from the skin”, I booked air ticket and flew back to Taiwan right away. Unfortunately, doctor found he had cancer in his chest, and moved his pacemaker from left to right chest, and had him chemotherapy for the cancer. We went home after 10 days treatment in hospital. He got into hospital again in October 2006; I spent 4 weeks with him in hospital and another 3 weeks at home. My mom got into the room when I was packing up my luggage, and told me that your father is crying at living room. I ran there, it was the first time I saw my father cry. We all knew it might be the last time we see each other in our life.

Second time saw my father cry.

Thanks God! When I visited doctor again with my father in January 2008, doctor told me that it is a miracle that your father already had 10 more months life than regular medical statistics. My mom asked my father on the day when I left for USA, why your eyelid are swelling? I knew why, he just pretends that I am not leaving, actually he was crying behind of us. It was hard time for us when the time I really got to go, it was the second time I saw my father cry.

Your father is still crying until now.

I told my mom before I leave, said I will call you let you know when I arrived LA safely, and the phone will just has two rings then hang up, it is too cold for you to get up answer the phone in the early morning 3 o’clock. I called her back again few hours later. She told me that your father still crying until now after your departure yesterday, and we all did not sleep after you left, I also got up to answer the phone, but you already hang up.

Very good education to me.

Learning from my parents, they have a very good education and sample to me. I become a very humble man and polite to everybody, try to help any body if I can. I learned how to control my temper and do not fight to anybody after the first beat from my father, and learned how save, do not waste food, money,— from the second beat.

Once upon a time, one of my coworkers was passing through me. She was at very bad mood.  I called her, Hey! Veronica, what happened to you, you do not look good. What happened? She said: Oh! You don’t know how stupid she is, and then followed a series of complaint to another coworker. After her complaint, I asked her a question, if one day a mad dog bit you while you are walking on street.  How you would like to do? Kneel down on floor, put your two hands around your face, look at the mad dog with your red eyes, open your big mouth, bark as loud as you can and bite the mad dog back? Then you will get more serious wound.  Or keep away from the mad dog, and have a shot at hospital as quick as possible in order not to get rabies. She smiled and said: Joe you are funny, but it makes sense. So, I always made a sign with my two hands around my face and bark to her whenever I saw her, and she smiled back to me, she is happier and less argue to coworkers. 

So, again! Please keep smile and smile, Let’s croak, croak instead of bark, bark, enjoy the beautiful life. 

One lady was treated with herb medicine, chemotherapy for several months and then had two times of operations, but still died at her age of 36 years old due to her large intestine cancer.  She was so curious that why she got such a cancer, because she was taking care of her health carefully. Just few weeks before she pass away, she finally realized the reason why she got cancer, and told to her family and friends that I wish I would not be a woman again in next life.  Why woman is so narrow-minded always ague to trifle matter. She exhorted to them that one has to keep rhathymia, smile at all the time, do not get anger, tension or calculative to every minor issues. Otherwise, cancer will catch you easily.

On last Saturday when the door was just open as schedule at 10:00am, there were about 30 to 40 customers crowed into the lobby and about another 15 people get into passport office. I called the name who has appointment at 10:00, no body answer, so I called the next one and started to process his passport application. Here came in a young couple with a two years old daughter at five past ten.  The lady cut in the line said she has appointment at ten.  I answered that I am sorry you are late; I already started process the next one, so you have to wait until I finish this one. She got angry right away and yelled at the top of her voice, no! You have to do for me right away, I cannot wait.  And keep yelling to me front of other customers. I called my supervisor Gloria to deal with her, but she still insisted that I have to do for her right away.  Gloria said Ma’am I cannot help you that, just like what Joe had explained to you that he will squeeze his time to help you after he has done this, because I do not have any other passport agent now could help you.  But this lady never stop argue. So, Gloria called to another office to find out whether they can help this mad lady. Finally this lady walked away angrily to another office. How can I give to this lady any comment, First, she has to spend at least twenty minutes drive to another office, and the same not be guaranty to be process right away. Second, her innocent husband lost face in front of everybody, what is the worse, the sickness or cancers might get her easily, and the most important point is she is teaching her daughter in a very bad personal example.

So, please keep smiling and smiling, Let’s go to the SPA, Breathe deeply and exercise.

Waterfalls and forests are rich in anions, which make the air fresher and have many health benefits, including boosting ones immune system, whilst also promoting a sense of contentment and happiness.  In other words, being close to a waterfall or forest is like taking a SPA for the soul.

The point I would like to state is: Although the economic and politics in Taiwan is so bad, but there still are so many beautiful places to sightsee. And there are so many successful persons in every field of profession. My one of students is the example.  I still strongly remember that he ridded a motorcycle with his wife and first birth baby to visit me in Taipei 17 years ago. Surprised to me that he totally changed to a new man, a very successful rich businessman. He invited me to join his company’s year-end party. That was the second party in this trip I attended. In the raining evening, I was late; he sent one of his managers to wait for me at the entrance. I was seated at the chairman table with him, enjoyed the delicious food and drank some. When I said goodbye to him, and going to take late train to go back to my parent’s house at countryside about 9:30pm.  He said: Oh, no, don’t go back tonight, I will lead you to climb a mountain tomorrow morning at 6:00am, and then go to spa, that is a white natural spring water. It is said that yellow spring water in Yangmingshan or Lishan are good for bone to cure arthritis, and the white natural spring water is good for skin. I answered that how nice it is!  But it is not a good idea to have mountain climb in a raining day, even in the early morning. Then he said: Don’t worry!  Raining in the plain, but it will not rain over there in the mountain. He opened a bottle of expensive red wine after we sat down in his living room.  Later on his mother and his wife as well as his 7 years old little son joined us.  We were talking about stock market, you will not believe that his 7 years old little son said: I am going to buy XX stock.  I was so surprised and asked why you want to buy this XX stock?  He said: this XX company’s EPS is very good; you will make some money if you keep for long term. My goodness! A seven years old boy already know some stock market. I am sure that he doesn’t know any technical analysis. 

So, keep logging into my blog: mrjoechang.com, in the Taiwan trip-part 2, I will tell you the nice place to go and natural white spring spa, Sure, it is a very good for your health.

Is Taiwanese like this poor bird looking all day long for nothing?Traffic likes the mess in this pool?Economic and politics like this broken pot?

There was an advertisement for big screen 32” TV in LA county few years ago.  This advertisement said: Using one word to describe USA, that is “BIG”, “Land is Big”, “Merchandise is Big”, “Our TV screen is Big”. At that time, I had feeling that if using one word to describe TAIWAN that will be “MESS”, “Traffic is in a Mess”, “Politics is in a Mess”, “and Morale is in a Mess”. Three years ago when I approached to Home Depot parking lot, there were about 20 people waiting there for a temporary job, all the people forwarded to my car when I stop there, and asked for a job. I pick up the one who can speak a little English; I offered him $8.00 per hour, he insisted to have $10.00 because he can speak in English. 

Bula

It was so impressed and interested me that men wearing skirt, it is quite a different from most of other countries in the world.  If you ask me where I prefer to have my retirement, I will say that will be Fiji Island. Not because I like the men wearing skirt, because they are just the same as my home countryside when I was in teenager, people’s hospitality and simplicity.

Fiji consists of 322 islands and 522 smaller islets; basically they are a group of volcanic islands.         Viti Levu and Vanua Levu are the two most important islands. Suva is the nation’s capital located in Viti Levu.  Viti Levu is the largest island covers an area of 10,388 sq km, is about 106 km from east to west, and 146 km from north to south. The shape is just like a green jade pendant. There is only one road around the perimeter of island, I don’t think you need to refer map so often., and you can stop wherever you like the coast, the water is so clean, and you can just relax there, listening the wind whistle on the palm tree.   

The reason I would like to state something more about Australia, because I like Australia just the same as I like Switzerland.  You will feel that you are respected and welcomed when you are there. I was asked politely by police officer in high speed ICE (Inter-City-Express) in Switzerland.The officer first greeting to me: Welcome visit to Switzerland, may I have your passport please? He returned passport to me after checking, and said, “Have a nice trip and enjoy in Switzerland”.

When the ICE was going into Germany, The train was stop at the boarder of Switzerland and Germany for security check.  Ok! Here came the tall policeman with uniform, look so tough and blew his whistle. He asked to me “Passport?”,  “what for you are here?”.  See! It was so different between Switzerland and Germany. Swiss know that smile, greeting, nice to tourists can increase their tourist industry. You will never forget their hospitality.

Kangaroo and Koala

Besides of beautiful landscapes, coasts in Australia. Some individual animals are also the most popular and best known.Koala was called Native Bear, and is till sometimes called Koala Bear, but it is not a member of bear family. They sleep for most of the day; you just would like to hold them, because they are so cute. 

With large ears and eyes, Kangaroo has small front arms, but their feet are very long and legs are very strong. You see the the guy at the left front of the photo, he is the emir, don’t touch his ladies, otherwise,  Be careful your underbelly, don’t be kicked.

 Sydney Australia

It was not a joke; it was a real story happened in my neighborhood in 1998.  A young couple just moved from Mainland China to USA.  One night they strolled along the street to enjoy the quiet cool beautiful night after dinner, they saw a property with a sign for sale, that is a three units on a lot about 7000 square feet. Next day they called to ask price, the agent ask for US$180,000.00. The original owner asked their personal information for credit check, these young couple answered: What for? We will pay by cash. You will not believe that they sat down and signed the contract within one hour. Wao! The agent and original owner were so surprise, the young couple just like the TV program “DEAL or NO DEAL”, they did not press down the switch say NO DEAL, and they said happily “DEAL”. Lucky them! the young couple sold the property at US$270,000.00 six months after they bought. They were so happy to earn lots of money in such a short time.  But regretful to them, they found out this property was sold out again at US$350,000.00 one year later. (For your reference, its price will be more than US$580,000.00 now 2007). 

After delicious dinner with a bottle of red wine at Sydney in Australia in 1989, my friend Frank Friedman told me that he personally doesn’t like Far East people; he said many Japanese, Singapore, and Hong Kong, of course including Taiwan people. They moved to Australia and purchased property lift the price. Frank said: For example, I purchased my house at A$85,000.00 five years ago (1984), and now it cost A$240,000.00 in 1989.  We can’t afford to buy property now.

 From the following real story, you will understand why people would like to move to USA, Canada, Australia, - -etc.,  Due to limited time stay in Sydney Australia, we discussed where we will spend our last day in Sydney, Frank said: I have been living in Australia for more than 20 years, but I never visit our capital CANBERRA, so we decided go to Canberra with AAT tour company.  Unfortunately, we arrived to AAT bus station in the next day early morning, three of us could not get into the bus due to their over book the seats. Wau! You will know what happened, Frank and Fritz were so upset and yelling to the service young lady, this young lady was so smart, she first apologized and led us to office to see her supervisor, Frank and Fritz were still so angry, the supervisor further asked us go to his office.

I am sorry, I know what happened, but the bus was gone, can you go to Canberra tomorrow?                  No, we are  leaving tomorrow.

Or, we will refund you money, and you can go to any tour today free of charge in the city.                       No, we already had the most of city tours.

There is a bus going to Blue Mountain and leaving in a minute, would you like to go there?

            OK! We go.

We got A$156.00 cash refund, which paid earlier by credit card. We three got free tour to Blue Mountain, and enjoyed the last day at Sydney Australia. Just like the status “Laugher” in Art Gallery of NSW, I still laugh until now whenever I recall the trip to Australia in 1989.