Hello, World Map Pieces Collectors!

Amazing readers from about 56(maybe more?) nations worldwide have been collected here. These names are wonderful; they show up now and then, indicating a whole new era of global communication and cooperation. That makes me very happy.

Even I’m not smart enough to learn all kinds of languages in the world, those great readers are smart enough to enjoy Chinese and English. That also makes me very happy. 

This is another life dream of the shy and timid kid in my heart. I used to be so nervous being asked questions like “Where are you from?” or “Which country?” Answering R.O.C. or Taiwan, and getting responses such as “Never heard of it!” or “What? Where is it?” really hurt a kid’s feelings. A kid who had no clue about global politics or conflict of national interests only felt heart-broken. “Oh, poor me! Being born on a cute tiny island full of pretty flowers in Pacific Asia, and nobody cares! So small! No one knows! I’ll be so lonely until the day I die! People would only wonder: What? Such a not-big-deal place exists on Mother Earth, too? Really?” Just like the typical childish thoughts of a stupid kid, right? 

I liked puzzle games a lot when I was a kid. Collecting pieces and reconstructing the whole picture was so much fun. Checking this blog and collecting colorful nationalities is fun, too. Before any talk of nationalities, let’s say, we are all earth beings; human beings. No complicated political thinking can change this simple fact: we’re connected as the same biological beings, and we live on this planet together.

Here’s what I’d like to say for that nervous sad kid, “This is where I was born. It’s name is Taiwan. Most people don’t know what on earth R.O.C. is, so let’s skip that and just use a more popular name instead. We have great food (you’ll love it, but don’t develop any attachment afterwards according to Buddhist teachings ), nice view, great art, funny ideas, kind people (we fight and quarrel a lot inside, but always keep smiling and being extremely kind to foreigners; wonder why), beautiful women (sometimes very scary, I must admit that), hard-working men (laziness is not allowed officially, poor men), sweet kids (they almost become national treasures nowadays, you know) in a multi-culture society through both interesting history and HERSTORY lines (even when people swear dirty words loudly on the streets, they never forget to mention the big word “MOTHER,” for your information; don’t be too surprised when you visit here). People here are both strong and tender; we keep joking and laughing even when facing all kinds of hardships or challenges. (Never heard of us? Fine, let me tell you about it, hahaha!)” 

Let’s add Taiwan to your World Map Pieces Collection, O.K.? This surely would make us very, very happy!