台北市城中幾座花園／莊峻華

 台北市城中幾座花園／莊峻華

三月初回台灣整牙，住火車站前客棧，清晨散步到新公園喝豆漿，無意間遇到杜鵑花怒放，隨後的一個多月，我就陶醉於台北市城中幾座花園，比起當年，我說是上世紀中葉之榮星花園，更加有趣，而且更自然美麗又免費，我是位環遊全球，參觀過無數座花園之老遊客。我遇到的是台北之杜鵑花和櫻花，還有大理花，天竺牡丹，和一種俗名蜘蛛花之草本科，這三座花園是總統府附近的228公園，介壽公園，和總統府；自由廣場花園；和大安森林公園，當然建國假日花市也可以順便加入，我在1975年離開台灣，首次巧遇春天台北的花季。

228公園過去是新公園，現在有許多杜鵑花，無需上陽明山觀賞杜鵑花矣，新公園內就有許多處杜鵑花叢，而且是五花八色，台北市政府培植幾色杜鵑花於一叢，花開時同時展示於一處，巧奪天弓，而且這些杜鵑花都是老株，花開時非常壯觀美麗，加上台北春雨。這些杜鵑花一直培植到介壽公園，就是北一女中校園和新公園之間，為紀念蔣介石生日而建。杜鵑花也種植在宏偉的總統府庭院，走過總統府都可以駐足拍照留念。台北市政府也開始種植日本櫻花，這是全球趨勢，櫻株尚且年輕，再過半世紀，必是蔚然壯觀。

過東門和南門，就是自由廣場，這自由廣場就是原中正廟，是1975年蔣薨後興建，後來加蓋兩座國家音樂廳和國家劇院，都是中國古典建築，中正廟比較像帝陵，但是自由廣場面積廣大，有很多花圃，也有梅林，梅樹都已經結實累累，顯然冬殘日梅花盛開時，必令中國人落淚不已，我曾參觀過日本大阪城之梅園和桃園許多次，都未遇梅花開，看到桃花和櫻花，大阪城規模更大更宏偉畢竟是三百五十萬石之大諸侯，豐臣秀吉，比蔣介石有實權。

再來就是大安森林公園和台北市之建國假日花市，大安森林公園座落於幾處台北市大道間，我誤以為只是原建國南路和信義路之國際學舍，讀大學時夏天，我常坐巴士到國際學舍看電影，所以不以為異，沒想到這是一座大花園，我看到天竺牡丹，就是日本秋田種，北市政府將它植於盆

中，現在是開花季中，非常美麗，而且有一種蜘蛛花，我在休市後院有種植，台北早開花，我贈送許多給球友兼花友，看了森林花園蜘蛛花後，明年春天她將旅行台灣拜訪大安森林公園之蜘蛛花海。

我原想走私幾顆大理花根來美國，後來在建國假日花市看到一小盆要價150元新台幣，我始放棄此念，美國兩塊花根是12美元，相差有限，但無海關麻煩，新竹大霸尖山軍營上廟裏庭院，也種許多大理花，花開四季，我將許多美麗花朵相片，分享全球讀者。

My headache is to keep on driving an old vehicle/Carlos Pueblo

 My headache is to keep on driving an old vehicle/Carlos Pueblo

Living in Houston, Texas, you must drive a vehicle to go around in your life. The city or county can't afford to build public transportation like the city of New York or city of Chicago. I feel comfortable when I think of the city of Los Angeles, California, there is no effective public transportation for people to take either. Driving a personal  vehicle costs money and drains your personal savings as well. I have been driving a 26 years old 1998 Q45 ever since I lost my main job in 2001. I have managed to get by every year to pass the vehicle inspection and repair required. Recently, both my vehicle and my son Arthur's 2008 Camry have been adding to my headache constantly and I can't manage such a crisis even though I shouldn't have any issue. I can afford to replace them with new vehicles yet I can't do it.

Arthur can't drive a new vehicle to work. He works at a supermarket and the parking lot is not safe for a new vehicle. I owe him a new vehicle because I have promised him a new vehicle when he graduates from the University of Houston with a degree. After I lost my main insurance agent's job in 2001, there has been no need for me to drive to visit my customers; therefore, I have managed well to get by with old vehicles on our small fleet in the family. I let Amy and Michelle drive newer vehicles while Arthur and I drive older ones. All of us understand such savings, I mean real savings and investment of such savings in the current stock market.

When the old vehicle has been sent to a garage, it usually costs more than a thousand dollars to come back out. It has been very annoying now because there are two older vehicles now, especially my 98 Q45 which is now at the shop to replace a new alternator. The vehicle quits every month after the battery is dead. In January, there was a power steering pump to be replaced and also belts. Arthur's Camry has had an issue of wires bit by squirrels forcing the check engine light on. Once the mechanic opens the hood, he always reminds me to do the regular maintenance like replacing belts, etc.

It is a two car garage and there are three vehicles in the household. None of our vehicles can be parked inside our garage because our garage is full of old stuff which I can't get rid of. I have many reasons why I always keep on driving old vehicles because it is very difficult to get rid of any one of them. I go away from home quite often nowadays to avoid such stress.

舊車煩惱2024／莊峻華

 舊車煩惱2024／莊峻華

家裡開舊車，可以省錢，但是有無窮的煩惱，我們家有三部舊車，都是日本製造，一是98年，一是08年，一是18年，前兩輛經常有麻煩，有時候真是不知所措。舊車無需本錢，蓋車錢已付清多年，只有維護費，好車維護費低廉，尤其是日本車，但老車則不然，車壞修理費昂貴，因為美國工資昂貴，繼續開舊車，可以將新車車款繼續存在基金，年增值和股息來支付舊車維護，是措措有餘，我曾經算過，所以煩惱難過大約過了一夜長考就習慣矣。

我們家元兒需開車上班，他在超市上夜班，新車停在超市不安全，所以他早不想開新車找麻煩，我是欠他一輛新車，因為他幫我完成他的休士頓大學學士位，主修市場學，學以致用，在超市工作，起薪三元五一小時，現在年薪三萬美金，一年有4週給薪假日，修車我付錢，免食宿等雜費，有時候我還幫他繳個人退休金，他的儲蓄所得已經是年薪之兩倍，開舊車他好我也好。我開的是老車，我只開來打網球，開車載園藝花草肥料，老車給元兒備用，緊急可以開愛美車急用，如此安排也有23年歷史，而且我也無業多年，而且是雲遊天下，不能開車，只能搭郵輪和坐飛機。

舊車送人，人都不要，因為很麻煩，車停在路旁，風吹日曬，落葉堆積，松鼠咬斷電線，車庫累積一生廢物，而且倒車不易，隨時碰撞，板金花錢，有錢不敢花，就像乞丐一樣，都是煩惱，新車很貴，我的老車新版要價七萬美金，車險也不便宜，離群索居日久，都不知全險要價，賣保險也是煩惱，人生都是煩惱，生老病死。

Visiting NTNU my alma mater in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting NTNU my alma mater in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

The National Taiwan Normal University is my alma mater. I graduated from the Chemistry Department in 1971; therefore, I was eligible to apply to study abroad after my two years conscription in the Nationalist Army and two years teaching duty at high schools in Taiwan. The degree which I obtained from this University gave me the opportunity to have an assistantship to pay for my graduate study, then becoming an immigrant to the United States. I have always appreciated this opportunity and that is why I always visited NTNU campus when I come back to my home country. On the first Monday after my arrival in Taiwan, I did have a wonderful visit on both University campuses, the College of Science campus at Kongkuan as well as the main campus on the East Ho-Ping Road. After that, I did go back to visit the main campus again to refresh my fond memory dating back to 60 years ago.

I entered the Affiliated Senior High of NTNU and that was in the 60's of the last century. I was very familiar with the main campus area of the NTNU. Later, I passed the college entrance examination to enter the NTNU with a total of seven years of my young life plus a year of teaching at a junior high school at a suburban township outside of Taipei. I still visited the main campus often until I left the country in 1975.

I took the subway and exited at a station near an intersection of East Ho-Ping Road and Roosevelt Boulevard and passed by the same one story frame office building of the Taiwan Electrical Company. The entire East Ho-Ping Road are high rising buildings and can't resemble any of the bungalow frame ghettos in the past. I enter the Main gate and still see the distinguished red brick building of the original Taihoku Koudo Gatgo, Taipei Senior Academy back to the Japanese Empire Era, 1895-1945, the building was established in 1922. Now, the limited campus area is crowded with tall buildings for the expansion of the University. I still can tell those familiar buildings including classrooms, department offices, and protected classics, etc.

A mere three colleges University back then when I was on the campus for my degree, and now there are 9 colleges with 62 departments with a total 130 degrees offered. It is a major reason why I am not able to visit the University President this time. He is very busy managing the University affairs. I am going to see him in Los Angeles for the Global Alumni Meeting in June of this year and I shall visit our future University administrators in the future as long as I am healthy and appreciate the opportunity to study at this wonderful university in my life.

拜訪母校台灣師大2024／莊峻華

 拜訪母校台灣師大2024／莊峻華

這次返台整牙雖是醫療需要，但非迫切更不是必需，主要是我有11年未曾返鄉，雖非落葉要歸根，但乘老身體尚可活動，經常長途旅行，兩次在休市遇見母校年輕校長和副校長等行政主管來訪，心生感激，眷念這栽培過我的好學校，沒有理由不能不專程拜訪，所以特別注意兩艘郵輪的橫跨太平洋之行程，一是四月十日珠寶號從東京駛返西雅圖16日，此行程早已售罄，因此注意到精神號五月八日，從溫哥華駛出東京之18日行，我在返台首行程中，得知我的牙醫再需要兩週，始能完成下層假牙，於是我在台北旅店，訂下今年第二次返台行的郵輪船票，就是溫哥華到東京這一段，其他的都是飛機票，也都順利購妥。三月初之首行，抵達台北是下午，連絡到我的牙醫後，當夜就有門診，陳大夫立即規劃新假牙製造過程，過了週末，我順利的和同窗班長黃瑞耀博士，約好拜訪母校公館理學院化學系，化學系是擺出陣仗接待，非常有趣，我有專文報導，呂主任專車載我們參加陳副校長之午餐招待，許多年輕教授陪席，下雨天我們又有呂主任趕到和平東路本校，拜訪校友會公關中心，非常隆重，不巧吳校長招待法國學者事忙，不然我們已趕到大禮堂會場，只待下次。

隔一週，我意猶未盡，在週六又搭車重返和平東路，這次未麻煩任何人物，我只是親自再訪問這座深具感情之學府。我在羅斯福路和和平東路交界下車，然後就慢步走向師大門口，我二姊惠美，當年就讀家政系，幫我安排在校門口一違章建築陋巷內，參加台北五省中聯考，我果然考上附中。剛才忘記交待那座台電木造辦公室仍在。師大校舍已經擴充幾倍大，但無需認真回憶，也可以認出當年幾棟台北高等學校之建築，我找不到樂群堂，約是11年前公關室美麗之淑媛姊還招待我一杯冰紅茶，樂群堂樓上是活動中心，我們辦過學術演獎，普渡大學諾貝爾獎布朗教授愛徒范凱達教授，在此發表其硼急進分子之研究，就是布朗之專長，幾天前我忘記提起給化學系之姚清發教授，他是布朗之徒孫。

過樂群堂需要走地下道穿過師大路，就是老龍泉街，師大校園美化許多年，我們的男生宿舍新蓋也有半世季矣，我們當年住的男生宿舍是台北高等學校之學寮，這是日治時代之學制，過去教育部不喜歡提及，其實日本帝國時代，高等學校有帝大般之地位，台灣有台北高校，也有台北帝大，戰後東京一高併入東京大學，二高併入東北大學，三高併入京都大學等等，日本也有師範大學，是高等師範升級，若東京高師改制東京師範大學，廣島高師，改成廣島師範大學，我相信北京師範大學，來自北京高等師範學校，明治維新，帝國學校制度，取自英帝國學制，二戰後，日本採取美國學制。

描述不完，以前我常參觀美術系師生畫展，每年台灣的重頭戲，這一次我巧遇一位東海出身的女畫家陳玉美，她在美術系有一畫展，是西畫，金屬顏料，別有特色，我將在下次介紹。

Visiting my senior high school alma mater/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting my senior high school alma mater/Carlos Pueblo

Every time when I return to Taipei, I always find time to visit my senior high school alma mater, the Affiliated Senior High School of the National Taiwan Normal University. Later on I did enter Taiwan Normal as my another alma mater in Taiwan back to the 60's and 70's of the last century. I have credited all my alma mater schools to prepare me to immigrate to the United States and have changed my life completely.

Back then and now in Taiwan, we must compete to enter schools with distinguished performance to satisfy parents and students; therefore, we always are required to study hard to pass various entrance examinations to get the admission to study at certain schools on every levels, the junior high school, the senior high school, and the university, etc. After college education, many of us must pass another examination to study abroad in order to obtain a better future in their life. Of course, it has changed now that Taiwan is a developed nation in the world and you don't have to study abroad to make very much difference in your life.

The school was built in 1937 when Taiwan was still under Japanese rule, 1895-1945. It was named Taipei #3 Middle School with the Japanese majority of the student body. It was gradually changed to be affiliated to Taiwan Normal University after the Nationalist Chinese took over Taiwan in 1945. The size of the campus has been kept the same with some additional buildings in the front, the 1937 original Japanese built red brick building is still very attractive. The indoor basketball gymnasium was built by my classmate Kuo after he graduated from the engineering college.

There are two tennis courts added in the back field. We didn't have such a facility back then in the 60's. I was very good in Tennis when I was at the junior high school and was interrupted after junior high until 1996 when my daughter Michelle asked me to play tennis by myself and not bother her with tennis anymore.

One day, my old classmate, Mr. Kuo took me to inspect two of his big construction projects south of Taipei. He has become a very successful owner of a construction company. One of the two projects is a museum of the fine art for the New Taipei City at Yingke Township facing my grandparents' hometown Shansha Township. I am so impressed by his achievement after he graduated from our senior high school.

拜訪母校師大附中／莊峻華

 拜訪母校師大附中／莊峻華

每次回台北市，我都會拜訪母校師大附中，過去多半是附中同窗河南臨漳人郭鵬霄兄帶領，參觀他為母校興建之體育館，這次我藉參觀大安森林公園和建國假日花市，步行到附中校區，剛好遇見六千位小學績優生，參加附中初中部理科班甑試，非常劇烈，名額有限，許多家長不知道，理工科甚難當總統，統治國家。

日治時代，昭和12年四月一日，成立台北三中，就是師大附中之前身，1937年，國民黨不承認日治時代之學校制度，但仍舊繼續使用當年之建築，日本人實在，當年附中之紅樓建築仍在，而且很漂亮。附中的前操場已經蓋上幾棟大樓，都沒有日治時代之氣魄！而且需要經常維護。後操場較為完整，舊游泳池已拆除，有兩網球場，非常難得。後門出去是舊空軍總部，和私立延平中學，延平是台灣本土學校，現在令人刮目相看。

我讀附中時，附中是第二志願，這是傳統中華文化之大壓力，還好附中當年尚有四二制實驗班，非常優秀，後來我考入師大，藉口家境清寒，需要公費補助，始解脫此社會之窩囊氣，到了美國之後，海闊天空，沒工夫煩惱當年考不上建中和台大，在社會上混得可以，讀附中和師大，不再羞怯道出。其實當年，我舅父陳定遠牙醫之長子，陳超群醫師，就是附中出身，四十班，當年第一志願考入台大醫科，西德波昂大學醫科博士，他普通40班名人有連戰和陳履安，黨國後裔，國民黨顯赫，聽聞附中在中國較有名氣。

我在附中這位同窗好友郭鵬霄兄，是位傑出的建設商，有約300位職員的公司，我在網誌上看到他也承包柯文哲市長之大工程。他帶我參觀工地，有一座在鶯歌15億以上之美術館，已經完工正待驗收，牆壁堅厚像附中體育館，可以阻擋中國人民解放軍之礟彈和坦克，此建築位於鶯歌第二捷運線，面對我祖先三峽鎮，我特別拍照留念。

How do I budget myself to live in Taipei twice for two months?/Carlos Pueblo

 How do I budget myself to live in Taipei twice for two months?/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, for my dental repair needs I went back to Taipei once for a month and was required to go back again for another month to complete the job. How do I budget myself to live in Taipei twice for two months? Is it worth the cost instead of staying in Houston for the job done by the local dentist? I did make such calculations before I made such trips. First, it is my third fake teeth installation and it is more complicated involving 11 teeth and two crowns. My dental work including two layers of new denture built, two crowns covered on two teeth, and some minor chain to solidify around existing teeth, etc. is about NNT$100,000 equivalent to US$3,500. This is with a discount of my dentist's taking back my fallen golden crown to recycle it for NNT$20,000 or about US$700.

I have stayed in a small inn in front of the Taipei Main Rail Station for about US$40 a night for about 30 nights with a total of US$1,200 cost of room service, of course, I am alright with sharing a bath and toilet. I am used to the conscription life as well as the hostel in Europe, Japan, and the South American traveling. There is an 18 days cruise and 4 nights free stay at my hometown with my brother should not be counted as my expense on my dental work according to the true comparison.

I am so frugal or you say thrifty in English that I really don't spend unreasonable money on eating in Taipei. I eat like poor students preparing for all kinds of National Examinations around my hotel area, Nan Yang Street, for my daily meals. I estimate about US$15 a day for my food cost including daily fruits consumption. All fancy meals are treated by my Taiwanese friends because they appreciate my old friendship and they are doing very well and can afford such meals to treat me. I estimate those are about 6 days in total.

The public transportation systems are very advanced in Taipei. There are light rail and subway systems around the metropolitan area including two international airports and my dental clinic is only 8 stations away, about a 20 minutes ride one way. I have purchased US$50 worth of tickets for such service and am still not exhausted. The Taiwan High Speed Rail Authority will not allow me to enjoy a 50% discount on their high speed rail tickets and I refuse to take such service and I take the regular fancy high class rail service with 50% senior discount, i.e. two pairs of round trip tickets, a pair from Taipei to Douliu(my home town city) and another pair ticket from Douliu to Kaohsiung for a grand total of less than US$30.

Only two short legs of flights which I paid in cash and all other flights I have used credit points and mileage which I have gathered in advance for  minimum f

如何解決短暫台北食宿行問題／莊峻華

 如何解決短暫台北食宿行問題／莊峻華

選擇在台北整牙，問題是在經濟實惠，比較起在休士頓，我的第二次整牙是在休市，因為當年老人健保增加一年四千美元之整牙福利，但僅包括拔牙，不包括假牙製作，因此我的第二具假牙，上下兩具十一齒全塑膠是五千美元，美國牙醫還耗盡四千美金之年度整牙福利，包括拔掉五顆牙齒和愛克斯光。這次整牙，也是上下兩具共11齒，上下層都是金屬焊接，拔掉一顆牙，清除上下兩顆蛀牙，填上金屬，並蓋上兩牙套，鞏固假牙結構，還有幾齒有金屬圈套，看起來就是非常牢固耐用，我的牙醫要價12萬新台幣，收下我的金牙落齒一顆，給我兩萬元新台幣折扣，所以我的台灣整牙費是約三千四美金。

再來是宿費，我住客棧，前五日是在網上訂房，四十美金一夜，公浴公廁，以後直接訂房，節省一些是三十八美金一日，所以客棧費是一千一百美金大約一個月，現在又要回去十八日，約是增加七百美金住費，一共是一千八百美金。

吃在南陽街非常克難，這是一補習班林立的補習班街，都是克苦上進的用功學生，小吃路邊攤林立，早上我走路到228公園衡陽街買甜鹹豆漿各一，燒餅油條，是三元美金有找，就是七十五元新台幣，我吃上一整個月，中午和晚餐都在自助餐選擇，若是素餐是兩美金多一些，加香腸是三美金多一些，鐵道便當是三元半美金，都可以裹腹，有時候我走到重慶北路吃一碗牛肉麵約是五元美金多一些，就是一百六十元新台幣，偶爾我到省城皇廟旁小巷添財日本料理，吃刺身烤鰻魚飯和台灣啤酒，是三十五美金，這是豪華享受，我在台北一個月，有五日是親戚朋友請吃飯，加上每日水果不斷，食費最多四百美金。

我最喜歡台北之捷運，我大蓋買三張五百元新台幣，就是五十美金，台灣高鐵歧視我拿美國護照，不給我敬老票，幾經力爭無效，我改乘台鐵莒光號，台北斗六來回，斗六高雄來回，四張票不到三十元美金，我是因禍得福，也無需抱怨，台灣很小，高鐵台鐵相差甚微，我常坐日本新幹線，沒有甚麼遺憾。

五月五日開始第二次返台，其中溫哥華到東京是跨太平洋18日行，抵東京後直飛台北松山機場，六月十三日返美，滯留洛杉磯三日是參加師大全球校友會，行程都是累積信用卡哩數和點數，機票幾乎是免費，不能計較在整牙食宿行成本。

A graduate of Chemistry from the National Taiwan Normal University/Carlos Pueblo

 A graduate of Chemistry from the National Taiwan Normal University/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, we all pay attention to the immigration issue of our southern border that seems to be out of control. People all over the world love to immigrate to the paradise-like nation like the United States of America, indeed. I have always appreciated my opportunity to come to this nation in 1975 as a graduate student and married a green card holder's wife to become a citizen of this nation. \It is all because I graduated in Chemistry from the National Taiwan Normal University.

The best high school students in the U.S. have a strong desire to enter colleges to prepare to go to medical schools, engineering schools, pharmacy schools, and veterinary schools, etc. therefore, they must take some chemistry courses and there are needs of teaching assistants in the chemistry laboratories, such as the general chemistry, the organic chemistry, and the physical chemistry in the pre-medical and the chemical engineering majors. This was how we came in to fill those needs in the United States. The U.S. has been a dynamic nation for a long time and it needs many such supplies of talent from the rest of the world.
I was from a very humble family background. I passed a national college entrance examination to enter a university to train a secondary school chemistry teacher in Taiwan. The government made it free of tuition and fees in return we, the graduate must teach for 4 years to return such favor. I have passed all necessary academic examinations such as TOEFL and GRE to satisfy the U.S. graduate school admission. I came here to study for a graduate degree and eventually became an immigrant after I got married.

According to my own estimate, I have contributed much more to the United States than my original nation which I came from, Taiwan on the income tax calculation. Of course both the U.S. and Taiwan don't care very much about my immigration, yet, in my mind I have appreciated such an opportunity to immigrate to this nation and wish more and more people can fulfill their dream to immigrate to this wonderful nation.

師大化學系之因緣／莊峻華

  師大化學系之因緣／莊峻華

最近我又開始熱衷於大學母校之活動，我在台北市短居一個多月，有兩次造訪師大校區，一是公館理學院，一是和平東路本校，我和師大之因緣甚長，包括高中時代，我是師大附中之畢業生，從高中時代，就在龍泉街出入，我們家有五位師大畢業生，二姊家政系，大姊夫國文系，大嫂和大弟生物系，我是化學系。因畢業於化學系，我服完兵役，教兩年書，就順利拿到助教獎學金來美國，兩年後取得碩士學位，工作三年不到，結婚成家，不久失業，改從事於販賣保險證券20餘年，在美國立足生根。我歸功於師大化學系，成就了我的自信。

2013年，我曾拜訪公館的化學系，當年的系主任，就是現任的師大副校長，陳焜銘教授，當年他出示我系教授陣容，非常堅實，泰半是留美博士之教授，設備如Mass和NMR等都非常普遍，大學部學生都可已使用到，系裡已經接受社會上之化驗疑難怪症，走入權威性之應用化學領域。去年，陳副校長來訪，我再提到化學系畢業生之就業出路問題，副校長曰已經替台積電培養人材，這次我到系主任辦公室，願聞其詳，有位洪教授曰台積電這種高科技公司，需要有邏輯訓練背景之大學畢業生來接受實業訓練，就像現在化工電機博士班學生，早已在化學系物理系上挑選，我猜是物質科學，休大的謝兩參退休電機教授，確實證明此趨向，近代科學之演變如是。

我確實在上世紀七十年代末期，找不到化學工作，所以只好賣產物和人壽保險，後來加上一般證券，其實主要是基金退休金，我說我能無中生有，其實主要是上述之邏輯訓練，化學系之學生培養，有這麼一段，微積分，微分方程，高等微積分，分析，有機，物化等一系列，有一套完整之訓練。

當年，師大是公費制度，造就像我這一般的清寒學生。

A month long short stay in Taipei/Carlos Pueblo

 A month-long short stay in Taipei/Carlos Pueblo

It is because of my need for dental work, I have to make a month-long short stay in Taipei. Yet, it is not finished, I shall go back again for another month in May, of course, there is 18 days on the cruise across the Pacific to Tokyo from Vancouver in Canada. I selected an inexpensive hotel in front of the Taipei Main Railroad Station to budget my total cost. I eat at food stands nearby. I share bathrooms and restrooms. I only manage my visits to the dental clinic and gardens among several city parks.

Where there is a will, there is a way. I don't like to spend unnecessary money if I can save it. It is my third time in 11 years to get my fake teeth installed. I believe my cousin, Dr. Chen, 50 years practicing dentist can do the job to satisfy my needs. He tells me that making dentures requires many adjustments. He always receives me after 4:30 pm once in many days due to the making of a new set and regular dental preparatory work. I have most of my days free. I go to 228 City Park to get my soybean milk breakfast, sitting on a bench by a pond with birds as my company. After breakfast, I shall walk to several garden parks nearby including the only famous President Palace, the center of the Republic, every day.

I walk to the old city business center where my first aunt's family used to live and do business even though I can't locate their exact location. It was a gift shop to sell gifts and straw mats produced in the center of the island. Taipei is very busy, full of people and tourists from all over the world.

There are several garden parks nearby the city center, the 228 City Park in memory of the massacre of February 28, 1947, to Taiwanese by Chiang Kai-Sek's army, the Freedom Square include the Chiang Kai-sek's Memorial, two National Musical Hall and Peking Opera Hall. The huge garden with various spring flowers attracts me dearly. Another huge garden park is the Da An Forest Park with an outstanding garden full of the azalea blossom, spider flowers, the dahlia from Akita Japan, and many beautiful sets up ponds and trees. During the weekend, there is a flower market open nearby.
I went to visit my old alma mater, the affiliated senior high school of the National Taiwan Normal University, the National Taiwan Normal University both the old main campus and the new college of science. I also visited all four old city gates dating back to the Manchu Dynasty.

短住台北市／莊峻華

 短住台北市／莊峻華

這次回台北市整牙，一共住超過一個月，和2013年一樣，同樣是整牙，這次過程稍微複雜，需要的時間較長，我又找不到民宿，只好安置在台北火車站前的一家小客棧，需要使用公廁浴室，我年輕時當過兵，過去在歐洲日本南美等旅行，為節省也住過類似客棧，故不以為忤。這客棧尚稱整潔，交通方便，因附近都是辦公大樓和補習班，所以到處是小吃店，食衣住行都方便，我搭捷運上門診，板南線八站就到後山崥。

早上，我散步到228紀念公園，這是過去的新公園，買下甜鹹豆漿各一杯，一套燒餅油條，然後攜帶到公園內水池旁小凳上，常有飛鳥前來為伍。飯後，我就散步到總統府，凱達格蘭大道，介壽公園，北一女等台北市著名地標，公園內杜鵑花怒放，尚有些櫻花。後來，散步範圍更廣，走到北門，東門，南門，自由廣場，若大安森林公園和建國假日花市，則需要搭捷運兩站。

有幾次我更是行軍到大稻埕，就是延平北路和迪化街，這是台北老商區，以前住台北不曾來過，我有一大阿姨過去在延平北路開禮品店，賣大甲草蓆，我前一週常行軍到迪化街前段近淡水河，拜訪一禮品店。

有一日，心血來潮，行軍到小南門，路過東吳大學，台北西本願寺舊址，然後一不作二不休，沿貴陽街一段走到二段舅父故居，折入一觀光夜市，從龍山寺出來。

每次回台北，我都設法回去參觀我讀過的母校，和服務過的學校，像師大附中，師大，和新店文山國中，當然也想辦法參觀曾考不上的台灣大學，這次未曾到台大參觀，但是路過，心裡不再憤憤不平，蓋大學畢業後，我發現許多新價值和成就感。

Visiting the Chemistry Department of my Alma Mater/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting the Chemistry Department of my Alma Mater/Carlos Pueblo

After visiting my dentist on the first night of my arrival in Taiwan, I have scheduled a visit to the Chemistry Department of my Alma Mater, the National Taiwan Normal University Kuan Kuang campus. I graduated from that department in 1971 and left Taiwan to the United States in 1975 after my completion of two years conscription and two years teaching duty in Taiwan. This study background has provided me the opportunity to immigrate to this wonderful nation. In 2023, I had an opportunity to meet an Executive Vice President and a Distinguished Professor Kwunmin Chen, Ph.D. at a reception dinner in Houston, Texas. I promise to visit him when I have a chance in Taiwan. Coincidentally, he was the department head in 2013 who received me at his office. Later, he was promoted to the Dean of Science and then the Executive Vice President.

I know that my visit will bring me great honor to meet many young professors in the department; therefore, I specially invite one of my classmates, Dr. Roger Huang who has a distinguished background both in the academy and industry, a M.S. degree from Chin-Hwa university and a Ph.D. from the famous Tokyo University and 4 years professorship at Chin-Hwa and Hsin-Chu Scientific Campus representative to Japan till retirement. His presence would make my visit more competitive. President Chen was busy receiving a large group of French scholars yet would treat us to lunch with a group of professors from the department.

His old classmate and a fellow professor, Chin-Fa Yao, came to receive us for him and then several other professors joined him. Professor Wenwei Lin, Ph.D., Department head, Professor Chia-Jung Lu, Ph.D. , Associate Professor, Ling-Hsien Tu, Ph.D., and Professor Yi-Chun Yeh, Ph.D. The latter two will come to the University of Texas Austin Campus as exchange scholars this summer for half a year.

After a very nice vegetarian lunch, we moved to the University Main Campus on the East Ho-Ping Road to visit the alumni Center. Li-Chun Teng, a Senior Secretary and Ya Wen Yan, a Senior Staff joined us, and also Professor Ya-Hsun Tsai, Executive Director of the Mandarin Training Center. I met Tsai in 2023 when she was invited to Houston, Texas to supervise the Mandarin Teaching program.

拜訪母校化學系／莊峻華

 拜訪母校化學系／莊峻華

今年有機會返台整牙，特地拜訪母校化學系，因緣巧合，2013年也是整牙返台，專訪公館母系，招待我的陳焜銘系主任，就是這次接見我的行政副校長，我固知陣仗之大，特別邀請我們1971級乙班班長黃瑞耀博士同行，瑞耀係清大碩士，東京帝大哲學博士，清大教授四年，竹科駐日代表到退休，讓我甚有顏面。我們約好在理學院前會面。

副校長當日有事，但立即安排其同班同學姚清發教授接見，並交待將出席午餐，這位清發兄出身愛阿華州大，是我們有機界大老普渡大學諾貝爾獎得主，布朗教授之徒孫，教育部授以中央課程與教學輔導諮詢自然科學領域召集人重任，我們有詳細之交換意見。隨後陸續有系主任呂家榮教授加入，我們就在他辦公室聊天，林文偉教授，葉怡均教授和杜玲嫻教授等均加入，後來得知葉杜兩教授今年夏天，均將遠行我們德州大學奧斯汀本校，參加半年交換學者計劃，我立即報告在休市校友會主辦詹怡姊，也是我們同窗，她表示將竭誠招待。

我在十一年前訪問焜銘兄，就在他辦公室讀過母系之師資陣容，泰半是留美陣容，像焜銘本人是常春藤名校賓系法尼西亞大學博士，系主任後又任理學院長，當今化學系師資陣容和設備等，與我們當年迥然不同，十一年前焜銘介紹，系已幫忙檢驗校外化學疑難怪症，如今，化學系開始培養台積電之職員，詢其故？姚清發教授有說明，後來葉怡均教授也有補充，真是有趣。

焜銘兄招待我們到一家精緻之素食餐廳午餐，飯後呂家榮主任驅車，攜帶我倆拜訪校本部校友中心，非常有趣，校友中心主任，仍是同一位教授銜，見到一位鄧麗君簡任秘書，顯然她有高考資格，另一位是行政專員楊雅雯，她是安排拜見吳正己校長者，國語中心主任蔡雅薰教授也前來，我們都有休市見面之因緣，呂主任再帶我們到古蹟大禮堂，想與吳校長不期而遇，結果他還是太忙，現在的師大行政主管都非常親切有禮，又有學問，後來我又私自拜訪師大本校一日。