Precious example of up from the humble origin/Carlos Pueblo

 Precious example of up from the humble origin/Carlos Pueblo

Recently I met a distinguished alumnus of my Taiwan Normal University during a global alumni conference. She is a precious example of a person from humble origin. There were many such examples at my alma mater, an institution which provided tuition and fee free for training secondary school teachers in Taiwan. I always stop everything and write a piece of prose to compliment such a story to show my admiration.

She was introduced to us as a smart graduate student who converted her graduate study from Chemistry to Electrical Engineering  and made it. After the conference, I correspond with her and she introduces herself and briefly explains her story which reminds me to another two identical stories occurred in the past yet still in my mind. She was the only graduate from San Chong Junior High School to pass the Entrance Examination to enter Taipei First Girls Senior High. Her grandparents who brought her up at that time couldn't afford her to study at the most prestigious high school in Taiwan. Luckily, a kind teacher from her junior high stepped in to convince her grandparents with three years of tuition and fees prepared for her to spend. She entered that senior high and made it into Taiwan Normal with the governmental support to finish Chemistry study and got her bachelor science degree.

She was at the top of her class; therefore, she was invited to be a teaching assistant at the Chemistry Department after her graduation. She had worked for that position for four years and saved some money for her grandparents in order to study abroad in the United States in 1986. She briefly stayed at our Texas A&M University with a scholarship at College Station. She then transferred to the University of California at Irvine with her new Advisor in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, she has worked in several famous high tech corporations until recently.

When I was a high school student in Taipei, I loved to read Booker Washington's inspirational book, Up from Slavery. I firmly believe that her story and Cora Chou, my fellow 1971 NTNU graduate in the English Department, and another girl student at Huwei Senior High of all whom I described on my Blog with similar achievement as Booker Washington.

珍貴力爭上游的故事／莊峻華

 珍貴力爭上游的故事／莊峻華

今日下午，我和一位剛認識的台師大校友簡訊，這位校友非常傑出剛退休，她提到如何力爭上游的往事，我聽到如此勵志史，必需放下一切，專心報導這件社會美事，過去我在我部落格中，提到兩位，一位是台師大英語系朋友，一位是虎尾高中的學生，這次第三位，都是純樸社會中的善人大德，幫助清寒學生向上的故事，義舉尤其令我欽佩羨慕。

這位台師大的校友，三重國中後，一舉考上北一女中，而且是當屆唯一，照顧她的外祖父母，實在無法讓她繼續就學，學校老師及時介入，籌款學雜費三年，當然包括那令全台羨慕之綠色制服費，三年後她讀理工科的甲組，台師大是公費師範生制度，化學系是她一志願，少數選擇之一，當然考取，當年有些出身清寒高中學生，選擇台師大為第一志願，尤其是理化系，數學系，和英語系，減少家長負擔，這是我親自目睹的事實。

台師大畢業後，她因為成績優秀，留在系內當助教4年，儲蓄一些錢給外祖父母生活費，然後她就拿我們德州農工大獎學金來美國，她未提但我相信她的美金，也繼續援助台灣的家人。我在台師大校友峰會裡認識她，聞陳副校長介紹她時，提到她讀化學博士，又跨理到工讀電機博士，頭腦一定特別好，又用功努力，人又漂亮，做人做事都是第一流，工作到自然退休，愛女又剛醫科畢業，真是令人肅然起敬。

在台灣的古純樸社會，家長重視子女學校教育，習以為常，子女學業優良，也給父母驕傲，當然不是每位子女都能在學校教育中，脫穎而出，行行出壯元，要力爭上游。

Can't get rid of the heatwave 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 Can't get rid of the heatwave 2024/Carlos Pueblo

There is a hurricane called Beryl which causes Houston to lose power in the summer. There were four days we didn't have any power to maintain our house. Finally, the power was back and the air conditioning was cranking for three days and the fan motor was broken at dawn. We just can't get rid of the summer heat wave in 2024.

Arthur was alert to get some ice after work. He works at a supermarket three miles away, yet on the second day, he couldn't get anything due to no power at the store as well, of course, the store had a generator; however, the power volume is less than demand. They can't even save refrigerated foods regardless of the cooling of ice. We managed the dump to melt water all the time and kept all the meat up to the frozen box and prepared to cook them in the backyard because we still desire to salvage some of our groceries. Not like the supermarket, they can claim loss from the insurance company.

At the moment when the power was back on, it's after four long days. I immediately cooked all the beef, shrimp, and pork, etc. We manage to bag them and consume them every meal of a day. I even drink the wine and Brandy which I carry home from my previous cruise trips.

Our air condition fan motor quit after three days of hard work. our house inside is back to severely hot again. Air conditioning mechanics are busy as the power company's technicians. We can't recruit out of state mechanics like the power company. Our relative advised us to purchase a small portable window unit air conditioner to meet our temporary need. We did and put it on the breakfast room window. At least we can make the room air circulation about 250 square feet.

The 7 years old fan motor has a 10 years warranty and we only have had it for 7 years, yet it will take more than 3 days to have it if there is any available.

溽暑揮之不去／莊峻華

 溽暑揮之不去／莊峻華

颶風貝若重戧休市地區電力設備，中點電力公司修護隊不負重荷，遂使各處停電，休士頓溽暑熱浪襲人揮之不去，幸好偶有陣雨，清晨氣溫稍低約華氏80度，到了中午室外已經抵達華氏100度，無冷氣的室內，已經是華氏120度，如此的夏天，我家有四整日。第五日上午，電力到來，冷氣機開始重新起動，我們方釋去身體痛苦，三天後的週一，冷氣機馬達休克，頓時恢復溽暑，冷氣機師不接電話，工作太忙，無法分身，我們無法像中點電力公司一樣，從外州調入技師，前來解圍，眼看就是繼續吃苦。

退休的親戚指導，到五金行購買窗型冷氣，安裝在早餐室小窗，讓冷氣吹入，我們三人就睡在一沙發，一雙座長凳，和一行軍床，暫時應活應活。今年夏天真苦。

早上，我步行到社區游泳池，開始今年的晨泳，七點許尚無人，我就放鬆心情，忘卻溽暑，滿意後步行回家，到景英兄府採無花果，電力來日，我馬上滷掉未融化之牛腱，大蝦，和滷蛋，像梁山伯好漢一般，大塊吃熟牛肉，大塊喝紅酒白蘭地，這幾瓶都是船上帶回品，對矣，何不再回阿拉斯加避暑郵輪旅行？今年郵輪旺季，買不到便宜特價票，而且票價高昂，令我怯步。

電來後，除餐餐熟牛肉滷蛋外，又有冰凍西瓜，西瓜令我注意到通貨膨脹，還有特價牛排，但是股市仍舊上漲，減少溽暑無電和無冷氣之壓力。

Welcome the visit to Texas from a group of professors from NTNU/Carlos Pueblo

 Welcome the visit to Texas from a group of professors from NTNU/Carlos Pueblo

During August this year, a group of professors from the Chemistry Department, National Taiwan Normal University shall visit Texas including Houston and Austin. These five professors are Yi-Chun Yeh, Chong-You Chen, Yi-Hsin Liu, Yun-Ju Lai from the Biological Technology Department, and Pin-Chuan Chen of the Taiwan Science and Technology University assigned to be a Science and Technology Director of Houston Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

The group leader is Yi-Hsin Liu who sends me their purpose of visit and schedule. First, they will come to visit Rice University on the 14th, Director Chen will treat them to lunch and our local alumni association will host them for dinner at Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant in the evening. On the 16th, the group will visit the University of Texas for a meeting in the morning at the Chemistry Department to discuss a coordination platform between the two institutions. They shall have  a late lunch and the Austin Alumni Association will follow up to have another early evening dinner to welcome them at Ho Ho Bar B.Q. Chinese Restaurant.

Early this year in March, I was in Taipei for my dental restriction work, I formally visited my Alamater and learned about the visiting scholars program from NTNU, professors Yi-Chun Yeh and Ling-Hsien Tu, to the UT Austin campus for 6 months. With the approval of our local alumni association presidents, Nancy Chang and Melonie Jan, we quickly offer them our sincere welcome parties both in Houston and Austin since this is very meaningful and helpful to improve our alamater's reputation and spirit. I am aware that it is getting more and more serious especially after the University President Wu and Senior Vice President Chen's visiting Texas within a 6 months period.

Other than the purpose of the visit described by the leader Liu, I sense the new strategy of Taiwan National Government under the former National President Tsai and following up by current President Lai, we shall send out professionals to visit our friendly nations all over the world to benefit both professionals and the Nation to help scholars to keep in touch with their respected fields and also stay away the imposed isolation of Taiwan for the rest of the world and that is why Director Chen will present this platform's funding from Taiwan Government.

台師大化學系教授群來訪2024／莊峻華

 台師大化學系教授群來訪2024／莊峻華

日前寫信給台師大葉怡均和杜玲嫻兩位女教授，歡迎她們來訪德克薩斯州，兩位都是應德大化學系邀請，來訪之訪問學者為期半年，今年春天我和黃瑞耀博士訪問母校母系，獲知兩教授夏日行程，遂報告休市校友會詹怡副會長，張懷平會長立即批准招待，我因時間到，寫信台灣兩教授表示歡迎之意，結果得知這化學系這一團教授群之來訪，規模更大，更加精彩。

我迅速的聯絡到領隊劉沂欣教授，他寄來行程表，先訪休市之萊斯大學化學系，這是8／14／24，中午由台灣的協調會科技組長台科大教授陳品銓博士招待午餐，於是我們訂同日招待晚餐，席設北海道，時間是下午五時整。

奧斯汀行程是8／16／24，德大化學系合作會議，是在上午，先是協調會陳組長的報告，顯示台灣政府的決心，然後就是德大幾位教授的介紹，中午後始結束，他們有聚餐，於是我們，經過黃亞平姊夫婦之推薦，在奧斯汀來來餐廳席設，下午五點整，也邀請陳文輝校友出席。

吳正己校長和陳焜銘副校長，這半年來分別來訪我們德大，合作事項緊鑼密鼓，劉沂欣教授曰，待事成將有更多教授群來訪，我想這是好事，有意義的學術交流，我們校友系友都為此興奮，現在再增加萊斯和德州農工大，我們德克薩斯州有榮焉。

Tea mats/Carlos Pueblo

 Tea mats/Carlos Pueblo

Yu-Mei Chen, a famous Eastern Gouache fine artist of Taichung, Taiwan gave me 48 sets of her special made tea mats in May, 2024 on my return visit to the Island. I have been very impressed by her efforts to engrave her art products into the porcelain to withhold tea. It is very unique and good looking especially on my rosewood tables. She gave me a set and a nice tea cop when I visited her art show at Taiwan Normal University in March, 2024.

 
I told her that I would like to buy some for my friends as gifts. She replied that she would give it to me for free. I took a train south to Cheng Kung, Taichung some 200 miles from Taipei. I first came to Taichung Station and transferred to a local train to Cheng Kung Station where a famous Army base is located. Hill Cheng Kung is an infantry training center where most of the ROTC are trained here. Suddenly, I realized that I was not trained here in 1967 and 1971, I was on another base both at the 5th Army Infantry Center at Che Long Poo Base which was damaged severely some time before.
Mrs. Chen's art gallery is across the street from the small railroad station on a newly built high rise building. Her gallery is considered large to show her success and establishment. She introduced me to Eastern Gouache Art which is also Japanese Art. It is very popular in Japan, of course. It is more popular in central Taiwan based on Tunghai University where she has her master degree. The Eastern Gouache paintings are usually very colorful and vividly expressed. Her painting arts work are full of color and especially on high hill shoes.

I have distributed 16 sets to Taiwan Normal's public relations office for transferring some to the University President, Senior Vice President, Chemistry Department Head, and many professors who have treated me kindly. I also gave some for my dentist and his family, my senior high school classmate  and his family, and some of the hotel staff. I carried 6 sets back to Houston for Amy's church friends.

拜訪膠彩畫家陳玉美畫廊／莊峻華

 拜訪膠彩畫家陳玉美畫廊／莊峻華

今年三月裡，膠彩畫家陳玉美老師，在我們台灣師範大學美術系館有一畫展，她贈送我一組茶墊和一陶瓷茶杯，非常精緻，我是手不釋卷，回美國後展示親友多位，於是我決定購買若干茶墊，贈送親友，玉美姊迅速回信曰，若非大宗，她可以贈送，甚至可以寄送，抑或攜帶到台北贈我，我真是受寵若驚，第二次返台後，立即連絡上她，約好到台中成功鎮她的畫廊取貨，結果是她贈送我96具，加上兩陶瓷茶杯。玉美老師的畫屬印象派，作品中並非完全寫實，有參著她的意見，她的高跟鞋獨步一門，鑲在茶墊上更是一絕，膠彩畫顏色鮮艷，甚是環保，據說出自日本，台灣盛行處在台中，尤其是東海美術系。

搭火車到台中站，再換區間車到成功鎮站，這成功鎮就是鼎鼎大名之成功嶺，大專兵預備軍官訓練中心，原本甚是興奮，抵達後始發現我個人的兩次新兵訓練，都不在成功嶺，而是在台中車龍埔的第五新兵訓練中心，難怪十分陌生，成功嶺在車站對面，有樹叢隔離。玉美姊的畫廊在車站對面的中山路，是一新建高樓大廈，進出均需經過大廈警衛。她的畫廊甚具規模，而且她全國舉行膠彩畫展，儼然是位成功之畫家，她的高跟鞋是學以致用，發展到茶墊，當然她的畫較出名，那幅姪女背影，已經高價售出。

我捨不得拒絕贈送品，所以全部接受，她的茶墊在畫展中，也贈送給訪客，於是我要了一大疊畫展廣告，準備到台北贈送友人，愛美在休市交待需要留十組回美國，贈給其姊和教會長老，我也可贈送峻嚴和網球夥伴竇醫師。結果我送台師大公關中心的專員16組，交待贈送給校長，副校長，化學系8位教授，上次出來招待我們的行政主館，還有公關中心的職員，皆大歡喜。剩餘者，我就在客棧贈送客棧上下職員，還有我的牙醫家人，和永年建設的家人，回休市僅存6組。

My third repeated dental work in Taipei 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 My third repeated dental work in Taipei 2024/Carlos Pueblo

On my way back from Tokyo to Houston in late 2023, A Taiwanese Airline routed me to Taipei International Airport and I got an opportunity to chat with my elder sister Mary and another long time friend. I then decided to make a special trip back to Taiwan after some 12 years absence from my hometown and had my third dental work, a new denture  installation, in Taipei, Taiwan. That's how I purchased round trip tickets to TPE via Tokyo Haneda Airport. As a matter of fact, due to the complication of my dental work, I need to give my dentist additional two weeks in order to finish the entire work. I then ordered an 18 days cruise from Vancouver, Canada to Tokyo Port and took another flight from Haneda Airport to Taipei Songshan Airport to complete my second trip for such fake teeth installation.

The dentist's office located my old file and quickly set up an appointment with Dr. Chen, my cousin two years my junior in age, on the same day of my arrival. I took an X-Ray of my mouth and he drew a simple diagram of what he would do with my new denture. It would be two layers with a total of 11 fake teeth involved. It would cost me NT$120,000 grand total and due to I am his relative and I brought in a fallen golden crown with a value, he gave me a discount of NT$20,000; therefore,  the net cost to me is about US$3,150 plus additional costs of flights and stays in Taipei between March to June. I don't know if I will save any money if I do it in Houston, yet it is fun to be back in Taiwan.

The quality of my new fake teeth are much better in quality than those two of my second set made in the U.S. which were all made in the plastic material for the frame to support fake teeth and I didn't feel strong enough. Dr. Chen's new set is made with a metal alloy frame to support fake teeth which made me feel stronger in total support. He could only finish the upper layer before he could release me home to Houston. He also cleaned two small teeth with decay filled with something and crowned them before the denture. I saw him discussing with his technician who used to work at his father's dental laboratory before my uncle's retirement. Dr. Chen is still using his Dad's old dental clinic name for his practice. His two twin sons are also dentists working at his clinic along with 8 other dentists. It is a big clinic in size.

On my first trip of the two in Taipei, I did have the opportunity to visit my Alma Mater, the Taiwan Normal University, both the Chemistry Department and the Hopping East Home Campus to visit many distinguished faculty members including the University President, Senior Vice President and Department Heads and Professors of which I have had a good time.