Tears, excitement, warmth, friendship, tiredness and even sickness were experienced by participants in the "Walk Against the Wind" march that started in Oluanpi (鵝鸞鼻), the southernmost tip of the country, and finished yesterday in Taipei.
The march was initiated by 12 young people, including former National Youth Commission chairwoman Cheng Li-chun (
Along the way, supporters gave participants high fives and hugs. Many joined them on the way, expanding the team to more than 200 people yesterday.
PHOTO: HUANG LI-HSIANG, TAIPEI TIMES
"[On the walk] I found Taiwan to be a very, very lovely place," Sam Lang (郎恩祺), a 23-year-old graduate student in Canada, said. "You can always find something touching everywhere in the country."
Lang said that he was especially touched to see elementary or senior high school students leaving their classrooms to cheer them on.
"When I was in high school [in Taiwan], the teachers never allowed us to show an interest in politics," he said. "But it's different now -- I see hope for the country in these young students."
Although many people lost weight during the walk, Lang gained 2kg.
"People fed us really well along the way," he said, with a big smile on his face. "During the walk today, when people lined up along the roadsides were giving us high fives, someone put a meatball into my mouth all of a sudden," Lang said. "I was surprised, but I felt touched."
A college student who wished to known only by her last name Hung (洪) and one of the original dozen, said that the spirit of some accompanying walkers made her cry.
"I remember once when we were in Changhua County, a very, very old lady who could barely walk insisted on joining us. As we were walking fast, she tried very hard to catch up." she recounted as she walked on Zhongshan N Road in Taipei towards Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, the end of the journey.
Although the walk was harder for the old lady, "she tried to show her care for us by putting a candy into my mouth," Hung said.
Henry Yen (嚴江龍), also among the original dozen, was shocked when he realized how little he knew about Taiwan.
"We visited many places where key events in Taiwan's history happened -- but I never heard of those places before," Yen told the Taipei Times during an interview at the stadium.
Yen injured his knees four days into the trip, but continued to walk regardless of the pain.
"I couldn't give up. How could I?" Yen said. "I had to carry on after all the support and good wishes we got from supporters along the way, I just couldn't give up."
Friendship among walkers was also an important support.
"Many of us started out as strangers, but became best friends along the way," Yen said. "We got together every night to share what we saw and felt during the day and give support to each other."
Besides joy, sorrow was something that Lang felt at the end of the journey.
"I feel a bit sad because I know that it will be a long time before I can run into high fives and hugs from strangers again on the streets," he said.
There was also appreciation.
"A lot of supporters along the way thanked us but actually we owe much more to them. We really want to thank them for their support and the warmth they showed us," Yen said.
CHANGING LANDSCAPE: Many of the part-time programs for educators were no longer needed, as many teachers obtain a graduate degree before joining the workforce, experts said Taiwanese universities this year canceled 86 programs, Ministry of Education data showed, with educators attributing the closures to the nation’s low birthrate as well as shifting trends. Fifty-three of the shuttered programs were part-time postgraduate degree programs, about 62 percent of the total, the most in the past five years, the data showed. National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) discontinued the most part-time master’s programs, at 16: chemistry, life science, earth science, physics, fine arts, music, special education, health promotion and health education, educational psychology and counseling, education, design, Chinese as a second language, library and information sciences, mechatronics engineering, history, physical education
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀) has been sentenced to three years in prison, fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,890) in personal assets and deprived political rights for one year for “inciting secession” in China, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said today. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court announced the verdict on Feb. 17, Chen said. The trial was conducted lawfully, and in an open and fair manner, he said, adding that the verdict has since come into legal effect. The defendant reportedly admitted guilt and would appeal within the statutory appeal period, he said, adding that the defendant and his family have
RSS