GROUP TASKS 1&2

Group Task #1 Cost of living

1. Cost of a standard 4/5 room apartment (around 90-100 sq m):

Urban area NT$25,628,625 (SGD$1,115,977)

Suburb NT$13,784,500 (SGD$600,234)

2. Current cost of a brand new Toyota Vios:

NT$499,000 - $529,000 (SGD$21,728 - $23,034)

3. Prices of the following from a local supermarket

- Cheapest 10 kg packet rice: NT$365 (SGD$15.89)

-Cheapest 1litre drinking water: NT$50 (SGD$2.18)

-Cheapest refrigerated fresh whole chicken: NT$358 (SGD$15.59)

- Cheapest 1litre cooking oil: NT$93 (SGD$4.05)

- Do we provide plastic bags and how are they used: They are provided but we have to put in the groceries ourselves

- Cashiers; Mostly middle ages locals

- 4 brands found in Singapore Supermarket - Philips, Colgate, Anlene, Oreo

- Singapore brands in the market: Akira

4. Buddy's school fee - NT$7000 (SGD$304.81)

5. 1litre of petrol - NT$32.75 (SGD$1.56)

6. 1 movie ticket on a weekend - NT$250 (SGD$10.89)

7. Average salary of a working adult in Tainan - Disposable salary after tax NT$26,666 (SGD$1,161)

8. McDonald's Big Mac Meal - NT$109 (SGD$4.75)

9. Find out about the general feeling people have with the cost and standard of living at their city. What are they most unhappy about?


Group Task 2: Education
Photo Montage of "School life and school spirit" in Taiwan: As you move around the school, take photos to represent their school life and spirit. Get enough photos to do a Mini Photo Journal Entitled: School Life

Yo yo yo its aud

Group 1: Presentation Slides About Eternal Golden Castle

2H CID Group Presentation Summaries

Today, all six groups from our class chose one member to present to the the rest of the five groups while the rest of the members went around the classroom to hear five more presentations from other groups. We had more knowledge on the places of where we are going in Tainan after this lesson.

Here are the Presentation Summaries:

Group 1: Eternal Golden Castle

Defensive castle in Tainan built by Qing (castle was more than 100 years)

Sino Jap war - Qing lost Taiwan to Japan and fortress was lost its military value

Japanese sold all canons to fund the war and was humiliation to the Qing.

Returned to Taiwan

Renovated and used for tourism

Group 2: Liu He Night Market

Kaohsiung City lies almost entirely south of the Tropic of Cancer and has a tropical monsoon climate

dry in the winter and hot and wet in the summer/autumn.

climatic changes are not dramatic

When raining, night-markets remains boisterous as usual

Specialty is seafood

Clothing, accessories, souvenirs 

30 minutes to walk through 

 

Group 3: Anping old fort

Near seaside

New Zeelandia named by Dutch

Outer fort stored food and ammunition

Now a museum

Priority was to strengthen defenses

Previously know as orange city as it has orangy wall 

Group 4: 921 Earthquake Museum

21 Sep 1999 hence 921

1:47am 

7.3 magnitude 

2321 died 

Located in Wufeng, at former Junior High School

Government preserved earthquake phenomenon 

5 halls

Has images of earthquake

Teaches earthquake safety

Give knowledge of refuge and rescue

Group 5: 10 drums culture village

Suburbs of Tainan, isolated from bustling city

Ten drums art redesign the culture village 

Shier (male) Mascot open n optimistic vigorous n energetic

Guwa (female) Mascot cute beauty n dexterous 

Chimney catches attention

Wisdom left in architectures by predecessors 

Group 6: Anping Old street (Yangping street)

Oldest street among Tainan

Many gaming stores, food stores and souvenirs 

Clod houses were common in old Tainan society (made of clay, stems, rice)

Western houses used by Dutches

Prone to erosion by rain 

 Hence would spread like mineral on wall 

Sword lion pictures. Lions are auspicious animals . Swords scare bad stuff away. 

These were effective and everyone has a picture of it in their homes

Education System in Taiwan

Students may study, under the current education system, for up to 20 years, which includes 6 years of primary education, 3 years of junior high school, 3 years of senior high school, 4 to 7 years of college or university, 1 to 4 years for a master’s degree and 2 to 7 years for a doctoral degree.

~http://english.moe.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=15742&CtNode=11434&mp=1

The school year is divided into two semesters. The first begins in the beginning of September and ends in February; the second begins in March and ends in August. -wikipedia

Subjects in Primary Education / Elementary School

Chinese, Math (Begins with basics, reaches algebra and geometry in 6th grade) , Science (Basics of all three sciences), English (Compulsory for Elementary School Grade 3 and up), Native Languages (Taiwanese / Hakka), Social Studies, Music, Art

Subjects in Junior High School

Literature (Classical and modern Chinese literature and poetry, composition and public speaking), Mathematics (Single and two variable algebra, geometry, proofs, trigonometry, and pre-calculus), English (Essential English grammar), Science & Technology

Biology: Taken during first year, includes more in depth studies and lab work.

Chemistry: Taken during second year. More rigorous introduction to atoms, molecule, and chemical reactions, including lab work.

Physics: Taken during third year. More rigorous introduction to physical laws and equations, including lab work.

Earth Science: Taken during third year.

Technology: Taken during the whole three years. Introduce some basic technology in daily life.

• Social Studies
  • Civics: Basic demotics, politics, and economics.
  • History: Focus on the history of Taiwan and China during the first two years, and world history during third year.
  • Geography: Contain introductive geography accompanied with geography of Taiwan first year, geography of China and East Asia during second year, and the world geography during third year.
• Home economics & crafts
• Art: Inclusive of three independent parts: Fine Art, Music, and Drama.
• PE
• Scout education: Outdoor survival skills.

Subjects in Senior High School

(Senior high school spans grades 10 through 12, again the main goal of students is to score highly on the national university entrance exams at the end of their third year. The pace is just as, if not more intense than junior high school.)

.

"In many high schools incoming students may select science or liberal arts tracks depending on where their interests lie. The different learning tracks are commonly referred to as groups. Group I consists of liberal arts students, Group II and Group III of science based students (the latter studies biology as an additional subject). Science based curriculum consists of more rigorous science and mathematics classes intended to prepare the student for a career in the sciences and engineering; the liberal arts track places a heavier emphasis on literature and social studies to prepare students for a future in those fields. Often, students in Group I are exempted to study science even if they wish to, and students in Group II are not required to take geography, civics and history." Wikipedia

Credits: Wikipedia

Cost of Living in Singapore

Cost of standard 4/5 room HDB flat (around 90-100 sq m) in Punggol:

"Matilda Court & Waterway Sunray (Standard Flats) $290,000 to $430,000"

"Current cost of a brand new Toyota Vios

Elegance (A) $119.:888

Grande (E) $124.888

Local Supermarket - Price of:

-Cheapest 10kg packet rice: "$18.80

-Cheapest 1 litre drinking mineral/distilled water: $0.60

-Cheapest fresh whole chicken (refrigerated not frozen): $6.80

-Cheapest 1 litre of cooking oil: $8

-Do we provide plastic bags and how are they used?: Yes, they are used for putting our groceries.

-Who are the cashiers? (Age, nationality) What kind of service do they provide?: They are mostly Chinese, but there are still Indian and Malay cashiers. They ages range around 60. They sum up the total price of all the groceries, check whether we have discounts or free gifts and also place the groceries into the plastic bags. 

-Cost of school fee: $28

-Price of one litre if petrol (95 unleaded): Pump price $2.190 (Updated 14 May 2015)"

-Price of a movie ticket on a weekend: $12.50

-Average salary of a Singaporean: $3770

-One big mac meal: $7.60

Questions about Tainan

Audrey:

1. What are the traditions of the Taiwanese people ?

2. Do they still practice these traditions in the modern days?

3. What are the beliefs of the Taiwanese?

Ming Yee:

1. What do they think of their own country?

2. What are the things they are unhappy about the country?

3. Are the schools there very stressful?

Xin Yi:

1. What do Taiwanese usually do when they have free time? Do they play computer games or do outdoor activities?

2. Do Taiwanese have examinations like PSLE or O Levels to determine which schools they go to? Or can they just choose what school they want?

3.  Are they allowed to go out with friends to like night market till night time usually? Or are they restricted to hang out with friends by their parents?

Sarah:

1. How is the education like in Taiwan? Is it stressful like China? Or does it focus on holistism? 

2. How is the standard of living like in Taiwan? Is it easy to earn a living to pay for living expenses? Is the job competition competitive? 

3. What are some personal/common beliefs? 

Jing Heng:

1. What is the average cost of living in Taiwan?

2. What are some traditional beliefs in Taiwan (Do and Donts) 

3. Do the people in Taiwan celebrate the same festivals as the people in Singapore?

Jak:

1. How much the usual groceries there cost in Singapore Dollars? (Including daily necessities such as bread, milk, vegetables, soaps etc.) Compare it with Singapore market prices and why do they differ/are they similar? Is it because the difference in the economy?

2. What is the average income of a Taiwanese working adult? What are their main occupations? Do different locations in the country mean that different people have different sources of income? What are the taxes and bills all citizens usually have to pay? (Eg. Near coastline - fishermen)

3. What are the school fees there like? Do the parents need to pay a lot of money to raise a kid? How the government in Taiwan make sure that the school fees are affordable?

Chinese Youth Culture

 

Quotations from various sites

'A new group of Chinese youth's evolvings stresses reformed Confucious thinking. Religious ideas are controlling the minds of many with Christianity becoming popular. Their love for foreign things is higher and a wish list ends in foreign lands.'

'Rather than turning to parental generation, Chinese youth can use social media to turn to their peers for guidance. ' 

'The one thing that the Chinese youth don't lack is energy! They're trying everything, learning about it and if they like it, they work hard to find the guidance they needed. '

Singapore Youth Culture

Singapore Youth Culture

-Usage of mobile devices have increased: popularly-used apps include Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, Oovoo, Tumblr and many others.

-Food options of fast-food restaurants have largely replaced visits to coffee shops/hawker centres during mealtimes  

-Hobbies more concentrated indoors: watching television, sleeping, playing games

-Hard-core fans of popular figures from all around the world, especially Korea  

-Fashion: more favoured towards wearing modern fashion, such as sneakers, shorts...

-Work-headed: go to school every weekday and pressed to complete projects works and prepare for examinations

-Festivals: chances to be exposed to cultures and practices from another ethic group's festival

Thoughts About Animal Abuse In China

"As of 2006 there were no laws in China governing acts of cruelty to animals. In certain jurisdictions such as Fuzhou, dog control officers may kill any unaccompanied dogs on sight. " -Wikipedia
China has provided limited amount of protection for the animals. They have only began to enforce laws against animal abuse in the recent years. However, there are still no organisations or government-supported organisation against animal abuse in China. 
 

In contrast, Singapore has a strong government supported organisation called the SPCA (Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty Towards Animals). Cruelty towards any animal or bird in Singapore is a crime, and any cases of abandoned or badly wounded animals or dead animals will be taken very seriously. The public is also well-educated on how to be responsible when handling animals and well-aware on these animal abuse acts.
 

Group Point Of View: 

Animals are living creatures, they have feelings just like us humans. Why do we have the rights reserved to treat animals as lesser individuals. Laws have been implied to prevent cruelty to animal in Singapore, but we feel that it is not easy to change the mindset of animal abusers, especially for a huge country like China, where only larger and better developed cities are more educated on how to be responsible towards animals.

We feel that pet owners should be responsible for their pets. If people aren't sure if they can take care of their pets or aren't sure if they will be fully responsible for them they should not have even purchase or adopt the pet in the first place. Also, it is definitely not right for people to rant their anger on these poor animals who are not capable of fighting back against the humans. It is a sin to make someone suffer for one's pleasure. There are several examples in China, where dogs are beaten to death once they are in sight by humans. These acts are unacceptable and irresponsible, and this people should have been put to justice, but it is unfortunate that there has not been strict monitoring or laws to protect these animals. Thus, we feel that the Chinese Government do need to look into these cases seriously and strictly deal with the abusers, and at the same time increase the education on the public about animals. 

Taiwanese Culture

Background Info:

Food
History: Taiwanese cuisine is strongly influenced by food rooted in mainland China, Fujian province and also bu=y the cuisines of Fuzhou, Chaozhou and Guangdong. During Taiwan's half century of Japanese colonial rule, Japanese style cooking techniques also began to colour Taiwanese food. Such as Japanese fried prawns and raw fish are also Taiwanese specialties.

Japanese fried prawn dish

MUST TRYS!!
(A country of fish eaters. Fishes are cooked slowly in soups and stews or quickly deep fried.)

1.  Eel noodles on Minzu street of Tainan.  This is an example of Japanese inspired Taiwanese cuisine.
2. 棺材面包 Coffin bread. Tainan specialty. It is a fried piece of toast stuffed with savoury seafood and vegetable chowder.
3. Fish Chin Soup. Mixed with medley of vegetables, broth is glutinous. An example of a fish dish of Taiwanese cuisine!!

Lastly, Taiwan is famous for its tea, especially the lightly roasted Oolong tea. Teahouses exists in almost every town and most households serve tea to guests.

Fashion 

History: Taiwanese traditional clothing represents the prominent features of each tribe. It symbolises culture ideas and beliefs with vivid colour and diverse styles. Every indigenous tribe has its own unique clothing style and characteristics.

Facts:(An example of a tribe clothing, Rukai) menswear is similar to female garments. Patterns and weaves are alike. The men trousers can be categorised into open seat pants. Women wearing a whole suit were considered elegant and graceful. Figures, lilies and pottery pots are themes of woven on clothes. 

Folks

Background: Taiwan's population is mostly the Han Chinese who were born in mainland China or ancestors that were from there. They are divided based on dialect of Chinese the speak: Hokkien, Hakka, Mandarin. They have a small population of aborigines who compromise about 2 percent of total population.

Beliefs:

1. Confucianism: Teachings of Confucius describe the position of the individual in society. Confucianism is a system of behaviours and ethics that stress the obligations of people towards one another based upon their relationship. The basic tenets are based upon 5 different relationships. 1. Ruler and subject 2. Husband and wife 3. Parents and children 4. Brothers and sisters 5. Friend and friend. Confucianism stresses duty, loyalty, honor, filial piety, respect for age and seniority, and sincerity,
2. 关系 Most Taiwanese business is conducted among friends and families, Such connections, 关系 are developed with people at your own level or of a higher status in both business and social situations, 关系 open doors, smoothens problems and lead to even more 关系。

 

Festivals

Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. We've learnt during our RV literature lesson that the sky lantern, 孔明灯 was  invented by 诸葛亮 during the 3 Kingdoms (this not searched from web one! :). 

It is a festival whose sky lanterns carry the prayers and vows of people and by whivh they seek purification of their souls and a festival that advertises the Taiwan spirit to the world. Laterns are lit, slowly rises and flames of prayers dance in the air. Beautiful and magnificent sign=ht transcends cultural barriers so when festival time arrives each year,  Pingxi is always overwhelmed with visitors.

No fixed festival date. It was held on March 5~15 this year.

Song-Jiang Battle Array 

It is a type of folk street parade. The Song Jiang Array originally organised to strengthen, defend and unite the town under historical, generational and government influence turned into s theatrical drama that combined entertainment for the gods with furtive military training becoming the well known folk art that it is today. It is preformed by mostly primary and middle school children. Preserving and handling down an important folk art schools organise Sing Jiang Battle Array and develop creative approaches to make this traditional formation attractive and foster valuable feelings of friendship while interacting id also at the ore of the Song Jiang Battle Array.

 

Sources:

http://www.taiwan-travel-experience.com/image-files/fusion-taiwan-food.jpg

http://www.seriouseats.com/images/2012/08/20120823-tainan-coffinbread-cw.JPG

http://thetaiwanphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/06_Rukai_%E9%AD%AF%E5%87%B1%E6%97%8F_Aboriginal_Tribe_Taiwan.jpg

http://thetaiwanphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/06_Rukai_%E9%AD%AF%E5%87%B1%E6%97%8F_Aboriginal_Tribe_Taiwan.jpg

http://www.hdwallpapersimages.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Lantern-Festival-Pingxi-Taiwan-HD-Images.jpghttp://eventaiwan.tw/d_upload_tour100/activity/image/A0/B0/C0/D-562/E-770/F-799/a5b72a2a-4b57-4748-becb-c96ac59c0b2c_640%23640.jpg

Tang Dynasty - Mindmap

LKY Special - Suzhou Industrial Park Poster

Our product

Our group product is called 'Magical Broom 中国魔术扫把'. It's uses is human teleportation from place to place in order to save time and it is also more convenient this way. It comes with a fairy dust and it can be adjust in length for easy usage. How to use: Simply just press the buttons on the stick and you can teleport anywhere! Worried about the price? No worries! Since it's Chinese New Year, there will be a big discount! From usual price - $69.90 to discount price - $29.90 ! The product is made in China but we can guaranteed you that it is 100% high quality. So what are you waiting for? Come to Boon Lay Avenue 6 and grab one now! While stock last!
'You can fly, I can teleport!'

One-Child Policy

Aim: Reduce the country's birth rate thus, slowing the population growth rate

Establishment: 1979

Background Info:  (1950) Population growth: 1.9%/year
Previous Chinese governments had encouraged people to have a lot of children to increase the country's workforce. But by the 1970s the government realised that current rates of population growth would soon become unsustainable.

Problems:
-Those who had more than one child didn't receive these benefits and were fined.
-The policy was keenly resisted in rural areas, where it was traditional to have large families.
-Women who became pregnant after they had already had a child, were forced to have an abortion  with many forcibly fertilized

Impacts:
-Rate of population growth: 0.7 per cent%/year
-Due to a traditional preference for boys, large numbers of female babies have ended up homeless or in orphanages, and in some cases killed. As a result, the gender balance of the Chinese population has become distorted. Today, it is thought that men outnumber women by more than 60 million.

Current Changes:
-Couples can now apply to have a second child if their first child is a girl, or if both parents are themselves only-children.
While China's population is now rising more slowly, it still has a very large total population (1.3 billion in 2008)

New Problems:
-Falling birth rate; leading to a rise in the relative number of elderly people(ageing population)

Nature

Nature.

Africa experiences droughts, hence, water was scarce. This directly decreased crop yield. Worsening the situation, Africa was highly populated and the scarce food would be shared among more people. The undesirable environment caused people to suffer from thirst and hunger.

Africa experiences droughts, hence, water was scarce. This directly decreased crop yield. Worsening the situation, Africa was highly populated and the scarce food would be shared among more people. The undesirable environment created by nature caused people to suffer from thirst and hunger. We are unable to control what nature do. Take for example in the Kevin Carter's picture, the girl had the disease. The vulture was also there eyeing at the girl, waiting for its food. All these happen because of nature. Also, Kevin was unable to help the girl for fear of getting the disease. It's nature for vultures to prey on dying animals, so the vulture would naturally wait for the girl to die and feed on her later on.

Our Group Picture

(From left to right) Audrey, Jak, Sarah, Xinyi, Mingyee, Jing Heng

About Us

2H' 2015 CID Group 1

Members:
Sarah Lim (19) Leader
Audrey Yeo (1)
Goh Ming Yee (7)
Lee Xinyi (13)
Chew Jing Heng (25)
Jak Zeng (31)