Sue The Wordsmith

Le Sommelier – A Classic French Wine Bar in Tianmu

CoT / 2020, Author : Pai Su-Yu, Centered on Taipei / May 10, 2020

Among the lingering charms of Taipei are its older neighborhoods. Their narrow streets and alleys hold remnants of the past, along with unexpected surprises and diversity. Le Sommelier, a long-time popular French wine bar, is located in one of these older areas, Tianmu. Tucked away at the far-end of an antiquated wrap-around building and a few steps down to the sub-ground level, Le Sommelier offers patrons not only a good wine menu, but also a place to gather for monthly events and special occasions.

Le Sommelier – A Classic French Wine Bar in Tianmu Read More »

Green Building Practices, Rooftop Garden Design and Ecological Habitats : Winkler Partners

CoT / 2020, Author : Sue Babcock, Centered on Taipei, Outlook / April 5, 2020

Since 2006, Robin Winkler, founder of Winkler Partners Attorneys at Law of Taiwan and Foreign Legal Affairs, has had a visionary mission. That mission is for his organization to have a positive impact on the environment. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen and make it readable.)

Green Building Practices, Rooftop Garden Design and Ecological Habitats : Winkler Partners Read More »

About Women : Conversations Between a Writer and a Painter

CoT / 2020, Author : Sue Babcock, Book Review, Centered on Taipei / March 5, 2020

Throughout history, women have created and used special personal patterns of language to express themselves. In China’s Jiangyong County in southern Hunan Province, women were taught nushu, (possibly early as the Song and Yuan dynasty, 13th to 14th century) an ancient secret written and spoken language. Nushu allowed women to freely share with each other

About Women : Conversations Between a Writer and a Painter Read More »

When “Living Foreign” – Be Prepared for Emergencies With a “Go Bag”

CoT / 2020, Author : Pai Su-Yu, Centered on Taipei, Community / February 16, 2020

It’s 2020 and “living foreign” has had a few more challenges added to its list than in previous decades: increased fallout from climate change, global political unrest, aircraft casualties, epidemics and toxic industrial accidents that have caused severe damage to our natural resources and environments. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it

When “Living Foreign” – Be Prepared for Emergencies With a “Go Bag” Read More »

New Year Lanterns Under a Full Moon

CoT / 2020, Author : Sue Babcock, Centered on Taipei, Culture / February 5, 2020

All over Taipei, rows and rows of large round red lanterns have been put up outside temples, department stores, local businesses, homes and throughout public parks and gardens, in preparation for the final celebration of the Lunar New Year, the Lantern Festival. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen

New Year Lanterns Under a Full Moon Read More »

21st Century Third Culture Kids

CoT / 2019, 2020, Author : Pai Su-Yu, Centered on Taipei, Outlook / December 5, 2019

Twenty-first century third culture kids (TCK) with all their international experience and bilingual (sometimes multi-lingual) language capabilities, along with a cultural savviness when it comes to navigating cross-cultural situations, are still unsure of themselves. Why? (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen and make it readable.) This

21st Century Third Culture Kids Read More »

The Possessions of Emperors : Chinese Lacquerware

CoT / 2019, 2020, Author : Sue Babcock, Centered on Taipei, Culture / December 5, 2019

Our guide was motioning for us to hurry, as our small group stood appreciating the cool blasts of air in the main lobby of the Taipei National Palace Museum (NPM) on an unusually hot late autumn morning. As we walked towards the Curio Gallery, where some of the NPM lacquerware collection was on display, our

The Possessions of Emperors : Chinese Lacquerware Read More »

2019 TCSC Corporate Service Award : The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei

CoT / 2019, Author : Sue Babcock, Centered on Taipei, Community / November 5, 2019

Each year, the Community Services Center’s Steering Committee and Foundation Board present an award to an organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, service and commitment to the community and to the Community Services Center. This year’s award recipient is the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham Taipei). (Please click or tap on any thumbnail

2019 TCSC Corporate Service Award : The American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei Read More »

Across Cultures : Developing Sensitivity

CoT / 2019, Author : Sue Babcock, Centered on Taipei, Outlook / October 5, 2019

Living foreign is a mixed bag. One minute you are in love with everything about the people and their culture and then, after an unexpected cultural mishap, you hate everything about them. (Please click or tap on any thumbnail to view it in full screen and make it readable.) This Article was published

Across Cultures : Developing Sensitivity Read More »

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Maybe a Hungry Ghost…

CoT / 2019, Author : Sue Babcock, Centered on Taipei, Culture / August 6, 2019

It’s that time of the year, when hungry ghosts once again make their appearance in Taiwan. Each year, they leave the land of the dead and wander the earth beginning on the first day of the seventh lunar calendar month for thirty days. This year’s Ghost Month and the Hungry Ghost Festival will begin on

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Maybe a Hungry Ghost… Read More »