Felling Hell in this paradise country

I have never been so desperate, so mad and so helpless, and it is just about a telephone company's new service....

I changed telephone service on 10/01, they said new service will take effect on 15 days. On 10/19, the old carrier terminated our lines at night. On 10/20 all our lines are shut down. No telephone service. Obviously, there was no proper follow up of the sales person to prepare for the transition. Desperately called for service, the sales person told us to contact their concerned departments. The next day their technician came and hook up at end of day. The following day, only one line working. Other 7 lines were ended up in fax tone. Customers cannot reach us in by phone when the first one is occupied. Called for service again, their 2nd technician visited, detecting that the sales order was written wrong by putting all the hunt lines in the fax line. Then I need days of trial to reach a order desk to rewrite it, promising it be fixed by Friday night. Monday the phone is still down. Call again, they said they can't guarantee any earlier promise. Schedule is by Wednesday, 10/28.

Making calls to the sales person, I got consistently a voice mail. Sometimes his colleague replied, saying he is busy in meeting, and refer me a repair number. I call that number, after couple forwarding to other departments, it ends up a message that I have to hang up and call again. I try to find a supervisor to complain. It is a luxurious idea because you can't find a really responsible worker to handle your problem for so many days, how can you get a supervisor?

If a big telephone company allows such poor thing to happen in their system, it can be everywhere in this country, and this will a tragedy from poor efficiency and ignorance of customers' feeling. If this situation prolongs in the U.S.A. I can judge that over 5-10 years this country will be falling rapidly to the third world country.

With such efficiency in this decent high tech industry, how can I trust the Public Health Insurance System to succeed? How can I expect so many government supported programs to work for the country? I am very pessimistic about this country, because I have already been put in hell in this particular case.

母校校慶感言

The principal of my elementary school at Puli asked me to write an article for the publishing in the event of 50th anniversary. I obliged and finished it in about a week. This article almost described my growth path of more than half of my life.

母校校慶感言

長住美國加州已廿五年, 此刻已是華髮斑斑,即將邁入六十大壽的祖父級的人物了. 近日郭校長邀請為母校五十週年作感言之文. 想到能以文章恭逢盛會並分享心得, 並鼓勵小學弟學妹們, 我當下覺得義不容辭,欣然應之.只怕我的中文或巳生疏鏽澀,辭不達意.

我是第二屆的學生. 在此之前我是在埔里國小讀一年級. 中峰成立後即”回來”讀二年級, 算是中峰元老級的學生了. 當時印象最深的是學校一切簡陋,百事待興 ,所以上課以外,勞動服務自然成為常事.最令我難忘的兩件事,一是在學校初期,由街上(好像是工廠的地方)搬課桌椅回到學校, 累上一天. 另一是推板車從眉溪搬石頭到學校,用來鋪路. 至於種樹種花則屬常事.至今還記得林瓊玖校長在大太陽下制作台灣地圖模形, 汗流夾背的瘦削身影. 我的恩師由六年級往下算是陳明乾老師, 陳景棠老師各兩年, 至於二年級老師可能是陳金燦老師.對這位老師的印象主要是笑臉迎人如彌勒佛與他的好歌喉. 至今他的” 杯底莫當養金魚” 仍縈繞耳中, 數十年不去.

當時初中尚未改為義務教育, 正是人生”長考” 系列中的第一道窄門, 尤其對我們窮鄉附近的新小學更是一大挑戰. 陳明乾老師時任六年級導師,為了推我們升上初中,循循教導之外也不忘藤條相伴. 後來我幸運地與其他(好像三位)同學金榜題名. 記得當時有一道數學題我放棄未做答,因為題目是說一副牌什麼的. 我傻住了,因為在田裡長大整日與青蛙蝴蝶為伴的我怎知什麼是撲克牌? 更不會知道多少張一副了.

其後我有幸繼續升學一直到大學. 當年大學放榜時我還得騎腳踏車到北門里親戚處看報紙才知考上台大. 當時在全埔里區域考入台大的有四位. 听說市區鄉親們在清點誰家子弟時,只認識其中三位, 因為他們多為街市附近的士紳子弟. 很少人知道那第四個就是出自虎仔耳的農家窮小子, 記得校長與老師們都很高興的來家裡放鞭炮. 去報到上學那一趟的出門是我第一次上台北, 真如劉姥姥進大觀園,既興奮又害怕. 第一次班會,聽了我的談話口音,老師就”一口咬定”我是中央山脈出來的鄉下學生,印証是埔里後,引起哄堂大笑. 但是第一堂英文作文,老師唸的模範文章也是我的”大作.” 當時同學們都是一大片的小綠綠,或建中雄中附中等名校, 所以兩件事” 扯平” 了.

古賢不以成敗論英雄, 同理而言,今之能者也不以存款金額或官階大小論成就. 迄至今日, 本人大概算是中峰國小校友中升學就業較順利且足跡踏到海外的少數校友之一. 我與許多小學弟小學妹一樣出身於窮鄉僻壤, 家境清寒, 父母忙於農事只求溫飽. 到底我是如何走出去的呢? 在此我願以鼓勵與期許的立場分享我的經驗與感受如下:

當時埔中畢業我考入台中二中, 開始負笈在外鄉. 這三年中我寄宿於民宅, 與其他同學共住同食. 當時大學聯考, 競爭激烈, 多數考生都上補習班求名師協助. 我因為沒有補習的經費(家裡窮,我根本未敢啟口), 除了深耕教科書以外, 也在參加補習的同學們的對談切磋中听進了補習班的養份. 由於有了課本中的基礎, 補習班多作強調, 所以只要听到一句口訣或一個觀念就可以發揮相當的效果. 例如他們在啃英文文法, 听他們在覆頌”介詞後面是名詞”, 那麼動詞就要變名詞, 那就是加 ing 才行. 這就是免費養份. 當年勉強考入台大, 英文得到高分也是主要強項. 因此我們体會到面臨再大的挑戰,不必害怕膽卻. 事在人為 總有各種克服的方便法門可用的.

當年入學就讀政治系, 那是選校不選系的產物. 後來考慮個人性向志趣與自身的孤寒背景, 加上急於擺脫窮困, 決定轉系到較” 實際”而有出路的科系. 由於自已不太喜歡數學, 就折衷選擇了經濟系.大學畢, 我選擇就業一途. 當時台大有此口頭禪 “來來來,來台大. 去去去,去美國”. 留學是大多數台大人要走的, 或是他們家人要他們走的陽關大道. 可我不曾想過. 我不忍父兄為了籌措我的留學費用而去變賣好不容易才購置的田產. 不過十年過後, 我還是與多位留學的同學們隔海在對岸加卅相聚了.當年就業時我選擇了一家大型家族公司, 拿出鄉下人憨直忠實的幹勁, 一待就是十年. 1985 年,當時公司在美國加州洛杉磯需要設立分公司, 就派我去了, 成了該公司派在歐美第一位非家族的負責人. 回想起來, 為何多名主管人選中為何特別選我? 主要是忠實與資深. 相對其他人跳槽多次, 我就顯得可靠. 這也是洋人所謂 :Rolling stone gets no moss” (滾動的石頭不生苔) 的另一個硬道理.

1994年, 在新成立的分公司經營九年後, 我離職創業. 由於長年靠薪水與獎金收入維生, 積蓄有限,資本非常短缺. 所幸我在二十年的忠實工作,各方廠商與我相熟多年, 信賴有加, 都願意在我創業之初鼎力相助. 他們同意先出貨給我, 等到兩個月後才付現. 在此優渥的信用條件下, 我的公司立足了, 也茁壯了. 目前年營收約一千萬美元, 員工十數名. 在朋友與商界伙伴眼中, 我是個” 條直” 的人. 工作付出無所保留, 個性好惡也無所掩藏. 我相信這是各方好友願意冒險相挺的原因之一.

創業初始, 以夷制夷, 我找的工作伙伴有位是美籍墨西哥人. 雖是雄兵, 卻因年齡, 文化, 思想各方面與我的東方理念有甚大差異, 而至時有衝突. 他年輕氣盛, 既目無尊長亦不知應對進退之節制. 論事議題單刀直入, 不留情面. 不過, 在業務拓展方面他的表現卻十分出色, 宛如千里馬一般. 經過一段天人交戰的磨合期, 我決定期許自已成為伯樂. 為了隨時惕勵自己, 我用毛筆寫下”忍讓擔當, 隨緣自在” 的八字座佑銘, 並加框掛在辦公桌前. 其後數年, 人事漸穩,公司業務也順利開展, 以至今日. 在此我得到的經驗是老闆出頭不如讓有能力的人出頭. 在上位的主管應該有包容能人的氣度. 知人善任,永遠要有比自已強的下屬,才有進步.

如今, 歲近花甲,年華漸逝. 奮鬥過程己漸完結, 生意已到能力之頂. 以人父而言也可放下責任了. 五歲隨我來美的大女兒也從柏克來大學畢業,成了家也給了我一個可愛伶俐的小孫女. 三歲來的小女兒也自UCLA畢業, 現在矽谷的 Google上班, 明年中結婚成家. 以農人的立場說, 這是黃昏收工的時候了. 我幾經思考,深覺人生過了五十以後, 是該緩下腳步並且回頭做收尾的工作了. 說收尾或顯消極, 但在個人角度看卻是積極的人格”整裝”, 經過前大半生的反省與往後的修行, 可以建立自身人格與氣節, 作為年輕後進的表率.

那回,母校遭逢921世紀大震後,面目全非. 幸賴慈濟功德加被,得以重建. 身為校友,亦感恩戴德. 我個人與家人多年來也是佛教徒, 更是慈濟的追隨者. 想借此因緣, 聊作一詩, 做為勉勵學弟妹並祝福母校人才輩出.校運昌隆


慈悲喜捨遍法界
濟世送暖滿人間
中脈靈地建校園
峰高學盛慶連綿


校友 施永池 寫於美國加州核桃市

P.S. 個人布落格綢址如下, 歡迎指教
http://broomourworld.blogspot.com/

祖先所屬的國家不叫祖國, 叫啿?

祖先所屬的國家不叫祖國, 叫啿?

日前中國慶十一的大典, 軍容壯盛, 男兵壯碩女兵健美, 加上各種武器導彈, 真是” 耀武揚威” 空前絕後. 衡諸我族百年來備受列強侵略, 文物被擄掠, 百姓遭凌辱, 記憶中盡是一味殂上弱肉的景象. 如今彼岸在六十年後有此富強康樂的宣示, 姑不論是否完全真實或是勉強粉飾, 中國成為世界強權之一二已是不爭之實. 身為中華民族的一份子, 我也與有榮焉.
既沾此喜氣, 也能出口怨氣. 我也想說那句話” 偉大祖國, 妳好”

多人談及"祖國", 即受攻訐為向中共示好, 真乃小鼻小眼的政治動物. 祖先所來自的國家不叫祖國, 叫啿? 難道我們台灣人的祖先不是來自大陸? (喔,當然, 原住民或許.) 我以為台灣是我故鄉, 中國是我祖國,雖然我不一定認同她的一切,但事實就是如此.

Loose subject, just one stone to hit many birds

Today I found I almost lost my credit in my weekend tennis court.

While I was one of the three doing warm up and wait for the 4th person to play double, the anticipated fourth person was still watching the game under progress in the first court. When we were almost worn out, he still sit in there without joining in. Then the "lady Caroline" came, as always on this timing, filling in the 4 spot for warming up. With her in, the other two are not interested in playing game because of different level of game. Actually, she is fine in stroking, but people just teasing her and avoid teaming up with her. I really don't mind and suggest for a game, the other two kept silent, and the warming up become wearing out. I was getting mad and almost to that guy to tell him "if you don't want to play, why you come, and ruin the game?" I didn't, at the last minutes.

Then when we are all resting up, I saw him walking across our center court with a very stiff back, and slow speed. And I realized he was injured with spine. He was actually young and strong in serve, from my experience partnering up with him. I almost did a stupid thing if I let my temper erupt.

Then I played with Eddie, a familiar Philipino, a younger brother of Bob, another "persistent
guy " in this court for decades. We were playing well, and he made a good passing shot that I complimented. Later I also made one shot that caught my opponent unable to return back. He made a bigger compliment. I responded and said to him "I learn from you". It seems be be a courtesy back to him that put him in a mixed emotion for a while. I figure he might wonder how nice this guy is to make two persons happy with one comment, or how humble this Chinese guy is. Yes, it is our Chinese culture made us quite complicated for foreigners to figure out. At end, I served for a 6-4 win. He asked for another match, I had to excuse out since it is getting late and I was guilty of having my own fun and ingore my wife's health concern. She will always blame me for not taking her to a walk. I have to explain that I do not know if you are able to get up to walk, or just keep sleeping. ha ha, a routine argument that is her way to cover her weakness to sleep, I guesss.

We are mostly humble in individual level, but in a group, we may be totally different. Just yesterday our motherland China was doing different kind of huge event on the 60th anniversary of National Anniversary. The unprecedented scale of parade with army has delivered to the world this country is no more the one that was attacked under united front of eight invading countries. They are not hesitent in showing their richness in wealth, and strength in national defence.

On the other side of the trait, Taiwan, my home town country is very humble because its prosperity rely on China on a daily basis. It is also under two possible Typhoon on the eve of Moon Festival after a "human typhoon" attacked by Rebiya Kadeer, leader of Uighur association of Xinjiang providence. DPP, the political-minded only party ushered in such controversial figure into this island just in order to embarrass the ruling party and gain some votes in the coming election. They are really the minority group of people making Taiwan so humble, and their most popular icon is the prisoned ex-President, S.B. Chen.

God bless Taiwan. Be it free of nature disaster and self-destruction of their own people.