AIT臉譜系列之十六
我愛台灣！這是我第二度旅居台灣，第一次是在1970年代中期，當時我是摩門教的傳教士。從我第一次來台至今，我看到這塊美麗的土地上發生了很多正面的改變，唯一不變的是台灣人的熱情與好客。高雄是一個非常適宜居住的城市，充滿生機與活力，也是進入南台灣的門戶。南台灣有太多地方值得探索了-- 從台東美麗的太平洋海岸，到嘉義的阿里山；從欣欣向榮的高雄港，到歷史古都台南；從屏東悠閒的農村風情，到澎湖奧妙的海底世界；每一個地方都有我的足跡。我很喜歡在台灣旅遊。我搭過計程車、巴士、地下鐵、輕軌、普通列車、高鐵、螺旋槳飛機、和噴射客機。我也會自己開車或是騎自行車；當然，我也會靠自己的雙腳步行探索台灣。有些時候，步行也許是最佳的方式。無論是晚餐後沿著愛河散步，觀賞壽山的夕陽餘暉；到駁二特區看藝術展覽、逛特色小店，再來一支黑糖口味的霜淇淋；或是爬上旗津的燈塔，將旗津港的美景和港邊的船隻盡收眼底；在高雄徒步旅行可以在街頭發現很多美好的事物與驚喜。
我的信仰在我的生活中扮演很重要的角色。我每週都會上教堂，也參加很多教會主持的慈善公益活動。我衷心感謝在台灣能享有高度的宗教自由、宗教多元、和宗教包容。我每週去的摩門教會就在幸福川旁，對岸就是一座道教寺廟，走路就可以輕鬆到達台灣最古老的天主教堂玫瑰聖母堂，從我家開車到佛光山也只要30分鐘。我也看到許多不同的基督教會、清真寺、還有左營的孔廟。各種不同宗教信仰的人在台灣和平共存，這真的是一種福音。我派駐高雄的任期在夏天即將期滿，我一定會想念這一個叫台灣的寶島！-- 杜維浩 #FacesofAIT
I love Taiwan! I have lived here twice: once in the mid-1970s as a Mormon missionary; and now as chief of AIT Kaohsiung. I have seen so many positive changes in Taiwan since my first time on this beautiful island. In fact, the only thing that seems not to have changed is the warmth and friendliness of Taiwan’s people. Kaohsiung is a great place to live! It’s a vibrant, exciting city, the gateway to southern Taiwan, which has so much to offer: from the beautiful Pacific coast of Taitung, to Alishan in Chiayi; from the bustling port of Kaohsiung, to the historic city of Tainan; from the idyllic farm fields of Pingtung to the incredible undersea life of Penghu. I have seen all this and more. I like traveling in Taiwan. I’ve taken taxis, buses, subways, light-rail trains, regular trains, high-speed trains, propeller planes, and jet planes. And I’ve driven my own car and pedaled my own bicycle. And of course I’ve walked. And sometimes, walking is the best. Whether it’s a stroll along the Love River after dinner watching the sun set over Longevity Mountain, exploring the art and shops of Pier Two and eating a brown sugar ice cream cone, or climbing to Cijin Lighthouse and taking in the amazing view of the harbor and all of the ships offshore, walking in Kaohsiung one finds beauty and surprises around every corner. My religion plays a big role in my life. I attend church every week, and participate in many church-sponsored social and charitable activities. That’s why I truly appreciate the religious freedom, diversity, and tolerance that exist in Taiwan. My Mormon chapel sits across the Hsing-fu Canal from a Taoist temple, and it’s only a short distance from the oldest Catholic church in Taiwan, the Holy Rosary Cathedral. Buddha Light Mountain is just a 30-minute drive from my home. And I’ve seen the chapels of other Christian denominations, Muslim mosques, and the Confucian Temple in Zuoying. People of all faiths coexist peacefully in Taiwan, and that is truly a blessing. When my tour in Kaohsiung ends this summer, I will truly miss this amazing island called Taiwan! — Bob
