nterview Experiences
Ethan Lin│Iris Chang│Celine Chen│Kai Shen│Ray Yu│Yvette Chang│Ray Wu
Hao Chen Yang│Alan Lee│Hans Chiang
Ethan Lin
In this interview with Mr. Fang Ho-sheng, I’ve learned many things about Nanjichang and the services they are working on. I am also very proud and admire of those who help the elders that can’t walk and prepare food themselves. In addition, I was surprised that the borough chief opened a coffee shop to help teenagers find jobs when they graduate. Not only that, all the work that he has done can be a model for anyone who wants to do the same for his or her community. He also stopped the waste of rice and bread, and provided us a better world. Because he made sacrifice for his people, the elders and the disadvantaged have found the meaning of life.
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Iris Chang
I have learned a lot in the interview, not only because it made me understand Fang Ho-sheng’s responsibilities as a borough chief, but also because it made me understand more about the righteous deed he is doing. After that interview, I think Fang Ho-sheng was too humble. What he is doing might seem unavoidable responsibilities; however, not every borough chief does the same. It made me realize that there is love in this world. I think I will work hard to help others whenever I have a change. The word that the borough chief told us, and the services he is doing has changed my way of thinking and my vision. I should open my heart and help others. As Shen Xing-ling said, “I am a firefly that lights up the darkness. For what I have given, I hoped to attract thousands of fireflies lighting up the lives of people in need.”
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Celine Chen
After the interview with the borough chief, I’ve learned a lot about why Mr. Fang Ho-sheng is different from other borough chiefs. I understand how the Food Bank works, the stories of his childhood, and who works with him to make his idea comes true. I admire the borough chief’s determination because he has been a borough chief for five years and he hasn’t given up on making this community better. Most importantly, he opened a café for young people to learn how to make coffee, and helps them receive the barista skill certificate. Fang Ho-sheng does more than a borough chief should do. Perhaps, in the near future, some people will change the society because of his spirit of love. I think we should take Fang Ho-sheng as our role model and continue to inspire people around us.
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Kai Shen
From this interview, I learned a very interesting, fun knowledge. I knew the general situation of Nanjichang, and I also realized how the voluntary services help the people there. I am very happy that I found out the answers to my questions. The borough chief encourages the elders to go to the restaurants, instead of staying at the house alone. But if the elders cannot walk, the volunteers will send food to their houses. He gives his whole heart to take care of them. He also started the Food Plant Community Fridge project. Taking the bread that the bakeries are going to throw away to the community fridge. While he is helping others, he also stop wasting food. Everybody should follow. The borough chief did not give up on the people in Nanjichang, rather he helped the community find its own way of survival. If he sees anyone needs help, he will help without hesitation. Helping the teenagers to find jobs is also one of the borough chief’s greatest achievement. He also started a coffee shop, and the teenagers could get a barista skill certificate at the coffee shop. This is really a brilliant way to help teenagers.
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Ray Yu
After the interview, I have learned more about the borough chief, Fang Ho-sheng, things he for the residents in Nanjichang, and how he worked hard for the welfare of the poor. Before the interview, we did some research about the borough chief and Nanjichang Public Housing. Finally, we went to Nanjichang Public Housing for the interview, and we discovered some special features of Nanjichang Public Housing. First, there is a library booth, and people can check out books and return. The number of books being checked out every month is an astonishing number. Second, there is a café. Teenagers can take barista skill course at the café, and they can take certificate exam at the same place. Most importantly is the Food Bank, the residents can use their points to exchange for daily necessities and food. Finally, there is a community fridge which stores bread and food for everyone in need. I’ve really learned a lot through the interview.
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Yvette Chang
Before the interview, we could only see the picture of the borough chief, Fang Ho-sheng, online. We all knew that he helps to change Nanjichang Public Housing to a better place, but we didn’t have a chance to see him in face, and ask some questions about him and about Nanjichang Public Housing. Until October 11th, we finally had a chance to see him and satisfy our curiosity.
First, he guided us to visit the community. We visited the library booth, the Food Bank, the after-school classrooms, the Happy Kitchen, and checked out the Food Plant Community Fridge. He told us the community fridge is like an oasis of the community. After that, we sat down and started to ask questions.
The interview let me know more about the changes of Nanjichang Public Housing. It unraveled the doubts I had about Nanjichang Public Housing. I was touched by the passion the borough chief, Fang Ho-sheng, had. I also finally agree that we should find a solution when we encounter any sorts of problems rather than giving it up.
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Ray Wu
We made a lot of preparation before we visited Nanjichang. We did research about its services and features. Also, we wrote an email to the borough chief, Mr. Fang, to tell him that we were about to visit Nanjichang soon. In the email, we asked some questions that we wanted to know.
After researching everything about Nanjichang and checking out photos of Nanjichang, we believed, “Seeing is believing.” We were very excited when the day of visiting came. Although it was raining on that day, the rain couldn’t ice our enthusiasm. Everyone was excited.
The borough chief actively welcomed our arrival and took us to the Nanjichang Happyland. He introduced us the the history to the buildings. He said, “Nanjichang Happyland had been changed many times. It was changed from a dirty place to the ‘lobby’ of Nanjichang.” There are several facilities around Nanjichang Happyland, including the restaurant, classrooms, library booth, coffee shop, etc. The borough chief took us to visit place by place. Then, we went to visit the Food Bank. There were full of supplies and food, and it is equipped with a cash register with a barcode scanner. Although we knew that Nanjichang is a poor community, those modern machines and huge amounts of supplies still attracted us!
At the end, the borough chief brought us to a café called Housebook 60 and showed us the Food Plant Community Fridge. The borough chief explained that the bread in the fridge was from bakeries they cooperate with. They do not sell overnight bread, so they donate the overnight bread to the community. After checking out the community fridge, we went into the coffee shop. The coffee shop is the most interesting place to me. There are many cool machines and boards that introduce this shop and the community. The borough chief told us that the coffee shop is actually a classroom for the teenagers to learn other special skills. Then, I realized that it is not just a café, but a special classroom for teenagers to acquire a skill for living. We sat down, had a chat and started to ask questions we were curious about.
We finished our day tour in Nanjichang in the café and collected a lot of information we wanted to know. We were glad that we had learned a lot. I really enjoyed it.
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Hao Chen Yang
After interviewing the borough chief, I’ve learned more about Nanjichang. Even though we had some general ideas about the situation of Nanjichang, we still learned from the stories the borough chief had shared with us. With the effort of the borough chief, the residents gradually enjoy their lives of being in Nanjichang. The services and welfare have made their lives easier. However, through the interview, I also realized how hardworking the volunteers are.
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Alan Lee
The interview with the borough chief brough me a better understanding to Nanjichang. When we first talked about Nanjichang, we only knew the information online or from the news. For us, Nanjichang was just a place with a lot of elderly living alone, and a borough chief that does something for the community. However, through the interview, we saw what voluntary services are, and we finally understood how hard the borough chief had done for his people.
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Hans Chiang
As an old saying goes, “He that travels far knows much.” This is a perfect explanation why we needed to visit Nanjichang personally.
Nanjichang was a prosperous district in the old time. However, time flies and other districts were developed faster than Nanjichang. Nanjichang became a name unfamiliar to people nowadays. It is a place with run-down apartments and illegal buildings. This place is hopeless until the borough chief, Mr. Fang, went back.
On the day of the interview, I arrived at Nanjichang with respect. We visited a lot of places and saw the community fridge that we were interested in finally. We were also welcomed by the residents hospitality. I was surprised how happy the residents were. I really hope that I can visit this friendly community again.