Kaohsiung- A Doorway to Serendipity Chris Castro, Kaohsiung Branch Chief, American Institute in Taiwan / Chris Castro在高雄 快樂無比的時光 美國在台協會高雄分處處長 康晟如
Kaohsiung- A Doorway to Serendipity
Chris Castro, Kaohsiung Branch Chief, American Institute in Taiwan
◎Text by Ya-Ting Hou
◎Photo by Chung-Hui Pao
Mr. Chris Castro took up the position of Chief of the American Institute of Taiwan, Kaohsiung Branch in March, 2008. His previous experience in Taiwan was when he pursued a year of graduate studies at National Chengchi University in Taipei in 1988. He recalled that his students who had come from Kaohsiung emitted a sense of citizen pride, which formed a deep impression on him despite not having a chance to visit Kaohsiung at that time. Two decades later, when the opportunity arrived, he was pleased to be able to serve in Kaohsiung. He feels a sense of closeness bonding with the city. Mr. Castro considers this his chance to rediscover Taiwan.
"Everything seems wider in Kaohsiung," said Mr. Castro. Kaohsiung displays wider grid-like streets and a less aggressive lifestyle, compared to Taipei. People of Kaohsiung still spend more time to interact with others and devote more time to their lives.
After a year of living here, Mr. Castro describes Kaohsiung with warmth and ambition. He admires Kaohsiung and considers it to be the friendliest city that he knows of. As Kaohsiung grows bigger and marches forward, he hopes that passionate friendliness will remain because it is the most valuable asset of the city.
Mr. Castro has observed Kaohsiung from political points of view, and the result was intriguing. With the DDP (Democratic Progressive Party)-Mayor and the KMT (Kuomintang)-Congress Spokesman, Kaohsiung's political parties find a way to balance, and the political system seems to be well-functioning. Each party has its staunch supporters. No matter if you are "Green (DDP)" or "Blue (KMT)" , politicians in Kaohsiung share a common characteristic across party lines: their passionate love for the city, which forms the core trait of the city.
Mr. Castro feels the rapid growth of Kaohsiung. The city demonstrates its cultural strength through its determination to offer residents various cultural experiences. He said that even with a limited budget, Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra and Kaohsiung Chamber Chorus still give outstanding performances. A dollar figure can not be put on these kinds of cultural values. He suggests for those friends who come from abroad to live in Kaohsiung not to be concerned that the City of Kaohsiung might not be like their hometown, because the city offers richness to traditional culture, western convenience and high quality of life. Instead, he encourages people to take advantage and appreciate cultural events and participate in all kinds of activities in order to accommodate Taiwanese life easily. This year, Mr. Castro plans to invite his colleagues to join the dragon boat competition during the Dragon Boat Festival.
Mr. Castro is fond of history. In his spare time, he likes to visit Kaohsiung Museum of History. He praises the museum which offers a high quality English audio guide.
His other favorite activities include visiting Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, enjoying good food and watching a movie at the FE21 Gold Class Cinemas. Besides great exhibitions, Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Art caught his attentions by a spacious natural surrounding besides great exhibitions. Like many visitors, he, too, likes to take a stroll around the museum park.
In searching for local cuisine, Mr. Castro is determined to find the food which can represent the Maritime Capital- Kaohsiung. He then aims his goal at seafood. This journey seeking for the best seafood has begun. In spite of the result being unknown at this stage, one thing is for sure that Mr. Castro would have plenty of authentic fresh experiences while he tastes from one stand of fresh seafood to another.
Speaking of Mr. Castro's movie-going experience, his body language says it all. It is hard not to notice when he has a huge smile on his face. He is trying to demonstrate how comfortable it is to lie on the big sofa in the cinema with luxurious food. Mr. Castro said they even provide blankets. As a movie-lover, Mr. Castro said that watching a movie here fills him with happiness.
Mr. Castro has arranged the whole set of tour itinerary for his guests. He will first take them to the 75th floor observatory at the Kaohsiung Sky Tower for a gorgeous panoramic view of the city. Mr. Castro likes to take his visitors to experience Kaohsiung MRT; not only is it one of the best ways to travel around the city, but visitors can see many wonderful art works which have been meticulous planned and installed along the way; for instance, "Dome of Light" at the Formosa Boulevard Station, "a modern Kaohsiung" at the Central Park Station, the World Games Station, 3D glass sculpture at the International Airport Station and ceramic murals devoted to the divine labors at Ciaotou Station.
With The World Games 2009 approaching, the AIT Kaohsiung Branch Office will participate by organizing an American Booth, displaying American culture in the World Games Plaza. As a sports fan, Mr. Castro is very excited and looking forward to seeing The World Games. He responded enthusiastically and said that he will purchase lots of The World Games tickets!
Chris Castro在高雄 快樂無比的時光
美國在台協會高雄分處處長 康晟如
◎文／侯雅婷
◎攝影／鮑忠暉
「高雄給我一種熟悉的感覺」，去年３月走馬上任的美國在台協會(AIT)高雄分處處長康晟如(Chris Castro)這麼表示。康處長提起他對高雄之所以印象深刻，是因為1988年於台北政治大學做研究時，他的學生總帶著以高雄人為傲的語氣談論高雄。時隔20年來到高雄服務，康處長說這讓他有機會體驗高雄人為何總以高雄為傲。
康處長表示來到高雄以後，彷彿一切都變寬敞了─棋盤式街道、自在的生活模式。北高兩市同為直轄市但相較於台北，高雄人保有更多與人互動及自己生活的時間。
來到高雄一年，康處長用「溫暖」和「無限的潛能」來形容高雄，因為工作的關係，走訪過許多城市，且誠心的認為高雄確實是非常友善的城市，他希望當高雄不斷地進步和發展的同時，高雄人還能繼續保有這項寶貴特質。
學政治的康處長觀察到一個有趣的現象：民進黨的市長和國民黨的議長。藍、綠兩個政黨在高雄取得巧妙的平衡點，儘管各政黨各有支持者，但不論藍或綠，同樣展現出明顯的高雄人性格，創造出屬於高雄人獨有的熱情。
康處長說高雄不斷地在進步中，並且逐漸展現其厚植的文化根基，他驚豔於高雄市交響樂團和高雄市合唱團在有限的預算，提供無價的文化藝術演出。他建議要到高雄來定居的國外友人，不要過度擔心高雄與自己居住的地方有所不同，高雄兼具豐富的傳統文化，現代化的便利和高品質的生活，他鼓勵外國朋友多參與文化活動，藉以融入本地生活。今年，康處長還打算邀集同事組隊參加端午龍舟競賽。
喜歡研究歷史的康處長，閒暇之餘最喜歡到高雄市歷史博物館，沉浸在一場場精心規劃的展覽中，在仔細聆聽後，他更滿意館內高水準的英語錄音導覽。史博館的各項展覽，康處長都如數家珍，從「228事件在高雄」、「布袋戲展演」到「一日市長」等展覽。
除了歷史博物館之外，康處長還喜歡到高雄市立美術館走走、大啖美食以及到大遠百的Gold Class頂級影廳看場電影。他稱讚美術館除了豐富的展覽之外，週圍寬廣的園區讓遊客能悠閒地漫步其中更是一大享受。
談到美食，康處長很努力地要找到最能代表高雄的經典美食。目前正鎖定找尋這個海洋城市最美味的海鮮料理，這段美食的尋覓之旅還持續進行中。
康處長試圖分享他在大遠百頂級影廳看電影的快樂時光，開心地像個大孩子似地筆手劃腳；除了寬敞舒適的沙發椅，電影廳甚至還提供毛毯呢！愛看電影的康處長說美國還沒有這麼舒適的電影廳，比在自己家裏看電影還舒服，他說在這裏欣賞電影讓他感到快樂無比。
像個高雄通的康處長還安排了一整套的高雄導覽行程，他會先帶訪客到高雄85大樓的75樓觀景台俯看高雄的景色。康處長強力推薦來參觀的訪客搭乘捷運，因為延著捷運站設置很棒的公共藝術，無論是美麗島站的光之穹頂、中央公園站的入口意象「雨揚」、世運站、小港機場的3D玻璃藝術或橋頭站為了感謝先民貢獻的巨型陶璧「天工開物」等公共藝術，都很值得一遊。
康處長表示對於高雄市正如火如荼籌備的2009世界運動會，AIT高雄分處也將積極參與，比如７月16日高雄世界運動會舉辦的時候，將於世運廣場認養攤位，展示陳列美國文化。喜愛運動的康處長表示對於高雄市今年要舉辦的世運會感到非常的期待，他也熱切地回應說，他一定會購買很多世運門票！