The Dream City
There’s always a dream city in our hearts, the city that lures us to keep abreast of it, or soak ourselves in it. I believe to most people in Taiwan, Taipei is that city. A dream city that worth paying visits from time to time, even exerting every effort to become a tiny part of it.
This is a story of a young girl. She dreamed a lot and her life was a chapter of dreams that originate from her early trips to Taipei. Her mother liked to travel and always brought the girl with her when visiting their relatives that lived in different towns and cities. All the trips became the girl's fondest memories. When it was time to prepare for the Chinese Lunar New Year, she’d picture her riding on the train anticipating the joy and excitement she would have especially in the biggest city, Taipei! There were so many wonders there for her to explore. Though at that time, Taipei was not an international city of importance, having no skyscrapers, all the other amazing spectacles like the latest fashions worn by people from around the world, novelty shops side by side on ChungSang N. Road, numerous eateries on Chong Hua Road, fancy cars, buses, Museums, memorial halls, science and technology plus the exotic atmosphere brought in by those giants with a tall nose, big blue eyes, golden hair,white skin and big feet, - a total opposite of her folks. What a city! What a sight!
Throughout the years, she saw the gradual change and growth of Taipei. It kept fascinating her. Longer and wider streets, more and more trees, flowers on the road sides, skyscrapers one after another, cars of all brands, concerts, exhibitions especially invited from abroad, and a lot more. Its impact on the girl intoxicated her that she kept dreaming that one day she would become a part of this great city. She studied hard, dreaming only of Taipei. She quietly applied for entrance only to those universities in and around Taipei without telling her parents in order not to set misfortune upon her dream. When her mother worried that she would end up working in a factory, she surprised her by successfully scoring on the Entrance examination and studied in Taipei.
She was like a fish in the water, indulging herself in all the convenience and intellectual delights Taipei provided. She chose to stay and work in Taipei after graduation. She was a grown woman then. She kept dreaming, yet dreamed toward a much wider scope. The diversity and constant evolution of Taipei opened the window for her to see the bigger outside world. It’s Taipei that inspired her to want to know more about the world. She set her foot on many other countries. After visiting many countries, she loved her dream city even more as no other cities can compare with it, the origin or her happiness and dream making.
Yes, now your know I was the young girl whose life wouldn’t have been so colorful and diverse if not because of the great city. Taipei City kept expanding and evolving in a fast pace. To name a few; well preserved historical sites, restaurants that are only a few steps away from each other, art works seen in every corner of the city, plants and flowers all over the streets and parks, the grand and gallant Theatre Concert Hall reaching out and bringing in more diverse programs from the world made Taiwan better known through culture and arts. The operation of Taipei Mass Rapid Transit kicked off in 1996 boosted the quality of life for its citizens; Following the grand opening of the world tallest building Taipei 101, the land mark and beacon of Taipei, in 2003, Taipei excelled another high and brought itself known to the world. And most importantly, the eco-environment that our government is striving to create.
Today Taipei not only reaches for the stars with the tallest building in the world, but also colors our lives through constant evolvement and rapid development. It showed the world its beauty, diversity, prosperity, and richness in culture, arts and intellectual activities. It was, is and will always be my dream city, the glorious place for people to dream about a brighter future.
Trini
0507
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