Katy’s dispatch to World Journal (世界日報) reporting TAA Lunar New Year banquet

(Please click the following link to read the online version of Katy’s dispatch)

http://www.worldjournal.com/view/wjnjpanews/11193458/article-%E5%8C%B9%E8%8C%B2%E5%A0%A1%E5%90%8C%E9%84%89%E6%9C%83%E6%98%A5%E5%AE%B4%E7%88%86%E7%AC%91?instance=panews

Katy’s dispatch to World Journal (世界日報) reporting TAA New Year banquet was published today (Feb. 1) The headline was “Uproarious laughter broke out in Pittsburgh TAA (Taiwanese American Association) Lunar New Year banquet” and the subtitle was “Dr. Jer-Yuan Tsai, disguised as Troy Polamalu complete with his signature long wavy hairs, was interviewed”.

There was no so-called interview; it was just an unscheduled entertainment program. No sooner did Mei Hwang see me wearing 43 Polamalu attire with the long hairs in hand, than she hurried to the stage to “officially” announced Polamalu’s arrival. I made a few comments lamenting how I [Polamalu] was “mistreated” by the TV commentator who casually said “the ball just went to Polamalu” when I flew and made a heroic interception to a pass by Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to secure the Steelers’ victory.

I may not excel in sport, but I know how to be a good sport :- )

The outgoing president, Chi-Hui Hwang (黃綺惠), expressed her appreciation for the help from the officers, and Dr. Lawrence Han (韓世彬) took over as the new president.

Dr. Han (son of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel & Shi-Mei Han), a second generation Taiwanese American, greeted everyone a Happy New Year. In keeping with the tradition of respect the elders and the wise, Dr. Han gave out the “red envelope” (紅包) to those who are 70 years of age or older; Chia-Tsun Liu (劉嘉俊) is the wisest. All the children were also showered with the red envelopes. The children of 林凱平 (Kyler and Kiara) also performed the lucky lion dance.

Secretary Hsiang-Jung Kuo (郭向榮), treasurer Shirley Chuang (歐雪杏) and entertainment Charlie Chian (簡豐源) will work for another year. Shiu-Bi Kuo (高秀璧) was elected unanimously as the new vice-president.

Dr. Han kindly asked the guests/new comers to introduce themselves. Dr. Hsao-Hsun Hsu (徐紹勛), a thoracic surgeon from National Taiwan University Hospital and is presently doing lung transplant related research at UPMC. Dr. Ishun Huang (黃怡舜), an ENT doctor (otolaryngologist), soon to be awarded the Ph.D. from University of Pittsburgh, is planning to return to Kao-Hsiung Chang-Gung (高雄長庚) Hospital. After completing his research at UPMC in April, Dr. Alex Lin (林志文) will also return to Kao-Hsiung. Several University of Pittsburgh graduate students, including 王健晴、黃馨慧、蘇彥斌 and 游雅雯, all were delighted to attend the banquet.

The entertainment programs include Lantern riddles (花燈猜謎), 張嘉玲 and 燕玉婷 were in charge of the idioms guessing (猜成語), 夏光榕 demonstrated Tai-Chi (太極拳). The program ended with 周秀琴、郭向榮、簡豐源 and 林明石 performing Karaoke sing along. Professor Chuang (莊英煌) distributed the books, “Taking care of Taiwan” (顧台灣) authored by 蔡同榮, a legislator in Taiwan (台灣立法委員).

(The following is Katy’s dispatch)

【賓州匹茲堡訊】
February 01, 2011 06:00 AM

台灣同鄉會匹茲堡分會上周末在新皇朝飯店舉辦迎春午宴，卸任會長黃綺惠感謝任內幹部們的幫忙，當天並與新會長韓世彬交接。

韓世彬用英語向大家賀年，他表示，自己是台美第二代，是醫生，對於接下會長一職誠惶誠恐。韓世彬首先發揚華人敬老尊賢的傳統，請劉嘉俊與70歲以上的與會者都接受一個敬老紅包。接著發給許多小朋友過年紅包。午宴中，林凱平的兒女為大家表演了吉祥舞獅。

由於匹茲堡鋼人隊即將到德州達拉斯參賽全美足球超級盃，蔡哲元醫師扮成鋼人隊隊員波拉瑪路(Troy Polamalu)，穿上43號球衣，戴上其招牌標誌的披肩長髮，上台接受採訪，引起全場轟動，爆笑如雷。今年該會文書郭向榮、財務歐雪杏、康樂簡豐源皆連任務一年。大家並一致公推高秀壁擔任新副會長。

 韓世彬請首次參加聚餐者自我介紹，其中包括台大醫院胸腔外科徐紹勛醫師；預定取得匹大博士學位，就回台灣高雄長庚服務的黃怡舜醫師，以及4月也將回高雄服務的林志文醫師；匹大學生王健晴、黃馨慧、蘇彥斌及游雅雯也都表示很高興參加此春宴。

娛興節目除了花燈猜謎，另有張嘉玲與燕玉婷的猜成語「指鹿為馬」等活動。接著夏光榕表演全套太極拳，還有周秀琴、郭向榮、簡豐源、林明石等精彩的歌唱表演。會中，莊英煌教授帶來不少台灣立法委員蔡同榮所著「顧台灣」一書分贈大家。(張瓊月)