New Taipei father collects fun costumes to take his children to school

New Taipei father collects fun costumes to take his children to school

2022-09-19

And now we head to New Taipei to meet “Dinosaur Dad.” This fall, a pair of young twins in the city have been finding it difficult to adjust to first grade. Their dad was not sure how to help, until they made a request he was happy to agree to. Every day, he dresses as a fun character to take them to school. And on the way, all his neighbors can enjoy the game as well.

A minion saunters down the street, swaying from side to side. But why would this cute guy be outside of a theme park? This is just a normal street near a school in New Taipei’s Linkou District.

Parent
Since he appeared, everyone thinks that going to school is a really cute experience.

What’s the minion doing waiting at the school gate? Well, 33-year-old dad Mr. Chang decided to adopt the character to help his children overcome their reluctance to go to school.

Mr. Chang
Parent
They were finding it hard to adapt to school. They could go to school at 9 a.m. in the place where we lived before. But now they don’t really want to go to school. They’re always dragging their feet.

It’s these little twins, who just started Grade 1, and are finding it hard to get on with school. They asked their dad if he could dress up as a dinosaur to take them to school. And Mr. Chang was happy to oblige. He puts on a different costume each morning – a minion, a dinosaur, or a Charizard.

Mr. Chang
Parent
The most valuable part of it is not that they’re happy to go to school it’s that I’m happy to take them inside every day, and I enjoy that time with them. As a man, I have to fulfill my commitments.

Putting on the elaborate costumes is not that easy. After his walk to school, Chang comes home dripping in sweat, but with a big smile on his face. The school’s principal thinks it’s a great initiative.

Li Yung-chih
Lilin Elementary principal
It’s good for the students. I think it’s wonderful.

A ferocious Charizard trundles into view, but not to worry – inside it’s just dear old dad. The kids gather round with excitement. One twin grabs the dragon’s tail with a grin. The other wants to hold dad’s hand. As they head home for today, it looks like school wasn’t so scary after all.

"恐龍家長"現身校門只因雙胞胎兒子一句話

2022-09-19

“恐龍家長”現身校門口！新北市林口的麗林國小，最近幾天，有家長上演變裝秀，今天變身噴火龍，隔天又成了小小兵，讓許多小學生和家長都嘖嘖稱奇，其實，這一位33歲的張先生，因為雙胞胎的兒子，剛唸小一，不適應早起生活，兩人異想天開的問爸爸，能不能裝扮成恐龍，送他們上學，於是就有了這樣的奇景。

人行道上突然出現小小兵，左右搖擺好可愛，但仔細一看，這裡可不是在遊樂園，而是在新北市林口地區的一處校園外。

[[其他家長]]
“有他出現，大家會覺得，上學是一件很可愛的事情”

校門口怎麼會有小小兵，原來是因為孩子抗拒上學，讓33歲的張先生，決定變身成大玩偶，送小朋友到學校。

[[家長張先生]]
“他們其實就有點適應不良，因為以前的地方，平常九點上學就好，現在都不太想上學，都一直拖延”

就是這對剛唸小一的雙胞胎，還不適應小學生活，問爸爸可不可以裝扮成恐龍，送他們上學，於是張先生開始每天上演變裝秀，又是小小兵，又是恐龍、噴火龍。

[[家長張先生]]
“最值得的一件事情並不是他們開心上學，而是我很開心的每天帶他們從外面走進來，享受這個時光，那我們男人的約定，還是要實現”

儘管著裝不容易，時常搞得滿頭大汗，但為了孩子，張先生臉上始終掛著笑容，校方看見有家長這麼用心，也好感動。

[[麗林國小校長李勇緻]]
“為學生好，我覺得是一個很好的事情”

兇猛的噴火龍，裡面可是內心柔軟的爸爸，讓小朋友們全都圍過來，再看看這一對可愛的雙胞胎，一看到恐龍爸現身，一人笑著抓著尾巴，一人衝上去牽手，父子三人一起回家的畫面，好溫馨。

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Another powerful earthquake struck Taiwan on Monday morning, this time with the epicenter in Hualien’s Zhuoxi Township. Seismologists say the magnitude-5.9 temblor was just one of dozens of aftershocks of a 6.8 earthquake that struck Taitung on Sunday afternoon. They say that, since Taiwan has already experienced eight earthquakes with magnitudes of at least 6 this year, 2023 could be a calmer year, seismically speaking.

People flee Chunri Elementary School in Hualien, as landslides rush down from the mountain opposite the school’s playground, taking onlookers by surprise. Taitung’s Guanshan and Chishang townships were struck by two earthquakes with magnitudes above 6 over the weekend, followed by continuous aftershocks. Then on Monday, Hualien’s Zhouxi Township was the epicenter of a magnitude-5.9 earthquake. The weather bureau’s seismologists say more large earthquakes are unlikely in the short term.

Chen Kuo-chang
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I think that these concentrated aftershocks should be nearly over — already they are not so frequent any more. Also, I think the chances of another large aftershock are quite low.

Experts say Taiwan is currently in a period of heightened seismic activity. In Taiwan, the year 1999 recorded 15 earthquakes with a magnitude of at least 6. That’s the most recorded in one year. That’s followed by 1951 with 13 big quakes, and this year with eight recorded so far. However, if history is any indicator, next year should see an obvious reduction in seismic activity.

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We’ve already had eight large-scale quakes this year, so that has dissipated most of that built-up energy. So, I’m hopeful that next year will be fairly quiet.

The weekend’s large earthquakes in Taitung occurred along a fault line under the Central Mountain Range that was not previously a focus of attention. Researchers have now discovered dense seismic zones on the eastern side of the mountain range.

Wu Yi-min
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The fault under the Central Mountain Range is on the west side of the rift valley. That means it slopes eastward, but it doesn’t reach the surface, so seismologists didn’t list it as an active fault.

Researchers say this type of blind thrust fault may cause large earthquakes, even though it is not exposed on the surface. They also advise paying more attention to similar faults in Chiayi Couty and Tainan, which is a potential high-risk area given how seldom the faults there release energy.

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Earthquake collapses bridges, buildings and canopies in Eastern Taiwan

The 6.8 earthquake that rattled Taiwan on Sunday afternoon left one person dead and dozens injured. It also resulted in significant material damage: derailed trains, warped railway tracks and collapsed road bridges. The temblor even toppled a residential building in Hualien’s Yuli Township, trapping people inside, all of whom have since been rescued. The Central Weather Bureau warns that more aftershocks may be felt in coming days.

This drone footage shows the extent of the damage at Gaoliao Bridge in Hualien’s Yuli Township. Workers at a nearby quarry had parked their dump trucks under the bridge. Fortunately for them, the bridge collapsed on the other side, sparing more than 10 trucks from damage. At the time the earthquake struck, a scooter with two riders and a small truck with one driver had been on the bridge. The two vehicles were thrust onto the riverbed as the bridge collapsed, and the driver of the truck was left trapped in her vehicle for some time. The three were rescued moments later and sent to the hospital with minor injuries.

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Over in the mountains of Yuli Township, a road on Chike Mountain was damaged, shutting down traffic in the area. In nearby Fuli Township, more than 400 people were left stranded on the mountains after a landslide cut access to and from Liushishi Mountain.

Chen Rong-tsung
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Fuli Township and the Suhua Improvement Engineering Office worked together for more than 20 hours, to clear passage. All people affected have since been able to leave the area.

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The Central Weather Bureau says more aftershocks may shake the area in coming days. Residents in Eastern Taiwan are advised to stay alert in case another big one hits.

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Tsai apologizes to Taitung and Hualien heads after earthquake response center visit

President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday offered apologies to the commissioners of Taitung and Hualien for failing to speak with them during disaster relief efforts the day before. Tsai had visited the Central Emergency Operation Center on Sunday night, to oversee operations in the wake of the strongest earthquake to hit Taitung in 49 years. She gave an address to the team at the center, but did not speak with the two commissioners, as had been expected. The president says the incident was the result of poor communication with staff, who were busy attending to dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake.

President Tsai Ing-wen on Monday met the delegation that represented Taiwan at this year’s World Police and Fire Games. She thanked them all for their hard work.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
We saw disasters occurring all around the country. Our police officers and firefighters responded immediately, devoting themselves to disaster relief operations. Whenever there is a natural disaster, the hardest work is that work carried out by first responders. On behalf of the whole country, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you all, for all your hard work.

This past weekend, Taitung experience its strongest earthquake in 49 years. Upon learning of the incident Tsai gave an address to the nation, and Premier Su Tseng-chang headed to the Central Emergency Operation Center. The central government launched rescue operations, and the Ministry of National defense established a command center to assist with relief measures. At 8 p.m. on Sunday, President Tsai herself went to the Central Emergency Operation Center to hear debriefings from the relevant agencies. The KMT commissioners of Hualien and Taitung, Hsu Chen-wei and Yao Ching-ling have protested Tsai’s actions, saying that she left the operations center after giving a speech, and did not speak with them via teleconference as expected.

Fu Kun-chi
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It was quite regrettable yesterday, that there was no communication with the president and the premier. I hope it was just a misunderstanding.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Last night, I went to the Central Emergency Operation Center. Our staff was very busy and may not have communicated well enough. So that may have been some shortcomings that resulted in me not being able to speak with the two county commissioners and the rescue teams. I hereby would like to apologize to both county commissioners and the disaster relief teams in Hualien and Taitung. Moving forward we still have a lot of work to do, and central and local governments will work together to ensure normalcy is restored as soon as possible.

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During an interview on Sunday on the CBS program 60 Minutes, U.S. President Joe Biden was asked again about whether U.S. troops would defend Taiwan during a Chinese invasion attempt.

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Would U.S. forces defend the island?

Joe Biden
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Yes, if in fact there was an unprecedented attack.

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Scott Pelley
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So, unlike Ukraine, to be clear, sir, U.S. forces, U.S. men and women would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion?

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Does President Xi know about your commitment to Taiwan?

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