Widow learns to bake, supports family with thriving bakery business

Widow learns to bake, supports family with thriving bakery business

2022-12-20

Now we meet a widow who started a new chapter of her life as a baker. More than a decade ago, Tien Chin-yu’s life changed forever, when her husband was killed in a traffic accident. Tien was plunged into a new role as breadwinner, with no clear way to keep the family afloat. But with support from a victims’ support group, she learned to bake bread. Now she has a thriving business in Hsinchu. She wants her story to bring hope to folk facing similar dark days.

Tien adds flour, yeast, a sourdough starter, and soy milk into the blender.

The dough sits in a warm place to rise. Then it’s placed in individual molds and goes into the oven. Before long, the golden loaves emerge.

Sweet milk spread and savory pepper with cheese are some of the flavors on offer. All the delicious recipes are expertly baked by Tien. You wouldn’t guess that she only turned to baking out of necessity. After her husband was killed in a traffic accident, she had to find a way to support her family.

Tien Chin-yu
Baker
I didn’t know what sadness was, then. I just knew I had to arrange the funeral, and when that was sorted, the most important thing was the future. It was really – we had no money, and the text messages about the mortgage just kept coming.

Beset by debt, Tien also had two small children to care for. But she managed to survive, taking up every chance to earn money, making pickled cabbage and crunchy plums, and sewing clothes. Then the Crime Victims’ Protection Association reached out its support, and taught her how to bake bread.

Tien Chin-yu
Baker
Back then, every time I made something, the association people said it was awful and tasted so bad. I wondered how come other people could make things so delicious, and I did it so badly. So I wanted to try again and again.

This whiteboard in Tien’s kitchen now has on it all the orders for the day, written up by her son and daughter-in-law, as well as the days of the week when her stall is open. As you can see, it’s a busy schedule. Fate dealt Tien a dreadful hand, but she didn’t let it be the end of the story. Now she hopes her resilience can inspire others facing a similar tragedy.

婦喪夫育2孩背負房貸協會伸援手助翻轉人生

2022-12-20

新竹有一名婦人"田錦玉"，十多年前，丈夫在車禍中喪生，家庭頓失經濟來源，田錦玉除了背負房貸，還要養兩個小孩，生活壓力接踵而至。多虧"犯罪被害人保護協會"伸出援手，教她做烘焙技術，田錦玉靠著努力學習，生意逐漸穩定，也讓她成功翻轉人生。

將麵粉加入攪拌機，再加入酵種、老麵，最後放入豆漿開始攪拌。

麵團靜置溫暖處等待發酵，分塊後，送進烤箱，不過多久，金黃色表皮的吐司就新鮮出爐。

有甜的奶酥，還有鹹的辣椒起司，每一個都好美味，田錦玉製作麵包得心應手，誰能想像，她一開始接觸烘焙，其實是萬般無奈，因為先生發生車禍離世，她得扛起養家重擔。

[[馨生人田錦玉]]
“那時候不知道什麼叫傷心，就知道說要把事情(喪事)處理好，等事情處理好之後，結果最重要是後面的生活，真的是，家裡沒有錢，房貸又，它就簡訊一直傳來”

田錦玉被債務追著跑，還有兩個小孩嗷嗷待哺，但她沒被擊倒，任何賺錢機會她都不放過，做泡菜、醃脆梅、車衣服等，之後多虧"犯罪被害人保護協會"主動伸出援手，教她做麵包。

[[馨生人田錦玉]]
“那時候每次做東西，他們協會就說真的很難吃，真的很不好吃，然後就會想說為什麼別人做得這麼好吃，為什麼我做那麼難吃，就會想說那我們再試看看，再試看看”

田錦玉的廚房裡的這塊白板，是兒子和媳婦為她整理的所有麵包訂單，還有擺攤日期。老天爺給了她一記重擊，但她沒倒下，希望透過自己的經歷，給其他類似遭遇的人，重生的希望。

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Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou
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In this spirit let me express our gratitude, for the fact that you are on the right side of history, in supporting our response to the unconscionable war of Putin in Ukraine. Let me also congratulate you on your measured and responsible reaction to unprovoked and increasing aggression and provocation from China.

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This is the first delegation to Taiwan of officials from the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade. There is a deep significance to the participation of each member of the delegation to the development of our bilateral relations and economic exchange. In the face of ongoing global expansion of authoritarianism, Taiwan is capable and willing to strengthen its cooperation with partners on the defense of democracy.

The European Parliament has sent three delegations to Taiwan since last year. President Tsai says the visits demonstrate the importance that the EU member states place on their relationships with Taiwan. She said she hopes the two sides can sign a bilateral investment agreement as soon as possible, as well as strengthen cooperation in different areas.

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Taipei officials resigned en masse on Tuesday morning, ahead of the inauguration of the new mayor for the capital, the KMT’s Chiang Wan-an. To thank the officials for their service, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je presided over an awards ceremony on Tuesday. The occasion offered Ko a last chance to chat with his administrative team while posing for photos with the awards.

Taipei’s top officials have resigned en masse ahead of the change in administration. To thank them for their service, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je presented them with certificates and medals of achievement. The ceremony also turned to be a chance for Ko to say some last words to his team.

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Ko Wen-je
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Together with the deputy mayors, the heads of the different departments today resigned en masse, before the start of the new municipal administration takes over on Dec. 25. I would like to thank all our colleagues for all your contributions, and the citizens of Taipei for their support. Thank you all a million.

Ko also added that he hoped the Chiang administration would take over smoothly. The outgoing mayor was also asked about how he felt about the fact that a total of 113 officials had left their posts over the course of his mandate.

Ko Wen-je
Taipei mayor
Some officials retired, others moved to work in the central government. And some stayed on and got moved to other positions. It’s a number that I think is OK. The Taipei Dome project documents have already been sent to the central government. They’ve been under review for a year and eight months already. So once they clear the review in the central government, the steps after that are quite easy. It would just be drafting a plan for a soft opening.

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Liu Shen-mo
Ministry of National Defense
The comprehensive training course includes specialized training, training at military bases, joint drills and combat planning exercise to strengthen the combat abilities of soldiers and officers in performing combat missions.

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The extension of conscription is a matter that covers a very big range of issues. It involves the international strategic situation and national security considerations, as well as the need to boost our combat readiness, and the rights of conscripts, including educational and economic factors. The ministry is currently in the final stages of coordination and planning and finalizing the details. I believe a public announcement will be made right when the plans are finalized.

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Member of the public
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Taiwan Railway Labor Union
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We are coordinating with the union, always coordinating.

Wu Chang-chih
Taiwan Railway Labor Union
This problem of poor communication runs counter to what we worked out on May 18. This is a problem of bad faith on your part, so don’t accuse us of not showing good will.

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Oleksandr Sokolenko
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Oleksandr Sokolenko
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Also, I hope to learn from Chang Gung Memorial Hospital because Taiwan, you are on the top of the world in reconstruction. You are a great country with great doctors, and great people for sure, and of course great food.

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Oleksandr Sokolenko
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For us, he stayed a Ukrainian. We will remember him as all foreign volunteer who came to help us. And for sure, from now on, his family is our family too. We also respond to them. That’s why I decided to visit his parents. I just tried to take a bit of their pain and share it with me because I can’t imagine their pain, but I tried to do my best to support them a bit.

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Oleksandr Sokolenko
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I believe that we have the same values. Taiwanese and Ukrainians have the same values. Both of us choose democracy. I think we have a pretty similar situation. I have fallen in love with your country. You have really warm people and a really warm nation. I hope and pray that you will never get that experience that we get. But, I will try to help in any way I can to help you. I will try my best to help your people.

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