This was a breakout year for Formosa Files, for which we thank our highly intelligent, "people of quality" listeners and supporters.

John and Eryk wrap up the year with a "bits & pieces/Xmas hotpot" episode that includes everything from a non-canonical version of the goddess Mazu's birth to the fact that early Tintin comics move into the public domain on 1 January 2025.

Oh, and we've decided on a divine mission: a search for the "Holy Bamboo" of Pingtung (or any bamboo in Pingtung Eryk can pass off as being connected to the grove that bloomed in joy when then-Crown Prince Hirohito visited in 1923.)

This year also featured the launch of Plum Rain Press and the release of Dr. Chen Yao-Chang's major historical fiction epic, "A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa."

MERRY CHRISTMAS (or seasonal greeting of your choice) and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

See you in 2025!

More:

plumrainpress.com

Bookish Asia with Plum Rian Press

formosafiles.com

Formosa Files in Chinese

臺灣從2017年開始全面推動雙語國家政策，然而「英語」或是「英文」一直都是臺灣人相當頭痛的學校科目之一。過去考試導向的教學方法，讓許多臺灣人對英語避之唯恐不及。這集的Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast 就讓兩位「母語」與「外語」剛好相反的主持人來與大家一起聊聊，臺灣英語教育的歷史與小故事。

主持人簡介：

Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。

Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。

Harold and Alice Focht. He was an educator, she came along to keep him away from the geishas (well, some said). Hear how two middle-aged Americans saw Taiwan at, arguably, the peak of the Japanese colonial era.

Lots of civilizing was on display – Asia’s longest bridge and the aboriginal show village of Kappanzan (beautiful modern-day Jiaobanshan). But happily, some local charms were also seen, including the unhealthy but persistent habit of chewing betel nuts, some minor disregarding of cleanliness, and local throngs gawking at big-footed Americans.

As a bonus, Eryk and John give away two brilliant ideas for modern-day tourism related to rail pushcarts.