“In Tamsui: Experience and Heritage”

Tamsui has been my mother since I was a child, growing up in this town. I used to not understand why, during holidays, the streets were always packed with tourists. I often thought, “Tamsui, isn’t it just like this? What’s so special?” It wasn’t until high school that I gradually felt the pride of being a Tamsui resident and deeply understood the profound emotions that old Tamsui residents hold for this land.

In junior high, I was a non-conformist, causing trouble for the school and teachers even in high school. Unexpectedly, I met “Su Dad” and joined the “School History Club” as a guide. This led to a significant transformation in my expectations for myself.

Starting from “guarding” the school history museum on holidays, understanding campus historical stories, participating in the “Explore Tamsui” club activities, to advancing as a “campus tour guide,” under Su Dad’s leadership and care, even a playful and rebellious youngster like me could have a profound awakening. After gaining self-affirmation, I could hold my head high.

Whenever I reminisce about high school life, there are endless thanks and unforgettable memories. I remember those times when we often followed Su Dad to explore Tamsui. Whether it was visiting the forts in Keelung, eating zongzi in Shimen, or admiring cherry blossoms in Beixinzhuang, these experiences broadened our horizons and allowed us to thoroughly explore Tamsui!

After graduating from high school, I successfully entered a college in Tamsui. It seemed as if fate wanted me to stay here and contribute to Tamsui in some way.

During high school, I participated in the “North Taiwan Literature Camp,” gaining valuable experiences. I also joined the “Taiwan History Research Camp,” hoping to learn more and apply it to the future cultural development of Tamsui.

Tamsui is not just a destination for tourists; it is a microcosm of Taiwan’s history. Numerous stories, emotions between people, the nostalgia of the older generation for Tamsui, the monuments, and memories left by this land— “experiencing” and “passing on” will be the duty and responsibility of our generation.

Written in 2010.