總統府參訪活動

昨天(3/31)是北投文化英語導覽培訓班總統府參訪的日子，因為總統府參觀時間是上午9:00~12:00，因此Tom老師和活動帶領人Masa特別將課程改為上午進行。

上午9點大家準時集合於台大醫院捷運站1號出口，接著在Masa的引導下穿越228紀念公園，途中經過前身為台灣放送局的台北228紀念館以及從圓山公園移來的銅馬，一邊聆聽Masa的解說，一邊遙想台灣歷經的時代變遷。回想起學生時期，228公園附近是抗議活動的熱門場所，有好幾次是早上來讀書，放學已經實施交管，只好從228公園爬牆回家的趣事。

接著我們一行人來到總統府的參觀排隊區，進入總統府參觀前會經過如同過海關時的安檢，還會發放一張參觀貼紙，貼置於左前胸。負責安檢的警務人員及憲兵都蠻客氣的，我想為了國家元首的安全，適度的安檢還是需要的。老師提到台灣其實是很民主的，總統府可接近的距離很近，即便在美國，為了安全考量，白宮也只能遠遠的觀賞。

總統府內除了欣賞建築本身外，還有各種展覽。今天的主展是「我們的時代，人民的總統府!」。包含總統府建構、國家元首日常職務、時代演變、聲音、想像及味道等等主題。在想像主題中，展出一些藝術家以想像方式表達總統府意象，有一幅畫是一個人撐傘、傘上是總統府，表達出政府是由人民支持才能有所存在、政府須善盡保護人民福祉的意象，寓意深遠。此外，特展有陳澄波畫展－對台灣新文化的追求、硬頸時代－客家守護台灣的故事、影耀台灣－攝影家眼裡的台灣大地等等以台灣為主題的展覽。其中展出陳澄波先生的遺書，在遺書中的第一句提到：「為十二萬同胞死而無醜矣…」，導覽人員特別指出「無醜」兩字應以台語發音，是「不錯」的意思，觀之不禁令人為之鼻酸。

總統府為總統、副總統、及總統府相關單位的辦公場所，也是每年元旦及國慶日舉行升旗典禮的地點。總統府的前身為日治時期台灣總督府，總督府於1912年6月1日開工，1919年3月告竣，總工程費達281萬日圓。建築風格屬「後期文藝復興式」(late-Renaissance style)，為文化部所指定的國定古蹟。主建築分為五層樓，主體平面呈現倒「日」字型。正面寬約140公尺、側面寬約85公尺，中央塔高60公尺，總佔地為2100坪，建築物整體形成震撼的視覺效果，其中充滿廊柱、山牆、拱廊及圓拱窗等建築元素，堪稱日治時期台灣的代表性建築。

就文化方面而言，總統府見證台灣歷史，實為全民的文化資產。就政治方面而言，總統府為許多重要政策商定所在，也與全民福祉息息相關。企盼就如同在展覽中所看到的那幅圖畫一樣，成熟而有智慧的國民可以全力支持政府，而政府能將全民福祉作為施政的最大依歸，那就真的「無醜矣…」。

Visit to the Office of the President

Yesterday (Mar 31) our class came to visit the Office of the President.  Because the open hour of the office was from 9:00 am to 12:00 am, teacher Tom and event leader Masa had changed our course to the morning for visiting.

At 9:00 am, we gathered together at the MRT Station.  Then, under the leading of Masa, we passed through the 228 Memorial Park.  In the park, we passed through the Taipei 228 Memorial Hall, which was formerly the Taiwan Broadcasting Bureau.  We also passed through one bronze horse, which was moved from Maruyama Park (圓山公園).  By the explanation of Masa, we knew a lot of stories behind.  We  listened to the stories and looked back to the vicissitudes of Taiwan.  Recalling in our student time, 228 park was a popular place for protesting.  It was very often that we entered this area in the morning but climbed the wall of the 228 park to go home because of the traffic confining.

We waited to enter the office for visiting.  For entering the office, we had to pass some security check and got a visit sticker to post on the left chest.  The police officers and gendarmes were very polite.  I think for the safety reason, some security check is necessary.  The teacher mentioned that Taiwan is very democratic, we can approach very close to the office.  Even in the United States, for security considerations, visitors can only watch the White House in a far distance.

In addition to the building itself, there were a variety of exhibitions. The main exhibition was "Our time, the Power of the People,” including some themes such as the construction, the daily duties, the evolution of the times, the voice, the imagination and the taste.  In the imaginary theme, some artists showed their imagination to express the image of the office.   I noticed that one painting drawing a person with an umbrella where the office was on.  The painting was meaningful to imply that the existence of the government based on the support of the people and the government should protect its people.  Additional exhibitions like Chen Cheng bo (陳澄波) painting exhibition - the pursuit of Taiwan's new culture, hard neck era – the story of Hakka guarding Taiwan, the shadow of Taiwan - photographers in the eyes of Taiwan and so on.  In the exhibition of Chen Cheng bo, a suicide note was displayed and the first sentence mentioned: " No ugly for the death of 120,000 compatriots ..."  The guider pointed out that the words "no ugly" should be pronounced in Taiwanese with a meaning in “good.”  I was really touched.

The office is an official place for the president, vice president, and the relevant units.  It is also the place where the flag-raising ceremony is held every year on New Year's Day and National Day.  The office was formerly known as the Governor House during the Japanese occupation.  The Governor House was commenced on June 1912, and finished in March 1919.  The total project fee was 2.81 million yen. Architectural style is a "late-Renaissance style" (後期文藝復興式) and is assigned by the Ministry of Culture as the national monument.  The main building is five-floor and appears in the "日" type.  The front width is 140 meters, the width is about 85 meters, and the central tower height is 60 meters.  The total area is ​​2100 Ping (坪). The building as a whole forms a grand visual effects, which is full of many architectural elements such as pillars, gables, arcades, and round windows.  We can say that the office is a representative of Taiwan in that era.

From the cultural view point, the office witnesses the history of Taiwan, being the cultural assets of the whole Taiwanese people.  From the political view point, the office is a place where many important policies are made, closely related to the well-being of the people.  It pictures that in some day, the mature and wise citizens support the government and, at the same time, the latter protects the former according to the need of people. Therefore, that would be a real “good (無醜)” world.