Happy (100th*) birthday, Taiwan. And happy 59th? birthday, pops. Although none of you were technically born on October, 10th, we like to celebrate it today. And Taiwan really isn't 100 per se, because really, what is Taiwan? A hundred years ago, Taiwan was under colonial Japanese rule. The nationalist-led Republic did not arrive in Taiwan until 1945. But the Republic of China, by certain calculations, was sort of founded 100 years ago. And that's what we celebrate as Taiwan, Republic of China. It's a messy history, but that's half the fun-- a land of others and colonial rule that got mushed together and used for political purposes into a newly forged Taiwanese identity. Gosh, I miss sociology.
As for the old man? His story is much simpler. He was born on October 1st. Along with the People's Republic of China. Which made the choice to celebrate his birthday on the 10th quite easy for his parents. There may also have been something about living in the mountains and not having time to register his birth right away. I am getting my family stories mixed up. But hey, happy birthday!
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