A Peaceful Place for Our Friend

Adam Hsieh, Amy's brother, has sent us photographes of the beautiful surroundings that her family has chosen as her last resting place:

Find the position of Amy's place using GoogleMap :

1. GoogleMap :  paste the position:  "24.717587,121.048129" in search column
2. Click on the arrow pointer:  Trace the trail to Amy's place by "Street view"







Adam also added:
I would like to introduce a famous poem about Qingming Festival to you.

清明時節雨紛紛，路上行人欲斷魂。
There is always a drizzly rain in the season of Qingming Festival.
Those who tend to graves of their people are disconsolate deeply.
(Meaning: It's heartbreaking to remember the touching story of "Jie Zhitui" and tears are fluttering just like the sky is crying)
借問酒家何處有？牧童遙指杏花村
May I ask where can I find an inn?
A cowherd boy direct me to the remote Xing Hua Village.
(Meaning: One tries to forget sorrow by heavy drinking and the possible place may be Xing Hua Village where a famous spirit was produced and also the hometown of Jie Zhitui)

Please refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_Mu   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Food_Festival

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I've been reading descriptions of various traditional burial practices in Taiwan and this is what I found:  

"Burial sites are often in wooded areas or some other natural setting picked out by a fengu shui master. Sometimes a long hike is required to get to them. 

Visits to the grave occur on the 16th and 100th day after death and the anniversary of the death day.

Graves are also visited on New Years Eve  and  during the Ghost Festival in August. 

"Tomb Sweeping Day" ,"Qingming Festival", or "Day of Clear Brightness", is a national holiday in Taiwan.  

The date is set by the solar calendar rather than by the lunar calendar. It occures on the 104th day after the winter solstice (or the 15th day from the Spring Equinox). That falls on or around April 5 in our western calender. 

The name "Qingming" means "a time for people be outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime (踏青 Tàqīng, "treading on the greenery"), it also means "to tend to the graves of departed ones".

"Ghost Month " as it is known in Taiwan, is a thirty day period falling somewhere in or around the month of August (for us in the west). It is a period of great importance, when the deceased are believed to visit the living. The spirits spend the month visiting their families, feasting and and looking for victims. (Yikes!!!)

There are three important days during Ghost Month. On the first day of the month, ancestors are honored with offerings of food, incense, and "ghost money" - paper money which is burned so the spirits can use it. These offerings are made at makeshift altars set up on sidewalks outside ones home.

The 15th day of the month is Ghost Festival, sometimes called Hungry Ghost Festival. The Mandarin name of this festival is zhōng yuán jié (中元節 / 中元节). This is the day when the spirits are in high gear. It’s important to give them a sumptuous feast, to please them and to bring luck to the family. Taoists and Buddhists perform ceremonies on this day to ease the sufferings of the deceased.

The last day of the month, the Gates of Hell are closed up again. The chants of Taoist priests inform the spirits that it’s time to return, and as they are confined once again to the underworld, they let out an unearthly wail of lament."

"Be it a customary practice or superstition, these traditions passed down by our ancestors serve as a reminder to people today that it is best to show respect for the spirits and the unknown."

So while I have no idea what Amy's family beliefs and practices are, these kinds of events would have been something that Amy grew up with. They are a part of Taiwanese culture, even today.  

Thanks to various sources for these descriptions : Wikipedia, The Taiwanese Culture Portal et all. 

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Some of Amy's friends here in Paris, have expressed their desire to get together for a Roman Catholic Mass. I suggest you leave word in an email to the blog and we'll pass your addresses on to those that would like to honor Amy in this way.


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Amy Friends : A Visit to Blanche

Lovely walk from the metro to Blanches house. Saw these things along the way and thought this is what Amy saw when she came to visit B and her family.

She lives in a neighborhood with many remnants of a more traditional Paris mixed in with immigrants from various countries. I passed Indian, Brazillian and Korean food shops. They live several floors up across the street from a "maternelle" or kindergarden. Sounds of children playing is the ambiente music of the area.

Blanche is a real gourmand! She has lots of cookbooks and a warm, welcoming kitchen.

We looked in the refrigerator and came up with the makings of penne with goat cheese and fresh mint.  

Talking about our friend while Josepha had a nap, Blanche shared with me a post card Amy had y sent her this past August in Taiwan. She mentions her family :

                                                                                 

"Taiwan the 19 August 2013 - It's very hot. The sunshine is very strong. I'm having very some relaxing moments with my parents. I'm content!!! It's really an immensly graceful thing to be with ones family ! Kisses! Amy 

                                                                                                                                                                             Then little Josepha got up and came in to show us her new passion : the ballet Swan Lake. We watched a bit of her animated version then looked at films of some of today's ballerinas doing the 32 fouettes of the Black Swan Pas de Deux as well as the Dance of the Four Swans. Both are exercises in endurance and precision. Josepha's favorite character turns out to be Rothmere the magician. Go figure! 

I showed Blanche a bit about using Blogger so hopefully she will join me in keeping this blog active and interesting, sharing other aspects of or friend Amy that I wasn't privy to. 

It's as if we all held a little piece of her in each of us and by describing the  piece that we held, were able to put together a more complete picture! 

Friends, Memories, Questions and Queries

We are looking for all of Amy's friends in the United States, France, Taiwan, China, right round the world !  Any help there would be appreciated! Email addresses, phone numbers, addresses or simply if you know one, please send them the link for this blog? 

You are welcome to post/write in any language that works for you : Chinese, French, English
Please use the "translate" button over there to the right ! Not perfect but you get the idea! 



Here is a message from Amy's collegue in Shanghai. I'll get the two photographs that she sent up here asap.

我是张琪，（ZQ）Amy曾经的工作伙伴，好朋友。

得知此噩耗，心里一直很伤心。想写点什么，来表达自己对她的思念。

我与Amy 的接触是在工作中。从2003年一起工作一直到2010年。我们真正的见面次数每年大约2-3次，是 她来国内出差，每次相处也就7天左右。更多的是电话， 邮件联系。每天电话联系可能会超2小时以上。

此时耳边似乎又萦绕起Amy来电时的情景：语速很快，追问每项工作的进度；交代最新的工作。 每次来国内出差， 行程总是安排的满满的。  有时候我们一大早出门， 伴着这星光回来。

与Amy 一起工作的日夜，每个场景都能历历在目。记得有年初冬，我们一起去上海郊区，很偏僻的一家新开发的工厂。从工厂 出来的时天色渐晚，没有TAXI 和其他的交通工具。我们走了很远，到了一个人稍多点的路口， 叫了一辆两轮摩托车，一起载这我们，到了最近的地铁站。 当时真觉的刺激又惊险，万一出了意外呢。

每次Amy来国内出差， 其实都很辛苦， 除了要倒时差，还有一堆工厂的麻烦事情要处理。。她有偏头痛的毛病， 每次头痛在犯的时候， Amy还在忍着工作， 让心心里多少有些心痛。

  Amy是一个对纺织非常执着热爱的人。记得她跟我讲起过她是如何喜欢上纺织， 并且义无反顾的选择这行。她还很喜欢阅读，工作空余， 她会跟我分享一些感悟。

Amy 曾说起过， 她喜欢吃面条，还有韭菜盒子。

And

Here is a message that Amy's friend Joel posted down there in the comments :

Supercool JAOctober 11, 2013 at 10:33 PM

Hi to everyone. I am Joel.

Amy and I were always good friends and I am so surprised and sad to hear about her passing.

She did tell me she had cancer, but was getting treatment and I didn't know it was so bad.

Amy was such a loving soul, troubled in many ways, but very much with the heart of a poet.

I have many of her favorite writings and some photos I can share with everyone.

Not sure how to post these things, but maybe I will send to the author of this blog to post.

It is unfair to take a life so young and vibrant and from someone who was so in love with life.

I will pray for you at temple Amy and hope the gods will look after you in heaven.

We are happy to add in any other memories, souvenirs or pictures that you all might have. Just send them in an email to the contact form over for this blog. 

There are several of us working on this, so no language is a problem!


 @ Joel : We would appreciate your doing a post about her favorite writing of course! 

And We would like to ask her nephew, Jason to share some of the Chinese poetry that she and he read together too! All is good!    

Amy's Friends in Paris

Préparations, A Paris Market Street and Leftovers

Amy loved but loved  shopping for foods and ingredients ! She often went out shopping with an idea that she was going to make something and finding that incredible something unexpected, she was completely taken in with it. She was really a great and inventive cook.

So today, I too thought I'd have a go at shopping for tomorrow nights dinner/time together and try and come up with something that was my own but certainly inspired by her love of color and texture. Just kind of play it by ear and follow my intuition the way I thought she might.  

At the fish mongers: Daguerre Maree . Look at those Turbo, sardines, merlin filets, you name it!













Live shrimp ("bouquet vivant") sea urchins, petoncles and scallops (coquilles st Jacques ) in their shell. The season has just started here this past October first. In France, live scallops sold like this in their shell, get a rest from May til October. ) 

This kind amount of choice really blows your mind doesn't it?! You think maybe you will get one of just about everything! Then reality hits! So for us tomorrow night: scallops in their shell and some tiny clams (tellines) ! Gosh and I forgot a pix of the Cheese store! Might have to go back tomorrow and get one.





The fruit and veg store. Those big balls at the top are cerlery roots. The trays underneath are filled with every type of baby salade material you could possibily want ! Dandilion greens, lambs tongue lettuce, rocket, salade mesclun, pourpier...




















The photo above shows girolle mushrooms, the last of this seasons strawberries, those delicious "mara de bois" and raspberries with the sign "please pay at store across the way. Thank you! )

I'm not sure what Amy might have been tempted by, but I'd guess any number of things ! 

Knowing her, shewould have probably headed down to the 13th arrondissement with it's many asian food stores...Tang Frères, Continental markets, Big Store. I get totally lost there myself as most of the ingredients I've no idea how to cook! So its a frenchish meal tomorrow along with a couple of brave gambles like linguine lemon zeste and ginger with those little clams. We will see how it all turns out.

Mini postscript : fine time was had by all as we shared memories, a meal, and watched our two young friends draw, build airplanes and make their own games...

Don't worry! Got lots of messages from Amy friends that they wanted to come but had other commitments. This was only the first of many ! It wont be our last supper, of that I am sure! Hope you all will carry on meeting, enjoying each others company around a meal and sharing memories of our wonderful friend. 

  The  Remains of the day. 

L

Pot Luck Dinner - Getting Together ! Saturday 18 hr

Wanted to invite you all, those that can come, kids and all, to a "pot-luck" dinner here at my house in Gentilly. This coming Saturday evening at 6PM. I live five minutes walk from the Gentilly station ,RER B line. 

I'll send a phone number, address and directions to all that want to come and share a meal together. Just send an email via the blog. 

I think Amy would like that we were all together. Hopefully it will be the first of many so don't feel like this is the first and last time that we will be doing something like this! 

Pot-Luck Dinner means bringing a little something. I'll make 2 Paellas, and roast chicken and pumpkin I think so someone could bring a salad, bread, a cheese or two, drinks or a dessert, that would be great.   Stuff that your kids will enjoy eating if none of what I am proposing sounds tempting to kids ?!!!

Amy's brother Adam and her cousin Nina will be here with us. They will be leaving Tuesday. 

Lissa   

Letting Go - Hanging On - Letting Go

Yesterday morning, we gathered at Pere Lachaise, the largest cemetary in Paris. A place  imbued with history and beauty too. I think she would have liked it. Walking through falling leaves and the cool brisk weather of an October in Paris.

We were many ! Most of us had heard from Amy about one another, but never met.

The ceremony was poignant. Friends from her church reading/singing group, the father of her beloved Helene.

His story ? So Amy!

How she had felt such a strong connection with his daughter.

From the very first moment she laid eyes on Helene it was almost as if Amy felt Helene was her daughter too !

He recounted how Amy babysat one weekend for their three kids. On the parents return they saw a huge pile of confetti outside the buildings entrance. Walking up the stairs, they thought "My goodness ! Someone's had a birthday party here ! Up they walked. One floor, then another and another following this path of confetti leading right to their door ! Entering the house, they found four laughing people and confetti all over the place ! He said when you opened a kitchen cabinet or drawer, confetti would fall out for quite some time afterward.

Likewise Helene's mom told me that once at a dinner party, Amy had been disappointed when she was not sitting next to their ten year old nephew. If there was a choice ? She preferred sitting next to a child. We have all seen that side of her haven't we ? That huge energy and desire for children in her life. If not her own, then those that crossed her path.

Like Thom, to whom she was teaching Mandarin. And Gaetan and Zeno. Josepha and Jason.  

I'm sure there are others and we hope we will hear from them too!

After the ceremony, it seemed natural to just stay together, so some of us went to a nearby cafe. As we looked around, you could tell even tho we were all meeting for the first time, there was an affinity. "All people I'd like to know better!" I thought to myself !

Amy's brother and cousin went walking with Dominique , leaving Amy's roses on the graves of Père Lachaises famous inhabitants : Frederick Chopin, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, poet Gerald de Nerval, Balzac, poet Alfred de Musset, Moliere and some of her favorites : singer Henri Salvador, jazz pianiste Michel Petrucciani, film director Claude Chabrol and musician Mano Solo. Parisiens and citizens of the world all ! Like her. 

A small rememberence book in which we all wrote something for Amy. Barbara will giving this to her family : father, stepmother, brothers and cousins if you want to add something... 

Despite our sadness, a beautiful day.

Our Amie Amy Ching Ying Hsieh 01/10/1968 - 05/10/2013

Ajouter une légende

             

The 5TH OF OCTOBER, OUR FRIEND,  

AMY CHING YING HSIEH PASSED AWAY. 

We hope to a peaceful place. 

She chose her "western name" as Amy. 
How appropriate! "Ami" (same pronunciation) means "friend" 
in French. She embodied her name. 

Her family told us that her Chinese name 
"Ching Ying" means "something transparent and bright"  
That too describes her personality don't you think?

Amy made friends easily as she was joyful and talkative! 
We sensed her inner self was quite a large and diverse 
universe, filled with such a variety of cultures, 
friends and interests. Some she shared, like cooking 
and others she was more private about, 
like singing in the Chorale or her love of Chinese poetry.

Cooking and eating together were times of great pleasure.  
New Year's celebrations for instance !

Sitting around a large fondue pot in the center of her
living room, eating an eclectic variety of things that she 
had been preparing, seemingly for days! Often some 
pretty unusual things for us westerners! Who remembers 
the birds nest soup one year?

We should also remember her gentle and calming touch. 
The way she would arrive with her little kit of essential oils 
and offer to massage your hands or feet. What a delight !

She is someone we all will miss but she lives on in our 
hearts and memory.

Her Friends in Paris