Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network-Second generation of an immigrant from Indonesia creates a food map, showing inspiring stories of Southeast Asian stall owners

In cooperation with IC Voice FM97.5【New Students Report For Sharing -We are in Taiwan】, a series of exciting stories about new immigrants in Taiwan is launched. This episode invites the second generation of an immigrant from Indonesia – Xie Fa Qun (謝發群) who is a student of Taoyuan YUDA High School studying in the Department of Applied English Language. Besides, his parents run the restaurant “Toko Indo Cen Cen Restaurant” in Taoyuan City.

Learning multiple languages since young, Xie Fa Qun could easily switch between Chinese, English and Indonesian while serving customers. His outstanding language ability is the basis that enables him to connect and integrate different cultures.

【Taiwan Immigrants' Global News Network】presents this episode in 5 languages including Chinese, English, Vietnamese, Thai and Indonesian, enabling more readers and listeners to explore Xie Fa Qun’s wonderful journey of residing in Taiwan with his family.

Every street is a gathering point for shops of different Southeast Asian ethnic groups. (Photo / Provided by Xie Fa Qun)

At the Taoyuan Zhongli Rear Railway Station, every street is a gathering point for shops of different Southeast Asian ethnic groups. There are many Indonesian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Thai shops. One can not only have a taste of exotic specialties but also immerse themselves in the Southeast Asian culture. “Toko Indo Cen Cen Restaurant” established by Xie’s parents sells Indonesian cuisines and decorations that include Indonesian elements.

As Xie's parents are overseas Chinese from Indonesia, he was particularly interested in Southeast Asian culture since he was a child. He gets familiar with each shop by visiting Taoyuan Zhongli Rear Railway Station after school and even has chit-chat with clerks. Furthermore, Xie has created a food map of the shops, and it is even shown in the school’s publication “Yuda Weekly”.

Xie said frankly, “Many of my Taiwanese classmates have the impression that Southeast Asian stores are very dark inside.” (Photo / Provided by Xie Fa Qun)

Xie said frankly, “Many of my Taiwanese classmates have the impression that Southeast Asian stores are very dark inside, and don't know what they're selling.” Thus, this group of people does not have the desire to shop in such stores. Growing up in an Indonesian food stall, he wants to enable more Taiwanese to understand the shop owner’s stories, and therefore created a food map by visiting each store.

Besides, he also learned about an NGO that provides living space for migrant workers from Southeast Asia. Xie then became a Chinese teacher for those migrant workers as a volunteer.

Being trilingual, Xie was invited to join Youth Advisory Committee, Taoyuan City Youth Affairs Bureau. (Photo / Provided by Xie Fa Qun)

Speaking Chinese and Indonesian fluently, Xie was invited to join Youth Advisory Committee, Taoyuan City Youth Affairs Bureau, and proposed ideas to make events more friendly for Southeast Asians. He hopes to connect ethnic groups and make them all shine together.