Rick_tsai

Hello! My name is Rick, a random name chose by my kindergarten English teacher but becomes inseparable to me. You can also call me 蔡孟錦 (Meng Ching, Tsai), which is my birth name. I am a graduate student and currently studying my master of paper conservation in Tainan, the most ancient city in Taiwan.

Tainan is famous for its history and many religious cites. There are around 1600 temples and shrines with different architectural styles and sizes throughout the city. Spotting a ceremony once a week is quite a norm. The theme of the ceremonies are various. From the birthday or the enlightenment day of the deities to the seasonal or annual praying. Though causing sound and environmental issue(from the burning essence, joss paper and a lot of firecrackers), I really enjoy these traditional ritual.

As a history major in college, training to be a conservator from zero is both exciting and terrifying. Numerous manual assignments and chemical experiments are yet to be accomplished. However the enthusiasm for historical artifacts and the stories behind them giving me strength to continuing my study.

I like to cook, watching western tv shows (especially period dramas) and growing plants when i need a break. Getting indoor leafy plant is my new hobby. Watching the greenish corner started to expand in your dorm is pretty satisfying. Sometimes I even sit by the flower pots just gazing at the intricate foliage and new growth. Collecting old books and knick-knack is also a developing hobby.

It would be nice if you can send postcards with following subjects:

1.Historical sites in the city or country where you are living.
2.Old photos of people or places from where you are living (before 1990s).
3.Vintage botanical illustration print.
4.Old Intaglio, relief and lithograph print.
5.Vintage advertisements from the city or country where you are living.
6.Artworks from the local or your favorite museum, every periods and art schools are welcomed.
7.Natural landscape or plant photography.
8.General tourist postcard.

Other subjects are also welcomed! Don’t feel pressure to search for the postcard. Postcrossing should be non pressure and fun.

For the letter, i would like you to do me a favor:

Write down things (it can be an object, a cuisine, a trend, a custom, a place, anything) that is a norm to the locals but might astonished the foreigners(like me!).
e.g. Taiwanese garbage trucks play Beethoven’s Für Elise and Tekla Bądarzewska-Baranowska’s Modlitwa Dziewicy Op. 4 to remind people to take out their garbage. (which is true)

Please write the date, your name and ID number on the postcard! Looking forward to hear from you.