CORONA PANDEMIC: CURRENT SITUATION TAIWAN (1 YEAR LATER)
台灣防疫之路：一年後的我們
“Please wear your masks and follow the social distancing guidelines.” This precaution announcement, sound and clear in Hakka, Taiwanese and Indigenous languages, is probably one of the most common lines that we have been hearing in all transport hubs and media outlets since mid 2020.
「請戴上您的口罩並遵守社交距離規定」。這句話完整且清楚的以客家、臺語與原住民話廣播，或許是我們從109年中後於各大車站與媒體中最常聽到的台詞之一。
Last year, Taiwan encountered many challenges - from how to maintain full medical capacity to negotiating for vaccine equity. Having been excluded from the WHO for a few decades, Taiwan has lacked that avenue of vital public health resources. Fortunately, with past experiences of SARS and H1N1, most cases were under control in a short period of time, so piano technicians have been able to continue earning a livelihood.
去年，台灣遭遇到了許多難關 --- 像是從如何維持完整醫療量能到協商國際疫苗的分配正義等挑戰。由於被世界衛生組織拒於門外幾個數十年了，台灣缺乏關鍵的公衛資源管道。 但好險有過去SARS與H1N1的處理經驗，大部份的案例都在短時間內被有效地控制，因此鋼琴技師才能持續的在疫情中維持生計。
As technicians were still coping with the widespread effects from Covid-19, local rules in Taiwan for gatherings at event venues were gradually eased after summer. Live houses, auditoriums and concert halls finally disengaged from the limits after such a long time, which also brought concert technicians’ lives back to normal.
當技師們還在處理肺炎所造成的廣大衝擊時，台灣對於表演場地的群聚防疫規則在夏季後漸漸鬆綁。在暫停這麼久後，展演空間、場館和演奏廳終於能無拘無束了，這也讓演奏會技師的生活重上軌道。
For field technicians, there were several periods from July that we experienced a higher call volume than usual. We later figured out that most of them were musicians and music major students who had rushed back from overseas. Due to endless waves of pandemic and numerous warnings of lockdowns in different countries on separate months, they had decided to come back for a short while, but inevitably ended up staying longer.
對社區技師來說，陸陸續續從七月起我們接到了比平常更多的服務詢問電話。後來了解打電話的大都是從國外返臺的音樂家與音樂系學生們。由於面對無止盡的全球大傳染和各自學習國家在不同月份裡數不清的封城警告，她/他們便決定馬上趕回來，但本來想短暫停留的想法也都無可避免地被延長了。
Most of their pianos were not in a good shape, so a substantial amount of regulation, and pitch corrections were required in order to make them sing again. After all, pianos had not been maintained and played for many years while their partners were away.
大部份這些鋼琴狀況都不是太好，因此在鋼琴們能唱出迷人的聲音前，大量的調整與音高反覆的調校是必須的。畢竟，在夥伴們離開的這些年，這些鋼琴都沒辦法被好好地呵護與彈奏。
However, it was a totally different story for shop technicians and rebuilders. They suddenly realized that they couldn’t get any materials and supplies, such as hammers, bushings and strings on time, due to international customs and borders’ restrictions. Importers for second hand pianos had the same problem, either finding the source scarce or logistics, like freight, postponed or cancelled.
然而，疫情對樂器行與翻修技師而言，造成的衝擊是完全不一樣的。她/他們突然發現因為國際海關與邊境限制的關係，無法準時拿到任何像是琴槌/毛氈布與弦線等材料與零件。二手鋼琴進口商也遇到了相同的問題，要不是找不到貨源，便是運輸平台延後或取消，例如：海運。
On the other hand, events and meetings organized by the Association and Labor Union in Taiwan were still being held, albeit very cautiously. Spacious indoor places, checkerboard seating, and standard sanitizing procedures were always the priority.
另一方面，台灣鋼琴技師協會與工會聯盟的講座與會議也還是在非常謹慎的前提下正常舉辦。寬廣的室內空間/梅花座與標準消毒程序皆是我們優先處理的事項。
From an international perspective, technicians here had to skip conventions from IAPBT, PTG and EUROPIANO. That was a pity but also an opportunity for us to ponder on what Taiwanese industry really needed at present and in the long term.
從國際上來看，台灣技師必須只能取消參加國際鋼琴製造商技師、美國鋼琴技師與歐盟鋼琴技師協會的年度大會。這真的非常可惜，但也是一個時刻能讓我們去思考台灣的鋼琴技師產業，在現主時與長遠來看，真正需要的方向分別是什麼。
In the post-Covid-19 era, maybe how to build trust between the government and the public is one of the most crucial elements to revive ones’ society. Since the outbreak, disease control professionals have held daily press on TV for updating concerned cases, clarifying doubts and backtracking the contacts. Later, a national face mask manufacturing team formed with the app of real-time face mask availability in all Taiwanese pharmacies were introduced.
在後肺炎時期，也許如何去建立政府與大眾間持續的信任感是一件在復甦社會時非常關鍵的一項因素。從爆發後，電視裡疾管局專家們每日更新疑似個案、澄清各式疑問與回溯接觸者。接著，國家口罩隊的籌備和能即時查閱台灣全國各地藥局庫存的軟體app也順利完成。
Also, afraid of potential depression and unemployment in vulnerable industries, the government issued vouchers for people to spend on Tourism, Sports, Agriculture, and Arts and Culture, respectively. The Piano Technology and Music scene, of course, was energized by the policy.
並且，由於擔心一些易受影響的產業會有蕭條與員工失業的潛在風險，政府也發放了針對旅遊、運動、農業與藝術文化領域的消費卷給社會大眾。
Those measures in some way have calmed the society and pulled us together gently.
從某些角度來說，這些方式適時的安撫這個了社會，並溫柔地凝聚了我們大家的心。
Though the pandemic will not be over soon, it has perhaps allowed us to discover more about humanity and offered wildlife and Mother Nature a little reprieve.
雖然這次的全球大傳染或許還不會這麼快消失，但或許它已讓我們挖掘出更多關於人性的面向與給予野生動物與大自然們一些些的緩刑時間。
*Published in the Summer 2021 issue of EUROPIANO (Das Magazin der europäischen Klavierbauerverbände) and the PTG Journal (Piano Technicians Guild).
此文章於2021年夏季發表於歐盟鋼琴製造技師協會期刊與美國鋼琴技師協會月刊上。
後記 緣由 –
As a piano technician and human being, I hope my sharing does not only reflect the real situation in Taiwanese industry but also, from a broader perspective, outline international challenges such as public health resources and vaccine injustice during and even before the pandemic.
為了讓許多國外團體與協會從不同面向來理解台灣，我一直希望能從更寬廣的角度下筆，因此這篇文章不只描繪這行業的脆弱，也蘊含了些微的歷史脈絡與心裏對她的不捨，例如公衛與疫苗分配正義！
Truly grateful for the opportunity to share the 2020- 2021 pandemic situation in Taiwan with both the 2021 EUROPIANO (European Association of Piano Maker Associations) and the PTG (Piano Technician Guild) journals again, on behalf of Taiwan.
心懷感激歐盟鋼琴製造商協會(European Union of Piano Maker Associations) 與美國鋼琴技師協會(Piano Technician Guild)的總編群，讓自己能再度替台灣業界在歐盟鋼琴技師(EUROPIANO/ Das Magazin der europäischen Klavierbauerverbände)與美國鋼琴技師雜誌(PTG Journal)上發聲，並分享這塊土地在109年中至110所受到的影響。
Thanks again to Gunther, Jan and Andrea from EUROPIANO and the PTG, and those who have always been an encouragement to me on the path of crafts diplomacy. ：)
再次感謝歐盟、美國技師協會的會長和好友們與一路走來大家的信任，讓內心的工藝外交之路雖異常崎嶇，卻也走得感恩踏實。 : >