www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc476IhCaMI&t=4s
(The above short edition about Esther Lee's story produced and published by CA River of Live Christian Church (ROLCC) in St. Clara, CA. The following English edition was translated by Mary Lin of FL.)
Dr. Esther Shu-Shin Lee
National Taiwan Teacher's University Bachelor's Degree; United States University of North Illinois Master's Degree; United States Perdue University Ph. D
Received the American Outstanding Young Woman award in 1978; the American Presidential Accomplishment Award in 1982
Was appointed by Congress to be a member of the International Immigration and Economic Cooperative Development committees in 1990
Named by President George Bush to be the vice chairman of the Board of Education and the director of the Fulbright Scholarship
Ran for office in 1991 with support from the Republican party, setting an example for Chinese immigrants to participate in politics
Behind this beautiful picture is a touching story of hard work, strife, and courage
Born in the lean post-war times to a military family
In college, though not a music major, won the all-Taiwan piano competition; through teaching piano, she was able to get a scholarship and pay for all expenses, even the flight overseas
A year and a half later, she received her master's degree and got married
Two and a half years later, she received her Ph. D and gave birth to a healthy child
In order to be a good wife and mother, she stayed at home for the children and in Houston created the first American weekend Chinese school
Having received over a dozen important positions from the governor and the President, she received countless awards and honors from other nations, communities, and colleges
In 1992, she initiated an effort for Chinese-American women to run for Congress, and in this last decade has helped Chinese in their dilemmas and raised their place in America
And yet after almost thirty years of marriage, her husband could not consider that she was burnt out, and wanted a divorce
The reason for the separation: this building that her ex was unwilling to downsize
Divorce was against her religious beliefs, [and yet] the cold reality still occurred. Yet, God in his amazing grace, prepared a professorship at Arkansas
After a health scare and [major] surgery, her friends and colleagues sent their well wishes and caring
In a few short years, she published books, wrote articles, and became the department head and dean of an even better school.
From her divorce in 1998 to her remarriage 5 years ago, she got up again without blaming God or man, but continually meditated
Prayed without ceasing, grasping tightly onto the Heavenly Father's hand, walking with the Lord
Marrying again to a husband who treasured her, they drove an RV all over America, flying into the blue skies with a private plane
Studying the bible and praying together, we could see the golden glimmer of sunset
A woman of tears and laughter, of sorrow and joy;
With the courageous spirit to move forward
(The above short edition about Esther Lee's story produced and published by CA River of Live Christian Church (ROLCC) in St. Clara, CA. The following English edition was translated by Mary Lin of FL.)
Dr. Esther Shu-Shin Lee
National Taiwan Teacher's University Bachelor's Degree; United States University of North Illinois Master's Degree; United States Perdue University Ph. D
Received the American Outstanding Young Woman award in 1978; the American Presidential Accomplishment Award in 1982
Was appointed by Congress to be a member of the International Immigration and Economic Cooperative Development committees in 1990
Named by President George Bush to be the vice chairman of the Board of Education and the director of the Fulbright Scholarship
Ran for office in 1991 with support from the Republican party, setting an example for Chinese immigrants to participate in politics
Behind this beautiful picture is a touching story of hard work, strife, and courage
Born in the lean post-war times to a military family
In college, though not a music major, won the all-Taiwan piano competition; through teaching piano, she was able to get a scholarship and pay for all expenses, even the flight overseas
A year and a half later, she received her master's degree and got married
Two and a half years later, she received her Ph. D and gave birth to a healthy child
In order to be a good wife and mother, she stayed at home for the children and in Houston created the first American weekend Chinese school
Having received over a dozen important positions from the governor and the President, she received countless awards and honors from other nations, communities, and colleges
In 1992, she initiated an effort for Chinese-American women to run for Congress, and in this last decade has helped Chinese in their dilemmas and raised their place in America
And yet after almost thirty years of marriage, her husband could not consider that she was burnt out, and wanted a divorce
The reason for the separation: this building that her ex was unwilling to downsize
Divorce was against her religious beliefs, [and yet] the cold reality still occurred. Yet, God in his amazing grace, prepared a professorship at Arkansas
After a health scare and [major] surgery, her friends and colleagues sent their well wishes and caring
In a few short years, she published books, wrote articles, and became the department head and dean of an even better school.
From her divorce in 1998 to her remarriage 5 years ago, she got up again without blaming God or man, but continually meditated
Prayed without ceasing, grasping tightly onto the Heavenly Father's hand, walking with the Lord
Marrying again to a husband who treasured her, they drove an RV all over America, flying into the blue skies with a private plane
Studying the bible and praying together, we could see the golden glimmer of sunset
A woman of tears and laughter, of sorrow and joy;
With the courageous spirit to move forward
From Savagery to Civility – Only the Beginning
By Esther Shu-shin Lee, Ph.D.
I loved to help around at my rural elementary school in Yuan Ho, Taipei when I was there for the fifth and six grades. For example, with my sturdy arms and legs, I volunteered to move the small organ with 2-3 other classmates for the music teacher when she gave lessons at different classrooms. This approximately 3-foot wide organ needed to “pump” in the air with two paddles. Since it was the only organ in the school, we had to move it around according to the music teacher’s schedule.
In addition to moving the organ around, like every other student, I had certain cleaning duties. All students were required to clean certain part of the classroom and campus, i.e., the yards, the assembling ground/grand field, the teachers’ offices, the outdoor equipment and the “old fashioned” restrooms on a rotational basis. The most disliked places for students to clean were the smelly and filthy restrooms and tall glass windows. Frequently, students who were assigned to these areas either procrastinated or did a sloppy job. My preschool’s fearless trait might have helped me to interact with children of rural background without any problem including cleaning duties. (Most of the students went to school barefoot; I was one of few to have shoes on.) I was often assigned to “lead” a group of classmates to clean these two unpopular places, not because I was in trouble, but because the classmates assigned to the tasks were willing to go along with me; perhaps, I was not too negative about the chores.
My first time on a stage was an unforgettable experience. I remember vividly that both of my legs shook so hard that they almost tangled together. For unknown or unremembered reason, when I was in the fifth grade I was chosen to “conduct” the congregational singing of the national anthem that occurred every morning during flag raising ceremony, where all the students grades one through five would assemble in the grand field in attendance. Maybe it was because I had helped to move the organ around a lot. Maybe it was because I had rallied classmates to clean up the restroom on time. Maybe I was one of the few kids with shoes on. The stage was raised up at least five foot high, so everyone was able to see and follow me. After the flag ceremony, the entire student body was required to stay for a 10-15 minute group exercise led by a PE teacher. Thank God, a chubby fifth grader like me didn't have to stay on stage for that!
My best friend Zen Zen was a skinny girl but from a more “affluent” family (compared to the rest of us). She not only had shoes on but also had a piano at home. She stayed with her older sister who was in high school while their parents were working in Hong Kong. Later, I learned that their parents were undercover agents for the government. Thus, they could import a piano that was classified as a luxury item subject to high tariffs. Obviously, they had better standard of living than people around them. I immediately recommended my mother when she told me that they were looking for a piano teacher. The deal was that both she and her sister got free lessons from my mother while both my mother and I could practice the piano for one hour in their house every day.
Immediately, I fell in love with playing the piano under my mother’s instruction. Mother had never seen me so obedient and settled down. I never talked back or argued with her when she corrected or criticized me. It seemed that I had become a totally different person when I immersed myself in piano playing with superb patience, concentration and self-control. Mother was very pleased with my rapid progress and behavioral change. Yet, Zen Zen and her sister were not so happy with their struggle with their piano lessons; they quit within one year. That meant mother and I had no piano to practice. Soon after that, they moved to Hong Kong to join their parents.
I have never doubted about God’s provision even as a six grader: we got an organ from uncle Wei-min who was assigned to South Africa as a counselor by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Due to the relocation of the family, they “stored” a small/movable organ like the one in my rural elementary school in our house. I was elated to see its arrival. Although the touch of the narrow key board was totally different from that of a piano, at least I could play some pieces. It did not bother me when the range of a piano piece was beyond the upper and lower keyboards. I just pretend the invisible keys were extended beyond the wooden frame. I enjoyed playing the organ so much that my sight reading proficiency had been improved dramatically. Since then, rapid sight reading has served me very well for church musical ministry and other musical organizations. Even up to now, it helps me tremendously when I have to play the electric organ with peddles at a local church.
The high school entrance exam was a challenge for rural school children to compete, but I did not stop playing the organ during my preparation. Fortunately, I was only one of the two who passed the exam and joined my older sister Grace at Taipei Second Girls’ High School. I was a 7th grader while Grace was in her senior. No one dared to bully me because I had a big and tall sister by my side especially when I was “fighting” for my piano practice time after school.
The two pianos in two music classrooms were open for students to practice after school hours, i.e., 4:00 pm. Yet, some students did not show up during their sign-up practice period. So, I always stood by after school and was running between two music classrooms to catch the “open slot.” Inevitably, confrontations occurred when another student was also going after the “open slot.” I was so committed to practice as much as I could that I carried my own candles to light the music so that I could play longer.
Meanwhile, mother was no longer my piano teacher because she and my younger siblings relocated and jointed Dad who was stationing on the “frontline” islands – the Pescadores Islands in Taiwan Strait. * Mother’s relocation was prompted by her unknown health problems. She thought she had cancer and chose to spend her limited time with Dad. As a result, I started my piano lessons with the church pianist, Miss Hannah Wu, who graduated first place from a prestigious music program and later came to Northwestern University for her graduate degrees. She corrected my poor finger movement due to my practice on the organ. I had to “stick” my fingers to the keyboard when I played the organ so I could connect the notes. On the contrary, I had to lift up my fingers in order to play fast and clearly on the piano and rely on the pedal to connect the notes. It was a very frustrating “start-over” experience but I was glad to follow her rigorous instruction to undo my organ playing techniques. Evidently, she was satisfied with my progress and efforts so she recommended me to her own teacher, the best pianist in the nation, when she left for the US. This renowned pianist, Professor Chang, charged a lot. Each weekly one-hour lesson cost NT200. The total tuition for a month was nearly my Dad’s monthly salary! It was truly a big sacrifice for my whole family, including my siblings. Everyone had to give up their desires so I could have piano lessons. Mother worked hard as a professor, real estate builder, and piano teacher for many years to sustain the family’s financial needs.
Grace and I spent one summer vacation with parents in Magong, the largest city in the Pescadores Islands (=Penghu County) but I did not stop my piano practice. There was only one upright piano in the entire County. With the support of the county Magistrate Lee, Dad had the permission to move the piano from a local high school to our living room for my summer practice. I spent all day long to play the piano except morning brief walks by the ocean. Toward the end of the summer, we witnessed the birth of David, our youngest baby brother on September 4, 1957. My parents were delighted to have another son. (Shortly after mother’s arrival in Penghu she was found pregnant at age 44 by a military OB-GYN; thank God, she did not have cancer!)
Grace took care of me like a mother in Taipei during our parents’ absence. She recognized my devotion to piano playing and supported me as much as mother did. She was always on my side when I fought for piano practice time in the music classrooms. At times, we even went to the music teacher for “judgment” during my disputes with fellow piano players. Somehow, the teacher seemed sympathetic with my convictions and also recognized my rapidly improving skills. Later, he gave me the opportunity to accompany the school choir for both practice and major inter-campus competitions. I could assure you that by now, I had considered piano playing was my second life. In addition, I was able to focus on my studies as well. Obviously, all the musical activities and experiences had changed my narcissistic behaviors and I had become more civilized girl especially on stages. Bye, tomboy Mei Mei.
August 27, 2014
*The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 64 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait between mainland China and Taiwan Island. The largest city is Magong, located on the largest island, which is also named Penghu. Wikipedia. Area: 54.46 sq miles (141.1 km²)
By Esther Shu-shin Lee, Ph.D.
I loved to help around at my rural elementary school in Yuan Ho, Taipei when I was there for the fifth and six grades. For example, with my sturdy arms and legs, I volunteered to move the small organ with 2-3 other classmates for the music teacher when she gave lessons at different classrooms. This approximately 3-foot wide organ needed to “pump” in the air with two paddles. Since it was the only organ in the school, we had to move it around according to the music teacher’s schedule.
In addition to moving the organ around, like every other student, I had certain cleaning duties. All students were required to clean certain part of the classroom and campus, i.e., the yards, the assembling ground/grand field, the teachers’ offices, the outdoor equipment and the “old fashioned” restrooms on a rotational basis. The most disliked places for students to clean were the smelly and filthy restrooms and tall glass windows. Frequently, students who were assigned to these areas either procrastinated or did a sloppy job. My preschool’s fearless trait might have helped me to interact with children of rural background without any problem including cleaning duties. (Most of the students went to school barefoot; I was one of few to have shoes on.) I was often assigned to “lead” a group of classmates to clean these two unpopular places, not because I was in trouble, but because the classmates assigned to the tasks were willing to go along with me; perhaps, I was not too negative about the chores.
My first time on a stage was an unforgettable experience. I remember vividly that both of my legs shook so hard that they almost tangled together. For unknown or unremembered reason, when I was in the fifth grade I was chosen to “conduct” the congregational singing of the national anthem that occurred every morning during flag raising ceremony, where all the students grades one through five would assemble in the grand field in attendance. Maybe it was because I had helped to move the organ around a lot. Maybe it was because I had rallied classmates to clean up the restroom on time. Maybe I was one of the few kids with shoes on. The stage was raised up at least five foot high, so everyone was able to see and follow me. After the flag ceremony, the entire student body was required to stay for a 10-15 minute group exercise led by a PE teacher. Thank God, a chubby fifth grader like me didn't have to stay on stage for that!
My best friend Zen Zen was a skinny girl but from a more “affluent” family (compared to the rest of us). She not only had shoes on but also had a piano at home. She stayed with her older sister who was in high school while their parents were working in Hong Kong. Later, I learned that their parents were undercover agents for the government. Thus, they could import a piano that was classified as a luxury item subject to high tariffs. Obviously, they had better standard of living than people around them. I immediately recommended my mother when she told me that they were looking for a piano teacher. The deal was that both she and her sister got free lessons from my mother while both my mother and I could practice the piano for one hour in their house every day.
Immediately, I fell in love with playing the piano under my mother’s instruction. Mother had never seen me so obedient and settled down. I never talked back or argued with her when she corrected or criticized me. It seemed that I had become a totally different person when I immersed myself in piano playing with superb patience, concentration and self-control. Mother was very pleased with my rapid progress and behavioral change. Yet, Zen Zen and her sister were not so happy with their struggle with their piano lessons; they quit within one year. That meant mother and I had no piano to practice. Soon after that, they moved to Hong Kong to join their parents.
I have never doubted about God’s provision even as a six grader: we got an organ from uncle Wei-min who was assigned to South Africa as a counselor by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Due to the relocation of the family, they “stored” a small/movable organ like the one in my rural elementary school in our house. I was elated to see its arrival. Although the touch of the narrow key board was totally different from that of a piano, at least I could play some pieces. It did not bother me when the range of a piano piece was beyond the upper and lower keyboards. I just pretend the invisible keys were extended beyond the wooden frame. I enjoyed playing the organ so much that my sight reading proficiency had been improved dramatically. Since then, rapid sight reading has served me very well for church musical ministry and other musical organizations. Even up to now, it helps me tremendously when I have to play the electric organ with peddles at a local church.
The high school entrance exam was a challenge for rural school children to compete, but I did not stop playing the organ during my preparation. Fortunately, I was only one of the two who passed the exam and joined my older sister Grace at Taipei Second Girls’ High School. I was a 7th grader while Grace was in her senior. No one dared to bully me because I had a big and tall sister by my side especially when I was “fighting” for my piano practice time after school.
The two pianos in two music classrooms were open for students to practice after school hours, i.e., 4:00 pm. Yet, some students did not show up during their sign-up practice period. So, I always stood by after school and was running between two music classrooms to catch the “open slot.” Inevitably, confrontations occurred when another student was also going after the “open slot.” I was so committed to practice as much as I could that I carried my own candles to light the music so that I could play longer.
Meanwhile, mother was no longer my piano teacher because she and my younger siblings relocated and jointed Dad who was stationing on the “frontline” islands – the Pescadores Islands in Taiwan Strait. * Mother’s relocation was prompted by her unknown health problems. She thought she had cancer and chose to spend her limited time with Dad. As a result, I started my piano lessons with the church pianist, Miss Hannah Wu, who graduated first place from a prestigious music program and later came to Northwestern University for her graduate degrees. She corrected my poor finger movement due to my practice on the organ. I had to “stick” my fingers to the keyboard when I played the organ so I could connect the notes. On the contrary, I had to lift up my fingers in order to play fast and clearly on the piano and rely on the pedal to connect the notes. It was a very frustrating “start-over” experience but I was glad to follow her rigorous instruction to undo my organ playing techniques. Evidently, she was satisfied with my progress and efforts so she recommended me to her own teacher, the best pianist in the nation, when she left for the US. This renowned pianist, Professor Chang, charged a lot. Each weekly one-hour lesson cost NT200. The total tuition for a month was nearly my Dad’s monthly salary! It was truly a big sacrifice for my whole family, including my siblings. Everyone had to give up their desires so I could have piano lessons. Mother worked hard as a professor, real estate builder, and piano teacher for many years to sustain the family’s financial needs.
Grace and I spent one summer vacation with parents in Magong, the largest city in the Pescadores Islands (=Penghu County) but I did not stop my piano practice. There was only one upright piano in the entire County. With the support of the county Magistrate Lee, Dad had the permission to move the piano from a local high school to our living room for my summer practice. I spent all day long to play the piano except morning brief walks by the ocean. Toward the end of the summer, we witnessed the birth of David, our youngest baby brother on September 4, 1957. My parents were delighted to have another son. (Shortly after mother’s arrival in Penghu she was found pregnant at age 44 by a military OB-GYN; thank God, she did not have cancer!)
Grace took care of me like a mother in Taipei during our parents’ absence. She recognized my devotion to piano playing and supported me as much as mother did. She was always on my side when I fought for piano practice time in the music classrooms. At times, we even went to the music teacher for “judgment” during my disputes with fellow piano players. Somehow, the teacher seemed sympathetic with my convictions and also recognized my rapidly improving skills. Later, he gave me the opportunity to accompany the school choir for both practice and major inter-campus competitions. I could assure you that by now, I had considered piano playing was my second life. In addition, I was able to focus on my studies as well. Obviously, all the musical activities and experiences had changed my narcissistic behaviors and I had become more civilized girl especially on stages. Bye, tomboy Mei Mei.
August 27, 2014
*The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 64 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait between mainland China and Taiwan Island. The largest city is Magong, located on the largest island, which is also named Penghu. Wikipedia. Area: 54.46 sq miles (141.1 km²)
Transition to Junior High School
(recorded by Esther Shu-shin Lee, Ph.D.)
The entrance examinations into the free public high schools and universities have been very competitive in Taiwan in since the 1950s. Among all six graders (about 150 students) in my rural elementary school, only two were admitted to public junior high schools. The high school system in Taiwan at that time consisted of six years of education: 3 years for junior high and another 3 for senior high. We had to take another entrance examination from junior to senior high school. I was not good enough to be accepted to the best, Taipei First Girls’ High School, which consisted of both junior and senior high, but admitted to the number two school, Taipei Second Girls’ High School. The other girl from the same elementary school was admitted to an even less prestigious high school. In general, being able to enter a public high school was considered auspicious for a child’s future. Otherwise, parents had to pay expensive tuition for private schools whose academic standards were much lower than the public schools, and chances for future academic pursuit and advancement would be unlikely. Students in private schools tended to be party goers and trouble makers who failed to focus on studies and could not pass the entrance examinations. There was nearly no chance for them to enter either a public or private university in later days. However, they most likely had better social skills than those nerds in public schools if they did not join a gang or go into violence.
To prepare for the junior high school entrance examinations, many parents signed up their children for the after-school tutoring sessions; there was no exception for me when I was in sixth grade. One day, a fellow classmate tried to pack my school bag for me after the tutoring session. She was puzzled by a hammer found in my bag. I explained to her, “In case someone attacks me on my way home, I’d use this hammer to fight back!” Yes, I did carry a hammer every day to and from school regardless of its weight. Our house built by our mother was located in a new “subdivision” developed by our mother and her lady friends. This western styled “subdivision” was separated from the old section of the town by a rice field. I had to walk through a section of the road surround by rice petties on both sides without any houses or buildings and it was scary to image someone suddenly coming out from the tall rice bushes to grab me. Mother was also concerned about my safety. Eventually, she hired a tutor to help me at home. Then, I did not need to carry that heavy hammer anymore for school tutoring sessions.
My parents were proud of me when I passed the exam for the same high school where Grace was attending – Taipei Second Girls’ High School. Yet, the school was far from our house. It required two bus transfers and more than one hour to get to school. All high schools in Taiwan at that time started at 8:00 am and ended at 4:00 pm from Monday through Friday. Saturday had earlier dismissal by mid-afternoon. Fortunately, I was able to follow Grace for bus rides in my first semester. It was not easy to follow her because the buses were always crowded with only limited seats during the “rush hour.” I was too short to keep my eyes on her in the “body jungle.” Fortunately, we did not have to catch a bus during my second semester because mother and younger siblings had joined Dad in Pescadores Islands.* It was often called Penghu county. Grace and I remained in Taipei for school and rented a room from a family friend. It only took us less than 30 minutes to walk to school; no more buses.
When mother left Grace and me in Taipei for our education, Grace assumed the responsibility of a mother and took care of me. She was brave enough to ask high school faculty for the permission to board with them, three meals a day, under our special circumstance. This three-meal arrangement only lasted for one semester. When Grace graduated from high school and started the National Taiwan University, the best university in Taiwan, my meal plan had to be changed. We had our breakfasts and lunches at our separate schools. She purchased two dinner tickets for both of us from the University canteen. Every evening she brought my supper box from the university. At this time, we had moved to a professor’s house to accompany his wife and two young boys since he traveled frequently. Again, no kitchen privilege – how sad! However, I was happy to be with my big sister at the end of school day and did not mind the lukewarm or even cold supper. Our parents’ absence actually had bonded us closer than ever in many areas besides filling my basic needs, including my musical pursuit until this day.
Due to our two moves after mother’s relocation, my piano practice was no longer limited to the music classrooms. First, I was able to practice one hour daily at a family friend’s house on my way “home.” Then, we had to rent a practice time – 30 minutes daily at a stranger’s house after we moved into the professor’s house. These fragments of practice did not hinder my progress. I enjoyed practicing piano so much that I did not have any other extra curricula interests, i.e., reading novels, newspapers, going to the movie house, girls’ chatting, etc. I even sang the melody of La Fountain, a piano piece I was working on during my sleep. Since Grace accompanied me to the stranger’s house every night, sun or rain, for practice she immediately recognized the song. She told me of this sleep singing the next morning. Her sacrifice and support to my piano playing was incredible and even had to put up with my sleep singing. I could never be able to pay back for her support and love for me.
Grace and I began our own “social circle” when my parents moved back to Taipei a year later with an additional younger brother, David who is 13 junior of my age. Now, Grace might have felt free from watching over me anymore. Like many teenagers, I became close to another two classmates in 9th grade: I-min and Weng-fan. We were the top three students in the class and were nicknamed as “three mystiques.” We were inseparable and expected to be qualified to obtain waivers to “sail into” the senior high directly without an entrance exam. Yes, they indeed made it; but I did not due to my poor PE grade. Consequently, I had to take an entrance exam for senior high. Naturally, I shot for Taipei First Girls’ High School. Thank God, I got in, as it was better than Taipei Second Girls’ High School. Although it was disappointing in the beginning when I could not “sail into” senior high with my buddies at the Taipei Second Girls’ High School, the end result was actually better. However, the public perception was that the students from the Taipei First Girls’ High School were rigid and boring while students from the Taipei Second Girls’ High School were sociable and fun loving. Although there was no scientific study for such a comparison, it held pretty accurately based on observation.
Again, we moved back to that western styled “subdivision” but the rice field began to fill up with new constructions. Meanwhile, I was able to ride a bus without a transfer to the senior high school. By then, I was confident to walk for 15 minutes to catch the bus by myself as a 10th grader and felt no need to carry a hammer.
My confidence did not mean that I was accident free on my way home; I still needed courage to ask for help. One day, I got off the bus and was on my way home. The shoulder of the road was dirt and filled with trash. Shortly after passing a doctor’s office, I stepped on a piece of broken glass. It penetrated my tennis shoe and cut my right toe. Since I could not stop the bleeding I decided to limp back to the doctor’s office. I knew mother was an acquaintance of this lady doctor but I was not sure she or her staff would know me. I went in and introduced myself and showed them my wound. Thank God, they took care of me even though I did not have any money. I guess I was just not afraid to ask for help even I could have been rejected.
August 27, 2014
*The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 64 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait between mainland China and Taiwan Island. The largest city is Magong, located on the largest island, which is also named Penghu. Wikipedia. Area: 54.46 sq miles (141.1 km²)
Dr. Lee won the first prize of the nationwide piano contest in Taiwan in 1965. Here are her trophy and farewell recital in 1967 in Taipei.
The trophy of Esther's first place at the nationwide piano contest in Taiwan, 1965.
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Esther's farewell concert in 1967 on her eve of departing for the USA.
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Dr. Lee has two daughters and two grandson. Her 29 year of marriage to Dr. Stanton S. Yao ended in 1998. She did not work after receiving her Ph.D. from Purdue University in June, 1971 until 1975. She was a stay-home mom until she began her part-time teaching at the University of Houston/Clear Lake in the spring semester of 1975. Later, that Fall, she was offer the full-time and tenue track assistant professorship.
She married to retired US Air Force Col. Billy C. Bearden in 2004 and retired from the deanship of the Graduate School of Troy University/Montgomery in January 2006. Currently, she resides on the Lake of Logan Martin, 40 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama. This personal folder consists of personal photos, articles about Dr. Esther Lee's early family life, since many people were concerned with 李恕信 Esther Lee Yao’s whereabouts after she hosted the last reception for Mayor-elect of Houston Lee Brown in Clear Lake City, January, 1998. God has blessed her and broadened her horizon with a wonderful retirement life.
Dr. Lee's enthusiasm and commitment to inspire young people has not changed even though she has retired from her profession. She is available to speak to young people who are interested in pursuing leadership role in the political arena. She can be reached at estherlee@fnplweb.org. Here is one of her Christmas letters summarizing her life of 2008.
She married to retired US Air Force Col. Billy C. Bearden in 2004 and retired from the deanship of the Graduate School of Troy University/Montgomery in January 2006. Currently, she resides on the Lake of Logan Martin, 40 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama. This personal folder consists of personal photos, articles about Dr. Esther Lee's early family life, since many people were concerned with 李恕信 Esther Lee Yao’s whereabouts after she hosted the last reception for Mayor-elect of Houston Lee Brown in Clear Lake City, January, 1998. God has blessed her and broadened her horizon with a wonderful retirement life.
Dr. Lee's enthusiasm and commitment to inspire young people has not changed even though she has retired from her profession. She is available to speak to young people who are interested in pursuing leadership role in the political arena. She can be reached at estherlee@fnplweb.org. Here is one of her Christmas letters summarizing her life of 2008.
Christmas Greeting of 2008 from Bill and Esther Bearden.
Dear Friends and Relatives:
Time indeed flies as we mature daily. Thank God that we have had another blessed year of 2008 full of activities and travel. We trust you have been abundantly blessed by God’s Grace as well.
We started our 2008 with a Key West RV trip with Esther’s younger sister Dorothy and her husband, Yung Chin in January. They flew directly from Chicago to Orlando so we could spend some days with Esther’s older sister, Shu-min, prior to and after our Key West trip. We had a wonderful time together as expected.
Another major RV trip was taken in May. Bill showed Esther around the coastal cities of GA, SC and NC. Esther even rode a wooden mechanical bull (rodeo) at the Blue Crab Festival in SC but she did not stay on long enough to get her monies worth – smiles. Then off to the Nanafalia River for some cool rafting in the Appalachian Mountains of NC.
During the hot summer in Alabama, we toured the mid-west including visiting Esther’s sister, Dorothy and daughter in the Chicago area and the Oshkosh air show. We went to Oshkosh show the previous year but Bill wished to go back with Yung Chin for the second time. It was a boy’s outing.
Then, it was the girls’ turn. Dorothy and Esther went to Turkey for three weeks with the Grand Circle Travel tour. Both of them enjoyed the trip so much that they did not miss their homes at all – smiles. This was Esther’s second trip to Turkey but enjoyed the “review” and new experiences, especially in Cappadocia. We learned so much about this old region where Apostle Paul left his numerous footprints during his missionary journey. This trip has not only enriched our knowledge about world history but also the Biblical geographical and historical background of the books of Acts and Revelation in the New Testament.
Beside travel, we also enjoyed interaction with our family members. Bill’s grandchildren, Hannah and Peyton, spent their week-long spring break and summer vacation with us. We had a wonderful time with them including RV camping, flying and various water sports. Their family also spent July 4th and Thanksgiving weekends with us. We’ll visit them for Christmas in Tennessee.
Please visit us when you travel to this area. The door of our lake side “B & B” is always open for you and your loved ones.
Wishing you a blessed 2009.
Dear Friends and Relatives:
Time indeed flies as we mature daily. Thank God that we have had another blessed year of 2008 full of activities and travel. We trust you have been abundantly blessed by God’s Grace as well.
We started our 2008 with a Key West RV trip with Esther’s younger sister Dorothy and her husband, Yung Chin in January. They flew directly from Chicago to Orlando so we could spend some days with Esther’s older sister, Shu-min, prior to and after our Key West trip. We had a wonderful time together as expected.
Another major RV trip was taken in May. Bill showed Esther around the coastal cities of GA, SC and NC. Esther even rode a wooden mechanical bull (rodeo) at the Blue Crab Festival in SC but she did not stay on long enough to get her monies worth – smiles. Then off to the Nanafalia River for some cool rafting in the Appalachian Mountains of NC.
During the hot summer in Alabama, we toured the mid-west including visiting Esther’s sister, Dorothy and daughter in the Chicago area and the Oshkosh air show. We went to Oshkosh show the previous year but Bill wished to go back with Yung Chin for the second time. It was a boy’s outing.
Then, it was the girls’ turn. Dorothy and Esther went to Turkey for three weeks with the Grand Circle Travel tour. Both of them enjoyed the trip so much that they did not miss their homes at all – smiles. This was Esther’s second trip to Turkey but enjoyed the “review” and new experiences, especially in Cappadocia. We learned so much about this old region where Apostle Paul left his numerous footprints during his missionary journey. This trip has not only enriched our knowledge about world history but also the Biblical geographical and historical background of the books of Acts and Revelation in the New Testament.
Beside travel, we also enjoyed interaction with our family members. Bill’s grandchildren, Hannah and Peyton, spent their week-long spring break and summer vacation with us. We had a wonderful time with them including RV camping, flying and various water sports. Their family also spent July 4th and Thanksgiving weekends with us. We’ll visit them for Christmas in Tennessee.
Please visit us when you travel to this area. The door of our lake side “B & B” is always open for you and your loved ones.
Wishing you a blessed 2009.
The program of Esther's farewell concert in Taipei, Taiwan 1967
Esther's sample concert programs
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Esther was hosting a breakfast. |
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Dr. Lee has two daughters and two grands
With younger sister, Dorothy Lee in 2004.
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Residence in Clear Lake City, Houston, Texas prior to 1998 and the Yao family touring Taiwan
This is Esther's personal story about her childhood translated by Mary Lin of FL.
From Savagery to Civility – Only the Beginning
By Esther Shu-shin Lee, Ph.D.
I loved to help around at my rural elementary school in Yuan Ho, Taipei when I was there for the fifth and six grades. For example, with my sturdy arms and legs, I volunteered to move the small organ with 2-3 other classmates for the music teacher when she gave lessons at different classrooms. This approximately 3-foot wide organ needed to “pump” in the air with two paddles. Since it was the only organ in the school, we had to move it around according to the music teacher’s schedule.
In addition to moving the organ around, like every other student, I had certain cleaning duties. All students were required to clean certain part of the classroom and campus, i.e., the yards, the assembling ground/grand field, the teachers’ offices, the outdoor equipment and the “old fashioned” restrooms on a rotational basis. The most disliked places for students to clean were the smelly and filthy restrooms and tall glass windows. Frequently, students who were assigned to these areas either procrastinated or did a sloppy job. My preschool’s fearless trait might have helped me to interact with children of rural background without any problem including cleaning duties. (Most of the students went to school barefoot; I was one of few to have shoes on.) I was often assigned to “lead” a group of classmates to clean these two unpopular places, not because I was in trouble, but because the classmates assigned to the tasks were willing to go along with me; perhaps, I was not too negative about the chores.
My first time on a stage was an unforgettable experience. I remember vividly that both of my legs shook so hard that they almost tangled together. For unknown or unremembered reason, when I was in the fifth grade I was chosen to “conduct” the congregational singing of the national anthem that occurred every morning during flag raising ceremony, where all the students grades one through five would assemble in the grand field in attendance. Maybe it was because I had helped to move the organ around a lot. Maybe it was because I had rallied classmates to clean up the restroom on time. Maybe I was one of the few kids with shoes on. The stage was raised up at least five foot high, so everyone was able to see and follow me. After the flag ceremony, the entire student body was required to stay for a 10-15 minute group exercise led by a PE teacher. Thank God, a chubby fifth grader like me didn't have to stay on stage for that!
My best friend Zen Zen was a skinny girl but from a more “affluent” family (compared to the rest of us). She not only had shoes on but also had a piano at home. She stayed with her older sister who was in high school while their parents were working in Hong Kong. Later, I learned that their parents were undercover agents for the government. Thus, they could import a piano that was classified as a luxury item subject to high tariffs. Obviously, they had better standard of living than people around them. I immediately recommended my mother when she told me that they were looking for a piano teacher. The deal was that both she and her sister got free lessons from my mother while both my mother and I could practice the piano for one hour in their house every day.
Immediately, I fell in love with playing the piano under my mother’s instruction. Mother had never seen me so obedient and settled down. I never talked back or argued with her when she corrected or criticized me. It seemed that I had become a totally different person when I immersed myself in piano playing with superb patience, concentration and self-control. Mother was very pleased with my rapid progress and behavioral change. Yet, Zen Zen and her sister were not so happy with their struggle with their piano lessons; they quit within one year. That meant mother and I had no piano to practice. Soon after that, they moved to Hong Kong to join their parents.
I have never doubted about God’s provision even as a six grader: we got an organ from uncle Wei-min who was assigned to South Africa as a counselor by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Due to the relocation of the family, they “stored” a small/movable organ like the one in my rural elementary school in our house. I was elated to see its arrival. Although the touch of the narrow key board was totally different from that of a piano, at least I could play some pieces. It did not bother me when the range of a piano piece was beyond the upper and lower keyboards. I just pretend the invisible keys were extended beyond the wooden frame. I enjoyed playing the organ so much that my sight reading proficiency had been improved dramatically. Since then, rapid sight reading has served me very well for church musical ministry and other musical organizations. Even up to now, it helps me tremendously when I have to play the electric organ with peddles at a local church.
The high school entrance exam was a challenge for rural school children to compete, but I did not stop playing the organ during my preparation. Fortunately, I was only one of the two who passed the exam and joined my older sister Grace at Taipei Second Girls’ High School. I was a 7th grader while Grace was in her senior. No one dared to bully me because I had a big and tall sister by my side especially when I was “fighting” for my piano practice time after school.
The two pianos in two music classrooms were open for students to practice after school hours, i.e., 4:00 pm. Yet, some students did not show up during their sign-up practice period. So, I always stood by after school and was running between two music classrooms to catch the “open slot.” Inevitably, confrontations occurred when another student was also going after the “open slot.” I was so committed to practice as much as I could that I carried my own candles to light the music so that I could play longer.
Meanwhile, mother was no longer my piano teacher because she and my younger siblings relocated and jointed Dad who was stationing on the “frontline” islands – the Pescadores Islands in Taiwan Strait. * Mother’s relocation was prompted by her unknown health problems. She thought she had cancer and chose to spend her limited time with Dad. As a result, I started my piano lessons with the church pianist, Miss Hannah Wu, who graduated first place from a prestigious music program and later came to Northwestern University for her graduate degrees. She corrected my poor finger movement due to my practice on the organ. I had to “stick” my fingers to the keyboard when I played the organ so I could connect the notes. On the contrary, I had to lift up my fingers in order to play fast and clearly on the piano and rely on the pedal to connect the notes. It was a very frustrating “start-over” experience but I was glad to follow her rigorous instruction to undo my organ playing techniques. Evidently, she was satisfied with my progress and efforts so she recommended me to her own teacher, the best pianist in the nation, when she left for the US. This renowned pianist, Professor Chang, charged a lot. Each weekly one-hour lesson cost NT200. The total tuition for a month was nearly my Dad’s monthly salary! It was truly a big sacrifice for my whole family, including my siblings. Everyone had to give up their desires so I could have piano lessons. Mother worked hard as a professor, real estate builder, and piano teacher for many years to sustain the family’s financial needs.
Grace and I spent one summer vacation with parents in Magong, the largest city in the Pescadores Islands (=Penghu County) but I did not stop my piano practice. There was only one upright piano in the entire County. With the support of the county Magistrate Lee, Dad had the permission to move the piano from a local high school to our living room for my summer practice. I spent all day long to play the piano except morning brief walks by the ocean. Toward the end of the summer, we witnessed the birth of David, our youngest baby brother on September 4, 1957. My parents were delighted to have another son. (Shortly after mother’s arrival in Penghu she was found pregnant at age 44 by a military OB-GYN; thank God, she did not have cancer!)
Grace took care of me like a mother in Taipei during our parents’ absence. She recognized my devotion to piano playing and supported me as much as mother did. She was always on my side when I fought for piano practice time in the music classrooms. At times, we even went to the music teacher for “judgment” during my disputes with fellow piano players. Somehow, the teacher seemed sympathetic with my convictions and also recognized my rapidly improving skills. Later, he gave me the opportunity to accompany the school choir for both practice and major inter-campus competitions. I could assure you that by now, I had considered piano playing was my second life. In addition, I was able to focus on my studies as well. Obviously, all the musical activities and experiences had changed my narcissistic behaviors and I had become more civilized girl especially on stages. Bye, tomboy Mei Mei.
August 27, 2014
*The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 64 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait between mainland China and Taiwan Island. The largest city is Magong, located on the largest island, which is also named Penghu. Wikipedia. Area: 54.46 sq miles (141.1 km²)
From Savagery to Civility – Only the Beginning
By Esther Shu-shin Lee, Ph.D.
I loved to help around at my rural elementary school in Yuan Ho, Taipei when I was there for the fifth and six grades. For example, with my sturdy arms and legs, I volunteered to move the small organ with 2-3 other classmates for the music teacher when she gave lessons at different classrooms. This approximately 3-foot wide organ needed to “pump” in the air with two paddles. Since it was the only organ in the school, we had to move it around according to the music teacher’s schedule.
In addition to moving the organ around, like every other student, I had certain cleaning duties. All students were required to clean certain part of the classroom and campus, i.e., the yards, the assembling ground/grand field, the teachers’ offices, the outdoor equipment and the “old fashioned” restrooms on a rotational basis. The most disliked places for students to clean were the smelly and filthy restrooms and tall glass windows. Frequently, students who were assigned to these areas either procrastinated or did a sloppy job. My preschool’s fearless trait might have helped me to interact with children of rural background without any problem including cleaning duties. (Most of the students went to school barefoot; I was one of few to have shoes on.) I was often assigned to “lead” a group of classmates to clean these two unpopular places, not because I was in trouble, but because the classmates assigned to the tasks were willing to go along with me; perhaps, I was not too negative about the chores.
My first time on a stage was an unforgettable experience. I remember vividly that both of my legs shook so hard that they almost tangled together. For unknown or unremembered reason, when I was in the fifth grade I was chosen to “conduct” the congregational singing of the national anthem that occurred every morning during flag raising ceremony, where all the students grades one through five would assemble in the grand field in attendance. Maybe it was because I had helped to move the organ around a lot. Maybe it was because I had rallied classmates to clean up the restroom on time. Maybe I was one of the few kids with shoes on. The stage was raised up at least five foot high, so everyone was able to see and follow me. After the flag ceremony, the entire student body was required to stay for a 10-15 minute group exercise led by a PE teacher. Thank God, a chubby fifth grader like me didn't have to stay on stage for that!
My best friend Zen Zen was a skinny girl but from a more “affluent” family (compared to the rest of us). She not only had shoes on but also had a piano at home. She stayed with her older sister who was in high school while their parents were working in Hong Kong. Later, I learned that their parents were undercover agents for the government. Thus, they could import a piano that was classified as a luxury item subject to high tariffs. Obviously, they had better standard of living than people around them. I immediately recommended my mother when she told me that they were looking for a piano teacher. The deal was that both she and her sister got free lessons from my mother while both my mother and I could practice the piano for one hour in their house every day.
Immediately, I fell in love with playing the piano under my mother’s instruction. Mother had never seen me so obedient and settled down. I never talked back or argued with her when she corrected or criticized me. It seemed that I had become a totally different person when I immersed myself in piano playing with superb patience, concentration and self-control. Mother was very pleased with my rapid progress and behavioral change. Yet, Zen Zen and her sister were not so happy with their struggle with their piano lessons; they quit within one year. That meant mother and I had no piano to practice. Soon after that, they moved to Hong Kong to join their parents.
I have never doubted about God’s provision even as a six grader: we got an organ from uncle Wei-min who was assigned to South Africa as a counselor by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Due to the relocation of the family, they “stored” a small/movable organ like the one in my rural elementary school in our house. I was elated to see its arrival. Although the touch of the narrow key board was totally different from that of a piano, at least I could play some pieces. It did not bother me when the range of a piano piece was beyond the upper and lower keyboards. I just pretend the invisible keys were extended beyond the wooden frame. I enjoyed playing the organ so much that my sight reading proficiency had been improved dramatically. Since then, rapid sight reading has served me very well for church musical ministry and other musical organizations. Even up to now, it helps me tremendously when I have to play the electric organ with peddles at a local church.
The high school entrance exam was a challenge for rural school children to compete, but I did not stop playing the organ during my preparation. Fortunately, I was only one of the two who passed the exam and joined my older sister Grace at Taipei Second Girls’ High School. I was a 7th grader while Grace was in her senior. No one dared to bully me because I had a big and tall sister by my side especially when I was “fighting” for my piano practice time after school.
The two pianos in two music classrooms were open for students to practice after school hours, i.e., 4:00 pm. Yet, some students did not show up during their sign-up practice period. So, I always stood by after school and was running between two music classrooms to catch the “open slot.” Inevitably, confrontations occurred when another student was also going after the “open slot.” I was so committed to practice as much as I could that I carried my own candles to light the music so that I could play longer.
Meanwhile, mother was no longer my piano teacher because she and my younger siblings relocated and jointed Dad who was stationing on the “frontline” islands – the Pescadores Islands in Taiwan Strait. * Mother’s relocation was prompted by her unknown health problems. She thought she had cancer and chose to spend her limited time with Dad. As a result, I started my piano lessons with the church pianist, Miss Hannah Wu, who graduated first place from a prestigious music program and later came to Northwestern University for her graduate degrees. She corrected my poor finger movement due to my practice on the organ. I had to “stick” my fingers to the keyboard when I played the organ so I could connect the notes. On the contrary, I had to lift up my fingers in order to play fast and clearly on the piano and rely on the pedal to connect the notes. It was a very frustrating “start-over” experience but I was glad to follow her rigorous instruction to undo my organ playing techniques. Evidently, she was satisfied with my progress and efforts so she recommended me to her own teacher, the best pianist in the nation, when she left for the US. This renowned pianist, Professor Chang, charged a lot. Each weekly one-hour lesson cost NT200. The total tuition for a month was nearly my Dad’s monthly salary! It was truly a big sacrifice for my whole family, including my siblings. Everyone had to give up their desires so I could have piano lessons. Mother worked hard as a professor, real estate builder, and piano teacher for many years to sustain the family’s financial needs.
Grace and I spent one summer vacation with parents in Magong, the largest city in the Pescadores Islands (=Penghu County) but I did not stop my piano practice. There was only one upright piano in the entire County. With the support of the county Magistrate Lee, Dad had the permission to move the piano from a local high school to our living room for my summer practice. I spent all day long to play the piano except morning brief walks by the ocean. Toward the end of the summer, we witnessed the birth of David, our youngest baby brother on September 4, 1957. My parents were delighted to have another son. (Shortly after mother’s arrival in Penghu she was found pregnant at age 44 by a military OB-GYN; thank God, she did not have cancer!)
Grace took care of me like a mother in Taipei during our parents’ absence. She recognized my devotion to piano playing and supported me as much as mother did. She was always on my side when I fought for piano practice time in the music classrooms. At times, we even went to the music teacher for “judgment” during my disputes with fellow piano players. Somehow, the teacher seemed sympathetic with my convictions and also recognized my rapidly improving skills. Later, he gave me the opportunity to accompany the school choir for both practice and major inter-campus competitions. I could assure you that by now, I had considered piano playing was my second life. In addition, I was able to focus on my studies as well. Obviously, all the musical activities and experiences had changed my narcissistic behaviors and I had become more civilized girl especially on stages. Bye, tomboy Mei Mei.
August 27, 2014
*The Penghu or Pescadores Islands are an archipelago of 64 islands and islets in the Taiwan Strait between mainland China and Taiwan Island. The largest city is Magong, located on the largest island, which is also named Penghu. Wikipedia. Area: 54.46 sq miles (141.1 km²)