A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:
I’ve invited Edouard Roquette back on to talk about the life-changing scooter accident that happened to him in 2012. It landed him in a wheelchair for six months, and on crutches for eight years. With physical therapy and treatment Edouard has been able to walk and hike again. To this day he continues to consult with physical therapists about his condition. We also spoke about how he took on the role of playing Tiger Man at the annual festivities in Beigang celebrating the birthday of Mazu, the goddess of the sea, and his fascination with Taiwan’s religious festivals and ceremonies.
Edouard Roquette is the founder of Rooms.Taipei a co-living business. In episode 192 he spoke to me about his experiences as an entrepreneur and the challenges facing foreign entrepreneurs in Taiwan.
This episode of Talking Taiwan has been sponsored by NATWA, the North America Taiwanese Women’s Association.
NATWA was founded in 1988, and its mission is:
- to evoke a sense of self-esteem and enhance women’s dignity,
- to oppose gender discrimination and promote gender equality,
- to fully develop women’s potential and encourage their participation in public affairs,
- to contribute to the advancement of human rights and democratic development in Taiwan,
- to reach out and work with women’s organizations worldwide to promote peace for all.
To learn more about NATWA visit their website: www.natwa.com
Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:
- How Edouard recovered enough from his scooter accident to be able to walk
- How Edouard’s accident happened three days before his visa for Taiwan expired
- The approach that hospitals in Taiwan take with pain management
- As a result of overstaying his visa Edouard had to leave Taiwan for a year
- How Edouard has been able to go from not being able to stand for more than a few minutes to being able to walk and hike
- Edouard’s physical therapist in Taipei JJ. Physio
- How Edouard had to advocate for himself to get physical therapy
- As a result of Edouard’s accident he lost his company, money, health, and relationship
- How it took eight years for Edouard to walk again and how he got through it
- How it was important for Edouard to feel a sense of normalcy as he was dealing with his injury and recovering
- How he dealt with the way that people treated him at various stages of his recovery
- How Edouard has been open trying all different types of treatments
- The lessons that Edouard has learned throughout this journey to recover from his accident
- The importance of connecting with support groups or people who have had similar experiences
- Edouard’s advice to others who have visa issues in Taiwan
- How Edouard ended up playing the role of Tiger man for Mazu’s birthday
- Taiwan’s dense religious practices
- The Mazu festival in Beigang (北港) attracts 200,000 people
- The Mazu festival in Dajia (大甲) attracts 2 million people
- The Wanjin (aka Wanchin) Catholic Basilica in Pingtung, Taiwan
- Obscure religious festivals in Taiwan
- Edouard has posted videos of Mazu birthday festivities on Facebook
- How Edouard has been involved with the Mazu birthday festivities in Beigang for 14 years
- Edouard’s recommendations for people interested in attending religious festivals in Taiwan
- Being a tourist in your own country and constantly discovering things about the place you live
- The Taiwan Gods website
Related Links:
Edouard Roquette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edroquette/
Rooms.Taipei: https://www.rooms.taipei/
Rooms.Taipei on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rooms.taipei/
J.J.Physio 李冠頡骨科物理治療Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JJ.PTCare
Mazu (aka Matsu, the goddess of the sea): https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazu_(goddess)
Edouard’s videos of Mazu’s birthday festivities and the Tiger man: https://www.facebook.com/685345001/videos/513574133570179/
Wanjin (aka Wanchin) Basilica in Pingtung, Taiwan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanchin_Basilica_of_the_Immaculate_Conception
https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002122&id=466
The Donggang boat burning festival: https://rove.me/to/taiwan/wang-yeh-boat-burning-festival
In Taiwan, a boat-burning festival aims to ward off sickness. Can it end the coronavirus pandemic? (an article from the Washington Post): https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/11/10/taiwan-boat-burning-covid-pandemic/
Taiwan Gods website: https://www.taiwangods.com/Index_EN.aspx
Edouard Roquette: Today’s Challenges Facing Foreign Entrepreneurs in Taiwan Ep 192
Andrew Klerck: Blindness Later in Life Could Not Stop This Thriving Entrepreneur Ep 224