Portland, Oregon
A warm and sunny day greeted the Sea Bird as she approached the dock in front of the River Place Hotel in downtown Portland. She would remain dockside for the day awaiting this afternoon’s embarkation. The day was spent in preparation for the arrival of our new guests, and a few moments to enjoy one of the first sunny days of spring.
Portland is a city renowned for its flowers and spring and summer festivals. Preparations for one of the most well known festivals called the racing of the Dragon boats was underway as the Sea Bird arrived. Several crews arrived at this small marina, where the Sea Bird was tied up, to begin practice for the first race of the season which will be held on June 8th and 9th during Portland’s annual Rose Festival.
The Dragon boats belong to the “Portland Kaohsiung Sister City Association.” This year marks the 14th annual race for the city of Portland. There are Dragon boat races in every major city in the contiguous United States and in many major cities around the world! Portland’s first two boats were donated by the city of Kaohsiung, which is located on the southern end of the island of Taiwan. Dragon boat racing began there more than 2,000 years ago and continues to this day!
The purpose of these races in Portland and around the world is to bring a small part of Chinese culture into the world, and share with other cultures the beauty of these boats. This year, 63 high school girls from Shu-ta High School in Kaohsiung will be joining the festivities during the Rose Festival. The high school girls will be living with host families around Portland and then will be part of the Rose Festival parade, and, also part of an exhibition Dragon boat race during the festivities. They’re race is an expression of the friendship that remains constant between the two sister cities of Portland, Oregon (USA) and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The city of Portland is home to ten Dragon boats. Two are used for continual displays around the city and eight are used annually in the Dragon boat races. There are twenty-two women’s teams, sixteen high school teams, forty-seven mixed teams and this year, one team of blind participants! Other new teams this year include a team comprised of one family called the “crazy cousins”, two handicapped teams, and four breast cancer survivor teams. While the Sea Bird remained dockside, many of these teams arrived for their practice sessions with the Dragon boats, and it was obvious to any observer that this is an event that is widely supported by the people of Portland!
Dragon boats first came to the attention of Americans through President Dwight Eisenhower and his “People to People” program, started in the early stages of the cold war in 1956. It was the President’s wish to promote a better understanding and open doors, not close them, on a unique culture and country… giving a better understanding of the Chinese people and their culture while showing respect to the many Chinese Americans who called the United States home.
A warm and sunny day greeted the Sea Bird as she approached the dock in front of the River Place Hotel in downtown Portland. She would remain dockside for the day awaiting this afternoon’s embarkation. The day was spent in preparation for the arrival of our new guests, and a few moments to enjoy one of the first sunny days of spring.
Portland is a city renowned for its flowers and spring and summer festivals. Preparations for one of the most well known festivals called the racing of the Dragon boats was underway as the Sea Bird arrived. Several crews arrived at this small marina, where the Sea Bird was tied up, to begin practice for the first race of the season which will be held on June 8th and 9th during Portland’s annual Rose Festival.
The Dragon boats belong to the “Portland Kaohsiung Sister City Association.” This year marks the 14th annual race for the city of Portland. There are Dragon boat races in every major city in the contiguous United States and in many major cities around the world! Portland’s first two boats were donated by the city of Kaohsiung, which is located on the southern end of the island of Taiwan. Dragon boat racing began there more than 2,000 years ago and continues to this day!
The purpose of these races in Portland and around the world is to bring a small part of Chinese culture into the world, and share with other cultures the beauty of these boats. This year, 63 high school girls from Shu-ta High School in Kaohsiung will be joining the festivities during the Rose Festival. The high school girls will be living with host families around Portland and then will be part of the Rose Festival parade, and, also part of an exhibition Dragon boat race during the festivities. They’re race is an expression of the friendship that remains constant between the two sister cities of Portland, Oregon (USA) and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
The city of Portland is home to ten Dragon boats. Two are used for continual displays around the city and eight are used annually in the Dragon boat races. There are twenty-two women’s teams, sixteen high school teams, forty-seven mixed teams and this year, one team of blind participants! Other new teams this year include a team comprised of one family called the “crazy cousins”, two handicapped teams, and four breast cancer survivor teams. While the Sea Bird remained dockside, many of these teams arrived for their practice sessions with the Dragon boats, and it was obvious to any observer that this is an event that is widely supported by the people of Portland!
Dragon boats first came to the attention of Americans through President Dwight Eisenhower and his “People to People” program, started in the early stages of the cold war in 1956. It was the President’s wish to promote a better understanding and open doors, not close them, on a unique culture and country… giving a better understanding of the Chinese people and their culture while showing respect to the many Chinese Americans who called the United States home.
