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Birth
My Grandpa, Dai Hai Liao, was born on December 1st, 1918, in Fuzhou, China. -
Early Childhood and Family
My Grandfather was born into a family with four brothers and six sisters. He grew up in a very wealthy neighborhood known as Three Lanes and Seven Alleys (三坊七巷). They were well known in the area as they were one of the wealthiest family in the Province. His Father owned numerous hotels and restaurants across the province. He also made a living selling cigars and alcohol to the British settlers in Burma. In addition the imported and exported commodities between Burma and China. -
Move to Burma
When my Grandfather turned eleven, he moved to Yangon, Burma with his Father. There he learned about the operation of his Father's business and would eventually inherit the business. Though my Grandfather attended the Yangon Chinese School (仰光華僑中學), he quickly learned both English and Burmese. In addition, he also subscribed to Buddhism -
His Father's Death
When he was twenty years old, his Father passed away. This left him the responsibility to inherit and run the family business. Eventually, he invited his older brother and one of his younger brother to help him. Each month they would send money back. -
Japanese Invasion of Burma
In the following days after Pearl Harbor, Japan launched offensive strikes against Southeast Asian colonies. My Granpa and his Brothers quickly abandoned their business and fled with the
Guomindang Expeditionary Force. -
The Burma Road
In order to escape back to China, my Grandfather traveled over two thousand miles in the mountainous and harsh terrain of the Burma Road. -
Period: to
Life Back in China
After returning to Fuzhou, China, my Grandfather was able to become a warden at a provincial jail because he had friends in high places. He was able to avoid serving in the army as his family was able to bribe officials. However, with the family business in Burma abandoned and most of their establishments in China shut down also due to the Japan invasion, they began to run out of money. -
Life Back in China
After returning to Fuzhou, China, my Grandfather was able to become a warden at a provincial jail because he had friends in high places. He was able to avoid serving in the army as his family was able to bribe officials. However, with the family business in Burma abandoned and most of their establishments in China shut down also due to the Japan invasion, they began to run out of money. -
Communist Takeover
With the increasing likeliness of a Communist win in the civil war between the Communists and Guomindang, my Grandfather and two of his Brothers were able to flee to Taiwan via boat. -
Beginning to Life in Taiwan
After arriving in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, my Grandfather had very little money. Eventually, he was able to land a job in a state-owned company, the Chiloo Industries. There, he worked as a manager and oversaw all manufacturing and testing process to dynamites. -
Settling in Taiwan
At his job, his employee, my Grandmother's mother, introduced him to my Grandmother. A marriage was soon arranged and they got married in 1961. They lived together in a small house in Zhonghe district (中和區). -
Period: to
Children
In 1962, my Grandparents had their first kid, my Aunt. In 1969, they welcomed their second daughter, my Mom (廖薇晴), into this world. -
End of Career at Chiloo Industries
After working at Chiloo Industries for over 30 years, my Grandfather resigned from his job after the company moved its headquarters. Soon after, he worked part-time as a security guard at an office complex. -
End of Martial Law Rule
In 1987, President Chiang Ching-Kuo lifted the Martial Law rule after thirty-eight years and established a democracy in Taiwan. Soon after, my Grandfather retired officially at the age 69 years old. He also traveled back to Myanmar to revisit his Father's grave. However, the land where his Father's grave used to be was flattened and developed into a gold course. -
Retired Life
After retirement, he moved to Tainan with my Aunt. He spent a lot of his time reading and watching movies. Every day he went to his local Buddhist temple to read the Pali Canon (Buddhist Holy Book) with the monks at the monasteries. He also enjoyed taking walks around the city and lived a healthy life. However, he was a heavy smoker, which later affected his health. -
Passing Away
Towards the end of the year, he came down with a bad cold that got progressively worse. Because of his smoking habits, he had breathing troubles. Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of eighty-three.
