It is an ordinary flower shop in a lane near National Taiwan University. Mr. Liu is doing his part-time job here as a clerk. This afternoon he has his usual smile and cordially greets customers in the usual way. "Huan ying guang lin" (Welcome)!"
"I'd like some roses."
"Is it for home decoration, or for a present?"
While Liu attends to the customers, his coworkers get on with their work. Some trim the branches of a bonsai, others cut thorns from roses. Others sort out a pile of promotional leaflets. They all look happy in their work and proud to be there, but they're not likely to tell their parents about the place.
The flower shop is also the office of Harmony Home Association (關愛之家協會), a self-help group and half-way house for AIDS patients, or people who are HIV-positive. It was the first institution in Taiwan set up to provide shelter, as well as being a workplace for people with AIDS.
Nicole Yang (楊婕), who is called Yang Jie (older sister Yang) by workers and volunteers in the flower shop, set up the house 18 years ago to offer job opportunities and a social life for those suffering from the disease, or discrimination against it. "There was simply a need to give them things to do, so that they wouldn't drown in their own feelings of depression, or feelings of isolation," Yang says.
The flower shop, with less than 10 regular employees (mostly part-time), is able to partly fund two half-way houses for those who are ill (both physically and mentally) with AIDS. In total, Yang offers 25 beds and takes in an average of 750 people per month.
The association was not registered by the government as an AIDS social group until nine months ago, when expenses increased and the income of the flower shop could not make balance. "We did not want government's help," she says.
Getting people with AIDS to regain their sense of self-worth is very important, Yang says. She devoted herself to AIDS work out of passion for a friend, she says, adding she has has no social work experience, or medical background. Eighteen years ago, this friend of hers contracted AIDS, became depressed and an alcoholic.
"One day when he felt most helpless, we found a bunch of tangled ribbons in my old gallery and I said, `Why don't you sit here and sort out these ribbons?'"
"It helped. He began doing it every day and six months later he resumed his daily work in the business field," Yang says.
Mr. Liu, 35, is a new arrival at the flower shop. He became sick last November and his friends and family turned away from him when they found out that he had AIDS. He lost his job selling handbags in Sanchung, Taipei County. Complications from the disease affected his eyesight, slowed his movement and the speed of his speech.
"Did you know I tried to commit suicide by hanging myself?" he says. "But the branch broke. I guess God did not want me go so soon."
Mr. Liu says he enjoys busy days at the shop, such as school graduation days and Chinese Valentine's Day, because they are the most exciting and help him forget about his own problems. "I'm grateful to Yang Jie, otherwise I'd probably be wandering the streets," he says.
Jacky Teng is a volunteer at the flower shop and is also the association's chairman. He was a hairdresser and used to have his own business with five employees, making NT$300,000 a month. But 10 years ago, a health checkup result found he was HIV-positive. The result was carelessly disclosed by a medical worker and rumors spread around the neighborhood. Fewer customers visited and eventually he had to close down the salon. He later found work as a clerk at a sauna.
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