About Us
I live on the east coast of Taiwan in the key coastal city of Hualien, in a county of the same name. Hualien County is the largest in Taiwan (one-eighth the size of the island) and contains 1/60 the population (around 370,000). The city has a population of about 120,000. Hualien faces the Pacific Ocean on one side, and has its back to the Central Mountain Range, which effectively cuts us off from most of Taiwan's population. It is famous for its scenery and clean environment. I have a wife and two daughters. My wife, Gladys, is Taiwanese and was born about 10 minutes north of the city. Our daughters, who were born here, are already adults. One has completed her university education here, and the other is a university sophomore. Both our daughters are tri-lingual. They speak English, Mandarin Chinese, and Taiwanese. Gladys, speaks those languages and a Taiwanese aboriginal language as well. For many years we operated an English language center. Then, I was invited to teach part-time, in one, and then another university. I have always enjoyed teaching, but I have had a passion for computers, and the things they can do, in particular. The Internet, and the idea of a successful Internet web site, has intrigued me for a long time. Though I’ve closed my language center, I now teach full time at a university. In my spare time I maintained an interest in doing something on the Net. I finally got the chance to do so with a company called Site Build It! from which I've learned a lot about how to set up a much improved web site for a successful Internet business. My first more meaningful experience with area rugs probably occurred in Istanbul, Turkey, where I spent a few days in 1998. One evening, while my friends were looking at something else, a couple of us took a look at Turkish rugs on display outside a shop not far from the Sultan Ahmet Mosque. I was attracted by their beauty. The friend, who walked over to look at them with me, was much more experienced. She examined the rugs like a professional and asked the shopkeeper some tough questions. Then she spoke briefly on how to assess the quality of a rug. I knew she, a Taiwanese, was married to an Iranian friend. I also knew they sold imported goods, etcetera, from Iran. I did not know they sold rugs, until later, when I asked her. This initial interest in area rugs eventually led to my becoming much more involved in the subject, and a continuing growth of interest in the subject. Now, if I see a rug in a movie, I will take a close look at it. Now, I am creating web pages on the subject of area rugs, and I must say I enjoy it, more and more. As I learn more and acquire more information on area rugs, I will integrate it into my website to share with visitors. I sincerely hope you’ll be satisfied with what you gain from visiting us.
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My name is Jess Willis and I live in Taiwan. I was born in Dallas, TX, raised in San Francisco, CA, and moved to Taiwan in 1973, where I teach English for a living. My three sisters and two brothers, along with their families, still live in California. 
