By Yu-ruei Lu
Yu-fu Hsieh is a veteran Big Issue Taiwan vendor who started selling the magazine in central Taipei in April 2010, after he retired from working as a sales representative. Hsieh delights in his work, crediting it with bringing enjoyment and happiness to his retirement, and looks forward to many more years of selling TheBig Issue Taiwan.
It’s a busy weekend in Gongguan, a commercial district in central Taipei, and there’s a lot of traffic on Section 4, Roosevelt Road. Exit 2 of Gongguan metro station is a rather dim corner at dusk, but thanks to his bright red vest, Yu-fu Hsieh can be easily seen as he stands selling Big Issue Taiwan alone outside the side entrance of National Taiwan University (NTU).
“It’s been over 10 years now, and it’s gone by in the blink of an eye. I’ve always had faith in the magazine,” he says.“Those working for the publisher put a lot of effort into their work. I knew on my first day that this job would last for a long time.”
This article first appeared in The Big Issue Taiwan, a magazine sold on the streets of Taipei City, Taiwan, by people who have limited other ways of earning an income.