Rotary Speech Competition

Last Saturday was the annual Rotary sponsored speech competition in Taipei (Rotary District 3520). The speech contest was open to all foreign students who have come to Taiwan to study Mandarin, Taiwanese, or Hakka languages. Four students from our language center (TLI) competed, including myself and two other Rotary Cultural Ambassadorial Scholars, Alex and Glorya. None of us won the competition, but we all had great fun, learned a lot of Chinese, and made some new friends in the process.

The speeches were limited to approximately five minutes, and about thirty students presented. Some of the students gave quite interesting performances. Some dressed in traditional Chinese clothing or used props. Ina, a German student from my school, even sang as part of her presentation.

The topic I chose for my speech was "What I know about Taiwan". I told several funny stories about things I have learned about Taiwanese culture, climate, and people. I was very pleased the audience laughed when I shared some of the funnier lessons I have learned. For example, one time when I tried to order a double latte, but ended up with two cups of coffee. Another time, when I first arrived, I mistakenly thought the truck driving around Taipei playing music was an ice cream truck, only to discover it was the trash collection truck. These stories were entertaining enough to be retold in an online article on the contest, the headline read:
"外籍生在台趣事 冰淇淋音樂變垃圾車" (which means: "Amusing incident of foreign student living in Taiwan, ice cream music changes to garbage truck"). I have included an English translation of a couple parts of my speech below. For anyone who is interested, here are links to the full version: Ke Yulian's Speech (English)
柯玉莲的演讲 (中文).

Above: Group photo before the speech, from left to right: Sophia, Ina, Alex, Me, Ms. Chang (TLI director), Sharon (TLI instructor); Delivering my speech. Below: Group photo after competition (don't we look more relaxed?), from left to right: Ina, Glorya, Ms. Chang, TLI instructor, Me, Alex; Sophia (a new friend) and Me.

“Although Taiwan has beautiful scenery, every summer it is subject to typhoons. This year Typhoon Morakot brought the most serious storm damage Taiwan has seen in fifty years. Many people helped people without a home to rebuild. The typhoon allowed me to see the Taiwanese people’s spirit of solidarity, tenacity and generosity. I think it was in this type of spirit Mr. Sun Yat-sen established a free and democratic country, and until now Taiwan has continuously pursued a direction of peace, freedom, and equality...

...Finally, I want you to share four of my own experiences. Please share these with foreign friends who just arrived in Taiwan to prevent them from repeating the same amusing incidents:

1. In my hometown truck that drive around in the evening playing loud music are selling ice cream. In Taiwan, these trucks collect trash.

2. Steamed stuffed buns, deep-fried sweet potatoes, sushi, lemon juice, and ice cream are the best night markets to eat. However, do not do as I did and eat them all in one meal, because foreigners do not have the Taiwanese people’s “iron stomach”.

3. If you do not take my advice, it does not matter, because Taiwan's doctors are amazing!

4. When at home rely on parents, when move away from home rely on friends*. In Taiwan, I really felt the importance of friends. Thank you，everyone!”

*This is a well known Chinese idiom.