さよなら 2008

~~~WHAT WE THINK WE BECOME~~~ Buddha quote


On the last day of year 2008, my dream came true! I became a calendar girl Wednesday morning at age of 53, wearing Grand Toastmasters Club member and Designer Sophia Chen's 2008 Hats Series at Vicent Photo Studio Pro.

I love, I love, I love my calender girl; Yeah, sweet calender girl; I love, I love, I love my calender girl; Each and every day of the year!

(January) You start the year off fine; (February) You're my little valentine; (March) I'm gonna march you down the aisle; (April) You're the Easter Bunny when you smile; Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl; I love, I love, I love my little calender girl; Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year; (Every day of the year); (May) Maybe if I ask your dad and mom; (June) They'll let me take you to the Junior Prom; (July) Like a firecracker all aglow; (August) When you're on the beach you steal the show; Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl; I love, I love, I love my little calendar girl; Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year (Every day of the year); (September) Light the candles at your Sweet Sixteen; (October) Romeo and Juliet on Halloween; (November) I'll give thanks that you belong to me; (December) You're the present 'neath my Christmas tree; Yeah, yeah, my heart's in a whirl; I love, I love, I love my little calender girl; Every day (every day), every day (every day) of the year! by N.Sedaka/H.Greenfield.

Wednesday afternoon, I was nominated as the Section Chief by the newly elected Captain of Hsin-tien Volunteers Group to take charge of Group's public and private activities, including monthly visits to the nursing home, Hsin-tien community activities and many miscellaneous social activities. I was thrilled to be given the chance to serve residents of Hsin-tien Community as well as members of Hsin-tien Volunteers Group in year 2009.

On New Year Eve, Trini gave her consent to construct a relay blog, Exploring Delights and Wonders in Life, for golden ladies to shoulder the responsibilities to report and document the activities of golden ladies throughout year 2009. This Golden Ladies Clogging Toastmasters blog will not be closed, but will become less active.

With the support and encouragement of golden ladies in the past two years, I'm glad that I've collected 187 articles on this blog. Golden ladies shall take turns annually to relay the documentation from now on! Yes, we're going to publish a book "A Decade of Friendship" in year 2015! It is a mission and we will make it happen!

The end is well, all is well. The last day of year 2008 was the busiest and most fruitful day of the year, from early morning till late evening. I am grateful! THANK YOU & GOOD BYE XXX OOO XO XO XO ~~~

Sunrise 2009

There are many Toastmasters in District 67. Every Toastmaster is unique and talented in his or her own way. Young or old, male or female, native or foreigner, we are in the big Toastmasters family to learn communication and leadership skills. While we develop and grow in Toastmasters, we make many friends from all walks of life.

I joined the Toastmasters in 1986. What I like most about Toastmasters is the power of positive thinking and learning attitudes. Members of team spirit are supportive and enthusiastic about new tricks in life. And I love to bring toastmasters from different clubs together. In this way, I enjoy every moment in Toastmasters in the past two decades and I shall continue my passion to bring more Toastmasters and non-Toastmasters together in the years to come.

Sunrise Toastmasters Club's Year-end party showcased the fellowship and friendship among different Toastmasters clubs in Taiwan. Golden ladies performed an opening clogging dance "Black Mountain Rag". Toastmaster Eric Wu from Pacific Toastmasters Club gave an amazing magic show with a white rope. Toastmaster Kate Hsu from Prestige Toastmasters Club performed a popular piece of Peking Opera and invited all participants to join her Rock-n-Rock version. Kate's friend Chi-chung Shen sang a master piece of Protect the Zhao Orphan. At the end, Sunrise members got on stage to sing Ode to Joy, the fourth movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony. Every sang Auld Lang Syne loudly before the mock countdown.

I don't deny that I was the Toastmaster who took initiatives to organize Sunrise Toastmasters Club's New Year Mock Countdown event for the following three reasons;

1. After I visited Sunrise Toastmasters Club in October, I promised President Scott and EVP Joe that I wold visit their club again, because I adore the small podium of their meeting venue at Taipei City Library, Wang Kuan-ying Branch;

2. Toastmaster Kate Hsu did not make it at golden ladies' clogging dance performance at Joint Christmas Party Saturday evening, December 13th, she celebrated her 30th anniversary with her better half at home. I thought it would be nice to have Kate Hsu and Jennie Wang (clogging dance instructor) to break a leg on stage at Sunrise's year end party;

3. Toastmaster Sophia Chen of Grand Toastmasters Club told me about her interest in stage design and party planning. I thought it would be an excellent chance for us to work together to present a warm, friendly and memorable year end party for Sunrise Toastmasters Club.

If I could name a Toastmaster club for toastmasters to bid farewell to Year 2008, Sunrise Toastmasters Club is it! After the new year countdown, we can look forward to the Sunrise. A new year just began. There are many exciting adventures waiting for us to explore! Best wishes for Sunrise Toastmasters CLub! Go, Go, Go!

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in December

It's Irene's birthday today. Golden ladies got together at Hwa-young for luncheon to meet with Irene's newly wed son and daughter-in-law. We all felt happy for Irene to have another shoulder to lean on when needed. After lunch, the newly wed couple bought a big birthday cake and I saw tears in Irene's big lovely eyes.

Three years ago, on Irene's birthday, Michelle and I presented a tap dance performance at Formosa Toastmasters Club. Time certainly flies. I can't help think about the beginning of my tap dancing journey three years ago with Michelle. I invited Michelle to join a tapping dancing class at Youth 17 in March. Our debut performance was at Grand Toastmasters Club's 30th anniversary in May. In September, I organized a D67 tap dancing troupe of 8 toastmasters and I got to know Irene. We had a successful performance at D67 Fall Convention 2005 in November.

Irene, Michelle and I switched from American tap dancing to Irish tap dancing, finally we settled upon the clogging dance in 2006 upon Trini's invitation. And golden ladies clogging toastmasters began the monthly Toastmaster Magazine reading gathering in March 2007. This blog was constructed mainly to document many happy, memorable and joyful reading and clogging activities among us.

At lunch, Linda sat next to me and told me that Toastmaster Magazine December 2008 was a Christmas Present in time for me. I should consider publishing a booklet of golden ladies clogging toastmasters activities in the past two years. Wow, my dream of being an author might come true by Authoring the Success story of golden ladies toastmasters. What I need to do urgently is to follow two basic steps recommended by Patricia Fry, ATMS, to study the publishing industry and to write a book proposal. The tips on getting your book published by Neil Chethik gave me a comprehensive roadmap to get it done, well. Why wait? Just do it!

Year 2009 is around the corner. I am ready to extend from writing to publishing, from a writer to an author. I'd like to take the opportunity to solicit another golden lady to take charge of documenting our toastmaster magazine reading activities with another story telling and writing style. Please keep your eyes open to a new life and a new dimension of golden ladies clogging toastmasters.

At the end of 2008, I feel grateful that I can cherish the Toastmasters fellowship and friendship among golden ladies toastmasters. While documenting our reading and clogging activities, I could have the second chance to rejoice in our moments and achievements. I thank all golden ladies for being there and I hope more and more golden ladies can join our Toastmaster magazine reading gathering and venture with into the world of clogging dance.

GRAND/NLFD/TTY Joint Christmas Singing Party

From the beginning till the end of the GRAND/NLFD/TTY Joint Christmas Singing Party, fifty plus toastmasters members and guests enjoyed every single second of the unprecedented singing party. Every participant felt super High and extemely Happy, including D67 Governor Marian Hsiao, Division H Governor Ellen Chen and Area H1 Governor Victor Chu.

Thursday afternoon, December 18th, immediately after Japanese dance class, I arrived at Holiday Karaoke Box on Xi-ning South Road before 5. I was the first one to the singing party. Being the No. 1 early bird, I took the opporunity to study the custumers profile at the lobby of Holiday Karaoke. It was to my surprise, most customers were teenagers school kids.

Eric came join me at 6, he was the second early bird, with a new and charming hairstyle, in a red jacket. Yvan was the third to the party, Sophia the fourth. While waiting for others, we killed time by taking turns taking photos of one another in front of the big Christmas tree at the lobby.

After Toastmaster of the Evening Eric Chou sang an opening song, the singing party began officially. Joke session was replaced by most heated group humorous song contest. TTY Toastmasters won the group singing contest under the leadership of President Tim Wang. Grand's President Carrie Chiang motivated most clubs members to interprete the most famous Taiwanese movie "Cape No. 7" and won the first runner-up. TTY placed the second runner-up with an outstanding performance. Everybody on the floor was busy, singing, eating, dancing, taking photos, having photos taken. It was a boisterous and exuberant party that I had ever attended.

I forgot since when I had aquaired the habit to change the outfits during the parties. Likewise, I was Mrs. Santa at the first half of the singsing party and changed to a popular singer FeiFei in Japan to sing "Love is Over" at the prepared singing contest. I won the first runner up, to my great satisfaction. New member Ashley from Grand was a black horse, she was the champion singer. Edwin Fang, President of NLFD was the second runner up. The singing party ended at 9:25 alright, but we continued our second party at McDonald's in the Xi-men Area till 10:30PM.

December is my favorite season, to meet with family and friends at various parties. Year 2008 is especial. I've attended more than half a dozen parties so far, and there are more than half a dozen to attend in the coming two weeks. I love December, the best season to add colors to our lives.

逝去的愛　歐陽菲菲

LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再提起 逝去的愛已逝去 誰也不必再追憶
LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再說明 過去就像流雲 隨風隨去無蹤影

LOVE IS OVER　雖然也曾嘆息 雖然也曾悲悽 如今都已成過去
LOVE IS OVER　時光匆匆如流水流水撫平我心靈 創傷早已無痕跡

雖然過去你曾對我　表示過真情意 也曾對你許下諾言　今生我永不移 為何你一去無音訊　撕碎我的心

LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再提起 逝去的愛已逝去 誰也不必再追憶
LOVE IS OVER　時光匆匆如流水 流水撫平我心靈 創傷早已無痕跡

雖然過去你曾對我　表示過真情意 也曾對你許下諾言　今生我永不移 為何你一去無音訊　撕碎我的心

LOVE IS OVER 請你不要再提起 逝去的愛已逝去 誰也不必再追憶

LOVE IS OVER 誰也不必再提起 LOVE IS OVER

ラブ．イズ．オーヴァー

Love is over 悲しいけれど 終わりにしよう 限がないから
Love is over 訳などないよ ただ一つだけ 貴方のため

Love is over 若い過ちと 笑って言える 時が来るから
Love is over泣くな男だろう 私の事は 早く忘れて

わたしはあんたを 忘れはしない 誰に抱かれても 忘れはしない きっと最後の 恋だと 思うから

Love is overあたしは あんたの お守りでいい そっと心に
Love is over 最後にひとつ 自分をだましちゃ いけないよ

お酒なんかで ごまかさないで ほんとの自分を じっと見つめて きっと あんたに お似合いの 人がいる

Love is over 悲しいよ 早く出てって ふりむかないで Love is over んん---
元氣でいてね Love is over ありがとう

District 67 Joint Christmas Party 2008

What a Joint Christmas Party we had Saturday evening, December 13th. Trini won the best Toastmaster award and I won the best costume award. Pamela Yang from Galaxy Toastmasters Club and Cecilia King from Legacy Toastmasters Club had their debut clogging dance performance. Incumbent District 67 Governor Marian Hsiao and Shelly Kuo of Prestige Toastmasters Club decided to join golden ladies clogging toastmasters from year 2009.

Golden Ladies Clogging Toastmasters presented a splendid closing clogging dance for seven minutes at Ming-yu Community Center in Taipei. Six Mrs. Santa danced merrily and joyfully to three Christmas songs, including Christmas Time's A Coming, Sleigh Ride, and Country Christmas. We not only won a big round of applause from the floor, but we also attracted many potential toastmasters to the clogging dance world.

Immediately after the Annual Performance of Thousand Cranes Japanese Dance School at Youth Arts Center, I rushed to D67 Joint Christmas Party in Kimono. The moment I arrived at the fourth floor, Toastmaster Kaku of Innovative Toastmasters Club gave a hearty welcome and led me to the party hall without having to wait in a long line. The hall was packed with more than 250 participants.

Five Grand Toastmasters Club members performed Hanagasa Ondo and I gave a solo ad-lib Japanese dance to a western song during the intermission. I was grateful to have the opportunity to mix the old and new, east and west, to add cultural varieties to Taiwanese Toastmasters Christmas party in 2008. It was a huge success beyond my expectations!

If there had been the best performance award of the joint Christmas party, I bet golden ladies would claim it, because six golden ladies in red caught all the attention from the floor even at the end of the party. We brought the party atmosphere to the climax. All of us couldn't feel better and more satisfied to encourage fellow toastmasters members to join us to stay fit, healthy, happy like us.

Many thanks go to Sophia Chen of Grand Toastmasters Club for decorating Santa Caps for Grand's Japanese dancers. Sophia accompanied me from early morning till late evening, helping me with the make-up and hairdo. She took many photos of Japanese speaking toastmasters dancers and announcer. She and I were happy to bridge the gap between English and Japanese speaking Toastmasters clubs in Taiwan.

Master Kiyomi of Thousand Cranes Japanese Dance School will join the big Toastmasters Family from year 2009. Isn't it a good news? Toastmasters in Taiwan are one of its kinds, we not only have clubs of different languages (English, Japanese, Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, Spanish...), but we also have talents from all walks of life. Do you want to add colors to your life? How about adding a new year resolution by visiting a friendly toastmasters club near you?

My Country, My Home

I hereby encourage all toastmasters in Taiwan to take the challenge to speak behind the lectern of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is the best stage to speak out to the world what toastmasters in Taiwan can offer to the public servants and to the public in general. It is the best stage for us to foster our self-confidence and personal growth.

Upon D67 PR YS Liao's invitation, I was excited to take the assignment as the Language Evaluator at MOFA Toastmasters Club's 9th Meeting, Friday afternoon, December 12th. The meeting was postponed from Thursday to Friday, which made me wonder what a busy life our foreign diplomats lead, especially at the end of the year. I guess there won't be any so-called Christmas holidays for diplomats around the world.

Being the first timer to MOFA Toastmasters Club's meeting venue at MOFA big white building next to the Presidential Hall, I felt like a prestigious person the moment I walked into the brightly lit Press Conference Room 428 of thick carpet and comfortable sofas. President Michael Hsu stood at door to give every guest and member a hearty welcome diplomatically, which made me a proud citizen of Taiwan.

Even we didn't have a full house of participants this afternoon, the meeting quality was good. The variety session chaired by Christine Hung was a story relay. Christine began the story by naming a lost back labrador "Christmas", then we were called upon to tell Christmas' adventures to become a TV star and returned to his home eventually. Tabletopics Master YS asked diplomats about their Christmas experiences abroad. Two prepared speakers Robin Cheng and Paul Chen were eager to share with us their stories in life and at work with an excellent command of the English language.

LJ was a competent general evaluator indeed. He arrived at MOFA 15 minutes ahead of the meeting time, passed questionnaire slips among evaluators whom he would introduce later. The question was "how will you spend your Christmas"? When he took charge of the evaluation session, he not only complimented the good areas of MOFA toastmasters club, but he also pinpointed areas for future improvement in details, including outsourcing assignment takers from other toastmasters clubs when necessary, avoiding verbalizing the pause with unnecessary fillers, and many valuable comments for individual assignment taker, speaker and evaluator.

Talking about MOFA toastmasters Club, two important toastmasters who help the club all the time and to the best of their abilities are YS Liao and LJ Lamb. They are regular visitors and supporters to MOFA Toastmasters Club. The service attitude of the Toastmasters International they demonstrate to every member of the big Toastmasters family is impressive and inspiring. YS never forgets to wear smiles on his face to encourage club officers and members to participate in regular meetings to hone communication and leadership skills. Being an attorney, LJ follows the rules of Toastmasters clubs and gives constructive suggestions and recommendations without reservations. With the efforts of YS and LJ, I am sure MOFA will become a model club in Taiwan in no time. I salute them both from the bottom of my heart!

MOFA Toastmasters Club's next meeting and the last meeting of 2008 will take place on the fourth Thursday, which falls on the Christmas Day coincidentally. If you're available on the day, why not grab the good timing to share the joyful moments with the diplomats toastmasters of our country, our home?

Memorable Year 2008

Many things happened in year 2008. Many things will happen in the remaining three weeks of year 2008. This weekend I shall attempt two new things for the first time at the D67 Joint Xmas Party, Saturday evening, December 13th.

Grand Toastmasters Club members will perform a group Japanese Dance on stage for the first time. Five female members will perform Hanagasa Ondo, including President Carrie Chiang, EVP Yvan Chu, Sargent-at-Arms Erin Ke, reinstated member Ellen Huang, and new member Ashley. We had our rehearsal last Sunday afternoon by the relics of old Taipei Town. If not for the anachronous modern outfits and traffic noise, I felt like being transcended to an old Taipei a century years ago. The sky was bluer. The rice field expanded afar. The air was fresher. We could hear the wind blow.

Japanese Ondo is a simple and joyful folkdance. Every region has its own Ondo to celebrate the auspicious seasonal festival. Hanagasa Ondo is the folkdance of Yamagata Prefecture. Dancers, both male and female, carry flowery hats in hands and dance joyfully to the happy music.

目出度目出度の 若松様よ 枝も　チョイチョイ
栄えて葉も茂る ハァ　ヤッショマカショ
花の山形　紅葉の天童 雪を　チョイチョイ
ながむる尾花沢 ハァ　ヤッショマカショ
おらが在所ヘ　来てみてしゃんせ 米の　チョイチョイ
なる木がおじぎする ハァ　ヤッショマカショ
揃ろた揃ろたよ　笠踊り揃ろた 秋の　チョイチョイ
出穂よりまだ揃ろた ハァ　ヤッショマカショ

I shall perform a solo Japanese dance to a western music. To be honest, I've thought about performing Japanese to the opera, classical music, western folk music since I began studying Japanese dance five years ago. And finally my dream came true. My husband helped me select the dance music--Coldcut Autumn leaves.

Originally I planned to invite my Japanese dancers friends to perform at the Joint Xmas Party. Our Japanese Dance School has the year-end performance at the Youth Arts Center Saturday afternoon, December 13th. We can take the opportunity to perform the same dance at two different places in one day. Unfortunately they will be invited to a big dinner party and I have to be left alone. Here comes my chance to realize my dream to perform a solo Japanese dance to an English song. It's going to be an artistic adventure. I'm feeling excited about it!

Autumn leaves fall and are swept out of sight,
The words that you said have come true.
Autumn leaves fall and are swept out of sight,
So is the memory of love that we knew.

The wind of forgetfullness blows them
Into the night of regret.
The song we so often did sing,
Is echoing echoing yet.

The falling leaves,
Drift by the window.
The autumn leaves of red and gold.
I see your lips,
The summer kisses,
The sunburned hands I used to hold.

Since you went away,
The days grow long,
And soon I'll hear cold winter song.
But I miss you most of all, my darling,
When autumn leaves start to fall.

New Year Resolutions 2009

When President Carrie announced that it was the last meeting of year 2008, I couldn't believe that time could fly so fast. It seemed to me that the young and energetic officers of Grand Toastmasters Club were just installed, but they would complete half of their terms soon.

Grand's second regular meeting in December will be replaced by a huge Joint Christmas Singing Party of Grand, NLFD, TTY at Holiday Karaoke Box, Thursday evening, December 18th. There will be Joke Session—Humorous Song Contest, Tabletopics Session—Group Ad-lib Song Contest, Prepared Song Contest, Evaluation Song Contest. Just thinking about this unprecedented event, I couldn't help feeling exhilarated and high.

At the first and last meeting of December this evening, I was thrilled when Jimmy Wu, Tabletopics Master, called upon me to tell my New Year Resolutions. To be honest, I've been pondering upon this question ever since Thanksgiving Day. But I thought it was still in early December, I didn't expect that I'd be given the chance to finalize what I plan to achieve in the coming year in a loud voice in front of my fellow Toastmasters members. Many thanks goes to Jimmy to let me announce my New Year Resolutions 2009.

1. Go to Africa. On the day when Barack Obama was elected as the President of the United States, I thought about visiting Kenya, the birthplace of Barack Obama Senior. Nairobi will definitely be one of my stops in Africa. Kenya must have a lot to offer in addition to the super genes of the first class world leader. Dakar will certainly be my second stop. I plan to visit Manuela and her husband in Senegal for a couple of weeks in July. Manuela is one of my best friends in Italy. We studied at Ritsumeikan University as exchange students in 2001. I missed Manuela's big wedding day this year, but I wouldn't miss the opportunites to accompany her to meet with her parents-in-law. Year 2009 will be the year to connect Africa and Taiwan.

2. Spend a Fortune. In addition to the consumer voucher of NT$3,600 I'm about to receive from the government, I shall spend as much as I can in the coming year to boost the economy of Taiwan and the rest of the world. Hopefully I can contribute my humble share to bring a halt to the global economic downturn. Thrifty is no doubt a virtue to be, but when my country needs my money, I shall spend without reservation!

3. Lose 5 Pounds. In year 2008, I was not only successful in reducing 5 pounds, but I also reduced the fat deposit on my tummy in 2008. Diet control and regular exercise were the keys. I couldn't feel happier, healthier, and sexier. If I lose 5 more pounds mainly on my belly, I should be qualified as a supermodel on the runway. It is my goal to stay slim and fit in 2009 and in the years to come.

Tonight we had a birthday celebration for members born in October, November and December. I was one of three Libras, along with 3 Scorpios, and one Sagittarius. When we stood in line, blowing out a big candle of question mark, I looked a good look at my fellow members born in the last quarter of the year for the first time. I found out some common characters among us, talkative, expressive, and versatile.

An Early Christmas Joy

Christmas time's a coming! Golden ladies can't wait to share the joyful spirit with family and friends, strangers and acquaintances, children and elderly. On a sunny Wednesday afternoon, Lydia, Linda, Kate, Virginia and I dressed in red and white to visit Northern Region Senior Citizens' Home located between Hsien-tien and Wu-lai, December 3rd.

As soon as we walked into the lobby of the care center, we started working hand-in-hand with five volunteers from Hsin-tien. We first played games with the wheelchair ridden elderly to exercise their hands and minds. Kate and Linda visited this nursing home for the first time, they mingled with the caretakers, volunteers and elderly instantly.

After the warm-up for a half hour, ten ladies joined hands to present an ad-lib singing and dancing show for 45 minutes. Kate, Lydia, Linda and I performed two Christmas clogging dances (Sleigh Ride and Country Christmas) and one Japanese dance Nanagasa Ondo (Flowery Hats). We couldn't feel more satisfying to see a full house of senior citizens with big smiles on their faces when we said goodbye and wished each and every resident of the nursing home "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year".

Being a local in Hsin-tien, I was obliged to introduce a nice place to my golden ladies friends whenever possible. We went to Celebrities Riverside Cafe' near the nursing home. The name of the cafe' simply prompted me to think of ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world) of Edo Period. Even the interior design of kaiseki restaurant was full of Japanese Ambience, tatami, bamboo shades, futon mattress and low tables.

On a cozy afternoon, we chatted over coffee with the complimentary desserts on the house, sitting on the veranda overlooking Hsin-tien River flowing in the mountains. As always, Virginia is our happy "nut", she never fails to make us laugh. Whenever she is around, we tell jokes. Today is no exception. Being a witty musican, Virginia is blessed with good ears. Every word could turn into an intriguing pun when Virginia gave it a new interpretation, a new life so to speak. It was phenomenal to see five flowery middle-aged women laughing loudly and happily in a remote coffeehouse on a weekday afternoon.

It was dark when Lydia gave us a lift back to Taipei. Linda gave each of us a bag of kumquat fruits from the roof garden of her factory. They are the best medicine to keep the cold away in the winter. What would have been a better day otherwise at the beginning of this auspicious December? Golden ladies toastmasters shared the early christmas joy with the elderly and shared the golden friendship among us.

Dress Rehearsal

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon yesterday. The dress rehearsal of Thousand Cranes Japanese Dance School (千鶴流) Year-end Party took place at the Youth Arts Center, the same venue where we shall have our annual Japanese Dance Performance Saturday afternoon, December the 13th.

Four Toastmasters were at the dress rehearsal, Reifon Tong and Janifer Kuo from Japanese speaking toastmasters club, Sophia and me from Grand Toastmasters Club. Reifon, Incumbent President of Peace Toastmasters Club, served as the master of ceremonies. Janifer performed three Japanese dances, including one solo dance. I joined a group dance. Sophia came to the open dress for the first time. Being a make-up artist and hair stylist, Sophia agreed to help me with my hairstyle on the performance day.

It was a very smooth dress rehearsal under the leadership of schoolmaster. The rundown of 26 Japanese dances, from cue to cue, master of ceremonies, tech crew (lighting change, sound effect, or scene change), and dancers exerted all energies to ensure that all details of the performance are adequate for professional presentation. We spent a lot of time rehearsing the opening and closing dances with more than 30 dancers on stage at the same time. We also rehearsed the celebration of the 80th birthday for four senior dancers. It was grand and magnificent.

Dress rehearsal is not only important for tech crew, but it also gives dancers the sense of being what it would be like at the real performance. Dress rehearsal is the only chance for dancers to see the whole program on stage on the performance day. Dress rehearsal is the best chance to observe other dancers' costumes, body movements, facial expressions, hand gestures and impromptu reactions.

It is the first time I tried on my handmade bling bling kimono. I was told that it had a special glittering and dazzling effect on stage. The hair accessories I bought in Obihiro, Hokkaido last year looked "Japanese Geisha" on me. Wow, how grateful I felt that I could have a relaxing Sunday afternoon sitting in the audience, chitchatting with dear friends, and playing with puppy like une femme heurese au chien au japon.

It is the fifth year since I joined Thousand Cranes Japanese Dance School. I enjoy every minutes of it. I got my natori certificate two years ago. I hope I can get my shifan certificate one day and I can continue the Japanese dance till age of 80 and beyond. I like Japanese dance (Nihon Buyou) for many reasons, gorgeous kimonos, geisha make-up, fancy hairstyles, gracious movements, and beautiful melodies. It is my way to learn Japanese language and culture by immersing myself in Nihon Buyou, so reads my golden toastmasters motto, "learning by doing".

Sophia and I went to Starbucks after the dress rehearsal. She told me the Japanese dance reminded her of the old times with her grandparents. She is thinking about joining our Japanese dance school in the future. I'm glad more and more toastmasters are interested in learning Japanese dance in Taiwan. I'm sure we could have a joint District 67 & 76 Japanese Dance Performance soon. That would be simply awesome!