Area H1 Humorous Speech Contest

It's Halloween Day today. I dressed up like a witch on purpose, with a pair of zebra legging, an orange sweater, and a black witch cap, to win the Area H1 Humorous Speech Contest. Being the only contestant, I exerted my best effort just the same to add spooky atmosphere by acting like a trick-or-treater on the special day.

Area H1 Humorous Speech Contest took place at Room 201 of National Taiwan University (NTU) Gym. To my excitement, there was a grand piano at Room 201, a training room for NTU students. As soon as I saw the piano, I sat down to play a few familiar children songs for the audience to add joyful atmosphere to the humorous contest.

Gina agreed to join the humorous contest at the last minute upon my invitation. Both of us are from Grand Toastmasters Club. I delivered my speech first, by greeting everybody "Happy Halloween", then told a story about my acquisition of Hubris Syndrome in Toastmasters. Gina talked about her happy aging journey in Toastmasters. I won the contest and Gina placed the second.

After the intermission, Christine Choi delivered her target speech "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" for Evaluation contest. Christine is a junior at Department of Electrical Engineering. She has been in NTU Toastmasters Club for two years. Believer it or not, she is only 18! At the first sight of her, I could tell Christine is a smart kid by her mannerism and her power to focus and concentrate. Christine has completed her advanced manual-Speak to Inform on probability. She wants to study computer science in the future.

Area H1 Humorous and Evaluation Speech Contest was a happy gathering of 15 toastmasters members, including six contestants, five judges, and one target speaker for evaluation contest. From piano prelude, two humorous speeches, one fable story, four evaluation speeches, we enjoyed a splendid Halloween afternoon in 2009.

Humor on Hubris
Fellow Toastmasters, I have a confession to make. I'm nobody, but I think I'm somebody! I've got the Hubris Syndrome. It is incurable. I acquire it in Toastmasters.

Wednesday noon, September the 9th, Gina and I had lunch together. While we read the Apple Daily about President Ma handing the unprecedented natural disaster in southern Taiwan caused by Typhone Makarot, it was said that President Ma had the Hubris Syndrome.

"Arrogant, Attractive, Focus on personal image, Love public speaking...," Gina squinted at me, placed a checked mark from the beginning to the end, "Sherry, you also have the Hubris Syndrome."

Wow, that was not a compliment, nevertheless I was flattered just the same to be compared with handsome President Ma. In the evening, I told my dear husband about Gina's comment. "Honey, for the past two decades, you have always been on the top. It's time we changed position." "But, you told me you had acrophobia on our wedding night".

What is Hubris Syndrome anyway? It is an acquired personality disorder, among politicians and public speakers, George Bush, Margaret Thatcher, just to name a few. Just in case, you are not familiar with the psychological term, it's called the BIG HEAD syndrome in Taiwanese. Fellow Toastmasters, if you could please take a close look at your neighbors next to you, the Hubris Syndrome can be found among many TOASTMASTERS, especially the veterans, particularly DTMs.

After Gina's diagnosis, I saw my psychiatrist Dr. Dennis Brown, the following week. Dr. Brown looked sorry and said, "Sherry, it's hard to cure your Hubris at the moment, you're sexy and beautiful, people, I mean, men, follow your command, right or wrong. Wait until you're old and senile, nobody will pay attention to you. There goes your Hubris. Okay, my time is up. Here is my humble bill. "My god, the bill is outrageous! Why do I see a hubris doctor to cure my hubris syndrome in the first place?

Just about when I was at the crossroads whether to quit Toastmasters to cure Hubris Syndrome, obsessing in helping others (competing with others), saving the world (if not destroying the world), Past District Governor Harry Fong came to my rescue. He invited me to join High Performance Leadership (HPL) Program with him and International Director George Yen. Now you know how I got my Hubris Syndrome from. I told Harry that I didn't want to aggravate my personality disorder. It was not the right time to give a thought to HIGH performance of LEADERship.

Harry replied at once, "Hi Sherry, I have come a long way. It wouldn't be easy to get over it within a short while. Please practice Ho'oponopono to see if they help. When you feel the peace inside, you will soon regain your energy & power. If it works for you, please send the message to President Ma, too."

Ho'oponopono, what a funny name? Is it something like the Lamaze Technique to help the childbirth? Is it breathing in and out by chanting hooponopono? Being desperate to cure my Hubris, I surfed on the internet for more info on about Ho'oponopono. It's simple! Just repeat four mantras, "I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you". So I practice ho'oponopono with my life partner, looking into his eyes, searching for the dollar signs, and found the peace in me. Harry, it works!

But I'm still in a dilemma. Should I leave Toastmasters? Take it, Leave it? ......Oh, I'd better take it, because I still have one major task on my shoulder. That is to rescue Toastmasters from getting Hubris Syndrome.

So, I'm here to show you my big head problem. It is an acquired personality disorder. Chances are, you have it, too, if you are in Toastmasters long enough. Win or lose, I'm here to warn toastmasters about the dreadful Hubris Syndrome to make Toastmasters a safer place for all! Keep in mind that we are not somebody. We are nobody!

The Charity Concert of Rotary Club 2009

Autumn is the best season for concerts. Six District 67 chorus members walked into Zhongshan Hall this evening to enjoy the Charity Concert of Rotary Club 2009 from seven thirty till nine thirty.

Alto: Marian Hsiao, Maggie Chiu, Sherry Li
Tenor: Edward Chen, Kuo-hwa Yeh
Bass: Bill Wan

I couldn't recall when was the last time I went to a concert at Zhongshan Hall, maybe never before in my life. At 7 o'clock sharp, the long queue started moving, my heart started pumping. When I stepped on the red carpet of the hall, I couldn't help been amazed by the grandeur interior and remarkable history .

Zhongshan Hall was former Taipei City Hall, constructed from November 23rd 1932, completed in November 26th, 1932, the forth-largest City Hall of Japan at that time, smaller only to the City Halls of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Ide Kaoru (井手薫) was the main architect. After World War II, the former Taipei City Hall was renamed Zhangshan Hall and functioned as an official meeting place for welcoming foreign guest of honors.

This evening, we enjoyed three marvelous choruses. Many thanks go to Conductor Hung for six free concert tickets.

Charity Concert Program
Earth Choir Conductor Hung Chi-ling
Wu-ling Elmentary School Choir Conductor Lin Su-hwei
Intermission
Taipei Chamber Choir Conductor Chen Yun-hung
Wu-ling Elementary School Choir School Choir Conductor Lin Su-hwei
Grand Assembly Choir Conductor Hung Chi-ling

It was a successful urban rural cultural exchange concert. The Wu-ling Elmentary School Choir from the East lead all choir performers to close the concert with a group singing and won a huge round of applause from the full house. The aboriginal tribe kids were like angles from heaven. Their voices lingered for a long time.

After the concert, we had a joyful snack at Rido Cafe' near Zhongshan Hall. Maggie agreed to shoulder the responsibility of the D67 Toastmasters Chorus for the second term, from December 2009 till January 2010. What would have been a better news than that? We shall continuing voicing out in harmony in Toastmasters in Taipei.

Three's Company

Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. ~~Forrest Gump

I didn't know my dear brother Jimmy sang till this evening. When he and Bill sang together, I was so impressed with their beautiful voices. Unlike the previous five choral lessons of D67 Toastmasters Chorus, I was the only female vocal this evening, with two big tenors singing next to me.

Bill Wan was the only chorus member who showed up at Jimmy's place to practice singing this evening. The moment Bill sat down, Jimmy and I gave our sincerest hospitality by displaying a full table of fruits, desserts, and drinks. After a warm-up party of the threesome, eating, drinking, chatting, Jimmy joined us to sing 'O Sole Mio and Akatombo to my surprise. I guess Jimmy was obliged in the beginning, but he was happy along the way, and he became a part of the three's company!

While we were singing happily, Conductor Hung called and offered us six free concert tickets at Chungsan Hall Thursday evening, October 29th. I am sure Conductor Hung must have overheard our singing to the CDs. She should be very pleased with our diligence and enthusiasm in singing.

Soprano: Sherry Li
Tenor: Bill Wan, Jimmy Li

Brother Jimmy is a shy and introverted person. He doesn't have many social activities after my parents passed away ten years ago. But thanks to Bill, I saw a new Jimmy this evening full of joy singing 'O Sole Mio with Bill. Jimmy even invites Bill to join the family Thanksgiving Dinner with Toastmasters Rio Imamura and Masaki Oshiumi, Thursday evening, November 26th.

When I complimented Jimmy about his beautiful voice, he told me with humility that we were from the same family. If I can sing, so can he! I am grateful to Bill for being a friend to Jimmy this evening. I hope Jimmy can meet with more toastmasters to cherish his happy future surrounded with joyful family and friends!

'O Sole O Sole Mio Sta Nfronte A Te ... Sta Nfronte A Te.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

"What a relief," every chorus member sighed at last after we reached the conclusion NOT to perform at District 67 Fall Conference 2009 Dinner Party. I don't know about the rest of the chorus members, I personally have been torn between the two, to perform or not to perform, ever since the first choral lesson of D67 Toastmasters Chorus in the middle of September!

It all started out with a wishful thinking we could ride on a fast tract to bring together music lovers in Toastmasters and to excel on stage at the opening ceremony of D67 Fall Conference 2009. But, things just didn't turn out the way we wanted. We were not given a chance to perform at the closing ceremony, either. Dinner party was the only option we were offered, to perform at the noisy dining hall of Yangmingshan Chungsan Building.

It was the fifth choral lesson this evening. Every member sang with joy, no more suspending chorus performance, no more rushing from amateur singers to professionals, no more invited singers to back us up on stage. We can be ourselves. Every member can sing for fun! Conductor Hung even cheers up with promising us a singing and dancing lesson of Mamma Mia in the future.

Soprano: Jorie Wu, Linda Tseng, Green Chen
Alto: Marian Hsiao, Maggie Chiu, Lydia Lin, Sherry Li
Tenor: Erick Suen, Ron Chen, Kuo-hwa Yeh
Bass: George Yen

Every cloud has a silver lining. The initiative of organizing D67 Toastmasters Chours is rewarding. Even we don't perform at the dinner party, we learn to sing in harmony together. We become friends beyond our home clubs. Take myself for example, were it not for the D67 Toastmasters Chorus, I wouldn't have started my piano lesson. I wouldn't have explored the world of music to add another dimension to my life.

I didn't know CDEFGAB last month, now I know how to put alphabets on and between the lines, EGBDF & FACE. I know the cycle of fifth or fourth, a cycle full of sharps and flats. I know how FCGDAEB & BEADGCF work. I have a new hobby to caress 88 keys on a grand piano whenever I have a chance. What else could I have expected more?

One Song at a Time

A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski

In the rain, you rush to the fourth choral class, feeling excited as it were the first class. You have been singing "Can you hear me?" for the past week, imagining you are the child loss of hearing, sitting on the park bench, on a sunny day. You walk into the classroom. The young and petite accompanying pianist Yi-hwa is there. You feel fully charged to sing "Can you here me?" in front of Ron and Kuo-hwa without reading the music notes.

At 7 o'clock, the fourth choral class began. Only nine chorus members showed up this evening. Luckily Conductor Hung invited six female vocals from another chorus group to support us. As usual, we had a warm-up vocal practice for ten minutes. Then we rehearsed "Aka Tombo", "Fireflies", and "Can you hear me?" one after another intensively.

Soprano: Kate Hsu, Linda Tseng, Green Chen
Alto: Marian Hsiao, Sherry Li
Tenor: Ron Chen, Kuo-hwa Yeh
Bass: George Yen, Bill Wan

It was another evening full of tension, a lot of melodies, a lot of lyrics, a lot of foreign languages, plus a lot of emotions to interpret the choral songs. And yet, our concert is still in the air. So many unknowns are yet to be unveiled in the coming week. I can't think, I can't plan, I can't expect. All I can do is to sing to the best of my ability with my fellow Toastmasters members.

This evening, we were given a 20 minutes intermission to mingle with six invited female vocals. Four of our precious male singers were extremely quiet this evening, perhaps they were overwhelmed by the female power in the studio. At a quarter to nine, we attempted the fourth choral song, 'O Sole Mio by Enrico Caruso, the most admired Italian operatic tenor of the early 20th century.

I thought of Federica Giusto immediately. Federica and I were exchange students of Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto in 2000. She and I were immediate neighbors at the International House. Everyday we enjoyed freshly made cappuccino after school. My life in Kyoto was very Italian. I fell in love with Italy ever since. In 2006, Federica invited me to visit her in Naples for a few days. Naples offers the best pizza in the world. Upon my request, Federica burned the midnight oil to translate 'O Sole Mio into English.

'O Sole Mio is a popular song in Taiwan, everybody knows the melody, but singing in Italian is another story. When Conductor taught us how to pronounce the lyrics of 'O Sole Mio word by word, I saw Enrico Caruso singing 'O Sole Mio on the ancient cobble alley in Naples. Oh, how I missed the sun in Naples!

The 4th choral class ended at a quarter past nine. Every chorus member looked a little bit lost, except those invited female vocals. I'm not worried at all. Pianist Yi-hwa agrees to give me a private piano lesson once a week from tomorrow afternoon.

I feel thrilled to acquire a new hobby. If not now, when? Who knows, maybe I can start a rock'n roll band? Now, I have a piano keyboard of music, in addition to my desktop keyboard of letters. I'm busy playing....the role of a good housewife.

'O Sole Mio Enrico Caruso

Che bella cosa 'na jurnata 'e sole
n'aria serena doppo 'na tempesta
pe'll'aria fresca pare gia 'na festa
che bella cosa 'na jurnata 'e sole.

Ma n'atu sole cchiu' bello, oi ne'
'O sole mio sta nfronte a te!
'O sole o sole mio
sta nfronte a te ... sta nfronte a te.

Luceno'e llastre d'a fenesta toia;
'na lavannara canta e se ne vanta
e pe'tramente torce, spanne e canta
luceno'e llastre d'a fenesta toia.

Ma n'atu sole cchiu' bello, oi ne'
'o sole mio sta nfronte a te!
'o sole o sole mio
sta nfronte a te ... sta nfronte a te.

Quanno fa notte e'sole se ne scenne
me vene quase'na malincunia;
soto a fenesta toi restarria
quando fa notte e'o sole se ne scenne.

Ma n'atu sole cchiu' bello, oi ne'
'o sole mio sta nfronte a te!
'o sole o sole mio
sta nfronte a te ... sta nfronte a te.

MY SUN
(translated by Federica Giusto on October 14th, 2009)

Such a beautiful thing is a sunny day
chilly air after the tempest
Fresh air …looks like a feast
Such a beautiful thing is a sunny day

There is any sun more beautiful than you
My sun …it's in front of you (on your forehead)
My sun, my sun
It's in front of you

Light came up from your window
A washerwoman is singing and proud of that
She is hanging out, sewing and singing
Light came up from your window

There is any sun more beautiful than you
My sun …it's in front of you (on your forehead)
My sun, my sun
It's in front of you

When the night arrives and the sun sets
I'm feeling a sense of melancholy
I would like to stay under your window
When the night arrives and the sun sets

There is any sun more beautiful than you
My sun …it's in front of you (on your forehead)
My sun, my sun
It's in front of you

Libra Birthday Party 2009

Toastmaster Virginia Lee and I were born on the same date, October the 9th. Both of us are Yangmingshan National Park Volunteer Interpreters. Having quite a few common interests, she and I have been celebrated our birthday together for the past few years.

Toastmasters Lydia and Yi-hsin joined our birthday party at "Michelle's Kitchen", an adorable French restaurant in the neighborhood of Virginia this afternoon. Upon our entrance, we were lead to a reserved table of four by the window and we were offered a free bottle of grape juice immediately. After dinner, a sweet song of "Happy Birthday" in French by the friendly Chef Michelle and her staff. It was another pleasant and lovery Libra birthday party! There are more to come, of course!

Can You Hear Me?

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything." - Plato

It was 6:45PM when I arrived at Conductor Hung's studio, wearing a huge silver treble clef earring, feeling the joy about the evening. It was the third choral class with toastmasters, but the first with Conductor Hung at her newly renovated studio. I was excited to show off what we had accomplished in the past two weeks, so were the other chorus members, I believe, as we all arrived before the class started!

Fourteen members showed up for the class, including two new comers Erick Suen and Green Chen. Now we have five sopranos, five altos. We are still short of male singers! Japanese Toastmasters Rio Imamura and Masaki Oshiumi are tenors. We need three more bass singers!

Soprano: Jorie Wu, Kate Hsu, Michelle Liu, Linda Tseng, Green Chen
Alto: Marian Hsiao, Gina Fu, Lydia Lin, Maggie Chiu, Sherry Li
Tenor: Ron Chen, Kuo-hwa Yeh, Erick Suen
Bass: George Yen

Even it was only the third choral class, we didn't waste any second, went ahead to attempt the third choral song in a row. Every member was a little uptight about the speedy progress, but was thrilled at the same time to learn the new beautiful song by Bob Chilcott, describing the wonder of the world seen through the eyes of a deaf person. Conductor Hung interpreted the song with sign language. We learned hand gestures to convey our emotions in addition to our voices.

Immediately I thought of the invited keynote speaker Dana LaMon at D67 Fall Conference 2009. Dana is a blind African-American judge and the World Champion of Public Speaking 1992. What can be a better way for D67 to welcome Dana to come afar to share with us his experience of meaningful living by singing "Can You Hear Me"?

Conductor Hung is very precise and strict about vocal and choral skills. She asks us to imagine a nose on our tummy when we breathe, feel confident when we utter the first sound, and end each sentence with soft conclusion. She reiterates that singing is not about loud voices, but delicate emotions. We must feel the meaning of the lyrics and interprete the songs with sorrow or joy in harmony.

Conductor Hung also teaches us to analyze the structure of the song, find out the repetitive fragments, and string them into a master piece. Then we practice again and again until we are familiar with the melody and memorize the entire music notes by heart.

Without an intermission, we had a two hours straight choral lesson this evening. The third choral class was dismissed at nine o'clock sharp. Every member was loaded with notes, lyrics and melodies in mind. We have so much to "sing" on ourselves before we meet again next Wednesday evening, October 14th.

Can You Hear Me? Bob Chilcott
I look around me as I grow, I'd like to tell you all I know
I see life with all its energy, the city streets, the rush of time
This is my world, it's where I like to be, so much to see, so much to find
I sometimes sit and wait a while, I see the sun, it makes me smile
Can you see it? Can you see it, too?

I feel life with all its energy, the joy of waking every day,
This is my world, it's where I like to be, so much to do, so much to say
I sometimes sit and feel the sun, its warmth is there for everyone
Can you feel it? Can you feel it, too?

My world is a silent one, but it's enough for me,
I hear you through your hands, the movement sets me free
But it could be a special thing, to hear your voice, to hear your sing
Can you hear me? Can you hear me, too?