Division H Speech Contest

Ask me why I stay in Toastmasters for more than two decades! Ask me why I join the speech contests year after year! I can't tell if it is a habit or an addiction! It's like drinking a glass of mixed emotions, a little adrenaline rush, a little excitement, a little reflection, a little narcissistic, a little achievement. I am loving it, standing tall, drinking to myself, TOASTing to the Toastmasters!

I was in front of the mirror trying out several outfits when I received the phone call from Area H1 Governor Carrie Chiang at 10:15. Carrie was worried that I forgot about the Division H speech contest this morning. I told Carrie that I would make it in time for the table topics contest and I continued to select the outfit of the day from the wardrobe.

When I arrived at MSD Taipei office, I saw President of Formosa Toastmasters Club displaying the desserts for the coffee break. What an enjoyable scene it was on a weekend morning to see the Toastmasters officier working with delight & joy behind the stage for the contest participants!

The lucky draw was in my favor on this rainy and chilly Saturday morning. I was No. 1 to answer the tabletopics, followed by five contestants. The topic was, "among many stages you have been through till now, which stage you enjoyed the most?" Unlike the three young winners who chose now for the answer, I talked about my struggling stage the first half year of my graduate school in the US in 1979. I talked about the insomnia, the culture shock, the competition, on a lonely road abroad.

It was a sweet bitterness story of mine. I didn't win any laughter from the audience. I didn't win the hearts of the judges. But I found it a redemption for me, to reflect upon the hardship of a young woman in an unknown world of future. I am grateful that I could share with the audience about the milestone of my adulthood. It was healing for me to look at it as the most enjoyable time which changed my life ever after.

The short lunch break at the Burger King was a happy gathering with many toastmasters. Pamela came back from Shanghai for Spring break. Caroline Kiang and I discussed how to recruit female vocals to join the opening singing of D67 Spring Conference Party 2011.

When the happy Toastmasters returned to MSD for Division G speech contest in the afternoon, I remained at the Burger King to cram my German language. I hereby claim that this is the best stage of my life. I'm learning a new foreign language and I shall apply the communication and leadership skills with more than 60 Regensburger singers from Germany in a month.

Kesennuma Toastmasters Club

My eyes have been full of tears recently whenever I watched BS1 (Japanese satellite TV) broadcast the Northeastern Japan devastated by earthquake 311. I was so moved by many inspiring stories of the heroes and heroines of mankind facing the disasters.

A senior gentleman decided to risk his life to cool down the nuclear reactor regardless his retirement in six months. A young lady announcer informed people of the tsunami in front of the microphone till the last minute. School children decided to live for their deceased classmates when they received the graduation certificates. Many volunteers walked from door to door to help the residents of the unprecedented catastrophe in Japan.

I visited the coast of Northeastern Japan in November 2007 and March 2008. I visited Sendai Toastmasters Club in 2008, but I didn't make it to Kesennuma Toastmasters Club! I was relieved to receive the following email from Toastmaster Rio Immamura this morning that Toastmaster Daniel Ross and family are okay!

When I found the name Kesennuma among the cities hard wrecked by the Tohoku Earthquake, I immediately thought of Daniel Ross, founder of Kesennuma Toastmasters. I met him years ago in one of the District Conferences featuring speech contests in Tokyo. His name card read "Owner of Pine Rock School".

Perhaps it was before the Kesennuma club was founded. Quite a likable man. So I asked him, "I only know Kesennuma by name as a famous fishing port of saury and the bygone gold mines. How do you Like it?" He told me that the city is small (pop. 73k) all right, but he likes it because it has retained a natural beauty and small town charm with all the amenities than a bigger city has to offer.

I was happy to hear he was "OK" from a fellow Toastmaster. But that was just one word on the people finder website. Today, I got the newest message through the same source of information and felt really relieved to read it written by him.

Partial quote from the message to his mother in Florida.

"We are OK. House is OK (on high ground). Japan’s relatives Ok except for one elderly aunt still missing. Big Earthquake, Humongous Tsunami. Houses & business completely wiped out. Then huge oil & fuel tanks for huge ships exploded & burned oil All night @ seaport. No power – phones – internet – water etc. Even cell phone signals completely out or use blocked so emergency Services can use them exclusively. 15,000 dead in Miyagi. Many others missing. Innumerable now in evacuee shelters . We are extremely lucky to be alive. Sirens and helicopters sound constantly. No way to send-receive email or phone."

Because of the unprecedented magnitude of 311 earthquake and subsequent breakdown of Fukushima nuclear power plants, many social events in Japan were postponed. District 76 decided to change the spring conference venue from Tokyo to Kyoto for the sake of the safety of the contest participants. And D76 Spring Conference will be downsized to only international speech contest and council meeting on May 14th and 15th.

Area H1 & H3 International Speech & Tabletopics Contests

It was a successful joint Area H1 & H3 International Speech & Tabletopics Contests at the Motorola Factory in Hsin-tien Saturday afternoon, March 19th.

Gina and I represented Grand Toastmasters Club to compete with another three contestants at Area H1. All three placed, Gina and I didn't make Grand proud this year. Nevertheless both Gina and I delivered better speeches than at the Grand's in-house speech contest two days before.

Caroline Kiang from TTY won the championship, she talked about her exciting experiences being the matchmaker. Bruce Chen from MOFA joined the Toastmasters contest for the first time. He won the first runner up by talking about changes in life. Pierre Chen from MOFA claimed the second runner up by sharing the recipe to a happy marriage.

After 311 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I have been overwhelmed with the recent frequent natural disasters on earth. What if the world comes to an end soon? There are many things on my must do list. I decided to talk about Apocalypse, to answer my doubt about the future ahead of us. Being a depressive talk, my speech didn't win the laugter of the audience, my speech didn't win the hearts of the judges. But I was glad I did research on the topic and shared with the audience about the recent thought of mine.

Life is full of surprises! One day we watched the devastating earthquake in New Zealand on TV, the following day we saw the horrifying unprecedented strong earthquake and tsunami smashed Japan. We are living at a time when mankind senses that the end of all things is very near. The global warming, the economic downturns, crime, wars, tsunamis, earthquakes, and disease outbreaks cause people to question how long our earth can sustain.

The doomsday speculations include some believe that the Judgement day begins from May 21st this year and ends on October 21st. Others concern the end of "Mayan Calendar", on 12-21-2012. People are talking about armageddon and apocalypse to ponder upon what can happen to human beings. Apocalypse from the Greek is a term of revelation or disclosure, or to lift the veil, so to speak.

We are living in a time of crossroads. It is an opportunity to look at ourselves once and answer our inner requests. If you want to travel around the world, don’t procrastinate! Go for it! If you want to fly to Mars, take the journey! If you want to hone your communication and leadership skills, join the Toastmasters speech contests! Time waits for no one, treasure every moment you have. Opportunity knocks but once!

Fellow toastmasters and friends. before the veil is about to be lifted, take action to realize your dreams. Let's join hands to face the apocalypse with passion, hope, and love. Let's look forward to the bright future in front of us. Contest master!

At the Area H1 tabletopics speech contest, I was lucky to win the championship. The topic is "Among many people you love, parents, children, friends and others, who is the most important person to you? Why?" And my answer is U, the one with me at the moment. I shall represent Area H1 to compete at the Division H Speech Contest Saturday morning, March 26th.

i-house 10th Reunion

Time flies. It has been ten years since I served as the Charter President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club in 2001. The 10th anniversary of Kyoto Toastmasters Club will be held at the Kyoto International Community House Friday evening, April 29th. For more information, please contact Kyoko Kitamura, President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club.

Federica Giusto came to Taipei for the first time Wednesday evening evening, March 9th. She and I celebrated a small i-house 10th reunion to reminisce the good old days when we were exchange students at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. We lived on the ground floor of the i-house (International House) of Ritsumeikan for six months together.

Federica is my sweet Italian neighbor. She changes my life. In the morning, she makes Italian coffee for me, and in the evening, I invite her for Chinese dinner. I falls in love with Italy every after. In the past ten years, I visited Italy twice to study the language, to attend Toastmasters meetings in Milan, and to know the hitory, culture and fashion of Italy.

Both times I was in Italy, I was well received by Federica. I visited Federica's parents, I visited Federica's aunt in Naples. I'm grateful that Federica made her decision to come to see me in Taipei at last!

When Federica was in town for six days, I missed the stations twice on MRT. I was so excited to talk and talk and talk, and I forgot to get off at the right stations. In the end, we had to take the MRT back to the destinations. When I saw Federica off at Taipei bus station Monday morning, March 14th, we concluded that we didn't change in the past ten years.

Federica told me that she would embark upon a new life journey after she returns to Liverpool. I wish her all the luck and best! Sayonara, Federica, Ganbare!

Ina Aus China

Just about when I was struggling how to introduce Taiwan and China to a group of 60 German kids from Regensburg in April with my limited German vocabulary, I came across Ina Aus China by Susanne Hornfeck.

The cover page of a little girl sitting like a ballerina China doll caught my immediate attention on the new arrival shelf of the Hsin-tien Library. Without a second thought, I borrowed the book about a seven year old Chinese girl who traveled to Brandenburg, Germany in 1937 when the Japanese invaded China.

I finished the book overnight to know Ina traveled from Tsingtao, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Genova, to Berlin in 1937, and spent her childhood in Branderburg during the nazi Germany till 1944. When Ina came to Taiwan in 1955, she had to learn to articulate the Mandarin language in four tones and adjusted to the Taiwanese environment, weather and culture.

The book is informative for me to appreciate the German language and culture and it is a good reference for German to understand Chinese culture. I shall use it to tell the German kids from Regensburg in April about the Chinese cultures and customs.

Hänschen klein geht allein In die weite Welt hinein. Stock und Hut steht ihm gut, Er ist wohlgemut. Doch die Mutter weinet sehr, hat ja nun kein Hänschen mehr. Da besinnt sich das Kind, kehrt nach Haus' geschwind.

Soar Up In Spring--D67 Spring Conference 2011 in Taipei

Among Toastmasters in District 67, Caroline Kiang is for sure one of the busiest members these days. Not only is she in charge of the opening ceremony of D67 Spring Conference 2011, she also shoulders the full responsibility to organize the gala conference party.

Toastmaster Caroline Kiang is very experienced in huge party scheme. For the past three decades she has been actively in organizing big scale parties for the overseas Chinese in Chicago. Her organizing team in D67 is arranging a very gorgeous thematic program for the D67 Spring conference participants to enjoy the delicate, magnificent and beautiful programs of the D67 Spring Conference 2011.

Toastmaster Caroline came to my pharmacy to discuss the proceedings of the Conference party Friday noon, March 4th, before her departure for Istanbul the following day. I felt very honored to be able to work with her to form a big singing group to open the Conference Party Saturday evening, April 23rd.

In order to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China, all Toastmasters in District 67 are excited about the unprecedented D67 Spring Conference in Taipei in April. We shall put on our best shoes to show our joy and excitement at the International Conference Hall of the China Petroleum Company Headquarters Building to welcome Toastmasters fellows and friends from the whole island and from all over the world.
The opening singing group of 100 are composed Toastmasters members from D67 female vocals and supporting singers from Hsin-tien Women Chorus. We shall sing two songs, "Taiwan Folk Song Potpouri" and "In the Sky of Tapei"! Welcome to join us!

原住民組曲 (Taiwan Folk Song Potpouri)

娜魯灣伊呀娜魯灣 娜魯灣伊呀娜魯灣
高高的山 有我的愛 熊熊的火 是我的情
天上星 是愛人的心 我要去追尋

相愛的手 要拉得緊 不變的情像旭日升
愛人心 是天上的星 陪伴小浮萍

高山青 澗水藍 阿里山的姑娘美如水呀 阿里山的少年壯如山…
阿………啊……… 阿里山的姑娘美如水呀 阿里山的少年壯如山…
高山常青 澗水常藍 姑娘和那少年永不分呀 碧水長圍著青山轉

台北的天空 (In The Sky of Taipei)

風好像倦了　雲好像累了　這世界再沒有屬於自己的夢想
我走過青春　我失落年少　如今我又再回到思念的地方

※台北的天空　有我年輕的笑容 還有我們休息和共享的角落
　台北的天空　常在你我的心中 多少風雨的歲月我只願和你度過……※

風也曾溫暖　雨也曾輕柔　這世界又好像充滿熟悉的陽光
我走過異鄉　我走過滄桑　如今我又再回到自己的地方

Grassland Wind Mongolian Hot Pot Dinner

天蒼蒼，野茫茫，風吹草低見牛羊。

The sky is very, very blue; The land is very, very vast. Over the grass that the wind blows low; One sees oxen and sheep stroll.

D67 Governor Mike Yang invited Toastmaster Mayumi Hu and me for dinner at the Grassland Wind Mongolia Hot Pot Restaurant in honor of Mr. Choidorj, Head of Ulaanbaatar Trade and Economic Representative Office in Taipei, and his beloved beautiful wife Chimgee. The Grassland Wind Mongolia Hot Pot Restaurant is owned by Mike's younger brother. How nice it is to see the Mongolia connection network in D67 is developing and expanding!

Talking about Mongolia, most Taiwanese would think of the Mongolian barbecue at first. Mongolian hot pot has become popular among Taiwanese in the past two decades. It's called the Mongolian Hot Pot pot because the great Genghis Khan was fond of the special flavored broth. The broth is prepared exquisitively from many wellness herbal medicine.

At the Grassland Wind Mongolia Hot Pot Restaurant, there are two kinds of broth, one is spicy, the other is non-spicy. Mike, Mrs. Choidorj and I attempted the spicy broth, while Mr. Choidorj and Mayumi ordered the non-spicy one. Many platters of mutton, pork, beef were served one after another, followed by rice and noodles. Mr. Choidorj enjoyed the meat and had a bowl of noodles and a bowl of rice. I could tell from his face how much he felt at home with Chimgee and a bunch of Toastmasters at an authentic Mongolian restaurant.

If people are what they eat, how much different are Taiwanese from Mongolians? Taiwan is an island. There are farmers and fishermen on the island. Taiwanese therefore are fond of seafood. Mongolia is landlocked between Russia and China. Mongolians are mainly nomadic herders. They eat meat and most Mongolians refrain from eating fish and seafood, because they revere the holy creatures in their lake of crystal clear water. Mr. Choidorj and Chimgee didn't have a bite of the seafood.

Over dinner, I asked Toastmaster Mayumi if she would be interested in joining the Regensburger Domspatzen Concert tour in Taiwan with me from April 28th till May 10th. When I told Mayumi that I'm studying the German language diligently. Chimgee told me that Choidorj is a German speaker. Then Choidorj told me that he spent only six months to master the German language. We even greeted each other in German. How much uplifted I felt instantly! Wow, I found another German speaker in Taipei. It looks like we charter a German-speaking Toastmasters club in Taipei.

According to Mr. Choidorj, there is a large area of grassland in Mongolia. The livestock in the grasslands in Mongolia is ORGANIC. Mr. Choidorj welcomes Toastmasters to visit the beautiful and organic Mongolia on the direct charter flights between Taipei and Ulaanbaatar in 2012. Toastmaster Mauumi and I are planning our trip to see the vast grassland in Mongolia and to meet up with the Toastmasters in Mongolia.

Many thanks go to D67 Governor Mike Yang, for such a great and delicate Mongolian treat with great company, superb ambience and an awesome food! Many thanks go to Mike's brother and sister-in-law for their warm hospitality. The Grassland Wind Mongolia Hot Pot Restaurant is the place of choice for Mongolian hot pot. I shall definitely go back with many toastmasters and friends.