October 2nd Week 2026

October 9th, Friday, Sunny

On my birthday, I met Amy Li at the bus stop. We got on Bus 909 together. Amy is 87, in a good health condition. She told me that she has been seeing a young Chinese medicine practicianer regularly.

After morning exercise routine at XinDian Sports Center, I took Bus 918 to visit Brother Jimmy at WuGu Rehabiliation Center. We took Bus 982 to have lunch. After lunch, I came back to XinDian to have my hair permed.

In the evening, my husband and I went to Brother Jimmy’s place for dinner. We sang Happy Birthday song together and have cheese cake.

October 8th, Thursday, Cloudy

I didn’t go to XinDian Sports Center this morning, my husband and I went to the penthouse together to solve the suspended renovation issues. We took Bus Green 13 to GongGuan MRT Station, rode two YouBikes to the penthouse on RenAi Road, me an orange one, my husband a yellow one.

We were lucky to run into the interior designer of my next door neighbor 10F-2*. We were shocked to know that it would cost NT$70,000 to apply for permission of installing a new ceiling with the Taipei City Construction Management Office.

In the afternoon, I went to Wheat Land Centor for Seniors from 1:30 till 3:30. I shared my trip to Busan with the seniors and we sang the main theme songs of “The Butterfly Lovers”, a Chinese legend tragic romance between Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.

Finally, I received the notice that the garbage will be removed from the penthouse next Monday. What a relief! 

*There are three households on the 10th floor, 10F (me), 10F-1, and 10F-2. 

October 7th, Wednesday, Cloudy

I woke up before 6 o’clock this morning, lay in bed contemplating the purpose of life for a while. I didn’t know why I had been anxious and restless these days. I kept procrastinating things-to-do, such as disposing the ceiling and floor garbage of the penthouse. And I came across the bottleneck of Korean language acquisition. I admit that I have difficulties memorizing new vocabulary. As a teacher and a cheerleader, I couldn’t show my frustration in front of my students.

I took Bus Green 7 to XinDian Sports Center this mornring. The morning exercise ritual is ideal to set the tone for the day. I rode an orange YouBike home, got dressed for the birthday party organized by XinDian Women’s Choir.

At 12 o’clock, I arrived at Tasty Steak House near GuTing MRT Station. Seventeen members showed up, four of us had birthdays in October. Each of us was offered a piece of cheese cake and a copy of a group photo as a souvenir.

After lunch, I went to the penthouse, and made a decision to have the garbage removed at the cost of NT$15,000 dollars. I thought about disposing the garbage by myself, but it would be a huge task for me to handle the massive garbage on my own. At the moment, I could only let the nature take its course.

In the evening, I read a 2019 TOPIK I preparation textbook written for Chinese readers.

October 6th, Tuesday, Cloudy

I made it to XinDian Fitness Center before 9 o’clock. After 20 minutes stretching, 25 minutes running, 15 minutes weight training, I had a chance to take a hot shower at the huge bathroom reserved for the disabled. I felt refreshed after shampooing my hair, finished reading a Korean textbook at the Family Mart across the corridor.

While running on the treadmill this morning, I overheard the conversation between two seniors for more than 20 minutes about their pastime, and various perspectives. They spoke loudly enough that I knew them well. People have a tendency to talk with strangers about everything in public area. Me, on the contrary, I didn’t talk with anybody at the fitness center.

I rode an orange YouBike Home, bought a package of 8 Dorayaki (red bean paste pancake) at the PX Mart, had one with ice latte for dessert after lunch.

At three o’clock, I left home to have some fresh air. I took Bus 650 to JingXin Library to return several DVDs, borrowed a few Korean textbooks I requested last week. After spending one hour reading the magazines, I took the bus back home. On my way, I ran into Brother Jimmy on the street, we chatted for 20 minutes about his recent health issues. What a serendipity!

October 5th, Monday, Rainy

What a memorable week in Busan in the past week. The 5 days and 4 nights trip was fruitful and enjoyable. In March, 2026, I took MSC Bellissima to Busan for the first time. In six months, I became more fluent in Korean, I even spoke Korean with a veteran taxi driver this time.

Last Monday morning (9/28), I took Bus 1968 at 4:30 at DaPingLin, arrived at the TaoYuan Airport at 5:30. It has been a long while since I last took China Airline, I felt at ease enjoying the in-flight meal. Friday evening (10/2), I arrived at the TaoYuan Airport at 10:05. It took more than 40 minutes to claim the luggage. I took Bus 1968 back to XinDian. It was 1:30 Saturday morning (10/3) when I arrived home.

This morning, when I saw Bus 909 coming, I hopped on it immediately. It was 8:50 when I walked into the fitness center, started stretching for 20 minutes, running for 20 minutes, weight training for 10 minutes, running again for 15 minutes. I took Bus 909 back home because I didn’t want to ride the YouBike in the rain.

In the afternoon, I watched a few episodes of a Korean podcast, a young Korean educated in Japanese college comparing various social phenomena between Japan and Korea, including politics, economy, current trends. It’s stimulating and motivational to learn the Korean language targeted to Japanese audience.

In the evening, I joined the English reading circle on time, from 9:00 till 10:00. We read the story during the Japanese colonization period. Life was hard!

耄耋少女

--四月九日師大華語演講會傋稿演講肉容--

中國有句成語，人生七十古來稀。在過去的時代，醫療水準低下，資源不足，能活過七十，確實不簡單。如今科技進步，台灣女性的平均壽命已達八十五歲，活到七老八十，對台灣女性已是必然，不是偶然。

古稀老嫗的我，坐七望八，人生目標就是成為百年人瑞，領到政府的重陽敬老金一萬元，當人不讓參加第 67 區 2055 年全國演講比賽，站上演講會的舞台，分享百年生命的點點滴滴。

當大多數台灣熟年婦女以含飴弄孫為樂時，我開始執行百年人瑞計畫，轉型為耄耋少女。少女就是英語 GIRL 的縮寫，也就是日常生活中的四個面向，包括健身房 gym、互動 interaction、閱讀 reading、及語言 language。

人生七十才開始，七十後的人生無憂無慮，不需要趕車上班上學，不需要養家活口，每天可以睡到自然醒，天天星期天，笑口常開過日子。但是人類的身體與腦袋都是用進廢退，如果少了日常的積極體能及腦力鍛鍊，一旦坐上輪椅，躺在床上，就是活到了八十五歲，也是有量無質的老人歲月。那麼就請跟著我這位耄耋少女一起出發向前行吧！

第一 G(ym)：健身房，我身高 170 公分，體重 52 公斤，每天上健身房一個小時，包括跑步三十分鐘及重訓三十分鐘。感謝政府的德政，老人可以免費搭公車，免費上健身房。現在的我不是在健身房，就是在往健身房的路上，每天確保維持肌力，防止三高及老人痴呆。

第二 I(nteraction)：互動，與人連結，建立友誼。參加演講會，結交老中青三代的朋友。不論身在何處，有機會就找人談天說地，分享心情小故事及生命中的小確幸。與大自然連結，艷陽高照時，到野外踏青，鍛鍊腳程，看到滿山遍野盛開的月桃花，讓人心曠神怡，看到春燕屋簷築巢，讓人感到大自然的生生不息。與世界連結，愛護地球，周遊列國，促進世界經濟發展。

第三 R(eading)：閱讀，定期參加國際演講會雜誌（Toastmaster Magazine）線上朗讀會，學習演講的新知及技巧，參加英語書友會，一起從書中閱讀大千世界。定期上免費美術館，博物館，天文館，未來希望搭乘太空船，前往宇宙探險。

第四 L(anguage)：語言，學習新的外國語，認識新的單詞與語法，讓生活充滿新的挑戰，激發生命力。我精通英日語，目前專攻韓語，每天在家上網自讀韓語五小時，並在台市立立圖書館教授韓語，教學相長。

耄耋少女的生活方式讓自己的心態益發年輕，當同輩忙著上醫院時，我可以在社區分享所學所能，獨樂樂不如眾樂樂，助人又利己。雖然老化是不可逆的過程，只要珍惜生命中的每分每秒，傳播歡樂傳播愛，就可以讓百年生命發光發熱。當在座的各位徬徨於升學與就業的決擇時，我認為魚與熊掌可以得兼，保握青春好時光，活出自己就是王道。

Year of Horse

The six days Chinese New Year holidays came to an end today. The beginning of the Year of Horse was peaceful and blissful. As I shall start teaching the basic Korean language at Taipei City Library every Saturday morning, from 10:00 till 11:30 from March, I spent most of the new year holidays studying and refreshing the Korean I’ve learned in the past six years. 

On New Year Eve, there was a small dinner gathering of three at Brother Jimmy’s place, including me, my husband, and his older brother.

On New Year Day, Brother Jimmy and I met at the ShanDao Temple at 10 o'clock to pay tribute to my late parents. Then we walked to ChengHuang Temple downtown to pray for the good fortune. We had oldie and goodie simple lunch at a 40 year old eatery near the temple. After lunch, we said goodbye and went separately in different directions.

On the Second Day, I arrived at the WuGu Rehabilitation Center before 10 o’clock, Brother Jimmy was waiting for me at the bus stop with three of the residents. Four of us returned to the center together to meet up with other residents. I played “Five in a Row” with one resident. She was very good at it and taught me how to play the game skillfully. We left the center at 10:30, a total of 18, took Bus 899 to Luzhou, stayed at the local family mart till 2:00 in the afternoon, because we didn’t have a reservation till 2:30 at the Noble Family Steak House. The restaurant was crowded with people, nowadays, Taiwanese people enjoy family gatherings by eating out.

On the Third Day, I stayed home in the morning, and went to the gym in the afternoon.

On the Fourth Day, I prepared lunch for 9 WuGu residents at Brother Jimmy’s place. We played table games, storytelling, and chorus singing after lunch. Jimmy prepared redbean riceball soup for dessert.

On the Fifth Day, I stayed home in the morning, and went to the gym in the afternoon. 

Venture to Egypt (Rewrite)

Habibi Toastmasters and Friends.

In January, I ventured to Egypt for the first time. Why Egypt? The Pyramids of Giza? River Cruise on the Nile? Red Sea Resort? I had them all. On top of that, I ran into a sudden sandstorm, all outdoor group activities were cancelled. What? It took me almost 20 hours to fly from Taipei to Cairo, with 6 hour time difference!  

We are Toastmasters, we thrive on difficulties. In the sand storm, "Taxi, please take me to the Hotel Old Cataract Aswan". There I saw the luxurious colonial-era hotel opened in January 1900 and famed Agatha Christie wrote her popular detective story “Death on the Nile” in 1933. Then I visited the main bazaar with goods of the past and of the present, bought palm dates, spice herb tea, and I smoked shisha, the water pipe, for the first time. Yes, Toastmasters turn adversity into opportunity. The sandstorm opened my contest speech!

The Pyramids of Giza, on many people's bucket list, so were on mine. Three grandiose pyramids of King Khufu, his son, and his grandson. Humble King Khufu built the biggest pyramid 4,500 years ago, but left no paintings, no statues of himself for people to remember. I saw the humility of humanity. 

River Cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, four days and three nights. We hopped on and off the river cruise to visit magnificent temples and tombs. Being a party animal, I was busier knowing international passengers than seeing the breathtaking Nile River landscape. I made friends with 5 Russians, 4 Tunisians, more than two dozens Spanish, 40 plus Chinese, 2 Koreans, 1 English, Irish, French, and Colombian, not to mention the Egyptian staff on board.

Red Sea Resort at Hurghada, three days and two nights, according to the Bible, the place where the sun shone on the earth only once, Where? Yes! God parted for Moses, the Red Sea. At the Red Sea Resort, all you can eat buffet, all you can drink alcohol with a non muslim hand band, free ice cream by the sunny pool side, disco at night. It was a paradise to escape the cold in the winter.  

Riding the Land Cruiser at the world biggest Sahara Desert was thrilling. The driver looked very much like Omar Sarif in the movie of Lawrence of Arabia. No sooner had he asked, "speed up or slow down", than he stepped on the gas pedal, we all shouted, "woo" in unison, while flying over the bumpy desert rock. 

At a Bedouin Arab tribe, I met a petite woman fully covered in black veil and robe, surrounded by many of her young kids. She invited me for tea sitting by the fire on the sand. She was so dark and small, I couldn't forget her sweet smile. In her, I saw my distant evolutionary ancestors from Africa. In her, I saw the legacy of humanity.

The world is a big classroom. The more people we meet, the more places we visit, the more challenges we face, the more we learn about ourselves! Fellow Toastmasters, Go explore Egypt with your very own eyes. Share your Toastmasters spirit with Egyptians, young and old, men and women. Yes, Habibi Toastmasters in Egypt, I shall return! Contest Chair!

TMM Reading Group

Eight people, including two guests, participated in the Toastmaster Magazine Reading group dim sum gathering from 11:15 till 12:45 at Brother Hotel today. As the Chinese New Year is approaching, the Brother Hotel was crowded with gourmets and food lovers. The meal time was tightly restricted to one and a half hours, only less and no more. We decided upon a new time slot for our weekly TMM reading from March, every Monday evening, from 9 o'clock till 10 o'clock.  

After the meal, I grabbed the opportunity to rehearse my contest speech at the waiting area in front of the elevator. I am very grateful to our group members for their time and immediate visual response. As soon as I arrived home, I rewrote my contest speech.   

Venture to Egypt

For Division D Speech Contest in English, District 67, Saturday morning, March 28th, 2026

To: Egyptians Toastmasters in Area G25 & G26, District 20

Habibi Fellow Toastmasters and Friends,

In January, I ventured to Egypt for the first time. Why Egypt? The Great Pyramid? River Cruise on the Nile? Red Sea Villa? I had them all. On top of that, I encountered a sudden sandstorm, haboob, all outdoor group activities were cancelled. What? It took me almost 20 hours to fly from Taipei to Cairo, with 6 hour time difference!  

We are Toastmasters, we have plan B in our pocket. I chartered a taxi to visit the Hotel Old Cataract Aswan where famed Agatha Christie wrote her popular detective story “Death on the Nile”. I visited the main bazaar with goods of the past and of the present, bought palm dates, spice herb tea, and I smoked shisha, the water pipe, for the first time. Yes, Toastmasters turn adversity into opportunity.

The Great Pyramid at Giza, the only exiting one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the stunning feat of engineering and human accomplishment. Three grandoise pyramids of King Khufu, his son, and his grandson. King Khufu built the biggest pyrimid 4,500 years ago, but left no paintings, no statues of himself for people to remember. I saw the humility of humanity. 

River Cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor, four days and three nights, an ecstatic Toastmasters adventure full of acting and improvising. I knew half of the international passengers and Egyptian staff members on Blue Shadow 2. Toastmasters are icebreakers and small talkers. I made friends with 5 Russians, 4 Tunisians, more than two dozens Spanish, 40 plus Chinese, 2 Koreans, 1 English, Irish, French, and Colombian, age between 16 and 80 plus. I hosted Toastmasters gatherings whereever possible, on the roof deck, in the restaurnt, on the dance floor. 

Red Sea Villa at Hurghada, three days and two nights, according to the Bible, the place where the sun shone on the earth only once, God parted for Moses, the Red Sea. The water of the Red Sea was icy cold, but the open swimming pool of AMC Royal Hotel and Spa was warm with a temperature above 20 degree Celsius at noon. People enjoyed free icecream by the pool side. What a destination of choice for winter vacation at the Red Sea Villa.  

At a Bedouin Arab tribe in Eastern Sahara Desert, I met a petite woman fully covered in black veil, surrounded by many of her young kids. She invited me for tea sitting by the fire on the sand. She was so dark and small, I couldn't forget her sweet smile. In her, I saw my distant evolutionary ancestors from Africa. In her, I saw the legacy of humanity.

Egypt has a lot more to offer, Sphinx with philosophical riddles in Greek mythology, Koshary, a spicy Egyptian vegan staple, with UNESCO recognition, handsome man like Omar Sharif in the movie of Lawrence of Arabia, and not to mention Naguib Mahfouz, the first and only Arab writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1988.

When I was in Egypt, Taiwanese were often hailed with “Taiwan No. 1”. Yes, we have No. 1 TSMC. From an once notorious island of products made in Taiwan, to the world best chips manufactured today, Taiwan has come a long way. Taiwan is No.1 in friendliness. I am a proud Taiwanese, a modern good Samaritan in East Asia! 

Roman Emperor Caesar once said, "Veni, Vidi, Vici". Fellow Toastmasters, with the communication and leadership skills I honed at District 67, I enjoyed the venture to Egypt twice as much as other 30 Taiwanese tour group members. The world is a classroom. I encourage you to make Egypt your next travel destination. Go explore Egypt with your very own eyes. Share your Toastmasters spirit with Egyptians, young and old, men and women. 

We are the world, We are the children, We are the ones who make a brighter day. So let’s start giving. Yes, Habibi Toastmasters in Egypt, I shall return! Contest Chair!

Departure for Egypt

Today is the long waited departure day for Egypt! I had my hair dyed in the street yesterday afternoon at a cost of NT$150. My husband helped me set up another smart phone at the last minute last night, because my old HTC couldn't fit in the new SIM card. Finally I gave in to a new smart phone!

For the past few month, I have been training myself physically, visiting the gym, hiking in the wild, to build up the muscle strength. I have also read intensively and extensively, watched many YouTube videoclips and DVDs to get to know a little bit more of Egypt.

It's the second time in my life I visit the north Africa. During a business trip to Casablanca, Morocco 30 years ago, I bought two local robes, one in black, the other in pink, I brought both of them along in my suitcase. along with one Parkistanti costume. I am not going to take them back to Taiwan.

When Egypt was colonized by the Great Britain, rich and noble Englishman would spend their winter vacation in Cairo. I couldn't believe that I could be so lucky to set foot in Egypt in my life!

I am excited to experience another culture, another part of the world, be the oversea trip quite a long distance one.

Happy 2026

As a patron of Taipei city library Jing-Xin branch, I visit the place at least twice a week, therefore I have more opportunities to run into new arrivals of books and DVDs. In addition to mine, I also have my husband's library card with me, and I can borrow 30 books and 14 DVDs upon one visit. My desk is always piled with books and DVDs for me to spend a good spare time.

I didn't get up until 9 o'clock this morning, I was very tired yesterday, the last day of 2025. I got up before 7 o'clock to attend the online Toastmaster magazine reading for one hour, rushed to a year-end Karaoke party in Bang-Qiao. We sang from 10 in the morning till 3 in the afternoon, for 5 straight hours. I took Bus 930 back to Xin-Dian, changed to Bus 909 to Da-An Sports Center to exercise for one hour. I felt exhausted after dinner and went to bed at 10 o'clock.  

All's Well that Ends Well

All's well that ends well. That's the conclusion of the party I organized for my friend's 82 Birthday today.

The party was scheduled from 11:30 till 17:30. On my way to the karaoke venue, I collected a bag of ballons from the Wheatland Care Center at 11:15 with a hope to create a colorful BD atmosphere.

The BD star didn't arrive when all the dishes were served at a quarter to 12. While worrying about somebody might not show up, I announced the begining of the luncheon before the delicious food got cold.

I paid the total expenditure of NT$4,000 when all the dishes were served. The BD star finally arrived, but no sight of her younger sister. I told the BD star that we two shared the charge of her younger sister. I was a little sad that the rest five people didn't show much appreciation. I guess I was probably a little unhappy that I didn't sing much. 

Fortunately the BD star's younger sister finally arrived at half past one. She told us that she thought that the BD party will take place tomorrow. At least I felt a little happier that I could collect some money from the late arrival.

Four remained after another four left early at 3 o'clock to a Mahjong game. I sang, danced, and chatted a lot. It turned out to be a great BD party in the end. I felt grateful from the bottom of my heart. Life is indeed full of surprises. All's well that ends well.

Trip to Egypt 2026.1.7~1.16

The older I get, the more I believe that the pleasure of traveling is to meet local people, and to chat with them. Through human connections, we can leave stronger impressions in the memory about the foreign land and people. 

I am a book lover and a movie goer. Solo travel and short stay abroad helps me relate to the story in the novel and in the movie. I am in general particular and selective about books and movies, I seldom touch anything in a language I am not familar with.    

Before my journey to Egypt, I read books and saw movies to get familar with the Egypt and the Egypitians, the mixed descendents of nubian with ancient Greece, Persia, Rome, Byzantine, Ottoman. 

I thought of the first Egyptian lady I met at the Louisiana State University Eye Center in early 80s. She was a research fellow, specialized in Herpetic ocular infection. She was one of the three committee members to approve the thesis for my master degree.

Taiwan was colonized by Japan for 50 years, Egypt was colonized by Great Britain for 73 years from 1882 till 1954, one of the reasons is seize the control the Suez Canal, the gateway from Europe to India. 

Be there many book about Ancient Egypt, none were about Modern Egyptian history at the Taipei City Library. Taiwanese go to Egypt mainly to see the ancient civilization, the pyrimid, to ride the cruise on the Nile, and I am no exception. When my friends mentioned about the cruise on the Nile, I didn’t think twice and pay the total cost at once. For the 10 days trip, there are 7 overnight stays in Egypt, including 1 night on the train from Cairo to Aswan, 3 nights on the cruise on the Nile, 2 nights at the Red Sea Villa, and 1night in Cairo. 

https://www.lux-holiday.com/products/group/detail/ME103U60107P?reg=0018-

The Purpose of Life

For Area Speech Contest in English, District 67, January 17th, 2026 

Fellow Toastmasters, ladies and gentlemen. good afternoon! Have you ever been to a surprise birthday party in person? The birthday star was in tears and laughter when hearing a full house of people shouting "surprise". Today, to your surprise, we have an unprecedented living funeral for Distinguished Toastmaster Sherry Li. Being the Toastmaster of the living funeral, I am honored to deliver the eulogy. (standing in the center on stage with a chair behind, dressed in a Toastmaster T-Shirt, a Toastmaster Cap, with a big file of eulogy)

Part I:

Sherry Li was was born in October 1955 in a military community in Chia-Yi. Both her parents came from China, her father from the north, and her mother from the south. They got married in Taiwan, raised four children, Sherry is the eldest. Sherry became interested in communication when she was six years old. She was the only child from Mainlanders parents at a Taiwanese elementary school in her neighborhood. To survive, she had to acquire Taiwanese fast to mingle with other young kids. Guess what? Sherry eventually married a man from a native Taiwanese family in Chia-Yi subconsciously and successfully.

Part II:

Sherry joined Grand Toastmasters Club when she was 28, just coming back from the US with her master degree in Microbiology and Immunology. While working at Ministry of Health during the day, she taught English at a cram school at night. When she was invited to Toastmasters by her boss, the President of Grand Toastmasters Club. “Imagine when your boss tells you to do something, what do you do? You say, ‘Yes, boss.’ Sherry had been enjoying Toastmastering till she got married at 31. Sherry rejoined Grand when she became the Secretary General of Taiwan Pharmaceutical Industry Association at 36, because she was desperate to hone the leadership skills. When She was the Vice President Education and the President, Grand was prosperous because the meetings were held at the big conference room of her office free of charge.

Part III:

Sherry is passionate about Toastmastering. She chartered the first Japanese speaking Toastmasters Club in Taiwan in 1998, and became the Charter President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club in year 2000 while she was an exchange student at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. Whenever sherry traveled abroad, she visited local Toastmasters club, in New Zealand, Italy, just to name a couple. She flew to Mongolia in January with the temperature 30 below to help charter the first Toastmasters Club in Mongolia.

Part IV:

Sherry is a polyglot. She hones her language skills in Toastmasters. Three months ago, sher celebrated her 70 birthday. Being a septuagenarian, she is active with several on line reading groups, two in Japanese, two in English, including Toastmaster magazine reading group. She will be teaching Korean at Taipei City Library from March, with the aim to charter the first Korean speaking Toastmasters Club in Taiwan. 

Wow, what a purpose of life Sherry found in Toastmasters. What a legend in District 67! (Pick up the eulogy file)

~~

Thank you all for attending my living funeral by surprise. I have attended many Toastmasters' funerals in the past four decades, but never a living one. It’s a serendipity you attend mine today, both red and white envelops are welcome. If you don’t know me before, now you know me. I am grateful to Toastmasters for making who I am. Time to say Goodbye to Sherry of the past. 

Oops, it is a taboo to say goodbye at a funeral in Taiwan. The reason is obvious, funeral is for people to say sorry, funeral is to grief over the loss of a loved one. But what if a living funeral, a happy gathering for family and friends to cherish the good time with the person who is still alive.

With much being said, I'd like to propose a toast! To the living funeral, to the new life journey, to the purpose of life! Cheers! Contest Chair!