Rehearsal Chapter 2 for D67 Installation Party

Linda warmly offered her place again for the 2nd rehearsal of Japanese dance that we are going to perform at District 67 Installation Ceremony.

It’s was Sherry’s suggestion to have our 2nd rehearsal on that day as the choir she joined was going to perform in WuGu Labors’ Recreation Center near Linda’s home. After the rehearsal we could all go to the Center to cheer Sherry and her choir up. When goldies are together no matter for what purpose, the room is always full of laughter and excitement, and the atmosphere is always hilarious.

After tasting the big juicy and sweet lichees Linda prepared, we began with the slow dance ‘Nadasousou’ as grace and composure are very important to interpret this dance. We spent most of the time practicing the dance until we memorize all the moves. The we practiced the 2nd dance ‘Seishunjidai’ for which we need to explore joy and nimbleness. With the colorful, shining and beautiful sticks wrapped with tinsels Irene bought for us, we were much into the feelings.

Unexpectedly yet not surprisingly Sherry only showed up to practice a while, then left to join her choir. It did come to my mind that Sherry would be tied up with her choir. We spent longer then we planned when it was over, I had to go for my family activity and couldn’t go with Linda, Irene and Michelle for Sherry’s performance.

It was a beautiful and happy Saturday. I had a few happy hours with goldies and a good sweat to refresh myself and rid the tiredness from a week’s work.

Trini
http://picasaweb.google.com.tw/taipeitmtrini/2ndRehearsalForD67InstallationParty#

2010 Taipei 101 Run Up

"Tough times don't last but tough people do." - A.C. GreenMr.
There are a lot of things I wish I could do better, or simply can’t do like swimming, skiing, ice skating, surfing, snorkeling, scuba-diving, etc. No words can describe my envy for those who can do all these exciting and nerve-challenging sports and how much I admire them. Now I have to add one more in my admiring list, marathon and climbathon running. These runners impress me with their passion, strength and persistence.

On May 30th I went to Taipei 101 not for shopping, but to help with 2010 Taipei 101 Run Up. I got up before dawn so that I could arrive by six a.m. and join the other T/Ms volunteers for the briefing. There were forty of us from the non-profit organization ‘Toastmasters International District 67.’ The T/Ms volunteer team was very well organized. Thank Victoria, District 67 Public Relations, for successfully coordinating such a big event. It turned out to be a wonderful gathering of forty T/Ms from different T/M Clubs in Taipei.

The climbathon held by Taipei 101 first started in 2005 with 1008 runners (maybe not a exact but definitely a close number.) This year there were around 2008 runners. I was told that the number of runners was limited, to the most qualified participants.
There were several reasons for me to join the volunteer group. For one, I had been thinking of witnessing how the program proceeded and how it was look like; the other reason for me to finally take action was because of Mr. Rory Vaden’s visit to Taipei again and participation in the climbathon.


Rory was the 1st Runner up of Toastmasters 2007 World Champion of Public Speaking, and was the keynote speaker for Toastmaster International District 67 Spring Convention that Dr. Yap and I co-hosted in 2008. Because of the special event, I had the privilege of receiving him for the whole time during his stay in Taiwan. He’s a disciplined and goal-oriented young man. His achievement and inspiring speeches are a reflection of his "walking the talk". On top of all this, he’s amiable, friendly, humorous, tall and unbelievably handsome that captures everyone’s attention the moment he makes his presence. He expressed his plan and goal to climb 10 of the world’s tallest buildings and his desire to come back to climb Taipei 101 at his 2nd visit. So, when I found out the exact date and told him about 2010 Taipei 101 Run Up, he took action and made it happen. As a professional speaker, he also took the opportunity to present workshops for T/Ms in Taiwan. Different from the last time, he brought his bride Amanda along; tall, slim and charming. They made such a compatible and handsome couple I must say.

The climbathon actually started at 8:00 a.m. with the world level runners in the first group. There were ten or eleven of them. I was stationed on the ground floor at the record receiving area next to the START point. I saw how every second was important to these runners. They were all thin and medium tall. I guess height has nothing to do with the speed, or even may be a disadvantage. The male runner from Italy won the championship. There were only two female runners in this team, Mellissa from New Zealand, and one runner from Taiwan. I took a moment to take a photo with Mellissa and the male runner with the registration No. 007 of this group from Taiwan, how excited I was! Pity that I couldn’t gear up my courage to ask for a photo together with the champion as he stayed all the time with his team and was busy in chatting and moving around. I helped some runners take pictures. Their excitement and happiness moved me.

For those who cared for the speed and performance, the time they used mattered a lot. For others who did for self-challenge and participation were just happy when they finished the running. The champion Marco De Gasperi from Italy took only 11 min. and 9 sec.

Can you guess what interested me most during the whole six hours standing there at the record receiving counter? It was all the runners’ legs. They were so different in shapes and sizes; strong legs vs skinny legs; long legs vs short legs; muscle legs vs thin legs; tanned legs vs pale legs; hairy legs vs hairless legs; straight legs vs curved legs; well built legs vs plain legs. I enjoy watching especially those fit and beautiful legs most. Sorry, couldn’t help it because almost all the runners wore shorts. I had a great time checking out all the different legs.

Mr. Rory and his bride were among the late runners. The activity was about over when they came down to receive their record certificate. We were happy to see each other and chatted a while at the Starbucks inside the building.

What an experience! I don’t know if I will be there for the Taipei 101 "Run Up" next year, as a volunteer or a cheer leader. The six hours of standing is quite a challenge for a goldie. Let me conclude my reflection on this event with “Congratulations to all the runners on your success in finishing running 2046 stairs!”

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." – Confucius

Trini
http://picasaweb.google.com/taipeitmtrini/2ndRehearsalForD67InstallationParty#

Enchanting Voice and Music

“If you cannot teach me to fly, teach me to sing.”
- James Matthew Barrie

When A Choir and A Symphony Work Harmoniously and Beautifully, the impact generated to the audience is simply indescribable!

I’ve heard a few excellent choirs, but had never listened to a choir in the National Concert Hall. On Thursday night, I did it for the 1st time and was totally enchanted. The music, carmina burana 布蘭詩歌 by Carl Orff, was familiar to me and I have a CD of it. Listening to it alive sung by an amazing local choir was different and the touching was beyond words can describe.

Goldies love to sing, too, and sing quite well especially Lydia and Irene. It’s relaxing and a great joy listening to them singing. Lydia and Sherry love it so much that they joined several choirs and perform in public sometimes. Thursday evening, the singing group Lydia joined gave an excellence performance in the National Concert Hall. Only Sherry and I made it to the concert that night. There were two sessions for the concert led by A‧K‧Sun Taipei Philharmonic. I knew the choir was good since Lydia joined it and mentioned it several times. It was not until that night that I realized how excellent it was. Their performance was the 2nd part of the concert. When they made their presence to the stage, my attention was captured immediately. It was such a big choir that I lost count. I look at them in awe. There must be over 200 singers.

When the symphony stoke the 1st note, the whole concert hall was melted into it. Different from the 1st session, the symphony and the choir complemented each other impeccably. The symphony was flawless, and the conductor was world class professional. And the choir, I must say, sang it so beautifully and powerfully. I simply couldn’t keep my eyes off them, and they took my breath away. Every once in a while, I turned my head and looked back at Lydia and felt very proud of her. When the concert was over, they received a standing ovation. The applause kept going and still lasted for a while after they stepped off the stage. I finally understand her passion and persistence in singing in a choir despite the fact that she can impress others just by singing alone.

I didn’t bring my camera as I knew it was not allowed to take picture there. Or I will definitely take a few shots to show how grandiose and awesome the whole cast was. That night’s experience changed my perception totally. I will join a choir after I retire if they still want me. Thank you, Lydia, for such a splendid and enlightening night!

Trini

Our Love for Dance

"Your love for yourself is only shown when you are dancing freely." - Author unknown. Body talks especially when we dance. I love dancing not because I’m a good dancer but because my heart sings and I forget my worries when I dance.
I had the wildest dream of becoming an excellent dancer when I was young. Yet I was fully aware that I didn’t have the kind of talent and it was the music that actually motivated me to dance. So, I simply dance to music for fun. I don’t have much time for fun, therefore when chances come, I would enjoy every min. of it.

Canon Thoinot Arbeau said, “Dance is a sort of silent rhetoric.” I like the quote and feel it especially true when watching professionals dance. My mom appreciated the beauty of dance and was the very person who brought dance into my life. She sent my sister and me to dance classes when we were only four despite the fact that we could only live from hand to mouth. I didn’t really enjoy dancing then as my sister was much more talented, and I looked quite awkward comparing with her. So I quitted a few years later. I can’t tell when dancing came to my dream again. I just dreamed, never gave it a serious thought. After we goldies found each other, our lives became more fun by exploring ventures together. Dancing was one of them.

Yesterday was our 2nd practice of Japanese dance for the District 67 Installation Ceremony. It’s a whole new dance to me; slow, reserved yet quite descriptive. I’m expressive and excitable according to my friends. I enjoy quick dance most. How can I interpret Japanese dance well? Seeing Linda and Sherry dance, I tried to restrain myself and be composed and graceful. Linda and Sherry have taken Japanese dance class for some time. Lydia has ballet training. I just tried to use my heart to feel it as the song was beautiful. I must have danced it absurdly that Irene said we must work harder on every pose, hands and arms coordination and grace that the dance demonstrates.

Definitely I’ll strive to observe closely and improve. But I’m happy enough just being there and dancing. Come and join us if you care for dance, too.

http://picasaweb.google.com/taipeitmtrini/LearningJapaneseDance#

We chatted a while after the rehearsal like we always did. Michelle had been under big stress over the past few weeks because of her father's falling illness. We all felt sorry for Michelle's heartbreak. But he is gradually recovering now and we like to give our best wishes wishing him get well soon.

Trini
p.s. There’s one kind of dance that I can’t and won't do, that’s Belly Dance.

A Typical yet More Thought-provoking Mother's Day

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Being a mother of two grown-ups and a daughter of my mom who will turn 89 soon, the quote says exactly what I’d act and how I feel. I’m not a great mom, not even a good mom. I’m just an ordinary mom who’d do what the quote describes. I’m not any better than that.

My mom is a greater one though I didn’t realize that before I became a mom. She has been more willingly to sacrifice and to give. Whereas I just did what I needed to do. Not like many other mothers nowadays, I didn’t look for advice and suggestions from books, the media and friends. I most of the time simply reacted on my instinct to act my role. I feel sorry for my children to have a mom like me, or my son would have been more thoughtful and understanding, my daughter would have been better vision-oriented.

Today’s Mother’s Day, my daughter arranged the gathering. No matter how often she has driven me crazy, she’s always sweet and thoughtful when it comes a time like this. Both my son and daughter didn’t talk much, very selective in words, and just ate a reasonable portion of food. They have a different attitude toward food from mine. When I’m happy, I show it on my face and I’d become much relaxed and chatty, and speak louder unconsciously. They feel embarrassed and protest in silence. What two weirdoes I gave birth to, I meant compliment for being not like me at all. Well, at least I got to know what my son’s next plan for his career and see my daughter not hanging around with her friends doing things that seem to be a waste of time to me. Gee, I’m doing it again like a helpless mom, too subjective and not empathetic enough.

The Food was not scrumptious as it should have been judging from the sky high cost. At least one third of the food would have been left untouched if I hadn’t finished it all like most of moms in the world would have done.

After the lunch rendezvous, everyone went for different directions. My son went to his friends, my daughter, having a headache probably because of my high pitch voice, went home regardless how much I tried to talk her into going to the South Africa’s Day with me.

This was my Mother’s Day, typical yet a little bit varied from the previous one that brought me different afterthought. To comfort myself I like to conclude it with the quote I really like:
Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.
~George Cooper
Trini

A Singing and Dancing South Africa's Day

No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader. - Robert Frost

Can I say “No creativity in the planner, no satisfaction in the participants?”
After lunch rendezvous with my children, I went to the South Africa’s Day with my sister-in-law to spend the rest of the afternoon expecting to experience some impact from a different culture of South Africa. To my disappointment, though not surprised, my children turned my invitation down and headed for their own interest.

A few days ago Sherry passed the information to all goldies inviting us to have some fun there. Since it was on the Mother’s Day, other ladies had to spend the whole day with their family not like me who has children caring more about their social lives and has a mother who lives far away in southern Taiwan.

I was there at three. Sherry would be there at four. So I took a quick grand tour first. No introduction of South Africa’s culture, history and scenic places? No South Africa folk dance? No South Africa’s food that’s special or unique? There were not many stands. They sold big hamburgers, big sausages, beer and refreshments. Were they all that South Africa people eat? I saw a stand that sold fudge, a shop that displayed and sold wood works mostly woodblocks, and a stage set up very likely for a band. With my stomach still fully filled with Chinese food, none of them could arouse my appetite. After the quick tour I looked at the empty state wondering when the band would come and began their performance. I hoped it would be at least alright.

During the time of wondering around, I saw a few room booths introducing Chinese culture. That was unexpected, on South Africa’s Day and surrounded by South Africa’s booths? The biggest room with a huge poster highlighted SanXi Culture Gallery. I walked in curiously. To my amazement,there was a big exhibition of all the handcrafts and art crafts made by SanXi people and introduction of its culture like Shadow Show, exquisite puppets made of specially processed leather, bamboo masks, apparel and accessories, wooden furniture and utensils, tea and food – a very special kind of big hard thick bread. I tried the tea, different and a little bit bitter. I didn’t try the bread soup made with the big hard thick bread, still no room in my stomach. Unexpectedly yet happily I got to know
Quite a lot of SanXi culture. I hope next year South Africa can make the best use of the opportunity anddo the same or similar.

Walking out of the SanXi Booth, I wondered what’s next I could do. Would I run into Sherry?
I didn’t bother to call as she does things spontaneously and has her cell phone off most of the time. Speaking of the devil, there she was! She was right beside me when I unconsciously turned my head. She was surprised, too. While We were exchanging words and taking a photo beside a huge dummy,We sensed something turmoil coming toward our direction. Wow! a show team dressed in costume of Chinese opera, walking on high stilts were approaching us with some drummers leading in the front. That gathered crowd immediately. Quite a successful and excitingl presence they made. No doubt it was from SanXi Booth. With a cheered-up mood, we headed to the band stage to check it out. Just in time, the band were there already gearing up for the performance. A band formed by three international people and the fourth one looked like a Taiwanese I thought. It was not bad at all. The songs they sang were all quite popular and familiar to us, they even sang some Chinese songs. Sherry was the greatest audience, clapping, dancing and singing along. The leading singer with his spirit highly aroused by the passionate audience especially Sherry, invited us to join on the stage. That was a blast, we had great fun. It was getting late, about time to leave. I had to drive my sister-in-law and her daughter back home to catch their train. I said goodbye to Sherry and left in the middle of the concert leaving my heart there. It was an enjoyable afternoon despite the doubt I had at first.

I hope the Africa’s Day will be different next year giving everyone an impressive, fruitful, informative and enjoyable time there.
http://picasaweb.google.com.tw/taipeitmtrini/MotherSDaySouthAfricaSDay#
Trini

D67 Spring Conference 2010

Nature VS Nurture, Are leaders born or made?

I had not attended D67 Spring or Fall Conferences for the past two years. I was no longer progressively improving myself as a Toastmaster. I just kept myself involved in some supporting roles and kept abreast of world trend. This year because of a special DTM gathering program designed in the conference, I was persuaded to attend.

The District 67 Spring Conference held on April 17th and 18th became my own, personal renewal in Toastmasters. Our honorable guest and Keynote Speaker from Toastmasters International convinced me that leaders can be made. President Elect, incumbent Senior Vice President of T/I, Pat Johnson gave two speeches on the first day – “What Leaders Are Made Of?” and “You Raise Me Up” . She was confident, amiable, witty and composed - all are qualities practiced by a good leader. She is an excellent role model for T/M world wide.

I was so impressed that I attended the two additional events. They were held in Taipei for T/Ms who wished to further benefit from Toastmaster Pat Johnson's speeches. Why shouldn’t I? The events were just a 20 minute drive away. It was absolutely worthy of my attention. The two speeches – “The Honor of One Is the Honor of All” and “How to Deliver a Good English Speech” were impressive and inspiring. Leadership and speaking is not simple. The ideas in her speech met what we'd learned in T/Ms trainings. What made her speeches so impressive was the right number and passion of the audience that stimulated her to radiate her sense of humor, quick wit and charm, and generated great interaction from the audience.

I will have to work and make some mistakes along the way, but with commitment and effort I can keep improving. Just when I was about to spend less time in T/Ms, I have been motivated to continue my endeavor to be a competent and inspiring leader.

Good leaders must first become good servants. – Robert Greenleaf
Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach. – Rosabeth Moss Kentor.


Trini