Taiwan forever has a special place in my heart as my one and only hometown. And because of that, I want the beauty of Taiwan in all its entirety to also be rooted in my daughter, Jill, who was born in Indiana and moved to Los Angeles in 2003 when she was almost 2 years old. Every year, for the past 16 years, I brought my daughter back to Taiwan. When she was little, she was unwilling and unable to use the squatting-toilet in Taiwan. And in general, she associated Taiwan as 'mandatory family visits with mom.' After many years of exposure and self grown familiarity, she grew to love the once peculiar street foods, eager to see her Taiwan-residing family, and even became accustomed to using the squatting-toilets. When FASCA announced that they had begun accepting online registration into their one month long A.I.D summer program, Jill applied immediately without hesitation. I was happy that she took the initiative and believed that she going to have an incredibly eye opening experience. Yet at the same time, I was also riddled with a mother's worry – can she survive an entire month without me close by?
She would have to travel alone internationally for the first time. I worried about everything from the potential problems at luggage check-in to the potential problems going through Taiwanese immigration once she arrived. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a great opportunity for her to practice handling things on her own; to be the independent woman I know she can be. During the first week of training at the Chientan Youth Activity Center, she told me she felt exhausted every day with the tight time schedule of the program. The first week went by surprisingly quick, and to my relief she survived! In addition, she had learned how to utilize the 'speech-to-text' feature on the Line application to message her aunts in Taiwan every day. In the two weeks that followed, Jill was assigned to Young Kang Elementary School in Nantou County and housed in a classroom with 11 team members and 11 sleeping bags. The school was located in the middle of no where; the nearest convenience store was a 15 minute drive away. She told me that she grappled with new severely large bug bites each and every day, and had never experienced having so many bugs flying and crawling around her sleeping and showering area. As the days went by, the horribly painful looking bug bites didn’t recede, and the color only darkened to a worrying purple. Much to my relief, the school director was very nice and took her to see a dermatologist. While these were not in any way pleasant experiences, Jill did in turn experience the kindness of the people in Taiwan and learned to appreciate the small blessings in everyday life. And while everyday came with its own challenges and hardships, she learned to build and develop strong friendships and relationships with her group mates, kids, and teachers. In retrospect, though the program passed by in a hurried glance, it was nonetheless an enjoyable experience for her.

Almost all parent want their kids to stay out of trouble, do well in school, and go on to do amazing things as adults, but sadly there isn’t a set recipe for raising successful adults. However, I believe that the A.I.D 2018 summer program can be a pretty essential ingredient.This program taught my daughter to appreciate what she has, grow her independence, share and develop her observations and beliefs, build her involvement in community aid, and even grow to love steamed bun and milk tea for breakfast!!

Thanks to OCAC (Overseas Community Affairs Council, Republic of China [Taiwan]) sponsor the A.I.D program to provide various growth opportunities to youth through volunteer services! Also thanks to Jennifer老師and other parents of FASCA A.I.D participants who shared useful information via the Line application.




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5111: 黃榆雯 ; Author: 邱美惠

5111: 黃榆雯 Author: 邱美惠
2年前是大女兒參加僑委會及教育部協辦的AID Summer英語志工教學活動，榆雯從姐姐的口述及經驗中，感受到這個活動的意義與重要，她非常期待自己也能親身體驗與感受台灣的文化與教育環境，更希望能從這次的培訓與研討中，將自己所學所會的知識，去教導與啟蒙這些稚愛的孩子們，讓他們有機會學習英文，為他們種下學習的種子，進而發芽深根結果。
回台之前得知分發到桃園芭里國小，榆雯在Team work群組裡，和隊友與指導老師密切聯繫討論，並準備教學材料與教學內容。今年教學主題是以日常所需與生活飲食為主，榆雯將家裡所有吃喝玩樂的包裝盒與說明書，全部打包準備帶到學校大展身手。看她摩拳擦掌與認真負責的樣子，不由會心一笑，女兒長大了！懂得付出與奉獻，不再只是玩樂了！
第一周在劍潭中心培訓研討、充實知識、加強實務，課程緊湊活動忙碌，雖然疲憊卻很快樂。閒暇之餘也會去著名的士林夜市遊樂，體會真正的台灣文化與台灣小吃。孩子們帶著興奮的心情前去，伴著滿足的笑容回來。
第二、三周榆雯服務於台灣著名「迷你國小」－桃園芭里國小，雖小而美，人親土親，獨立在田園之中。看綠油油的田地，聽蟲鳴鳥叫的天籟之音，聞清新香甜的空氣，伴著老師和學童的歡笑聲，開啟一場「芭」田「里」的仲夏交響樂。在校長、主任、與老師的悉心照顧，替代役的保護陪伴，及寄宿家庭熱誠招待之下，順利完成2周的英語教學工作，及體驗宜蘭與桃園的農場生活，如何井裡打水，學習製作鹹鴨蛋、松果裝飾、木頭清香劑等等，還有戶外教學參觀故宮文物、划船，最後榆雯還準備「爆米花造型Pinada」及「可樂汽水加冰淇淋」與班上的學童們同樂，熱鬧有趣，多姿多采。離別的時刻，女兒與夥伴們帶著不捨的心情，向學校師生互道珍重再見，並且相約一定再來學校探望大家，也期望她的學生還記得她。榆雯是教一年級的孩子，班上共有17位學生，個個活潑可愛。雖然教他們很辛苦，常常比手畫腳，卻有趣難忘。因為要加速孩童們學習成果，就要創造英語學習環境，更是呼應桃園縣「成就每一位學生」的「教育願景」。
第四周也是大家最期待的台灣環島旅遊，榆雯參訪是南部行程，有高雄佛陀紀念館、屏東海生館、十鼓文化村、紙教堂生態、逢甲夜市、野柳地質公園、總統府，最後在劍潭觀賞齊柏林「看見台灣」影片，為此畫下完美的句點。滿滿的行程，永恆的回憶。
台灣雖小，人文豐富，為這群17歲的新世代的海外華裔青年，帶來心的體驗、根的尋訪，也學會獨立自主、給予奉獻、惜福感恩，更為他們帶來難能可貴的友誼。
特別感謝僑委會的志工營活動及有關單位的所有人辛勞付出，使這樣的互助交流教學，讓海外華裔青年更了解台灣，也更愛台灣。

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5126: 張盼庭 ; Author: 張純通

學員: 張盼庭 家長:張純通

感謝主辦單位僑務委員會、教育部、客家委員會、原住民族委員會舉辦海外華裔青年
英語志工服務營、鼓勵海外學子借此機會走出舒適區(Comfort Zone)，將自己所學回饋
父母的家鄉。
今年女兒盼庭報名參加英語志工營、加入回台到偏遠地區教小朋友英語團隊。英語志
工營對她的幫助很大、我看到孩子在短短四個禮拜的努力和成長實在是難能可貴。
第一個禮拜在劍潭集訓五天、 要求的是集中訓練、團體生活、互相學習、成果報告。
在劍潭的小小世界村裡、 讓孩子接觸到來至各國各地方相近年齡的青年、相互成長、
用心學習、準備出發。
盼庭分配到雲林縣文昌國小。 她和其他七位學員分別安排在寄宿家庭、有Home爸
Home媽細心照顧、校長、主任、老師和家長會們熱心接待。 讓來至美國的志工老師
們接觸到當地的文化、感受到台灣人好客的熱情。
在教書的二個禮拜裡女兒除了每天和家人報平安、分享三餐台灣小吃照片、在延平老
街騎著腳踏車上下課、 回Home爸 Home媽家準備課程、 計畫安排起業式和結業式的表
演、盼庭沒說過她想家。 她說每天都好忙、沒有時差的問題。雖然辛苦、但看到學生
們個個好學和可愛的笑容環繞在身邊還有說不完的話、她覺得很有成就感。 既使被蚊
子叮了57包也無減她對台灣的感情、她希望每年都能夠回台灣教英文。
對我而言離家一段時間對孩子的成長比較快。 在這次英語志工營的活動中、孩子必須
學會尊重長官們指示、 指導、和同組的夥伴分工合作、 準備教材、安排表演、討論上
課教學情形、學會獨立、照顧自已。 很欣慰盼庭都做到了、完成回台教英文的使命。
我終於覺得孩子長大了、可以獨當一面、而我學會放手。 參加海外青年英語志工營對
女兒和我都是一個難忘的人生經歷。

家長:張純通

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5657: 賴德華 ; Author: Jenny Hsu

Dear AID,
Thank you for taking care of my child, Edward Lai and giving him such a wonderful opportunity to go out and teach English in Taiwan. We could tell that he really enjoyed his trip because of all the stories he told us when he came back to the U.S., such as all the amazing foods he tried , friends he made, and cultures he experienced. This will for sure be a experience he never forgets and will cherish throughout his life. We really appreciate the hard work and dedication you guys put into this program and will definitely recommend AID to other friends.
Best regards,
Jenny Hsu


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