Page 70 - 2023-24年度總監月報十月號

My Second Home Country -

Taiwan

文 / 高艾瑪 Emma Kruger（忠孝社 2013-14 RYE ）

hen I was 16, I applied Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program, Taiwan

Wis one of my top 3 choices. I had been dreaming of going abroad and
discovering a country totally different from my country, France.

I had never been to Taiwan even Asia. It was so exciting but also anxious.

How would I know at that time it would become a very special place for me
– like a second home country, Taiwan.

After 10 years, I came to Taiwan again and still remember the year

staying at Taiwan 10 years ago.

Everything was new to me and I found I had to start over learning

everything just like a baby girl – how to talk, eat, find my way... It was a bit
of challenging but I never felt lonely or had a difficult time during that year.

My home stay parents wrote me a cards in Chinese with English

translation to order food from restaurant near home. I could buy dinner
after school. They explained anythings I was curious about and brought me

everywhere to know Taiwan better. The hospitality of my host club, Chung

Hsiao Rotary Club made me feel just like home. My classmates helped me

with my Chinese homework. Even strangers would help me find my way

if I looked confused in the street! No wonder people say that ‘ The most
beautiful scenery in Taiwan is the people’.

Quickly, I was able to do simple communication in Chinese, use

chopsticks, take the subway by myself and make my first Taiwanese friend.
My relative asked me ‘what’s the most meaningful memories about

Taiwan for you’? I would say that how to make people accept me as who I

am not where I am from! Here is the story.

In Taiwan, school students need to clean school restrooms. My

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70 總監月報 No.10總監月報 No.10