What I learned from 4CC volunteer-山崎美萌
The reason why I participated in this volunteer was not only to improve my English skills, but also to use my English to help other people. I have achieved these goals, however, I learned new things more, during my stay in Taiwan.
In this volunteering, I was assigned as the member of the transportation team and the press team. The work in the transportation team was simple, picking up the team in front of the hotel and taking them to the accreditation center.
However, we were responsible to make the flow smoothly without making any confusion in the hotel that might bother other customers. In the press team, I was working as the interpreter for the press conference of the Japanese top skaters, both women and men.
Actually, I was not assigned to this team first, but I had a chance to help the Japanese team, which this made me to be the interpreter of the Japanese team. This work was very difficult that I had to study about figure skating and interpret at the press conference
in front of the media from all around the world.
During the work, sometimes I had some difficulties with the languages. Even though I am studying English in my university, most of the people in the transportation group were from Taiwan, that they spoke and shared information in
Taiwanese. Because I do not understand any Taiwanese, it made me afraid to join their conversation. However, I realized that if I do not act positively, I could not contribute to this volunteering. Therefore, from this situation, I learned that working in
foreign countries, we should act and ask question positively, not waiting until the information will be given.
Through the 10 days of volunteering, a lot people, the Japanese and the Taiwanese volunteers, have supported me. When I became worried and felt pressured with the interpreting at the press conference, my friends and others encouraged
me that I can do this huge job. They hugged me, and stayed with me until my work ended. Thanks to them, I could achieve this job and I had a huge experience that I will never forget in my life.Though our native language is different, we could support each
other through English. I would like to say thank you to all of my friends that I met through this volunteering.
From this volunteering experience, I learned how working in Japan and Taiwan is different and difficult. However, we can support each other even though we speak different languages. I am glad that I could be in part of this wonderful
volunteer. Once again, I would like to say to everyone who supported me and I hope we can meet in the near future.
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山崎美萌
