The Talking Traveller

As promised I have upload some new photo's in the Taiwan as well as the Africa Album.

I have a temporary cellphone aka mobile number which is +88 6 92 664 7871.

As usual all sms'e aka text's will be answered asap. 

Here I am indulging in the MOC cast at my brothers wedding...

                                                             

My probation at my bushiban is over and I have been appointed as the English teacher! My application for my ARC has been sent in and I should receive it by next week. An ARC is a ALIEN RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE which enables me to stay in Taiwan for as long as my employer grants me. Without a ARC you cannot accomplish anything! You need it to buy a scooter, get a cellphone and even to rent a video. My ARC will be valid for one year whichafter I would have to leave Taiwan or get it renewed.

Today I went to a nice park located in Hshinsu. It is called 18 peaks mountain and is basically a glorified flower garden. Paved roads lead up into the mountain and is only intended for hikers. The side of the road is decorated with flowers and benches are located everywhere with speakers disguised as rocks. Soothing music and beautifull colors inspires people to jogg up the mountain. There are even public telephones located alongside the track from which you can call home.Once I have the funds to buy decent running shoes this old boy will definate give it a go-go-go-go. 

I have acquired a computer and will have internet installed this week. Keep an eye open for some new photo's pretty soon.    

And it is with a great sigh of relief that I can post a blog again. I have been in Taiwan for exactly 2 weeks now and it has been a emotion activating experience. As previously stated I spend the first week living-in with South-African friends. They have helped me tremendously and I cannot express my gratitude enough, Thank you Dirk and Mathilda, you are two amazing people for whom I will always think very highly of. In this two weeks I have build my foundation in terms of a job, apartment and transportation, and have so secured and committed myself to this life for a year. I have moved in with another charming south-african fellow and we officially moved into our apartment on thursday night. The walls are still a bit on the empty side, but it is our home, but flavour and colouring will be added pretty soon.  

I am teacing at a bushiban(after school ....school) and I have a total of 15.5 teaching hours a week. I am still on probation and will receive confirmation of my post at the end of this week. Teaching envolves basically speaking very clearly (with a fake american accent), smiling alot, playing games, and basically keeping the pupils awake and interested for a certain amount of time. I have not really received any training and I'm teaching from my heart and the creative part of my brain. I am the only foreign teacher at my school, and my boss can bearly speak english. I have no real teachers guide or a chinese co-teacher, so I can do my own thing. I will not hesitate to admit that my first week had me very nervous, standing with my face towards the white board, marker in hand, the principle's eyes and those of  six eager taiwaneeses burning in the back of my neck, I was not sure how I would teach, but somehow I made it. My speech during class is very good and in control and I enjoy performing all the antics neccessary to keep mouths shut and smiling. My classes are not very big at about 3-6 pupils each.My classes are usually in the evenings until seven, even on fridays! Where in south africa would you see that...........It is evident that these people may be afraid of english sometimes, but they are definately not afraid of work or putting in all the effort neccesary.

Today's highlight is that I went to fetch my scooter, 125 cc's of pure blue power! Taiwan is the country with the biggest population of scooters in the world, and is the most prominant method of transport. It is a real thrill zooming through the busy streets past unreadable signs keeping an open eye for recognizable english street names....

Then as always, about my speech....how is my speech.....not up to my expected standard......too many fumbles and stumbles,and that's all I have to say about that. It's not a problem, never will be , ever again.But with my foundation now secured I can focus more on practicing, and that is good. I have taught myself some 36 chinese characters that I can recognize at this stage....only about 1464 to go then I can almost read a simply written newspaper, and my chopstick manouvers are improving by the day. Be on the lookout for some photo's soon and more frequent updates.  TT    

The talking traveller has arrived in Taiwan...wow. I am currently in a city called Hsinchu staying with South-African friends. Have explored just a tiny bit and find the people very nice although the communication is a problem for now. Very interesting people and culture. I will soon have a job secured to start my teaching experience and then the next step will be to find a place to stay and a scooter! More detailed blogs soon to follow....as soon have explored more and found a reliable internet cafe...and have learned the chinese writing for internet cafe....

I know I'm a bit late....but here it. My new, improved mission state. Much the same idea but a bit improved I would say.  

 

MISSION STATEMENT II

I am Hein van der Merwe, a recovering stutterer and diaphragmatic speaker.

For 17 years I have lived my life as I chronic stutterer. I've been blessed with wonderful parents, a brother and sister, who will love me no matter what I do, where I go, or how I speak. I've been able to go through life loved and cared for. I've been well educated and have been able to support myself entirely. I've had good relationships, still have, with friends and loved ones.

However, because I stutter I feel that I have always had to hold back, hold back thoughts, opinions and emotions. I feel that I have hidden potential inside of me and I have an urge and responsibility to develop those skills. I've constantly lived in a certain kind of fear, fear of getting stuck on or not being able to say certain words. This has led to humiliation, frustration and other disempowering thoughts, beliefs and emotions that were associated with verbal communication.

Since July 2005 I have been  part of a speaking program for stutterers that have shown me the road to freedom. A powerful speaking technique that gives me total control when correctly applied and frequently practiced. I have finally been able to translate my thoughts, Ideas and emotions FULLY to other people without fear or struggle for the first time in my life. It has made speaking FUN.  It is called the McGuire Programme. My progress has been TREMENDOUS since I've joined this program in terms of speaking abilities, beliefs about my communication ability and confidence in what I am capable of.

Unfortunately I still have situations where I hold back, where I avoid, where I stutter uncomfortably and experience feelings I despise. I not am willing to accept this kind of speaking or thinking behaviour anymore, I refuse to regress to the way I used to speak and think. I am shaping my style of living to fully challenge myself in developing into the best and happiest person I can be, I therefore declare the following.......

I hereby declare war on uncontrolled, uncomfortable stuttery speaking and thinking.

I declare that I am going to further devote a certain amount of time in my life to further improve my desired speaking behaviour.

I declare that I am doing, and will continue to do the following.......

 

• - To follow the dreams in my heart with the willingness to make sacrifices,
• - To always practice McGuire techniques and use the support network,
• - To speak to as many people as possible and make friends worldwide,
• - To always practice controlled, diaphragmatic and eloquent speaking,
• - To enter new exciting, challenging situations, and test and discover my abilities.
• - To practice challenging words and experience freedom when comfortably saying those words and by doing so, slowly dissolving the fear of pronouncing them.
• - To help, inspire and support other stutterers on their way to eloquent speaking,
• - To learn as much from other people, cultures and experiences, using that to help, inspire and understand.
• - To develop and improve my skills that I desire to be better at, thereby eventually becoming an eloquent, entertaining and most effective communicator.
• - To see the world, grow as person and enjoy my life journey.

I feel that this is an opportunity, necessity and life adventure that I now have the privilege to undertake and should make the most off. I believe that by undertaking this I am conquering my fear of speaking, my fear of people, fear of liking myself, because that fear will prohibit my survival ......and I WILL always survive!

I pray that GOD will further guide me on this mission. I thank all the people in my life that support me and for the inspiration they provide me in undertaking this.  

Hein van der Merwe                                                             02-03-2007                 

Krugerspost, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Time creeps on, and so a new exciting and minutely scary part of my journey is on the horizon. I am now at the end of my five week home visit to South Africa. It has been a productive few weeks as I accomplished a countable number of objectives. During my stay I had two newspaper interveiw with the result of two articles (Beeld and Lowvelder) written about me and the McGuire program. My vision was realized as this information gave people the opportunity to attend a course this past weekend, and inspiration for those who couldn't. A weekend that started with fear and a tingling sensation of hope ended off with controlled speaking and tears of joy and relief for many. The feelings of exciting fear, hope and curiosity for a new look on life and oneself are most probably at the top of their awareness sensations for these new recovering stammers. A period of discipline and hard work should be their future aim, and with this the rewards would be……..I dare say……life changing.

 

I also verbally entertained myself by being a Master of Ceremony, had a half-hour telephonic interview for a teaching position, telephonically made arrangements such as visa, ticket enquiries etc. for my next travel, and had the honor of presenting no less than five sessions on the past-weekends McGuire Course. My contacts come to a number of roundabout 6225.

 

My last few days will be occupied with family time and gathering as much as possible information on Taiwan do’s and do not’s. For example……when beckoning someone, your palm should be facing down. Always take of your shoes when entering a Taiwanese home. Never give clocks as a gift, the phrase “to give a clock” sounds too much like attending a funeral etc. Al this information will be used to paint a proposed picture of “what it will be like over there”, and then this will be most probably be completely smash and repainted once I arrive……..

 

New lifestyle, new language, new habits, new colors, new friends, new tastes, new almost everything.

“How will I handle it?” Everyone asks.           

With a smile, with open eyes, with an open mind, with confidence in myself, with respect and appreciation for other people……..and with a deep costal breath whilst saying “Ni Hao”!