這個夏天我和哥哥到台南參加英語夏令營,我在這個夏令營學到用英文介紹台灣的古蹟。參加這個夏令營的原因是我想要讓自己的英文變得更厲害,跟任何國家的人交流時都是從自己的文化開始,而世界通用的語言是英文,所以用英文介紹台灣的話,大家會比較聽得懂。
第一天早上十分的累,因為我們5:30就起床搭高鐵前往台南。爸爸媽媽送我們到台北車站搭高鐵。到達台南時,啟書叔叔從高鐵站接我們前往飯店。報到時,我們在名牌上寫上名字。我被分到第一組,而哥哥是第二組。我這組有Anita,Sandy, Fisher ,Yi-Ching, Jim和我。
第一堂課是破冰,破冰就是開學典禮,不過其實都還蠻簡單的。再來是午餐時間,每一天都會有不同的菜單:控肉飯、鍋燒意麵、蔥油餅、炸魚便當、魚肚粥、土司夾蛋,都很有特色又好吃。
下午的行程是認識府城和景點走訪。首先是認識府城,老師帶我們認識台南以前有被誰統治過,有原住民、葡萄牙🇵🇹、荷蘭🇳🇱、明朝、清朝、日本🇯🇵和中華民國(ROC)。荷蘭人在台南蓋了赤崁樓和安平古堡,其中我覺得最好笑的是赤崁樓,因為英文是Chikan tower,聽起來很像雞樓(chicken tower),是一種諧音梗。赤崁樓裡面有九隻贔(ㄅㄧˋ)屭(ㄒㄧˋ)。贔屭是一隻身體是烏龜的龍,他喜歡背很重的東西,所以通常可以在墓碑下面看到。「九」這個數字在古代是「很多」的意思。
再來是景點走訪,我們先搭公車到赤崁樓,但是沒有真的要進去,因為要買門票,所以我們拍了一張照,來到了荷蘭人蓋的真正的門,不是我們現在看到的正門,他其實是在側邊。荷蘭人只有蓋1樓, 2樓是清朝人蓋的。由於現在正在古蹟修復,所以我們只能看到一座塔,另一座無法看到。
接著我們到大天后宮,大天后宮是一座媽祖廟,媽祖是海神。在進入媽祖廟之前,有一些注意事項大家需要知道:第一,要從龍門進入,這象徵可以得到好運。第二,要從虎門出來,因為老虎是一種很兇猛的動物,所以如果你從虎門進去的話,象徵你被老虎吃掉,如果你從虎門出來的話,則是將厄運留在老虎的肚子裡面。再來你不能走中間的門,那是給神走的,平常打開來的原因是因為要歡迎神進入。第三,在廟裡裡面不能大聲講話,也不能隨便亂碰祭品或裝飾。只要你遵守這些規則,就可以進入寺廟裡面了。媽祖廟裡面有很多雕刻,媽祖原本是被漆成黑色的,但是921大地震時,媽祖的頭掉了下來,在修復時,工程師發現他的頭原本是金色的,所以就把它漆回金色。再來我們到了寺廟的後殿,這裡原本是寧靖王(朱術桂)的家。寧靖王死亡之前留下遺書說他想要將他的家變成一座廟,他認為大家可以來到台灣是因為媽祖保佑,所以就變成了媽祖廟—大天后宮。
晚上回到飯店吃鍋燒意麵,又看了一下電視就睡覺了💤。
第二天早餐吃吐司夾蛋,吃完了以後我們就去看孔廟、台南美術館和林百貨。首先是孔廟,它是台灣第一座中文學校📚,孔子是一位老師,他教大家對長輩要有禮貌,後來他的學生寫了一本《論語》,在寫他教的做人處事的道理。接著我們去台南美術館,這裏以前是警察局,屋頂看起來像是警察的帽子,原本是黃色的,因為他看起來很像土地,所以在二次世界大戰的時候沒有被轟炸。後來它被漆成紅色的,到近代修復古蹟時發現它原本是黃色的,所以工程師又把它漆成黃色的。最後我們來到林百貨,它以前是台南最高的建築,卻是台灣第二個開幕的百貨公司,因為在林百貨開幕的前兩天台北先開幕了一間百貨公司,它就沒有成為台灣第一家百貨公司。林百貨是台灣唯一一間屋頂上有神社的百貨公司。
下午我們開始寫第四天導覽要用的劇本,還做了一對一英語會話練習,主題是旅遊。我們寫了一個台南一日遊的計劃,這個計劃把我們學到的所有景點都寫上去,有媽祖廟、孔廟⋯⋯等。那天晚上我拍到了煙火,不知道是什麼節日呢?
第三天和第四天早上我一直在想辦法記得我們寫的稿子,並且輪流上台向同學發表,練習我們的口條。第四天早上我們繼續複習下午要向爸媽發表的台詞,由於所有人的爸媽都會來,所以大家都很努力在練習。中午吃完(肉)飯,大家一起搭公車前往赤崁樓跟我們的遊客(大家的爸爸媽媽)會合。
導覽的第一棒是以情,她的英語講得十分流暢,因為剛從澳洲回來。以情在開場的部分介紹台灣的歷史。第二棒是Jim,他常常忘記稿子,需要時不時拿出手機來確認有沒有講錯。第三棒是Sandy,音量很大,幾乎不用麥克風,大家都聽得到。第四棒是我,我可以講得很流暢,不用拿出稿子。我嘗試著用輕鬆的氣氛來講述一段悲傷的歷史故事,但是講得太快了,氣氛不對,有點過於歡樂。第五棒是Fisher,他準備的資料十分豐富,第6棒是Anita,是美國人,所以講話的速度非常快,如果沒有注意聽就會漏掉。
我先用中文簡述一下寧靖王的故事:寧靖王在1617年出生,明朝滅亡後他和鄭成功一起來到台灣。清朝攻打台灣時,他知道他們不會贏,所以他就讓他五個老婆自由離開,但是他五個老婆對他忠貞不渝,所以他們就上吊自殺,寧靖王看到了,也上吊自殺。
Thank you Sandy telling us about the story of Sea Goddess, Mazu! Hi everyone! My name is YuSheng, and welcome to grand Mazu Temple in the beautiful Tainan City.
This temple is more than 300 years old. It is a peaceful and spiritual place that holds a very touching story — the story of Prince Ningjing.
I need six volunteers to help me bring this story to life:
• One person will be Prince Ningjing.
• Five people will be his loyal wives.
Let’s try to imagine what it felt like — the fear, the sadness, but also the strength and love.
Prince Ningjing was the prince from loyal family representing as Ming Dynasty, named Zhu Shugui. He was born in 1617, not 1967! Remember this number, maybe you will use it later.
After the Ming Dynasty went down, he refused to serve the new Qing government. He stayed loyal to the Ming rulers and came to Taiwan, which was controlled at the time by the famous General Koxinga (also known as Cheng Cheng-kung).
Prince Ningjing was respected as a symbol of royal loyalty. People believed that he brought spiritual protection and guidance.
Prince Ningjing had five wives, and they loved him very deeply. They followed him to come to Taiwan and stayed by his side even during the hardest times.
In 1683, the Qing army approached to Taiwan. It was a terrible time. Prince Ningjing knew that they could not win, and he wanted to protect his loved ones.
He gave away his money, home, and lands to the farmers and his followers. He told his five wives they were free to go — that they should live, be safe, and not suffer.
But the wives were so loyal to him, they refused to leave him. One by one, in deep sorrow, they chose to end their own lives.
Prince Ningjing was heartbroken. He buried them by himself, and in great sadness, he also ended his own life.
Even today, people remember this story as a symbol of loyalty, love, and sacrifice.
Before finishing my presentation, I would invite everyone to do a pop quiz exercise. I prepare some questions. If you know the answer, please feel free to raise your hand and answer it. If you are correct, you will get some surprises.
1. Who was Ningjing?
A) A famous artist
B) A brave prince
C) A dragon
2. When was Prince Ningjing born?
A) 1967
B) 1617
C) 1976
You are so smart, you all get the right answer.
Thank you for listening to this story. I hope you could feel the heart of Taiwan’s history at Grand Mazu Temple — a place full of memory, love, and strength. Next, I would hand it over to Fisher. She is going to take us to the a unique movie theater in Tainan.
這次的活動十分充實,希望下次可以參加高雄的活動。