Last is not the End

August comes fast, it’s been 25 days passed and it makes me realized about the end date of National Forest Volunteer Program on August, 31. I won’t count my days here.. But I got a tons of experiences in these 2 months that I would like to share to you all.

I was so excited at the first to join this forest project, it shaped me a lot in these 2 months. It sounds hard indeed, work in the forest where you must stand under blazing of the sun and survive from the rain or wind, walk on the trail or sometimes you found some hurdle to pass, face to animals or sometimes you should touch them to recognize. Above all, the important things I got is knowledges! I never knew before about animal’s life how they eat, breath, survive in the forest, make their own house, breed, compete with another animal (Nature’s selection! as I remember that I learn it in elementary and just now I see the real). I never see before animals like squirrel, moles, birds such as: blue pheasant andJacana, some disgusting insects but, I’m very attract about their uniqueness (just because they’re so tiny and struggling for life).

I learn how to protect the environment. This part is such small things to learn but it’s like a big change habit for me when I come back to Indonesia. Easy thing like keep your trash when walking on the trail, help plants out from alien species, save animals from suffering.

In other hand, now I become more powerful :D. Rollback into 2 months before I was so weak like 50 years old people because I use more brain to work before. Now my brain and muscle are equal, why? I used to go everywhere by walk here, do some exercise by hiking and when I work in the office, my brain turns.

More, more and more experience is self development. I worked together with 5 peoples who comes from different place, different habit and behaviour, different way of thinking, different way in communicate with, different tongue to taste the food, different capacity when go hiking.

How do we conquer all of this diversity?

We used to be a team, used to know each other (know their families and friends, their boyfriend or girlfriend, their secrets and badness), used to respect and help each other, used to solve problem under brainstorming, used to go everywhere and spent days off together. Every little moment in forest project bring us to closer, everyone has their development to be better (for who above 20 y.o like Petra 21, Mercer 21, Blackie 23, and Anita 23 :p), to be mature (for who innocent like me 19 y.o and Lisa 18 y.o) ~ One of secrets I publish, I might get a punch from old people (>.<!”).

      “I’d like to use this chance to know more about forest and how to manage from the conservation into restraint the forest. From this program I also can explore Taiwan’s culture, food, and places”. If you remember those my first post and I would like to answer that I got more than I expected from this Forest Project. It’s good to be international forest volunteer, yay!

P.s,

Through this I recommend to all teenagers, Paint your life and let’s get close to nature where you can recognize yourself and respect every little things surrounds you

JJ Zita JJ

Time to say goodbye Shuangliou :-)

These 2 months are close to the end. I cannot believe. Wow, the time in Taiwan flowed like water therefore I have to write my last article. Thus at the end I’d like to say something about my experience and feelings.

Before my way to Taiwan, I was quite nervous, because, oooo my god, it’s in Asia – so far and so different from my country. My parents cannot believe and my friends asked me If I’m normal. My fears were useless.

The fact is that only one my friend said me that people from Taiwan are very nice and polite. I can say now “It’s true”.

Firstly about my work experience. Because of this working location in Shuangliou I gained new knowledge about nature and environment. People very often discuss about environment and ecology in Czech Republic. Now I saw how citizens take care about nature in another country and I hope that everything what I learned in Taiwan I will be able to introduce and apply in my country. The next thing is that although I spent a lot of my time in nature I wasn’t interest about insects, plants and animals there, but this experience compelled me change my minds. I will know more about insects, plants and animals there. After work here I should introduce something (for example monument, city or animal) for people without problems therefore I can apply in my measure – management of tourism.

Because of work in nature center I also had a chance to know more about aboriginal children. In my opinion these children are quite different from European children and also from Taiwan’s city children.

Next thing what I learned here is how to communicate with people from other culture. It’s very interesting for me live with people from Taiwan and Indonesia, because everyone has different habits, minds and behaviour.

I recognized new culture, new customs, tried new food and drinks and met new friends, who became like my Taiwan’s family. Thanks of them my sojourn in Taiwan was easier. During this project their roles transformed from student to helpers, translators, informants, caterers, trips planners, cookers, rescuers and also teachers. So first and big thank you belong to them, because the life in Taiwan without them could not be so perfect, amazing and exciting like was. I’m really happy that we spent almost every day together and that we have very good relationship. I will never forget them!

Further I would like to say “thank you” for everyone, who contributed on this project and gave me a chance to work here.

I can promise now that when I will come back to home I will attempt to propagate Taiwan everywhere.

If you wanna enjoy this project or only visit Shuangliou and Taiwan, don’t hesitate!! I can say – I love Taiwan.

- by Petra -

Chiayi - Pingtung Collaboration

 　August 5^th was so bright in the morning, we had a gather in Pingtung Forest Office to visit Chiayi Forest Office by minibus. We were so exciting to visit Chiayi for the second time and what we most excite about is we will spent together for the next 3 days!

8月5日，一個有著良辰美景的早晨，我們在屏東林管處集合後，坐著巴士到嘉義林管處。這是我們第二次到嘉義參訪，而最興奮的是我們將和嘉義處的志工共處3天的時間。

Day 1^st

After 3 hours a way, we arrived at Chiayi nature center and they were welcome us with a blast.The director of National Forest Volunteer Program also came to held Chiayi and Pingtung collaboration.

第一天

3小時後，我們抵達嘉義的觸口自然教育中心，他們用自己作的標語來歡迎我們。另外，志工活化計畫主持人－郭育任老師，也來參與嘉義處與屏東處的互訪活動。

Welcome to Chiayi!

Prof. Kuo greeting us kindly :)

Chiayi - Pingtung souvenirs

The two students volunteersin chiayi who guide us to introduce Chiayi Nature Center

Actually the original plan we would stay in Mt.Ali, but due to typhoon in lately week destroyed the trail lead to Mt.Ali,so it changed to Chiayi city tour where we visit some recreation park.

我們原定計畫是要上阿里山國家森林遊樂區，但是，因為最近一個颱風摧毀了通往阿里山的主要道路。我們只好改變到嘉義的行程，所以我們拜訪了附近的生態園區。

Ho-Bou-Yu Ecological Park in Chiayi County
荷苞嶼生態園區

 

Wooden walkway

This ecological park built as environmental protection of air and water, where this area filled with vibrant plant and has water filtering system.

這個生態公園是用來作為空氣和水的環境保護設施，在這裡到處都是充滿活力的植物和汙水過濾系統。

The next destination was fisherman’s village..

下一個目的地是嘉義靠海的東石漁村......

Are you curious about oyster?

Ornament made from Scallop

Near from that we can see modern Dongshih Ecological Exhibition building that still under construction

我們可以看到有著現代化建築的東石自然生態展覽館，目前還仍在施工中。

Then, we visited Aogu Wetland that reclaimed from the sea for agricultural use, but has become a coastal wetland after being abandoned due to land subsidence and salinization

鰲鼓濕地森林公園是一個典型的沙洲泥灘地，從早期的台糖用地，到最近由於因為地層下降和鹽化無法作為農用，而成為一個被遺棄的濱海溼地，現在由林務局進行綠化和保護，也成為一個兼具沼澤、森林及農用生態系統的複合型生態濕地環境。

This wetland area purposed to restore the national habitats for various types of waterfowl and wildlife.

這片濕地現已成為各種水禽與野生動物的棲息地。

Closed the 1^st day by enjoying sunset..

第一天的結束，大家享受著夕陽餘暉......

Day 2^nd

First we had a meeting held by Forest Bureau in Chiayi Forest District Office. There we expreesed our feelings we had after 1 month run this forest project.

Wow! we had a performance surprise from Chiayi volunteers J

第二天在嘉義林管處參加一場研討會，我們每個人都在會中發表這一個月來的工作體驗。另外，嘉義處的青年志工們的表演，令人眼睛為之一亮呢！

Before we turn to Pingtung with Chiayi volunteer, we took time to visit Eco-educational nature park where we can see the endangered bird named Pheasant-tailed Jacana

在我們回到屏東之前，嘉義的志工夥伴邀請我們一起去參觀官田的水雉生態教育區，在這裡我們可以觀察到瀕危而受保護的鳥類－水雉的生態。

 

 



Quiz time! Can you find the birds?

In the afternoon, Pingtung and Chiayi volunteers arrived at Kenting National Park. We are very proud to introduce Kenting national park to them and they deliver a good respons about it J

下午，大家一起抵達墾丁國家森林遊樂區。我們非常自豪的向他們介紹墾丁國家森林遊樂區美景，嘉義處的夥伴也給予我們很棒的回應。

Day 3^rd

The last day, we invite them to Shuangliou recreation area and show them to waterfall. We also introduce our recreation area to them just like them in the first day..

第3天
最後一天，大夥來到來雙流國家森林遊樂區，我們向他們介紹園區內各個景觀；當然包括最美的雙流瀑布。我們也盡心的介紹我們的遊樂區；就像我們在嘉義的第一天，他們為我們解說一樣.....

And here are they, put your thumbs up for their poses! :)

 

     

Bravo! In addition to meet with other volunteer from Chiayi, we also share our knowledges and expeiences in each forest district..

能夠與嘉義志工夥伴三天的相處交流，互相分享彼此在自己的森林遊樂區所獲得的體驗與知識。這次的交流實在棒透了！

Shuangliou Children Camp

We finished our two days camp for aboriginal children yesterday. Children camp started on Friday morning, when we had a meeting with others volunteers in nature centre. Our teachers from nature centre prepared programs for children about nature and animals. We was waiting in nature centre, when children arrived there. 16 children enjoyed these activities. 

我們接著完成了兩天的山林野孩子環境教育活動。
星期五早上我們參加了營隊的準備會議， 並協助自然教育中心的老師準備教案和教材，一直忙到迎接16位準備盡情享受活動的山林【野孩子】的到來!

 

 

We welcomed the children together with our dance and then we introduced ourself.
The children were divided into four groups and they played the games together in this group.

我們與孩子們一起跳舞，並介紹營隊的輔導老師；然後將老師和孩子們分為四組，

開始進行小組遊戲。

Are you smarter than a 5th grade? Let's dance and beat them :)

 

The first game was that children should made a picture from things which teachers prepared – for example picture of animals, waterfall or crayons. The children were separated - one child was watcher and one child was listener, who had to listen, which things and colors use for the picture. Others children composed the picture. The next game had the name “Who Am I?” Children should know which insect is it, when they saw the clue in the presentation.

第一個遊戲是分別由不同的孩子來扮演千里眼和順風耳（民間故事中的神怪），他們需要藉由眼力和聽力來傳遞；並完成最後圖片的樣子。下一場遊戲是【我是誰】，當他們看到簡報中的線索時，需要去聯想到是哪種昆蟲。

 

Children stayed in nature centre during the night after first day. Our volunteers took care about them and slept with them there. Teachers provided lunch, dinner, snacks and breakfast during these two days.

The second day children had outdoor activities. Our teachers prepared six games also about nature. Me, Lisa and Zita followed uncle Peanut, who has game about butterflies. We had cards with picture of butterflies and children should remembered, where are the same butterflies. After this we turned the cards and children found the same cards.

孩子們夜宿在自然教育中心，並受到志工及老師們完善的照顧。
第二天是戶外活動，教師們準備了六組與自然有關的活動，我們三個青年志工和土豆大哥是負責蝴蝶辨識記憶的遊戲，我們會把圖片讓孩子看一段時間，然後蓋住卡片，考驗孩子們的記憶力和運氣，他們需要找出十組相同的蝴蝶卡片才能過關。

 

Children camp was very successfully and I think that every child have new experience and knowledge about nature.

 

這次的山林野孩子兒童營隊辦得非常成功，讓小朋友們都對大自然有一種新的體驗和認知。