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Special Reports
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“ M o s t p e o p l e h a r b o r a
stereotypical image of life after
retirement. They think that it’s all
about traveling around the world and
enjoying the good life. I like traveling
myself, but I prefer experiencing
different cultures, making contact with
the society and its people.” This was
the retirement plan pictured in the
mind of Wen-ling, who signed up as a
volunteer English language instructor
in Nicaragua. After becoming a
certified English-language tour guide
and tour leader, Wen-ling worked as
a volunteer guide at Cihu Park before
applying to graduate school. She
then learned about the TaiwanICDF
and signed up as an overseas
volunteer. “I have the spirit of a
wanderer and the yearning surges
every once in a while. My husband
and I respect each other’s interests,
and this allows me the freedom to
pursue a unique life after retirement,”
exclaims Wen-ling.
“It started with an interest to learn
Spanish, which later turned into a love
of Latin music and salsa dance… ”
Wen-ling smiles as she describes
the reasons behind her choice to
volunteer in Nicaragua, a Spanish-
speaking country, despite having
taught English to junior high school
students for 30 years. She observes
that Nicaragua lacks English
teachers and few English courses
are offered; internet is not prevalent
while books and magazines are rare
and expensive. Students who wish
to improve their English must either
enroll in private schools or attend
language learning institutes, which
cost a lot and deterred many people.
Therefore, in order to properly
teach English, Wen-ling started
learning Spanish to understand why
students encounter problems in
English grammar or pronunciation
and to identify potential solutions.
Teaching materials she designed
herself and the “flash mob” concept
were used to host English singing
events on the school campus to
encourage student motivation for
learning English.
Passion, physical health
and mental adaptability are
necessary
During her one-year overseas
volunteer experience, Wen-ling
has been stricken by grave illness,
felt disappointed with the students’
poor attendance rate, and could not
effectively cope with the local lifestyle
due to her poor level in Spanish.
However, she remained optimistic
and eager, and everything eventually
improved as she got back on track.
Wen-ling reminds us that overseas
volunteers are, after all, outsiders
to the local community; you cannot
simply rely on passion alone. Other
key requirements for volunteers
include physical health and mental
and emotional adaptability. Most
importantly, Wen-ling says: “You must
learn how to live with yourself. It may
be helpful to develop a few hobbies
to entertain yourself or other people
as well.”
Wen-ling has some advice based
on her own experiences for those
who intend to pursue a career in
overseas volunteering. It is important
to first acquire approval from family
members to ensure that your
volunteer experience is free from
unnecessary troubles. Your family
should be well aware of the places
you intend to go, the things that you
want to do, and what the experience
could provide for yourself and the
country. Doing so will allow your
family to understand your motivations
and ease their concerns, and may
even make them feel proud of your
actions.
Secondly, you must evaluate
yourself on your ability to live
independently and whether you
possess problem solving skills. It is
also essential to be able to respect
and accept different cultures. This
outlook will help you quickly adapt
to local life and better enjoy life in
different countries.
“My experience in Nicaragua has
given me many stories that I can
share. Perhaps I will write a book, or
start a salsa club where everyone can
dance salsa or bachata, or try out
Nicaraguan cuisine. Of course, I will
continue to hold onto my backpack
and camera, and pursue my journey
of self-education.” Wen-ling remains
active and optimistic for the future.
Chu Wen-ling, English Teaching Volunteer, Nicaragua
Pick up my backpack and camera,
continue on my journey of learning
2
Interview