Judging the English Contestant

Last night the Chengdu University of TCM - Translators Association had their annual "Election at Expiration of Office Terms" and "Speech Contest of TCM and Harmony."

I was asked to be a judge for the Speech Contest and all of the Foreign Students got to vote for the new officers along with the Chinese TCM Students.

We have Three very good stories to tell you about this experience.

1. At the end of each speech, we got to ask the students one question. We tried not to make them hard questions. The first few were too easy and the next couple were okay. Then poor Zhang got up and talked about a book called "The Art of War" as it applies to TCM Diagnosis. He was very clever and had a white board brought in and had a battle already displayed. He had mentioned that these principles could also be applied to gambling. SO, my question to him (which I thought he would love) was "who on that battlefield made the greatest gamble?" Oops - he was stunned. He had no idea what I had asked and had to have it translated into Chinese. He was so upset he still couldn't answer! Nice, huh? I apologised to the poor boy after the competition. The director asked me another question, one he could answer!


Zhang (on the right in the yellow shirt) accepting his certificate of installation. He was still talking to me even after this happened to him!

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2. The next funny story involves poor Sheila. She was just sitting there minding her own business. This was after the Speech Contest was over and the newly elected officers were receiving their certificates. Angel, the head of the Foreign Office, asked Sheila to be the first one to come and present the certificate to the student. However, all Sheila heard was her name and to come up to the podium. They handed her the certificate she was to present to the student. However, she thought she was getting the certificate. She hadn't understood the translators at the Translator Association. Plus, the certificate was entirely in Chinese. So, she just nodded and thanked them while the student who was supposed to get the certificate just stood there confused. While returning to her chair, the translators grabbed Sheila and explained that it was the girl who was supposed to get the certificate (they were laughing very hard while trying to explain this..).


Sheila accepting the award instead of the student. Look at the far right to see her laughing at what is transpiring!

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3. Third funny story is at the end of the ceremony, it was announced that "the food is decorated on the table in the back. Please enjoy yourselves!" I didn't see any decorated food and ate the chips and salsa anyway.


A good ending to a good evening.

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Okay - now having talked about the fun, let me explain the dedication of this group. All of the translators are students who are already very busy studying TCM or Nursing on the post-graduate level. The competition is very keen here and these students already have a lot on their plates.

Then, to take on learning English on the level of being a translator is most amazing. We have gained much respect for what they are doing on our behalf. We have made good friends here.

Peace and love,

Tang Li Xin