Thirty foreigners from 18 countries gathered at Warner Village in Taipei City yesterday to share their impressions of the city in a Mandarin and Hoklo (also known as Taiwanese) speech contest for foreigners.
The contest, organized by the Taipei City Government and Radio International Taiwan, invited contestants who have lived in Taiwan for less than seven years to share their views on the various charms of the city. Contestants had three minutes to say how they “have fun in Taipei” either Mandarin or Taiwanese.
For many contestants, Yangmingshan, night markets, temples and Taipei 101 were among the most popular attractions in the city.
Nineteen-year-old Russian Aulova Nina, who won first place in the speech contest, explained in fluent Mandarin that her five favorite things in Taipei were night markets, night clubs, tea, school and music. She also impressed the judges by singing a song she wrote in both Mandarin and Taiwanese.
Coming to Taipei eight months ago to study Mandarin at National Chengchi University, Nina said she appreciated the opportunity to practice Mandarin and share her passion about this place.
“My birthday is coming up in June and winning the contest is the best present,” she said.
Samantha Daniel from Saint Kitts and Nevis, who has lived in Taiwan for four years, said what she liked most in Taipei were Yangmingshan and hot springs at Beitou (北投).
“I have a lot of fun in Taiwan and I am pretty used to everything here now. The only thing I find difficult to get used to is probably the stinky tofu,” said Daniel, who won second place.
The contest also attracted five-year-old Ashish Purswaney of India. Dressed in a traditional Indian garb, Purswaney shared his view of a fun day in Taipei.
“Hiking in the morning and then eating a bowl of beef noodle soup at noon. Going to Hsin Tien Temple and Taipei 101 in the afternoon, and having Taiwanese snacks at the night market for dinner,” he said.
“If you still don’t want to go home after visiting the night market, you can go to the KTV and sing some Mandarin and Taiwanese songs,” he said.
Department of Information and Tourism Commissioner Yang Hsiao-tung (羊曉東) said Taipei was the first stop for many tourists visiting Taiwan and home to many foreigners.
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