I have always wanted to find a way to contribute to our DDM community and to people around me.
When Covid hit us and the centre was closed, I was feeling down because all in-person volunteering events got paused; however, Dharma Drum Vancouver has been really dedicated to provide its members support and care during this difficult time by continuing their events online.
Therefore, I was provided with this great opportunity to interpret for David Listen’s speech on Dec 04, 2021.
We started the interpretation workshop in summer 2021 and we had intensive training 2 months before the speech. We met once a week for 3 hours training. Our teacher and leader was Angela Chang from Toronto. She had to overcome the 3-hour time differences because the rest of us are residing in BC.
The whole training process has helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses; furthermore, to figure out ways to improve them. The training was never easy and sometimes it was pretty intimating. I needed to overcome my fear to speak in front of the public; moreover, to overcome the fear of listening to my own voice. English is not my mother tongue and I have completed my post-secondary education in Taiwan. I have always felt my English is not as good as those born locally or has completed their university education here in Canada. The training has helped me build up my confidence. The whole team was being very helpful and encouraging. I am so glad I had such an amazing and supportive team.
It was really an adventure to me. I am extremely grateful that Dharma Drum Vancouver has provided me such opportunity to devote my little talent to our community, including people who came across in the North America to participate in David’s great speech.
It was truly an honor and a wonderful experience for myself. I would like to continue volunteering as an interpreter in the future to bridge more people from different language backgrounds to great Dharma talks.
Written by Gina Lin 2021.12.12