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Amy, Dept. of International Trade (Taiwan)
國際貿易與經營系-沈于庭同學(台灣)
TTT Intern Keith Chen (訪談及英文撰寫:侯鳥計畫實習生陳恭齊)
-Translator Amy Yu-Ting Shen + Yinju Chen (中文編譯:沈于庭+國交小工陳瀅竹)
Freshly out of school with a vast cultural experience, Amy is excited for her visit to the Czech Republic to pursue her master in business relations. With an undergraduate degree in international trade and a minor in applied English, Amy is very oriented towards learning about other nations, especially their respective cultures. She chose to study abroad in Czech Republic due to recommendation by her mother’s friend. She is particularly looking forward to the castles and beautiful scenery of Germany. After one year in Czech Republic, she is able to spend another year in Germany, Switzerland, Austria or France (the decision is up to her). She has a lot of appreciation for Germany, and aspires to work at a German company in Taiwan or China due to the cross-cultural relations between the nations. Because of this, she plans on learning the German language, which is known for its importance in romanticism and philosophy.
于庭是今年7月剛出爐的畢業生，她擁有多彩多姿國際文化交流經驗，今年9月即將前往捷克University of Economics in Prague就讀國際貿易研究所，為此于庭感到十分興奮。大學主修國際貿易(輔修應用英語)的她，對於了解異國的文化及飲食有著濃厚的興趣。至於為什麼選擇捷克布拉格這個歐洲小國念研究所呢? 其實是透過母親的朋友介紹(母親朋友的孩子也在捷克念書)！這間學校國際貿易研究所課程的其中一項特點是，研究生完成一年課程後，可以選擇至德國、瑞士、奧地利或法國的合作學校完成第二年課程。其中于庭特別嚮往德國這個有著許多城堡及美景，以浪漫主義及哲學聞名的國家，她也計畫開始學習德語，希望未來能有機會在德商(在台)公司工作，或中國這個極具開發潛力的國家。
During her academic career, Amy has visited Houston, Texas in the United States. She attended a program hosted by St. Thomas University where she learned subjects such as culture, history, and economics. During this one month expenditure in Texas, she visited government buildings and federal banks. She got to explore the backside of the money-making process of American currency, an experience that she has a great impression of. She also got to try a few of America’s favorite pastimes such as river-tubing. She notices how Texas has big houses and cars, attributing to the slogan “Everything is Bigger in Texas.” Other than various landmarks and activities, Amy also notes the differences in American food and culture.
去年暑假，于庭獲選102年僑委會舉辦的「國際事務人才培訓計畫」，獲得赴美國德州聖湯瑪斯大學(St. Thomas University) 研習的機會，課程包含文化、歷史及經濟等議題。在德州的一個月，于庭與研習的夥伴們一同拜訪了不少政府單位，其中聯邦銀行的參觀讓她印象深刻，尤其是能有機會一探究竟美國貨幣的製造過程相當值得。她也嘗試了一些美國人喜歡的夏日休閒活動，例如river-tubing(一種以橡膠輪胎為載具，在河面上順流而下游漂的活動，類似漂漂河)。在德州生活的日子，于庭注意到四處都是大房及大車，她發覺德州有個特點就是甚麼東西都”大”，這也正應證了一句通行的口號 “Everything is Bigger in Texas.” (在德州，一切都比別的地方大！) 在參觀許多著名景點及活動外，她也與我們分享到她對美式食物及文化的感受。
Amy is unused to the fact that American dining doesn’t offer soup but offers only cold beverages. With the abundance of Tex-Mex cuisine, she says that the Mexican food is too spicy for her. As for American culture, Amy really embraces the fact that Americans are very encouraging when it comes to trying new things. Furthermore, strangers are very friendly and not afraid to initiate a greeting if eye contact is enacted. Before she went to Texas, she was afraid of practicing English due to fear of making mistakes. However, in Texas she was heavily encouraged to practice her English and subsequently encouraged to try new things. This has had a resounding effect on her personality where she learned that anything is possible as long as she made an effort to try.
于庭不習慣美式飲食只提供冷飲，卻沒有熱湯(吃飯配有熱湯，在台灣卻是很習以為常的飲食習慣)。由於地理位置的關係，在德州可以找到許多德墨(美式德州+墨西哥風)混和料理，但對飲食偏清淡的于庭來說，偏辣的墨西哥料理卻是一項挑戰！當話題轉到文化上，于庭深受美式文化的影響，“勇於嘗試新事物“的那股精神。另外她也對陌生人釋出的親切感及主動問候態度感到印象深刻。在來到德州之前，于庭對自己的英語其實沒有信心，然而這趟德州行，不僅讓她在英語能力增進受到很大鼓舞，進而也激起她嘗試新事物的勇氣，帶給她相當正面地影響，她學習到只要她鼓起力量去嘗試，任何事情都是可能的！
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意猶未盡?
想知道于庭對於國際交流還有甚麼樣的故事及觀點嗎?
(還有很多喔!)
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