Unprepared?
The Boy Scout Motto is “Be prepared.”
I was a Cub and then a Scout for many years in South Africa, and this simple phrase, “Be Prepared,” has kept me alert and in a state of readiness for most of my life.
Having a prepared mind means thinking about the risks and the rewards before making decisions at the right time.
Having a prepared body means being strong and active, being able to take action and do the right thing at the right time.
“Be Prepared” is clearly shown on a scroll below a fleur-de-lis in many scout badges.
The fleur-de-lis is a common three-plumed symbol found on maps to point towards north. Lord Baden-Powell (the founder of the world-wide Scout Movement) designed the emblem to also remind Boy Scouts that they had to show the way by doing their duty and by helping others.
Two stars were added to symbolize knowledge and truth.
Check out the World Scout Emblem below:
What are five topics you can talk about, unprepared, for 30 minutes?
When I saw this question on Threads, I immediately thought that I would never talk about a topic without some kind of preparation.
For me, the question then became, “What are the five topics I feel I am prepared enough to talk about for 30 minutes? Topics that would be helpful to others?”
I’ll go into a little bit more detail about these topics over the next few days.
1. Living and Working in Taiwan
Since I have lived and worked in Taiwan since 2003, I can easily talk about my experience of living and working in Taiwan.
Experience has prepared me well.
Here are some aspects of living and working in Taiwan that I could easily chat about:
Taiwanese food.
Traffic safety as a pedestrian in a country with few safe sidewalks.
Traveling in Taiwan by train, by scooter, or by bicycle. I’ve also driven a car in Taiwan, but I get nervous behind the wheel, especially at night as I’m pretty much nightblind. I guess my eyes are too sensitive to the bright lights.
The diverse range of people I’ve met who live, work, and travel in Taiwan.
The amazing students I have taught and continue to teach English and Drama to.
Being married to a Taiwanese citizen for over a decade.
Having a family in Taiwan. Should we call ourselves the A-AA, the ‘African-Asian Ashbys’?
Doing performing arts work in Taiwan. I danced around Taiwan (and even on the nearby island of Matsu) for a modern dance company called MAD Theater for two years. I also performed with Taichung Improv, Let’s Play Theater, and The International Story Weavers, not to mention writing, directing, singing, and acting in my own touring drama productions for thousands of elementary school children in Changhua County.
Doing other non-teaching work in Taiwan. I worked as a staff writer for a children’s magazine in Taiwan for a few years.
See you tomorrow for part 2!