Embrace The World Games 2009 Kaohsiung
◎Text by Ya-Ting Hou ◎Photos by Chung-Hui Pao
David Nedd, a British-Canadian, speaks fluent Mandarin. He works as English Trainer for the Bureau of Human Resource Development, where he assists in editing important documents. Besides editing, he also involved with The World Games 2009 volunteer training programs.
David considers Kaohsiung to be the new face of Taiwan. He thinks hosting the World Games 2009 presents a great opportunity for Kaohsiung to demonstrate that the city itself has the resources and ability to organize world class sporting events. The 2009 World Games will definitely propel the city of Kaohsiung onto the world stage. Therefore, he suggests that Kaohsiung should begin to create a friendly English environment because language is crucial for act in the global stage. For example, if the city could well place English signs around the city, the city would be able to offer more friendly and convenient environment for international tourists.
Eight of his twelve-year stint in Taiwan has been spent in Kaohsiung. David recommends a tour of the Former British Consulate at Dagou, Cijin Beach, Shoushan Zoo and the campus of National Sun Yat-sen University. When David's friends visit, he would take them to various night markets. According to David, each night market has its own flavor.
In recent years, the city appears in brand new landscaping. Offering more greenery park and wider roads to citizens of Kaohsiung, David said that recent urban regeneration has certainly raised city living standards significantly. In addition, the operation of Taiwan High Speed Rail and Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit has propelled the city into a new era of transportation.
David praised Kaohsiung residents as being more hospitable and warmer than those in the north. In addition, the southern are more straightforward. He said, by and large, southerners would treat him as a welcome friend instead of simply another customer when he purchases at a market. Such displays of genuine kindness win over his heart, giving him a sense of being respected. Yet, David still encounter some residents would address him "foreigner" in Mandarin. He stressed that as Kaohsiung transits into a international metropolis, minor details such as visitor satisfaction should be taken into consideration. To tackle this particular problem, educating the youth of Kaohsiung could well serve the purpose.
樂活高雄 迎世運
◎文／侯雅婷 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
英國籍David Nedd，說得一口標準國語，是市政府公教人力發展局的英語顧問，協助重要的英語文件審核，此外，他也參與市政府社會局負責的2009高雄世運會志工的訓練工作。
在David眼中，高雄市是台灣的新門面。他表示，主辦「2009世運會」是高雄市展現豐沛的人力資源與專業能力、統籌主辦國際型運動賽會的良好機會，高雄市也因此而躍上世界舞台。但是，David希望高雄市可以更用心地去經營友善的英語環境，他認為語言是高雄進入世界舞台大展身手的關鍵，而城市中許多英文招牌，若能完善地設置，將營造更友善且更便利的國際化生活環境。
來台12年，定居高雄長達8年之久，David最推薦前清打狗英國領事館、旗津海灘、壽山動物園及中山大學校園。親友來訪時，他也會帶他們去逛各個不同的夜市，感受不一樣的城市生活。
談起高雄這幾年在城市地景上展現截然不同的面貌，他認為，更多的綠地及更寬廣的馬路代表著市民生活品質的提昇；而台灣高鐵和高雄捷運等大眾運輸工具的出現，將為城市發展注入新動力，更是高雄發展史上關鍵性的里程碑。
David說高雄人與台北人相比更顯得友善與熱情，也更不吝於表達他們的善意，較直接，也少了些生意人的味道；他表示，高雄人真誠熱情的待客，有時候在買賣的過程中，單純地希望讓遠來的客人感到高興，就算少賺一點也無所謂，這點讓David及其他外國友人感覺受到尊重。但是，David指出，現在在高雄還是會遇到有些民眾指著他說「外國人」，讓他有啼笑皆非的感受，他提醒，在高雄市面臨轉型為國際城市之際，像這類的細節，應透過教育的方式加以改善。
Helene Mueller - KOC's New Force with a Contagious Smile
◎Text by Ya-Chun Lin ◎Photos by Ya-Ting Hou
Helene Muller has a beautiful Chinese name, Mu He Lin. She is a new force for the World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Organizing Committee (KOC). Her position is executive secretary of the Cultural & Tourism Department of KOC.
Under the influence of Luxembourgian culture from her father's side and French from her mother's side, Helene has faced the challenges of living in a multi-cultural environment since a young age. She has managed to find her own identity and learn to appreciate different cultures in an objective way.
Helene is very enthusiastic about Asian culture. Before she came to Kaohsiung to work, she had visited Taiwan several times. She is very impressed by the friendliness and hospitality of Taiwanese people. She said that she feels very respected when she is with Taiwanese people. Compared to her traveling experience in other countries, people in Taiwan do not try to sell her things all the time. She feels comfortable staying in Taiwan, which makes her appreciate this island more.
Helene says that Taiwan makes her feel at home. She is working on planning the opening and closing events of the World Games as well as other tourist cultural activities. This job not only combines her three favorite things: sports, art, and culture, but also helps her integrate into Kaohsiung City life.
Helene points out that the success of the World Games 2009 relies not only on the hard work of the KOC staff, but also the participation of every citizen of Kaohsiung City. Therefore, the city has not only the spectacular World Games to offer, but also a cultural exchange opportunity for our friends from all over the world. For Helene, every day in Kaohsiung City is a brand new day with fresh experiences.
Helene recalled that a few days ago she met a lady who greeted her with a big warm smile, then handed her a couple oranges as a gift. It's through experiences like this that she senses a genuine openness and warm friendliness in Taiwanese people. Helene emphasized that with simple body language and a smile, friendship does not have a nationality and can overcome any language barrier.
With living and working in Kaohsiung City, Chaishan is Helene's favorite spot for watching sunsets, where you can enjoy the beautiful view of Kaohsiung Port and Sizihwan Bay. Being laid back, she also enjoys relaxing outdoors and having a drink with friends. She thinks that at times like this she feels so close with friends who are with her that they don't even need to talk.
KOC的生力軍 慕荷琳
◎文．攝影／侯雅婷
Helene Muller有個美麗的中文名字─慕荷琳，是2009世運會組織委員會基金會(KOC)的生力軍，擔任該基金會文化觀光部執行秘書。
在父親所俱有的盧森堡文化與母親法國文化的影響，Helene從小面對多元文化的薰陶和洗禮，在成長過程之中，找到屬於自己的定位，並且能悠然自得欣賞不同的文化。
到高雄工作之前，喜愛亞洲文化的她，曾數次造訪台灣，對台灣人的熱情與好客留下深刻的印象；她說與台灣人相處，讓她感覺受到尊重，相較於其他的旅行經驗，台灣人不會無時無刻地向她推銷產品，這份自在感讓她格外喜歡台灣，Helene說台灣給她有如家一般的感覺。
Helene在2009世運會組織委員會基金會，負責規劃2009高雄世運開、閉幕表演並策劃精彩的觀光活動；這份工作結合她所喜愛的運動、藝術和文化，讓她能更深刻地融入高雄的生活。
Helene表示，舉辦2009世界運動會，除了需要KOC每位工作同仁全心投入之外，更仰賴每一位市民的熱情參與，如此一來可讓造訪高雄的外國友人在欣賞精彩的運動賽事之外，更可藉著這個難得的機會，與高雄交流。對Helene而言，生活在高雄，每一天都是嶄新的一天，有著全然不同的體驗。
Helene談起日前有位女士，微笑著遞給她幾顆柳丁，就這樣，Helene立即感受到暖暖的友誼和最真誠的友善，Helene說只要簡單的肢體語言，再加上一個微笑，友誼是無國籍的，可以打破語言的藩籬。
在高雄居住工作，柴山頂是Helene欣賞落日最喜歡的景點，在那裏她可以看到高雄港、西子灣的迷人景色；隨性的她也喜歡與朋友坐在路邊喝點飲料，Helene在這個時候覺得即便是什麼都不說，也覺得彼此很親近，絲毫沒有文化的隔閡。