For ninth year in a row, a select group of students from National Taipei University have been invited to serve as “goodwill ambassadors” during the National Day celebration. Taiwan observes National Day on October 10, and the students are now getting ready to show off Taiwan’s best side to the world.
To be a goodwill ambassador on National Day, each of the 22 students from National Taipei University who have been selected must complete 90 hours of training. It’s serious stuff: these ambassadors are far more than glorified ushers.
First, there is physical training. This includes learning skills to boost physical strength, as well as posture training.
To strengthen their leg muscles, students learned how to walk slowly while lowering their bodies.
Then there is first aid training and training for other contingencies.
Some students speak Japanese, Korean and French, while others can use sign language.
One student said it was tiring at first, with long periods of standing and sitting, but that they have gotten used to it after weeks of training.
Another student returning to the program says that it gave her a sense of achievement when dignitaries attending last year’s event thanked her.