1) What information tools & technologies did you used to complete your CyberFair project?
Computers are the must to sort out all documentation, to type essays, as well as set up a web site. Apart from computers, we contact one another with instant messengers. When we do interviews, we use digital cameras and voice recorders. Aside from these technical gadgets, we also use computer softwares provided by the school: updating websites with FTP, make animation and websites with FLASH and NAMO, edit images with Photo impact, making PowerPoint slides with flash slideshow maker, and edit videos with videostudio.
2) In what ways did you act as "ambassadors" and spokespersons for your CyberFair project both on-line and in person.
First of all, we put our research project on the Internet in both English and Chinese versions for approaching non-Chinese speakers. Also in the field researches, we interacted with foreigners, and introduced Kaohsiung to them. These are what we young diplomats do ! Moreover, during the research, we interviewed the head of Jyuejiang. In the interview, we encountered civilians, especially senior students and friends of the president of our school. We talk to them to get more comments and opinions. Furthermore, we also contact with the executive of the port of Kaohsiung for an interview through emails and telephones. The shopkeepers around Martyr’s Shrine welcomed us and were pleased to help us out by filling out the questionnaires. They bought us drinks and encouraged us to boost up the tourism around the area. There were some citizens who cheered us up when they saw our fatigue. In fact, we enjoyed a lot in what we were doing!
3) What has been the impact of your project on your community?
Our research projects, including geography, history, transportation, cultural affairs, and sightseeing, are represented through images and words in order to introduce Kaohsiung to a greater audience. During the research project, not only do we get to know port of Kaohsiung better, but also learn and experience outside school curriculum. It is because we make plans and put our thoughts into actions, so as to connect our life with local communities and get to know our transportation system even better than we are used to be. On top of this, we also get to know the head of our neighborhood, Mr. Cheng and Mr. Chen in port of Kaohsiung, and many other shop owners around this area. They were very passionate and encouraged us during the research. Furthermore, we also served as guides to some tourists who were sightseeing around port of Kaohsiung. When we were on the way to interview the head of our neighborhood, some team members volunteered to help an old lady to recycle some cans. As the chief of the team, I was so touched at that moment.
4) How did your project involve other members of your community as helpers and volunteers?
When we called on the Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau for the first time, we were a little bit worrisome because, first, we might not have prepared ourselves very well and, second, we might have been treated with a cold shoulder. Yet, we were warmly greeted as soon as we met the enthusiastic staff members of the Bureau. We were moved by the warm welcome from not only the receptionists but the entire staff members of the Bureau. In addition to the section manager’s detailed briefing, we were greatly rewarded from the supervisor Chen’s thorough instruction and guides. Different from our presumptions about an office—dark and dense atmosphere, the offices of the Bureau were greened which made us refreshed. Much to our surprise, the Bureau even held the contest for greening the environment. What impressed us most was the drifting wood.
5) Discoveries, Lessons and Surprises (Optional)
We often spent three to four hours walking and doing the surveys. After such a long walk, we were all exhausted, thirsty, hungry, dizzy, and our feet ached, and yet we did not even reach our destination. The idea of giving up did come to us then. Yet, at the thought of our previous efforts would have been in vain once we had given up, we would encourage ourselves: just hang on in there! We had our comrades supporting one another, so there was nothing difficult and we would soon reach our goal. With this conviction, we were empowered to endure those hardships
Joyful moments were mixed with hard ones in our field surveys. We attended the opening day of Kaohsiung Lantern Festival. After finishing each one’s work, we enjoyed ourselves in the atmosphere of the Festival. We attended the Cultural Parade in the afternoon and walked with the street performers from YangCheng MRT Station all the way to The Urban Spotlight Arcade. Some of our group members even carried the performers’ gears and ran with everyone else. Indeed, the experiences were indescribable. We together attended the opening ceremony of the Festival in the evening and were awed and amazed by the beauty of firework. We took a stroll and took photos along the riverside of Love River, the True Love Ferry Pier, the Honorary Pier, and the Creative Art Fair.
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