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For two consecutive years in 2016 and 2017, I was fortunate to accompany the Slovakian local travel agency SlovakFriends on behalf of the Slovak Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan to participate in the International Taipei Travel Exhibition to promote Slovak sightseeing, as well as work as a translator and coordinator. It was during this working experience that in a sudden I deeply felt that Slovakia, a new emerging country in central Europe is nearly strange to Taiwanese. However, on the other hand, from the warmly feedback in the exhibition, I saw many Taiwaneses are full of curiosity and imagination about Slovakia’s traditions and culture.
It’s nearly 18 years since I met my Slovak husband, got married and gave births to my boys. Slovakia’s culture, folk customs and scenery have been common to me and became a part of my life. In past years, two month yearly in summer my boys and I spent summer vocation with my Taiwanese family in Taiwan. Boys know everything about Taiwan, even though we don’t live there. Taiwan is no doubt their second sweet home without any cultural barriers. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized that Slovakia, which I am familiar with, is another completely strange country to Taiwanese!
Taiwanese loves to travel abroad to broaden their knowledge and to relieve work stress by traveling. They have already traveled to Western European countries where are rich in culture and historical monuments. In recent years, with the prosperity of the Internet, the substantial progress of air transportation and international exchanges have become frequent. The rich tourism resources of Central and Eastern Europe are gradually being discovered. Slovakia and it’s neighboring countries such as Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary in this circumstance are gradually become one of the new territory, where Taiwanese tourists eagerly attempt to explore.
From the experience of guiding various small and big groups of Taiwanese tourists, I gradually get acquainted the preferences of those who choose to travel in Slovakia. I know much better what Taiwanese travelers would like to see and attractions they prefer to visit.
The translation experience accumulated in the past few years, such as paper translation, exhibition venues translation, factory visits, etc., let me understand the differences in culture, economy, life, etc. between Taiwan and Slovakia. I look forward to using this experience to enhance mutual cultural and economic exchanges between two countries.
The member of a small group, who traveled with me in August 2019 sent me a friendly greeting at the end of the year. She wrote: "Because of you, our 2019 travelling in Slovakia has become an unforgettable memory!"
I keep those good words in my heart and use it all the time to encourage myself. I expect every friend who has the chance to travel with me in Slovakia will make the most unforgettable memories!
