National Parks of Taiwan

In Taroko National Park (TNP), we often see tourists gathering around and listening to park volunteer docents' descriptions of the park, making us wonder how these volunteer docents are able to professionally explain the park's diverse aspects of nature, culture, history, attractions, and trails to the tourists, and not to mention all sorts of questions from them. Naturally, this would require special and dedicated training.

Actually, most of these enthusiastic volunteer docents are college students, office workers, or even retired governmental workers, teachers, or principals. These old folks who seem gentle and kind are actually the pillar of Taroko's volunteer forces! Principal Kuochien Dai, whom we interviewed in this issue, is one of the volunteer docents. Seeing how happy he is working in Taroko, his wife, Yun-mei Lin, also joined the volunteer team. According to Principal Dai, there are several other couples like themselves in Taroko's volunteer forces.

Dai is a member of Hualien's Hakka group, born in Hukou, Hsinchu, Dai and his family moved to and settled in Fenglin in 1952. After finished schooling, Dai chose to work in Hualien and serve his community instead of going to Taipei. Dai was offered as a tribute over 40 years in educational circles, and he has retired from Tung-fu Elementary School. Dai also started enjoying a life close to nature.

Friendship in the Woods

Dai traveled to many beautiful places after retirement. Like many others, he initially treated Taroko National Park like another tourist spot and did not have special love or research intention for it. Several of his friends joined TNP's volunteer team and recommended this paradise on earth to Dai, who then participated in a try-out in October of 2002, and eventually became one of TNP's volunteer docents after a series of review, interviews, and training.

Dai stated that becoming a TNP volunteer docent is really a joyful experience, so he also talked his wife into this. In less than five years, his wife has received the Chi-lai Class Volunteer Medal, an honor given to those who have served duties 60 times. Dai was also given the Nanhu Mountain Medal, which is given to those who have served duties for more than 100 times!

Gratitude is the Best Gift

Regarded by his fellow TNP volunteers as a hardworking man, the 66-year old Dai constantly read many relevant books in order to improve himself as a volunteer docent . His books are full of remarks and underlines, showing how hard he studies. Dai said that he studies hard because he has to greet tourists, who also ask questions other than just listening to volunteer docents' scripts. As a TNP volunteer docent, he believes it is his responsibility to learn all sorts of knowledge, since it would also make Taroko look bad if a tourist asks him a question that he cannot answer.

Dai said that tourists are a source of his sense of satisfaction and joy, and he is always happy when seeing tourists' happy faces when their questions are answered or at the end of a rich tour. Some foreign tourists even wanted to give the volunteer docents tips, and the volunteer docents had to refuse the offer and reminded them that they are volunteers. However, some tourists would still mail them postcards, photos they took in Taiwan, or small gifts after returning. Dai said that the best gift for the volunteers is seeing tourists having a wonderful time in the park.

Life-long Learning

Five years ago, Dai started spending 3 ∼ 4 hours on studying English. When he started working as a volunteer docent, he noticed that many foreign visitors entered the park but were not able to really understand this beautiful place due to the language barrier. Thus, Dai started studying English in the wish of explaining Taroko's beauty to foreign guests. Efforts sure do not go unpaid as Dai was able to use English to explain Taiwan's beauty to a group of visitors from nine different European countries and a group of 30 diplomats. These experiences are remarkable to Dai since he actually starts using English after his retirement. Dai is also very proud of these international encounters.

World-class Scenery with Love

Being an optimistic person, Dai always goes to work in a great mood as he believes it is a wonderful thing that he is able to use his skills and explain the beautiful sceneries to tourists. He feels very satisfied when seeing tourists learn things and return home happily, even if he has to stand and talk for long hours. He believes that it is truly God's blessing that he is able to participate in such work.

Having worked as a volunteer docent for years has also helped Dai to be a calm person. When the tourists were startled by the falling sudden earthquakes during some of the tours, Dai was able to help them calm down and relax with his humor and geology knowledge. It certainly seems that being able to deal with the unexpected is also one of the special skills of a volunteer docent!

After the interview with Dai, we were deeply moved by his warmth and the fact that the beauty of nature can only be eulogized and understood through beautiful mind and affect. We are certain that during your next visit to Taroko, the beautiful mountains and river will surely leave a great impression on your mind with the professional guide from the enthusiastic volunteer docents.