「與瑞氣對話」--接受電視採訪

11/22，Ingrid送來一封email：「你12月3日(週三)下午2:15有空上電視接受採訪嗎？ 節目是『與瑞氣對話』(Conversations with Rich)，地點在維州阿靈頓市，該節目在北 維州有線頻道Cox、Comcast、Verizon播出。」

大俠：「需要多長時間？我可能需要請假，謝謝！」

Ingrid：「我預估約要3小時，你肯定需要請假。」

大俠：「哇，3小時！我肯定需要先吃頓豐盛的午餐！」

哇，上美國有線電視接受採訪，可是我的第一次呀！當然，大俠膽大、藝高、心細、皮厚，也不會怯怕啦！我想到我的上一次是2007年的暑假，維州費郡(Fairfax County)公共電 視臺華語節目「家在華府」的主持人陳麗珍小姐主動來電，想請我上節目當圍棋講座的主講人，我與她的對話‧‧‧

大俠：「圍棋上電視，有市場嗎？有人要看嗎？」

陳：「凡中華文化，都是本臺採訪發揚的範圍，沒有市場，更需要開拓市場嘛！」

大俠：「圍棋為主題，肯定上得了檯面，但‧‧‧我的長相，行嗎？」

陳：「我們有專業化妝師，肯定行！」

我為推廣圍棋，上山下海兩肋插刀都行，何況拋頭露面兩頰擦粉，心一橫，也去了。播出後，聽說效果奇佳，有臺灣結婚照的美感與格調，呵呵！

當然，這回是為了新書《偉斯泊奇探臺灣》而上英文電視節目，不僅是為了自己、更是代表臺灣(華裔、亞裔)的某一樣本哩，我得開始閉關準備：穿啥服裝？要理髮嚒？搜集題庫？將《偉斯泊奇探臺灣》原文再看一遍？

其實Ingrid在兩年前(2011年2月22日)就上過「與瑞氣對話」的節目，接受過主持人Rich Massabny的採訪，該節目有2百萬家庭觀看(viewership)。Ingrid深知紐約人Massabny 天馬行空(on the fly)、隨機問話的特性，又寄來email給我心理準備，她指點的方 向是：我們的個人背景、在台灣的生活、我們的書、翻譯、台灣的政治和中國的政治等。蛤，還有政治？我得再翻翻憲法嗎？

11/30/2014

Dear Mr. Chin,

I look forward to seeing you at the TV Station on Wednesday, 12/3, at 3:15pm for our appearance on Conversations with Rich. The studio is just outside of Falls Church at 2929 Eskridge Rd, Fairfax, VA 22031 near Gallows Rd and Lee Hwy. The phone number at the station is 571-749-1111.

In order to give you an idea of the kinds of questions he might ask, here is a link to my first interview with him: Ingrid Anders on "Conversations with Rich Massabny" Parts One and Two.

I think he will focus on our personal backgrounds more than the book, and also on the politics of Taiwan and China. He is not a fan of the Mainland and will most certainly refer to it as "Communist China". I just try to keep it positive, focusing on what I like about China and agreeing that every country has its problems. Of course, you may say whatever you feel comfortable saying. This is only to prepare you. Hopefully he focuses on what's good about Taiwan and not what's bad about China. We definitely want to keep Taiwan as the focus.

My strategy will be to bring the questions back to the book whenever possible. Saying things like, "I actually touch on that issue in the book! When Kat and Wayne go to ..."

Or if he brings up something negative politically, I will try to say something like, "Yes, there are certainly cultural differences between any two countries, and that's why a book like this is so important. It can help bridge the cultural differences in a fun way."

You get the idea. :) 

Let me know if you have any further questions. See you on Wednesday!

Ingrid也寄了email給主持人‧‧‧

11/30/2014

Dear Rich,

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving and that you received the book I mailed to you. Translator Ching-Sung Chin and I are looking forward to Wednesday's interview. We will be at the studio at 3:15pm.

Here are some interesting things to note:

-Since you and I last met, I got married to artist Ryan McCoy (ryanmccoystudio.com). We live in Falls Church with our four-month-old daughter and Ryan's twelve-year-old son.

-Kat Vespucci Takes Taiwan first came out as an e-book in English in 2012. We released the bilingual paperback on November 2 of this year. The book launched in Taipei. Mr. Chin attended the launch in person; I attended via webcam.

-This book is unique because it teaches culture and language. The English and Mandarin pages are laid out side-by-side for easy cross reference.

-The book is fiction, though I drew from my own experience teaching English in Taiwan to write it. I lived in Taiwan for one year in 2004-5.

-It took four years to write the book and ten months to translate it.

-Translator Ching-Sung Chin is originally from Taipei and now lives in the United States.

-He is an engineer by training and devotes his free time to promoting Chinese culture and the arts in the United States.

-We were introduced by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, which fills the role of "embassy" for Taiwan in America.

-Working on the translation together generated many hilarious and enlightening conversations. I hope you will ask us about these. :)

See you on Wednesday!

~Ingrid