演講稿

在演講協會（Toastmasters）我寫演講稿，偶爾也為他人寫演講稿、或為他人修改演講稿。茲列幾個月前經手的兩篇：「創意的中文菜名」是十餘歲小朋友在中文學校的演講稿；「Kindness and Wisdoms」是Roosevelt在演講協 會（Toastmasters）年度 演講比賽的演講稿。

其一：「創意的中文菜名」

Pepsi-Cola「百事可樂」；Coca-Cola「可口可樂」；Kentucky Fried Chicken，嗯，就是「啃大雞」，這中文是不是比英文更優美、更有創意呀！

各位評審老師、家長同學，大家好，我是XXX，今天我想談談「創意的中文菜名」。

東坡肉、佛跳牆、叫化雞、夫妻肺片•••等菜名，不僅有創意、有美感，更令食客有想像空間，例如，吃了東坡肉，似乎文采（讀書寫字）就與蘇東坡靠近不少；點了佛跳牆，似乎阿彌陀佛也與我同桌吃肉。

其實不只這些傳統菜名有文化，新菜色菜名也在推陳出新。像上一回我們全家回台灣，去了一家普通餐廳，菜單上的菜名也都很有創意！有一道叫《白山黑水》，我很好奇就點了它，菜一上來，嗯，是我最愛吃的白胖小籠包耶!你或許會問，那黑水呢？•••呵呵，就是一碟黑醋啦！我媽媽也有嚐試嚐新的精神，她點了一道《青龍過海》，結果端上來一看，哈!一碗清湯，上面漂著一棵蔥（剛好媽媽正在節食，很適合她！）爸爸呢，哦，他愛看《絕代雙嬌》，所以點了一道《絕代雙嬌》（《絕帶雙椒》），原來是海帶絲炒青辣椒及紅辣椒，（絕帶就是海帶，雙椒就是青辣椒及紅辣椒）實在妙絕！

說著說著，我倒餓了，嗯，我想吃《白山黑水》、「啃大雞」、還有一杯「百事可樂」，有人要一起吃嗎？

謝謝大家!

其二：Kindness and Wisdoms

I am going to share a personal story on kindness and wisdoms.

25 years ago, I drove a cab for a living.  One day around 2:30AM, I arrived at a building that was dark except for a dim light on the ground floor window.  Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice; wait a minute and drive away if no response.  But, I realized many people depended on taxis as their only means of transportation.  Unless the situations smelled of danger, I always went to the door to offer my assistance … of course I might get more tips () which were important to a young cab driver.  So, I walked to the door and knocked.  “Just a minute” answered a frail, elderly voice. After a long silence, the door opened.  A small woman in her 80’s stood before me.  She was wearing a pint dress with a pillbox hat with a veil penne on it.   By her side was a small nylon suitcase.

“Would you take my bag out to the car” she said.  I took the bag to the cab then returned to assist her.  She took my arm.  We walked slowly to my cab.  She kept thanking me for my kindness.

“Oh, it’s nothing” I said.  “I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother or … my grandmother () to be treated.”

When we got to the car, she gave me an address and asked: “could you drive me through downtown.”  “It is not the shortest way” I said.

“Oh, I don’t mind,” she said. “I am in no hurry … I am on my way to my niece’s…. and my doctor says … I must be in no hurry … Heaven can wait. ” I quietly reached out and shut off the meter.

“Which route would you want me to take, Madam?”

“You have a beautiful accent, young man… Where are you from?”   “Haiti.”

“You must have been here for a long time?” “6 years.”  

“Do you go to school?”   “Yes, University of Houston, computer science major” “Computer science.  That’s a great field! I taught applied Mathematics at City College in NY for 32 years.  You speak English properly, young man.”  “Oh, thank you. But, I have [pause] an accent.”

“Everyone has an accent… Don’t try to have mine or anyone else’s.”  As if she wanted to bless me and pass her wisdoms to me, she continued: “Never accept something just because someone you trust says it.  Examine it! Young man”

“There is always a story behind every story.  Look for it.”

“You were made to communicate well.  Express it!”

And, she went on and on.  And I intentionally listened. For the next 2 hours, we drove through the city.  She showed me the building where she once worked as an elevator operator.   We drove to the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds.   She had me pulled up in front of a furniture warehouse that was once a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a little girl.   Sometimes, she would ask me to slow down in front of a building or a corner and she would stare in the dark saying nothing.   Suddenly, she said :“I am tired.  Let’s go.”

We drove to the destination.  Two young boys came out quickly; they must have been waiting for her. I opened up the trunk and I gave them the suitcase.  

“How much do I owe you?”  “Oh nothing”, I said.  “Oh no, you must make a living. “

“There are other passengers.”  Almost without thinking, I bent over and gave her a hug.  She held me back tightly and said “You gave an old woman a small moment of Joy.  Thank you!”

My fellow Toastmasters members, don’t you think … kindness is the least thing we can offer to others and receive the most out of it?!

BTW, I still keep my [pause] accent.  Mr./Madam Contest Master!