There are many ways of expression, not only through language and text communication, but also with the development and advancement of technology, even images can now become a medium of communication. To allow new immigrants to have more ways to express themselves, the New Immigrants Family Service Center in Taoyuan City (桃園市新住民聯合服務中心) organized a "Video Workshop for New Immigrants, New Second-Generation, and Migrant Workers" (新住民、新二代、移工 影像工作坊) to teach new immigrants photography skills and video editing techniques. Recently, the workshop ended after four months of courses, and held an achievement presentation to admire the videos produced by the new immigrants. The editor of [Taiwan Immigrants’ Global News Network] was fortunate to get in touch with Chin Na-Li (金娜麗), a new immigrant from Cambodia, who filmed "My 99 Minute Husband" (我的99分老公), and interviewed her about filming her journey to Taiwan.
Taoyuan City New Immigrants Family Service Center held "Video Workshops for New Immigrants, Second Generation, and Migrant Workers". (Photo/Provided by Taoyuan New Immigrants Culture Hall)
Effort is the only way and is the best answer
In the film "My 99 Minutes Husband", Chin Na-Li narrated in fluent Mandarin her and her husband Chung Chi-Kang’s (鍾志剛) story. Chin Na-Li did not learn Mandarin after coming to Taiwan. She went to a Chinese school in Cambodia when she was a child and not only did she have to learn Mandarin, but also had to learn mathematics, history, geography etc. Not only is Chin Na-Li familiar with Mandarin, but she is also learning Taiwanese for her work and for her husband.
For Chin Na-Li, learning a language is difficult, but it will never be the reason for her to stop learning. Chin Na-Li came to Taiwan in 2003 and she was introduced to her husband through relatives and later they got married. When she first came to Taiwan, she often felt lonely because her husband and her in-laws were always busy at work, and she was a lonely "foreigner" in Taiwan. The loneliness of being unable to find someone to confide in often made Chin Na-Li feel uneasy. At that time, she not only had to take care of their one-year-old son but was also pregnant with a daughter who was about to be born.
Faced with fear and the unknown, Chin Na-Li once felt uneasy. Her parents in Cambodia came to Taiwan to assist in her post-partum confinement after she gave birth to her daughter. Her father also told Chin Na-Li, "You can go home if there is a need". However, Chin Na-Li was not willing to give up, she was not only thinking about her own flesh and blood, but she also wanted to work harder with her husband. Chin Na-Li said, "We change together through continuous communication and with the advice of elders."
Chin Na-Li (second from left) travels with her family. (Photo/Provided by Chin Na-Li)
An unexpected opportunity heats up the relationship between the two
Chin Na-Li, who refuses to give up and works hard, participated in this "New Immigrants, New Second Generation, Migrant Video Workshop" entirely by accident. She is not very interested in filming, but because she wants to learn the skills of taking pictures, hoping to take better pictures for the guests. Chin Na-Li told the editor that she was very distressed about the homework given by the teacher, and she thought of giving up. But considering the rare opportunity, and after many complaints and communication, her husband agreed to become the actor in her first film.
Chin Na-Li, who has lived in Taiwan for eighteen years, has travelled around Taiwan with her husband. She told the editor of [New Immigrants Global News Network] that she likes Taiwan's natural scenery the most, especially when walking in the mountains and forests, and looking at the vast sea of clouds, which makes her fall in love with Taiwan every time. In addition, Chin Na-Li also loves the warmth of Taiwanese people. "When I work, whether it is an elder or a guest, they will not tease or scold me because I don't know how to do the job". Chin Na-Li continued, with a smile, "Although it is inevitable that some customers will still tease or scold me, most of them are enthusiastic Taiwanese, willing to give me a chance to get familiar with the job, or they even take the trouble to teach me how to do it."
After the workshop, the two loved to take pictures and videos more, leaving a memorable travel experience. (Photo/Provided by Chin Na-Li)
Fall in love with Taiwan and become a "new immigrant"
Not only that, but Chin Na-Li also likes how Taiwan cares for new immigrants. In addition to providing free courses, the government will also carefully remind new immigrants about life in Taiwan. Chin Na-Li felt very comfortable, and she gradually fell in love with Taiwan, and transformed from being a "foreigner" to become a "new immigrant."
After the epidemic slowed down, you can see Chung Chi-Kang, who drives a tour bus, taking care of the passengers’ safety, and Chin Na-Li, who talks and laughs freely with the passengers. The two have worked closely together to bring travelers an unforgettable trip that is a once in a lifetime travel experience.
