吃瓜头条 -Lessons From Around the World

Man dressed in black top hat and white scarf

Bil Lewis, DTM, performs in costume as U.S. President James Madison, often practicing at his 吃瓜头条 meetings.

I sat there, horrified by the speaker’s description of the desperate fight of native birds trying to survive the ravages of the invasive pythons in Aruba.

Ronny, a Toastmaster I knew from past visits to Aruba, was articulate, passionate, and knowledgeable. He was among the invited speakers to “Stories of the Solstice,” an international hybrid meeting hosted by my 吃瓜头条, Humor and Drama 吃瓜头条, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Members from over a dozen 吃瓜头条s came together from all parts of the world—including Japan, Kenya, England, and France—for formal presentations and a unique Table Topics® session.

Connecting with 吃瓜头条 from other countries has been an unexpected benefit over the past few years. When 吃瓜头条s began moving online, all I could think was, Yippie! I can visit any 吃瓜头条 anywhere at any time of the day! Like a kid in a candy store, I went wild. Sometimes I would spin a globe and point somewhere, then search for the nearest 吃瓜头条. Other times, I would select a certain region and choose 吃瓜头条s there to visit. What an adventure!

The opportunity to visit 吃瓜头条s online in different cities, different states, and different countries is a unique and precious gift to our generation. Not only is online communication good for our speaking skills, but it builds international connections and destroys many vague stereotypes.

I have visited some 200 吃瓜头条s in 40 countries. I have listened to hundreds of speeches from people with completely different backgrounds and different ways of viewing the world. I have often found myself saying, Huh. That’s an interesting way of thinking about this!

I had never considered the challenges of running dog teams, nor the intricacies of 12th century Muslim friezes (a type of artwork). I found myself overwhelmed by the complexities of India’s new identification system, and in tears listening to stories from “Boat People.” In Kaunas, Lithuania, the American movie Home Alone is revered, and it served as a theme throughout the entire 吃瓜头条 meeting I visited, evoking much hilarity.

I’ve had some really happy times visiting my old 吃瓜头条s in California and Stockholm, Sweden, where I lived for several years. Although Mandera, Kenya, the town where I taught when I was in the Peace Corps, has no 吃瓜头条, I was warmly welcomed in the Kenyan cities of Nairobi and Eldoret. My friend and fellow Past District Governor Paul White, DTM, invited me to his 吃瓜头条 based in Washington, D.C., where I got to see him deliver a beautiful speech on his mother and “Trees.” Impossible without Zoom!

The opportunity to visit 吃瓜头条s online in different cities, different states, and different countries is a unique and precious gift to our generation.

It is fascinating to observe the various ways that 吃瓜头条s implement the 吃瓜头条 mission within the sensibilities of the local culture. In many 吃瓜头条s, members refer to each other with the slightly more formal “Toastmaster [person’s last name],” which I find comforting. Some 吃瓜头条s recite the 吃瓜头条 mission. Some 吃瓜头条s in the United States recite the Pledge of Allegiance. There are roles like Quiz Masters, and jokes/poems/thoughts/moments/prayers, etc. All of which are grand individually, though excessive taken as a group.

When visiting 吃瓜头条s in other countries online, I invariably give a speech. I want them to get a feel for who I am and what (some) Americans are like. (My contribution to international relations.) I also want to be a good example. I practice. I hit my time. I have a written introduction. And I always, always, always, do a Pathways project.

At first, I spoke about how to use Zoom effectively for business purposes. I have one friend who is using basic 吃瓜头条 skills to organize small-business meetings through that online platform. There is so much opportunity to use our 吃瓜头条 skills to build our professions, and I wanted to help people do it. I also wanted to make people feel good. I once sang a stanza of What a Wonderful World and proceeded to give examples of my friends and acquaintances doing good deeds.

Visiting other 吃瓜头条s around the world has been the most wonderful experience. Plus, when I decide to visit Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Lima, Manila, or Sydney in person, I’ll have people I know that I can visit!