Our Volunteers 我哋嘅義工: Kiki
Hello everyone, I’m Kiki. I’ve been in Ireland for almost four years now. Since last year, I’ve become a mother. My husband and I have gone from living as a couple to building a family together and taking care of our baby—it’s been a completely different life.
大家好，我係Kiki，嚟咗愛爾蘭就嚟四年啦，由上年開始，我已經變咗媽媽，同老公喺愛爾蘭一齊由二人世界既生活，到而家組織家庭合力照顧BB，生活真係完全唔同晒。
What brought you to Ireland?
Four years ago, after my husband got a job at a university in Ireland, I followed him here and we settled down. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and I never imagined that one day I would leave a place where my native language, Cantonese, is spoken. Now that we have a child, I really hope we can continue to use Cantonese at home. So we speak Cantonese with our baby, tell stories, and sing nursery rhymes in Cantonese. If one day, when the child grows up, she may have the chance to volunteer with Cantonese in Ireland and help pass on Cantonese culture and introduce it to more friends in Ireland.
乜嘢令你嚟到愛爾蘭？
四年前老公喺愛爾蘭大學搵到工作後，我就嫁雞隨雞，一齊嚟愛爾蘭生活定居。我本身係喺香港出世同長大，從來冇諗過有一日會離開自己母語（廣東話）嘅地方。而家生咗小朋友，都好想屋企能夠繼續用廣東話黎溝通，所以我哋係屋企都係同BB講廣東話，同佢講故事同唱兒歌。如果佢大個有機會做埋Cantonese in Ireland 嘅義工，咁就可以繼續傳承粵語文化俾我哋更多愛爾蘭嘅朋友們認識。
How did you start with Cantonese in Ireland?
In fact, I’ve been volunteering with Cantonese in Ireland for three years. When I first arrived, my husband wanted me to meet more people, so I joined activities organised by Cantonese in Ireland. Some of the people I met back then have now become very close friends, which makes me really happy. Later, I learned about a storytelling volunteer activity and signed up right away. I had been a kindergarten teacher in Hong Kong for many years, so after coming to Ireland, I really wanted the chance to continue telling stories in Cantonese. I never expected that I would still have this opportunity even after leaving Hong Kong.
你係點樣喺CII開始㗎？
其實我加入咗Cantonese in Ireland 嘅義工三年，到步愛爾蘭嘅時候，老公想我可以識多啲朋友，於是就參加咗當時嘅廣東話交流活動。當時識到嘅幾位朋友而家都成為咗好朋友，真係好開心！然後知道原來有一個講故事嘅義工活動，就即刻報名參加，因為我喺香港其實已經做咗好多年幼稚園老師，嚟到愛爾蘭都好想繼續有機會用廣東話講故事，真係估唔到離開咗香港都仲有呢個機會！
Anything to say to friends in Cantonese in ireland?
Lastly, I truly want to thank Cantonese in Ireland. As a Cantonese speaker, it has allowed me to find a community of Cantonese-speaking friends abroad, and to meet people who are passionate about promoting Cantonese culture. Their enthusiasm has truly brought warmth to my life here in Ireland, even while living far away from home.
想同CII嘅朋友講啲乜？
最後，都係真係想多謝返CII，令我作為一個粵語嘅使用者，都能夠喺外國地方搵到一班講粵語嘅朋友，同埋認識到一班願意宣揚粵語文化嘅朋友。佢哋呢一團火，確實為離鄉別井嘅我，喺愛爾蘭生活感受到絲絲嘅暖意。