Two teenage exchange students associated with the Rotary Club of Nanaimo will each take deep breaths before stepping on stage to tell personal stories before a crowd.
Cindy Shantz, committee member for the Around Town Tellers, has taken on Fonda Tungkaserawong, 16, and Antosia Raś, 16, as part of a mentoring program for the Rotary Youth Exchange to help hone their storytelling skills. Both teens will be telling true stories about their personal lives after having work-shopped them with Shantz.
Tungkaserawong came to Nanaimo in August from her hometown of Bangkok, Thailand, as her first excursion to North America. Being part of Around Town Tellers’ monthly series will be the first time she stands before a crowd to tell a tale.
“I think it’s a very good opportunity,” Tungkaserawong said about the mentoring program. “You get to improve your skills in many ways … like English and being creative.”
Raś also arrived in Nanaimo last August from Kraków, Poland, and attends the same school as Tungkaserawong. They’ve bonded over similar interests and adjusting to Island life after moving from large, fast-paced cities.
Raś said it’s always been a dream of hers to go on an exchange, and relishes the opportunity to practise English since she aims to attend a university outside of Poland.
And while performing before a crowd isn’t new for the teen, as she’s recited poems, sang, acted and played piano publicly before, she said she’s nervous for her family to watch the event virtually.
“I’m a little bit scared because I know my parents and family will watch it on Zoom. I don’t know how they’ll react because they’ve never heard me speaking in English,” she said.
Raś and Tungkaserawong will step on the Unitarian Hall stage on Friday, April 12, as part of Around Town Tellers Stories on Friday series. Although April’s theme will be ‘Hidden History,’ the teens will focus on personal tales. Tickets for Friday’s event can be purchased for in-person or Zoom attendance at www.aroundtowntellers.com.
READ MORE: Storytellers get ready to weave tales for Nanaimo audiences