Age: 13
Favorite Player: Johan Santana
Favorite Team: NY Yankees

The Sports Visitors talk baseball with a coach

Yesterday we went to the aquarium in the morning. The dolphins were my favorite exhibit there. It was great to watch them in training- they responded really well to it. I also liked the sea lion because he was cool-looking, but he smelled! He was also very loud.

Then we went to the baseball game in the afternoon at Wrigley Field. It was an exciting game. We sat up front for batting practice, and it was fun. There were things that I saw that I want to copy in my swing. To have been able to walk around on a major league ballpark felt really great. It was cool seeing the ivy up close. I wish I could’ve stepped on the grass like Ernie Banks did. It was nice having him talk to me about my swing the other day. When I get to be famous, I’ll reach out and work with the community like he does. I hope that one day I could come to the US to play for college and the pros. Watching a game from the stands was great. For lunch I had two orders of French fries and a hamburger. I also tried kettle corn, cotton candy, roasted peanuts and coke.

Age: 15
Favorite Player: Tyler Hamilton and Joe Mauer

The Sports Visitors from Taiwan at Wrigley Field

Yesterday we went to Northside College Prep High School. I went to a music class, biology, and Japanese. I was very happy to be in the classes with a group of kids that all spoke a little Chinese. It was nice to be able to talk to them. We talked a little bit about the differences between schools in the US and Taiwan, and I told them that in the US it seems like the kids are more passionate because they talk more. I like this model a lot – it makes the atmosphere for learning very good. In Japanese class I couldn’t understand, so I just smiled a lot. In music it was the first day of the class and they talked a lot about the difference between Latin music and American music. It was a cool class – I learned about the different instruments used in popular Latin music. They didn’t actually play that day, but they’ll play in future classes. We don’t have that kind of class in my school in Taiwan, so it was cool to see it. In biology it was very complicated, and I don’t have the patience for that kind of experimentation.

After school we played a game that is only played in Chicago – 16-inch softball. It was unique and very fun. I would definitely play in a league like this at home if we had it. You didn’t use gloves, just this very big ball. It was so heavy that it was hard to make it go very far. Still, it was fun.

In general, the biggest difference between the US and Taiwan is the relationship between people. In Taiwan people who are strangers don’t talk, but here people are more open and talk to each other. I also found DC and Chicago to be different. Chicago feels a bit more congested and the buildings are very tall and the streets narrow and crowded. In DC it’s a little more comfortable. Both cities are overall very cool, though, and this trip has been beyond my expectations..

Age: 35
Favorite Player: Albert Pujols
Favorite Team: Chicago Cubs

Baseball legend Ernie Banks hosts youth from Taiwan at Wrigley Field

Yesterday we flew to Chicago. It's a very nice city so far. The highlight was getting the chance to meet Hall-of-Famer Ernie Banks. We felt very close to him. It was like a dream to meet such a famous ballplayer. He took us on a tour of Wrigley Field, which was amazing - we can only see this on TV in Taiwan. To walk on it was a life experience that we can barely believe. We talked with the group about how blessed we are to come all the way to the U.S. and to have the opportunity to meet Mr. Banks. For him to be so friendly to our group and so open, we feel very fortunate. He talked about his life philosophy and that made us think a lot. Seeing his path in life - from the army to the Negro Leagues to the Major Leagues - made us think about what it was we were doing or going to do with ours.

Our whole trip has impacted the way I think about coaching. In the US, kids are encouraged more, but in Taiwan there's more pressure. The environment is different. Coaches blame kids for mistakes rather than encouraging them. Players never talk in front of coaches, but here it's ok. Now I'm thinking about ways to bring the idea of encouragement to Taiwan. Coach Shiao, the other coach here, and I talk every night about how to make this work in Taiwan. We're going to figure out the best way to make the kids comfortable but still believe in the discipline they learned there.

Age: 14
Favorite Player: Joba Chamberlain and Adam Dunn
Favorite Team: NY Yankees

Youth from Ridge Ruxton School with youth from Taiwan

Yesterday we had a really great day. We went to a school for disabled kids and played baseball with them. After spending time with them, I don’t feel like they are different from us. I felt very good talking to them because they were so nice and welcoming. I admire them because they don’t give up easily, they keep working hard. When we were playing baseball they were really serious. I hope that sometime in the future we can meet again and play baseball together.

After that, we went to Towson University. It was very nice – the field was so nice I think it was even better than our professional facilities. I enjoyed listening to the coach, and I’d love to play at a college like this in the U.S.

In the evening we went out to play with a group called the DC Dynasty. The field was very nice and the air was good even though we were in the city. The kids were so nice, polite, and easy to get along with. The coaches taught us new concepts that I had never heard before. We learned about being flexible on the field and different playing styles. The kids were really cool. I was glad to have them the opportunity to show them my best baseball skills.

Age: 14
Favorite Player: A-Rod
Favorite Team: NY Yankees

Adam Dunn poses for a photo with the baseball delegation from Taiwan at a Nationals game

Hi, my name is Shia-Hsuan. So far, everything has been really fun and interesting. Yesterday we went to a middle school called Murray Hill. The kids at the school all study very hard. In our school, we’re less serious than the Americans were at Murray Hill. In Taiwan, the students chat to each other and here, everyone was very quiet and paid attention. My favorite class that we visited was the band class. Everyone was in a circle playing drums, and it sounded great. I play the bass guitar at home, so hearing the music was a lot of fun. We also jogged with the PE class, and we practiced some stretching exercises. I also liked the way the math teacher taught.

Yesterday we also went to a Major League Baseball game. We met two players from Taiwan and got their autographs. They told us to really focus on what we want and to work hard. It was fun seeing Kuo pitch after we met him. We also met Adam Dunn, who is very strong. Watching the game was fun. The home run was my favorite part of the game. The stadium itself looked different than what I’m used to, because in Taiwan most of the stadiums are more rounded. The food was good – I had chicken tenders and French fries, and then tried cheese fries, but I didn’t like the cheese very much. We met the mascot of Abraham Lincoln, and that was very funny. We have mascots in Taiwan, but they are mostly bears. I was very happy that the Nationals won.

Age: 14
Favorite Player: Fu-Te Ni
Favorite Team: Detroit Tigers

The Taiwan baseball delegation with Washington, D.C. in the background

Hi, my name is Pei-Hsuan, but my nickname is Melody. In elementary school I ran track and played dodgeball, and I always played baseball with my dad, who is a coach. My father and little brother and I would go to the batting cages to practice hitting and throwing, but I’ve never played on a team. I’m really looking forward to seeing the baseball stars on the rest of the trip – I’m going to take lots of pictures of them.

Since we got to the US on Monday everyone here has been very friendly and warm. In Taiwan, you have to smile and say hi first, but here everyone is very friendly and will greet you. The city is very clean and I have learned a lot the last couple of days already. I found my English is improving!

Yesterday we went on a tour of Washington, D.C. The tour guide gave us lots of information at all of the places we saw. I really liked the Lincoln Memorial. I could feel the seriousness and the strength of President Lincoln when I was at the memorial. All the buildings are very nice on the outside – it’s very beautiful. You can only see the big houses at the beach in Taiwan.

After the tour we went to a Boys and Girls Club. Taiwan has similar facilities that we can go to after school. It was very nice. I was watching TV there with some American girls, and the boys played pool. I enjoyed talking to some of the girls while we were there.