I'm so happy you're joining me again.

很高興您能再次加入我。

I know it's been a while since I haven't done  any episodes about the news anymore about Taiwan

我知道已經有一段時間我沒有做任何關於台灣新聞的專輯了，

but there is a lot of stuff that has been  going on so I'm happy to get back to it!

但一直以來發生很多事情，所以我很高興能再回來！

Before we do I want to wish you  a super happy Lunar New Year.

在此之前，我想祝您新年超級快樂。

It's the year of the ox,  

今年是牛年，

so I wish you all happiness health and  everything you wish for in this year of the ox.

因此，我祝大家牛年快樂，身體健康，萬事如意。

It has also been Valentines two days ago, so happy  Valentines as well! (especially if you're single)

兩天前也是情人節，所以也祝情人節快樂！（特別是如果您單身）

*high five*

*擊掌*

The article I want to talk about today is  actually something I read in the newsletter

今天我想談的文章，

from the Taipei Representative Office

其實是我從台北代表處的電子報中讀到的，

I get mail from them every friday,  because I subscribe to the newsletter

因為我訂閱了電子報，每週五會從他們那裡收到電子郵件，

This article is actually  super positive for Taiwan,

這篇文章事實上對台灣非常正面，

because Taiwan ranks first in Asia and 11th  globally in the EIU democracy index 2020.

因為台灣在 2020 年 EIU 民主指數中在亞洲排名第一，

The EIU, that's the 'Economist Intelligence Unit'

在全球排名第十一。EIU 是“經濟學人智庫”，

They have an index of democracy everywhere around  the world and actually if you go on their website,

他們在世界各地都有民主指數，其實，如果您參觀他們的網站，

you can see that they wrote  something about the year 2020:

您可以看到他們寫了一些有關 2020 年的內容：

"Democracy was dealt a major blow in 2020.

“民主在 2020 年受到了沉重打擊。

Almost 70% of countries covered by the  economist intelligence units democracy index  

經濟學人智庫民主指數包含的國家中，

recorded a decline in their overall score

有將近 70％ 的國家整體得分有所下降，

as country after country locked down to  protect lives from a novel coronavirus.

由於為了保護人們免受新型冠狀病毒侵害而採取的封城。

The global average score fell to its lowest  level since the index began in 2006."

全球平均得分已降至該指數自 2006 年開始以來的最低水準。”

We can see that worldwide democracy hasn't  been doing so well according to this index,

我們可以看到，根據該指數，全球的民主制度沒有取得很好的進展，

but as the title told you, there is a  country that has been doing pretty well.

但是正如標題所說的那樣，有個國家的發展相當不錯。

It's about Taiwan that is ranked first in Asia

在他們評估的 167 個國家中，

and 11th globally out of the 167  countries that they assessed.

台灣在亞洲排名第一，在全球排名第十一。

On february 3rd, by the London-based  Economist Intelligence Unit,

總部位於倫敦的經濟學人智庫 (Economist Intelligence Unit)

this score was actually published.

在 2 月 3 日正式發布了這一個分數。

I'm going to read something more in the article.

我接下來要讀更多的文章內容。

"Singled out as this year's star performer,  

“被推選為今年的明星，

Taiwan climbed 20 places in the rankings  as compared to the previous year

台灣的排名比前一年上升了 20 位，

and gained the denomination of "full democracy".

並升格分類為“完全民主”。

Taiwan's strengthening of  democracy backed the global trend

台灣民主的進步支撐了全球趨勢，

in a year that saw a large majority of  countries record a decline in their total scores

一年來，大多數國家的總評分

compared with previous year."

與上一年相比都有所下跌。”

So this is very unusual. While most countries  were declining their democracy score,

這非常與眾不同。當大多數國家的民主評分下降時，

Taiwan was actually rising up  this year! That's very remarkable.

台灣則在今年躍升！非常了不起。

"The report also described Taiwan  as a "beacon of democracy in Asia"

“報告還把台灣描述為“亞洲民主的燈塔”，

and chalked up the country's spectacular  rise as a reflection of a consolidation  

並把台灣的驚人崛起歸功於

of positive political and legal  developments over recent years."

反映了台灣近年來政治與法律積極面發展的鞏固。”

Today's news has also been reported  on several other news outlets.

今天的新聞也在其他幾個新聞媒體上有報導。

For example on Taiwannews.com  

例如，在 Taiwannews.com 上，

we can read that while Taiwan was still  categorized as a "flawed democracy" in 2019,

我們可以看到，儘管台灣在 2019 年仍被歸類為“有缺陷的民主國家”，

transparency in political party financing  as well as political and judicial reforms

但政黨募資的透明以及政治和司法改革，

propelled the nation 20 places higher on  the list this year. CNA reported this.

使台灣今年排名上升 20 位。CNA 報導。

Taiwan was also one of only 38 countries  to improve their rankings in 2020

與往年相比，

compared to the previous years

台灣也是 2020 年排名上升的 38 個國家之一。

That's a huge achievement!

這是一個偉大的成就！

The only two other full democracies  in East Asia, Japan and South Korea  

在東亞，只有另外兩個完全民主國家，日本和南韓，

finished at number 21 and 23.

分別位於第 21 名和第 23 名。

China was listed as an authoritarian regime  at number 151, with Laos coming at number 161

中國被列為獨裁政權，排名 151，寮國排名 161，

and North Korea at the very bottom number 167."

北韓墊底第 167 名”

Yeah, that's no surprise for North Korea there...

是啊對於北韓來說，這不足為奇…

"On a global scale, Northern European countries  

“在全球排名上，北歐國家排名最高，

occupied the top rankings  with Norway at number one,

挪威排在第一位，

Iceland at number two and Sweden at number three."

冰島排在第二位，瑞典排在第三位。”

I have studied in Sweden! Just by the way...

我在瑞典念過書！順帶一提…

"New Zealand finished in fourth  place followed by Canada.

“紐西蘭排名第四，其次是加拿大。

Switzerland, often seen presented as a  model state by international surveys,

在國際調查中通常被視為模範國家的瑞士，

finished just one notch behind Taiwan in  the 12th slot." So that's pretty impressive.

僅落後台灣一名，排名第十二。” 這實在令人難忘。

Taiwan got a higher score  than Switzerland on the list.

台灣在排名上得分比瑞士還高。

Super impressive!

非常令人印象深刻！

I would like to end this video by mentioning  some of your comments on the previous video,

我想在影片結束前提一下你們在上一部影片中的一些留言，

Where I tried some Taiwanese snacks  that I got from a friend in Taiwan  

在影片中我和我的朋友 Eline

together with my friend Eline

嘗試了從一個台灣朋友來的一些台灣零食，

There is one person with the user named  "Tasty treats and travel" who says:

一個名為“Tasty treats and travel”留言說：

"The coconut cheetos are often  used superstitiously for good luck

“我認為，椰子乖乖因為品牌名的原因，

because the brand name, I think.

經常被迷信地用來祈求好運。

The school I work at will place them  around in weird locations for good luck

我工作的學校會把它們放在奇怪的地方，來得到好運，

for example if the printer keeps breaking, people  will place a couple of those bags around it

例如，如果印表機不斷壞掉，大家會在旁邊放幾包這個，

I think they taste very coconutty. I couldn't  believe you didn't know what flavor they are!"

我覺得它們吃起來很椰子。我簡直不敢相信妳不知道它們是什麼味道！”

I think this is super super  funny because you know what...

我覺得這超級超級有趣，因為您知道嗎…

this is not the only comments I read related  to these chips and these superstition beliefs!

這不是唯一我讀到的留言，關於這些脆片和這些迷信的信仰！

So apparently in Taiwan  

那麼顯然在台灣，

it's usual to put these kind of Taiwanese  coconut cheetos around broken machines.

通常會將這種乖乖放在壞掉的機器旁，

I even heard someone who was an engineer, and if  there is a very complex machine that's broken,

我甚至聽某位前工程師說，如果有一台非常複雜的機器壞掉，

they would jokingly put these cheetos around  it. I really think this is so interesting!

他們會開玩笑地把這些乖乖放在機器周圍。我真覺得超有趣的！

I have never heard of any tradition like  that in Belgium, so that's something very  

我從來沒聽過比利時有像這樣的傳統，

Taiwanese I think.

這非常台灣，我覺得。

Another comment from Alex Lin says:

另一則從 Alex Lin 的留言說：

"Before you try the peanut soup you can put it  in the cooler for a day. It will taste better."

“在妳嚐試花生湯之前，妳可以把它放在冰箱一天。它會更好吃。”

Thank you for the advice Alex!

謝謝 Alex Lin 的建議！

But I'm really confused, because I  recently saw another comment that mentioned  

但是我真的很困惑，因為我最近看到另一則留言提到，

that this soup is best if you heat it up!

把花生湯加熱一下最好吃！

So now I'm really confused. Some people say it's  better cold and some say I have to heat it up.

所以現在我真的很困惑。有人說要冷藏，有人說我得把它加熱。

What do you think is right? Should peanut  soup be hot or cold? please let me know.

您認為哪個正確？花生湯應該是冷還是熱？請讓我知道。

The person by the name of "My name is" says:

這個人的名字叫“My name is”：

"Hi, your friend is like the fairy  princess in the movie Lord of the Rings.

“嗨，妳的朋友就像電影《魔戒》裡面漂亮的精靈公主。

Beautiful of course, both of you are  beautiful, elegant and generous."

妳們倆真是美麗、優雅又大方。”

That's so nice of you, to  give such a huge compliment!

您真是太好了，給了這麼大的讚美！

And it's really funny because many of you have  noticed a similarity between my friend Eline

這真的很有趣，因為你們中的許多人都注意到我的朋友 Eline

and the fairy princess in Lord of the Rings. What  do you guys think? Does she really look alike?

和魔戒的精靈公主之間的相似之處。你們覺得呢？她真的長得很像嗎？

That was it for today's video. I hope you enjoyed!

這就是今天的影片，我希望您喜歡！

I definitely always enjoy talking about positive  news like that, so I really had fun making this.

我總是喜歡談論這樣正面的消息，所以我真的很開心做這個。

Thank you as usual for supporting me.

謝謝您支持著我

If you watched until the end,  

如果您一直觀看到最後，

you're one of a kind! Not many people  do that, so you're pretty special.

那您就是其中之一！這樣的人並不多，所以您很特別。

Let's find a password.

讓我們來找個密碼。

Since it's new year of the ox, let's just say:

由於今年是牛年，所以我們來說：

"Happy year of the ox!"

“牛年快樂！”

If you write that in the comments,  

如果您在留言中寫下這個，

I know you watched until the end  and all my love goes out to you!

我就知道您一直觀看到最後，我所有的愛都給了您！

I also want to mention something.

我也想提些事情，

So actually, it's been a little bit hard juggling  my work and private life and making videos

其實，在我的工作和私人生活和製作影片之間拿捏有點困難，

because there's so much work  that goes into making videos.

因為要投入很多工作去製作影片，

I have to first find the idea of what to film,  then I have to film and set up everything myself,

我首先要找到要拍攝什麼的想法，然後我必須自己拍攝並且安排所有的事物，

then I have to edit everything myself, then I need  to find music, then I need to write the subtitles

然後我必須自己編輯所有內容，然後我需要找音樂，然後我需要寫字幕。

Luckily, I have a friend helping me to correct  the google translated Chinese subtitles,

幸運的是，我有一個朋友幫我修訂 Google 翻譯的中文字幕，

because usually they're pretty horrible...

因為它們通常非常可怕…

and then I have to upload them,  write a whole description,

然後我必須上傳它們，寫整個影片資訊，

It takes me so so so much time so I'm super  happy to say that this time, for the first time,

這花了我很多時間，所以我非常高興地說，

I'm gonna let someone else edit this  video so it's taking one step away

這是我第一次要讓其他人編輯這部影片，因此少了一個步驟，

This is only possible because of your support!

這只有在您的支持下才成為可能！

You're watching the advertisements and especially  also the people who support me on Patreon.

您觀看的廣告，尤其在 Patreon 上支持我的大家。

It's really thanks to you that I'm able now  

非常謝謝您，讓我現在能夠減輕一些工作負擔，

to take a little bit of workload of  myself and pass it to someone else

把它轉移給其他人，

Hopefully I can stay more  active and make more videos

希望我能保持活躍並製作更多影片，

Thank you so much for all your help  you have been giving me the past year.

非常感謝您過去一年以來給予我的所有幫助。

I really appreciate every single one of you!

我真的很感激你們每個人！

Thank you and I hope to see you  very soon in the next video.

謝謝，希望在下一部影片中很快再見。

Bye bye ~

Bye bye ~