Former French diplomat returns to Taiwan to thank elementary school principal (2014/03/13)

A former French diplomat found a special way to thank a Taitung resident who helped her out 37 years ago. Follow this heartwarming story of an act of kindness that inspired a return trip to
Taiwan.

Monique Dodinet produced a yellowed airline ticket from 37 years ago. Seeing this surprised the former principal of Lanyu’s
Dong-chinElementary School, Chen Ching-cheng. This was a ticket that Chen had presented to Monique Dodinet, allowing Dodinet’s passage from Lanyu back to Taitung.

Chen Ching-cheng
Former Principal
At the time a ticket for the boat was NT$110 and an airline ticket was NT$450. For several days the weather was quite bad, with large waves preventing the boat from making this trip. She kept waiting for better weather. When I heard about this I gave her NT$1,000 to buy a ticket.

Dodinet was on a solo trip to
Taiwan, and had taken a boat to Lanyu. Chen not only helped arrange accommodation for her but also used his own money to purchase the airline ticket.

Later, Dodinet returned to
France and began working as a diplomat. The two maintained correspondence, but Chen moved his residence and they lost contact for 10 years. In 1990, they regained contact but had no chance to meet. Instead, they shared a photograph of the two together at Lanyu Airport

Monique Dodinet
Former French Diplomat
It’s just to thank him, you know. It means a lot

After retiring from diplomatic service, Dodinet undertook this special trip from
France to Taitung to express her gratitude for Chen’s act of kindness performed so many years ago.

外交官機票

1977
年,一名26歲的法國女子竇狄內,環遊世界來到台灣,到達蘭嶼時,當時東清國小校長陳清正,熱心安排住宿,回程怕她缺錢,想都沒想掏出一千元,讓她買機 票,順利飛回台東。竇狄內後來當上法國外交官,惦記了37年,現年64歲的她,趁著退休,專程搭飛機從法國來到台灣,將這張機票存根送還給陳清正,表達多 年來的感謝。

前法國外交官竇狄內拿出37年前的機票,上頭都已經泛黃,讓前蘭嶼東清國小校長陳清正很驚訝,因為這張機票,正是當年陳清正送給竇狄內,幫助她順利從蘭嶼返回台東的一張機票。

[[
前蘭嶼東清國小校長 陳清正]]
"
當時船票才110元,飛機票則要450元,不湊巧 那幾天天氣都不好,風浪很大船都沒有開,她一直在等,後來我知道這件事情,我就拿了1000元給她買機票。"

竇狄內當年一個人自助旅行來到台灣,搭船來到蘭嶼,陳清正除了提供她住宿以外,還掏腰包幫她讓她買機票離開蘭嶼。

後來竇狄內回到法國擔任外交官,兩人仍有書信往來,卻因為陳清正搬家,中間失聯10年,直到1990年兩人才又聯絡上。

[[
前法國外交官員 Monique Dodinet]]
"
我只是想表達我的感謝,你知道的,對我來說 意義很大。"

退休後的竇狄內專程從法國來到台東,闊別許久,竇狄內用行動,表達這些年來始終沒能忘記的感恩之情。

 

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