My Public Speaking Experience
By Hannah van Otterloo - Runner-up Public Speaking Award 2009
After getting through all the national rounds, I had won a place in the international public speaking competition. I was so happy just to be able to go to London, for I had never been! On Monday morning really early I got to Shiphol with my dad and met with Hans Krawinkel, Ingrid de Beer and the winner of the Dutch National rounds Roos. I loved landing in London and hearing English everywhere. Not only have they got great accents they are also really nice, on the metro I had this huge bag to carry around and at one point had to carry it up a flight of stairs but this nice man said “I will take that for you love”.
After unpacking and seeing our first red bus, we had lunch in the park. In the afternoon we decided to take a Duck Tour, we drove past the prime minister's house, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. It wasn’t called a Duck Tour for nothing though because at one point we drove off the road and into the Thames. A very fun yet strange experience.
On Monday evening we had a briefing with all the other competitors, and I met the Australian competitors which was great fun, seeing as my mum is Australian. I got a quick look at all the others but didn’t really get a chance to meet any of them. It was so handy that everybody wore name tags. We decided to meet some of the competitors in the Bar after dinner.
On Tuesday we got up and headed off early to get started on our Debates. We had an entire workshop and really got to meet everybody because we were divided into groups which was a real experience. It always is, meeting people from different countries. At the end of the day everybody called each other by country, and if there were two competitors it would be for example Lebanon number 1 and Lebanon number 2. After dinner we were expected to be at the Theatre to watch Woman in Black. Roos and I had dinner in SoHo and then got lost on the way to the Theatre. It was okay in the end, some guy got out his Iphone and could direct us into about the right direction. (go Iphones!) After arriving slightly hot and sweaty at the Theatre we found out that the group was in a workshop but would be out in about 10 minutes, so we were expected to wait and then have a 30 minute break in till the show started. The show was really scary at some points, and had a great twist at the end. Outside the Theatre after the show we decided to go back to the hotel and then out partying, unfortunately they are pretty strict about letting teenagers into clubs, you really have to be 18. So we ended up in the Hotel Bar which than decided to close, meaning the Hotel Lobby really became the hang spot.
On Wednesday we met at Trafalgar Square, made some good group photos. And hopped on the famous Lions. Than we were divided into groups again, different groups than at the debating, which was fun. We had a tour of the National Gallery which was fun, we saw 12 great art pieces and got to ask any questions we had about not only the paintings and artists but also about the building and the Square outside, which was a bit like cheating seeing as there was a quiz to do afterwards. In the afternoon my mum and her best friend arrived so we went for a quick shop on Oxford Street. Once we got back to the hotel everybody had started making final touches to their speeches and learning them off by heart. My three best friends had come to support me and together with “Bulgaria”, “Maldives” and “Lebanon1” we rehearsed our speeches a few times.
The big day was Thursday. I was so excited about seeing the other competitors who by now had become my friends do their speeches, and very excited and nervous about doing my own speech. We listened to each other during each speech and asked each other good questions, and then cheered and clapped after each speech. It really hit me after the heat how good everybody and I was proud of myself for being allowed to compete against people with such a talent. In the end, out of my heat Roos (the Netherlands) and Tevivi (New Zealand) went on to the Grand Finale.
The Grand Finale was amazing, these 8 smart candidates competing against each other. In the end Sebastien from the Maldives won, which he really deserved. We had a huge group picture and then all went out separate ways to have dinner with the parents and tutors that had accompanied, supported and listened to us all day. In the Hotel at 10 we met to go out partying.
We had a great last night, and the next morning met for Breakfast. Between 10 and 1 everyone was going to be leaving the hotel. It was sad to say goodbye to people you had just met, even though it felt that you had known them forever. And we all were already making plans to stay at each other’s houses and maybe even have a huge reunion. On that last day in between saying goodbye’s at the hotel. Roos and I of the Dutch “team” and the “Belgian” team were allowed to go to the BBC Newsrooms and offices. It was so strange to see the newsreaders sitting behind their desks telling us the news and weather. We even got to see the Blue Peter Garden and one of the presenters Gethin, which was so much fun as I have been a Blue Peter viewer for years.
The trip back to Heathrow was quick and easy and once I got on the plane I was sad to already be out of London and heading home again. Even though London is just an hour away and I could go any holiday if I wanted to. I really feel like I don’t need to go back soon. It was such an amazing experience but without the other kids from all over the world and Hans and Ingrid it just would not be the same.
Even though I come home with no official “title” I think we were all winners. We all had a chance to see London, meet amazing new friends and an incredibly fun experience. I have enjoyed every bit of my public speaking adventure. From the first rounds at my school till landing at Schiphol airport. I never had expected to get to London. So you should try, do your best and learn. Just see how far you can get.
Good luck !
