TKU’s demonstration of achievements in globalization was held last Tuesday; foreign exchange students at TKU and juniors who joined abroad study tour were invited to share their experiences, culture shocks and interesting anecdotes during their studies. Deng Chia-yun, graduate from Graduate Institute of French, said, “I, the first profiteer of TKU’s bi-degree system, feel very lucky to acquire double Master degrees from TKU and Universite Jean Moulin Lyon 3 within 3 years!”

According to President Flora C. I. Chang’s address, TKU has established sisterhood with 87 schools in 25 countries (and is about to sign contracts with two schools in Panama and Romania), which is the best proof of TKU’s devotion to globalization. The most important is that TKU seeks for substantial exchanges really useful to students. Chen Hwei-mei, chair of Office of International Exchange and Education, used the metaphor of “Five-light Prize” to describe TKU’s intense interaction with her sister schools.

Currently, secretary of the vice general manager of French enterprise RT Mart at Neihu, Deng Chia-yun said she was fully preoccupied with study and thesis writing and didn’t visit many places; she was eager to go home. She optimistically told her TKU’s juniors, “With courage, goal and thorough preparation, you don’t need to worry too much, and you’ll grow through solving difficulties one after one.”

Chen Yen-ru, junior from Department of Chinese, came to TKU from University of Vienna. She emigrated with her family at three because of allergy to the humid weather in Taiwan. She started learning German since kindergarten. She decided to major in Chinese, her mother tongue, to stay in Taiwan after graduation, to feel rooted here. Lee En-heh, exchange student of Department of Chinese from Kyungnam University, Korea, said that she has been fascinated with Chinese culture since childhood, and that feeling became more intense because of the idol sitcom “Star garden.” Although classical Chinese is difficult to her, she feels warm-hearted with classmates and teachers’ assistance.

Zuzana, from Charles University, Czech, read many translations of Chinese literary works. She indicated, “Honglou meng and Hsiyou chi aroused my passion for classical literature.” She ever learned Taekwondo in Czech, so upon arrival at TKU, she immediately joined the Club of Martial Arts. She has been busy with club presentation these days.

Chen Yi-chun, senior of Department of English, did not adjust herself well upon going abroad. She felt that her capability was much enhanced after the trails of heavy reading material and teachers’ fast speaking. At first, she had difficulty understanding and communicating with her British roommates, but they became intimate friends later and traveled together on weekends. She said, “Staying in America has broadened my vision and developed my strength. I’ve learned to rely on myself.”

Live interviews were conducted through instant communications software “skype,” inducing the homesickness Chen En-chou, junior of Department of Physics exchanged to Stockholm University. He said, “Cooking is a necessary skill. Everything is expensive in Europe. By cooking by myself, I not only saved money but also made many friends. I remembered that in my first class, our professor was worried about my understanding of Swedish, and he spoke English immediately. He even asked my classmates to help me with translation. Europeans are not as cold as I used to imagine. There are really nice to me. There is no distance between teachers and students here. I’ve become more independent. Everyone should develop his/her own leadership and thinking, not just following orders.”

In the 94th academic year, 247 students of TKU joined abroad study, and 32 exchange students from sister schools came to TKU. (~ Han-yu Huang )