A fair for studying abroad was held last week at the exhibition of the Business and Management Building in Tamsui Campus. Luring smell of popcorns and well-prepared presentations attracted many students who would give studying abroad a serious thought. Academic details aside, another theme of the fair was “Global Village”, so cultures from countries where they have a fair number of international students were highlighted. According to Dr. Flora Chang, the president of TKU who gave a speech at the opening ceremony, to study abroad and learn about foreign cultures are necessary steps towards becoming a true citizen of the “global village” we find ourselves living in. Only through such an exposure, she added, can TKU students learn to acquire a global vision and think critically.

The fair pulled all the tricks under their hat to attract visitors: English guards at the entrance, a life-like kangaroo made of cardboard by the Australian stand, and several fun games were all designed to fascinate students. Chen Si-shuan, a sophomore of the Dept of English, for instance, certainly enjoyed all the fun, and stayed on to find out more about the serious stuff, which is studying abroad.

Presentations on studying abroad included “Going around the world on a budget,” “Studying in Hokkaido, Japan,” and “Ups and Downs of Studying in Tokyo.” The most popular stands at the fair, as these topics reflect, were those from Japan, of course. Several key persons from the colleges of these areas even came personally to the fair to meet with TKU students. Stands representing Australia and New Zealand were also very popular. ( ~Ying-hsueh Hu )