It has not always been easy for students from both sides of the straits to sit down and have a heart to heart talk. Well, last Tuesday (10/25), such an opportunity finally arrived, as 21 students from, Lian Zhou University and Si An University, of China visited TKU to have a discussion session with TKU students on issues relating to premarital sex, depression and a general sense of value. This session was hosted by Dr. Ko Chih-en, the Chair of the Graduate Institute of Educational Psychology and Counseling, while participating TKU students were mainly from his institute, Graduate Institute of Mass Media, and Graduate Institute of China Studies. Chinese students from Mainland came as a team to take part in a study camp organized specifically to promote communication between students of both sides.

During the discussion session, which was held at Ching Sheng International Conference Hall, Dr. Ko first asked TKU students whether they saw pre-marital sex as shameful and received a resounding answer of "no". Apparently, Chinese students were surprised at the upfront answer and were amazed that TKU students could openly speak about sex among themselves. They explained that in China the topic of pre-marital sex was still a taboo. They see the act shameful, let alone talking about it.

One of them even said that it would be more shameful for women, to which, Taiwanese students and Dr. Ko begged to differ. Dr. Ko asserted that women are rational beings who understand fully what they do. They have equal rights as men, so when they make the same decision as men do, as in the case of having pre-marital sex, why should there be a difference in consequence? Chinese students were quite taken aback by this response.

Apart from the attitude of sex, both sides also have differences in the concept of love and relationship. In China, geographical distance often makes or breaks a relationship, as students of the same university tend to come from a diverse geographic and social background; therefore, most of the love relationship formed during the college days may not survive graduation when many people have to face the choice of working locations. In Taiwan, issues as such are relatively easy to resolve, as Taiwan is a much smaller place.

Furthermore, Chinese girls seek partners with three Hs: high salary, good height, and high education. Taiwanese girls, on the other hand, believe that "Love conquers all", so that certain differences in expectations can be resolved through tolerance and good communication skills.