Wu Chi-Ju, a senior in the Department of International Trade, together with five other TKU students, joined a “Cross-Strait Cultural Exchange Camp for Elite College Students,” hosted by Zhejiang University, China last month. The camp was held together with the “2009 Cross-Strait Energy And Environmental Protection Forum.” Leader of the TKU visiting group, Professor Lin Shu-Hui, said that all the students have learned a lot during the trip and she also found that Chinese students are more restrained or introverted than their Taiwanese counterparts. Meanwhile, the leader of Chinese teams that joined the cross-strait forum said that TKU students are extremely gifted and talented.

After the eight-day tour in China, the TKU group visited Dr. Lee Pei-wha, Director of the Office of International Exchanges and International Education on November 18, to share their experience. Wu said they did not learn the main topic of the forum was on environmental protection until a few days before embarking on the tour to China. But they all took it very seriously and actively engaged in preparation for the forum. Their efforts had been paid off in the cross-strait forum. Wu and his classmate Wu You-ju won the “Most Talented Award” during the forum. Chang Chia-lun and Lu Chin-wen took the “Best Team Award.” Lin Chen-yu grabbed that “Best Visual Effect Award,” while Chen Chen-ju was awarded the “Most Eco-friendly Award.”

“The Chinese students mostly use Power Point to do their presentation, but we chose to do it with dancing and scenario simulation.” Being asked about how they feel about their Chinese counterparts, Chen Chen-ju said that most of the Chinese students live a simple life and have solid foundation in their school works. Leader of the TKU visiting group, Professor Lin also noted that TKU students are more extroverted and vivacious. For instance, the TKU students sang a pop song “I love Summer” during the opening ceremony of the cross-strait forum, which was widely accepted and loved by the participants of the ceremony. Dr. Lee said that she would encourage students to participate such international exchange events to better understand another culture and language as well as sharpening their academic skills. ( ~Yeh Yun-kai )