“I don’t want to return to Japan,” Yuichi Yamashita of Chuo Gakuin University who is taking part in the student exchange program in Tamkang University (TKU) said good bye to his roommates before departing at Chiang Kai-shek International Airport. Due to the epidemic SARS, parents of foreign students under exchange program worried about the safety of their children and under the request of their alma mater, a lot of foreign students returned to their home countries. However, a few students insisted to stay in TKU to continue their learning courses.

Students from Kyungnam University, Korea and from Komazawa University, Japan left Taiwan on May 3 for home. Twenty from Reitaku University, Japan left Taiwan for home on May 4. Kuo Shu-min, secretary, Office of International Exchange and International Education (OIEIE) escorted them to the CKS International Airport and gave each student a mask on behalf of Vice President Feng. Nevertheless, students from the University of Electro-Communications, Tsuda College, and Asia University, Japan, U.S.A. and European countries have chosen to stay in TKU to complete their courses. TKU President Chang Horng-jinh has instructed their teachers to accept reports instead of final written exam for those who had returned to their home to help them get credits.

Hosoo Hakuzaki, a student from the University of Electro-Communications, continued to stay in TKU to complete his courses after discussing with his parents. Now Hakuzaki is the only Japanese student staying at Reitaku Dormitory. Peng Chun-jen jokingly said that Hakuzaki is regarded as Japan’s representative to the Republic of China.

Students from European countries will continue to stay in TKU until the courses are completed. A student of Universite de Jean Moulin Lyon 3, France, said, “ Of course, I am worried about SARS. But the semester has only one month left, it would be a great pity if I had to go home.”

Dr. Feng Chao-kang, Vice President for Academic Affairs, presided over a farewell party sponsored by OIEIE at Reitaku Dormitory on May 2. Feng said, “The unexpected SARS have made part of students leave ahead of schedule which is quite a pity.” TKU is your alma mater and you are always welcome if you want to visit us. We will get your bed ready and meet you at the airport, Feng said.

Their Taiwanese roommates have prepared a lot of Taiwanese dishes. Dormitory Chief, Yeh Hui-feng said, “We have prepared a lot of delicious Taiwanese snacks which they could not have in their hometowns.” A lot of delicious dishes including steamed dumplings, shao-mai, pearl milk tea, fried rice noodles and salted chicken were on the table.

Chang Che-wen, Senior of Department of French, and other 10 local students sang “Blessing” to bid farewell to their foreign classmates.