“My name is Ishi Mai. I hope that I can make more friends in Taiwan. Please be nice to me while I’m here. Thank you.” This was what a new-recruit student from Reitaku University, Japan, said bashfully in broken Mandarin to an eagerly-awaited audience in the International Conference Room, Ching-sheng Memorial Hall last Thursday (Feb. 21).

This was the occasion where an opening ceremony welcoming the new foreign students from Japan was being held. Pres. Chang Horng-jinh played the host and his welcoming speech was instantly translated by Dr. Liu Chang-huei, Chair, Department of Japanese, TKU.

Although his Chinese was still a bit shaky, Mr. Ishi Mai’s presence at TKU was nonetheless most welcome;. At the ceremony, many faculties from Reitaku University were also present. They were Dr. Jitaro Mizuno, Dean, College of Foreign Languages, Dr. Mitsuma Masamichi, Director, Center for International Exchange and Dr. Nakamichi Yoshihiko, Chair, Department of English. Dr. Mizuno indicated that in view of the excellent English-teaching environment here, they’ve decided not just to send students to learn Chinese, but also students to learn English next year.

Another student—her name is Suzuki Kayo, said, “I’m more adapted to the weather and food of Taiwan because when I was six, I had lived with my family in Hong Kong for 9 years.” Among the 18 students who came here, Miss Suzuki’s Chinese is the most fluent.

Still another student---her name is Takahashi Haruka, said she felt her connection with Taiwan is deep because her English teacher in Reitaku came from Taiwan. For some time in the past, she had traveled in Taiwan while she was 15. All these had influenced her and made her decide to come to Taiwan to learn Chinese.

This is the 34th batch Japanese students from Reitaku. They are planning to study here for 4 months before they say “Sayonana!”