【Article by College of Commerce】
On Thursday September 5th, 2024, the Office of International Programs welcomed a vibrant cohort of exchange students at the Fall Exchange Students’ Orientation held at the E. Sun Conference Hall in the College of Commerce Building of National Chengchi University. Moderators Alice Kao and Kathy Chang expertly guided a well-orchestrated series of activities which were designed to warmly welcome and acquaint the incoming exchange students with their new academic environment and the cultural richness of Taiwan.

The day commenced with the registration process, where students from various parts of the globe convened with anticipation. Following the registration, the mood was set by the ice-breaking games led by the moderators. These activities were thoughtfully designed to foster camaraderie among the students, who would soon be navigating both academic and cultural terrains together. The most engaging of these activities was the “Pass the Word” game, where students were challenged to replicate Chinese characters which proved to be an entertaining yet educational exercise that tested their recognition skills. The enthusiastic participation was rewarded with a brief awards ceremony, adding an element of friendly competition and celebration.

The orientation seamlessly transitioned into the “Landing in Taiwan” segment, where Hebe Liu and Ruby Yang introduced Taiwan, NCCU, and the College of Commerce (NCCUC). They highlighted Taiwan’s national parks, cultural traditions like the Moon Festival, and night markets featuring delicacies such as stinky tofu and shaved ice. The segment also provided practical advice on daily life, including public transportation, the EasyCard, and convenience stores. The students were particularly intrigued by the calligraphy activity, where three brave volunteers attempted to write Chinese characters, much to the delight of the audience. One of the volunteers, Lora Boycheva from Bulgaria, particularly enjoyed the Chinese calligraphy activity, as it was her first time experiencing it.

Following a short interlude, the orientation continued with the “BBL News” segment. Brian Wu and Latisha Liu offered insights into NCCU’s history and the prominence of the College of Commerce, with Wu’s energetic rap session reinvigorating the audience. They highlighted the International Exchange Program, bilingual case studies, and the buddy program. A Kahoot game reinforced the presentation’s key points, which concluded with an overview of daily life at NCCU, including dining options, the pink campus shuttle bus, and state-of-the-art facilities like the Dah Hsian Library.

Kathy Chang took the stage next to present the “Expenditure Map” for the fall semester. This session was particularly crucial as it detailed the academic logistics of course registration, classroom locations, and the use of E-learning platforms like WM5 and Moodle. Kathy also covered the array of school facilities accessible to students, from libraries to sports centers, ensuring that the newcomers would feel well-prepared to navigate the university’s resources. Senior Manager, Cherry Huang, then introduced the Office of International Programs team, underscoring the support network available to the students throughout their exchange experience.
Before venturing outside, everyone gathered for a group photo, capturing a moment that would symbolize the beginning of their journey together at NCCUC.

In the next phase of the orientation, the students embarked on a comprehensive campus tour, guided by the International Programs Ambassadors. The downhill and uphill tours provided them with a physical sense of the campus grounds. The downhill tour covered significant locations such as the College of Commerce Building and the Yixian Building, while the uphill tour led them to the scenic Haohan Slope, where they gathered to board buses for the eagerly anticipated cultural tour to Yilan County.

As the buses were en route to Yilan, the tour guide, enriched the journey with a historical overview of Taiwan, combined with fascinating facts about the country’s geography, early settlers, and indigenous cultures. Upon arrival in Yilan, the first stop was a local restaurant where the students were treated to an authentic Taiwanese meal. The seating arrangement, which was indicated on their name tags, facilitated easy mingling and provided a relaxed setting for new friendships to blossom.

After lunch, the students took a short walk to Shyang Yeu Organic Farm, where they donned traditional farming attire and set out to pick tea leaves under the afternoon sun. Despite the intense heat, the activity was well-received, particularly by Rudram and Harish, Master’s students from IIM-Bangalore in India, who cited tea picking as the highlight of their day. Their experience was further enhanced by the opportunity to engrave their teacups, which they could keep as cherished souvenirs.

The cultural exploration continued at the National Center for Traditional Arts. The students immersed themselves in Taiwan’s artistic heritage, with opportunities to engage in temple tours, explore traditional houses, and shop for cultural souvenirs. Interviews with Kohei from Waseda University in Japan and Ilias from ULB Solvay in Belgium revealed that while the heat was a common grievance, the cold tea served during the day and the hands-on experiences made the discomfort worthwhile.

The final stop of the day was the Luodong Night Market, where the students were encouraged to sample local street foods, including Yilan’s spring onions specialty and rolled peanut ice cream. Armed with the tour guide’s recommendations, the students roamed the night market for an hour, sampling various street foods and immersing themselves in the lively atmosphere.

As the students returned to Taipei, the atmosphere on the bus was one of quiet contentment. The event organizers had tremendously succeeded in delivering a day that was both educational and entertaining. The distribution of Taiwan-themed souvenirs, as they neared NCCU, served as a fitting conclusion to an orientation that had not only welcomed the exchange students to their new academic home but also introduced them to the diverse culture of Taiwan.