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The Office of International and Cross-Strait Affairs (OICA) at NCUE hosted a farewell banquet for the students from abroad at the end of the semester. During the feast, exchange students shared their learning and life experiences in Taiwan. NCUE faculty and students helping them get over their anxiety about a new environment when arriving in Taiwan for the very first time, the faculty being meticulous with knowledge inspiring students to study, as well as the friendliness and the warmth of the people in Taiwan are treasured by them. The exchange students are grateful to NCUE and their home universities for being visionary and providing opportunities for them to interact with and learn from each other. At the end, the teachers and students raised their glasses to express their good wishes and say goodbye, hoping for seeing each other again someday.

There are more than one hundred exchange students from Mainland China, Germany, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan this semester. At the occasion, NCUE President Yen-Kuang Kuo conferred the Certificate of Completion of Exchange Program to the representatives of exchange students from each school. On behalf of their peers, four students including Jiping He, Wenxing Shuai, Shunjei Yu and Lisa Ruth Koerit from the Mainland, Malaysia and Germany gave a thank-you speech in Chinese and English respectively. Lisa Koerit’s father was also present to cheer for his daughter.

For many exchange students, this is their first time to be far away from home. Jiping He stated that she joined a forum in Taiwan that inspires people to step out of their comfort zone to explore and discover the unknown self. Her mind’s door has been flung open and her anxiety about exchanging to Taiwan has been relieved since. She dares to pursue her dream and, with the help of NCUE teachers and schoolmates, she is able to handle the frustrations with what’s going on in the new environment. She is confident that she will face the unknowns in the future with this positive attitude.

According to Wenxing Shuai, with OICA’s help such as the airport pick-up and a series of activities, as well as the care of NCUE teachers and students in the past four months, her learning journey in Taiwan is rewarding. Lisa Koerit didn’t know what to expect before coming to Taiwan; however, the OICA and the Language Center has tried their best to help exchange students adapt to the new environment, making her feel welcome and at home. She even has no feeling of nostalgia at Christmas.

Wenxing Shuai was impressed by NCUE teachers’ rigid attitude toward research and teaching. She was even so touched that she shed tears over the lectures in class a few times. Wenxing Shuai took nine courses this semester, of which seven were required ones. Although it was stressful, she felt fulfilled. Furthermore, she has decided the field of graduate studies in the future.

The human warmth of the people in Taiwan always impresses international students. Lisa Koerit expressed her appreciation to Taiwanese stores that never lose their patience with her because of language barriers. Shunjei Yu once got off at the wrong bus stop in Changhua when coming back from Taipei. He was brought back to NCUE campus along with his luggage from the stop by some local strangers riding motorcycles. Jiping He also met a friendly taxi driver who sent her water bottle left in the taxi back to her. All the students feel warmth for the people here, who show kindness and concern for them.

Jiping He indicated that exchange students, who are surrounded by NCUE teachers and students, the OICA staff, the wayside grandma, the lady who owns the restaurant, and 7-11, are not alone in Taiwan. Everyone here is inspired to move on by something warm and touching. Wenxing Shuai pointed out that leaving for home is not an end but a start to facilitate mutual understanding. She expressed her hope that NCUE students would go on exchange to the Mainland. According to Lisa Koerit, one of the first two exchange students from Berlin University of Applied Sciences, what she is going to bring back to Germany is not only the memory of exams, studying, and presentations in class, but also the friendship of people of Taiwan.

OICA played a slideshow composed of the photos featuring the exchange students’ life in Taiwan. It was followed by the performances of students. At the end, all the teacher and students raised their glasses to express appreciation for the opportunity of meeting each other in Taiwan. NCUE President Kuo stated that NCUE is always the second home of the students and students are welcome to come back home.