NSLI-Y Taiwan 2023 – Week 5
In week 5 of our NSLI-Y Taiwan program, students realized how quickly our departure date was approaching and how time flies when you’re having fun! This week’s activities featured word games with language partners, an excursion to a Chinese “print” foundry where scholars gained a newfound appreciation for their Chinese names, and even a day off school due to a side-swipe from a Typhoon!
Students explore their word cards during a game of Chinese “Taboo”.
Ri Xing Type Foundry
On Wednesday of week 5 of ACES NSLI-Y Taiwan, students found themselves in the tapering alleyways of Datong District at Ri Xing Type Foundry. While a hunt is necessary to find the unassuming family-run business, the knowledge and tradition within is worth the journey. Although it is commonly thought that the printing press has its origins in Europe, students learned that China had made its own version of the printing press over 400 years earlier! 50 years ago over 5,000 foundries could be found in Taiwan; today, Ri Xing Foundry is one of the last four still standing. After students explored tens of thousands of individually hand-made characters, Shih Chien University ensured that students would be able to bring the memories home with them. Each student was able to descend into the labyrinth of characters, find their Chinese names and fashion them into stamps! They also were able to stamp their very own bookmarks with a heartwarming message from Shih Chien University.
Students holding hand-made bookmarks.
Students learning about the process of hand making the lead characters.
Ri Xing Type Foundry lead characters.
Students learning about the history of printing.
Culminating Project + Resident Directors’ Meeting
During our second to last week in the program, our cohort’s culminating projects kicked into high gear as students continued conducting interviews and began their final presentations.
On Tuesday, students learned of the differences between Buddhism and Daoism (also known as Taoism), and how they influence modern society in Taiwan. They paired up to give short presentations, each sharing how these philosophies interact with today’s issues.
Taiwan’s Version of a Snow Day?
On Thursday, Typhoon (颱風) Khanun slowly approached and left Northern Taiwan, and our students experienced a Typhoon Day. Around 8 PM the night before, it was determined school and work the next day would be canceled, meaning most non-emergency workers would have the day off. With their day off, students mostly stayed in, sleeping late. They watched movies, worked on their culminating projects, and enjoyed a relaxing day off with their host families.
MyOnline notice of school cancellation.
Even a typhoon could not keep students from exploring the parts of the city that were open. To the surprise of Harry, Kaylee, and Liz, World Gym Express near our school was still open. While at the gym, these students conducted interviews for their culminating project, making the most out of their Typhoon Day. Kaylee even met a Taiwanese local named Razor!
Friday afternoon, a few NSLI-Y students, Harry, Matthew, Ronan, Kaylee, Liz, and Avery, took a quick trip to 美麗華 (Miramar) to interview locals for their projects. They took a short break for an intense game of 籃球 (basketball) in which basketball fanatics, Harry and Matthew, emerged victorious with a score of over 300. The students also ran into Nan Laoshi (our resident director) in the middle of the game, which was a pleasant surprise.
From left to right, Avery, Ronan, Matthew, and Harry playing in the first round.
Matthew taking a winning shot.
With only one week left, students made full use of their weekends to explore the sprawling city of Taiwan! Some students ventured out to Wisteria Tea House. The historic tea house has served as the Governor-General of Taiwan’s residence prior to 1945, government dormitories, and later as a secret meeting ground for intellectuals resisting the 1980’s Taiwanese government. Tea is one of Taiwan’s oldest and most popular exports, with trade dating back over 200 years. Just last year, Taiwan exported almost $100 million dollars worth of tea! Wisteria not only sells a plethora of tea, they also educate customers on the origins of the crop. At Wisteria Sybellah and Virginia learned not only about the origins of the wide varieties of teas, but also how to serve and drink traditional tea.
Tea set-up.
Front room of historic tea house.
View of home-grown Wisteria tea.