A Trip To Tawain
A mixture of culture, food, and most importantly, fun, this year’s Taiwan trip was an unforgettable experience. This year, 13 students joined Ms Yang and Mr Smith to experience the true essence of Taiwanese culture. Traveling mainly through urban and rural parts of - Taipei and Wulai - we were immersed in a well-rounded tour that seamlessly combined elements of education and entertainment.
Our time was filled with a variety of activities to authentically introduce us to Taiwanese life: night markets, local snacks and lunches, as well as an introduction to public transportation. In order to learn more about Taiwanese culture and history, we also toured a variety of museums, including the famous National Palace Museum and the Presidential Palace, and took part in cooking classes.
Another notable activity was visiting the TaiBei International Bilingual School, where we had the opportunity to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, woodworking, leather work, dye work, and connect with local students. The Mandarin students, especially, used this opportunity to practice their Mandarin and communicate with native speakers.
Other than touring Taipei and learning about city life, we even got a chance to face the wilderness in Taiwan with a camping trip. Joined with the Atayal indigenous group, the students learnt about a medley of hunting tactics used by the tribe, participated in an archery competition, cooked traditional foods, learned Indigenous songs and dances, and even had the chance to wear the clothing of the Indigenous group.
One of my favourite activities was definitely the lantern making, where we had to create our own lanterns, with colours corresponding to love, wealth, luck, maternity, and education, and write our wishes on the subsequent colours. Afterwards, the lanterns were lit from underneath, and released into the sky. This activity allowed me to feel much more connected to Taiwan, and will be an experience I will never forget.
Equipped with a never-ending supply of bubble tea, we were open to learning about the new culture, and most importantly, excited for the experience. The Taiwan trip will forever hold a special place in our hearts, and offered a unique tour around one of the most beautiful countries.
I want to thank Ms Yang, for organizing the entire trip and taking time out of her own spring break to take us back to her home country, and Mr Smith for joining us on our adventure. You guys truly made this experience phenomenal. The laughter, smiles, and fun were all because of you guys. We all had a great time in Taiwan.
Abby L, Mack, ‘25