Taiwan: The National Chung Hsing University hosted the 102nd-anniversary celebration on Saturday, 11 December during which, the Office of International Affairs(OIA) organized two preeminent events—International Students Parade and International Festival Market, both of which bustled with crowds and laughter.
National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) is one of the top ten Universities in Taiwan having multinationalism students. NCHU is the oldest and the third most prominent comprehensive research-based national university in Taiwan consisting of ten colleges with complete departments. NCHU aim to cultivate students’ basic skills and core competencies such as professional knowledge and skills, reflection and innovation, teamwork, local concern, and global thinking.
The International Affairs Office (OIA) of NCHU holds a day-long International Festival Market every year to share their identities and cultures on campus to bring international students closer to other exotic cultures and further facilitate cultural exchanges.
The OIA designed intriguing activities at twenty-three stalls set up by students hailing from countries including India, Thailand, Japan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Haiti, Philippines, Malaysia, Turkey, Japan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Bangladesh, France, Indonesia, Vietnam while showcasing their countries’ unique characteristics by providing local cuisines, music, clothing and handmade crafts to students and staffs. The event is not only participated by NCHU students but local residents also partake in the celebration.
Gyaltsen Dakpa, PhD student from NCHU Academia Sinica participated in the culture-sharing activities as a representative of Tibet where he showcased a glimpse of Tibet’s rich culture with the other countries.
“We have prepared four kinds of Tibetan meals during this event (Tibetan Momo, Dresil, Kasey, and Tibetan butter tea) and Tibetan tent to share the experience of Tibet’s home and Tibetan traditional costumes” sated Gyaltsen. He further noted, “90% of audiences are youth aged under 30 and thus promoting a Tibetan rich culture among young people is highly likely to increase the survivability of Tibetan culture in the world”.
The participants were also tested for their knowledge about Tibet through various activities. At the event, various nation’s stamps and flags were prepared by OIA of NCHU for all the countries including Tibet.
-Report filed by Gyaltsen Dakpa, Ph.D. Student, NCHU, Academia Sinica, Taiwan