In response to the increasing number of foreign students and to offer diversified services, the International Affairs from University of Tainan takes a local cultural field trip every semester.
The field trip leads the international students to understand cultural characteristics and historical humanities of Tainan more deeply, and also promotes the culture of Tainan to the world.
In order to learn more about Taiwanese culture and characteristics, the Language Center from International Affairs and Student Affairs took a cultural field trip to Shanhua and Downtown on September 5th 2019 under the sponsorship of Higher Education Sprout Project.
Together with 24 foreign students, from China, Macao, Spain, Malaysia, Japan, and Indonesia, the students explored the well-known buffalo market and historical temples.
In the morning, the students headed to the buffalo market in Shanhua district.
Experienced the on-site bidding of agricultural products and catches and enjoyed various market cuisines, the students got to know more about the early-stage of Taiwanese market culture through the interaction with vendors.
Next, students visited one of the only two sugarcane factories in Taiwan - Shanhua sugarcane factory, and got a taste of the delightful ice cream and popsicles.
The Shanhua factory has gradually transformed to a tourist site since first started in Japanese colonial period.
Through the small tour of the factory, students got more understanding of the importance of sugarcane industry in the historical development and status of Taiwan.
Students also did a buffalo bell DIY near the factory, during the DIY time, students got to know more about the historical background of buffalo bell and the technique of flat knot.
In the afternoon, students went back to the monuments and temples in the University of Tainan surroundings.
Started from the Tainan Grand Matsu temple and Official God of War temple, students explored the temple culture of Tainan.
Students got to know more about history and culture of Tainan through the tour, which included Chiuan Mei Theater, Wu Family Garden (Former Tainan Public Hall), Temple of Heaven, Arctic Temple, Kailong Palace, Weather Station, Tang Dezhang Memorial Park, Former Tainan Hall, and Temple of Confucius.
There are many tourist sites that left a strong impression in foreign students, such as hundred-year temples, Taoism and Buddhism culture of Taiwan, movie posters and internal decoration style of Chiuan Mei Theater, and various architecture of Wu Family Garden etc.
Through the detailed explanation from the guide and the exploration from students, the field trip is even more rich and instructive.
Through this field trip, the foreign students in NUTN got to explore the local customs, hence reached cultural exchanges, and also got familiar to the surroundings of the school, adapted to life in Taiwan more quickly.
Hoping the local and foreign students could learn from each other, increase international vision and literacy, and experience the diverse face of Taiwanese and foreign culture.