Day 1 (24/5)
At 5pm in the evening, we assembled at Changi Airport, ready
to leave for Kaoshiung. We were all prepared for an exuberant trip with
enriching experiences that had been anticipated early! Preparing for this
long-awaited trip since three weeks back, we were looking forward to
the exposure of the different unique and influential cultures of Taiwan.
Day 2 (25/5)
We had an extremely meaningful experience today visiting
different historical sites of Taiwan. These museums were of great importance
with regards to the history and various cultural identities of Taiwan. Through
the exhibitions of these sites, we gained a considerably lot of information
about Taiwan background, its significant past events and the respectable
leaders who contributed to the success of modern Taiwan in one way or another.
The Kaoshiung museum of history is well known as a professional museum for
preserving different historical exhibits and chronicles. From the explanation
of the guide, we learnt that the building was constructed in 1983, used as a
significant landmark in Kaoshiung, and rebuilt into a museum in present day.
Although certain information were challenging to comprehend, we still professed
great interest in them with the explanation of the guide. In my opinion, this
museum was unique in terms of its infrastructure and facilities as it makes use
of information boards accompanied with exhibits for better understanding of its
contents.
The Kaoshiung Hakka Cultural Museum was our second
destination. Similar to the Kaoshiung museum of history, it was equipped with
special display features of culture and artefacts. These artefacts were of
great value to Taiwan’s history as it illustrated the different significant
past events. The guide, a very experienced individual, was able to introduce
many foreign information to us without a hitch, and that very commendable. The
museum also had a rather vibrant environment, greenery scenery with plants that
reflects a good image of the site to visitors. The next place we visited was
the Meinong Folk village, a traditional farming village where the Hakka
culture, Taiwan’s largest culture was preserved. This site is a place where
tourists frequent patronise, with the different traditional folk crafts of
Meinong,.There were many stalls offering handmade paper umbrellas and heritage
relics. Besides these enlightening arts, there was also shops selling local
titbits as well as different souvenirs of Taiwan’s prominent landmarks. Tasting
their local delights at a restaurant, we were surprised that their food were
delicious! Compared to our dishes in Singapore, these Taiwanese food were
prepared in a different manner, and we really enjoyed it.
The third attraction of the day we visited was the former
British consulate. Although there was a tour guide, we did not manage to have a
good look in the museum due the large visitor crowds and time constraint.
From
my perspective, what constitutes a good tourist attraction for this particular
site was the presence of certain vendors offering various local food and
souvenirs to tourists. On a ground above sea level, the scenery from our positions
were magnificent. The view of the azure skies and coasts was really
captivating. However, time was what we could not afford till sunset. The last
place we visited for the day was the well-known Liuhe night market. These night
markets, one of the major representations of Taiwan’s culture, offers a variety
of local delicacies, ranging from the famous bubble tea to its tantalising seafood
delights. They even had shops selling accessories such as clothes, shoes and
even game stalls. However, what I felt could be improved was the cleanliness
and safety of the environment as the floors were littered with trash, and cars
were allowed to drive through the market, compromising the safety of visitors.
We did enjoy tasting the famous dishes after all as this is not an opportunity
we have back in Singapore.
Day 3 (26/5)
Our itinerary for the third day was relatively similar as
compared to the second, touring more historical sites, the Anping Fort and Old
Street, Eternal Golden Castle, Chihkan Tower and the Tainan Confucius Temple.
The accommodation we were staying in, Ten Drum Cultural Village had put up a
brilliant performance- playing the traditional Chinese drums. The performance
was really an extraordinary one, as seen by the efforts put in by the
performers. We enjoyed the performance as it is allows us to learn about the
daily lives of the locals and what resembles their culture. Following that, we
were taught playing the Chinese drums, and the fundamental skills to it. This
hands-on experience had really been a very beneficial and special one to me as
this opportunity was not easily obtainable back in Singapore.
The Anping fort and Chihkan tower were two historical
attractions relating back to the history of Taiwan in the 1600s where the
country was colonized by the Dutch, which was also the derivation of the unique
names. The Eternal golden castle, however, was a place different from the rest.
It was built in 1874 to counter the Japanese invasions. The Tainan Confucius
temple, our third destination has an extraordinary feature, which was to allow
us to write down our wishes and names, hoping that it might come true. Although
many of us did not believe in this miraculous practice, we felt that it was
worth giving it a try as this experience may not be available in many of our
local temples. As there was not a tour guide for this particular destination,
we had the opportunity to tour the site freely and observe the traditional
cultural artefacts of Taiwan.
What I personally felt commendable of these places was the
well-preserved artefacts and buildings. Though renovation occurred frequently,
it was commendable to be able to maintain presentable conditions of these
buildings. Through these historical sites, I established a deep interest in
Taiwan’s history, as they were relatively different from Singapore’s history,
and the international history we learnt in school. We also had the opportunity to
interact with the locals and could understand more of their way of life through
our conversations. I realised that Taiwan’s traditional communities, which preserved
many conventional practices such as farming, was considerably different as
compared to Singapore’s fast paced society.
Day 4 (27/5)
Today commenced the beginning of our exchange programme with
Sacred hearts high school, one of the most well-known and elite school in
Tainan. We also had our first gathering with our buddies, which was
long-awaited for everyone. Upon our arrival, the principal welcomed us with
great hospitability. In fact, the school even put up a brilliant performance by
their school to mark thed anniversary of the two schools friendship
ties. We really enjoyed and appreciated the performance put up by the school
with great effort and recognition.
Next, we joined in the lessons together with the local
students. From the way the classes were conducted, I realised that the classes
conducted were considerably different from those in Singapore. Their method
consisted of more interactive tools such as video clips and group discussions,
as compared to Singapore’s ordinary pen and paper style. In my opinion, this
alternative comes in handier as it allows better understanding of certain concepts
by illustrating it through the use of visual aid. Although we did not
explicitly understand the lesson, we had definitely had a good experience to be
involved in lessons which was not what we had gone through during the eight
years of holistic education in Singapore.
On that particular day, we also visited a pineapple tart
factory where we had a hands-on experience making our own tarts. What we
basically did was to fill the dough with certain ingredients and knead it.
Although I wasn’t proficient at making pastries, it was worthwhile giving it a
try as it was my first experience, and this was not an opportunity we easily
had back in Singapore. After which, we visited an institution called the Hwa
Shan Public School, where we met young musical talents who could play violins
well as young as the age of five. Their capabilities were really admirable as
at such as young age, they were gifted in music, in contrast with many of us
who may not even have a foundation in it till now! We were also led to an exhibition
hall where magnificent art pieces completed by these students were displayed.
Talking with a fluent tone, these students were extremely well versed in
speaking skills. Despite being a debater myself, I doubted whether I could even
match up to their standards!
Day 5 (28/5)
Today was our second day of immersion programme with Sacred
Hearts. We started our day to the Shing Long Towel Factory, together with
students from Sacred Hearts, a few years our senior. Similar to the pineapple
tart factory, we too had a memorable experience forming animal-shaped towels
from ordinary ones. There were also a variety of designs offered at the
souvenir shop in the factory. This experience was a rather unique and
interesting one as we were not yet engaged in any hands-on experiences upon our
arrival in Taiwan. Our next destination was the Yulin Puppet Theatre Museum,
where we watched a puppet performance, after which the performer explained part
of the philosophy behind the fundamental principles of the performance, which
was a symbolism of Taiwan’s cultures. From his explanation, I learnt that
Taiwan’s society was unlikely to continue adopting these puppet performances. I
personally feel that this vanishing practice of Taiwan was bad, as it would
compromise on the value of the country’s traditional cultures, especially when
it is not preserved and continued into the future generation.
In the afternoon, we joined the school at their respective
CCAs. The variety of CCAs the school offered was many more, up to a hundred, as
compared to our school, as they had a comparatively larger school campus to
accommodate for the different CCAs. However, they were conducted in a
relatively different manner. As compared to our school, where expectations were
extremely high that took precedence over enjoyment of the CCAs, their CCAs
requirements in terms of achievements were much lower, and their training hours
were more flexible as well, ensuring students sufficient hours to focus on
their academics.
Day 6 (29/5)
In the morning, we joined our buddies in their lessons.
Geography was one which I attended. However, the teacher conducted the lesson
in a way rather different than the usual way. To start off, he introduced
Taiwan in general to us, before inviting us to share about Singapore. He also
highlighted the many differences between the cultures of the two countries, as
well as the state of the countries in terms of economy and infrastructure,
which indirectly relates to Geography. The second lesson we attended was home
economics, where we learned to prepare certain local delicacies with our
buddies. In contrast with our current ongoing home economics module, I realised
the food we learned to cook was more towards the vegetarian style, and not the
one back in Singapore where we learnt to prepare a variety of dishes. We still
had fun after all working with our buddies on this, as I did not expect us to
attend home economics lesson, a non-academic subject, during school curriculum.
After which, we also tasted the bubble tea, what Taiwan was well known for,
made by some of the students.
The afternoon marked the end of our exchange programme with
Sacred Hearts High School, as it would be our final day in the school. The rest
of the afternoon would be spent with our buddy’s families on our own excursions.
Upon meeting my buddy’s parents, I realised that they were rather hospitable.
They first brought us to a restaurant which offers Taiwan’s delectable local
food and delicacies. That was when we exchanged conversations and introduced
ourselves. Following that, they brought us to many interesting historical sites
in Taiwan. One of which we visited was a temple destroyed by an earthquake a
few years back. Another was called the Sun Moon Lake, which was what Taiwan was
well known for.
Through this trip, I established a deep frienship with my buddy
and his family. His parents were extremely genial and did not hesitate to buy
us presents, souvenirs or treating us to scrumptious meals. As I was,
coincidentally, relatively unwell during our outing, my buddy’s family showed
great concern for me, providing me with certain medicine and even offered to
bring me to a clinic. Personally, I really appreciated that as they treated me
as their own child with affection. These emotional ties was not something I
experienced frequently as we probably don’t expect someone who we only met for
a day to possess such hospitability in welcoming us. Before we bid farewell to
each other, we exchanged our contacts with them, and hoped we would have a
reunion in future.
Day 7 (30/7)
Today marked the last day of our immersion trip in Taiwan.
In the morning, we headed to the 921 Earthquake educational park in Taichung, also
a well-known historical destination. From the explanation of the guide, we
learnt that Taiwan was struck by an earthquake of high magnitude more than a
decade ago. It not only destructed many parts of the country devastatingly, but
also caused many casualties and a high fatality rate, tearing apart families
and resulting in pessimistic mind-sets of families of many victims who were
robbed of their lives. After learning about these traumatic incidents that
happened in Taiwan, I realised that we were considered very fortunate to be
living in a first-world country where there were no natural disasters, unlike
Taiwan. The fact that we are not separated from our loved ones always
indoctrinated the fact in me that we should not take what we have for granted.
In the afternoon, we headed to the Taoyuan international airport, where we finally returned to
Singapore. There were some of us who were looking forward to going home, after
an exhausting and fatiguing trip, and those of us who missed the fun moments we
spent with our friends and buddies. Personally, I was delighted to return to
Singapore as I was pretty worn out after a tiring seven days trip. The OELP
trip was really meaningful to me as it not only widened my exposure to current
affairs and international relations between certain countries, such as Taiwan, but
also increased my understanding of the country’s dominant cultures and
compelling historical facts and backgrounds. This was not an experience back in
Singapore, even through the use of the internet, we could easily obtain.
Furthermore, this trip has also bonded us together as a class and enabled us to
forge closer relationships with our friends. The fun encounters, unique
activities, and influential experiences we had been through together have
really shaped us into new individuals, with different characters and personalities
we had before. Although this trip was extremely enervating and wearying, it came with many incentives, beneficial to our characters and academics,
and it was of course, a very meaningful and unforgettable one.
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