Page 12 - 實中園地 第廿四卷第七期

實中園地 The Newsletter of NEHS 108年第24卷第7期

2019 Hsinchu-Cupertino Student Exchange

By Jessica Wang and all the participants

Cupertino and Hsinchu began their friendship city would be lost. Everyone seemed as if they knew where
relationship in 1998, and officially became sister cities they were heading and they would not get easily lost. And
in 2007 when the mayors of the two cities signed a one of the privileges of having such a big school was that
formal agreement. With the strong support from the there was a lot of history inside the college. Each arch to
Cupertino-Hsinchu Sister City Association (CHSCA), a each building would have its only story to tell, each with
community-based non-profit organization, Hsinchu City special reasoning why it is kept where it is today. De Anza
has successfully sent outstanding youth ambassadors of College allowed a wide range of students with different
Gr. 7-12 to Cupertino city for an annual student exchange talents, which I think is very special. It didn't matter to
program since 2004. them what your strengths and weaknesses were; it only
The host families are the most important part of this mattered to them if you had the talent inside you or not.
cultural-exchange experience. Not only did students build Most impressively, I liked this college because it was so
the person-to-person connection, but they also helped inviting to all students around the world and the school is
with mutual understanding across countries and cultures committed to help them strive for their goal.
through home stays, school and corporate visits as well as
pubic performances. During the trip, we visited worldwide
leaders in IT such as Intel Museum, Portwell and Cisco Paula J. Chu/ IBSH
and prestigious colleges like Stanford and De Anza as The trip to Cupertino, thanks to the Cupertino
well as the most popular attractions in the city of San Exchange Program, was one of the best, most interesting
Francisco. The gorgeous twilight and the sunset cruise experiences in my life. I made a lot of new friends and
have perfectly concluded our exchange program on Nov. 5, great memories, and got to experience the American
the last day of the trip. Even though we are apart, our best culture for the first time in my life. Both the Committee
memories and friendship will stay forever! together with teachers, and my host family, planned
entertaining, fascinating, and at the same time educational
Melody Chiu / IBSH trips to several places in California.
During this trip, I had a lot of first times - for the first
Through this Cupertino exchange trip, I learned how time I went trick or treating, and for the first time I tried a
the American school system is different from Taiwan. hamburger and a burrito, and for the first time I’ve been
The first thing I noticed when I entered the classroom to the US! I’ve never really had Mexican food before,
was the difference between the numbers of students. They and it was a huge mistake because burritos turned out to
have hundreds of people per grade, whereas we only have be exceedingly delicious. Alas, Chipotle, in which we ate
hundreds of people in our whole school. When I walked the burritos, does not have a branch in Taiwan. Same for
into the class, I noticed that I didn’t recognize anyone burgers - I ate my first burger in a Californian fast-food
from my classes before. Then I realized that everyone had chain, In-n-Out, and it was delectable! In fact, it was so
their own schedule to follow. Yet everybody got to their good that we ended up ordering another one.
designated class on time without being late. Another big On Thursday evening, we went trick or treating, and it
difference that I noticed was the way the teachers taught. was wonderful! We went to a street that was blocked out,
The teachers in America split their students into separate and the crowd of people that were trick-or-treating was
groups so that they could easily and collaboratively share spreading throughout the whole street. People decorated
their opinions within their group. While in Taiwan, the their houses lavishly; some people even bought moving
teacher would provide all the ideas and themes of the figures of monsters and thrilling lights! We collected more
topics so that we wouldn’t get easily confused with a clear sweets than I have eaten over the past few months, and we
guidance from the teacher. In the end, I realize how little decorated my host family’s house with pumpkins. We’ve
things in school can make a big difference from the way carved pumpkins the day before. Halloween celebration in
teachers teach the way students learn. That’s why we were the US is far better and more fun than in Taiwan.
there to experience the differences between the two school The trip to Cupertino was undoubtedly marvelous and
systems. full of new and great experiences. We visited a variety of
Another thing that I noticed which was different from places, including Intel and Golden Gate Bridge, celebrated
Taiwan is their spirit for Halloween. In Taiwan, we don't traditional American Halloween, and experienced days at
celebrate Halloween. But over in Cupertino, they go out American schools, but most importantly, we have made
trick or treating from house to house to ask for candy. Not lots of friends and gained countless memories. I am greatly
only are the people who pass out candy super friendly and thankful for my host family for being the best host family
welcomingly, but they also spend time decorating their ever, the teachers, and the Committee for making this trip
houses. Each house would have its unique style, and some possible, and for giving me this opportunity. I wish that
would even decorate the inside of their houses imitating a the trip would last longer, and that we could visit even
real-life haunted house. People who went trick or treating more places and spend more time with our host families. I
would also have lovely costumes. Some would dress up can’t wait to see them in the spring next year!
as cute princesses while others would dress up as creepy
ghosts. And at the end of trick or treating, you would also
have a lot of candy in your bag. 莊宗頤 / 國中部
Last but not least, we went to two colleges, Stanford
I went to Cupertino in the United States for an eight-
and De Anza. These two colleges were amazing. I never day exchange visit, including three days of school visit
knew that a school could hold so many people, yet no one

12 Cupertino Student Exchange