Page 10 - 實中園地 第廿九卷第三期

實中園地 The Newsletter of NEHS 113年第 29卷第 3期

9A 許楷昕 Bryan Hsu

Being the host in the Czech exchange program was a rewarding and fun experience. At first I was nervous about
somebody staying at my house for a week, but as the days came I had to face my fears. On the weekends, I took our
partner, Jakub, to many places across Hsinchu and Taipei. This made me realize I didn't know a lot about the place I live
in, most of the time it was my parents introducing stuff to both of us. Especially explaining things, it was hard to translate
certain things to English with my limited knowledge of Chinese, but Jakub was patient with me. Honestly, it was quite hard
to connect with my partner due to our age gap, but I learned a lot about him and Czechia. During dinner times, we had
lots of interesting conversations that really expanded my knowledge about European culture. I learned my partner enjoyed
Taiwanese food and culture as he has been here multiple times. But we also got to introduce him to many foods that he
didn't try on his past visits. This hosting experience was fun and eye opening, at first it was very nerve wracking, but as the
week progressed I got more comfortable hosting my partner.

10A 陳盈希 Janice Chen
Participating in the exchange program has been quite the adventure, starting with our initial meeting which,
truth be told, felt a bit awkward. We both confessed to our social awkwardness, adding a layer of apprehension to our
first encounter. Having only exchanged messages online beforehand, meeting in person was a whole new experience.
Surprisingly, within the forced ten-minute conversation, we found ourselves surprisingly comfortable with each other,
discovering shared interests and a chill vibe that made the interaction much smoother than anticipated. Venturing out
on various excursions, from exploring landmarks like the 故宮 museum and Taipei 101, to savoring local delicacies such
as stinky tofu and beef noodle soup, we dived deeper into Taiwanese culture. Despite the foggy weather obscuring the
view from Taipei 101, the experience was still unforgettable. Our field trip to Tamsui and Bali revealed that we didn't
know Taiwan as well as we thought, and through research and experiences we shared with our Czech counterparts, we
"discovered Taiwan in a new light". Interacting with our partners provided us with valuable insights into the stark differences
in lifestyle, food preferences, and geography, fostering a sense of appreciation for cultural diversity. Participating in the
exchange program has been an incredibly pleasant experience overall. Talking and interacting with students from different
countries has been refreshing, providing us with the opportunity to meet new people and socialize. I am eagerly looking
forward to our trip to the Czech Republic in October, to immerse myself in their culture and traditions.

10B 周家榕 Emma Chou
At first, I was very nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect. Would our family meet the standards she had
for us? What would she think about my traditional and conservative family who stuck firmly to traditions and Taiwanese
habits? What would happen if she was weirded out? Do I know enough about Taiwanese culture to give my partner a
comprehensive explanation on things she asked? Despite my worries, everything took an unexpected turn when I realized
what my partner was like and how much I knew about Taiwan.
I think my partner really fit my circumstances, and that my family had a lot to show an eager foreigner. She was always
eager to try new things and foods. She would always ask about habits and traditions we had, my dad would spend hours
explaining, and she would listen politely. She was nice, respectful, and would do anything I had planned to do. She went to
basketball practice with me, which lasted two hours, but she didn't complain, even though it was very tiring for her. The
events planned by the school were also very enjoyable. I think that making the foods and visiting the (night) market were
very representative of Taiwanese culture. And she loved almond tofu.
The Red-Haired Fort also seemed to interest the Czech people a lot, because they saw a lot of Dutch/European
traces, and were able to make the connection to traces of their own culture with remnants of our history, and she said that
she recognized the Dutch slipper
I think that the schoolwork was a bit troublesome to manage, and that it would have been easier if the teachers
were asked to be more lenient on us. Despite the struggles to balance schoolwork and accommodating our Czech partner,
I believe that it was a delightful experience in which we were able to teach the cultures, habits, and history we have spent
our entire lives learning to an eager exchange student.

∼下期待續∼

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