🌸Hirodai Ambassador [Study Abroad News] Maika Ito, 2nd year, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, No.4

Hirodai Ambassador Activity Report

 Ms. Maika Ito, 2nd year student, Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine

[Destination] National Taipei University of Education (Taiwan)
[Study abroad period] August 2023 to January 2.
[Type of study abroad] Long-term study abroad at a partner university

I am currently studying at the National Taipei University of Education as an exchange student for a year.

This time, I will talk about the farewell party held for many exchange students who are returning home after their three-month Chinese class, and about Kaohsiung City, which I went to during my two-week break. I would like to write about the class.

First of all, regarding the farewell party, as shown in the photo, while eating pizza and cake, we watched a video made by the teachers, took photos, and received many presents.I was very sad because my Korean friend, who I had taken the same Chinese class with, was leaving for a three-month exchange program.Also, I made many Korean friends from that Korean friend, and we went out to eat and did many things together over the three months, so it felt like the three months were already over in the blink of an eye.In Japan, it is common to wear a hakama or a suit at a graduation ceremony, but in Taiwan, as shown in the photo, students wear their bachelor's uniforms, so I lent them to them and it was the last chance for everyone to have fun, take photos, and have a good conversation, so it was a lot of fun. It was.I still have 3 months left to study abroad, so it was a great opportunity for me to receive so many words of encouragement from everyone, telling me to do my best and making me want to work even harder.

Next, I used my day off to go to Kaohsiung City with my friends.Kaohsiung City is located in the southern part of Taiwan, so it takes about two and a half hours to get there from Taipei on the high-speed train called Kaohsiung.It was already very hot at 2 degrees in Taipei in June, but I was surprised to find that Kaohsiung in the south was even hotter and muggy.In Kaohsiung, I went to places called Liuhe Night Market, Longhu Pagoda, and Meridao Station.At the night market, we ate grilled squid and lurou fan.There are many night markets in Taiwan, and each one has its own unique characteristics, so no matter how many times I go there, it's always interesting and one of my favorite places.I also went to the Dragon and Tiger Pagoda because it is said that if you enter through the dragon's mouth and exit through the tiger's mouth, it will eat up your bad luck and your past mischief, and even eliminate misfortune.Bireijima Station is famous for its beautiful plaza in front of the ticket gate, and it was very beautiful as you can see in the photo. After three months of hard work in Chinese classes and regular classes, it was finally a relaxing break, so it was a really fun trip.

Lastly, I would like to write about the Chinese classes that started again in early June.My classmates remain the same except for my Korean friends, and two Vietnamese girls have also joined me.Compared to last semester, I am being asked for my opinion and have more opportunities to have discussions, and I am facing the difficulty of expressing my thoughts in words.However, I think that I am growing little by little with the support of my classmates around me.I want to continue to work harder.