This academic year 151 Tamkang students would study at TKU’s sister universities for six or twelve months. Chaperoned by department chairs or teachers, these students have left for their destinations since the beginning of this month. On August 18 the College of Foreign Languages and Literatures invited the students, their parents, and the consuls of relevant countries to a well-wishing ceremony. TKU Founder, Dr. Clement C. P. Chang, presented the University flag to the departing students and wished them a fruitful year of independence and cultural immersion.

President Flora C. I. Chang reminded the students to take good care of themselves when abroad. She said she would visit them if there was an opportunity; she also reassured the parents that their children would benefit from a year abroad.

Yang Li-shou (English) and Hsie Min-fang (French) recounted their respective experiences abroad. Yang, who has spent a year at Brandon University in Canada, said, “At first, I could only phone for a pizza in halting English; a year later, my head is full of English all the time.” Hsie Min-fang said that, during a trip with friends, they met people whom they suspected to be pickpockets: “We argued with them in English and did not lose anything; we felt wonderful.”

TKU alumus Lin Ming-yi, now a cultural counselor of the Ministry of Education, said that, when he was a counselor in the ROC representative office in Germany, he treated Tamkang students to a VIP-style reception, an event attracting the attention of the local media. He encouraged students to think of themselves as Taiwan’s cultural ambassadors and act accordingly.

Mr. Helmut Luders, Vice Director Deutschen Institut Taipei, in fluent Chinese offered this advice: “German pettitoes are delicious, but don’t eat too much. And don’t drink too much beer, either. Otherwise, your mom and dad will not recognize you on your return next year.”

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