Lost in Translation: Taiwan Study Tour 2024
As students of MGC New Life Christian Academy, it is unlikely that anyone from the student body has not heard of the famous Taiwan Study Tour. Renowned for being an exceptional opportunity to learn the Chinese language and spend time with fellow New Lifers, students from Grades 7 to 12 flocked to join the two-week program this year and advance further in their language-learning journey while experiencing Taiwanese culture. Not only did students learn more about culture and language, but their practical skills were enhanced as they ventured into the heart of Taiwan. Whether in their interpersonal or creative abilities, every student left the tour having learned a valuable lesson.
Exploring the woods, learning to cook local Taiwanese dishes, and showing creativity through painting, students who joined this year’s tour learned useful day-to-day skills through a variety of unique experiences at Toucheng Leisure Farm. The program diverged from the traditional classroom setup by exploring diverse learning modes both within and outside its facilities. This part of the tour predominantly consisted of activities like hiking, harvesting vegetables, and tree climbing. Although the sweltering summer heat hit them hard, the students continued to persevere, working tirelessly to reach their goals.
Berea student Eunice Valdez shared, “I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Taiwan Study Tour and create endless memories with friends, as well as learn practical skills needed in life.”
Recent graduate En Duo Wang, a participant of the tour, said, “While I valued the learning activities during the tour, the most significant takeaway was the reaffirmation of my faith. Despite being in a different country, our group maintained nightly devotions, including praise, worship, and Bible discussions.” Every night when the clock struck 8, the students gathered for their nightly devotions, which were mainly led by Grade 8 Chinese teacher Anita Angeles. Huddled around a roaring campfire, the students poured their hearts out as they shared their favorite worship songs and reflected on how God had greatly affected their lives during the trip, concluding their Toucheng experience under the gleaming lights of the stars above.
The Amazing Race was also one of the much-awaited main events of the study tour, where students encountered more locals in Yilan City. Tasked with competing against each other in groups of four to five people, the students raced to see who could earn the most points by accomplishing the tasks given to them and forcing their way through the dreaded language barrier. As they struggled with time constraints and unexpected weather conditions, teammates worked together to complete all given tasks. Every student went into the race with mixed emotions, but nevertheless, ended up with great memories and experiences to bring home as stories for their loved ones. Grade 11 student Bellina Fontarum stated, “I liked that we had the freedom to explore the places on our own during the Amazing Race, and I learned a lot about Taiwan's culture and people and made great friends during my time there.”
Not only did the students get the opportunity to explore the city, but they also ventured into the local waters! Helped by an energetic guide, the group courageously adventured through the refreshing waters of Zhentou Yuanyang River, forced to face obstacles entirely out of their comfort zones. According to Grade 12 New Lifer Dominic Wong, “As an experienced swimmer, I expected that the river trekking wouldn't be too hard for me. But halfway through, it got more challenging as we kept going, and it turned out to be a difficult time for me. At the end of the day, I was exhausted, but it was a great experience.” Despite the struggle, this experience encouraged students to take risks and enjoy nature at its finest.
After sightseeing and shopping around the charming cities of Taipei and Taichung, the tour came to a bittersweet end. The two weeks of bonding with fellow study group members passed by, and they left with not only new vocabulary but memories that would last a lifetime.
