Wenyu Chung
Center for Japanese Language
Studying abroad is not just about learning a new language or experiencing a different culture. For me, it is also about stepping outside my comfort zone, meeting new people, and trying things I would not normally have the chance to do. When I discovered the ICC Outreach Program at Waseda Osaka High School, I was excited to have the opportunity to connect with local students and share a little bit of my own culture.
Before the event, my teammates and I spent time preparing our presentation and designing interactive games to introduce Taiwanese culture. We hoped to make the experience both educational and enjoyable, encouraging the students to participate rather than simply listen to our presentation. Although preparing everything took time and effort, I was looking forward to seeing how the students would respond to the activities we had planned.
Photo by author
One of the most memorable moments of the event was introducing a traditional Taiwanese shopping bag called the 茄芷袋 (Taiwanese woven bag). With its colorful striped design, it is a traditional bag that has been part of everyday life in Taiwan for many years. For this event, we prepared mini-sized versions of these bags as coin purses to give away as prizes during our games.
Photo by author
To my surprise, the students really liked them! They were excited about the little bags and actively participated in the games for a chance to win one. Seeing their smiles and enthusiasm made me really happy, and I was glad to have the chance to share a small part of Taiwanese culture with them.
This experience reminded me that cultural exchange doesn’t always have to involve big traditions or complicated topics. Sometimes, even a small everyday object can help people from different backgrounds connect. What I enjoyed most was seeing how something familiar to me could bring so much excitement to others.
It was also rewarding to see the students enjoying the activities we had prepared. Through this experience, I had the chance to practice my communication and presentation skills and learn how to better engage with an audience.
For anyone considering joining a similar ICC program, I would encourage you to give it a try. Even if you feel nervous at first, don’t worry too much about giving a perfect presentation. I think the most important thing is to enjoy the experience and make the most of the opportunity to interact with the students.
Rather than just sharing our culture with the students, I feel like I also learned a lot from them. Their youthful energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and I felt energized by the end of the event. It was definitely one of the most memorable experiences of my time at Waseda University.
