Frontiers of International Exchange ‚Q

Doshisha University Taiwanese International Society

By Wang Cheng-Ming (Faculty of Economics, 4th year)


    It has already been three years since Ifve been offered the position of President of the Doshisha University Taiwanese International Student Society. As I look back, I was left with the position from the President while feeling a great amount of responsibility and carried feelings of fear. The reason for this was because there was only one person that was older than me when the group was formed. There were much trouble and it wouldnft be exaggerating if I said that we started from zero 4 years ago.
    These last few years, the number of people of the Taiwanese Society increased from 1 to 8 people and now there are close to 50 people. Even though I am filled with joy, I also feel a little bit of pressure. At the orientation where we meet incoming international students every year in April and September, we saw some faces of uneasiness and nervousness. To deepen the bond within the international students, we aimed to have exchanges with one another and to be able to release their worries and that was the reason why I joined this group.
    After the welcoming party in April, we held some random events (field trip to the factory, dinner parties, movie nights) that allowed me to see a change of expression of the students. Now that itfs been 6 months, the international students have sympathized with Doshisha University and have created feelings toward Kyoto. At the year-end party, everyonefs expressions had changed into a pleasant look. By seeing this change, I felt this must be the true charm of being in charge of the President of the International Society.
    Since I was given the chance to be in charge of the International Society, I think I had more opportunities than other students to participate in the beneficial school events. The World Student Environment Summit that was held last June and the Peace Now in Okinawa 2 years ago was one of a lifetime experience.
    As my duty as the President of the International Society, the work I was in charge made me grow personally and I think it was very useful. I hope for the international students to support, walk, and feel together and to have the best experience. Thanks to the university and the International Society, I was able to get involved between the school and students by being given the position of President during my study abroad. I would like to end this paper by expressing my gratitude from the bottom of my heart.

    The articles were reproduced and modified by the gDoshisha University Staff English Club News gTopicsh No.7. (dated on May 30, 2009)

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