Monday - May 5: Tamkang University

We visited the campus of Tamkang University, ranked #1 in the country by the government. They have received numerous top ratings for excellence and after a tour of the campus it is easy to see why. I was in awe of the beauty of the campus. One difference that stood out was the grounds were free of trash. Our hosts explained that it is the duty of the Freshman to participate weekly in cleanup - it is their part of saving the environment. In the Taiwanese culture they place importance on peace and harmony, which begins within and extends to other areas in their lives. For the number of students on-campus - I think it was 8,000 - the noise level, or I should say lack of noise, was impressive.

Professors Huang spoke about culture shock and some of the differences. For me, the ritual of serving guests a hot cup of tea as a gesture of friendship was a welcome treat. We learned there are 2 distinct regions in Taiwan and both have festivals to celebrate. The Sky Lantern Festival occurs on the 15th of the 1st month. This is in the northern regions and symbolizes peace. The Latin Festival in the South celebrates the uprising on July 1885 to protest inadequate medical care. It is the best known fold activity and drives away demons.

Professor Chia lecture on Fx Risk Management

          Pat with Sunny- from TKBM (Student Association Business Management)

We attended a lecture by Professor Chia and formed small groups to learn more about the history of Taiwan. Then we split off into groups to answer questions they had on an exam. With no textbook or computer to rely on, we were asked to answer a question on the Fx market and how would we manage risk.

I want to say a special thank you to the staff who made this visit possible. They truly went out of their way to make our visit one to remember.


Visit them on You Tube at:
Tamkang University - 60 Years of Excellence  
or
http://english.tku.edu.tw/