Caption: ICI NCCU students together with NCCU USR professors during the visit to Hua Ren Elementary School
Photo by Casper Lin
After spending two days studying various issues related to sustainability, community resilience, Indigenous culture, and regional revitalization in Hualien, the final day of the field trip for students from the International College of Innovation, National Chengchi University (NCCU) on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, concluded with the most heartwarming and interactive activity, a cultural exchange with students from Hua Ren Elementary School in Hualien. This program is part of the Sustainable Development and Regional Revitalization (SDRR) course initiated by Prof. Gina Tsai under the Inclusive Innovation University Social Responsibility (USR) program. Over the course of three days, more than 27 international students from 12 countries including Canada, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Korea, the Philippines, and Taiwan were guided to understand how sustainability is not only about the environment but also about culture, local communities, and human relationships.
Through this program, Hualien is positioned as “a living classroom for global resilience learning,” where international students not only learn about sustainability in theory but also experience firsthand how local communities build resilience through culture, nature, and social solidarity. According to Prof. Gina Tsai, this cultural exchange is crucial because not all children in rural areas have the opportunity to travel abroad or experience international cultures firsthand. Therefore, through this program, NCCU’s international students bring cross-cultural experiences closer to local students through enjoyable and personal interactions.
On the first and second days, the students participated in various activities exploring the culture of the Amis indigenous community, took part in a forest healing experience, and discussed regional revitalization and sustainable tourism in Hualien. However, unlike the previous days, which focused more on field observations and community discussions, the third day offered a far more personal and interactive experience. That morning, the Hua Ren Elementary School field transformed into an international cultural exchange space filled with various languages, traditional attire, games, music, and signature dishes from different countries.
Caption: ICI NCCU students (Sweden Group) presenting their culture through interactive country booths at Hua Ren Elementary School
Photo by Casper Lin
During the event, international students were divided into several country booths to introduce the cultures of their respective nations. Interestingly, each group was accompanied by Taiwanese students who facilitated communication and interaction with the local elementary school students, as most international students could not actively speak Mandarin. Rather than being structured like a formal presentation, this cultural exchange was designed to be interactive and enjoyable. Each elementary school student carried an activity sheet and star-shaped stickers that they could give to their favorite booths. Teachers also participated in the voting with higher point values, creating a competitive yet warm atmosphere throughout the event.
Various groups showcased their creativity in different ways. Some brought traditional foods from their countries to share with the elementary students, some introduced traditional languages and games, and others played music and cultural videos from their respective countries. The schoolyard was filled with children moving from one booth to another with great curiosity.
Caption: Students from South Korea engaging local elementary students through the interactive “Red Light, Green Light” Korean game
Photo by Casper Lin
One of the busiest booths was from South Korea. That group won first place for organizing a highly interactive activity with the elementary school students: the game “Red Light, Green Light,” inspired by a South Korean traditional game. The game had become a global phenomenon and was widely known by children through social media and the internet. This simple activity successfully created a very lively atmosphere and made many elementary school students enthusiastic about playing together with the international students.
Caption: Indonesian students from ICI NCCU showcasing traditional culture through batik, Javanese traditional attire, and wayang puppets during the cultural exchange session
Photo by Casper Lin
Meanwhile, the Indonesian group also succeeded in capturing the attention of many students and teachers through a strong and authentic cultural approach. The Indonesian group even received special recognition from Prof. Gina Tsai for wearing full traditional attire throughout the event. One Indonesian student wore a complete Javanese beskap with a blangkon, while another student wore batik as part of the representation of Indonesian culture.
In addition to traditional attire, the Indonesian group also brought wayang puppets and introduced the wayang culture to elementary school students in Hualien. Many students appeared curious and came to the Indonesian booth to see the wayang puppets up close, something they had previously only seen online or on social media. It wasn’t just the students; several teachers also seemed interested and asked questions about the stories and philosophy behind the wayang. Interestingly, one thing that actually surprised the Indonesian students was when some elementary school students recognized the term “Tung Tung Sahur,” a viral meme and audio trend from Indonesia that has spread widely through social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Some children even showed the video on their phones while pointing to the Indonesian booth with enthusiasm. This moment demonstrated how popular culture and digital media can create cross-border connections, even in rural areas like Hualien.
Although many elementary school students had limited English proficiency, the atmosphere of interaction remained very lively and warm. The children remained enthusiastic about asking questions using simple words, gestures, or with the help of Taiwanese students who served as translators in each group.
“They remained very enthusiastic even though they couldn’t speak English fluently,” said Arbi, an ICI NCCU student from Indonesia who participated in the cultural exchange with the students of Guangfu Elementary School.
Caption: International students playing football together with Elementary students during break time
Photo by Harrison
As the event drew to a close, the atmosphere grew even livelier as many elementary students began asking for autographs on their shirts, drink cups, and even their own hands, creating a warm yet humorous moment for the international participants. After the cultural exchange session ended, some international students and elementary school students were also seen playing together on the school grounds through various simple games and sports activities. These moments made the interaction feel even more fluid and natural, demonstrating how human connections can be built even without many words.
Through this activity, it created a space for cultural exchange between the local community and the international world. At Hua Ren Elementary School that day, the classroom was no longer confined by the school walls. Through games, culture, music, food, and simple conversations, the elementary students and international students learned to get to know each other’s worlds proving that cultural exchange can be the most human and memorable form of learning.
