Focus: SayTaiwan

Focus: SayTaiwan

In order to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of its foundation, the government of the R.O.C planned a broad array of activities and festivals. One program in particular caught our attention due to its extravagance and ambition: last February, the Council for Cultural Affairs decided to invite more than 200 young individuals from all over the...

Read more: 238 x TW ÷ 105 = 100

Focus: SayTaiwan

An interview with Rodrigo Alejandro Aguilar from El Salvador



“My expectations were pretty much about structures and temples, and modern buildings. I was just pretty excited to know the lifestyle of the people over here…how they live and how they relate the way of their living with their buildings,” Rodrigo Alejandro Aguilar says in his...

Read more: Taiwan: form for function

Focus: SayTaiwan

Interview with Niyomwungeri Maxime Jim from Rwanda



This tall, strong and positive young man with such a broad smile on his face is Niyomwungeri Maxime Jim. We met each other at a party at which were assembled lots of guests from the "Say Taiwan Homestay project".

He came to Taiwan from Rwanda, an inland country with the highest density...

Read more: Africa can learn from Asia

Focus: SayTaiwan

An interview with Matheus Da Silva from Brazil and his "host brother" Ben Huang



Like many others SayTaiwan partipants, Brazilian guest, Matheus Da Silva, and his Taiwanese host, Ben Huang, are sharing Matheus' first day in Taiwan, and their first day together. As they get better acquainted, Matheus and Ben share the little lightbulb moments...

Read more: Both sides of the fence

Focus: SayTaiwan

An interview with Hanane Khlifi from Morocco



"I had some doubts in the beginning, about the ALL FEES COVERED...", admits Moroccan participant, Hanane Khlifi, chuckling in retrospect. "But I knew there would be participants from all over the world... I just loved the idea of meeting new people. I kinda needed that change in my life". With that...

Read more: Fasting in the Far East

Focus: SayTaiwan

An interview with Karamoko Camara

“They are very surprised, when people hear Taiwan, they only hear the name, and they cannot think how I came to be here.” Karamoko, or Moko as he is familiarly known, told us how people in his own country, Guinea, responded when they heard Moko was going to Taiwan.

“But you know, music has no boundaries...

Read more: Djembe drumming across boundaries

Focus: SayTaiwan

An interview with Rando Pikner (Estonia) and Jusso Lautiainen (Finland)


Rando with his "Host Father"

“Honestly I feel like superstar in Taiwan, because everywhere I go people are so friendly…They don’t want to seem friendly… they are actually friendly. That’s why I like the Taiwanese,” Rando begins.

Flamboyant Estonian, Rando...

Read more: SayTaiwan superstars

Focus: SayTaiwan

The build-up to ROC Taiwan's "International Youth Week - Centennial Homestay" has begun, with SayTaiwan calling for 250 participants from over one hundred countries, for this one off opportunity to experience the various colours and moods of this beautiful island. For the event that will be held over 12th-25th August, applicants are encouraged...

Read more: Let's 'SayTaiwan'

Focus: SayTaiwan

Mei-fang was one the project managers in charge of the participants and the host families. She tells us more about the selection process:

This program was aimed at inviting “international young people” to Taiwan, in this way, we hoped to spread the word about Taiwan’s hospitality and culture. We promoted this program through the use of...

Read more: SayTaiwan : behind the scenes