TAINAN, Taiwan–(Business Wire)–
International Students from George Mason High School, Emmanuel Christian School,
Centreville High School and Langley High School in Virginia and Naperville North
High School in Illinois, United States, made dumplings and Aiyu jelly on July
8th in College of Liberal Arts at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Tainan,
Taiwan.
Chinese Language Center at National Cheng Kung University has prepared dumpling
ingredients and Aiyu seeds for the international students and accompanied
parents from United States to experience the local cultural, customs and
cuisines of Taiwan.
Students either put too much ingredients on the dough skin that made the skin
difficult to wrap or put too little ingredients that made the wrapped dumpling
flat. The students also used spoons to carefully scratch out the Aiyu seeds and
washed and messaged them in water to produce a slimy gel.
Sixteen-year-old Mary Williamson, from George Mason High School, expressed, “I
came to National Cheng Kung University because I wanted to get a scholarship for
college and at the end of this program we can get one. I believed it will help
me in college. Also, because I have never been to Tainan, it is another reason I
decided to come. I have made dumplings at home, but we made them differently. It
is an interesting experience to make it with classmates and friends. I am
enjoying my trip so far, it is really interesting to see the different cultures
and how people in Taiwan handle things differently than people in America. I am
also learning a lot in class, and it is very fun.”
Seventeen-year-old Katie Douthitt, also from George Mason High School, revealed,
“This is my second time making the dumplings, but I really like it. It is fun
because you can make different shapes with it. I made it last year when I went
to Beijing for a month. I really like the school here. It is a really large and
beautiful campus. I am enjoying the stay and the foods are really great. This is
my first time in Taiwan. I shall definitely come back next year, maybe in the
winter, when it is cooler.”
Seventeen-year-old Aleeya Ensign, from George Mason High School, too, said, “I
like cooking, so it is a lot of fun. I`ve never done anything like this style of
cooking before. The feeling of squeezing the seeds is quite weird. It is sticky
and tactile. But it is always interesting to try something that is new.”
The 2010 George Mason High School Summer Chinese Language Program, formed by 12
students between 15-year-old and 18-year-old, is a three-week program from July
3rd to July 21st. The curriculum includes language classes, culture classes,
language exchange and field trips.
National Cheng Kung University
Crystal Chen
News Center
Tel: +886-6-275-7575 Ext. 50042
Fax: +886-6-238-9919
E-Mail: crystal@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Copyright Business Wire 2010