Category Archives: Summer 2025

2025 KCJS EX: Happy Moments EX: 幸せ瞬間 As my final entry for the 2025 KCJS blog, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the friends I made along the way, who helped create many happy … Continue reading →

2025 KCJS Travel Log: Nara 旅に行こう：奈良 “Have you ever been to Nara to see the deer?” “I have, when I was around twelve. Though if you’re planning to go now, I bet it’ll be packed.” “Hmmm. Not if we leave … Continue reading →

2025 KCJS: Gion-Matsuri 祇園祭 The annual Gion-Matsuri. You simply cannot miss out on this. For the entire month of July, Kyoto’s streets fill with floats, music, and ritual performances that showcase the deep traditions of the region. I had always … Continue reading →

2025 KCJS Travel Log: Kobe, Himeji, Asagiri 旅に行こう：神戸、姫路、朝霧 Another amazing component of KCJS summer is their funded individual/duo travel program. About halfway through the program, we had a long weekend break with an option of traveling to nearby cities and … Continue reading →

After looking into RE:THINK I found out that they were doing a month of beach clean ups all around Taiwan! I figured it would be the perfect way to interview individuals who are interested in Environmental issues. So I after … Continue reading →

家好！我是姍姍，一位大四學生。這個夏天我在台灣做一個跟環境正義有關的短期研究，主要關注像知本濕地太陽能開發案和蘭嶼核廢料的問題。根據初步訪談的結果，我會對訪談問題做一些修改與調整。 在來台灣之前，我聯絡了明德學院的洪老師。她給我一些新聞資料，也介紹了一些跟這些議題有關的非營利組織和老師。之後，鍾老師建議我去看看 RETHINK 的活動。 我很欣賞 RETHINK 長期推動的環境行動，特別是他們跟在地社區一起努力推動永續發展的方式。所以我希望可以參加他們的淨灘活動。 這次來台灣，我的目標是學習台灣怎麼面對環境污染的問題，也希望可以讓我的中文更進步。這個星期我會準備！

The last week was incredibly busy with not just our 期末口試 and 考試, but also our exit ACTFL OPIC standardized test (a test many governments, graduate schools, and organizations use around the world to accurately assess proficiency in several languages), … Continue reading →

The (in)famous Taipei Night has finally arrived! Honestly, Taipei Night was such an adorable and fun idea, and one of the few times I felt a genuine connection to the program. It was great seeing everyone’s teamwork and hard work … Continue reading →

This week was really fun because the Harvard Alumni Club of Taiwan allocated some tickets to HTA to head to a basketball game in Taipei, and I luckily snagged a ticket in time! It was my first time seeing a … Continue reading →

Thankfully, we had one free day before resuming classes after the Social Study Trip, because I was EXHAUSTED from all that running around! However, I’m still incredibly thankful I had the ability to get outside of Taipei as part of … Continue reading →

The halfway point of the program, and finally, the long-awaited Social Study Trip! One of the highlights of the program, as mentioned repeatedly in the advertising material, was the ability to go to cities outside of Taipei and complete an … Continue reading →

Week 3 is when I first started getting the inklings of burnout this summer, but it was also a a very fun week. We discussed philosophy and ethics in class, particularly drunk driving (酒後駕車）and the incident of “我爸是李剛！” It was … Continue reading →

During Week 2, I began participating in more of HTA’s extracurricular events. During Week 1, there were also activities, but I was already so exhausted by preparing for class that I decided to skip out. I’m really glad I didn’t … Continue reading →

I entered HTA super excited to immerse myself in Chinese for another summer (last summer, I attended ICLP, which was a perfect fit for me and enabled me to make multiple years of progress in just one summer). The reason … Continue reading →

The last week was bittersweet, as everyone was tired from working hard all summer but also sad to say goodbye. We had Taipei night, which was a show filled with funny and passionate performances. Our end of program banquet was … Continue reading →

This week we were all aware that our time in Taiwan was coming to an end, so we did all of our favorite things: eating at our favorite places, visiting cafes, exploring cute shops in the city, and celebrating Richelle’s … Continue reading →

The sixth week we were back to usual classes, and I enjoyed every day with my friends who I had become so close with. A highlight was going rock jumping just 40 minutes outside of the city. I continued to … Continue reading →

The fifth week was the end of the social study trip, a much needed day off, and then back to classes. I was excited to return to Taipei and get back in a routine, and also feeling grateful for all … Continue reading →

This week we only had half a week of classes and then departed for our social studies trip. I went to Tainan in the south, where we tried new foods, talked to lots of people, and explored the beautiful scenery. … Continue reading →

The third week I explored the city with friends, continued to work hard in the classroom, and made even closer relationships with my teachers. By this point I felt like I really knew my classmates, and we had a certain … Continue reading →

On the second week, I continued to adjust to the pace of class and get to know all of my teachers. I was able to prepare for class more efficiently and found myself speaking with more ease. It was difficult … Continue reading →

My first week at HTA, I already knew I was in for an incredible experience. I met so many new people and learned about who they were and why they were passionate about studying Chinese, explored Taipei, adjusted to the … Continue reading →

My final week at HTA was bittersweet, filled with memorable moments and heartfelt goodbyes. At our last language table, my classmates, teachers, and I enjoyed a lively meal of Shanghai cuisine. Additionally, to make the most of my last week … Continue reading →

After spending countless hours attending class, doing homework, and studying for tests, I began to realize that my time in HTA was coming to a close. However, the fun was not yet over. Near the end of the HTA program, … Continue reading →

We returned to the regular class schedule this week, and after having the past two weeks to apply my Chinese skills to a variety of interactions around Taiwan, my teachers and I could really feel the improvement in my ability … Continue reading →

The week after returning from our class trip to South Taiwan was quite relaxing, as we had a few days to unwind before our classes started again. The fun continued in Taipei as my friend from Williams came to Taiwan … Continue reading →

The last four weeks of HTA have been wonderful, but all of our learning and practice have truly built up to the Social Study Project (社会调查报告) in which every student chose a location outside of Taiwan to study a particular … Continue reading →

你好，呢個係我最後一次同你哋寫信，都係我最後幾日喺香港！我真係好鍾意學廣東話，一啲都唔想返美國，但係每個好事都一定要結束。我哋已經放學，已經考試考完咗。我都唔知道下次幾時會有機會學廣東話，但係我好開心有咗呢個機會來香港讀書！ 下個禮拜係我最後喺香港讀書嘅禮拜，冇錯，但係一定係我到而家最鍾意嘅禮拜。我下個禮拜四請咗三位教中文嘅香港老師一齊去香港都嘅酒樓飲茶。佢哋三位，兩位係我喺威廉識嘅老師，係兩年前喺威廉教中文嘅吳老師同舊年喺威廉教中文嘅羅老師！第三位我未食過嘅老師係歐老師，佢係今年打算威廉教中文！我好開心有機會同之前嘅好朋友、先嘅朋友一齊食香港最出名嘅飯！ 因為我食素，嗰日嘅酒樓只有數嘅飯啫，大家都可以開心嘅食點同飲茶！我哋食咗素嘅燒賣、春捲、叉燒包、蝦餃等點心。我哋開始用廣東話講話，但係因為我講廣東話講嘅好慢，所以五分鐘之後我哋用中文講話。食咗夜晚飯之後，我哋一齊去金鐘搭纜車，一齊搭到山頂睇夜景。喺山頂真係可以睇到香港嘅好多大樓，都可以賞月。嗰一日真係好難忘記，我好期待下次有機會再來香港玩！ 唔該你哋用時間讀我既信。下次見！ 史雷利

大家好，我呢個禮拜去咗香港最出名嘅地方：香港島！我去咗中環先，喺深水埗地鐵站搭地鐵，唔使轉車。我搭到中環地鐵站，然後去咗中環出名嘅咖啡店飲朱古力咖啡，好好飲！飲咗咖啡，我同朋友行街，睇吓中環出名嘅地方。我好鍾意中環，但係買嘢真係太貴啦！一日喺香港島嘅中環玩已經快冇錢！因為之前香港係英國嘅地方嗰陣時，所以而家好多香港人嘅英文真係不錯。睇開左邊嘅車或者聽香港人講話，都可以感覺到英國嘅影響。 夜晚做咗地鐵返屋企，我好晚瞓覺。我呢次喺香港島冇機會搭纜車睇夜景，但係我下次有機會一定會去睇，我聽講好靚！

It’s always hard to say goodbye, especially when for weeks, we have bonded, experienced, and shared so much with one another. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to reflect on my experience and I came up with this unsurprising, … Continue reading →