Cheng Shiu University Hosts Lunar New Year Celebration for International Students Staying in Taiwan

To help international students at Cheng Shiu University (CSU) experience the Lunar New Year in Taiwan, the Office of International Affairs hosted a festive event today titled “Auspicious Beginnings, Good Luck Slithers In”. Students participated in traditional New Year activities such as divination with moon blocks, interpreting fortune poems, and engaging in fun competitions. The event also featured a trendy dance performance of the “APT.” dance, bringing smiles to everyone’s faces. University President Dr. Kung Rui-Chung remarked that the joyful atmosphere welcomed the upcoming New Year and allowed international students to better understand Taiwanese holiday customs.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, around 130 students from Indonesia and Vietnam who are unable to return home this year due to travel restrictions were invited to the event. Themed as a “sports day,” the event kicked off with a creative parade featuring symbolic animals from Indonesian culture, such as the ox and the eagle. President Kung, university staff, and the students marched in together. Many students sang and danced energetically, showing their youthful vitality and creating a lively atmosphere.

The athletes took oaths in Mandarin, English, Vietnamese, and Indonesian, making the event feel like a truly international festival of fun. The organizers even led an “APT” warm-up dance inspired by the Apachi routine. President Kung, Vice President Cheng Shun-Ren, and College of Engineering Dean Kung Huang-Guang all joined in, moving their arms and legs enthusiastically, radiating passion and energy.

Other activities included tossing moon blocks and drawing fortune slips, offering students a hands-on experience of Taiwanese New Year traditions. Tran Thi Anh Tuyet, a first-year student from Vietnam in the Department of Tourism, said she was happy to receive a good fortune slip and that Vietnam also has a similar tradition during Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). She expressed optimism about having good luck in the coming year.

Another first-year student, Truong Nguyen Que Tran from the Department of Culinary Arts, shared that she enjoyed the New Year activities very much and found them fun and educational, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture.