Come & Mix, Break & Fuse: A Big Hit in 2017 Welcome Mixer

On September 9, more than 1,500 guests formed the welcome party at the NTU Sports Center to embrace international students from over 26 countries. The Welcome Mixer for (Inter)national Students, a celebratory carnival to kick off the new academic year, is the grand finale of a series of orientation activities organized by the NTU Office of International Affairs (OIA).

The orientation activities have been a significant tradition for the OIA to provide pertinent information to help overseas students in making a smooth transition to living and studying at NTU. Conventionally, information and tour sessions, though essential, tend to be more serious in nature and only allow new students to meet a small number of local students and the OIA staff. However, starting from 2015, the OIA decided to create a friendly and inviting environment for international students to forge their own social networks and better understand Taiwanese culture while mixing well with local students, hence a new tradition – the Welcome Mixer for (Inter)national Students. The event not only provides an opportunity for international students to get to know each other, but also introduces international students to local students with whom to embark on their NTU journey.

Inspired by Taiwanese traditional and popular culture, the 2017 Welcome Mixer for (Inter)national Students incorporated elements from Taiwanese temples and night markets. A temple façade was created as the main background of the stage with a variety of game booths set up in the stadium to give international students a glimpse into common Taiwanese childhood memories with games including ring toss, Chinese hacky sack, bottle hooking, pinball machines and hoop rolling. Furthermore, dough figurine, candied haw and sugar painting artists impressed international and local students with the mastery and finesse honed through decades of experience.

The party kicked off with an aboriginal dance performed by Tafalong Culture and Art Group. The dancers even got off stage and led guests and students to dance along an indigenous Harvest Festival song. Interim President Ching-Ray Chang (張慶瑞), former President Pan-Chyr Yang (楊泮池), and Vice President for International Affairs Luisa Shu-Ying Chang (張淑英) all took center stage to deliver their warmest welcome remarks, together with many honored participating guests, to witness the new beginning of an everlasting friendship.

The lottery draw was undoubtedly the highlight of the party. Our organizers incorporated traditional Mid-Autumn Festival elements with the toss of divination blocks to complete the draw. Many students said that it was one of the most creative lottery draws they had participated in. The party ended with students dancing on the floor and reveling in the games and snacks along the booths.

The OIA provides a number of events for (inter)national students throughout the year. The “Welcome Mixer,” now probably the largest in scale of such kind of all the universities on the island, has become a significant annual event for international and local students to mingle, relax, and celebrate. The Mixer, brining all (inter)national students from 11 colleges, also provides an opportunity for NTU students to broaden their global vision and develop their cultural intelligence through the mixing.

(Source: NTU Office of International Affairs)