Rome News-Tribune previews Taiwan trip

Students preparing for culture shift in Taiwan
Written by by Kaitlin Beard, Rome News-Tribune staff writer, 7/1/09

Nine Darlington students are packing their bags in preparation for a two-week servant leadership trip to Taiwan that will begin Friday.

The trip will take students to Hualien City and Taipei to do various service projects such as environmental cleanup, working at a bakery with disabled people and teaching English. Students will also be able to enjoy the cities they will visit with a bike trip around the area, visiting national parks and touring a pottery factory, night markets and museums.

The trip has been organized by two Taiwanese students and their families in Taiwan. “We had two students who, for the last two years, have been really interested in taking Darlington to Taiwan to experience service,” said Reba Barnes, director of servant leadership at Darlington. She will be going with the students. “They said, ‘Why can’t we go to my home and do service?’ It was totally student led from beginning to end.”

Organizers and students hope that the trip will give them an insight into another culture. “I think it’s going to be a good experience to learn about the culture of some of the students I go to school with,” said rising junior Lucas Jennings. “I’m interested in helping others on a larger stage.”

“I want to learn to be patient with those that have a different language,” said 2009 graduate Abby Vincent.

Students will be keeping journals of their activities, and the group hopes to maintain a blog so that friends and family can follow their adventures. To be considered for the trip, students had to fill out an application and complete an essay. They are paying their own way, and the host families in Taiwan will be helping with expenses.

Barnes hopes the trip will encourage students to maintain a life of service. “You can serve people around the world,” said Barnes. “You can use your hands and feet — you don’t need your voice.”

“I’m hoping to come away with ideas of how to improve the community of Rome,” said Jennings. “And I think trying some of the Taiwanese food will be fun.”