Flavors of Taiwan: A Salon for Learning & Discovery - in Bangkok
On Sunday morning September 7, the Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand and the Taiwan Education Center in Thailand organized a hands-on information session at Formosa.Potetato Restaurant & Cafe in Bangkok to provide people in Thailand with information about Taiwan’s culture and tea arts. Their goal was to deepen the participants’ understanding of Taiwan and motivate them to be interested in undertaking higher education studies or learning Mandarin in Taiwan.
The information session, called Flavors of Taiwan: A Salon for Learning & Discovery, attracted more than 70 local Thai people, including young people, high school and university teachers, and professionals who were interested in studying in Taiwan.
Ms. Hsueh Yi-Han 薛懿含, Secretary of the Education Division, gave the opening remarks. She thanked the co-organizers and warmly welcomed all the participants. She hoped that the morning’s activities would give them a better understanding of Taiwan and its vibrant cultural life—from bubble tea to diverse lifestyle experiences—and convenient transportation. She also spoke about Taiwan’s high-quality education system and encouraged the participants to apply for scholarships to study in Taiwan.
The information session included a wide range of activities. It began with Taiwan Scholarship and Huayu Enrichment Scholarship recipients speaking about their experiences as students in Taiwan. They provided valuable insights into Taiwan’s education system, academic programs, cultural life, cuisine, and attractions. This sparked strong interest, prompting the participants to ask about scholarship opportunities.
This was followed by several cultural sessions to experience the beauty of Taiwan’s artistic heritage firsthand: first a Taiwanese tea tasting session, accompanied by a live guzheng performance, and traditional Taiwanese snacks. Then in a DIY traditional fan art workshop participants were invited to create hand-painted fans and rattles.
An engaging wellness segment introduced participants to some of Taiwan’s traditional health culture activities and practices, including how to use a mugwort hammer and give massages. These engaging activities enhanced the participants’ awareness of Taiwan and encouraged them to learn Mandarin.
The very successful Flavors of Taiwan: A Salon for Learning & Discovery morning ended with a Taiwanese lunch. Secretary Hsueh and the participants enjoyed Taiwanese specialties and bubble tea, cultural exchange. She answered their questions about studying in Taiwan, extended early Mid-Autumn Festival greetings and shared Taiwan’s signature pineapple cakes with everyone. It gave the Thai people participating a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s education system and culture, and many developed a strong motivation to pursue studies and Mandarin learning in Taiwan.
