Students from Laiyi Senior High School Showcase Taiwan’s Indigenous Culture and Establish Cross-cultural Ties with American Students
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the United States invited a group of indigenous students from Laiyi Senior High School to visit Washington, D.C. from October 5 to October 12. They were accompanied by principal Lai Hsia-ling 賴俠伶. During their visit the students from Pingtung County shared some of the indigenous artistry and rich musical and cultural heritage of Taiwan’s Paiwan indigenous people.
On October 7, the Laiyi students visited Thomas S. Wootton High School in Maryland, where they were warmly welcomed by teachers and students. During the morning Advisory Session, students from both schools performed in the gymnasium. The host school’s national award-winning a cappella champions, the Wootton Acatonics, performed the U.S. national anthem, and then the popular song Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, an American alternative rock band, demonstrating their wonderful choral skills.
The Laiyi students then sang a Paiwan love song. Its name means Drizzle on the Mountains: the “drizzle” represents a boy’s feelings of longing, and “the mountains” represent a girl’s figure. They then sang a Paiwan song the name of which means Thank You. It blended elements of soul, R&B, and electronic music with traditional indigenous chanting to convey gratitude for life, the land, and nature. Their performance was very moving, reflecting their deep affection for their loved ones and homeland.
After the performances, the school’s Patriot Television Studio interviewed the Laiyi students and they were then warmly received by Dr. Joseph Bostic, the school principal, and Ms. Minton Westcott, its Mandarin teacher. The Laiyi students also joined in art history, mathematics, and physical education classes at this American high school, giving them an opportunity to experience the differences from classes at home in Taiwan and to interact with the American teachers and students.
The next day, October 8, the Laiyi students performed at the National Day Reception held at Twin Oaks by TECRO. Twin Oaks is a place with long historical ties to relations between Taiwan and the United States, and it was placed on the National Register ofHistoric Sites by the United States Department of the Interior in 1986, in official recognition of its historic and cultural significance. The students sang Taiwan’s national anthem and indigenous songs before U.S. celebrities and international guests from many parts of the world. Their spirit and performance reflected the vibrancy of Taiwan’s multicultural society.
The Laiyi students also gave a short outdoor performance at The Ellipse, a park near the White House, and another at Upper Senate Park, near the US Capitol, enjoyed by local people and Taiwanese living or studying in America.
During their visit the Laiyi students enjoyed engaging in cross-cultural exchanges with young Americans and introduced the unique beauty and meaning of some of Taiwan’s indigenous music to people from different parts of the world. “This visit was more than just a performance,” said Sophie Chou, Director of the Education Division at TECRO, “—it was a cultural and spiritual exchange,” “Our students shared the beauty and sincerity of Taiwan with the world through their music.”
