International Students Celebrate Lunar New Year at Cheng Shiu University
From Cultural Discovery to Sports Festivities, CSU Offers Warm Companionship for Students Abroad

As the Lunar New Year approached, many international students at Cheng Shiu University (CSU) were unable to return home to celebrate with their families. To ensure they felt the warmth of home while in Taiwan, the Office of International Affairs organized a special event titled “Spring of Good Fortune: Here Comes the Lucky Snake!”. University President Dr. Jang-Jong Kung, alongside faculty and staff, joined the students in welcoming the New Year, creating a lively and festive atmosphere that helped ease feelings of homesickness.

Care and Connection: Feeling at Home Through Sports

The event began with a creative and joyful sports day themed around the symbolic “Snake Parade” for the Lunar New Year. Indonesian students led the procession with mascots representing an “Ox” and an “Eagle,” energizing the opening ceremony. A total of 130 students from Indonesia and Vietnam delivered the athletes’ oath in four languages—Mandarin, English, Vietnamese, and Indonesian—making it a truly international celebration of unity and friendship. The President and faculty members actively joined students in performing the trending warm-up dance “Apache,” expressing heartfelt care and solidarity with international students.

Experiencing Lunar New Year Traditions: A Taste of Taiwanese Culture

To deepen students’ understanding of Taiwanese Lunar New Year traditions, the event featured various cultural experience booths, such as "divination cup" tossing (擲杯筊) and fortune stick drawing (抽靈籤).
Tran Thi Anh Tuyet, a first-year Vietnamese student from the Department of Tourism, drew a lucky stick and shared her excitement for the year ahead. Nguyen Thi Que Tran from the Culinary Arts Department expressed that participating in these activities not only brought her joy but also taught her about the unique cultural features of Taiwan’s New Year.

Cultural Exchange and Youthful Energy: Growing Together Across Borders

Through interaction and shared experiences, international students and CSU faculty built mutual understanding and cultural appreciation. The students’ enthusiastic dances and songs energized the entire event, showcasing youthful vitality and hope for the future. CSU’s thoughtful efforts allowed international students to truly feel cared for while encouraging meaningful cross-cultural engagement.

A Thoughtful Celebration of Belonging

The “Spring of Good Fortune: Here Comes the Lucky Snake!” event was more than a festive gathering—it was a heartfelt effort by Cheng Shiu University to ensure that international students felt at home. With warmth, cultural learning, and shared joy, the event reflected CSU’s dedication to holistic student care and global inclusion, making the campus a truly welcoming place for all.