Between April 9th and May 21st, 2025, the Office of Global Affairs (OGA) at Tzu Chi University hosted a four-part series titled “Travel Without a Passport”, held once every two weeks at 6:30 PM. Sessions took place alternately at Zhongyang Campus and Jieren Campus, with each session focusing on a different country: Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, and Czech Republic. The purpose of the event was to provide a space where students could learn about different cultures directly from international students, while also practicing English in a relaxed and engaging environment through presentations and interactive sessions.
The series opened on April 9th with Team Indonesia at Zhongyang Campus. The team shared a colorful presentation highlighting Indonesian cuisine, introducing dishes such as nasi goreng, rendang, and martabak manis. Students showed photos and videos of how the food is prepared and discussed the cultural meaning behind shared meals in Indonesia. They also introduced batik, Indonesia’s traditional patterned fabric, explaining its historical and ceremonial importance. For the interactive segment, the team led a fun traditional Indonesian whisper game, where participants passed a sentence down a line in English and saw how it changed by the end sparking laughter and surprise. This game not only brought cultural value but also encouraged listening, speaking, and teamwork in English.
On April 23rd, the event continued at Jieren Campus with Team Kyrgyzstan, who gave an energetic presentation focused on the adventurous side of Kyrgyz culture. The team shared videos and stories about extreme sports popular in their mountainous country, such as horseback wrestling (Kok-boru) and skiing. They also introduced the audience to traditional musical instruments like the komuz, performing a short live demo that impressed many attendees. The audience then joined in a rhythm game that involved repeating simple beats and phrases in English, helping them actively engage with the topic.
The third session took place on May 7th at Zhongyang Campus and featured Team Ukraine. Their presentation took a heartfelt and personal turn, focusing on life in Ukrainian cities like Kyiv and Lviv. They shared beautiful photos of local architecture, daily markets, and historic neighborhoods. The speakers described the local lifestyle, public transportation, education, and traditional celebrations, helping students imagine life in a modern Ukrainian city. In the interactive segment, attendees matched Ukrainian place names to photos, and practiced asking travel-related questions in English. The team also taught a few basic Ukrainian phrases and greetings.
Finally, the series concluded on May 21st at Jieren Campus with a cozy and memorable session hosted by Team Czech Republic. Their presentation focused on Czech culture, famous castles, and daily life traditions. They highlighted the historical importance of castles like Karlštejn and Český Krumlov, explaining their architecture and stories. A unique and fun moment was the comparison between Czech and Taiwanese food culture. The team explained how Czech dumplings (knedlíky) are similar in concept to Taiwanese mantou, and how both cultures value soups and comfort food. As a special treat, the Czech team prepared homemade Czech dessert and herbal tea, inviting everyone to bring their own utensils to enjoy the experience. During the interactive session, they hosted a cultural quiz and invited participants to discuss their favorite local dishes in English.
The atmosphere at each session was friendly, curious, and full of appreciation for cultural diversity. Students from both local and international backgrounds actively joined the discussions and games, often stepping out of their comfort zones to speak English. Many expressed that the event helped them learn in a more natural and enjoyable way. Presenters also shared that preparing for the event helped improve their public speaking and gave them a platform to proudly share their culture. The final session with Czech desserts left a lasting impression, with many attendees lingering afterward to thank the speakers and chat casually in English.
The “Travel Without a Passport” series successfully brought students together across cultures and languages. Through stories, food, games, and conversation, the event promoted mutual understanding and created an inclusive space for English practice and cultural appreciation. We hope this series continues to grow and inspire deeper global connections on campus.