Hundreds of SCU Students Complete Round-Island Cycling Tour for the 6th Year

One of the most eye-catching annual events in Soochow University, “The Third Mile: Hundred People Round-Island Cycling Tour,” marked its sixth year with a theme called “Our Story.” More than two hundred students set out from Soochow’s Waishuanghsi Campus on March 27, 2018, and finished the 12-day feat of pedaling round Taiwan on April 7.

 By cycling round the island counterclockwise, the journey aimed to promote a deeper interaction with local people than just riding through. When exploring different cities in person, student riders were able to know more about many unfamiliar aspects of this land and to internalize people’s experiences as “Our (students’) Story.” Demonstrating their energy and passion everywhere they went, SCU students performed a flash mob singing and dancing of the school anthem in many places. As the cycling tour coincided with the academic exchange week, the riders were sometimes greeted by Soochow students all over the island along the way.

This year, in addition to the cycling tour of SCU students, it was the first time for SCU Alumni Association to arrange a round-island bike tour. The two groups met for a great reunion on March 31 at Kaohsiung Hero House, where Soochow President Wei-Ta Pan, Vice President Bau-Tscheng Dung and Dean of Student Affairs Hung-Yi Hsiao. Also, as the local host, Jui-Chang Li, Director of SCU Alumni Association in Kaohsiung, gave warm welcome to all the riders and hoped the two groups may create wonderful memories and positive interactions.

Although round-island cycling may not seem special, the experiences and lessons learned along the way are the most precious. Just as the slogan of The Third Mile says “Let’s take on the challenge together,” this biking tour is a great challenge not only for each individual participant but also for all the students as a team.