US Reserve Officer Trainees Learn Chinese, Enjoy Culture in SU ‘Project GO’ Camp

From May 29 to July 14, Soochow University’s Chinese Language Center had catered to the needs of members of United States Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) through the summer camp titled “Project GO.” The 6-week program provided not only Chinese lessons but also Kung Fu training, cultural experiences and sightseeing trips.

These US college students are also the recipients of the ROTC scholarship, and will soon become reserve officers in the U.S. military. Accordingly, one of the camp’s focuses was Chinese martial arts class. All the coaches were Soochow alumni, including Associate Professor Cheng-Hsiu Tsai of Providence University (Class of 1990), teaching many kinds of Chinese Kung Fu and the spirit and essence of it.

The members also enjoyed many cultural activities such as making pineapple cake and rowing dragon boats, and traveled to Eastern Taiwan. One of the members Sophia Navarror mentioned she had been to many destinations in Taiwan before, but she wanted to go to more night markets. Another member Hyrum Morries considered the trip to Hualien and Taitung the most unforgettable as he experienced the indigenous culture and rafting.

Most of the members, including their leading teacher Guy Tobiana, were truly impressed by Taiwanese people’s kindness and hospitality not just on Soochow campus but also everywhere outside the school.