Foreign Exchange Program Insight
(The following is a reflection piece by this student on the experience of taking part in the 3rd annual foreign exchange program with St. Ignatius in Taipei, Taiwan from April 10- 22, 2017.)
For 12 days, I participated in a foreign exchange program with students from St. Ignatius Senior High in Taipei. Thanks to the generosity of these students and my host, Nick, I experienced firsthand the culture and lifestyle of the Taiwanese people.
It was an enlightening experience to observe both the differences and similarities between the Taiwanese way of life and my own. These differences include a keen sense of respect for everything (including seemingly mundane rules) and a tendency for people to be reserved. More interesting to me, however, were the similarities. Despite the vast distance that separates Miami from Taiwan, many aspects of life were the same. For example, while most Taiwanese are not Christian and many do not belong to any faith, many are profoundly spiritual. Whether Daoist, Buddhist, or agnostic, they show a concern for the metaphysical. I was able to see this firsthand at a shrine located at the home of one of the host students, Marcus, where a Daoist ceremony took place. In Miami, while many practice their religions nominally, a belief in a higher being is common as well. On a lighter note, it was evident to me that we share similar tastes in pop culture. Most of the Taiwanese students enjoy watching American basketball and like the same films as we do. These similarities were refreshing; they reminded me that while civilizations may seem vastly different from one another, people are fundamentally connected.
This adventure was tremendously valuable. Besides the sights, smells, and pleasures provided by this trip, what granted it value was the insights I gained from living among the people that I now consider friends. For more information on how you can participate in this amazing experience contact Mr. Charles Cleveland at ccleveland@belenjesuit.org.
BELEN JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33184
phone: 305.223.8600 | fax: 305.227.2565 | email: communications@belenjesuit.org
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School was founded in 1854 in Havana, Cuba, by Queen Isabel II of Spain. The task of educating students was assigned to the priests and brothers of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), whose teaching tradition is synonymous with academic excellence and spiritual discipline. In 1961, the new political regime of Cuba confiscated the school's property and expelled the Jesuit faculty. The School was re-established in Miami the same year, and over the next decade, continued to grow. Today, Belen Jesuit is situated on a 34-acre site in western Dade County, just minutes away from downtown Miami.