STUDENTS FETED

Three Vincentian students who are studying in Taiwan were treated to a luncheon at the Taiwanese Embassy at Murray’s Road on Wednesday. The students are home on winter vacation but each has been in Taiwan for a year-and-a-half.

They expressed their delight at the event being held in their honour and in a joint statement encouraged other students to apply for Taiwanese scholarships.{{more}}

“It is a great opportunity to travel to other nearby Asian countries and learn about a different culture and a new language especially Mandarin Chinese which is spoken by the people of that particular race. It is not an easy task but we have to remind ourselves of the reasons that we came to Taiwan and that not everyone has the opportunity to study in Taiwan or any other Asian country. We are just grateful for this opportunity and in the end we hope to use the knowledge and training acquired to help to develop our country,” the statement said.

The students had to learn the language for one year and they all said that their biggest challenge was speaking professionally when they began to study their various disciplines.

Gordon Shallow of Stoney Ground is studying Plant Pathology at the National Chung Hsing University while Seab Capeyan Anthony-Jackson of Cane End, Mesopotamia majors in Power Mechanical Engineering at the National Tsing Hua University.

The six-foot four, former Image model Elona Subrina Alexander attends the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, she is studying Architectural Design.

Minister of Education Girlyn Miguel encouraged the students to stay and make their country proud, while Ambassador Jack Chen, speaking in Mandarin Chinese told them to make use of the opportunity to explore his country. The three students are graduates of the St Joseph’s Convent Marriaqua. Sister Pat must be really pleased.