Being a part of the HESS Happy Summer Camp has definitely been one of the biggest highlights of my experience in Taiwan. I felt so lucky to be able to travel to Taimali and Lanyu to discover some very beautiful cultures and traditions of the aboriginal peoples of this country

　　 Being a part of the HESS Happy Summer Camp has definitely been one of the biggest highlights of my experience in Taiwan. I felt so lucky to be able to travel to Taimali and Lanyu to discover some very beautiful cultures and traditions of the aboriginal peoples of this country.

　　 With the Happy Summer program, we were able to spend a lot of time with the children, teaching, playing learning, and most of all, laughing. The lessons were very well planned out, and gave the children lots of one on one interaction with the teachers, as well as with their classmates.

　　 Our English curriculum contained some very simple and useful English phrases, vocabulary and expressions. We learned how to introduce ourselves and express feelings, as well as talk about colors, numbers, food animals, and the weather. We then practiced our new specified grammar structures with lots of games, songs and a wide range of different creative and interactive activities, specifically designed to help the children to learn as much English as possible during the time we spent there.

　　 In Taimali, we had only 2 days, but were able to fit a lot of learning and fun into them. I felt that the children learned a lot, and also had the chance to meet and talk to a foreign person, perhaps for the first time! These children had some special gifts, and I felt privileged to have the chance to see them. Their creativity and imagination helped our time together to be unforgettable for me, and I hope for them as well.

　　 In Lanyu, we stayed for 5 days, giving all of us a chance to really get to know each other well. Lanyu is an incredible island, so culturally rich with the most incredibly friendly people. The kids were so friendly as well- ready to learn, and very energetic to try new things. I found this time to be very enriching- we learned how to communicate very simply in English, but in other ways as well, through song, dance, hugs and smiles. I felt that these children really received a lot from all of the teachers- some English, happy memories, and a lot of love. Every morning when we arrived to the classroom, the kids would already be there, waiting to get inside and start the fun! As well, after classes, we were able to ride the bus around the island to drop the kids off in their villages, giving us the chance to see what a beautiful place it is.

　　 Both of these experiences combined have really made my time here a lot richer, and I feel we were able to offer something very special to these children – we used the English language as well as our energy and love to make some special connections with some very special little people.

　　 It truly was a Happy Summer.