The gates open as eager students land in Taoyuan International Airport. They take the bus to Asia American International Academy (AAIA), DIS’ sister school. After a week in Korea as homestay guests, AAIA reciprocated and invited ninth graders to Taiwan to experience life in a new academic, cultural environment during spring break.

Last-minute changes took the journey through a rough start. Freshman Yujun Piao and elementary Chinese teacher Ms. Zhu could not join due to passport and visa problems. Piao said,“[my partner] is a very chill guy, and his parents were like, ‘We welcome you to come in anytime.’ When I couldn’t get my visa, I didn’t really care because it’s something that I cannot control.” In Ms. Zhu’s absence, Mr. Gum took over as chaperone. 

On day one, freshmen visited Taipei 101 and made DIY leather cup holders. Shopping malls, night markets, and authentic restaurants filled the rest of the day. The next morning, Jets commuted to AAIA and attended classes to immerse themselves fully in the new school. They learned how to order boba tea, paint Chinese calligraphy, and juggle Diabolo (Chinese yoyo), which elevated the visit to the next level. “The teachers at AAIA were amazing — very welcoming and really great hosts. I was really surprised to see some teachers there, they were super qualified,” said Mr. Gum. 

AAIA planned a full tour filled with traditional foods and unique activities like laser tag. Students tasted the diverse and vibrant local culture at its fullest. “I tried stinky tofu for the first time. I only heard about it and how it smells so bad. It tasted good on the first taste, but then after you chewed it a bit, the smell came off and it was kind of bad,” said ninth-grader Jake Park. 

Away from group tours, DIS also enjoyed personal time with host families and formed special memories and bonds. “We did many things. On the first day when we went to Taiwan, everybody acted separately. People who lived in similar areas, close to each other, went out to play together. Others such as me or Jio, we were far away from other students, so we played with our partners and hung out at the mall,” Park said. 

Unfortunately, Mr. Gum suffered from illness and missed out on some of the fun. “I got some sort of stomach bug the second day I was there so I had to recover in my hotel room. I really wanted to be with the students. But luckily, the admin at AAIA took great care of our students. I saw all the fun students were having without me and it made me super jealous,” he said.

After a short-felt five days, participants from both countries said their final goodbyes and took one last group photo. Springtime filled with boba, lifetime friendships, and cherished memories — the exchange trip closed on a sweet note.