TJC Band in Taiwan by Lee Meiyi Debbie

Guiding questions

TJCBand — 2016-11-22 02:49:04 UTC

1) We are now at the end of the trip. Write a sentence that sums up your experience in Taiwan. Alternatively, you can do a drawing.

2) What do you think is a key lesson Singaporeans can learn from the Taiwanese?

3) What do you appreciate about your own culture, in light of your travel experience in Taiwan?

Venedict_Keith_Goodbye Taiwan_Dec 5th

2016-12-07 10:42:52 UTC

Today, we leave Taiwan. Packing our luggage with a heavy heart and dragging our feet onto the bus, we couldn't bear to leave this beautiful country. One sentence that would sum up our experience would be "Never take things for granted." From the past few days of exchange, the students we talked to and exchanged with all came from different backgrounds; some having to walk long distances while others without fully functional equipment. However, they all still manage to put in time and effort and could make great music with whatever they had, which we feel Singaporeans could learn to treasure and make the most of what we have in Singapore based on equipment and ample time we have that could be set aside for practice.Overall, this trip has taught us more about honoring our forefathers as well as respect our elders more as they are the ones who have paved our way for us, creating the environment we have today in Singapore. This trip has really inspired and changed our lives, definitely making us want to be better players and people, and to this, we only have the teachers to thank for organising and facilitating the trip!

Caiheng_Anjali_Back to Reality?_Dec 5th

2016-12-08 07:37:39 UTC

Last day in Taiwan, last day of our Taiwan trip. I really didn't want to leave. Despite how bad the hotel room was, i didn't want to leave the company of my friends, my bitterguas, i really made closer ties with these people, hopefully we will continue to be as close as we were. I am really going to miss this aircon temperature, our tour guide Alan who was really amusing, how he used to blow into the mic before talking HAHA, those bus rides where the girls always sang BLACKPINK songs and baymaxbitterbittergua and those 8 course meals (with the first question that group asks being "Is there pork in here?", omg i love you guys!! Team Tay FTW!!). We were already planning for a trip with the bitterguas after As, this is how much we missed Taiwan haish.. I will really miss those school exchanges, feeling exotic, those random people asking about my xiaogua HAHA

This trip has really opened our eyes, showed us more things that cannot be found in Singapore (that trail and mountains), it has taught us more about Taiwan and its background (also made me understand more on why Tzuyu from TWICE had to face that Taiwan-China scandal and had to apologise).

Musically it has also made us a better people, by teaching us new things and also learning more about our areas of improvements. The different music cultures were an eye-openers

Music is definitely one that has no language barriers and brings everyone together!! Thank you to the teachers for organising such an wonderful trip!

P.s.
Anjali: I'm so happy that i promoted to go on this trip, Taiwan trip was literally my only motivation to get through J1 and I'm really happy that I've made it through J1 and this trip! Thanks Ms Foo for blackmailing me during chem remedial and helping me promote LMAO i hope to see you as my chem teacher next year!

Yuhao_ Zhian_taiwan trip day7

zhuyuhao168 — 2016-12-08 09:26:56 UTC

One sentence to sum up the entire trip: It has been a roller coaster ride, filled with fun, and memories, yet enriching at the same time.

We think that one lesson that us as Singaporeans should learn from them is to be more friendly and kind to everyone, this is because within the short period of 7 days, we truly experienced how kind and appreciative the Taiwanese are, and they are always willing to help you with a smile.
Overall this trip has definitely been an amazing journey, it taught us how to better appreciate music and understand the culture and tradition of Taiwan. Furthermore, it has also bonded us as a band and proved to us that music can be a magical language to everyone. We are really forward to the next trip (hopefully there is one next year)

Xavier_Zi Tao_ Last day in Taiwan

2016-12-08 09:40:31 UTC

This experience in Taiwan has been a wonderful experience together with wonderful people.
We were really impressed with the way all Taiwanese people cared for the environment. From young, they were taught to recycle. Everything that is used in Taiwan is environmentally friendly, or reusable. Comparing that to the Styrofoam boxes and plastic bags we use in Singapore, it really makes us wonder whether or not we as Singaporeans can do much, much more to help the environment. But throughout this experience, we have learnt to appreciate what we have. Most evidently, the buildings, schools, houses in Taiwan all look way less well maintained than those in Singapore. Yet, people still have warm hearts and cheerful smiles. We feel that we need to stop complaining and appreciate the privileges we have, because ultimately, it could have been a lot worse. This trip has definitely been an eye opener, and the memories will stick to us for life.

Huiwen_Zixi_Last day in Taiwan_Dec 5th

2016-12-08 12:18:15 UTC

The 7 days flew by really quickly. At the beginning of the trip, I could not wait for the trip to be over especially since my rash was becoming worse day by day. However, as the days passed, I wanted the trip to never end despite all the itch and how I looked, I looked like I was crying blood (actually I may have been crying tears of sadness). Everyone was constantly concerned about me and that really warmed my heart. I will definitely miss the cooling temperatures and how well equipped their 7-11 is.

This trip has definitely allowed us to widen our knowledge of the world and realize how much more Singapore can work on. The teachings in Taiwan is really good and I believe Singapore should emulate it. As compared to Singapore, Taiwan is really clean and I believe it is due to the teachings in school from young. They had to clean their own toilets and classrooms, there were no cleaners to clean up after them. Thus, cleaning up after oneself is something Singaporeans should learn. The players are also a lot more humble and appreciative of whatever they have rather than what they do not have. Their different styles of playing is definitely an eye opener and has also encouraged me to practice more.

Lance Wu_Ryan Chung_Goodbye Taiwan_5th Dec

2016-12-08 13:15:59 UTC

Lance:
1. The best of times and highlight of the year.

2. A key lesson Singaporeans can learn is their warm and hospitable nature and their ability to be so open and friendly with everyone.

3. I would be more appreciative if our desire to strive for success as both bands put in lots of emphasis on being professional and aiming for excellence.

Ryan:
*Day 7*

1. - A pinch of worry, a bunch of excitement and a whole lot of fun.

2. Singaporeans should care more for the environment and try to follow the Taiwanese in recycling our rubbish, which reduces our total waste and slows the rate of global warming.

3. The food. After trying Taiwanese food, I feel that I am more accustomed to Singapore food, rather than the large platters that were served everyday.

Jerome_JingYuan_Goodbye Taiwan_Dec 5th

2016-12-08 13:54:06 UTC

The day we say goodbye to all our friends we've made, wonderful places we've visited and the delicious food that makes us go drooling around. One sentence: An amazing trip, one of different exposure and experience, cherish all these times we had with one another and let the memories live forever.

We can all learn one thing- we should appreciate more of the things we have. And not complain. Along this trip we also learn to appreciate more of our Singapore history, with greater respect for our fore fathers.

Li Zhong_Zhi Hao_Last Day in Taiwan QQ_5 Dec

2016-12-08 14:46:10 UTC

The trip was a truly eye-opening experience, that we will always look back on and be reminded of pleasant memories.

We think that one thing we can all learn from the Taiwanese, is to also pick up their recycling habits, to be able to differentiate recyclable materials from the trash, and sort them out appropriately for recycling purposes. During our trip and stay there, it had been an aspect of Taiwanese culture that was quite different from how we have it here, where most of trash, we simply throw them into a general dust bin, forgoing any opportunity for nation-wide recycling.

Something that we may take for granted in Singapore, is how all of us learn and speak a common language. Whoever we were, of whichever descent, we could understand each other through English. In Taiwan, it was quite difficult for some of us to communicate with the locals, as we do not take Mandarin as our first language, and some of us do not even take Mandarin as our mother tongue. In Taiwan, there are people who speak Taiwanese, as well as Mandarin, and a challenges arises when some of them need to communicate, but did not learn a common language. This was also elaborated upon by our tour guide, who talked about how there was a language barrier between him and the people who only spoke Taiwanese.

It feels like it was only yesterday that we stepped foot in Taiwan, and we are sad to have to leave so soon.

Benedict & Won Yeong

2016-12-09 09:31:29 UTC

Benedict and Won Yeong

2016-12-09 09:40:09 UTC

1) Taiwan was amazing and the people there were extremely welcoming!!

2) Singaporeans can learn to be like the Taiwanese in terms of their cleanliness and recycling culture.

3) I'm glad Singapore uses simplified Chinese as traditional words are impossible to read for me and seems like a pain to write.

Noelle_Kaitlyn_Goodbye Taiwan_Dec 5th

donwankster — 2016-12-09 10:06:39 UTC

We woke up with heavy hearts, as we both did not want to return to the mundane reality of our own lives in Singapore. A word to describe the entire Taiwan experience has to be Inspiring, as we were given so many opportunities. Experiencing these with our friends was definitely another highlight, as it has led to strong bonds and friendships being forged. We can definitely learn the value of perseverance from the Taiwanese, as they do not turn complacent even if they are very skilled, and they do not give up easily, even if they are not as experienced as the rest of their section. I have definitely learnt a lot musically, such as how to be a better leader, and how to encourage and motivate others. Overall, the entire trip was an invaluable experience and I am definitely thankful that I was able to experience it together with the band members :)

Jonathan_Yupei_The End

2016-12-09 10:24:22 UTC

Joyous yet frustrating, carefree yet stressful, monotonous yet thrilling. This trip, given the rather extensive duration, has allowed for many varied emotions to flow through me and I'm sure many of us. It is certainly a trip that differs from the rest as I have never experienced so many feelings from different ends of the spectrum in such a short time. On a different note, I think that one very commonly mentioned thing that Singapore can learn from Taiwan and in fact many other countries, is to be more all-rounded and not always so academics-driven. That way, we can produce a more vibrant society and not a mundane one. I have come to realise my deep appreciation for an English-speaking society as it was pretty stressful to converse in Mandarin in Taiwan.

Germerio_Preston_Day 7 in Taiwan_Dec 5th

2016-12-09 12:57:40 UTC

Today, the last day of the trip, was more a day of travel than anything else. Through these 7 days, we’ve learnt a lot about the Taiwanese culture, history and also learnt a lot about and from the Bands in Taiwan. One good take away from exchanging with other schools taught us to focus on all aspects of school life, rather than just pigeonholing on studies. in Taiwan As such, it is hard and sad to leave Taiwan as the trip has become one of our most fondest memories. Therefore, we’d like to thank everyone who has played a part in planning and making the trip so enjoyable and enjoyable.

Faith_Megan_Goodbye_Taiwan_Sighs_Dec 5th

faithngxinyi — 2016-12-16 07:58:34 UTC

Last day in Taiwan sighpies, We don't wanna leave Taiwan ): One sentence to sum up our experience in Taiwan is " Music can definitely bring us all together." We really miss all the times spent with the band , bitterguas and the students there ): We may all have different music backgrounds but when we came together as one yesterday and played music together, it was a really amazing experience! We are also really thankful for the teachers who planned this 1 wk trip specially for us and allowed us to have a really fun and memorable time in Taiwan :") This band trip has inspired us to work harder and be more united as a band , to play better music in the future so that others can enjoy it !!! We appreciate the rather good facilities in Singapore as compared to in Taiwan and we are really grateful to have such good and caring teachers that make sure we enjoy the best :) THANK YOU TEACHERS FOR ALL UR EFFORT <3 <3 <3 !!!