歷經數個月的跨國訊息往返、接待家庭招募與緊湊的行程籌備，這三天在光明國中交織出的溫度與感動：從 I.C.E. 孩子們化身英語校園導覽員，在二樓國際廊道與川堂時光膠囊前以「破冰提問、故事介紹與互動搶答」把英語開心地用出來、在入班共學與春水堂珍奶 DIY 中搭起台韓友誼，到送別遊覽車後於會議室裡聽見接待同學們最真實有趣的真心話與省思，以及夜晚坐在臺中爵士音樂節草地上，與韓國金老師、徐會長及略通韓語的會長千金暢聊，甚至因颱風攪局而讓韓國師長在台北多留一天、意外解鎖最道地的「台灣颱風天體驗」。
What happens when months of careful color-coding, host family matching, and minute-by-minute scheduling collide with live jazz, milk tea shakers, and a late-season storm?
You can plan an international school exchange down to the exact second, but reality always has a way of writing a better finale. Right after our Korean sister school delegation wrapped up three vibrant, action-packed days at KMJH, an autumn typhoon grounded flights in Taipei, threw our schedule into reverse, and gave our visitors an unforgettable crash course in Taiwanese resilience.
1. It Takes a Whole Campus Village
Pulling off an exchange from October 20 to 22 required months of cross-border LINE messages, homeroom coordination, and host family recruitment. But the magic happened because of pure, grassroots KMJH teamwork.
Director Tseng steered the complex academic affairs logistics, while homeroom teachers, Class 715's dance mentors, ping-pong showdowns, and hands-on Chun Shui Tang bubble tea DIY sessions. Above all, our incredible KMJH host parents opened their homes and hearts. Without this village of dedicated co-pilots, none of this would have been possible.
2. How Our I.C.E. Guides Turned Hallways into Classrooms
Wednesday morning's undisputed highlight was watching our International Cultural Exchange (I.C.E.) students step up as English campus tour guides. Living out our core mantra—USE English with joy—they turned our school architecture into an interactive stage using a three-step engagement framework:
The Hook. Up on the 2F International Hallway, our guides flashed welcoming grins and challenged our guests: "If you could jump through a magical portal right now, where would you fly?" Down in the Main Foyer, they leaned in close to whisper that a secret was sealed inside the walls.
The Introduction. They framed the International Hallway as a "magical boarding gate" featuring our global partner map and landmark windows. Downstairs, they shared how founding faculty members sealed historical papers and mystery keepsakes inside a cornerstone time capsule when KMJH first moved to this campus.
The Interactive Q&A. Upstairs, guests compared landmark heights—guessing whether the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower, or Daegu 83 Tower reigned supreme—and spotted Bibimbap on our Korean cultural window. Downstairs, visitors deciphered the foundation inscription to calculate the capsule's opening date: Year 186 of the R.O.C. (2097)!
3. Thoughtful Reflections: Growing Together Toward Daegu
The moment the farewell bus rolled away, our Principal and Director Tseng gathered our host students in the conference room for a warm, constructive debrief.
Our students thoughtfully discussed how teenagers from different cultures naturally adjust to new environments at their own pace—some warming up instantly, while others take a little time to find their rhythm. These shared moments taught our kids valuable lessons in empathy and international etiquette, leaving them excited to represent KMJH and Taiwan with grace, attentiveness, and open hearts as we look forward to visiting Daegu next year:
Building Connection. Embracing friendly smiles, warm nods, and sincere words of gratitude as a universal language.
Inclusive Hosting. Actively reaching out to ensure every partner feels included in the circle.
Practical Language Use. Turning everyday classroom patterns into living tools to express curiosity, care, and friendship.
4. Jazz Under the Stars and a Fond Farewell
Some of the most rewarding moments happened after the official bell rang. I deeply treasured bonding with my counterpart, Teacher Kim, and the visiting Korean staff.
We spent an evening seated on the lawn at the Taichung Jazz Festival, letting live music wash over us beneath the autumn night sky. PTA President Mr. Shu—an accomplished lawyer holding a PhD—joined our circle; since we both teach at Providence University, we hit it off immediately, while his daughter effortlessly bridged cultures in Korean with our guests.
Thank you once again to every single KMJH parent, teacher, and student. You worked tirelessly, and you are absolute superstars.
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