Faces of CulturalFest: Let's Meet the Taiwanese Captain
As the FIUTS CulturalFest gets closer, let’s take a moment to read about some of our wonderful Booth Captains and learn why they want to be part of this incredible event. We had a lovely interview with our Taiwan Booth Captain and this is what she had to say..
What is your name?
Tiffany Cheng
Which country are you representing?
Taiwan
Tell us a bit about yourself..
Currently, I serve as a vice president of TYAPN (Taiwanese Youth Alliance of the Pacific Northwest), a UW RSO that focuses on colleagues’ professional success, career development, social responsibility, and cultural exchange.
In my spare time, I enjoy baking, visiting coffee/tea shops and dining, and going on walks. One thing I enjoy the most about Taiwan is the successful development of tea. Taiwan has an ideal geographical location to grow and cultivate tea; our people plant and brew tea to sell not only domestically but internationally. Tea culture is very popular in Taiwan that encourages people to gather and reunite. We often say tea brings a sense of home when our feet are not on the island.
We know you’ve participated in the FIUTS CulturalFest in the past. How did you like it?
I like how we can talk about our country’s traditional heritage through storytelling or other entertaining yet informative activities.
What was your favorite part?
One of my favorite parts is watching the performances, where people gather and watch different acts by organizations with different cultural background.
What inspired you to participate in CulturalFest this year?
One major inspiration for my participation is TYAPN’s annual tradition of attending the FIUTS CulturalFest. This is a valuable opportunity for our officers to grow and learn about other ethnicities.
CulturalFest is a meaningful event to appreciate our heritage and foster people’s sense of community, establishing a deeper connection and to be proud of our cultural roots.
What does it mean to be a Booth Captain?
Being a booth captain is not only a responsibility for coordinating and hosting a booth the entire event, it is also an acknowledgement of representing my background and homeland. It is my duty to guide other members to share stories to individuals while also guaranteeing their enjoyment of the event.
This experience allows me to practice and refine my communication and leadership abilities, adapting to challenges and treating them not as chances for personal growth.
I cherish and value every group’s heritage, visiting and knowing others’ backgrounds gives me a truly immersive experience.
Can you describe the cultural aspects you are showcasing and why they are important to you?
This year, TYAPN decided to showcase Taiwanese traditional games that both younger and adult ages play in holidays or night markets; such as throwing sandbags and rolling dice. We will also have storytelling about the traditional art/play performances, indigenous groups, and treats for visitors so they can obtain both knowledge and a taste of Taiwan when they pass-by.
In what ways do you believe events like CulturalFest contribute to understanding within the community?
I believe cultural events motivate people all over the world to be entangled, regardless of any reason. Events like CulturalFest remind us, as people, that we are a group of creatures that share the resources on this Earth, yet create countless unique stories for generations to keep and pass down.
CulturalFest serves as an indispensable platform for us to obtain and be grateful for our traditions and cultural diversities, encouraging us to celebrate the values that our ancestors have established and inherited for future generations.
I am looking forward to introducing and exchanging more about Taiwan to the diverse groups that will also showcase in the CulturalFest this year!
FIUTS CulturalFest will be held on April 19th at Benaroya Hall. Get your FIUTS CulturalFest tickets today!