Report on Experience learning at Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation
It was on the 4th February 2019, when my colleagues Agaba, Aline and Morris and I went to Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation. In the early morning at about 7:49 am, the four of us embarked on a journey from Chang Jung Christian University. The program director (Prof. Huang, Chao-Hsing) took us to his home in Kaohsiung on the 3rd of February Sunday evening where we stayed over for the night. We got up early in the morning and headed to Kaohsiung train station where the train to Taitung was waiting. It was a long journey to Taitung but it was a good one, I managed to get some extra sleep on the train.
Prof. Huang, the Director of IPSD picked us up from CJCU to Kaohsiung on Feb. 3rd, 2019. |
When we arrived at the train station at Taitung, a guy from the Bunun tribe came to pick us up, his name is Mr. Lion actually he lives among the Bunun tribe but originally he is from India but he is married to a Bunun lady. At Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation we stayed for one week which was from the 4th to 11th February. Everyone had been asking me many questions about what we did at the Bunun community during that week. The first day which was the arrival day we were shown around the Bunun community where we were introduced to different departments and their responsibility, we also got the chance to attend the Bunun singing show at mid-day it was a really good performance we indeed enjoyed the show.
Mr. Lion picked us up from Taitung Station to Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation on Feb. 4rd, 2019 |
This was the first day at Bunun. I enjoyed the nature and the fresh air, it was a joyful day as you see this picture. |
The second day they divided us into different departments since we were 4 students and everyone was supposed to be responsible for one activity in each department. I was in the department of selling different things but mainly three items Pork, strawberries and bread but mostly I focused on pork and strawberries. So every morning I went to the cafeteria to have breakfast and after started cleaning the area where tourists and visitors had passed by. After finishing cleaning I went direct to the farm to work with harvesting strawberries. I also prepared the ingredients before the visitors arrived in the cafeteria.
Harvesting strawberries |
Strawberries ready to be sold | Preparing onions and Garlic |
Busy cutting and selling Pork!!! Before and at the end of performance would flood lots of people to buy food and other products produced. There were events from Monday to Saturday. I also had welcome visitors when they arrive and say goodbyes as they leave the place. |
It was Sunday afternoon and we went to enjoy the fresh air from the Pacific ocean and it was my first time to see the ocean. It was a big challenge for me after tasting the ocean salty water. |
The challenges I encountered there; people at Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation are very strong and hardworking people. I also noticed that everyone who came and wanted to take a picture with me had to pay first.
In general, the pictures I attached above describes what I have done at Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation from Monday to Sunday after church.
Here with the pastor of Bunun community, he was saying goodbye to us. However, they will miss us!!! |
In conclusion, I have seen that Bunun is a quiet village with many trees, fresh air with no pollution. I really enjoyed living there and made lots of friends from different cities in Taiwan. I hope I can go to visit again in the future if there will be another opportunity.
Thanks.
Stany Ndagijimana (蒲隆地)