“Homecoming Train” Christmas Gala Brings a Global Campus Together
Cardboard train installations and a blue-and-white Christmas tree marked the setting at the Assembly Hall on the Gongguan Campus on the evening of November 28, as the annual Christmas Gala took place under the theme “Homecoming Train.” The event was jointly organized by the Office of International Affairs and the International Youth (IY) volunteer team, with venue design inspired by The Polar Express.
More than 380 students from 39 countries, including Brazil, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Colombia, the United States, and Argentina, took part in the celebration. The gathering brought together local and international students for a shared year-end occasion on campus.
In his welcoming remarks that evening, University President Cheng-Chi Wu thanked international students for contributing to the university’s global character, noting, “We’re an international university because of you.” He added that the university, designated by the Ministry of Education as a Bilingual Benchmark University, has the highest proportion of international students among Taiwan’s national universities and maintains partnerships with leading institutions worldwide to support an international learning environment.
Performances and Program Highlights
The program opened with a dance performance by IY members set to “Jingle Bell Rock.” This was followed by a Latin dance performance led by Natasha Dorr-Kapczynski from the Department of Chinese as a Second Language and Wendy Janneth Galeano Aunta from the Graduate Institute of International Human Resource Development, together with members of the university’s Latin Dance Club. During the segment, President Wu joined students on stage to form a symbolic “train,” taking part in the performance alongside them.
Students from the Department of Music presented chamber music selections, providing contrast between program segments. Throughout the venue, IY volunteers hosted interactive booths, craft workshops, and quiz games. Roving “NPC Station Masters” encouraged participation in mini-games, with winners receiving tickets for the Christmas prize draw.
Supported by the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, and multiple colleges and administrative units, this year’s raffle included 198 prizes, ranging from NTNU souvenirs and daily necessities to electronic devices.
Student Leadership and Preparation
The gala was coordinated by Wei-Hsiang-Ting Wu from the Department of East Asian Studies and Yun-Yu Tsai from the Department of Mathematics, who led a team of 70 IY volunteers. With a condensed preparation period and many volunteers participating in a large-scale event for the first time, the team completed planning and execution within a limited timeframe.
The organizers expressed appreciation for the volunteers’ cooperation and commitment, recalling late-night planning sessions at the International Affairs common room as part of the preparation process. Tsai noted that taking on the coordination role required careful communication and teamwork, while Wu added that regular planning meetings helped strengthen coordination and mutual support within the team.
Student Reflections
Danilo Balsini, an International Business major from Brazil, said the event gave him a sense of Taiwanese hospitality. He shared that Christmas in Brazil is typically centered on family gatherings and gift exchanges on December 24 and 25, and that the Christmas raffle offered a different experience.
Uenaga Ema from Japan, a student in the Department of East Asian Studies, said the international Christmas trivia game was the highlight of her evening. Si-Min Kim, a senior exchange student from South Korea in the Department of Applied Chinese Language and Culture, and Reai, a junior student from Japan, noted that Christmas in their home cultures is usually spent with family, a sentiment they found echoed in the campus celebration.
Students Yu-Shan Luo, Tsai Ya-Chih, and Chia-Ying Ren from the Department of English (Class of 2028) commented on the event’s meal arrangements and overall organization. Yi-Ting Wang from the Department of Adult and Continuing Education said the gala allowed him to meet students from different countries and communicate in both English and native languages.
Closing the Semester
As music and activity continued throughout the evening, the “Homecoming Train” Christmas Gala concluded at the Assembly Hall, marking the end of the semester. The event brought together students from diverse backgrounds for a shared campus celebration.
The organizers thanked sponsors from across the university, including the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, Office of Academic Affairs, Office of Student Affairs, Office of General Affairs, Office of International Affairs, College of Education, Mandarin Training Center, College of Liberal Arts, College of International Studies and Social Sciences, College of Management, Division of Preparatory Programs for Overseas Chinese Students, College of Science, College of Arts, and the University Library. Their support contributed to the successful completion of the event.