On October 19th 2024, the Office of International & Cross-Strait Academic Exchange (ICAE) hosted a Halloween-themed picnic at Yuanshan Taipei EXPO park, with more than 50 exchange and local students from Japan, Korea, Mainland China, France, Germany, the Netherland, Belgium, and Taiwan.

The event aimed to celebrate Halloween while fostering cultural exchanges between exchange students and local students. It kicked off with the icebreaker game “Support Frontline”, which divided the students into random groups to encourage connection and familiarity. The winning team were awarded SU souvenir key chains at the end. The icebreaker helped students relax and connect, setting the stage for an interesting discussion on each students’ respective on Halloween traditions, attire, and activities. Students then participated in a fun ‘trick-or-treat’ activity, where they exchanged candy from their home countries, giving everyone a tangible taste of each other’s Halloween customs.

The lively and lighthearted picnic strengthened the sense of belonging at Soochow University through cross-cultural interaction providing a memorable experience for both exchange and local students.