ABOUT

HEAT it with us

Human Ecology Abroad at Taiwan is an interdisciplinary program of College of the Atlantic.

9 students
2 teachers
Intercultural Education
Mandarin
Stinky tofu
Beautiful environments

And too much bubble tea!

FEEL THE HEAT WITH THE TEAM

MALIA DEMERS

Junior

I am a third year student from College of the Atlantic. I grew up in and around Acadia National Park and call Maine my home. I love to create beautiful things, pieces of art, writing and song with people and alone.

At COA I've expressed my creativity through art classes and contributions to the Dorr Museum's children's area and the creation of a Lyme disease awareness exhibit.

I am interested in education and have studied a bit of education at COA, with classes that help me develop ideas for bringing social and environmental justice and wellness into the classroom.

I love thinking about the significance of and health benefits of food, cooking, eating and community.

I am in Taiwan to learn from everyone I meet, to experience new foods, to explore and create eastern style art and see what I can learn about eastern educational philosophy and learning styles.

I am interested in the way some schools here respond to social and environmental concerns, and to constantly reflect on my daily experiences of intercultural education.

ANITA VAN DAM

Sophomore

Ni Hao! Wo jiao Anita. I love talking to people, taking photos, cooking and eating good food. This works perfectly for Taiwan which has a beautiful language, landscape and food culture! Over the next few months I plan to learn Chinese (enough for a broken conversation with a local), make new friends and memories, try new foods (hopefully cook some too!) and write a recipe book of the foods I've tried and made while here!

Fun Fact: Ai-Ni-Ta directly translates to love you, him/her!

JOSIE TROPLE

Junior

Rambunctious
:D

BONNIE TAI

Empress

I was born in Taipei, grew up in Boston, and have been teaching at CoA since 2000.

I am committed to ending violence in our most intimate relationships. Toward that end, I am interested in better understanding the means by which we foster peace toward ourselves, others, and the environment.

As part of this greater effort, I am interested in how education can change our relationships to facilitate greater opportunity and capacity to express ourselves with honesty, compassion, and joy.

MAXIM LOWE

(Junior) Waterbender

"The meal is not over when I'm full! The meal is over when I hate myself" - Louis CK

RIANNA BROOKS

(Junior) Fitness Marshal

Third year student interested in linguistics and education innovation.

SHIR KEHILA

Junior

:D

MAKIKO YOSHIDA

Junior

大家好! 我的名字是吉田眞希子
I am Makiko Yoshida, a third year student at College of the Atlantic.
There are many reasons why I am in Taiwan, to learn the Chinese language, different education system, etc. However, the most fundamental reason why I am here is to learn about part of the world that has strong connections with my home country Japan; geographically, historically, and culturally. Along with Chinese class and Intercultural Education class, we are all working on our own project. For my project, I have been interviewing local Taiwanese people who lived through Japanese occupation period, asking about their experiences and memories from then. It has been very profound experience for me to hear individual’s story and to look at history through personal experiences. The time in Taiwan has been incredibly fruitful. I cannot wait for the coming two months here.

ELISA BARAHONA

Junior

:)

VANESSA TAYLOR

Sophomore (Bubble Tea Enthusiast)

I came to Taiwan to discover the wonderful culture that this country has, to finally learn Chinese (which I've been interested in since I was a child) and to learn how education can cross intercultural barriers.

I'm interested in audio-visual media, languages, and biology.
And of course...
In bubble tea!!! :D

Don't waste time and money in Coco, go directly to Presso Tea. Best one yet!