In order to help the American people understand how the Taiwan Relations Act has become a driver of the deep relationship between Taiwan and the United States, the Office of the Representative in Atlanta held the “Discover Taiwan: A Day of Experiencing Atlanta” event on May 24. The 14 selected participants came from diverse backgrounds, including senior executives, industrial designers, lawyers, young students, and chefs. They enjoyed performances by a Taiwanese puppet troupe, sampled various Taiwanese cuisine, learned Chinese, and even wrote down “friendship” between Taiwan and the United States, eagerly sharing photos of the exciting activities on their social media accounts.
Participants engaged in a morning exchange of views on Taiwan-US relations at the office, indulged in a Taiwan food feast at lunch, sampling dishes such as Three-Cup Chicken, Hakka Stir-Fry, Meatballs, Keelung Night Market Sandwiches, Pineapple Cakes, Taiwan Beer, and listened to successful individuals from both Taiwan and the U.S. who have visited Taiwan sharing their experiences. Afterwards, they visited the famous “Xing Fu Tang” bubble tea shop from Taiwan to enjoy and learn about the history of bubble tea and the process of making brown sugar pearl.
In terms of cultural experiences, participants attended a practical basic Chinese class at the Atlanta Chinese School and learned to write “friendship,” “freedom,” “peace,” and “safety” with calligraphy on spring couplets. In the evening, at the largest puppetry art center in the United States, the Center for Puppetry Art Center, they witnessed our donation of a “Taiwanese Lion Dance” to the center and then enjoyed a performance of “The Selfish Giant” by the puppet troupe from Yilan, Taiwan. Consuls general from South Korea, Peru, as well as vice consuls from Guatemala, attended the welcome reception with their children.
Director Wang Yilong of the office stated that the Taiwan Relations Act is not only the cornerstone of various cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S., but it has also laid a solid foundation for cultural exchanges between the two sides. This event allowed local residents to experience Taiwanese culture and cuisine up close, fostering mutual friendship and understanding more easily. Similar activities will continue to be held in the future to let more ordinary American people see Taiwan.