August 25, 2025

Darshan from India

Hi, I’m Darshan, originally from India and currently based in the United Kingdom. I’ve been volunteering at Toucheng Leisure Farm for six weeks, from July 18th to August 28th, through the AIESEC program, contributing to projects in the field of marketing. The farm is beautifully nestled between the mountains and the ocean, where you’re greeted by a refreshing breeze. The weather was pleasant—clear skies without much rain—making it perfect to enjoy and connect with nature. Tina, the farm manager, welcomed me warmly with a friendly gesture and provided me with two working holiday uniforms.
















The accommodation was comfortable—I stayed in a double-bedded room with an attached bathroom. On the night I arrived, Tina, Hunter, and I had dinner together, where we discussed the work ahead. That evening, they assigned me to the marketing role. I was amazed by the buffet, which offered a wide variety of authentic Taiwanese dishes. One of the most memorable was the famous stinky tofu.




















The pool is one of the main attractions of the farm. It has seating areas, boats to ride, and even a spot where you can feed the fish. There’s also a swing to enjoy, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind after work.





















I joined a farm tour alongside a few tourists, where I learned how the farm integrates circular economy practices into its daily operations. The focus is not only on business, but also on protecting the environment. Most of their products are eco-friendly and sustainable. During the tour, I discovered many fascinating aspects of the farm—from spotting a rare bird of Taiwan to exploring the Bug Hotel and the organic farmhouse.






















I met Mr. Wang and his wife, a warm and welcoming couple—he is a professor and she is a doctor. We had an engaging conversation during the tour, and he kindly explained many things to me in English. Along the way, we encountered a wild animal on the farm and enjoyed tasting organically grown passion fruit.




















The farm has successfully implemented circular economy practices, supported by initiatives such as the green kitchen and DIY activities. It is also home to a water buffalo that visitors can feed, and a newborn calf—affectionately named Shin by a past volunteer.












I was invited to a gathering by Amma, the founder of the farm, along with her friends, and it turned out to be an amazing event. We enjoyed local tequila shots paired with tea—something they said helps balance the effects of alcohol. The evening was filled with engaging conversations, especially with David, who shared fascinating stories about his business ventures and his experiences visiting India. It was truly a pleasure to meet such inspiring people.












The farm is home to rabbits, goats, ducks, and chicken coops, all designed as engaging attractions for visitors. The area is beautifully arranged, making it visually appealing. I often fed the rabbits—they are fearless and will approach people quite comfortably.












Toucheng and Yilan, the nearest towns to the farm, were perfect destinations to explore over the weekends. I tried a seafood hotpot for the first time here with my colleagues—a unique experience where fresh seafood is added directly into the simmering pot in front of us. It was absolutely delicious.















Night markets are everywhere, operating from around 6 PM until the early hours of the morning. They offer a wide variety of unique street foods, especially octopus and shell dishes. I visited the night markets in Toucheng and Keelung, both conveniently close to the farm.






















I had the opportunity to meet a delegate from Greece who provides GSTC certification to hotels. I was part of the team that prepared for and facilitated the meeting. Through this experience, I learned a great deal about sustainability, eco-tourism, and natural farming practices. Tina and Hunter were incredibly helpful, explaining in detail how these concepts are implemented on the farm.















I also met a friend of Hunter’s who visited the farm around noon. He is an expert in the carbon capture industry and is deeply passionate about environmental protection and conservation. The farm truly feels like a place where you meet amazing and inspiring people at every turn.















I met many school children who visited the farm for excursions—they were full of energy and curiosity. I participated with them in various DIY activities, which was both fun and rewarding.















Nearby is Waioa Beach, a popular tourist attraction for international visitors. Surfing is a favorite activity there, and occasionally, the beach hosts a DJ, adding a lively atmosphere to the experience.















I heard a lot about the fireflies at the farm, which attract many tourists and are visible only during April and May. I am very curious to see them for myself. Overall, the experience was truly wonderful, and the time seemed to fly by. I learned a great deal about sustainability, eco-tourism, and organic farming. On top of that, it was a lot of fun! I would love to revisit the farm if I get the chance.

September 27, 2024

【頭城農場海外志工不定時日記第2️⃣篇】 🎈頭城搶孤

Apa Khabar ! 你好!வணக்கம் ! 【頭城農場海外志工不定時日記第2️⃣篇】 🎈頭城搶孤 頭城搶孤,是每年農曆七月於台灣宜蘭的頭城鎮地區舉辦的中元搶孤[1]活動,為台灣重要民俗祭典,也被視為臺灣規模最大的搶孤活動。 搶孤活動定於七月三十日午夜開始,可分為兩個階段。首先進行飯棚(個人賽)搶孤,然後緊接著進行大棚(團體賽)搶孤。其中,供品被視為搶孤競技的主要目標。 開始一聲鑼響後,隊伍必須迅速行動抱住棚柱,並嘗試攀爬上孤棚。由於孤棚的表面塗滿塗滿易滑的牛油,參賽隊伍必須依靠高度的團隊協作。 第一次看大如此壯大的場面,看到團隊同心協力腳踩著彼此的肩,,一步一步往上爬。 這種團隊精神實在讓人敬佩!

【頭城農場海外志工不定時日記第1️⃣篇】 ⛴️龜鄉海路一日遊

Apa Khabar ! 你好!வணக்கம் !
【頭城農場海外志工不定時日記第1️⃣篇】
⛴️龜鄉海路一日遊 最初聽說龜山島時,只知道它的外型長得一隻烏龜。因為角度的問題,從我的方向看過去看著也不像啊!所以對這座島感覺沒有太大的感覺。 一直到這一次很榮幸有機會參加由海波浪和台灣教育署共同舉辦的「龜鄉海路—龜山島來的人們的海村生活學課程」。 隨著課程的進行,不僅了解了很多龜山島的故事也心生許多感觸!透過這次課程,可以深入了解了龜山島上的居民是如何生活的,以及在他們被迫遷徙至台灣本島後,如何面對挑戰並努力生存下去。(由於軍事需求,龜山島民被迫搬,島也長期被封鎖不可出入自由)想像島民每天只能遠望自己的家園,卻 無法回歸,那種無奈可想而知。 清楚地記得,一位年長的市長(在龜山島會居住過23年)在向我們講述故事時,他的眼神中透出的光芒,那種以身為龜山島人為榮的態度,以及龜山島終於重新開放後的深切感受,都是無法被模仿的! 龜山島真的是一個特別的地方,即使不是當地人,也會被它的故事深深打動。有到宜蘭不妨可以去龜山島感受一下! #龜山島 #海外志工 #頭城農場

June 15, 2024

Dernière semaine à Toucheng Leisure Farm/Last week at Toucheng Leisure Farm (Une lettre à cœur ouvert/An open letter)

Et voilà... C'est mon dernier jour à la ferme aujourd'hui.

Je n'ai pas vu le temps passer. Si je devais décrire mes émotions, il s'agirait sûrement d'un mélange de satisfaction, de joie, de tristesse et de future nostalgie.


Pendant mon séjour, j'ai rencontré des personnes vraiment adorables avec qui j'aurais aimé passer encore plus de temps et certaines autres dont j'aurais aimé en apprendre plus. Mais... heureusement que les messages existent ! 😎

Beaucoup m'ont surpris, certains pour leur créativité, d'autres pour leur passion et leur professionnalisme, d'autres pour leur gentillesse ou encore pour leur sens de l'humour. Rien que le fait de voir leurs visages rayonnants m'a fait sourire.

Je suis triste car je ne verrai plus mes amis de la ferme quotidiennement comme c'était le cas pendant 1 mois et demi. Mais je crois fermement en la citation : "Loin des yeux, près du cœur" qui souligne le fait que, même loin des personnes que l'on apprécie, les liens resteront les mêmes.

Dans tous les cas, on ne sait pas de quoi demain sera fait ; et qui sait, je serai peut-être amenée à revenir ici. Si ce n'est pas le cas, je sais que je reviendrai au moins à Taïwan.


J'aimerais remercier toutes les personnes qui ont été adorables à mon égard, qui m'ont aidée dans les moments difficiles, et qui m'ont rendu service de leur plein gré <3  Vous allez sincèrement me manquer. 💗

La France n'est parfois pas un pays très chaleureux et rien que pour cela, j'ai besoin de découvrir de nouveaux horizons. Chacun des mes voyages me fait grandir et me rend plus forte. 

Je suis heureuse et fière d'avoir pu m'adapter à cette autre culture, cet autre environnement chaque jour. Je dirais que l'adaptabilité et la compréhension des autres cultures est l'un des dons des enfants métissés.

C'est pour moi le plus bel héritage. 


Ma compréhension de la langue chinoise s'est améliorée et j'ai maintenant plus confiance en moi quand je prends la parole. Pas seulement à la ferme, pendant mes jours de repos, j'ai été amenée à discuter avec des commerçants, et à ce moment-là, j'ai réalisé que j'avais tout compris, et que j'avais réussi à trouver les mots pour exprimer chacune de mes pensées. La peur de pratiquer la langue à l'oral est assez courante. Surtout pour les personnes timides ; nous avons peur d'écorcher la langue, de mal prononcer un mot, de ne pas se faire comprendre, et de se retrouver dans des situations gênantes. Mais c'est l'un des plus gros blocages psychologiques, et il faut apprendre à passer outre petit à petit.

J'ai appris beaucoup de choses dans tous les domaines, et j'ai aussi acquis de l'expérience professionnelle qui me servira dans le futur.

Une petite routine s'est installée durant ce séjour, alors c'est un sentiment très étrange de passer à autre chose.

Comme on le dit si bien, chaque bonne chose a une fin... Alors... au revoir 頭城農場 !👋

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English version:


And here it is... Today is my last day at the farm.

 

I didn't see the time pass. If I had to describe my emotions, it would surely be a mix of satisfaction, joy, sadness, and future nostalgia.

 

During my stay, I met some really wonderful people with whom I would have liked to spend even more time and others I would have liked to learn more about. But... fortunately, messages exist!😎

Many surprised me, some with their creativity, others with their passion and professionalism, and others with their kindness or sense of humor. Just seeing their radiant faces made me smile.

I am sad because I won't be seeing my friends from the farm daily as I did for a month and a half. But I firmly believe in the saying: "Out of sight, near to heart," which highlights the fact that even when far from those we care about, the bonds remain the same.

 

In any case, we don't know what tomorrow holds; and who knows, I might end up coming back here. If not, I know that I will at least return to Taiwan.

 

I would like to thank all the people who were kind to me, who helped me in difficult times, and who willingly did me favors. <3 I will sincerely miss you. 💗

France is not always a very warm country, and just for that reason, I need to discover new horizons. Each of my travels makes me grow and makes me stronger.

 

I am happy and proud to have been able to adapt to this other culture, this other environment every day. I would say that adaptability and understanding of other cultures are among the gifts of mixed-race children.

To me, it is the most beautiful heritage.


My understanding of the Chinese language has improved, and I now have more confidence when I speak. Not just at the farm, but during my days off, I had the chance to talk with shopkeepers, and at that moment, I realized that I had understood everything and managed to find the words to express each of my thoughts. The fear of speaking the language is quite common. Especially for shy people; we are afraid of butchering the language, mispronouncing a word, not being understood, and ending up in embarrassing situations. But it's one of the biggest psychological barriers, and we need to learn to gradually overcome it.

I have learned a lot of things in various fields, and I have also gained professional experience that will be useful to me in the future.

A small routine developed during this stay, so it feels very strange to move on to something else.

As they say, all good things must come to an end... So... goodbye 頭城農場 !👋

A picture from today's event:






A day in Tamsui/1 jour à Tamsui

Pendant mon dernier jour de repos, j'ai décidé d'aller explorer Tamsui.

Si je devais résumer cette excursion en un seul mot, je dirais : Nourriture.

Ce n'est plus de la nourriture, ce sont des œuvres d'art ! Je me suis presque sentie mal en mangeant haha...

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During my last day off, I decided to go explore Tamsui.

If I had to summarize this excursion in one word, I would say: Food.

It's no longer just food, it's works of art! I almost felt bad eating it, haha...



                               


C'était aussi un jour spécial car il s'agissait d'un jour férié en raison du festival des Bateaux dragons ! 
Il y a eu de nombreux défilés et célébrations devant les temples.

Avant de repartir, je me suis assise sur l'herbe pour boire mon bubble tea. C'était juste agréable de se poser, de réfléchir et de s'imprégner de l'atmosphère environnante.

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It was also a special day because it was a holiday due to the Dragon Boat Festival! There were many parades and celebrations in front of the temples.

Before heading back, I sat on the grass to drink my bubble tea. It was just nice to sit, reflect, and soak in the surrounding atmosphere.

                               











June 13, 2024

2 days in Taichung, Nantou and Changhua/2 jours à Taichung, Nantou et Changhua

J'ai décider d'explorer d'autres comtés pendant mes jours de repos.


J'ai commencé par visiter la ville de Taichung, ville qui a été profondément façonnée par la période coloniale japonaise puisque l'on y retrouve de nombreux vestiges et de nombreuses influences de cette culture.
J'ai trouvé que l'atmosphère de cette ville était vraiment différente des autres villes à Taïwan.

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I decided to explore other counties during my days off.

I started by visiting the city of Taichung, a city that has been deeply shaped by the Japanese colonial period, as there are many remnants and influences of this culture. I found the atmosphere of this city to be really different from other cities in Taiwan.


                               

Je me suis bien évidemment arrêtée au lieu de naissance du Bubble Tea (la première boutique officielle de Chun Shui Tang).

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I naturally stopped by the birthplace of Bubble Tea (the first official Chun Shui Tang shop).


                               


Je me suis ensuite rendue dans l'allée artistique peinte à l'effigie de plusieurs personnages de séries japonaises et de films d'animation japonaise.
Etant assez fan des animes, c'était un pur plaisir pour moi.

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I then went to the art alley painted with several characters from Japanese series and animated films. Being quite a fan of anime, it was a pure delight for me.


                               

Je suis ensuite allée visiter le village arc-en-ciel qui était un ancien village militaire. Il devait être détruit à la base mais un ancien soldat a commencé à la peindre.

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I then went to visit the Rainbow Village, which used to be a former military village. It was initially supposed to be demolished, but an old soldier started painting it.


               


L'après-midi, je me suis rendue dans le comté de Nantou en bus pour visiter le Lac du Soleil et de la Lune.
Malheureusement, ce jour-là il ne faisait pas très beau.
J'ai loué un vélo pour faire le tour du lac, c'était très sportif, mais c'était vraiment une superbe expérience.

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In the afternoon, I took a bus to Nantou County to visit Sun Moon Lake. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t very good that day. I rented a bike to ride around the lake, which was quite athletic, but it was truly a wonderful experience.

           

Le lendemain, je suis allée visiter le comté de Changhua. 
Je suis allée jusqu'au temple du Grand Bouddha. C'était vraiment impressionnant.

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The next day, I went to visit Changhua County. I visited the Great Buddha Temple, and it was truly impressive.




Je me suis ensuite rendue à Lukang, je suis allée me promener dans la vieille rue et j'ai fait des achats. (j'ai trouvé des articles originaux)
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I then went to Lukang, where I took a stroll down the old street and did some shopping. I found some unique items.


                               


Enfin, je suis allée visiter le temple qui se trouvait juste à côté puis je me suis rendue dans le village des artistes de Lukang où il y avait de nombreuses fresques murales.
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Finally, I visited the temple that was right next to it, and then I went to the Lukang Artist Village, where there were many murals.

           


June 12, 2024

6ème semaine à Toucheng Leisure Farm/6th week at Toucheng Leisure Farm

La sixième semaine était assez spéciale car des lycéens philippins sont venus séjourner à la ferme pour développer leur niveau de langue en chinois.
(La plupart d'entre eux étaient d'ailleurs métissés, philippins et chinois).

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The sixth week was quite special because Filipino high school students came to stay at the farm to improve their Chinese language skills. (Most of them were actually mixed-race, Filipino and Chinese).


                             

J'ai pu assister aux cours de chinois dispensés par Kate et tous les autres.

Ensuite les lycéens ont eu un cours de cuisine.
J'ai également pu participer tout en assistant mes collègues. Nous avons fait des pancakes (ça ressemble plus à des crêpes de mon point de vue haha). Le moment où il fallait retourner le pancake dans la poêle m'a fait penser à la Chandeleur (célébration en France pendant laquelle on tient une pièce de monnaie dans l'une des deux mains et retournons la crêpe dans la poêle pour attirer la richesse.)

Les élèves ont également préparé des gâteaux au fromage.
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I attended the Chinese classes taught by Kate and the others.

 

Then, the high school students had a cooking class. I was able to participate while assisting my colleagues. We made pancakes (which look more like crepes to me haha). The moment when we had to flip the pancake in the pan reminded me of Chandeleur (a celebration in France where we hold a coin in one hand and flip the crepe in the pan to attract wealth).

The students also baked cheesecakes.


                             

Les jours suivants, Laura m'a appris à faire des bracelets. Quand les élèves sont venus pour réaliser les leurs, je leur ai expliqué individuellement comment faire lorsqu'ils ne comprenaient pas.

Pour faire ce genre de travail, je pense que la patience est une vertu.

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The following days, Laura taught me how to make bracelets. When the students came to make theirs, I individually explained to them how to do it when they didn't understand.

 

I think that patience is a virtue when it comes to this kind of work.

          

 
Enfin, les élèves ont grimpé jusqu'au sommet des branches grâce aux cordes qui étaient disposées à cet effet et suite à la démonstration faite par le professeur.

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Finally, the students climbed to the top of the branches using the ropes that were set up for this purpose, following the demonstration given by the teacher.