
Welcome! 歡迎光臨! Selamat datang! ยินดีต้อนรับ! Bienvenue! ようこそ! Välkomna! On this blog you can find a compilation of thoughts and stories from various international interns. Are you interested in working at the farm? Take a look at the daily lives of our current and past interns for a glimpse into the farm life~
August 25, 2025
Darshan from India
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
【頭城農場海外志工不定時日記第1️⃣篇】 ⛴️龜鄉海路一日遊
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
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...
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
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.
I naturally
stopped by the birthplace of Bubble Tea (the first official Chun Shui Tang
shop).
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.
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.
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.
The next
day, I went to visit Changhua County. I visited the Great Buddha Temple, and it
was truly impressive.
I then went
to Lukang, where I took a stroll down the old street and did some shopping. I
found some unique items.
June 12, 2024
6ème semaine à Toucheng Leisure Farm/6th week at Toucheng Leisure Farm
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).
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.
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.
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.