Fo Guang University Overseas Internship – Week Two: Immersing in the Heart of Texas Culture as Faculty Bring Encouragement from Taiwan and Students Build Cross-Cultural Friendships

By Li Shu-Wei, BLIA News, Austin

During the second week of their overseas internship (July 5–11) at Fo Guang Shan Xiang Yun Temple in Texas, four students from Fo Guang University continued to deepen their learning through both temple service and cultural exploration. In addition to participating in daily temple operations, they visited Austin and San Antonio, touring iconic landmarks such as the River Walk and The Alamo. These experiences provided valuable insight into Texas history and culture while broadening the students’ international perspectives.

During the internship, Professor Cheng Chi-Cheng from Fo Guang University traveled from Taiwan to visit the students, offering encouragement and checking on both their internship progress and daily life. On behalf of the university, Professor Cheng also presented Venerable Jue Ji with the official appointment letter as Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Communication, College of Applied Technology and Design. He further met with representatives of Xiang Yun Temple to discuss the students’ learning achievements and expressed his appreciation for their outstanding performance, growth, and dedication throughout the overseas internship.

The cultural tour was generously guided by Hunter Dellere and his wife, devoted American supporters of Xiang Yun Temple. Throughout the journey, they introduced the local history, traditions, and way of life entirely in English, providing the students with an immersive language-learning environment while allowing them to experience the warmth and hospitality of American society firsthand

Through a combination of Buddhist practice, cultural exploration, and meaningful cross-cultural exchange, the students gained invaluable experiences and continued to build a strong foundation for their global learning journey.

More News