After the whole country had worked together for more than two months, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that the epidemic alert level would be lowered to Level 2 from July 27 to August 9. As this was during the summer vacation, and most of the international students at the College of Management (the College) were unable to return to their home countries to visit their families and friends due to the global epidemic, the International Relations section of the Dean's Office of the College arranged to send anti-epidemic energy packs to the international students for a second time on July 21 in order to express compassion for the isolation and loneliness they are suffering during this period of distant learning. We hope that through the lucky energy packs prepared by the Office, we can convey positive energy to help cheer up the students and comfort them during their hard work and effort.

The Office, led by Director Chien-Yuan Sher, together with Sidney Hung (the EMBA Manager), Yi-Ting Li (E23 student), and Jin-Hsiung Yang (E24 student), prepared the "July Lucky Energy Pack and Sky Lantern Charm Online DIY Workshop" for the international students, and the contents of the energy pack were upgraded by Yi-Ting Li and Jin-Hsiung Yang. The nutritional bars provided by Yi-ting Li's Hung Yang Foods Co. Ltd. are not only delicious but also 100% nutritious. The medical masks, goggles and wet wipes from Jin-Hsiung Yang's Yuan Ning Trading Co. were also timely. It is important for everyone to take precautions to protect their own safety given that the lockdown has only just been lifted.

In addition to nutritious food and indispensable anti-epidemic supplies, the energy pack also included a DIY kit for a mini sky lantern charm, so that students can build this small lucky item, which is intended to bring good luck and health. The Office mobilized all colleagues to work together to purchase, transport, pack, and mail the packs, so that students would receive them before the alert was lowered and be able to enjoy them throughout the summer time while still affected by the epidemic.

In addition, the Office held an online DIY workshop on July 29th for foreign students in the international programs to learn about the traditional lantern culture in Taiwan. In order to help the students understand the culture of sky lanterns while also protecting the environment, Ms. Yu-fen Xiao, a teacher at the Chinese Language Center, was invited to teach the students how to make sky lantern charms instead of actually setting them off. Through the teacher's explanations, the students gained a better understanding of the folk culture of sky lanterns in Taiwan and learned a lot of simple Chinese words and phrases relating to the lantern releasing custom. Making their own small sky lantern charms was a novel and healing experience for the foreign students who were not familiar with the culture.

The Office hopes that through the lucky energy packs and the sky lantern culture experience in July, students were able to have a break from the tedium of distant learning at the end of the semester. Director Sher hopes that the international students will remain healthy and optimistic despite the epidemic, be prepared for protecting themselves, welcome the summer vacation together safely, and enjoy their time off in a peaceful way.