This summer was my very first time joining the Asia-Link TOKYO Design Workshop. Sitting on the plane to Tokyo, my heart raced with both excitement and nervousness. I couldn’t calm my swirling thoughts, knowing that in just a few hours, I would be stepping into a completely new environment. This year, the workshop was hosted by Shibaura Institute of Technology in Japan, with a theme centered on tea and coffee culture. Since every country has its own unique traditions, I anticipated that our collaboration would bring many unexpected sparks of creativity.	今年夏天，我首次參加了 Asia-Link TOKYO 設計工作坊。坐在飛往東京的飛機上，我的心情既興奮又緊張，腦中不斷翻湧著各種想法。今年的工作坊由日本的芝浦工業大學主辦，主題聚焦於茶與咖啡文化。由於每個國家都有獨特的飲茶與咖啡習慣，我預感這次跨文化的合作，將會激盪出許多意想不到的火花。
On the first day, as I walked into the room and met my teammates, a wave of worry swept over me: What if I can’t understand their English? What if my words get stuck? What if the project falls apart because of me? But then, something surprising happened—their warm smiles and cheerful greetings melted away my anxiety. Even when I stumbled over words, they patiently used gestures, sketches, and even playful body movements to help me understand. I laughed, they laughed, and in that moment, the invisible wall I had built in my mind completely vanished. That experience taught me something profound: language is more than just “reading and writing” from a textbook—it is “listening and speaking,” and above all, it is the sincerity that allows people to truly connect.	第一天，當我踏入教室並見到我的組員時，腦海中立刻湧現出擔憂： 如果我聽不懂他們的英文怎麼辦？如果我講不出口呢？如果因為我，專案無法順利進行怎麼辦？ 然而，出乎意料的是，他們溫暖的笑容與熱情的問候瞬間融化了我的不安。即使我在表達上有些卡頓，他們仍耐心地用手勢、速寫，甚至搞笑的肢體語言來幫助我理解。我笑了，他們也笑了。那一刻，我心中那道無形的牆徹底消失。
Field Research and Cultural Immersion	田野調查與文化探索
Once our project direction became clear, we set out for field research. The sunlight streamed through the vermilion eaves of Senso-ji Temple, mingling with the sound of prayers, footsteps, and the faint scent of incense. We wandered through winding alleys and bustling shops, absorbing every detail with our senses. Since our theme was tea and coffee, we visited three cafés, each with its own distinct character.	當我們確定專案方向後，便展開了田野調查。陽光穿過淺草寺朱紅色的屋簷，伴隨著誦經聲、腳步聲以及淡淡的香火氣息，我們漫步於蜿蜒的巷弄與熱鬧的商店街，讓感官充分吸收這座城市的脈動。由於主題是茶與咖啡，我們選擇拜訪三間各具特色的咖啡館。
The first was a traditional Japanese dessert café. Surrounded by wooden furniture and the gentle clinking of teacups, we savored the rich flavors of matcha and red beans. The atmosphere instantly calmed our overheated bodies and restless minds. The second was a modern, fast-paced café, where minimalist design and crisp white walls created an elegant, professional vibe. The third—and my personal favorite—was a tiny hidden café, its walls covered with hand-drawn illustrations, and soft music drifting through the air like an afternoon breeze.	第一間是傳統和菓子茶館，木質家具與茶杯輕輕碰撞的聲音交織在空氣中，濃郁的抹茶與紅豆香氣撫平了我們疲憊的身心。 第二間是現代風格的快節奏咖啡館，純白的牆面與極簡設計散發著優雅與專業氣息。 第三間，也是我最喜歡的一間，是隱藏在小巷中的迷你咖啡館。牆上滿是手繪插圖，輕柔的音樂像午後微風般拂過耳際。
We sat there with notebooks in hand, sipping coffee while discussing each café’s ambiance, customer behavior, and design elements. In those quiet moments, ideas collided like sparks, and inspiration seemed to flow endlessly.	我們一邊喝著咖啡，一邊拿著筆記本交流各家咖啡館的氛圍與觀察心得。就在這些片刻中，靈感像火花般迸發，創意似乎無窮無盡。
Later, we headed to Tokyo Skytree. While most visitors flocked to the famous character shops, our team was captivated by a small amezaiku sugar art stall. The craftsman skillfully twisted molten sugar into the shape of a goldfish so lifelike that it seemed ready to swim away. We stood there, wide-eyed and laughing, snapping photos and sharing stories about our own cultures. That simple, joyful moment brought us closer together, bridging differences through shared wonder.	之後，我們前往東京晴空塔。大多數遊客擠向熱門的角色商店，而我們被一個傳統飴細工攤位吸引。職人熟練地將滾燙的糖漿捏製成一條條栩栩如生的金魚，看起來彷彿下一秒就要游走。我們像孩子一樣瞪大雙眼，拍照、驚呼、歡笑，並分享各自文化中的故事。那簡單純粹的快樂瞬間，讓我們的心更緊密連結在一起。
From Chaos to Creation	從混亂到成品
As the final deadline approached, our classroom turned into a creative whirlwind—sketches, coffee cups, and laptops scattered across every table. Everyone had strong ideas, and with time running short, tensions occasionally rose. After careful discussion, we voted on the concept we believed in most: a design that enhances the five senses of coffee drinking and encourages people to slow down and savor life.	隨著截止日逐漸逼近，教室變得混亂不堪——桌上堆滿了草圖、咖啡杯與筆電。 每個人都有自己的想法，時間卻越來越少。經過討論，我們最終投票選出最具共識的概念： 透過設計強化咖啡飲用的五感體驗，讓現代人慢下腳步，細細品味生活。
During our research, we had been deeply inspired by Turkish sand coffee—the soft sound of sand sliding against a cup, the mesmerizing sight of coffee gently bubbling. Experiencing it felt like time itself had paused. We knew this was exactly the feeling we wanted to capture.	在研究過程中，我們曾接觸到土耳其沙煮咖啡。細沙滑過杯壁的聲音、咖啡緩緩冒泡的畫面，讓人彷彿置身於靜止的時間中。這種療癒的感受，正好完美呼應我們想傳達的理念。
We quickly divided responsibilities. I took on the product manual and poster layout, while others focused on 3D modeling, visual design, and animation rendering. Watching my teammates work was awe-inspiring. One member could create a 3D model in just ten minutes. Another had a natural talent for layouts that instantly elevated the design. Another’s animations flowed seamlessly like scenes from a film.	我們迅速分工：我負責產品說明書與海報排版，其他成員則負責3D 建模、視覺設計與動畫製作。看著組員們的專業能力，我深感佩服：有人能在十分鐘內完成 3D 模型，有人對排版有敏銳的直覺，有人能讓動畫如電影般流暢。
At first, I felt overwhelmed by the gap between our skill levels. But instead of stepping back, I leaned in, working harder, learning faster, and pouring my very best into my tasks.	一開始，我對自身與他們之間的差距感到不安。但我沒有退縮，而是選擇更加專注與努力學習，全力投入自己的任務中。
Finally, in the last stretch, everything came together. Our sketches, models, and visuals formed a unified project. We didn’t win an award, but as I looked around at my exhausted yet smiling teammates, I realized we had already achieved something far more meaningful—the shared memories of late-night work sessions, laughter over small mistakes, and the pride of seeing our project grow stronger day by day. That sense of achievement will stay with me forever.	終於，在最後關頭，我們將草圖、模型與視覺設計整合成完整的作品。 雖然我們沒有獲得獎項，但看著彼此疲憊卻滿足的笑容，我明白我們已經贏得了更重要的東西—— 一起熬夜趕工的回憶、為小錯誤大笑的片刻，以及看著作品逐日成長的自豪感。 這份成就感將永遠留存在我心中。
Reflections and Growth	反思與成長
This journey gave me so much more than the excitement of traveling abroad or the joy of sightseeing. It gave me friendships that crossed borders, a broader perspective, and a renewed determination to keep pushing forward.	這段旅程帶給我的，不僅是出國旅行或觀光的興奮與快樂。 它給了我跨越國界的友誼、更開闊的視野，以及持續前進的熱情。
Most of all, I am grateful that I was brave enough to sign up for this experience. That single decision not only revealed my weaknesses but also opened the door to a completely different world.	最重要的是，我很感激自己當初的勇敢報名。 因為那個決定，不僅讓我看見自己的不足，也替我打開了一扇全新的世界之門。
Now, I look forward to the next opportunity to join an international exchange—ready to embrace it with courage, curiosity, and an open heart.	現在，我更加期待下一次的國際交流，並準備以勇氣、好奇心與開放的心態，擁抱未知的挑戰與機會。

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