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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.
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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。
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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.
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第一天，当我踏入教室并见到我的组员时，脑海中立刻涌现出担忧： 如果我听不懂他们的英文怎麼办？如果我讲不出口呢？如果因為我，专案无法顺利进行怎麼办？ 然而，出乎意料的是，他们温暖的笑容与热情的问候瞬间融化了我的不安。即使我在表达上有些卡顿，他们仍耐心地用手势、速写，甚至搞笑的肢体语言来帮助我理解。我笑了，他们也笑了。那一刻，我心中那道无形的墙彻底消失。
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| Field Research and Cultural Immersion | 田野调查与文化探索 |
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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.
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当我们确定专案方向后，便展开了田野调查。阳光穿过浅草寺朱红色的屋簷，伴随着诵经声、脚步声以及淡淡的香火气息，我们漫步於蜿蜒的巷弄与热闹的商店街，让感官充分吸收这座城市的脉动。由於主题是茶与咖啡，我们选择拜访叁间各具特色的咖啡馆。
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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.
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第一间是传统和菓子茶馆，木质家具与茶杯轻轻碰撞的声音交织在空气中，浓郁的抹茶与红豆香气抚平了我们疲惫的身心。 第二间是现代风格的快节奏咖啡馆，纯白的墙面与极简设计散发着优雅与专业气息。 第叁间，也是我最喜欢的一间，是隐藏在小巷中的迷你咖啡馆。墙上满是手绘插图，轻柔的音乐像午后微风般拂过耳际。
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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.
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我们一边喝着咖啡，一边拿着笔记本交流各家咖啡馆的氛围与观察心得。就在这些片刻中，灵感像火花般迸发，创意似乎无穷无尽。
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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.
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之后，我们前往东京晴空塔。大多数游客挤向热门的角色商店，而我们被一个传统飴细工摊位吸引。职人熟练地将滚烫的糖浆捏製成一条条栩栩如生的金鱼，看起来彷彿下一秒就要游走。我们像孩子一样瞪大双眼，拍照、惊呼、欢笑，并分享各自文化中的故事。那简单纯粹的快乐瞬间，让我们的心更紧密连结在一起。
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| From Chaos to Creation | 从混乱到成品 |
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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.
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随着截止日逐渐逼近，教室变得混乱不堪——桌上堆满了草图、咖啡杯与笔电。 每个人都有自己的想法，时间却越来越少。经过讨论，我们最终投票选出最具共识的概念： 透过设计强化咖啡饮用的五感体验，让现代人慢下脚步，细细品味生活。
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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.
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在研究过程中，我们曾接触到土耳其沙煮咖啡。细沙滑过杯壁的声音、咖啡缓缓冒泡的画面，让人彷彿置身於静止的时间中。这种疗癒的感受，正好完美呼应我们想传达的理念。
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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.
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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。
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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.
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一开始，我对自身与他们之间的差距感到不安。但我没有退缩，而是选择更加专注与努力学习，全力投入自己的任务中。
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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.
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终於，在最后关头，我们将草图、模型与视觉设计整合成完整的作品。 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。
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| Reflections and Growth | 反思与成长 |
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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.
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这段旅程带给我的，不仅是出国旅行或观光的兴奋与快乐。 它给了我跨越国界的友谊、更开阔的视野，以及持续前进的热情。
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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.
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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。
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Now, I look forward to the next opportunity to join an international exchange—ready to embrace it with courage, curiosity, and an open heart.
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現在，我更加期待下一次的国际交流，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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