DIPLOMA and degree students from the KDU College’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts will remember fondly their cultural experiences in Terengganu following their participation in a homestay programme.

College student Christin Jane Scully said the east coast state has a rich culture and it was an insightful experience to see it up close.

“I had the chance to understand more about the beautiful culture,” she said.

Scully, 19, said words could not express the way she felt when she stepped foot on Teluk Ketapang and was warmly greeted by her foster parents during the homestay programme.

The three-day, two-night domestic culture tourism trip to Teluk Ketapang had drawn 34 students and a lecturer.

“The beach was beautiful and we even had a picnic by the beach during our second day,” she said.

“Most of us shed tears when we needed to part ways with our foster parents after the whole trip was over.”

Travel adviser Chin Poh-Chin said it was important for the students to learn about the different cultures in Malaysia.

“The students had the chance to engage in activities such as the weaving of floor mats, making grasshoppers from coconut leaves and cooking roti jala and lempeng nyiur,” she said.

“In addition to that, the students were also taught to play traditional games such as congkak and batu tujuh by their foster parents.

“The students were also brought to witness the majestic Crystal Mosque which is located in the Islamic Civilisation Park (Taman Tamadun Islam) in Kuala Terengganu.”

College lecturer Chuah Lay Yen, 29, said the trip was held to allow the students to experience how things were done in another state compared to Penang.

“The students were required to write a report on their research after the trip,” she said.