Lithuanian Student Finds a Second Home in Taiwan Through Indigenous Culture

Walking into Ieva Sirvelyte’s cozy apartment in Lithuania, she introduces her "sacred corner" in fluent Mandarin with a Taiwanese accent: on the windowsill are several traditional Rukai bracelets called Kalasi, a bundle of millet brought back from Taiwan two years ago, a piece of cloth embroidered with Rukai patterns, and her most cherished possession—a photo with her tribal family.

Ieva Sirvelyte, from Lithuania, is a doctoral student in the Department of Taiwan Literature at National Cheng Kung University. Having lived in Taiwan for over three years, she just returned to her hometown this April. She once taught in Kaunas, Lithuania's second-largest city, and through a series of coincidences, she came into contact with Taiwan, decided to study abroad, and unexpectedly opened a profound connection with Taiwan's indigenous culture.

In an interview with the Central News Agency, Sirvelyte laughed, saying that when she first arrived in Taiwan, she never imagined she would "fall in love with indigenous culture." It all started with a small incident in class. She saw a girl with deep-set features and beautiful eyes, subconsciously assumed she was a foreigner, and approached her to ask which country she was from.

The girl replied that she was a Taiwanese indigenous person. Sirvelyte, who did not know the concept of "indigenous people" at the time, was surprised when the girl directly invited her to visit the tribe. This warm invitation became the starting point for her journey into indigenous culture.

Sirvelyte recalls being shocked by the atmosphere when she first attended an indigenous festival: "It was a connection full of vitality; the people's bodies, the music, and the entire tribe were connected." Later, she visited many tribes, including the Amis, Rukai, Paiwan, and Seediq, and decided to turn this interest into research. She studied under Professor Tabus Sasale of the Rukai tribe at the Institute of Archaeology at National Cheng Kung University and even moved to the Haocha tribe in Pingtung to truly immerse herself in the culture.

During her time in the tribe, Sirvelyte observed the important role of clothing and embroidery in Rukai culture. The costumes worn by tribe members during weddings or important ceremonies are gorgeous and delicate, but this beauty is not just for decoration; it records the stories of individuals, families, and the tribe.

She cites the lily pattern, an important symbol of the Rukai people, as an example. It not only symbolizes the purity of women but also represents the responsibility toward the family and the tribe. She shared a story she heard about a woman who couldn't help but cry when she took off the beads symbolizing her maidenhood before getting married, because they were not just decorations, but memories of her youth. This reminded her of Lithuanian wedding customs, where girls also remove their flower crowns and cry to bid farewell to their maidenhood.

As she spent more time in Taiwan, Sirvelyte began to rethink her own roots and the ancient culture of Lithuania. "Our two cultures are so far apart, yet many things have a great connection." This commonality became the core of her doctoral research. Whether it is Rukai embroidery or traditional Lithuanian weaving, both carry life journeys, connections, and blessings.

While delving into the tribe, Sirvelyte also observed some prejudices and differences in the Han society toward indigenous culture.

She mentioned that some visitors jokingly ask, "Did you kill a pig?" ignoring that this is actually an important family and ritual act, a part of life, not a performance. Others get too close to take pictures during weddings, lacking basic respect.

In addition, some visitors are curious about indigenous culture but do not talk directly to the tribe members, instead asking her, a foreigner, or asking her to relay messages. This behavior confused her. She believes that understanding culture should come from direct dialogue, which is a lesson outsiders should keep in mind when encountering indigenous culture.

After living in Taiwan for more than three years, one of Sirvelyte's biggest cultural takeaways is the "way of building relationships."

In her view, "eating" in Taiwan is not just about eating; it is a form of care and connection. In contrast, Lithuania and Western society are more accustomed to pursuing efficiency and results.

Sirvelyte recalls that when she first entered the tribe, she took the initiative to help the elders process millet. At first, she was anxious, not knowing what to ask or do, wanting to understand and integrate quickly. But later, she realized that what matters is not asking questions, but observing and accompanying. A few days later, she naturally started talking about her interest in embroidery, and after some time, the elders invited her to their home to teach her.

Sirvelyte said with emotion: "You have to wait for the right time. Life is like that. Sometimes you can't force anything; it comes naturally."

Before leaving Taiwan, she was choked up when saying goodbye to the elders. The simple words, "Thank you for your company," made her deeply feel the weight of the emotion. "Their care, their concern, their love can be quiet. As long as you are with them, that's it. You don't need to prove anything. I think this taught me a lot."

In the process of getting along with the Rukai people, Sirvelyte also came into contact with different ways of expressing emotions. Compared to Western culture, where people are used to saying "I love you" directly and using hugs to express emotions, Rukai people often convey care through actions, such as inviting people to eat, accompanying them, or giving gifts.

She laughed, saying that at first, she would still use familiar ways, directly hugging her landlord or tribal family, and telling them "I like you, I love you." Although they were a bit unaccustomed at first, they were also happy.

Sirvelyte further learned the tribal language, accumulating vocabulary slowly, and passed the elementary level of the Wutai Rukai language test a few months later. She recalls that when she said goodbye to a 96-year-old elder before leaving the tribe, she touched her hand and said in the tribal language, "Ai saabaw" (I will miss you). The elder gently replied that she shouldn't say that, because it would make the distance feel too far. That moment moved her deeply, and she believed the elder was also reluctant to see her leave.

In the interview, Sirvelyte also specifically expressed her feelings to the grandmother of the tribe in the tribal language: "Kayngu maelanenga saabaw" (Grandma, thank you), and said she would not forget her family in the tribe.

Back in Lithuania, Sirvelyte is preparing to complete her doctoral thesis. Talking about the future, having been tested by the scorching heat of Pingtung, she laughed and said she would definitely return to Taiwan, "but not in the summer." She also hopes to continue to be a bridge between Taiwan and Lithuania, allowing more people to understand the depth and beauty of Taiwan and its indigenous culture.