Hunter College performed essential network maintenance. If you are experiencing connectivity issues, please contact the Helpdesk at helpdesk@hunter.cuny.edu or (212) 772–HELP (x14357).
Before going to Taiwan, I had no idea what the country offered. The most I had was the fear factor from what I see on the news on tensions between Taiwan and China. On top of that, I could barely comprehend the local language. Thankfully, the trip as a whole turned out smoother than I anticipated.
Arriving in Taipei and going to Kaohsiung, I realized two big things. For one, after uttering an incomprehensible sentence in Chinese, the locals would reveal that they speak English and are more than happy to help foreigners. Two, that this country is quite modernized and traversable. To this day I am dumbfounded by how you can get from the northernmost part of the country to the southmost in a matter of a few hours by the high speed train. The combination of these two things allowed me to smoothly settle in Taiwan as most interactions with locals were quite enjoyable, and as a New Yorker I won’t be too out of place hopping on a train or bike to get to where I want to be. Kaohsiung is especially traversable in this manner. Though, everywhere in the country is pretty hot and humid, so some of those bike rides resulted in a beat up sweaty me. But the sights and places accessible through it were great.
The school let me know the details on the stipend and days I go in. Having Candice, the HuaYu coordinator, on my side was the best person and resource that I could have ever asked for to help ease into this student life. Living somewhat near the school and commuting on bike felt like an ideal living situation for the summer. I think that the small class sizes and animated teachers make for a fun learning environment, and it makes learning smooth. I made a genuine connection to almost everyone in my class, and being able to practice with everyone encouraged me to learn quicker and be more open. The campus also has a track, pullup bars and a gym. I spent a good bit of time alternating between my calisthenics routine, playing a sport like badminton, or hitting the gym. Right outside of Wenzao there were many restaurants, food stands and drink stands. I was able to enjoy visiting some of them with other Wenzao students.
Foods to try If seen on Menu or You seek out a good meal:
Places to check out:
Other:
