Sebastian Ramos

Imagine you're an 18-year-old college student living with your parents. You've never traveled to another country; family trips were a commodity from when you were younger.  Most people living in one borough don't honestly know what it's like to leave it. They keep their activities only in their hometown. So, what is it like to leave your hometown, let alone the United States, to travel to another country?

I remember looking at plane tickets and seeing those price tags. I saw why they call traveling expensive. It was 1700$ - 2300$ for a trip there and back. I couldn't believe it. I was extremely lucky and grateful because, at the time, the flagship office had told us that we could receive travel stipends that would practically cover the entire flight. If I didn't receive the stipend, the only other choice would be to save that money, knowing that buying the ticket out of pocket is the only option. I recommend following all guidelines and reading Reddit posts when purchasing plane tickets. Spending that amount of money is absurd, but spending that amount of money on a plane ticket with issues is even worse.

For example, I recommend buying a direct flight. A direct flight to Taiwan takes about 14-16 hours, while a flight with layovers may take 22 to 38 hours for just one flight. I consider that amount of time wasted on travel a problem.

Another thing I recommend is buying plane tickets directly from the airline. I've read many stories of airlines overbooking their flights from third-party travel companies. In my opinion, for an important trip like this, it's better to be safe than sorry.

I bought the plane ticket sort of late. We were given the debriefing about the travel stipend situation in mid-April, and I wasted a month not buying the plane ticket. I bought my plane ticket in the latter half of May, but by then, my ticket price had risen from 1900$ to 2250$. Don't make the same mistakes I made, and make sure to buy the plane ticket in ways that save you the most money. After all, the money not spent on travel can be spent on snacks, food, and clothes. 

In the end, I bought a direct plane ticket for Eva Air, which cost me $2250 round trip.

When the day of my flight came close, I began packing my bags. My father bought me a 3-piece suitcase set with large, medium, and small luggage and a handbag. Since Eva Air allows for 2 checked bags, 1 carry-on, and 1 personal item, I thought that I would need all the bags and luggage given to me. However, my mother tried to convince me that 'you'll only need one suitcase with you' and that 'you should be a minimalist. You probably won't buy anything anyway’. I listened, which was a terrible mistake I will get into later in the story.

Clothes -I packed a week's worth of shorts and shirts, as well as all the necessary undergarments and socks. I also packaged all the hair products and hygiene products I use. Taiwan is HOT during the summer. In Kaohsiung, it is so humid you'll feel like you're drowning(not really). I already knew that you only need pants for special occasions. Shorts save space in your luggage and are practically the only thing you can wear without dying from sweating out all of the water in your body(also not really).

Massive pieces of advice for those who are unsure about what to pack:
Pack shorts and loose fabric clothes. You don't want tight clothes when you're sweating all day.
Bring one pair of running, hiking, or gym shoes. Whatever your physical activity, you should bring those shoes.
Bring regular shoes or all-around shoes. Examples are comfy, lightweight fabric shoes. The last thing you want is heavy boots that stink like something died.

Bring slippers or Crocs: This is the best piece of advice ever. Everyone in Taiwan wears Crocs and slippers. There's no shame in walking around with them. The simple reason is that they're so comfortable.
Toiletries/Bathroom stuff -
Towels—My Taiwanese apartment's bathroom did not have windows, so you can bet that the hot shower air vapor collects there. You do not want a big towel that collects moisture and gets moldy. Just take small hand towels and dry yourself with those after the shower. Small towels that you throw in the laundry bag after one use are my personal way of doing things.
Deodorant—OH MY GOODNESS, SO IMPORTANT—I will say right now that if you do not pack your own deodorant, you will regret it for all 80 days. The reason is that Taiwan does not have American deodorant. What they have is antiperspirant, and let me tell you, it does not work. Please just buy an extra three sticks of Dove or whatever you like before you leave for your trip.
Dental - They have their own toothpaste and brushes, so don't worry about that.
Shaving - They have shaving cream and regular razors, so it's not a problem

Soap/ The rest: Taiwan has everything besides the specifics listed above. You can buy everything in Taiwan, so as long as you bring the towels and deodorant, as I mentioned, you will be completely fine.
Technology - If you're bringing a laptop or table, just know that Taiwanese wall outlets are the same in the United States. The only difference is that the outlets only have the 2 prongs, not the 3rd cylinder part. My laptop had the cylinder part, so I had to stop by the store next to my Taiwanese apartment to buy an adapter to support it.

I had a terrible experience with money during the trip. So here is where I give all the warnings, benefits, etc.
Wenzao University and the Huayu scholarship are year-round. Currently(Summer 2024), they give 500$ USD in NTD (Taiwanese currency) every month to all students enrolled in the scholarship.That money is typically used to buy university textbooks, pay for all travel and food expenses, and pay for rent. I recommend that you bring extra money if you know you're going to buy things to bring back home, such as clothes, shoes, accessories, or gifts.

How much extra money?
Honestly, I recommend $800—$1000 that you can freely spend outside of the stipend. I'm not saying that you'll need all of it, but the common theme is to be safe and not sorry. If you don’t plan on spending, then take $200-300 in emergency funds. While some may say that the food is cheaper in Taiwan and you won't spend as much on food as you would in the United States(It is true), you still want money for all the possible things you may do: For example:Trips to other cities, Buying clothes in stores such as Zara or H&M (yes, they're in Taiwan, too), or the constant 7-11 trips that I was making. That money added up so quickly that I'm ashamed of how much I spent on snacks alone.

Credit Cards and Debit Cards - I've had a terrible history with my debit and credit cards in Taiwan. I don't have a credit card, so my mom allowed me to use her card for my trip. I set it up on Apple Pay, and it practically saved me for the duration of the entire trip. I also had a debit card, but it was practically unusable the whole trip (Story time later)

My recommendations: Have a Capital OneCapital One credit card and debit card. They are the easiest to work with when it comes to foreign transactions and fees. You may use any combination of credit cards and debit cards that have NO foreign transaction fees. However, I believe Capital One is the best because they have a sister bank called Cathay Bank (associations with Taiwan), which allows for easier transactions and no fees.

Story Time – My debit card was the bane of my existence the whole trip. The reality was that my debit card had expired way back in April, 2 months before my trip. I had left for Taiwan with my only physical debit card. I realized this halfway into my summer and realized that getting a replacement card was the only way to take out money from the ATMs. I called the international number and spoke with the representative, and they sent out another card. When I got the email that the letter containing my new card had been delivered, I was ecstatic; no more worrying about where my money would come from. I went downstairs to look at the mail, and there was a FedEx letter saying that my mail was in customs. At first, I was surprised that FedEx exists in Taiwan, but then I was more surprised that a simple letter was being held up by customs. After a whole bunch of more details that make the story too long, the simple version is that despite international shipping, I never received the card the entire trip. Don't make the same mistake I did, and make sure all of your payment methods are free of issues.

I remember when my mom and I took an Uber straight to the Airport. Going through those airport doors and walking to the checked baggage lines made my heart race. I was actually leaving everything behind. The line had finished, and the receptionist had a big smile because she could tell by my nervousness that it was my first time flying. I had my luggage weighed and sent away on the conveyor belt. I took my bags and walked to the actual line to enter the terminals. I waved my mom goodbye and had my passport scanned. And there I was eating 15-dollar ramen cup noodles(The price of this 2.50$ cup of noodle being hiked up to 15$ ruined my mood), waiting for my flight. It was unbelievable. I left for the plane, and the rest was history. FYI, I do not recommend the aisle seat. While it is personal preference, you can see all the bright TV screens flashing in your face wherever you place your head. Just take the window seat if you can.

Landing - I remember the plane landing and seeing the T-Mobile text notification. 'You have arrived in Taiwan; you may use the T-mobile cell service we provide.' It struck me that I had actually flown 15 hours to another country. My friend Jan and I had flown, got our bags and left the plane. We had to go to customs as soon as we left the plane. I was absolutely overwhelmed. Where do I go? What should I do? These questions rushed straight to me. Me and I decided that there were only two things to do. Convert all the cash we brought into NTD and get a Taiwanese sim card.
Here are the takeaways from that experience:

Converting money - If you convert your money, make sure you get your bang for your buck. This means that the foreign conversion rate is at the most you can get, and the fee to convert is at its lowest. For example, one bank's conversion rate was $30NTD per US dollar while another was $32NTD per US Dollar. This extra $2NTD gives a lot more money for spending. The fee to convert was also only $1US dollar at the Airport, while the conversion rate was $31NTD per US dollar. We rushed and just converted our money to get on the customs line as soon as possible; however, take your time and think out where the best place is to convert your money. If you want it to be done to have your money with you, I recommend just converting it to the Airport.

Getting a sim card- After converting our money, Jan and I went to the airport desk to sell SIM cards. The line was long, and Jan and I had our T-Mobile plan still working completely fine, so we decided to go straight to the customs line. This is a big NO-NO. Despite using 4G SIM cards in Taiwan, they use Taiwanese numbers for everything. Paying for items, renting out You-bikes(more on that later), and signing up for services. You can't do anything without a Taiwanese number. Please skip the part where you suffer and pay the price. Since US residents skip the visa application part and can stay up to 3 months, just buy the 3-month plan. It saves you time, and you won't regret it in the long run.

Customs - We waited in the customs line for about half an hour. We had our passports scanned and walked straight through. It was amazing. I realized that I was finally in the country. It wasn't just me looking at the beautiful sights in Google Maps or tourist articles but that I was truly in the country. We walked to the luggage pickup area. Ensure your luggage has red tape or something similar to make it easy to find. We took our luggage and walked straight out of the Airport. A hot blast of air hit us, and since I had long pants on, I immediately started sweating. I realized that they were not joking about this country.

In Taiwan, there are various forms of transportation. For the High-Speed rail and metro, you can go to any 7-11 convenience store and purchase an easy card. They all have cute designs and can be refilled at the cash register. It is practically your metro card for wherever you go.

Metro - They have metro stations based on colors, such as the green, orange, red, and blue lines. When I first used this train, I had no idea how to navigate myself. Luckily, they have help desks with police officers who can always help you. They also have kiosks that can refill your easy card (similar to OMNY) or give you a disposable purple coin, which is meant to be used as a one-way ticket through the transit gates.

High-Speed Rail (HSR)- They also have their high-speed rail. The cost of this train depends on where you are and where you're trying to go. When I arrived in Taipei from the Airport, Jan and I had to take the high-speed rail to go to Kaohsiung. The ticket cost me $40$, and the ride took an hour and 30 minutes to get from the top of the island all the way to the southernmost city. You can also purchase these tickets at kiosks that are meant only for the HSR.

Youbike (comparable to Citi bike) - Every major city in Taiwan offers a service called Youbike. They are shared bikes that can be rented using their app(Downloadable through the app store). Here is the part where I should've gotten a Taiwanese number. In the app, you can log in using your credentials; however, you must also use a number and verify it. If you bought your 90-day sim card, you can use that number. However, I didn't, so I had to use their one-time guest log-in. I had to log in with my email and enter my credit card details to use the bicycle. The most amazing part about Youbike is that with a no transaction fee card, it only charged me up to 1$ USD for a 5-hour biking session. It is amazingly inexpensive.

Public buses - In Taiwan I used public buses to go everywhere. Here, you tap to get on the bus, take it to a certain station, and tap to get off. Fairly simple and is practically the same as the MTA buses. The stations all have bus times showing the ETA for when the bus is supposed to arrive. Beware that you might need to be able to read some Chinese to understand what it means when it comes to the signs of the bus stop. It's easy to misread which bus you're taking and get on the wrong bus (I've done it 20+ times).

This part is super important. Make sure that you find a lovely apartment before your trip.
Rent is about 120-300$ USD, depending on location and amenities. The people at Wenzao have connections with landlords who are willing to take foreigners.
Jan and I had been looking at all the options and realized that we had found THE ONE. It had no elevator, but it had a washing machine, dryer, individual rooms, and our own floor. It was a 10-minute walk from school and close to a street with a nice market.
Make sure you weigh the pros and cons of the apartment, and if you're going to have a roommate, make sure you're okay with living with them for 3 months.
When you arrive at your apartment, make sure you have enough NTD to cover the first month's rent and a down payment for all utility fees. My apartment had no utility fees, and I only had to pay for the power usage of the air conditioner. I paid $120$ USD for the rent per month and another $120$ for the one-time down payment on the air conditioner usage.

The experience - I'd never had a roommate before my trip, so I didn't know what to expect. We shared the same bedroom but had our own rooms. The hallway had a fridge that we both shared. All I can say is that it was the most fun experience ever. It depends on roommate to roommate, but Jan quickly became my best friend. My apartment's washer and dryer were a problem for me (the dryer couldn't dry 6 pieces of clothing or more). Hence, Jan and I just went to a public laundromat that was close by every week at 3 AM. Doing activities like this created a great friendship.

Wenzao University has a beautiful campus. With trees everywhere, seating areas, a massive track field right in the middle, and a building with four floors dedicated to different sports, Wenzao University is in a simple world—just amazing. You can attend the classes in two time ranges: 9 AM—12 PM or 1 PM—4 PM. While at Wenzao, I participated in the 1 PM—4 PM classes. Although they took a massive chunk out of my day, I wasn't disappointed, as they gave me time to sleep in or do various morning activities.

Studying and Classrooms- Because of how late in the day my classes start, I would spend the first 2 hours of every morning reviewing new vocabulary and grammar structures. The CLC creates structured lessons, allowing you to quickly pick up the new words and put them to use. The teachers are extremely friendly and professional, teaching you how to use Chinese in grammatically correct ways and in ways that allow you to converse with the locals more naturally. In the intermediate class that I was in, the teacher never stopped speaking in Chinese and pushed my listening skills to their absolute limits. The classmates also make your experience unforgettable. It's hard to not make new friendships among your classmates. My classmates brought snacks, drinks, and sweets and shared them with the class. With only 10 people in the class, it's hard not to feel like a family. On some occasions, I would go on weekend trips with my classmates to go to the beach and eat shaved ice.

Physical activities - The activity building across from the CLC (Chinese Learning Center) also has a gym. You can pay just 10$ USD or 300$NTD to use their gym for the entire semester. I had always wanted to be physically active, and the location and price just made sense. Other than working out, I played basketball, tennis, and badminton. Using the Chinese language skills I had learned at Hunter to talk with the locals was great. I convinced them to play me in 1 on 1 basketball games. It was a fun experience that I won't forget.

Taiwan has various stores that will make you want to buy everything. There are vintage clothes stores, stationeries ( places where you can buy pens, pencils, book bags, folders, etc.), and extremely affordable restaurants. During my stay, I ordered double the amount of food I usually ate in New York (Yes, I ate all of it). And I would always be snacking and stocking up on gummies, chips, and everything to my heart's desire. But don't be like me and spend your money blindly (Obviously)
I bought lots of cute pencils, pens, folders, and keychains at the stationery store to bring home to my family.

Malls - In Taiwan, there are various places where you can plan activities and have fun. An example could be E-DA Mall. This mall is more than just hundreds of stores; it also has a Ferris wheel, roller coasters, and many small events. Here, my friends and I spent the entire day just getting lost in everything E-DA has to offer. While some of them were scared of heights, I made the most of our trip.
There are also many other malls in Kaohsiung, which you can easily reach by bus and buy whatever you need.

Trips - While it depends from person to person, my friends and I knew that not spending a weekend going to other cities was a complete waste, so we organized a trip to Tainan. While Tainan is a city right above Kaohsiung, we still needed to buy HSR tickets as no other transportation mode could take us there. This time, our tickets cost around 8 USD. We planned out hotels and activities and left Friday afternoon right after class. We arrived around 5 PM and headed straight for the hotel. Tainan was absolutely beautiful. The old architecture and old streets let us experience an entirely different world. The night markets were jam-packed and offered various things that we could only eat in Tainan. I recommend planning to go to 3 different cities by yourself or with your group during your summer. It will change your world.

That time, I got lost in Tainan - If it hadn't been for the amazing group of people I met during my trip, I would've been a lost and homeless foreigner stuck in Tainan. During our trip, we decided to check out a mall for our second day in Tainan. It was 9 PM, and the mall was about to close. Little did I realize that my phone died, and I had been split from the rest of my group. Yes, I was a lost foreigner with no ability to properly communicate with the people and without a phone. I decided that the best thing to do was to go to a 7-11 and ask for a charger to charge my phone and call them. How do you say portable charger in Chinese again? I didn't know either, and that was my struggle. They didn't have any chargers, and not only that, but they all only used Androids. I had no way to charge my phone, contact my group, or go back to the hotel(we were probably 7 - 10 miles away). Suddenly, I saw one of my friends in the 7-11 window. "Where the hell were you? We were looking all over for you and realized your phone must've died". I cried inside because how did they know ;(. After that, I was extremely grateful to them for the rest of that day, and we got BOBA!

Sidenote - Jan and another friend went to another city by themselves for the weekend. They actually somehow found a way to go paragliding. That made me jealous of them for the rest of my summer, so I decided not to go with them that weekend because I was too tired. Please don't be like me.
Another friend bought plane tickets to Thailand for the weekend because plane tickets in Asia are much cheaper. The ticket cost about 200$ USD. They flew on Friday afternoon and came back on Sunday. Apparently, the mall in Thailand is so big that they got lost and couldn't even explore half of it. They also got to see their favorite Thai idols. Another friend also went to Thailand for a weekend and brought back lots of snacks!

CLC trips- While there were Typhoons that stopped some of the major trips that the CLC had been planning, our sponsor Candice had planned out trips for us during the course of the summer semester. On those trips, we visited the cultural sites of indigenous people in Taiwan, ate their food, and wore some traditional clothes. We also visited a banana farm in Taiwan. Not only were the bananas sickeningly good, but we also learned many things and experienced traditional farmer games and activities.

The rest - Listing the rest of the places I visited during the summer would make this too long. I recommend that you take advantage of your summer and go to as many places as possible.