Although one of the smallest countries in Asia, from the breathtaking views and diverse culture, the beauties of Taiwan should not be undervalued. In a two-week endeavor run by Chinese teacher Zoe Chen, 17 students got to experience a journey of a lifetime.

Starting on Jun. 3, students stayed at Chang Yuan Christian University in Taoyuan City, where they took a week-long course including group classes, one-on-one tutoring, and cultural activities. Along the way, they also did lots of sightseeing, including exploring the Maokong Mountains, Taipei 101, Ancient Temples, etc. Students also visited a foster care center where they interacted with children through arts and crafts, food, and conversation.

“I loved going to Taipei 101. The overall building was super unique, and going to the top and looking over the entire city was super cool. I also liked the culture classes because we got to do a lot of fun activities like making dumplings and sending postcards home,” sophomore Chris Allen said.

However, some students experienced culture shock, making it harder to transition into a foreign country. For instance, having to put what you learned about the Chinese language in school out into the real world. Even the little things such as having no trash cans on the streets, not being able to drink tap water and having to bring your own toilet paper made it tougher to adapt.

A place where students got to learn about the history of Taiwanese culture was at the Overseas Community Affairs Council. Taiwanese

culture is a blend of Chinese, Japanese and Western Countries’ cultures, making theirs unique in their own way. The Chinese started migrating to Taiwan in the 17th Century, bringing their culture and beliefs. The Japanese colonized Taiwan from 1895 to 1945, installing their customs into the country, and the Western’s countries such as America helped inspire Taiwanese technology. Another takeaway from Taiwanese culture was the inclusivity to not only foreigners, but also religions, having roughly 15,000 Churches and Temples scattered across the island. 

“The people in Taiwan were very nice and inclusive. Even if you couldn’t speak English, they would applaud you for trying to speak Mandarin. For example, we went to visit a middle school and got to know each other, and even though it was hard to communicate they ended up coming to visit us in their own free time which was super cool,” sophomore William Allen said. 

Overall, the trip was a great way for students to learn firsthand what it’s like to be a foreigner and learn how to adapt to a new culture. It was also a great bonding experience and something they’ll never forget.  

“As a teacher, it was truly heartwarming to watch my students not only deepen their understanding of the language and culture, but also form genuine connections with the community. Their kindness and the joy they brought to the children at the foster care center were moments I will always cherish,” said Chen.