Taiwan

Blog 1

Before I came to Taiwan, I was motivated to learn Mandarin to get back to my roots. However, while brainstorming ideas on other motivations. I realized that it is still part of my motivation, but no longer my only motivation. I also discovered that I am motivated to learn Mandarin because I want to converse and learn more about people in Taiwan. I want to see into their worlds from their point of view because everyone has a story to share. Something I have taken away while being here thus far is I need to be patient with myself and keep practicing the language. One of the biggest strategies I employ while living in Taiwan and learning the language is to try. Try to speak even if I am only talking to myself. Also, the little things like ordering or asking where the bathroom is matter. I am very grateful for the friends I have made who helped teach me new words I can practice when we go out. A little practice every day can go a long way. 

On the other hand, something that can be difficult is trying not to zone out. At times lectures or other conversations can be long and draining but I try not to let my mind wander. Listening has helped me pick up/ recognize some words or phrases. I try to repeat what someone has said and figure out what it means. Another trick that has helped me is the classic flash card method. Since Taiwan uses traditional characters, I need to be able to recognize them. Not only do flashcards help me recognize the words, but it helps me be able to integrate them into my daily life. Some of my classmates and I go to lunch after our class, and we use the words we have been learning to give directions or even ask where we want to go eat. 

In the classroom, I learn, but I truly learn the most while socializing. I live on campus with three other girls. Two are from Japan and another one is from Malaysia. We practice our Mandarin together, and I help them with their English. We have many nights where we stay up talking about our cultures Even though there are differences, and they are wonderful to learn about, there are also similarities. Some of these similarities are our love for our families and friends, and our hunger to learn. It amazes me how even though we come from different backgrounds, our adventure to Taiwan has brought us together as roommates and friends. So far, my time in Taiwan has been wonderful even with the struggle of learning the language I keep trying and keep making progress. 

Blog 2

My time in Taiwan has almost been two months and I have been learning and experiencing so much, whether that be in language or culture. At the end of the day, my mind needs a rest from being on fire 24/7. Something very important I have realized what is one of the best methods to learn about any new culture. The best way to understand culture is not only from books or videos but from people. I was out to dinner with my friends, and we always joke about how we are the United Nations. Tonight, I looked around our table and realized how we really are like the United Nations, because we are from America, France, Japan, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan. We talk about everything and anything. Every time we meet, I am always learning something new about their cultures whether that be how to say something or what an average day looks like to them. After long talks and laughter, stereotypes are broken and proven wrong. Even though we have our differences there are so many bridges of similarities, such as the importance of family and food to name a few. Learning Mandarin has been an experience within itself, but people have been helpful and have even been helping me learn new words. I am grateful for their patience and for sharing their culture with me. Being a mindful traveler means not only being aware of your impact on your surroundings but also being open to letting your surroundings impact you to help you be bigger than yourself. 

Blog 3

A college student’s life is full of homework, classes, making new friends, and having experiences. These are all things that a lot of students can experience as freshmen. Coming to Taiwan I felt like a freshman again. I had to not only learn the ropes of the classes and social norms, but also make new connections.  

When I worked as a Peer Jacks Mentor I would always tell freshmen the best way to make friends or feel like you belong is to become a part of the school whether that be joining a club or going to campus events. I took my own advice and joined the dance club on campus in Taiwan. I know a handful of Taiwanese students. Since we have a performance coming up we have been bonding a lot over working together on our dance. I have also been making a lot of connections with other international students from classes, roommates, or campus events. My birthday was a month ago and my friends surprised me with birthday decorations and singing. It made me stop and reflect about how much and fast of an impact I have made on them, but also how much they have made on me too.  I am very grateful for the connections I have made here in Taiwan. 

On the academic side of things there are some differences that I have noticed compared to America. One is during classes there are breaks. For example a three hour class will have two ten minute breaks to help keep the flow of class. I appreciate these breaks and found it quite refreshing compared to sitting straight through lectures in America. On the other hand my classes do not post my total grade which can be very frustrating when I want to know how I am doing in a class. I asked my professors and they usually would say 加油(jiāyóu) which means “keep going/good luck.” Overall the structure of classes are very similar to ones in America. The biggest challenge I have for myself is that all of my classes are in Chinese and my mind is working overtime to understand and soak in everything. However, I can see my growth in the language day by day.  

I take on these challenges because I know I have a good support system in Taiwan, but also back home in America. I am looking forward to seeing what other connections I make during my time here.  

Blog 4

Recently I have been asking my friends who have graduated, what life is without tests, homework, and everything that comes with being a student. The typical answer I get is it is wonderful or how happy they are not to have to do tests. One of my friends surprised me with another point of view. Yes, it was great not to have all the work, but not having the structure of an academic setting was off-putting. It made me think about how in the professional world it is a new setting that students must face. This world has the structure of the company and social norms. Those social norms can differ depending on what country you are in.  

During my second semester in Taiwan, I will be shifting my focus from academia to an internship. I believe this is one of the most important semesters because it will show me a window into the professional world. Some of the hurdles I will be facing next semester are not only the language, but also learning the ropes of the company, where I stand in the company, and the cultural dimensions applied to the internship. “Cultural Dimensions in Management and Planning” by Hofstede is an article breaking down the social structures of different countries and applying the results to management and planning. Some of the cultural dimensions that I need to keep in mind during my internship are motivation toward achievement and success, Uncertainty Avoidance culture, and power distance. These will help me understand the motivation of the people whom I am working with, the work culture, and where boundaries are. As next semester comes closer, I am looking forward to learning and growing from this new challenge and being allowed to have an internship in Taiwan.