Taiwan Study Abroad Program Past Review

By Alison M (Print Journalism, Emerson College) for

Shih Hsin University: Taipei - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

It was more than worthwhile, it was amazing. I will be terribly sad to leave Taiwan, with all the great friendships I made, especially. I'll miss everything Taiwan, too--the weather, the languages, the nightmarkets, the culture....it's a great place and we met at least three people who had come for a program like ours and stuck around instead of going home.

Personal Information

If you took classes at multiple universities, list those universities here:	Shih Hsin University
The term and year this program took place:	Fall 2008

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.	The classes were usually boring and easy because they were taught in English to teach English--therefore the course material itself was not very difficult.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program	I love the people but things were usually poorly explained, if at all, and the lines of communication between our workplace, the exchange office, our teachers or class scheduling, and our students were nearly nonexistent.
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	My roommates were amazing--but I'll be glad to have a soft bed (instead of a table with a 2 millimeter mattress), a more private bathroom, and space to breathe again. :) The dorms are well-situated on campus, though, and very close to the local nightmarket and subway.
* Food:	It is difficult to find healthy food. The cafeteria is monotonous and work at the English Corner gives no lunchtime break, so your options are to race to the bakery or 7/11 before your students come in for class. That said, Taipei has some very delicious food.
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I love people here!!! I made so many friends I will be sad to leave. We also managed to visit much of Taiwan (which is gorgeous--I suggest Tainan, Hualien, and Yangmingshan Mt. for starters, not to mention all the nightmarkets and hot springs!) The school arranged a trip to Hualien, which went beautifully. I also visited Thailand, and a couple of the boys headed to Japan.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?
* Safety:	I never used health services here, but at every sneeze or cough, people would insist you head to the doctor--it got a little frustrating if you had an allergy, haha. Taiwan is incredibly safe and I have never felt worried about where I was walking.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	No

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget? (1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Language

Language acquisition improvement?	The Mandarin lessons were great--challenging and interesting. It is extremely difficult to learn Mandarin within a few months, however. Another foreigner we met has been here 3 years and still has difficulties. Our teacher did a great job of teaching us enough to get around though, and the students were always willing to help.

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	Be open to everyone and everything, work hard in Mandarin class, do your best to see as much culture and as many places as you can. Be prepared for some stereotyping of Americans, but be nice because it is not ill-intentioned. Practically, bring deodorant and tampons--if you are a girl--because those aren't easily found commodities here. Ask people to bring you to eat what THEY eat or you'll end up eating fast food without realizing it.