CET Taiwan Fall 2022 February 04, 2023

By (Environmental Studies and Chinese, Wellesley College) - abroad from 08/29/2022 to 11/19/2022 with

CET Taiwan

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I improved in my language skills and gained new experiences through interactions with other students from the program and local university. I learned a lot about myself as I learned how to adapt to living in a new country and culture.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I enjoyed the language classes offered by National Taiwan University's Chinese Language Division (CLD), as they challenged me more than any Mandarin classes I had taken in the US before. The classes were small and very personalized to the students. They involved a lot of class participation, speaking and listening practice, and exposure to Taiwanese culture through discussions of various topics such as politics, economics, gender equality issues, and everyday life. I opted into learning traditional characters, and although it was difficult to adjust at first, I soon got used to writing and reading them and I found it to be one of the most rewarding aspects of the class. I thought the elective course provided by CET was not as well organized as the Mandarin courses, but I still learned a lot about Taiwanese history and identity. I would have liked more opportunities for discussion throughout the semester, but I think the feel of the class was also affected by the fact that the program had about three to four times as many students as it has had in the past.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

CET staff were very helpful and always willing to answer questions and help students with anything relating to living in Taipei or adjusting to classes.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The apartment arranged by CET was very comfortable and I got along well with my other roommates from the CET program. Although we didn't have the opportunity to live with local Taiwanese students due to COVID, CET came up with a language partner program to give students more opportunity to connect with local students and practice languages together.

* Food:

Food in Taipei is very inexpensive in terms of US standards and it's super easy to find food wherever you are in the city. I loved going to local restaurants near the university and visiting night markets every week. Eating out is usually cheaper than cooking at home, but it is also nice to be able to cook in the apartments when you want to.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt a lot more integrated as the semester progressed and I felt comfortable speaking with people in everyday situations. I met so many friendly people like the owners of a breakfast shop near my apartment, and I had so many sweet encounters with people once I got over the initial shyness and intimidation of speaking with strangers. I felt that people were very accommodating and encouraging to me as a language learner.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Healthcare in Taiwan is very readily accessible and it is relatively straightforward to access it through GeoBlue (the insurance provider for the program).

* Safety:

Generally Taipei feels safer than most large cities I've lived in or visited in the US. I would definitely exercise caution and stay aware of your surroundings when you're out, but I didn't encounter any situations where I felt particularly unsafe especially when I was with a group of friends. People will often leave their belongings out in cafes or restaurants or umbrellas outside of stores without worrying about theft. Still stay aware of your belongings and safety, but you won't have to worry as much about petty theft or pickpocketing as you might in the US or Europe.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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)

It is generally easy to stay on a student's budget as meals at a restaurant cost around $3 USD, and the program provides a monthly stipend for transportation, as well as reimbursements for cultural activities. One thing you might want to think about is day trips or weekend trips to other parts of Taiwan. It is relatively inexpensive to take buses and trains, but the high-speed rail can be slightly more expensive. Taiwan is still mostly cash-based so I recommend taking out cash from an ATM either every week or every two weeks to avoid ATM fees and foreign transaction fees if you use a card.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Around $150 or less every two weeks.
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Keep in mind roughly how much money you plan to spend on food per day (for me this ranged from about $6-$10 USD per day) and try to stay within that amount. Then when you spend a little more on food one day or buy souvenirs or other items you won't be spending too much over your budget.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Integration into the city and encouragement to explore Taiwan
  • Intensive language classes
  • Convenient public transportation
* What could be improved?
  • Elective class organization
  • On-site support for students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I prioritized socializing and exploring Taipei and other parts of Taiwan more without worrying too much about grades and academic performance. Also that it's okay not to go out and do a lot of activities all the time and rest is as important as other things going on in your life abroad.