One Month in Taipei – This is What I’ve Learned!

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Yesterday marked the end of my first month in Taiwan! This has been one of the most challenging opportunities I have ventured into.

The first challenge comes with confronting my expectationsโ€“as a high-achieving learner, I expected to start speaking Chinese within the first hour of arriving. Which I (kind of) didโ€” the taxi driver was phenomenal at making us feel at home and obviously told us (another CET student and myself) that our Chinese was โ€œๅพˆๅฅฝโ€. However, things changed very quickly. To make the long story short:

I went out right after I organized my belongings. I was in search of a Catholic parish and my first Taiwanese meal. My first destination was a very chill restaurant. But it was a very awkward experience: I went to the shop, the attendant asked me what I wanted (or thatโ€™s what I think I heard), and I froze. He proceeded by pointing at the menu, to which I pointed back putting my finger on the food I wanted. He pointed to the seating area, telling me to take a seat, and I did. It was technically a silent exchange.

This was a crazy experience for me because it challenged my confidence in my ability to speak Chinese. Very quickly I realized that I knew nothing about Chinese. Obviously, I am exaggerating. But thatโ€™s what I felt at the moment and how I feel about the moment now. I do not think it is bad to think of that experience through such a lens. In fact, I love to think of it that way because it reminds me of the wake-up call I had as soon as I arrived. Fast forward, I know that people will be kind to help me but not everyone is my teacher. I need to be auto-sufficient and independent in my methods of learning Chinese. Here we would say ่‡ช็™ผ่‡ชๅ‹•.

On the other hand, I also learned that I canโ€™t do everything on my own. Coming to Taiwan, I expected to be independent, as I have always been (to the extent possible). Here in Taipei, I learned to be independent in a new way while also realizing that I can not do everything on my own. How do I know that?

I know because I was feeling highly insecure just about two days after being in Taipei. I was feeling insecure because my confidence came from my achievements and my ability to help others. In the states, I was used to being a student leader, a student-worker, and in general a very hard-working person. Arriving in Taipei, I had none of these labels on me: I am not in any formal leadership positions, I am not working, and I no longer have the pressure to do a million things other than study. As a result, I lacked confidence. It was very hard for me. But I was able to open up about it. In the end, I know that my confidence comes from the Lord, my God. I learned to continue to depend on my God and also take initiative to accomplish my goals. As one very wise person said to me as I told him my troubles, remember where your confidence comes from and be flexible. Donโ€™t let your way of doing things be too simple, otherwise, you will crumble.

If you are preparing to study abroad, be ready to confront yourself: your beliefs about yourself and the perceptions you have of others. Donโ€™t be simple in your ways of managing things, and remember that God is perfect in all His ways.

The picture above is from a chill trip to ๆทกๆฐด, which is located at the end of Taipeiโ€™s Red Line. If youโ€™re in Taipei, you definitely have to go. The breeze near the ocean is beautiful and the food and snacks from the vendor stands are ้žๅƒไธๅฏ!

See you next time!