My Unforgettable Experience in Taiwan

We arrived in Taiwan at 9:30 p.m. After collecting my luggage, I was picked up by the committee members and taken to our dormitory in Taoyuan City. We arrived at the dormitory at around midnight. After that, I cleaned up, organized my suitcase, took a shower, and made other preparations before finally going to sleep at 2:00 a.m.

The next morning, we were woken up and had breakfast before walking to the university. The journey from the dormitory to the university took only about five minutes. When we arrived at the university, we did not immediately begin our lessons. Instead, we were given a placement test to determine which class we would join. There were 12 classes in total, with Class 12 being the highest level for students who were already highly proficient in Mandarin. I was placed in Class 6.

The following day, we officially began our lessons. We studied Mandarin from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Then, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., we attended cultural classes. After that, we returned to the dormitory. While there, we were given three options: resting in our rooms, exercising, or going to the convenience store with the committee members. This routine continued from Monday to Friday.

On Saturdays and Sundays, we did not have any classes. Instead, we went on trips to various tourist destinations, including malls, night markets, museums, and other popular places in Taiwan. We were also given the opportunity to experience different types of public transportation. This became our regular weekend routine.

During the first week, we visited Taipei 101, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, and Ximending. In the second week, we visited Dadaocheng Historic District, the National Palace Museum, and LaLaport. During the third week, we visited Xinyi District, Hukou Hakka Creative Park, Changhua Roundhouse, Lukang Tianhou Temple, and Fengchia Night Market.

Our activities during the fourth week were different from those in the previous weeks. Since it was our final week in Taiwan, we went on a graduation tour. We traveled to Taichung and stayed there for one night. During the trip, we visited Gaomei Wetland, Mitsui Outlet Park, and the Cape of Good Hope in Houlong. Afterward, we returned to our dormitory.

The fourth week was the most exciting and unforgettable because we participated in several interesting activities, including a class performance, a singing competition, and a movie appreciation session. At the end of the week, each class also had a farewell dinner. Our class chose to have hotpot together.

However, that week was also very stressful because, from Friday until Sunday, we were affected by Typhoon Bavi. We were required to stay in our rooms for several days. Those days felt very boring because we could not go anywhere or participate in any activities. The saddest part was that our flight, which had originally been scheduled for Saturday, was postponed because of the storm.

Some students had to return home earlier on Friday, while the rest of us returned on Monday and Tuesday. I was selected to return home on Monday. I felt sad because I could not return to Indonesia together with my friends from Cirebon.

Finally, Monday arrived. We were woken up at 4:00 a.m. and gathered in the dormitory lobby at 4:30 a.m. for a briefing. Many students who were not scheduled to leave that day still came to the lobby to say goodbye. At 5:00 a.m., we left for the airport. The journey took only around 30 minutes because our dormitory was located in the same city as the airport. After arriving at the airport, we immediately checked in and waited at the gate. Then, we boarded the plane and finally returned to Indonesia.

During my time in Taiwan, I felt very happy because I was able to meet many new friends from different cities, learn many new things, and experience what it was like to live as a student in Taiwan. It was truly an unforgettable experience, and I hope that one day, I will have the opportunity to experience something like this again.

By : Netanya Ardana Suwarno