Out of all the places that I have had the pleasure to visit, I think Taiwan is the one that left the deepest and most lingering impression on me. I am so very grateful for the opportunity that made my experience possible.
Growing up, Taiwan was nothing more than words written in plastic on the back of my toys or on electronic components, but now it has evolved into a whole micro cosmos of exuberant impressions and wonderful memories.
It is hard to summarize all the happenings, events, people and impressions that together constitute my experience of Taiwan. As a Swede, born and raised in a small coastal village of approximately 600 people - without even a kiosk, vendor or gas station – Taipei’s pulse and rhythm was extremely foreign and a bit daunting. It took me a while to get use to the air, sounds and atmosphere of a city that never sleeps. It was fascinating to see how night markets opened up when the regular shops closed down, to see groups of old people gather in the morning to do a morning exercise together in whatever open space that was accessible, see and listen to the endless swarms of scooters on the roads and literally never be somewhere from which you could not see a place where you could get either food or some kind of drink. It took me no time to fall in love with the convenience, tidiness and generous departure times of the public transportation system. No more walking home five kilometres if I missed the last bus at 7pm!
I think that the most valuable things that I brought home with me from my experience living in Taiwan are the friendships that I made. I do not think that I have ever been in an environment where it has felt so easy and natural to tie new connections, both with other exchange students and with locals. One was really embraced by the safe atmosphere that is very palpable there, and probably is one contributing factor in making Taiwan one of the safest countries in the world to visit. For me, this was both impressive and surprising due to the geopolitical turbulence that has shrouded the island for so many years.
For anyone going there for the first time, I would encourage them to not just settle in the international milieus that are found at famous city attractions, universities and language centers. One can easily get by with only speaking English in Taipei and that is just another extension of the city’s convenience. However, it wasn’t until I struggled my way through ordering my first meal in barely understandable Chinese from a street vendor, started to listen to Taiwanese music, joined clubs and went to mingle and have fun with Taiwanese people, that my experience went from being nice to unforgettable.
Taiwan has given me very dear friends whom have given me many new perspectives and insights on life. Chinese opened up a whole new way of framing and approaching communication, and Taiwanese cuisine gave me an elevated tolerance for spicy food! But most of all, Taiwan gave me a longing to return and learn more about it’s beautiful people, nature and culture.
