Last year, I took the plunge and chose Taiwan as my study destination, much to the confusion of many who could not quite place it on the map, often mistaking it for Thailand.
The majority of travelers would tell you that one of the most notable aspects of Taiwan is Taiwanese hospitality. Taiwanese are renowned for their warmth and hospitality, and this extends to interactions with foreigners.
Now, I will admit, I did not exactly do any research before hopping on the plane. I went in blind, like a kid on the first day of school with no backpack and no clue where the classroom is.
Arriving in Kaohsiung, I found myself lost in a whirlwind of unfamiliarity.
With heavy suitcases and a foggy jet-lagged mind, I tripped on the stairs and fell with all my suitcases while desperately trying to find my way in the subway.
Just when I thought I could not sink any lower, a chorus of kindness emerged from the crowd. Strangers came to my rescue, offering assistance and translation.
They helped me go to my hotel and a few days later dropped me off at Wenzao University.
And let me tell you, navigating the bus system was like trying to crack the Da Vinci Code.
In Europe, such acts of kindness are not so frequent. People sometimes toss you a side-eye or walk away.
Yet in Taiwan, these acts of kindness seemed to be the norm. The openness and generosity extended beyond my initial encounters, shaping my entire experience abroad.
Whether it was hiking in the mountains or strolling through Siaoliouciou (小琉球), I was constantly met with friendly faces and welcoming gestures.
In Taiwan, strangers become friends in the blink of an eye.
A simple stroll through the market or a shared moment at a show can lead to unexpected connections and conversations, even sharing fruits and biscuits just like if you knew each other before.
It is this genuine warmth and openness that has not only helped me navigate life abroad, but has also enriched my experience in ways I could never have imagined.
Taiwan might not have been my first choice, but it has undoubtedly become a special place in my heart and my home for the past 10 months.
So, when people ask me: Why Taiwan? I simply smile and say: “Why not? It is a place worth visiting and why not live here? Its landscapes and culture are just waiting to be discovered.”
Lise Tournier is a student in the Department of International Affairs at Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long been expansionist and contemptuous of international law. Under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), the CCP regime has become more despotic, coercive and punitive. As part of its strategy to annex Taiwan, Beijing has sought to erase the island democracy’s international identity by bribing countries to sever diplomatic ties with Taipei. One by one, China has peeled away Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners, leaving just 12 countries (mostly small developing states) and the Vatican recognizing Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Taiwan’s formal international space has shrunk dramatically. Yet even as Beijing has scored diplomatic successes, its overreach
After 37 US lawmakers wrote to express concern over legislators’ stalling of critical budgets, Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) pledged to make the Executive Yuan’s proposed NT$1.25 trillion (US$39.7 billion) special defense budget a top priority for legislative review. On Tuesday, it was finally listed on the legislator’s plenary agenda for Friday next week. The special defense budget was proposed by President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration in November last year to enhance the nation’s defense capabilities against external threats from China. However, the legislature, dominated by the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), repeatedly blocked its review. The
In her article in Foreign Affairs, “A Perfect Storm for Taiwan in 2026?,” Yun Sun (孫韻), director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington, said that the US has grown indifferent to Taiwan, contending that, since it has long been the fear of US intervention — and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) inability to prevail against US forces — that has deterred China from using force against Taiwan, this perceived indifference from the US could lead China to conclude that a window of opportunity for a Taiwan invasion has opened this year. Most notably, she observes that
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) said on Monday that it would be announcing its mayoral nominees for New Taipei City, Yilan County and Chiayi City on March 11, after which it would begin talks with the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) to field joint opposition candidates. The KMT would likely support Deputy Taipei Mayor Lee Shu-chuan (李四川) as its candidate for New Taipei City. The TPP is fielding its chairman, Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌), for New Taipei City mayor, after Huang had officially announced his candidacy in December last year. Speaking in a radio program, Huang was asked whether he would join Lee’s
RSS