Ms. Maika Ito, 2nd year student, Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine
[Destination] National Taipei University of Education (Taiwan)
[Study abroad period] August 2023 to January 2.
[Type of study abroad] Long-term study abroad at a partner university
I have been studying abroad at Taipei University of Education in Taiwan since February 2023.
In November, 11 months have passed since my trip. This time, I would like to write about a one-night, two-day trip to Taichung City that my school organized for exchange students.
On this trip, I visited Sun Moon Lake, Nantou (Zhongxing New Street), and Lugang Old Street in Taichung.
First of all, Sun Moon Lake is the largest freshwater lake and one of Taiwan's three major tourist destinations, and is famous for the beauty of its deep green color.
We took a boat ride across a beautiful lake and went cycling. It was my first time to see a lake, and the weather was nice on the day of the trip, so the scenery was very beautiful.
There were stalls similar to a night market nearby, and we had a fun time drinking Taiwan's traditional tapioca milk tea and eating sausages.
Cycling took about two hours, cycling around Sun Moon Lake and taking pictures with everyone, so I was a little tired (lol).
In the evening, we thoroughly enjoyed Taiwanese cuisine. After that, we bought a midnight snack and played Korean and Taiwanese recreational games.
I think there are a lot of games in Japan that involve board games or other things, but in Korea and Taiwan, there are many games that are played while drinking alcohol, such as ``sitting down, moving your body, and talking.'' I learned a lot from them. It was difficult for me to understand the rules, but as a Japanese person, I was really happy that everyone told me to take my time and explained them to me in simple Chinese. I was reminded of the cultural differences between Japan and Japan, and the game was a lot of fun.
On the second day, we first went to Zhongxing New Village, the area where Taiwan's government was previously located, and took a walk around the village, including a lush park, cafes, and noodle shops, while buying and eating ice cream with everyone.
Living in Taipei, the city feels busy with all the big buildings, cars, and trains that come and go, but this time, for the first time in a while, I felt a cityscape similar to Hirosaki, and I secretly thought that I wanted to go to Japan. I was there. I also realized once again that I like places that are rich in nature.
After that, I moved on and finally went to Lugang Old Street.
This place has a unique atmosphere that is a mixture of present and past Taiwan, with old houses, buildings, and streets, and is a place with a distinctive red brick structure.
There were many stalls here as well, so I was able to enjoy some food while sightseeing around the old town, and finally relax and have a relaxing time.
I really made a lot of new friends during my trip.
Many of the students who came to study abroad were really proactive, and we quickly became good friends and had fun playing games together! The Taiwanese students who supported me were also very kind and made it a really fulfilling two days.
Personally, I was a little worried at first because there were no other Japanese exchange students participating, but my Korean roommate who asked me to go with her was really kind, and I became even closer with her. I was happy. ^^
In addition, Taipei University of Education holds such travel plans and various events for exchange students, so if you are thinking of studying abroad in Taiwan, we recommend studying at the University of Education!
I think it's a great opportunity to interact with new international friends and Taiwanese students!
Of course, it costs money, but it's more than half the price of planning it on your own, and you can go with others, making it a great memory during your study abroad experience!
I would be happy if even one more person wanted to learn Chinese (Taiwanese Mandarin)!