I had an extremely pleasant time studying abroad at National Taiwan University! I would say it is probably one of the best experiences I have ever had of my whole life! Even though none of my units/ credits transferred to my home university of Cal Poly, it was still extremely worth it.
I initially came late because I had an internship, so I came basically 2 weeks late. I remember I was extremely nervous if they were to rescind me from being able to study abroad. The school started on August 25, 2025, but I could only get there by September 7th. I remember right after my last day of work interning, I hopped on the plane straight from SFO (San Francisco International Airport, California) to TPE (Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan). There I started my new life abroad.
Challenges in a new Environment
Initially coming here, I thought the campus was absolutely beautiful, but also huge! It was also scorching hot when I got there - around 95°F (35°C.) on the daily.
Here is a picture of the NTU Library, I would go here a lot in the beginning, but later on stopped as I realized I should be out exploring instead since I had limited time!
Prior to coming to Taiwan, I had tried to learn Mandarin with my fellow friends. It was very useful, and I was able to pick up the language pretty fast in Taiwan as what people say, "Your environment shapes you." I really agree with this because being able to be in a Mandarin speaking conutry forced me to learn Mandarin, so now I am pretty good! I also had the advantage of knowing Cantonese beforehand... if you know Cantonese, then that's the cheat code to learning Mandarin.
I was afraid that people would judge me for speaking broken Mandarin at first, but everyone I met were super helpful! Taiwanese people are super nice. In fact, I started learning more Mandarin in my Kendo club more than in my actual Chinese class!
Here is me in my kendo attire! It was really fun!
Where I went in Taiwan?
Some quick comments about the places I visited:
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Lambai Island（小琉球）: This small island was my absolute favorite! Gorgeous beaches, sea turtles everywhere, amazing night markets, and a super chill local vibe. Highly recommend renting a scooter to explore the island at your own pace. I scuba dived here! Very fun.
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Taipei（台北）: As the capital, Taipei is a huge urban center full of history, delicious food, and vibrant night markets. The public transportation is great and there was so much to see. I was also here for most of my time, at National Taiwan University!
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Kaohsiung（高雄）: Loved the relaxed atmosphere compared to Taipei. The Love River at night and the art pier area (Pier-2) are highlights. Plus, you have to try the local seafood.
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Tainan（台南）: Known as the food capital of Taiwan, Tainan is loaded with temples and traditional eats. I tried so many snacks here, and the city gives off a very historical and cozy vibe.
I loved Tainan for their capybara cafe. I never realized that capybara's fur or hair feels a lot like hay. It felt harsh to pet; nevertheless, they are still super cute. -
Hualien（花蓮）: I didn't get to see Taroko Gorge, but it had beautiful beaches. Hualien is surrounded by gorgeous scenery, from mountains to coastline. Perfect for anyone who loves outdoor adventures.
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Chiayi（嘉義）: Famous for its chicken rice and as the starting point for the Alishan Forest Railway. Nice for a chill day trip or stopover.
There was this beautiful old, decomissioned train track railroad hike in alishan, I would highly recommend it, as it was the most beautiful one.
There were a few places I didn’t make it to (like Taitung (台東), Taichung (台中), and Kenting (墾丁), so I hope to return to Taiwan someday and explore even more!
International Travels
During my exchange, I was lucky enough to travel to a few other countries. I wish I could have visited even more! Here’s where I went:
- Hong Kong
- Vietnam
- Japan
Here's me hugging Goofy in DisneySea in Tokyo, Japan.
Overall Thoughts
I had an amazing time, met amazing people! I hope everyone has the chance to study abroad sometime as well too!