TISLP has afforded me numerous opportunities to experience Taiwanese culture and language, be it with a host family or with our language partners. One such eventful trip was when we traveled to Kenting with my host family.
On the way to the southernmost tip of Taiwan, we were able to visit numerous beautiful beaches, each with unique distinguishing features. The family spoke entirely in Chinese and was very friendly overall. I especially enjoyed the interactivity of the trip as the parents asked me questions about life and in response answered my questions about the general culture of Taiwan.
I most enjoyed it when they stopped to take me to a beach with old coral fossils. I thought the animals living within the pools of rocks were interesting along with the impressions of the previously alive coral in the rock bed. Although it was hot, the experience of seeing Taiwan's geological and ecological history was unforgettable. Additionally, when traveling to the beach at Kenting, we were able to visit a local temple in the area. During our visit, we witnessed celebrations for the earth god.
Also in the vicinity were numerous stalls selling Buddha's head fruit along with iced products for the hot summer day. That day was the first day I was able to try the Buddha's head fruit and I was impressed by the texture and sweetness. The texture of the edible part was very smooth, complimenting the sweet taste. The only caveat to consuming it was the fact that eating the fruit was very messy and required an available trash receptacle due to the frequency of the seeds and the stickiness of each lobe of fruit. After leaving the temple area, my host family was generous in giving me my own small fruit, presumably to share with my roommates and friends.
Even after arriving in Kenting and their night market, the family continued to show me their favorite foods and the general highlights of the area. Throughout the trip, they insisted on trying many regional specialties and I was often left with the feeling of being too full to eat any more food. However, I am extremely grateful for their willingness to introduce me to restaurants I would not be able to try within the campus vicinity. I love trying new foods and flavors, so the introduction to the southernmost regional specialities was a treat in and of itself.
Although the host family spent most of the day driving to different scenic areas of southern Taiwan, I enjoyed every interaction and wished we could spend more than just a day together. In addition to the constant environment of the Chinese language, to everyday usage and correction by native speakers, I feel that even just one day with the host family has greatly improved my understanding of the culture and language. In the beginning of the program, I thought that the language barrier would be hard to overcome, and having conversations with the local people would be full of struggles, but thanks to the hospitality of the Taiwanese people, I feel I am able to overcome the anxiety to be able to communicate my ideas.
AC Study Abroad Need-Based Scholarship Recipient (sponsored by the generous support of the Taiwan Ministry of Education)
Taiwan Intensive Summer Language Program (TISLP) Participant
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU)
Tainan, Taiwan, Summer 2023