Student Profiles

Stephanie Lu, Middlebury College

Kaohsiung is a place that anyone would find hard to forget. For every corner we left traces of laughter in, there is another corner we have yet to explore. During my study abroad experience, Kaohsiung gradually became a home, a safe place where I could nurture not just my language abilities but also myself. I found myself willing to try new things, pushing myself to talk to strangers, and becoming more comfortable with being myself. Outside of Kaohsiung, I also had many new experiences around Taiwan, such as riding an electric wagon through rice fields in Chishang, parachuting off a cliff in Pingtung, singing karaoke with an indigenous community in Yilan, and even snorkeling with sea turtles in Liuqiu! Studying abroad is one of those things that makes you learn more about yourself, and I am grateful that Taiwan was where I could experience that. From sorting recyclables with nuns to eating every part of a fish with marine science students, this program has shown me the many different people and places that make Kaohsiung unique. I truly believe there is something for everyone here! 

And then of course, there’s the academics. For my spring semester, I chose to do an internship with a local news station alongside the Middlebury classes. The internship taught me a lot about media production and office culture in Taiwan, allowing me to draw comparisons to my past experiences in other countries. It also pushed me out of my comfort zone, as I became immersed in a world that I had previously been wholly unaware of. The best part of my academic experience was my one-on-one tutorial, where I examined the literary devices used in modern Chinese and Taiwanese literature, and how they revealed underlying social dynamics and societal oppression. Working with Professor Chiu, I successfully delved deep into my topic, learning more in one semester than I ever could have on my own. Nothing could ever replace what I’ve taken away from my time in Kaohsiung, and I really hope I can come back one day!

Chris Clyne, Middlebury College

My 4 months of studying abroad in Kaohsiung were truly unforgettable. Between the academic growth, Mandarin transformation, cultural immersion, and accumulation of dad lore, I can confidently say that this is the most rewarding experience I’ve had throughout my time at Middlebury. 

On an academic level, it was extremely refreshing to have a semester where I felt deeply interested in each one of my classes, connected with my professors on a personal level, and explored topics both related and unrelated to my major - everything from geopolitics to laboratory research. Course content was certainly demanding, but I never felt like I was completing a meaningless assignment, and I always sufficient free time. Additionally, I absolutely noticed how quickly my efforts were translated into language improvement. 

In terms of Taiwanese culture, beyond the delicious food, fascinating history, and excellent safety and hygiene, what left the deepest impression on me was the warmth of the Taiwanese people themselves. I’m not sure if anywhere else in the world has such an authentically welcoming, loving community. I will truly miss every friend and stranger I met throughout this experience. 

As for dad lore, Taiwan’s natural beauty, vibrant cities, efficient transportation (aunties upon aunties who insist on giving you rides), and most importantly its inherent freedom makes in a playground for adventure. I encourage you to make the most of it. I am extremely grateful for everything I’ve learned and seen throughout my time in Taiwan, and I can confidently say that this program is unlike any other.

Ray Stephens, Middlebury College

I am extremely grateful that I chose to study in Kaohsiung this semester! Beyond just becoming far more acquainted with both feral monkeys and traditional characters, I feel I have made real progress in Mandarin, especially in new and distinct settings. All classes I took were engaging and related to my interests, ranging from contemporary issues and geopolitics to seminars on the development of Chinese characters, and Hakka umbrella-making. A particular highlight was my Taiwanese roommate; he was infinitely helpful in adjusting to Taiwan and extremely patient during my (still ongoing) journey towards accurate pronunciation.

Outside of cute but hungry monkeys everywhere, the campus is conveniently located near public transit, beaches, hiking, and a wide variety of restaurants. Kaohsiung is very easy to get used to, though I found I was discovering new places I wanted to go all the way until the last week in Taiwan. I look forward to coming back to Kaohsiung as soon as I can! 

Aren Lau, Middlebury College

My semester (fall) in sunny, tropical, culturally-rich Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was without a doubt one of the best times of my life. Not only were classes enriching and professors attentive enough to cater to all language skill levels, but things like class field trips around the city and even off of the island broadened my view of both Taiwan, the Sinosphere, and the world. We also developed close, friendly relationships with professors and each other which have lasted to this day. I spent my free time going to the beach right down the hill on campus, venturing into the city for delicious food, visiting local temples, chatting with locals, and hiding snacks from cute but mischievous monkeys with my friends. Because Taiwan is situated right on the crest of Southeast Asia, travel destinations outside the island are also abundant — personally, two friends and I spent our October break in Thailand. Throughout the semester, others went to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Cambodia! Taiwan may be an underexplored Middlebury abroad destination, but by no means is it underwhelming! 

Charlie Fisch, Middlebury College

My semester in Taiwan was one of immense joy and enormous growth. I made wonderful friends who explored Kaohsiung’s many culinary offerings with me, and got to experience much of Taiwan’s beautiful natural landscape and welcoming people. At NSYSU, I challenged myself by taking a Chinese non-fiction literature class for native speakers, which improved my Chinese reading comprehension and comfort with fast-paced classes. In my one-on-one, I also began research on martial law and transitional justice in Taiwan, which has since developed into a senior thesis on transitional justice in the Asia-Pacific.

During my time there, I felt very integrated into Taiwanese society and used this comfort to explore the island. Taiwan has so much to offer, from the art scene in Kaohsiung to vintage stores and nightlife in Taipei to beautiful beaches and hiking trails in Pingtung and Hualien. I got to know the island extremely well, and being able to use my language skills to make connections wherever I went was incredibly special. The program’s small size and the island’s atmosphere made it feel homey, and I hope to find time to return to Taiwan soon!

Jessica Reilly, Tufts University

My time in Kaohsiung was a homecoming, learning experience, and somewhere I met lifelong friends. There is no other program like Middlebury in Taiwan, which pairs you with local roommates and buddies at NSYSU. The skills we learned in the classroom followed us into basketball games, late-night hot pot, and karaoke. The setting itself is hard to beat: an oceanside campus tucked quietly behind the mountains of the island’s third-largest city. Often, a post-class swim at the campus beach is followed by a quick bike ride through the mountain tunnel into the bustling city laden with temples and boba shops. The rest of the island is just as accessible: from weekend trips to Taipei, bike-packing along the east coast, or adventures in the central mountains.

My mom’s side of the family is from Taiwan, so my main reason for choosing Middlebury in Taiwan was to improve my language skills to better connect with them. Along the way, I was lucky enough to experience everyday life and Taiwanese culture alongside our roommates and teachers. Our “Discover Kaohsiung” class familiarized us with local history and Kaohsiung’s many neighborhoods. Another highlight was our overnight trip to Lanyu Island, where we snorkeled, hiked, fished, and cooked dinner alongside indigenous community members. For my One-on-One tutorial, I also chose the topic “Dental Healthcare in Taiwan”. My teacher arranged for me to meet with and shadow local dentists. It was eye-opening to learn how oral health was incorporated into Taiwan’s comprehensive healthcare system. As I start dental school this fall, the holistic approach to patient care is something I will take with me when I enter the clinic. By the end of the semester, I felt more connected to my Taiwanese family not only through language, but through the experiences I shared with my friends throughout my four amazing months in Taiwan.,

Nadji Ngbokoli, Middlebury College

I often describe my time in Taiwan as a harmonious mixture between independence and immersion. Through forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone, what began as a normal study abroad experience, expanded into a much broader opportunity to explore a new setting and a new way to navigate the world. 

The Middlebury program’s academic structure, coupled with the many cultural activities we experienced as a cohort, deepened my understanding of Taiwanese culture and allowed me to apply my knowledge to meaningful contexts. Intimate class sizes, engaging discussions, and frequent individual presentations expanded my capabilities and gave me a greater confidence with the language than I ever had before. Moreover, outside the classroom, our trips to Sun Moon Lake, the Alishan Mountain tea fields, and Meinong District instilled in me a yearning to learn more about the culture. 

Outside of academics and class trips, I spent over a week biking up the island’s east coast. There was much uncertainty going into it– where to stay, what to do, how to do it– but it ended up being the highlight of my semester. I rode for hours each day, stopping in small towns, staying in hostels, and never shying away from an impromptu adventure with the many friendly locals I met along the way. I hiked to a mountain top with my hostel hosts in Taitung, rode my bike with a “tour guide” through the rice fields of Chishang, and swam in a little-known swimming hole with a motorcyclist in Hualien. And when I lost phone service in the rural Luye township, an elderly gentleman didn’t hesitate to give me directions to my destination in the next town over. All of this goes to show how welcoming the people are!

I mention all of these excursions, but one doesn’t even have to leave Kaohsiung or the surrounding NSYSU area to have a fruitful experience. Students can spend a day on the campus’ beach surfing, visit the plethora of night markets nearby, or spend an infinite amount of time meandering through Kaohsiung’s art district. And if you’re brave enough, you could try and eat a sandwich on the mountain trails behind the dorms before the monkeys get to it first! 

Ultimately, the program in Taiwan challenged me, welcomed me, and reshaped how I approach new environments, and I think future students will feel the same way.

Rachel Dozier, Wofford College

My semester abroad with Middlebury in Taiwan was such a transformative experience for me. It not only pushed me academically in the classroom, but also helped me truly find myself. My Chinese level improved so much in those four months, and I left Taiwan at an Advance Low level. The program created an environment where I felt comfortable exploring the city and learning new things. I was able to meet so many new people and have so many friendships from this semester that I will cherish forever. There are two highlights of my time in Taiwan with this program that I wanted to spotlight here.

The first was our semester trip we took to Lanyu Island. It was such an amazing experience. We were able to meet with indigenous locals who taught us their language, how to catch fish the traditional way, how to cook local cuisine, and even allowed us to farm taro with them. Even though this trip was only four days out of the four months we were in the program, it was such a rewarding time that I will not forget anytime soon. 

The second was our Friday Discover Kaohsiung travel classes. All of these classes allowed us to explore Kaohsiung in an educational and fun way with our classmates. This not only helped me connect with where I was living, but also made me feel more comfortable in exploring the city on my own time. Assignments like becoming tours guides for my classmates and a scavenger hunt race with our buddies were such fun times that I will not soon forget. 

The time I spent in Kaohsiung with Middlebury really changed my life. It was such an amazing experience, and I recommend this program to everyone who is considering it! 

Devansh Dutta, Williams College

My four months at Middlebury’s program in Kaohsiung have been invaluable in enhancing my Chinese language comprehension. I took several engaging classes that provided insights into a wide range of topics, including the culture and history of Kaohsiung, as well as the political complexities of cross-strait relations. One of the highlights was my one-on-one class, where I explored a topic of personal interest: economic relationships across China, Taiwan and South Asia.

Outside of the classroom, we were all paired with a local roommate and spoke exclusively in Chinese, which helped me develop a deeper understanding of the language in everyday, casual settings. The program also offered the opportunity to explore Kaohsiung and Taiwan. All of us in the program made the most of the city’s cultural and historical abundance; we also frequently took weekend trips to nearby cities. During our spring break, I set off on a solo bike trip from Kaohsiung to Taipei, exploring towns and landscapes along Taiwan’s west coast and engaging with locals along the way.

The program provided a truly immersive experience and is an incredible opportunity to strengthen one’s Chinese skills

Marcus Helm, Middlebury College

My time in Kaohsiung is certainly something I’ll never forget. I made so many great friends and experienced so much of the culture in a town that feels very genuine and true to itself. Academically, learning traditional Chinese characters is a challenge that I think is worthwhile for anyone studying this language, and helped me take a deeper dive into things like Classical Chinese and literature. In addition, the Taiwanese accent of Chinese is incredibly unique, and is something I really missed when I left Taiwan. 

The NSYSU campus is located right on the beach and has breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Also, the MRT (metro), light rail, and system of public bikes make travelling around the city super easy, whether to find food to eat or to see a new museum. The local tea culture is something I also really appreciated, as while Taiwan grows world class tea leaves and has a lot of tea traditions worth learning about, bubble tea is a modern take on this heritage that I also really enjoyed. I feel lucky I got to experience Middlebury in Taiwan, and hope that one day I’ll eventually be back!

Zinzi Steele, Middlebury College

Studying abroad in Kaohsiung was not only an amazing way to push my Chinese progress forward, but also was an incredible opportunity to explore a new country and part of the world. During my time in Kaohsiung, I was able to make great strides in my Chinese both in and out of the classroom. From rigorous and engaging Chinese classes, communicating with my roommate solely in Chinese, and immersing myself in the city and culture, my ability to communicate in Chinese improved daily.

Having the opportunity to explore Kaohsiung and the country of Taiwan was an experience I will never forget. Taiwan has such a diverse variety of places and terrains to travel to: big cities, vast mountain ranges, beautiful beaches, and more! I loved traveling to many different cities and towns all over Taiwan, and getting to bike, hike, swim, and explore in different cities and destinations outside of Kaohsiung. While I spent the bulk of my time in Taiwan, Kaohsiung also served as a great launching pad to travel relatively easily internationally. While abroad, I was able to travel to Seoul, Phuket, Tokyo, and Hanoi, all trips I feel very lucky to have taken and will never forget! 

One of my favorite parts of my time abroad was joining a CrossFit gym in Kaohsiung. At the gym, I was fully immersed in a Chinese speaking environment. Being in this setting was so special, and I learned so much by taking the classes all in Chinese and was able to connect with a new demographic of people in Taiwan with a shared interest and find a community outside of school. If you choose to study at Middlebury in Taiwan, I highly encourage you to find a community in Kaohsiung beyond the program and university; it really will give you a stronger connection to the city and its people. 

While linguistically and culturally challenging at times, studying in Kaohsiung was such a special experience, and students have great professors and leadership supporting them along the way. Looking back, my semester in Kaohsiung was the experience of a lifetime and will remain one of my most unique and amazing experiences

Lucy Patton, Middlebury College

The opportunity to study abroad in Kaohsiung, Taiwan was truly amazing. This program allowed me to advance my Chinese skills in so many different ways in such a short period of time. The opportunity to take classes entirely in Chinese was challenging but ultimately super rewarding. It’s an amazing feeling looking back and thinking about how much content I learned about Cross-Strait Relations, the culture of Kaohsiung and how business is conducted, entirely in Chinese. 

In addition to my classes, I loved exploring a completely new place. The efficient public transportation system in Kaohsiung allowed me to explore so much of the city. My weekends were filled with trips around Taiwan, and I feel so lucky that I was able to experience the bustling city of Taipei, the scenic mountains of Alishan, the beautiful coastline of Taidong and so much more. I even had the opportunity to travel to many amazing places outside of Taiwan, such as Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

The program staff and professors were super supportive throughout the entire semester, and because it was such a small program we were able to become so close in such a short period of time. Studying abroad through Middlebury’s program in Taiwan was such an amazing experience and I would recommend this program to anyone looking to practice their Chinese language skills, meet some amazing people, and explore a new place. 

Rachel Peterson, Spelman College

My time in Kaohsiung with Middlebury was transformative, to say the least. Not only was I able to meet so many amazing people through the program, but I also gained a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and improved my fluency in the language. While challenging, the language pledge pushed my language abilities further than I thought possible in just 4 months. An aspect of the academic program I sincerely enjoyed was my One-on-One topic, where I explored similarities and differences between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine. Exploring a topic of personal interest allowed me to create more meaningful connections with my professor there.

While the academics were stimulating, having the ability to relax by the beach or study at a cafe really amplified my time in Taiwan. The scenery is stunningly beautiful, and the open access to the ocean made all the hot days so much more enjoyable. I would spend some time studying by the beach, learning to body surf, and soaking up the sun. I also enjoyed exploring many late-night cafes around the city of Kaohsiung, which all had their own unique ambiance. Kaohsiung may not be the most bustling city, but there is something for everyone if you are willing to look for it. I recommend this program for anyone looking to deeply immerse themselves in Taiwanese culture and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.