Written by Victor Park (Yale University), Student Correspondent for CET Taiwan, Summer 2026
My phone alarm went off, loud and sharp, pulling me out of sleep.
Usually, that alarm sound would bother me. But here in Taiwan, it feels different. It does not bother me as much anymore because every day starts with a new adventure. Even the small routines, like walking out of my room in the morning or deciding what to eat for breakfast, feel exciting because I know I will experience something new.
Many of my mornings start with 蛋餅 near NTU. It has quickly become one of my favorite breakfast foods in Taiwan. After breakfast, I head to Chinese class. When I step inside the classroom, my teacher welcomes us warmly, and the day begins. At first, learning traditional characters, 繁體字, felt intimidating. The characters looked more complicated than what I was used to, and I was worried that I would fall behind. However, as I kept learning, I began to appreciate them more. Through traditional characters, I feel like I am not only studying a language, but also getting closer to the history and culture behind Chinese characters.
After class, it is lunch time. Many of us either go to the NTU cafeteria or eat outside near campus. Personally, I love eating out in Taiwan because every meal feels special. Sometimes, I joke that every meal feels like the “last supper” because the food is amazing every single time.
One of my most memorable meals was when I tried Cantonese food for the first time. Taiwan has allowed me to experience so many different Asian cultures through food, and this meal was a perfect example. Even though there were only three of us, we ordered six dishes and somehow finished everything. The food was that good.
Also, the food on the right is from the cafeteria buffet, where the price is measured by weight. There are more than 50 options, and that makes every meal feel exciting because I never really know what my plate will taste like until I try it. Sometimes the combination turns out random, but somehow, that makes it even more fun.
My afternoons are filled with a variety of experiences, from traveling around Taiwan with local roommates to participating in my internship. In this post, I want to focus on some of the activities I joined with my local roommates and other CET friends.
One of the places we visited was Wulai District, 烏來. Wulai is known for its hot springs, beautiful nature, and hiking trails. As we walked around, every step felt new and adventurous. The scenery was beautiful, but what made the trip more meaningful was the time we spent together. We talked, laughed, and created memories that I know I will remember for a long time.
Even though our Chinese is not perfect, that actually made the experience more special. Sometimes we had to slow down, repeat ourselves, or use simple words to explain what we meant. But instead of making the conversation awkward, it added more flavor to the memory. We were not just practicing Chinese from a textbook. We were using it in real life, with real people, in real situations.
Having local roommates is one of the most important parts of CET Taiwan. They help us experience Taiwan in a more local and personal way. Without them, I probably would not have known about many of these places or understood the small cultural details that make each experience meaningful.
During the trip, we also talked about why each of us wanted to learn another language. One of my local roommates shared that he is eager to learn English because he wants to travel around the world. Hearing that made me think more deeply about why I am learning Chinese. Language is not only about memorizing vocabulary or grammar. It is about connecting with people, understanding their stories, and seeing the world from a different perspective.
Another fun experience was going to karaoke with my local roommates and CET friends. We sang until our voices became hoarse and learned some of the most famous Taiwanese songs. Although I could not fully understand every lyric, I could still feel the emotion in the songs. That was one of the most interesting parts. Even when I did not understand every word, I could still understand the feeling behind the music.
Moments like these remind me why studying abroad is so valuable. CET Taiwan is not only about taking Chinese classes. It is also about using what we learn outside the classroom. Whether I am ordering food, talking with local roommates, traveling to a new district, or singing Taiwanese songs at karaoke, I am constantly learning.
These extracurricular experiences help me balance academics and daily life. More importantly, they help me realize that language learning happens everywhere. It happens in the classroom, but it also happens at breakfast shops, lunch tables, train stations, hiking trails, and karaoke rooms.
Every day in Taiwan feels different, and that is what makes this experience so meaningful. The same alarm that used to bother me now reminds me that another day of learning, exploring, and connecting is about to begin.