By Faye Hagedon

After a week of introductions to all the courses, classes have officially started at NCCU. I was very happy about the opportunity to enroll in some courses that are outside of the field that I usually study, and generally excited to start learning again. For the sake of giving you an idea of what it’s like to study in Taipei, I will take you with me as I spend a day as a newly arrived student at NCCU!

▲Because my room is not on campus but in the city, my commute is rather long. The airconditioning of the MRT however, paired with its punctuality and amazing view, makes up for a lot. I usually bring a book to read or listen to music, and the time flies by.

I’m usually quite early (I blame my German and Dutch upbringing for this), so I often have some spare time at the campus before my classes start. My first stop is typically at the coffeestop, to fuel my ongoing caffeine addiction. An addiction which has proven very easy to keep up with in Taipei, because there are coffeeshops and convenience stores at literally every corner.

Most classes at NCCU, at least the ones which I’m following, are given in regular classrooms instead of lecture halls. I like that this makes the classes feel more personal and interactive, and in the breaks it's easier to start up a conversation with your neighbors. So when class finishes, we often try out one of the restaurants around campus together.

▲Vegetarian hotpot!

Finding my way as a vegetarian in Taipei has been easier than expected. There are quite some vegetarian restaurants and restaurants with vegetarian options, also around campus. And the convenience stores also have a couple of vegetarian snacks and foods available. A little tip for my fellow vegetarians; Family Mart generally has the most vegetarian options in the fresh food aisle!

After getting another coffee, it’s already time for my afternoon class. You would think that having lived my entire life in The Netherlands would have prepared me better for the rain, but I appear to be the only one on the entire campus who forgot to bring an umbrella. I definitely learned my lesson, because the rain here is much stronger than I’m used to and it kept pouring for hours. Thankfully a friend let me borrow hers:)

▲After only one week of classes I’ve already established my favorite library. I’m the kind of person who can’t concentrate at home, so if I still need to do any homework at the end of the day you can find me there catching up with my readings!

▲Close to this library there is actually a hiking route, from which you can reach the Chih Nan Temple. The hike is not that long, although steep, and you get rewarded  with the most beautiful view. If you ever have a free morning or afternoon to spend, I definitely recommend you to do it! And if you don’t feel like walking the whole way down again, you can use the Maokong Gondola to bring you back to the Zoo:)

On September 17th, we didn’t have classes, because it was the annual moon festival. However, I would still like to take you along with me in this experience! I had never heard about it before, but learned about its significance in worshiping the moon and being grateful for the harvest. The celebration stems from a legend that is rooted in Chinese mythology and centers around Chang'e, the moon goddess. There are many traditions and ways to spend your time surrounding this day. It’s customary to give friends and family mooncakes, watch the moon and eat pomelos. I had never tried the local pomelo fruit before, but the closest thing I know that I can compare it to is a grapefruit. A Taiwanese local then told me about a tradition for children to make a hat out of the pomelo’s skin. Although sadly I forgot to take a picture of it, I urge you to look it up and can promise you it works surprisingly well! 

▲In the evening we decided to go to the riverside and organize a barbecue, as a friend of mine had heard about the fact that it’s one of the more modern traditions belonging to the moon festival. When we arrived at Dajia park, it was already full of people. Until late after dark everyone sat in little groups around their own barbecue, all huddled together under the Dazhi bridge.

Looking back on my first two weeks at NCCU, I’m filled with excitement for what’s still to come. Between exploring Taipei, getting into my classes, and learning about the local culture, I’m starting to feel more and more at home every day!

Living in a city where old traditions mix with modern life has been such a fun experience for me. From trying out new bubble tea places to barbecuing under a bridge, these little moments remind me why I came to Taiwan: to experience as many new things as possible. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this journey takes me, and I’ll be sure to share more of it with you soon!