One of the most fun parts of coming to Taiwan has been that one of my best friends has moved to Thailand for a semester abroad only a week after I came here. This means that we get to compare all kinds of random experiences. Visa applications, food, climate, apartment layout, traffic, classroom styles, honor and shame culture phenomena, and the feeling of helplessness when not knowing how to communicate across a language barrier.
Granted, I have it much easier in so many ways than she has had it. I have some knowledge of the Chinese language, I have had exposure over the last three years to Chinese culture even if it has sometimes been minimal, I have some friends here, I have family here, and I am here with my husband who is a Taiwanese native. Last but not least, I have been here before.
My friend in her first week had no one to talk to in English, no one to give her recommendations for food to buy, couldn't even figure out how to buy toilet paper for her apartment. Let's just say she has had some challenges that I have not had to deal with. Even traveling to Romania I would stay with people I already knew, or was at least connected with.
But now that her classes have begun things are better. She has connections with other people, is no longer confused about how to register for classes, and has begun to fall into a regular routine. I'm happy for her because there is some stability and now she has some human connections.
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