Written by M. Usman Javed
Department of Physics

Dear All ! To conglomerate my experience of life and study in Taiwan I have chosen this forum to project for all new comers or those who are planning to come to Taiwan for purpose of visit, study or business. My name is M. Usman Javed and I am PhD degree student in Department of Physics, National Taiwan University (NTU). I belong from Pakistan and master in Quantum Physics from National University of Science and Technology MISIS Moscow, Russia.

Taiwan is country with historical vicissitudes which showcase itself from every aspect of life. The sense of competition and sovereignty is the spirit of every Taiwanese living on the island .The contrast of urban and rural life from north to south geographically demonstrate diverse cultural exhibition. The cultural inconsistencies prevalent in Taipei can make it difficult for expats to carve out a niche in the city Still, once expats become used to their surroundings they will find ample things to see and do in Taipei and get a better idea of the kind of lifestyle that they want in Taiwan's capital.

Studies on the other hand follows the similar fashion by offering wide heterogeneity in selection of Arts and science such as Oceanography to American literature, Astronomy to acoustic crafts, social science to agriculture and many more. There are number of Universities each leading in research and academics racing to become world renown institutes by inviting students and scholars across the globe for cultural exchange and scientific learning. Particularly my University NTU also conduct international conferences workshops and seminar where scientist and researcher share their research and scientific ideas with students. Research environment in Taiwan is industrial which means there is immense opportunities for foreign investment in terms of industrial growth. Apart from studies school also offers extracurricular activities and there are many clubs to join and learn such as NTU golf club, Mountain climbing club, calligraphy club, cycling club, language club, judo karate club, Music club, Proto type club, machine learning club, novel reading club, cinema club, arts club and etc. Other opportunities includes volunteer services as well as take part in designed program for betterment of self and service of community such as international Companion learning, NTU ambassador, also English tutorship on campus to help other students who are seeking cultural exchange and skill development. Library and Gymnasium are state of the art and indite with literary material from every walk of life.

For sightseeing and nature exploration a plethora of parks, nature reserves and rolling hills sit on the city’s edge. Further away, deserted beaches and countryside are begging to be explored during weekend breaks. The food culture is rich and unique, and shopping in Taipei is an experience in itself, whether at major malls or night markets. I found life style in Taiwan convenient when it comes to travelling shopping and food. Shopping in Taipei will delight the discerning bargain hunters. The historical districts in central and west Taipei have many small stores lining the bustling, narrow streets, especially around the main station. Eastern Taipei has more open spaces and features shopping malls and large department stores. A number of these can also be found in the cosmopolitan Xinyi District, which is home to Taipei 101.

Visiting a night market is a quintessential Taiwanese experience and a popular leisure activity. Held outdoors, the endless food stalls, game arcades and trinket peddlers create a carnival atmosphere. While they aren’t known for especially good quality, bargains are easy to find. Night markets are more than a shopping destination. They are an entire cultural experience that reveals much of the city’s hidden and traditional character. As the sun sets, thousands of stalls open to sell everything from pets to DIY tools and paper fans. Markets run from 6pm to around 10.30pm. While some markets operate in the streets, others make use of purpose-built open areas. Some of the most popular markets are Shilin Night Market which has been open since 1899, the Raohe Street Night Market and Snake Alley, where patrons can watch snake handlers or, for the brave, try snake meat. To add further Taipei transport is also very easy to understand and travel through entire city with Buses, MRT, Speed rail and Ubike service for bicycle riders. An useful smartphone application for all sort of transport is “Taipei Bus tracker” and available on play store can avoid any misconduct during local traveling.

To conclude Life and study in Taipei is non less then living in any quality cosmopolitan city of the modern times world. Technology accustomed by general public while balance for ancient culture and present day architecture is profound. All in all the Taiwan welcomes everyone to make their own story.

Personal Note: In Loving Memory of my brother Muhammad Bilal Javed who has passed while in quest of higher education and pursuing his dream.

Hello everyone, my name is Pu-Zhao Kow (邱普照). I am a Malaysian Overseas Chinese. Now is the seventh year I study in Taiwan as an international student. When I was in Chung Hua High School Seremban (芙蓉中華中學), which is a Chinese independent high school, I heard about Taiwan’s advantage in all aspects. I choose to study in Taiwan, because Taiwan is globally competitive, and the tuition fees and living costs are affordable. I first arrived in Taiwan on September 2012, and enrolled as an undergraduate student in department of Mathematics of Cheng Kung University (NCKU, 成功大學), Tainan (臺南). I spent 3.5 years to complete my bachelor degree, 1.5 years to get my master degree. After that, I continue studying my PhD in NCKU. Finally, I transfer to Taiwan University (NTU, 臺灣大學) on September 2018 to continue my study, and currently I am a first year PhD student in Mathematics.

My life in NTU is quite busy. Usually, I spend my whole time in my office to study and doing research. However, I still have some free time in the holidays. Usually, I play table tennis in the morning of the holidays, and spend my half day to continue studying or doing research. This motivates me to study hard, because I never go outside myself. However, I occasionally walk around in Taiwan with my friends. The place which I have the deepest impression is Liuqiu (小琉球) in Pingtung (屏東). The scenery there is very beautiful.

Since my native language is Chinese, I have not encountered many problems in daily life. In addition, Taiwan has a good social order. Moreover, the pace of living in Taiwan is not so fast. So, Taiwan is an ideal place for studying and living. Moreover, the culture in Taiwan is very similar with Malaysian Chinese Hokkein (福建), so it is very interesting to find the difference between the cultures. For example, the wanton noodle (餛飩麵，或“雲吞麵”) in Taiwan is totally different from Malaysia. The wanton noodle in Malaysia is more similar with Hong Kong’s one. The food in Taiwan which I most recommend is the braised pork on rice (滷肉飯) and the milkfish (虱目魚) cuisine, you can try it in Tainan or Kaohsiung (高雄). Also, if you want to known about Taiwan’s history, I recommend Tainan city, because there are some historical sites. Some of the famous historical spot in Tainan is the Confucius Temple (孔廟), Koxinga Shrine (延平郡王祠), Chihkan Tower (Fort Provintia, 赤崁樓) in the downtown, also the Anping fort (Fort Zeelandia, 安平古堡) and the Mazu Temple (媽祖廟) in Anping district.

Finally, I would like to say that, the most impressed me is the Taiwanese kindness and friendliness, or we can say, “The most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is the Taiwanese”. In the future, I would like to stay in Taiwan for working, if possible, I would like to settle in Taiwan.

Hello, my name is Brian Scanlon and I am currently completing my first semester as a PhD student in the Department of Geography at NTU. Unlike many international students, I had been living in Taiwan for several years before beginning my studies. I am originally from Seattle, Washington, USA where I worked as a regional technician for the US Census Bureau. I first came to Taiwan in the spring of 2011 for a two-week vacation. It turned out to be a fateful trip; I immediately fell in love with the island of Taiwan and upon returning home began making plans to relocate here. From 2012, I have called Taiwan home and am very grateful to now be a part of NTU’s international student community.

There were several factors that led to my decision to relocate to Taiwan. First, and perhaps the most unique, is a cultural trait that Taiwanese refer to as人情味. Although it is not easily translatable to English, I would refer to it as a human warmth towards everyday relations. After travelling throughout Taiwan on my first stay, it was clear that the people of Taiwan are what make it such a wonderful place to travel and live. My wife is Korean, and as a foreign couple, we often reflect on the warmth of Taiwanese culture as a primary reason we are proud to call Taiwan home. I would be remiss if I failed to mention the wonderfully diverse food culture that exists here in Taipei. After many years, I still consistently discover new and surprising dishes. Some of my favorites include xiao long bao soup dumplings, Chongqing style hot and sour starch-noodles, and of course the many delicious options served up late-night in Taiwan’s world famous night-markets.

The island’s unique geography and well connected transportation systems offer international students and travelers convenient access its rich natural spaces; whether it be the beach for surfing, or mountains for hiking. As an avid surfer, I find Taiwan’s east coast beaches of Taitung to be the crown jewel of its natural recreation spaces. I have also come to enjoy the wonderful hot springs that exist throughout the island. So much so, I eventually relocated to an apartment on the southern edge of Xindian, in order to be nearer to the Wulai hot spring area.

As a student, I have received tremendous support from the faculty and institutions of National Taiwan University. My background is in economics and geography; I feel very much at home in NTU’s Department of Geography, under the guidance of my wonderful advisor, Dr. Jinn-yu Xu. I feel fortunate to be a part of such a productive and intellectually stimulating department for my graduate studies. Taiwan should be very proud of their flagship campus. It provides students with excellent resources including the largest library in Taiwan, as well as a comfortable environment to spend your time. International students who choose Taiwan and NTU for their studies will be well rewarded for their decision, and I am sure will experience the same sense of warmth and wonder that my wife and I still feel after many years.