Something I found strikingly different in Taiwan compared to any other country I’ve visited is the deep love and respect for tea. When traveling in Taiwan, tea is far more common than water, soda, or juice. In fact, tea is so ingrained in everyday life that a teashop is often more accessible than a fast-food…
Category: Taiwan: Field Study
Alishan National Forest
We visited the mountains of Alishan during our trip and saw a variety of beautiful scenes, from 15-foot-wide trees to mile-wide valleys. What I found most interesting about this forest was the culture and reverence surrounding it. In Alishan, many of the trees are considered sacred and are thought to bring nourishment to the land…
Raohe Street Market
While wandering aimlessly through Taipei City, my roommate and I came across a small street market hidden within the alleys. We decided to explore the market and were overwhelmed by the variety of food and their accompanying scents. We then tried to find a spot for dinner and perused several menus. Instantly, a restaurant stood…
National Palace Museum
Visiting the Taiwan National Palace Museum has been the highlight of my trip so far. As an avid fan of museums, I have visited many across the United States and Europe. This museum featured many items that stood out to me both for their immaculate level of detail and the painstaking processes required to create…
Taiwan post #4
Having already experienced Taipei’s MRT system earlier that week, my roommate and I felt confident enough to plan our own adventure. Armed with our previous experience and EasyCards, we independently navigated the metro system to explore the Yongkang shopping district. The clean, efficient MRT system that had seemed so foreign just days before now felt…
A Day in Taiwan: Part IV
In perhaps one of those beautiful parts of Taiwan, you can find Alishan. Deep in the mountains, in the tallest of peaks, there’s a native village known for their traditional food, flavorful tea, and ancestral roots. Being native Cuban, Taíno, I couldn’t help but feel at home here. It’s amazing to find a culture that’s…
A Day in Taiwan: Part III
Perhaps one of the best ways to reflect on another’s culture is to immerse yourself in theirs! Jump into it not knowing what to expect. And that’s exactly what I did while I was there. If you find yourself wanting to know more about Taiwan, venture out into the city! In Taipei, there’s lots of…
A Day in Taiwan: Part II
One of the best things you can do in Taiwan is visit their beautiful scenery and their beautiful national parks. Take Alishan National Park, for example. Here, you can see some of the oldest trees in the world — some even older than 2000 years old! And let me tell you, you’ll be awestruck at…
Taiwan post #3
Taiwan’s culinary landscape opened my eyes to flavors and textures I’d never experienced before. Even something as simple as orange juice told a different story here – sweeter and smoother than its American counterpart, with less pulp and a more delicate flavor profile that reflected a different approach to this everyday drink.What struck me most…
Taiwan post #2
High in Taiwan’s misty mountains, Alishan offered more than just scenic beauty – it became a lesson in human connection transcending language barriers. In the indigenous village, despite our inability to communicate through words, the residents’ warmth and hospitality spoke volumes. Their welcoming smiles and gestures created bridges where verbal communication couldn’t exist, proving that…