After my freshman year the summer of 2017 I studied abroad in Taiwan for two months. The program was not Ohio State organized, rather it was a private scholarship program. I, among fifty-four other American students, were accepted into the scholarship program and we studied together at the National Cheng Gong University for the months of July and August.
Although this was my second time studying abroad, as I had spent May in Mexico with my Ohio State peers, studying in Taiwan was a big step for me in terms of responsibility and independence. It was my first time flying by myself internationally. Once I landed in Taipei, the northern capital of Taiwan, I had to figure out a way to get on the subway and then the bus to where my university was in Tainan. During my stay in Taiwan, I travelled once to Hong Kong and maneuvered the subway and taxis from Tainan to the southern city of Khaosiung on my own. Once again in order to return to the United States at the end of the program, I boarded a bus at midnight for the Taipei Airport and made my 7 AM flight to San Francisco.
My experience abroad not only taught me about Chinese language and Taiwanese culture, it taught me about myself and my previously undiscovered strengths and abilities, it made me new friends and changed how I see the world. The trip reminded me of the things that I really love, and helped me to decide to pursue a Chinese language major at Ohio State. 
