My study/research experience at Taiwan

My stay in Taiwan can be described as pretty much unexpected experience. In March 2007 I was an employee of an international research institute and a student of a first year doctoral programme at the Institute of Political Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences. I was planning to conduct study on east Asian matters as I am very much interested in that topic. If somebody had told me at that time that since September I shall start studies in Taiwan, I wouldn’t have believed it.
ICDF scholarship came just in time and my studies on National Chengchi University in Taipei became a fact. It is my great honor to be a part of the oldest and the most prestigeous university in the field of political science in Taiwan. As I am doing an International Master’s Programme in Taiwan Studies it is especially important for me to have an access to all exeptional specialists as well as publications gathered in several on campus and off campus libraries. Not mentioning the possibility to learn mandarin in a native speaking community – something that I have always dreamt of.
Since arrival almost 3 months ago I went through an ICDF orientation course, started very interesting programme courses and participated in several trips and events. I am doing my best to sink into this extraordinary culture.
Starting from the ICDF orientation course, I have to admit that I had a problem with the ceremony “Finding Confucius’ Voice in Taiwan”, especially saluting the professors. Surprisingly however, that became one of the most valuable and appreciated experiences. Another thing worth remembering and mentioning here was the lecture on Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Thanks to Dr. Dustin Wu Chien-Hsan we were able not only to listen about medical techniques but also experience acupuncture needles. I might even visit Dr. Wu another time. We were learning lion dance and Taiwanese dance, which appeared very useful for my further studies in Cultural and Ethnic class.
After exhausting and wonderful orientation the time came to move to universities. In my case –國立政治大學 – and the routine begun. I started to learn mandarin, which fascinates me more and more every day. I can even order a coffee in 7/11 in chinese which is amazing considering the fact that pronunciation makes the most of a problem for me. Therefore, I managed to arrange a Taiwanese friend to be my language exchange.
I also experience change in studying system here in Taiwan, which is totally different than in my country. Majority of my classes here are seminars and not lectures and I have to prepare many more papers and presentations, which I appreciate, as I can learn more and focus on the matters of my particular interest.
From cultural experience, thanks to ICDF, I could participate in the aboriginal festival in Miaoli. I was also invited to a Government Information Office event called: “Depicting the Times in Song and Film”. Thanks to it, I realized how fascinating Taiwan’s aboriginal culture is, especially music. I also did several trips on my own: to Danshuei, where inspired by the Taiwan’s History class I visited a historic site of the fort San Domingo. For the same reason I visited historic fortifications in Keelung: Gongzih Liao Fort, Dawulun Fort, Ershawan Fort, Baimiwong Fort and Shihciouling Fort. I also went to Wulai, Yeliu and Sansia.