Robin John Wilson

From Exchange to Permanent Study: Falling in Love with Taiwan 

I originally came to Taiwan on a 1-year exchange to study Mandarin. But after arriving, I quickly fell in love with the place and didn't want to leave. I couldn't stand to leave the nice weather and the great friends I'd made, and the cultures and languages of Taiwan really interested me. I felt there was still so much more to discover and so I decided to apply for university so I could stay. Undertaking studies in a language other than my mother tongue was also a challenge that appealed to me.

Choosing Feng Chia University: Familiarity and Positive Experiences

My initial language exchange took place at Feng Chia University’s Center for Chinese Language and Culture. I liked the location, already had many friends who studied here, and from them heard that university life at this school was pretty good. This on top of the fact I already knew my way around the place made it an ideal choice for me.

My favourite places on campus are the library and the sports centre. There is no place where I can concentrate better than the library, and the facilities provided there mean I can do most of what needs to get done without having to leave the building. I often go to the sports centre with friends to play recreational sports. I like the variety of activities you can take part in and the fact that it's so affordable.

A big challenge for me is finding the time to have a good social life while balancing university and part-time work. My schedule is pretty full most days, so it can be hard to make new friends or try new activities. My classmates have helped a great deal with this, though. They are so welcoming and continue to invite me to activities even when I often can't attend.

Mandarin Proficiency: From Communication to Mastery

The thing I love most about studying in Taiwan is the challenge of doing it in Mandarin. It's such an interesting experience. It obviously comes with its challenges but the sense of achievement I feel when I complete a project in another language is quite strong. It's also interesting to see and compare the education styles of here and my home country.

When applying for university here, I studied for and sat the TOCFL Mandarin exam. I managed to achieve a C1 level score which was higher than my initial goal of B2, and I was very happy about it. So, I could communicate in Mandarin fairly well before I came to Taiwan, but my time at the language centre at Feng Chia really helped me improve leaps and bounds. I can now communicate with ease and very rarely don't understand what is being said to me. Now my challenge is trying to keep up with slang and modern words that I haven't studied before.

Embracing an Active Lifestyle

I enjoy being active. Whether that means playing sports with friends, hiking, cycling, or just going on walks around the city and in public parks, I just like to stay moving. The weather in Taiwan, being much warmer than Scotland, makes me more likely to spend time outside, and I think this has a really positive impact on my physical and mental health.

Taiwan is a small place but is full of things to do. For foodies there are countless dishes to try, for outdoorsy people there are many mountains to hike or beaches to swim at. For people interested in culture, Taiwan not only has its temples, but also a rich variety of indigenous cultures that can be explored.

I was lucky enough to experience Lunar New Year with a Taiwanese family and see personally how local people celebrate. This meant trying lots of Taiwanese food I'd never tried before, listening to lots of Taigi (Taiwanese), and observing people going to the temple to baibai (worship).

Future Aspirations: Building Bridges Between Taiwan and Scotland

After graduation, I hope to continue staying in Taiwan and eventually open my own business. I'd like to do something that allows me to build a bridge between here and Scotland, maybe encouraging travel from there to here and vice-versa, creating a greater understanding of our two peoples' histories, cultures, and languages.