Refilwe Mashiane

Quality Education In An Environmentally Friendly Country

I went to a high school where I was taught Mandarin by Taiwanese teachers who always encouraged me to look into pursuing a degree in Taiwan. The competitive level of studying, commendable education system, and the high potential for independent and innovative business opportunity growth also attracted me to come and study in Taiwan.

Not to mention that Taiwan is also a clean and environmentally friendly country, which is an aspect that I appreciate as participating in sustainable activities is a factor that I deeply took into consideration.

I want to pursue a degree and build a career in and around the accounting profession as there are many aspects and courses in the degree that I can integrate into different industries. After thorough research, I chose NTPU because of the impressive ranking for being in the top 10 of the best universities in Taiwan for Accountancy and the College of Business being ranked the top 5% in the world.

Getting Around Taiwan

I was privileged enough to study and learn Mandarin in my high school in South Africa, where I engaged with the language and culture. It was a great stepping stone that I needed in coming to Taiwan for me to communicate easier with locals and get around from place to place.

I love the campus lake and NTPU rock, where I can clear my mind after class on the bench or the grass, read a book, take a walk, or enjoy the view.

Another place I adore is the school library. The library provides a quiet and spacious place for students to study and complete assignments. The beautiful architecture accompanied by the school history room, private study rooms, and discussion rooms for meetings and group projects is all worthwhile.

I enjoy going to the campus gym where my friend and I work out during the week. I also enjoy going out and exploring the famous sightseeing places, such as the temples, bridges, old streets, hiking routes, and my personal favorite trying new and delicious food (小吃) at the various night markets around Taiwan.

Hardworking, Affordable, Flavourful: A Wholehearted Recommendation

The hard work atmosphere that roams around, and the discipline that students have when studying all encourages me to work harder. The students and other locals that are intrigued about you and your country and the reason for choosing to live in their country and the overall informal mutual learning is something that I love about Taiwan.

Affordable cost of living for a student, and the convenience of the many cheaper transport options that can get you to your desired destination are two things that really stand out. Life in Taiwan is extremely convenient from the different food and drink options to the transportation methods. After the MRT, my favourite mode of transport is the YouBikes. They are cheap, easy to use, and transport you to your destination quickly, and efficiently, all whilst being environmentally friendly.

In addition, coming from a country with a high crime rate, Taiwan is one of the best options for me to move to because of how safe the country is.

I also believe that studying in Taiwan will enhance my future opportunities in the work industry as I work on perfecting my Mandarin speaking skills in the workplace in hopes of connecting with companies and other industries.

I would recommend all the different food and tea flavours, and the sightseeing places, such as the temples, bridges, museums, and national parks that the country has and provides. I would also recommend that my friends and family come and live in Taiwan as they can expand their thinking due to this country having such a diverse culture and having the chance to meet many people from other countries and continents.

Looking Forward

I expect to gain as much local and international work experience and training in the accounting and business practice, while also sustaining the diplomatic and economic ties between South Africa and Taiwan.