Today we visited National Taiwan University. From the moment we arrived, the campus felt vibrant and full of life despite the cloudy weather with tree-lined paths, historic buildings, and bikes everywhere. It had the classic university feel but with a distinctly Taiwanese character.
We met with a group of NTU students who volunteered to guide us around, and they were all so friendly and welcoming. Talking with them gave us a real look into student life here—how their classes work, what they study, where they hang out, and even the stress they feel during exams. It was comforting to realize that even college students who are half-way across the world are going through a lot of the same things as I do as a student in the U.S.
They showed us some of the iconic spots on campus, like the main library, palm tree boulevard, and the Fu Bell. They told us about a superstition about the bell among the students—if you count the number of rings heard from the bell, you will fail your next exam! I found it quite entertaining that they have their own silly myth just like how we believe that if you step on the Bucknell seal on the quad you won’t graduate.
Everyone was so eager to share their experiences and ask us questions about school in the U.S., too. By the end of the visit, I felt like I’d gotten a glimpse into what it would be like to actually study here. It made Taiwan feel a more familiar to me.