This morning started off a bit differently we woke up early and has class and managed to write two essays before heading out for the day. It felt like a lot of pressure because we only had 50 minutes but I had a a lot to say so it wasn’t that bad. Later we visited National Taiwan University (NTU), which is the most prestigious university in the country and the alma mater of Professor Chen. It was the day after their graduation, so the campus still had that celebratory atmosphere flowers, decorations, and proud families taking photos.
What I noticed immediately was how massive and beautiful the campus was. Wide green spaces, clean modern buildings, and so many facilities. It felt more like a small city than a school. We passed by their sports facilities, including squash courts and a table tennis area, which showed just how well-resourced the university is. One of our guides was student named Alisha, who studies Political Science the same as me. We ended up having a really interesting conversation about the differences between our university systems. She explained how difficult the entrance exam is to get into NTU. It’s extremely competitive, and students prepare for years with intense pressure. It made me realize how different our college admissions process is in the U.S., where extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations play a much bigger role. One of the highlights of the visit was seeing the NTU library. It was huge, modern, and incredibly peaceful the kind of place where you could easily spend an entire day studying. Every corner of it felt thoughtfully designed for academic focus and comfort.
After the university visit, we all split up, and Eileen and I went to McDonald’s. Even that felt like a cultural experience. The chicken actually tasted like real chicken, fresher, and not overly processed like in the U.S. 10/10 McDonalds in Taiwan.
Later in the evening, we tried Taiwan’s famous mango shaved ice and it lived up to the hype. It was cold, sweet, refreshing, and full of real mango chunks. I could’ve had so much more.
We ended the night exploring Wufenpu, a huge warehouse-style shopping district known for discounted fashion. It felt like a maze of tightly packed alleys filled with clothes, accessories, and small boutiques. There was a kind of organized chaos to it, but we all got a good amount of clothes for a good price. By the time we got back to the hotel, I was exhausted but happy. Today gave me a deeper look into both the academic and everyday life in Taipei, and I’m starting to feel like I understand the rhythm of this city a little more.