I guess this title carries a variety of meanings, in terms of what "we" could possibly be "back" for. Within the next day or two, I'll be returning to a variety of things, things that I haven't visited for the past year. For one, I'll be revisiting East Asia this time for an entirely new experience, with hopefully many similarities, and many differences to the China experience I had last summer. And, I have returned to this blog after a year to document my adventures and experiences after describing those of last summer in Xi'an. The "we" aspect... If you would like, you could experience them with me through this blog, or in person I suppose, should you wish to buy a plane ticket and join me.
My next experience abroad brings me to Taipei, Taiwan, where I will be living for a year as an exchange student. During the year, I will be living with three separate host families, each with their own, unique family dynamics, and will be attending high school, in classes with Taiwanese students. I will be sponsored by Rotary International, an international service organization with clubs around the world, whose amazing youth exchange program, a partnership between Rotary clubs around the world to send students abroad has offered me this opportunity. I will be sponsored by Rotary district 7190 in the United States, who is sending eight students abroad this year around the world, and received by Rotary district 3480 in Taipei, who will be hosting many more exchange students as well. This past year, my family also had the incredible opportunity to host a Rotary exchange student for three months, and welcomed Paloma, from Chile into our house for a large portion of the year. I have deferred college for a year, and will be taking part in this program as a gap year, having already graduated high school, and looking to spend a year learning and traveling prior to attending college. Throughout the year, I hope to keep this blog updated, with posts on Taiwanese culture, background on Taipei and Taiwan, history, and my day to day life. While there will be no specific routine to my updates, I hope to post at least once a week.
Unlike my experience last summer, my upcoming year in Taiwan will be much more informal, and open to personal choice. Rather than attend significant language classes for a large portion of my day with other Americans, I will be integrated into Taiwanese society, the type of fully immersive opportunity that I have always hoped for. I hope take full advantage of this immersion, improve my Chinese as much as possible, speak Chinese as much as possible, become a full member of each of my host families, and make friends with many different people from all walks of Taiwanese life. I also have much less of an idea of what to expect this year going into my exchange than I did last summer. For that, I'll leave it up to this year to excite, scare, entice or surprise me as it wishes. Tomorrow I will board a plane with a fully open mind, excited for the adventures ahead.
Looking forward to an amazing year,
Ben
P.S.-- If you're looking for more of a background on me, look no farther than the first post in this blog, from one year ago. Although a lot has changed, most of my interests and personality remain the same.
My next experience abroad brings me to Taipei, Taiwan, where I will be living for a year as an exchange student. During the year, I will be living with three separate host families, each with their own, unique family dynamics, and will be attending high school, in classes with Taiwanese students. I will be sponsored by Rotary International, an international service organization with clubs around the world, whose amazing youth exchange program, a partnership between Rotary clubs around the world to send students abroad has offered me this opportunity. I will be sponsored by Rotary district 7190 in the United States, who is sending eight students abroad this year around the world, and received by Rotary district 3480 in Taipei, who will be hosting many more exchange students as well. This past year, my family also had the incredible opportunity to host a Rotary exchange student for three months, and welcomed Paloma, from Chile into our house for a large portion of the year. I have deferred college for a year, and will be taking part in this program as a gap year, having already graduated high school, and looking to spend a year learning and traveling prior to attending college. Throughout the year, I hope to keep this blog updated, with posts on Taiwanese culture, background on Taipei and Taiwan, history, and my day to day life. While there will be no specific routine to my updates, I hope to post at least once a week.
Unlike my experience last summer, my upcoming year in Taiwan will be much more informal, and open to personal choice. Rather than attend significant language classes for a large portion of my day with other Americans, I will be integrated into Taiwanese society, the type of fully immersive opportunity that I have always hoped for. I hope take full advantage of this immersion, improve my Chinese as much as possible, speak Chinese as much as possible, become a full member of each of my host families, and make friends with many different people from all walks of Taiwanese life. I also have much less of an idea of what to expect this year going into my exchange than I did last summer. For that, I'll leave it up to this year to excite, scare, entice or surprise me as it wishes. Tomorrow I will board a plane with a fully open mind, excited for the adventures ahead.
Looking forward to an amazing year,
Ben
P.S.-- If you're looking for more of a background on me, look no farther than the first post in this blog, from one year ago. Although a lot has changed, most of my interests and personality remain the same.