Life as an exchange student in Taiwan

Marcus Ohlsson is studying fourth year Industrial Engineering and Management at Luleå University of Technology. This semester he spends in Taipei, Taiwan at NTUST. We talk to him to feel the pulse of what life is like as an exchange student in the six-million city.

Why did you decide to study abroad for a semester?
"It's something I always wanted to do. I have studied some Chinese before and Spanish in high school. So either I wanted to go to a Spanish-speaking country or a Chinese-speaking country to develop the language. And finally I thought it would be more fun to go somewhere you don't usually go. I had read that Taiwan is a mix of Chinese and Japanese culture and thought that sounds great. Then I also like traveling to odd countries that people usually wonder what to go there and do?"

What is life like in Taiwan?
"What I tell everyone who asks is that it is so convenient. It's so easy and simple to live here. Taipei is a big city with six million people in the metropolitan area, the subway runs every 90 seconds during rush hour and there are free city bikes. There are 7/11s around every corner that are always open and much of life revolves around them. At the same time Taipei is close to nature, it is easy to get to hiking trails by high-speed train or subway. Taiwan is also very safe, I've never felt anxious walking around at night. The food culture is amazing too, with lots of night markets, street food and you can eat your fill of good food in the school cafeteria for 30 kr."

What has surprised you the most so far?
"It's that socially it's very Scandinavian. It's a bit introverted, shy, you keep to yourself, afraid to make mistakes. You don't sit next to anyone on the bus. So culturally it's not difficult to adapt. I know it's like this in Japan, but I thought it would be a bit more crazy and hectic here. But one thing I don't like is that there are no garbage cans on the streets, you can find them inside a store like 7/11 which is always within a few hundred meters. The weather is also something that surprised me and was a pleasant surprise, when I came here in August it was around 36 degrees and for the winter it should be around 15, so I did not have to pack a winter jacket anyway."

What is the biggest difference from student life in Luleå?
"As an exchange student, I can't compare myself to a regular student here at NTUST, or Taiwan Tech as it is called. Exchange students have it easier and you only choose courses that you are interested in. So the studies are easier that way. But the classes are compulsory, 15 hours a week, which if you choose the right courses can be two or three days a week. Then you can have Thursday to Monday off to travel. Exchange students are also well received by the International Student Club, and there are field trips, cultural events and organized trips to night markets, with something happening almost every week. There are also group chats for all exchange students in Taipei, which not everyone could fit into, as Whatsapp only allows 1024 people in a group. There is always someone who wants to do something."

What is the best thing about being an exchange student?
"Just to see something other than Sweden for a longer period. The longest I've been abroad before is four weeks, now it's five months. Experiencing a different environment and culture is an eye-opener, you see that "it can work like this too!" Then it's very nice to meet all the other exchange students, I hang out with people from Belize, Indonesia and a lot of fucking Germans. *laughs* Taipei is not as big internationally as Bangkok or Shanghai, but this is a big international hub in an economically stable country."