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Academic Life in ICLP--Q and A

Hey everyone! In my previous posts, I have shared the extracurricular travels and food culture of Taiwan that makes studying at ICLP all the more fantastic. But today, I’d like to cover the most important aspect of all; academic life in ICLP. Below are ten questions that I hope offer insight on the program’s key elements and help you decide if the ICLP experience is right for you!

1. What is the average class schedule in ICLP?

Once everyone’s placement scores have been evaluated, everyone receives their personalized class schedule and textbook list. Generally, every student is assigned to a homeroom class of two hours, a reading class of one hour, and a one-on-one tutoring hour. Classes are every day, Monday through Friday. The earliest possible class starts at 8 am and the latest possible class ends at 6pm. My schedule, for example, consisted of a homeroom class from 8-10am, a reading class from 2-3pm, and one-on-one tutoring from 4-5pm.

2. How does ICLP determine what classes to put you in?

Prior to classes starting, every student takes a placement exam covering the four core language skills (i.e. Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening). The oral portion consists of a fifteen minute interview with an ICLP staff member who will ask questions ranging from casual (ex: What is your major? Why did you choose to study Chinese?) to complex (ex: What is your viewpoint on China’s current economic situation?) based on the quality of your answers.

3. What are ICLP classes like?

Besides the one-on-one session, class sizes are purposely minimized to four students to reinforce the program’s highly participative and immersive goals. In other words, it’s basically impossible as an ICLP student to get away with not speaking in class or turning in homework late--the class size is too small for your instructors to not notice! Expect to talk and be called on a lot. Though this may sound intimidating, I can ensure you from experience that the high expectations of ICLP’s teachers come from kindness and passion; they only want to push you to be your best.

4. What kind of homework do ICLP students have?

It depends on what classes you are placed into. From what I personally noticed, homework difficulty and amount had a direct correlation with a student’s level placement. But as a general rule, all students have homework every night. Common assignments include studying certain passage sentences for the “listen-writing” quiz (i.e. the teacher says a sentence and students write the characters they hear) as well as weekly oral speeches on a certain topic. And, of course, you learn lots of new vocabulary.

5. Do ICLP students have to study traditional Chinese characters?

Yes and no. Most class textbooks have simplified character versions. All students can choose to write in simplified on homework and exams. The placement exam has a simplified and traditional version. However, especially at the higher levels, it is expected for students to learn to read and recognize traditional characters. For flagship students who intend to go to capstone, this is a good thing, as pre-capstone exams will include traditional articles whether you are accustomed to them or not. When I first arrived in Taiwan, my traditional character recognition was very poor. It was near impossible to read street signs or the labels of convenience store products. But immersion can do crazy things for the language-learning brain, and because I saw these signs and was pressed to read traditional articles in class every day, my traditional reading fluency skyrocketed.  One day, I read halfway through a news handout my teacher gave before I realized it was written in traditional--I felt so elated and accomplished! So no, you are not denied access to simplified materials, but as fundamental nature of being in Taiwan, you will study traditional characters to some degree.

6. What should I do if I need study help?

The teachers and staff of ICLP recognize that the demands of their program pose a challenge to many, and in response have gone out of their way to ensure students have access to help. All students have a “homeroom” teacher who lives in the same apartment complex and meets with you at least once a week. These meetings are designed for students to get extra practice or help with harder assignments. If your homeroom teacher is not available, every student is also assigned a native language partner who you can contact for help. Even among fellow classmates are opportunities to study as a group and help one another on homework questions. No matter the day, there will always be someone to reach out to for guidance, school or otherwise.

7. What study spaces are available for ICLP students?

We actually get our own lounge and library, which is very nice. The lounge includes lockers for each student, water dispensers with different temperature settings (tea bags are also available to add to hot water), couches, and even a few board games tucked beneath the coffee tables. The library keeps the latest newspapers in stock and house a bunch of quiet study desks. If even these don’t suffice, the university has two other main libraries that flagship students can access and the benches of “Drunken Moon Lake” ’s tranquil campus park.

8. What is the “Final Research Project”?

As a key demonstration of your studies and growth of ICLP’s two month program, each student is required to write a research paper on a topic of one’s choice, followed by giving a speech pertaining to this paper’s content--all, of course, in Chinese. The research paper can be on any subject one wishes to investigate, but it is strongly encouraged that the topic be related to your major or career goals. Since I am a business major with an interest in astronomy, I chose to investigate the business aspects of Taiwan and Mainland China’s Aerospace Industry. Other topics my classmates chose ranged from illegal fishing, traditional Chinese medicine, Taiwan dialects, and even local coffee and shave ice culture! I highly recommend selecting a topic that is relevant to your future and sparks your interest, as it will gear you with specialized vocabulary and rewarding career knowledge.

9. What is the “24 Hour Language Pledge”?

ICLP requires each student to sign a 24 Hour Language Pledge in the week before classes start, which is a contract stating you will abstain from speaking English and strive to only communicate in Chinese for the duration of the summer. As stated in the document, any one caught speaking English outside excused circumstances (i.e. in an emergency or when having private conversations with family members inside the apartments) would incur a strike on their record, with three strikes meaning expulsion from the program. Though highly daunting and strict, it is this immersion enforcement that catalyzes the sheer success of ICLP.

With this extra push to speak Chinese at all times, I learned to effectively communicate in a variety of spontaneous circumstances. When I got a stomach bug and had to see a doctor, I used Chinese to explain my symptoms and recognized new words like “draw blood” and “dull” vs. “acute” pain from our dialogue. When I visited the Longshan temple, I pushed my speaking abilities to ask a kind woman about why some locals were throwing wedge-shaped stones at the ground. After several meal transactions, I picked up on how to convey a variety of requests such as whether my order was “for here” or “to go”. And when I browsed a bookstore on a whim one Saturday afternoon, this practice in awkward but persistent conversation allowed me to talk with the storekeeper about random topics like calligraphy and foreign imports. It’s not easy to follow, but the effort is worth it!

10. What is the “Language Mission Week”?

Towards the end of the program, ICLP holds a special weekend of field trips called the Language Mission Week. Students get to sign up for one of several off-campus activities such as going to the anthropology museum, making traditional pineapple cakes, or exploring a local radio station, after which you write a report on what you learned from the experience. It’s an exciting, hands-on event that instills new vocabulary in a way textbook learning never can! I chose to go to Taiwan’s High Court and role play in a mock trial for my language mission. It was so much fun, and I learned all sorts of law-related terms I otherwise would never know.   

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Things You Need to Taste in Taiwan--Grand Finale!

#17. Scallion Pancake: One has not truly experienced an authentic Taiwan breakfast until they have tried this savory pancake. Just as the name suggests, scallion pancakes have green onions mixed into its buttery batter that adds a garden fresh tang perfect for starting the day. Whether you choose to heat up your own at home or buy them fresh off the griddle from a street baker, the sun will rise in your own heart with each steamy bite.

#18. Steamed Bun: Though deceptively simple in taste and form, steamed buns are the centerpiece of Taiwan comfort foods. Street vendors get particularly creative with shaping these buns and adding fillings to them, sometimes even molding them into your favorite cartoon characters like Hello Kitty and the minions from Despicable Me! Take it from my classmates and I, the airy sweetness of these buns are a fantastic snack option for an afternoon of exploring.

#19. Congee: This hearty rice breakfast mixture is the Eastern equivalent of oatmeal or grits, only it goes further to include egg, vegetables, and pork as mix-ins. The Seven Eleven just beneath the apartment complex for Flagship students always offers bowls of various flavors that they will microwave for you if you are in a quick pinch for breakfast one morning. Though some do not favor its somewhat runny consistency, congee is among the oldest dishes of Asian breakfast tradition and offers the most bang for your buck in terms of satisfying your early morning appetite. Especially if your stomach feels uncomfortable and needs adjustment to the general Taiwan palette, the warmth and mildness of this dish makes it a prime aid for food transition.

#20:  Gua Bao: Hamburger lovers everywhere, prepare for your taste buds to be blown away by Taiwan’s spin on an American barbeque staple! The “gua bao” already takes this iconic sandwich to the next level by replacing its standard bread with a fluffy, white steamed bun. If that isn’t mouth-watering enough, the inside gets stuffed with juicy pork, stir-fried mustard greens, minced peanuts, and fresh cilantro! Indeed, everything seems to taste that much better when a Taiwan twist is added to it!

I could continue to rant about Taiwan’s food culture for hours, but I think this and previous list portions adequately address the essential highlights. Though intensive language immersion such as what ICLP demands inevitably comes with challenges and frustration, I hope this post demonstrates in a small way what rich (and tasty!) cultural experiences can be obtained from such commitment. Stay tuned for a future post detailing academic life in the ICLP program as well as what its training can offer for your future!

Happy Travels!

--Kylie Kennelly

[Links to unowned images in order of appearance:

http://carolynjphillips.blogspot.com/2017/04/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cong_you_bing

https://chichihehe.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/%E8%99%B1%E7%9B%AE%E9%AD%9A%E7%B2%A5-fish-congee/

https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2014/04/taiwanese-pork-belly-bun-recipe.html

https://vivalafood.com/gua-bao-taiwanese-pork-belly-steamed-buns/]

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Things You Need to Taste in Taiwan--Part 4!!

#13. Dragon Fruit Juice: You will quickly discover that in Taiwan, fruits are fresher and taste sweeter. The local abundance of fruit allows for ample juice varieties that are sure to quench your summer thirst. Of all the ones I tried, however, my number one favorite is the bright purple dragon fruit juice. Not only is the color cheery and fun, but the flavor is sweet and soothing to the parched tongue. The tiny black seeds of the dragon fruit does add a little grit, but those who aren’t sensitive to texture, this fruity elixir is like air-conditioned sugar in a cup!

#14. Taiwanese Ice Cream Spring Roll: It looks like a burrito, but the inside is 100% dessert! It starts with a flour crepe sprinkled with peanut dust, followed by scoops of three delectable ice cream flavors, classically including pineapple and taro. Sprigs of cilantro are traditionally added, but can be omitted for those (like me) who prefer to draw a line between salad garnishes and sweets. Then it all gets folded into a large roll and gulped down to one’s content!

#15. Mini Octopus Balls: As a seafood lover who also appreciates the sheer cuteness of Taiwanese pop culture, I adored how fried octopus balls crossed delicious with adorable! Each breaded sphere has eight tentacles no bigger than your pinky flowering at its top, completed by your choice from a medley of mayonnaise flavors such as seaweed and chili as the dressing. Their bite sized charm attracts waves of locals at sundown!

#16. Black Pepper Bun: This “Hu Jiao Bing” bun is Raohe night market’s claim to fame, and with good reason! A crispy outer bread sprinkled with sesame seeds gives way to a succulent center of pepper-seasoned pork with a dash of scallion slices. Over five different pepper bun stands cluster just beyond the market gate, and each attracts a considerable line of diverse fans. The flavorful legacy these buns have created are why, second only to Shilin, Raohe is at the top tier of must-see night markets.

That concludes today’s post! The Final part will be coming soon, so stay tuned!

--Kylie Kennelly

[links to unowned images in order of appearance:

https://foodgawker.com/post/2017/06/10/658668/

https://www.bites.com.sg/eat/peanut-candy-ice-cream-roll-ones-taiwan/

https://wowspecialfoodie.wordpress.com/2015/09/12/15-ice-cream-burrito-from-taiwan/

https://www.spot.ph/eatdrink/the-latest-eat-drink/70473/10-street-food-picks-taiwan-a00196-20170616-lfrm

https://whattocooktoday.com/hu-jiao-bing.html

http://www.jaysuneatstaipei.com/best-black-pepper-bun-taipei-3111920803329932689839173.html

https://eatingasia.typepad.com/eatingasia/2009/05/there-are-many-things-to-love-about-taipei-the-train-system-extensive-and-easy-to-use-the-taxis-plentiful-and-driven-by.html]

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Things You Need to Taste in Taiwan--Part 3!!

9. Pineapple Cakes: Known locally as Feng Li Su, boxes of these square cakes are arguably the most popular Taiwan souvenir for foreign travelers. Every visitor ought to sample this bite-sized cube of sweet pineapple filling and crumbly shortbread crust. As a bonus, if you choose to apply for the ICLP program, you may even get the chance to learn how to make Feng Li Su of your own during ICLP’s language mission weekend!

(I couldn’t find an image of the bakery so I’m just placing a cool photo of the NTU campus right here)

10. Bakery at National Taiwan University: When one typically considers good Asian cuisine, bakery and milk-based products are not generally the first thing that comes to mind. And yet, the university-made pineapple bread a five-minute walk away from the ICLP classrooms is among the best baked goods I have ever tasted! NTU’s bakery next to the main dining hall crafts fresh breads and pastries every school day at amazingly cheap prices! One of my favorites included the Cranberry-Coconut “bomb” bread: a football shaped bread chock full of sweetened coconut strips and sun dried cranberries. It’s the perfect midday study reward for students on any type of budget!  

11. Black Sesame Ice Cream: Don’t be fooled by it’s concrete shade, this nutty ice cream is by no means dull in flavor! I had my first taste through a grocery store’s sale on ice cream mochi and instantly fell in love. It carries a mild but distinct sweetness reminiscent of peanut butter, except with considerably less calories! Even the local McDonalds offer their classic McFlurries with a black sesame flavor twist!

12. Frozen Mango Treats: Mango shave ice. Mango smoothie. Mango tea. In the summertime, mango dominates Taipei’s fruit palette. A Taipei summer is simply incomplete without at least one mango confection, Taipei’s large shave ice bowls being a particular fan favorite. Even if mango isn’t typically your go-to fruit, I encourage you to experience Taiwan’s local produce firsthand and admire the country’s extensive shave ice culture. 

Only two posts left to go! Stay tuned for parts 4 and 5! 

[links to unowned images in the order they appeared:

https://www.yumofchina.com/taiwanese-pineapple-cake/

https://studyabroad.asu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=2180

http://haverchuk.blogspot.com/2006/05/ice-cream-project-black-sesame-ice.html

http://www.travellingmcds.com/2015/05/red-tea-sundae-taipei-taiwan-april-2015.html

https://kirbiecravings.com/snowflake-shaved-ice-taiwan/

https://pngtree.com/freepng/small-taishan-smoothies-picture-material_2844061.html ]

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Things You Need to Taste in Taiwan--Part 2!!

5. Black Sugar Boba: This non-tea boba beverage of milk, rosewater, and torched sugar is a hug for the mouth and tastes like a more sophisticated version of chocolate milk. Remember to give the cup a good swish to mix the blackened-sugar at the bottom before slurping away!

6. Fried Night Market Meats: Chicken fillet. Sausage. Squid. Cuttlefish. Crabs. Whatever protein it is you love most, Taiwan’s night markets have it fried and on a skewer! Each meat snack generally tastes fantastic and has its own merits, so a generally reliable way to determine which stands are best in a particular night market is to follow the crowd and pick ones with the longest line of locals. 

7. Stinky Tofu: Now, full disclosure: I have never been crazy about tofu, and unsurprisingly turned out not to be a fan of the smelly kind either. BUT! The whole point of travel is to try new things and be open to the possibilities! Everyone ought to take a few culinary risks and try the pungent snack that gives Taiwan’s night markets their iconic odor. No one is charmed by the smell, but there is a reason every night market has at least one stinky tofu stand--quite a few people love the taste! You never know, you just might too!

8. Beef Noodles: Considered to be the national food of Taiwan, beef noodles holds the same comfort-food status as chicken noodle soup in America. I first got the chance to indulge in a bowl after an ICLP orientation field trip to the Office of the President (Taiwan’s equivalent of the Oval Office) as a way of completing the patriotic theme of that afternoon. The tender meat and thick noodles speak for themselves; its honor as representative of the nation’s cuisine is unquestionably earned.

That’s it for today’s post! Stay tuned for parts 3-5!

[Links to unowned images in order they appeared:

https://www.gosquabgo.com/travelstories/taiwan-night-market

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3445868

https://www.unileverfoodsolutions.us/recipe/taiwanese-beef-noodle-soup-R0065191.html ]

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Fooooooooood! Things You Need to Taste in Taiwan (Part 1)

Hi, it’s Kylie again, here to share the latest and greatest information on the ASU Flagship’s study abroad opportunity in Taiwan!

If you are anything like me, sometimes the greatest motivator for cracking down on homework is the promise of a tasty meal. With the Taipei International Chinese Language Program (ICLP)’s vigorous course load, there is a constant demand for quality cuisine--and Taiwan does not disappoint! And so my gift to you today, from one foodie to another, is the following blog series of my top recommended Taiwan dishes.

1. Meesua

I’m starting this list off with my all time favorite! I have consistently craved Meesua from my first bowl in Taipei to months after returning to America. Known in mandarin as “Mian Xian”, Meesua is a traditional recipe of Taiwan’s Hakka minority. The soup base is slightly thick and tangy, enveloping a bed of vermicelli-esque noodles, either oysters or pork, and fresh cilantro. A cup is often as cheap as 25 TWD (less than 1 USD) and served piping hot. You must try this ethnic treasure at least once when abroad!

2. A-gei

This next dish is unique to the fishing town of Danshui and is perfect for those who love pairing tofu and noodles! A bowl of A-gei consists of thin and transparent “dong fen”, or rice noodles, encased in fried tofu, sealed with surimi, and topped with a sweet sauce. If you still feel daring after tackling this flavorful creation, you can also try a bag of “iron eggs” (specially pickled and dried eggs with a tough consistency and black color) from the coastal market to munch on by the seashore.  

3. Seven Eleven Snacks

All Flagship students in the ICLP program live in the same apartment complex just outside the National Taiwan University Campus, and conveniently wedged next to the complex entrance is the country’s staple convenience store: Seven Eleven. Whenever you need a quick snack to munch on during study time, Seven Eleven is your new best friend. Now, this is NOT your American gas station “Seven Eleven”. Here in Taipei, Seven Elevens are like mini grocery stores with products for all your basic needs, from an entire aisle of ramen selections to batteries and umbrellas. They are literally on almost every street corner (usually near their competitor convenience franchise, FamilyMart) and always have some kind of special sale going on. My favorite snacks included their “Fan Tuan” (sticky rice triangles wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with meat) and ice cream waffles (slabs of soft waffle with an ice cream filling, you can find them in the popsicle freezer). If you go as often as I did, you can even make a game of collecting the stamps for that month’s promotion. There is little not to love about Taiwan’s convenience snack haven!

4. Bing Tang Hu Lu

Although these candy-coated fruit skewers technically originate from Northern China, their popularity has infiltrated Taipei’s major night markets and are easy to spot. You can choose between strawberries or plum-stuffed cherry tomatoes neatly stacked and layered with hard syrup in ruby columns. I found the fusion of fresh fruit with a crispy sugar shell irresistible.

Stay tuned for Parts 2-5! 

--Kylie Kennelly, Flagship Student Ambassador

[*Links to unowned images in the order they appeared:

http://www.vkeong.com/eat/ah-chung-mee-suah-taiwan-street-food/

https://danshuihistory.blogspot.com/2015/01/traditional-snack-food-in-tamsui-part-9.html

http://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/2016/04/taiwanese-7-eleven-open-in-us/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/roboppy/6248640085

https://www.flickr.com/photos/56751239@N05/8206154430 ]

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Travel Gem #1: Make your own tornado and fight off aliens at Taipei’s Planetarium

Wanna make a tornado? Walk inside a diagram of the sun? How about check out what an astronaut toilet looks like or blast apart virtual asteroids? If any or all of these activities sound intriguing to you, you need to make room in your traveling calendars for the Taipei Astronomical Museum.

I originally chose to visit this astronomical museum with the intent of gathering data for my end-of-term research project. In order to graduate from the ICLP summer program, every student is required to compose a research paper on a topic of their choice and then present their findings in a 4-5 minute speech--all, of course, in Mandarin! Though arguably the most daunting part of the program’s coursework, it is irrefutably the most valuable. The project offers a golden opportunity for students to delve into specialized topics that relate to their major or desired career, which in turn builds the skill set to discuss and analyze them in sophisticated, proficient Chinese.  As a business major with a passion for outer space, I decided to investigate Taiwan and Mainland China’s Aerospace industry. Now, thanks to my research project, I can talk about the costs and risks of rocket engineering whenever I please!

And might I just say, coming from the perspective of a total astronomy geek, that Taipei’s four floor planetarium is the grandest and most high-tech I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. Exhibits are not only abundant in hands-on activities such as making simulated black holes on a touch screen and observing different chemical lights through a spectrometer, but are also conveniently labeled with both English and Chinese captions that maximize the learning experience. The facility hosts a medley of 3-D Science documentaries and even a theme park ride where one can get an exclusive space pod “tour” of the solar system--complete with a bonus alien sighting ;) ! This site was my personal favorite, and regardless of whether it relates to your own research project, I bet it will also become one of yours if you give it a shot.

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Travel Gem #2: Melting from Cuteness at the Cat Village

Cat lovers get their shout-out at a very special railroad town teeming with fluffy strays. Formerly a town founded on coal mining, the Houtong Cat Village (猴硐貓村) has retired from industry and dedicated itself to celebrating its large population of feline friends. The tunnel between the train station and main village street is decked with purposeful ledges and nooks for kittens to nap on and take shelter during rain-showers. The street signs, mural art, trinket shops, and statuettes all perpetuate the cat theme. Cats are everywhere--roaming the rooftops, stretched out on the sidewalk, and lurking around shop doors--and basking in the attention of passerby. The cat fanatics who travel here can also rest assured about the welfare of these free-roaming fluffballs, as local businesses know well to feed and care for what is, after all, their greatest marketing asset.

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Travel Gem #3: Shrink your World at Taiwan’s Miniature Museum

I visited this next travel gem with my ICLP language exchange partner, a wonderful lady I called Jian Lao Shi. You see, in order to maximize each student’s access to personalized learning and language practice, ICLP assigns each student with a Taiwan native to have conversations and explore with.  So after my music-loving language partner introduced me to the gorgeous concert and theatre halls across from the Chiang-Kai Shek memorial, I decided to return the favor by sharing an interest of my own and taking her to an art museum.

Though virtually unknown to tourists and petite in craftsmanship, the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan (袖珍博物館) is actually the largest exhibition of miniature artwork in all of Southeast Asia. Prepare for your mind to be blown at how lifelike and intricate these living room replicas and street models can get, such that one could assume from a photo that the creation exists in real life proportions! The themes of projects range from the strictly historical to the wildest of fantasy; one miniature treehouse featured humans hang gliding off of pterodactyls and riding brachiosauruses like camels! And if the beautiful collection inspires you to “think small”, there’s also a gift shop full of miniature decorations and dollhouse furniture. It may be the quirkier of traveling activities, but hey, sometimes it’s the little things that make a journey memorable. ;)

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Travel Gem #4: Release your own wishing lantern at Shifen

Any fans of the coming-of-age Taiwan film “You Are the Apple of My Eye” (那些年，我們一起追的女孩)? How would you like to reenact its iconic wishing lantern scene for yourself? Not far from Jiufen, the famed hillside town which inspired the scenery of Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away”, lies its less publicized sister-village, Shifen. All who journey here come for the sole purpose of painting one’s own wishes on a lantern to light and release from the village train tracks to a romantic sky. Lantern colors are categorized for every type of dream and desire, from good health to passing exams to even finding a spouse! Attempt your best Chinese calligraphy skills as you scrawl your dreams on the lantern’s four sides and watch them float beyond the sunkissed clouds.  For anyone considering how to give their Taiwan travels a finale finish, I highly recommend bringing your friends to write parting wishes on a Shifen lantern.

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Travel Gem #5: Relax with creme brulee and a puzzle at Taipei’s Jigsaw Cafe

What is it like, roaming the campus of Taiwan’s most prestigious college? If you ask me, the assimilation of European architecture and oriental garden pavilions invoke an atmosphere equally stately and serene. Besides the student lounge and library room exclusive to ICLP students, there are two campus-wide libraries perfect for quiet studying (and I do mean quiet studying, take it from me, you will likely be glared at if you do anything louder than whisper) as well as park benches near the “Drunken Moon Lake”. I came to this lakeside often when I needed to rehearse a speech assignment or simply wanted to admire the exotic birds who lived there.

National Taiwan University also is abundant in lunch options for every type of hungry college student, from noodles and tofu to McDonalds. I went to their cafeteria bakery more times than I would admit to snack on their ridiculously cheap (10 TWD, or 30 cents USD*), fresh-from-the-oven pineapple bread! Even if one tired of the campus restaurants, a myriad of food and drink establishments lie within walking distance of the university.

Which leads me to my next travel gem--cafes! One of the major perks of studying in a country as cute as Taiwan is the colorful spectrum of cafes to explore. My personal favorite, the Galette puzzle cafe, lies directly adjacent to the NTU campus. Its jigsaw-shaped door knobs beckon you into a cozy dining parlor where one can not only order gourmet snacks and beverages, but can also select a puzzle from the back shelves to tease the brain throughout a most tranquil afternoon. True puzzle connoisseurs can later peruse Galette’s gift shop of exclusive jigsaws and even order custom creations using one of your own keepsake photos (albeit at a pretty penny!). A must see for all puzzle-lovers in need of a homework break!

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Travel Gem #6: Slipping and Sliding at Taipei’s Ice Skating Rink

A great benefit of ICLP is the community of Chinese learners you get to network and bond with, including roommates! As part of the program, Flagship students from all over the United States are given special housing in the same apartment complex alongside a handful of homeroom teachers. Depending on which size suite you are assigned to, each unit houses between 4 to 8 people. In my case, I happened to have one roommate and two suitemates whom I quickly fell in love with. There was plenty of space in the apartment for when we needed quiet study time, but also the coziness of sharing a dining table at dinner time or brushing shoulders while making noodles together in the kitchen. The convenience of living in the same building also made it easy to meet with other classmates for group studying or ask a teacher for help. One Saturday, when we all finished enough homework to justify taking a break, my roommates and I embarked on a girls’ day out--and that’s how we found ourselves gliding on ice at my first recommended travel gem!

Amid the tropical heat of Taiwan’s summer, few treats prove more refreshing than a trip to the ice skating rink at Taipei Arena (台北小巨蛋). Show off your elegant skating twirls--or if you’re like me, demonstrate your clumsiest trips--while adorning the classy (and mandated) helmet-knee guard combo! For equipment rental, two hours of skating, a take-home pair of souvenir gloves, and priceless memories away from outdoor humidity, the activity fare totals around 400 TWD* per person.

* This was the cost when I was there, but all prices are subject to the current exchange rate and discretion of business owners.

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Why Choose ICLP for Flagship Summer Abroad?: My Case for Taipei and its Six Secret Travel Gems

When you are accepted into the Flagship program and researching its many summer study abroad options, it can be a real challenge to determine which program is your first pick!  It took me months of consideration, but once I set my mind on Taiwan’s International Chinese Language Program (ICLP), I knew I had made the right choice. The island is a breathtaking landscape of beach and mountains, forest and metropolis, with kind locals that go out of their way to give you directions or teach you how to buy a subway ticket. The program itself was an intensive two and a half months at National Taiwan University whose daily class discussion and weekly oral exams stretched my language limits. It was a sometimes painful but infinitely worthwhile growing process. Students like me who knew hardly any traditional characters came out of the program able to effortlessly read Taipei’s street signs or even study traditional news articles. Not to mention, immersing oneself in Taiwan travel between classwork is insanely fun!  

While there are several famous tourist attractions essential to the Taipei experience, from the vivacious Shilin night market to the grand Chiang-Kai Shek Memorial, Taiwan’s northern tip also abounds with exciting excursions hidden from the average traveler’s view. On that note, Here are sneak peek images of my top six  weekend escapades from my Flagship summer abroad! Stay tuned for future posts if you want to learn more about each one!

--Kylie Kennelly, Student Flagship Ambassador

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My name is Tammy, and I recently spent the 2016 Summer studying abroad at the Association of Colleges in China (ACC) Program in Beijing, China. This photo-set highlights my arrival in China for the first time.

Step one: Getting off the plane. The Beijing airport was huge, but thankfully to me, most (if not all) of the signs were translated into English,  which made it relatively easy to find my way around.

Although I could’ve taken a taxi (approx. (150-200 yuan) to Minzu University of China (民族大学）, I opted for the more affordable option of taking the airport subway line(about 25 yuan) followed by the Beijing Subway (less than 10 yuan). 

While riding the airport subway line, and headed towards the center of the city, the reality of being in a foreign country started to set in. All the signs and instructions were written in Chinese, and I was the only foreigner on the entire train, which definitely got me my fair share of stares. 

After navigating the foreign subway system, I climbed stairs with my large suitcase and carry on, and pulled out my printed map of the city, as I did not have any cell service for a GPS. However, through asking a few locals on the street, I was able to finally arrive.

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[asuflagship]

Come back from studying abroad at the International Chinese Language Program (ICLP) of National Taiwan University in Taipei this summer, and the first thing most people ask is, "How was the food?" Returning from Taiwan, I was more than happy to tell about 小笼包 (soup dumplings), 蛋饼 (egg pancakes), 猪血汤 (pig's blood soup), TONS of delicious street food, and of course favorites like hot pot and beef noodles.

Sam

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Jazmine's Visit To Chinese Bridge Competition in China: Some (not-so-well-known) Touristy Places 

I have had the privilege to take part in the Chinese Bridge Competition in Changsha of China this summer. Traveling to Changsha and Shangdong province of China for the first time is a life changing experience.

Left: Taipingjie is arguably one of the most touristy spots in Changsha. It is a street full of markets selling everything from luggage to traditional old instruments to jewelry… you name it! The street is also filled with street food stands. Feel like some boba tea, mango, or barbecued lamb? Any type of local street food can be found here. Taipingjie is the place to buy souvenirs and put your bargaining skills to practice.

Right: This statue of Confucius is located near Qufu, Shandong. The city is prided for being Confucius’s hometown. This city was completely different from the others that I visited because it was really small compared to Beijing and Changsha. The population was less than 700,000 people. Warning: you do have to climb about 100 steps that are partly under construction in order to get up. If you plan on making the hike, bring good shoes and do not wear a skirt like I did.

-Jazmine

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Jazmine's Visit to Chinese Bridge Competition in China: Food! Food! Food!

Before my first trip to China to participate in the Chinese Bridge Competition, I have been advised not to eat the street food. Despite the fact that you may get slightly sick, I highly recommend to try everything. One of the things that was at the top of my list was stinky tofu. I had heard mixed reviews about it. As soon as I arrived in Changsha, the first snack I had was stinky tofu. I loved it so much that I had it for dinner the first night and for breakfast the next morning. You never know what you will and will not like until you try it.

The KFC in China is surprisingly much better than the ones in the US. The food was so deliciously crispy and crunchy. As soon as you walk in, the smell of glory flows into your nostrils.

My advice is to keep an open mind and try everything!

-Jazmine