Real Stories, Honest Advice, and Heartfelt Tips to Help Incoming Fulbright Scholars Thrive
Written by Kaelie Piscitello
Dear incoming Fulbrighters,
Congratulations! You’re all in the same boat I was in last year, and it’s a great position to be in. You’re about to embark on a transformative year, and you will walk away humbled but a world wiser.
As I prepare to go home after a crazy year, I’m thinking back on everything I learned and wish I had known before I arrived. I was not aware of the remarkable beauty and diversity of Taiwan’s landscape. I went in expecting to like Taiwan’s cities the most. However, I discovered I love the small towns and scenic places the best. My year has included many surprises, and yours will, too.
This Year Will Not Go Exactly How You Think: Come in with an Open Mind
Okay, this seems obvious, but to have a happy experience, go with the flow. Almost every Fulbrighter I know has hit a curve ball this year they did not expect, and the people taking it all in stride seem the happiest here.
That’s not to scare you—you might end up loving the surprises. For example, I came in expecting to teach English and taught everything but that (including swimming and months of PE, which was something I never thought I’d do). Stay open to new ideas about what you will teach, where, and how.
Also, have an open mind about the place you will live. My roommates often say that we’ve become lucky because we all get along. We attribute this to our ability to adapt to change. When we moved in, we discovered an incredible amount of black mold in our apartments, and we had to band together to get rid of it.
If we came in and stressed out about the person in the most oversized room and taking out the trash the most, we would feel unhappy. However, we all just did what we could to get along and make the most out of our apartment, and it made our living experience with each other so much better. I will feel sad to leave them when we move out in June.
Finding “Your People” and” Here is Up to You
The nice thing about Taiwan’s Fulbright program is how many Americans you get to come in with. Fulbright Taiwan offers a great support system to fall back on, and I’ve loved most of the Fulbrighters I’ve met this year. We’ve celebrated all of the American holidays together, done most of our traveling together, and have made many wonderful memories.
That said, I know everyone has a different experience. I lived in Taipei, and Taipei has the largest cohort (of around 50 people), so I easily found people I vibe with. However, it may feel harder in smaller cohorts where everyone spreads out across the county. Additionally, while I love spending time with the Fulbrighters, I also wanted to expand my circle and make friends with people from Taiwan.
To make more local friends, find hobbies outside of work. Some schools offer teacher clubs for students to join. My school has a Zumba club, and dancing with the teachers each week has become a highlight of my time here.
The Zumba Club helped me find coworkers with whom I might not have otherwise interacted, as we shared similar interests. We’ve had fun making Tik Toks and dancing together this year. This led to me going on a day trip with them to Yilan as well.
Make an effort to find friends on your own. If you vibe with a coworker, ask them to grab coffee one day after work. Often, coworkers will want to get to know you better but might feel shy about it.
Consider visiting a nearby university campus. University students are still of a similar age to us, so it’s okay to make friends with them. They can show you around some of the hot spots in your neighborhood, and many of them study English, so many will open the door to language exchange.
Furthermore, many Americans come to Taiwan on Chinese language scholarships at universities so that you might find like-minded people looking for adventure closer to home as well. (My friend from home came here on one, and she introduced me to friends she met there, and we had so much fun together! I recommend this.)
Homesickness is Inevitable: Have a Plan in Place
I’ve had some great moments in Taiwan where I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be and I was on top of the world. I’ve also had days where I stayed in my apartment and cried because I missed home so much and felt lonely. The cure? Well, you can do a few things.
Thank goodness we live in an age with Facetime! If the times line are up, I call either my family, my boyfriend, or a friend from home. I like to call home when I wake up in the morning, and I’m getting ready for school. My family will prop me up at the dinner table, and we’ll eat dinner and breakfast together until it’s time for me to head out.
Of course, homesickness and time zones do not always align. If this happens, I go out and do stuff on my own. I will take myself out to dinner. I’ll text my friends and see if they’re they’re available to go out for a last-minute tea. I’ll go on a walk around my neighborhood and chat with my local vendors, who are always happy to say hello. Most of the time, homesickness stems from loneliness, and distractions can help alleviate it.
Say Yes as Much as You Can
The United States has given you a fantastic opportunity to live and experience another culture and different part of the world. Take full advantage! Say yes to activities outside of your comfort zone.
Say yes to the last-minute random dinner in Yilan with your friends on a Tuesday night. Say yes and try the pig’s feet and intestines (even though you may fear them). That’s okay; we all do at first.
Say yes when your principal asks you to help direct an English play. Say yes and attend religious ceremonies, even if you aren’t religious. You’ll still learn and have great takeaways. Practice Chinese as much as possible and make an effort to show locals that you want to try. They will appreciate you for it!
Above all else, give yourself patience and grace always, but try to learn as much as you can. Attend festivals. Listen to music. Eat great food and love. You will find so much love everywhere; it’s truly everywhere!
<3 Kaelie
