My Fulbright Year in Taiwan

Part of the orientation program for the ETAs is to visit the schools where they will be placed. We took a trip to several schools, so the ETAs could get a sense of schools in Taiwan, meet the English teachers, and ask questions.

We met in the local 7-11 in the morning.

After the bus arrived, we loaded up.

At each school, we were met by a teacher or a principal, who showed us around.

The ETAs got to interact with some of the kids at one of the schools. The ping-pong team was practicing, and a few ETAs asked if they could play, too. We went to the activity center and saw the kids practicing. There were about 10 tables crammed in the room. Ping-pong balls were flying everywhere. These kids were really good. They made room for one of the ETAs, who promptly got schooled by a kid who could barely see the top of the table. We later learned that that kid was the national ping-pong champion for his age group. Gulp!

Later, we ate lunch at the school. The principal was so excited to have so many “handsome men and beautiful women” in her school that she wanted a group picture. Her son was there, too, and he wanted to be in the picture as well.

The last school that we visited was far out of town, and was literally right in front of the ocean.

There’s a bay nearby, with excellent surfing conditions. For gym class, the kids learn to surf!