My Fulbright Year in Taiwan

Evan went to school for a two-day orientation session this week. The experience was hard for Evan, and heart-breaking for Stacy and me.

Evan has been worried about school in Taiwan ever since we first announced that we were going to Taiwan. He is unhappy about leaving his friends in America, and anxious about his Chinese ability. He is worried that he will not be able to keep up with the pace of the class. No matter how much everyone encouraged and assured him that this was a great opportunity, he’s been unable to see anything beyond the immediate downside of the experience. He just can’t be optimistic about the prospect of going to a local school.

A few days before the orientation session, Stacy took him to the school and gave him a tour of the campus. They met with the principal and the “dean” (who supervises the academic affairs of the school). The dean introduced them to the teacher. The teacher impressed Stacy very much. She just returned to Taiwan after doing an advanced degree in Canada. Not only is her English excellent, but she also understands the needs of international students. Best of all, she has the same attitude that we do toward Evan’s year here in Taiwan: that he should look at this as a positive experience to learn what he can, and have as enjoyable a time as possible.

Still, Evan was apprehensive on the first day. Stacy and I went with him to school (which probably didn’t help him, but it helped us). We could tell from his facial expression that he wished he could be anywhere else.

There is a special place for first-year students to park their bikes.

The first day was a half-day orientation session for the entire seventh-grade class. There are 26 sections, each with 30+ students. This school is HUGE. After the first day, we asked Evan what he thought about school. He thought for a second, then said: “Hot.” Taiwan schools have no A/C, so during the hot months of the year, it’s pretty uncomfortable in school.

The second day was a full-day session in the classrooms. We went to school with him again, but Evan told us to stay outside the school grounds; he wanted to go into class alone.

Being good Chinese parents, we ignored his wishes, and followed him to his classroom. I wanted to meet the teacher in front of the whole class. Foreigners enjoy special social status in Taiwan, so the class seeing that Evan has a foreign professor for a father gives Evan extra “face.” We said hi to the teacher, then we left.

The second day went a little better than the first, but Evan still isn’t happy about being in school here. We are still sure that he will have a good year, and he will look back on this as a good experience. However, as sure that we are that we made the correct decision to come to Taiwan, right now, Evan is an unhappy young man. We feel so badly for him. We aren’t sure that there’s anything we can do for him, other than to give him love and support at home. With luck, he’ll make some friends soon, and start to have some fun at school. Until then, though, he is not in a good place.