Abroad in Taiwan: Georgia Sehlmeyer's Global Grants Journey
Georgia Sehlmeyer, currently a Sophomore and International Affairs Major, is studying abroad in Taiwan with a Global Grants scholarship for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. Read about Georgia's experience so far below!
My first three weeks of my exchange program in Taiwan so far have been a fast and exciting experience of seeing lots of new things, adjusting to a new culture, meeting new people from all over the world, and learning how to adapt. Some of my highlights include the Chinese and English conversation circle that my university holds every week and my first solo trip to Taipei.
Every Tuesday, holds a conversation circle with half local students studying English and half exchange students studying Chinese in attendance. I attended my first language exchange last week and met two local students and communicated with them in Chinese, which gave me a less intimidating opportunity to practice certain grammar and vocabulary that I hadn’t practiced before. The local students at our table were also encouraged to speak to us in English, so they could practice their English in the same comfortable setting. This event was a great opportunity to ask what unique places and experiences local students recommend seeing during my time here.
Next, I had my first day of solo exploration in Taipei before my afternoon class at NYCU’s Taipei campus. I decided to check off a must-see tourist experience by visiting the , and I’m glad I did. Upon entering the memorial and exploring its contents and surrounding gardens, I felt this was the first time in my experience so far that I truly realized just how far from home I was, which was an equally terrifying and exciting experience. Afterwards, I grabbed lunch at a locally recommended spot, trying my first Taiwanese dry noodles, which were delicious. I think that over time I will really grow to enjoy my days of solitude spent in Taipei, as I have the privilege of being able to choose exactly what to do and eat, and where to go while I’m there.
Overall, my experience has been everything I signed up for so far. I am enjoying building routines and learning about all the differences in Taiwanese culture compared to my own. I’m looking forward to exploring the island even more and becoming even more culturally fluid during my time here.
Thanks Georgia for keeping us updated on your journey in Taiwan!