1. NPUST

Actually, all Taiwan country has been a surprise for me, because I didn’t expect to be in a wonderful place like this, especially Pingtung, with a lot of nature, kind and friendly people and its beautiful campus. My first surprise was Taipei of course, when we arrived; I was surprised about the city, the people, the food and different traditions and perspectives of Taiwanese. I have been at Kaohsiung and other cities and let me say that Kaohsiung is a beautiful city with its love river along the channel, the 85 skyscraper and the ferry make this city a wonderful place. One of my favorite field trips was the National Aquarium near from Kenting.  It’s a wonderful exciting and surprising place for visitors, where you can see different fish and birds around this park, and of course Kenting has beautiful beaches and a very good environment. I haven’t been in many places but I have heard about Tarocco and other places that I am willing to go there at least once during this year.  I think Taiwan has a lot to offer for tourists and the world. Its technology and amazing people make this country incredible. So I just want to say for foreigners that Taiwan is magic and we have to enjoy it. And Taiwan is a surprise in its all content.

Taiwan has a lot to offer in many ways besides the friendly people, unpredictable weather conditions, frequent earthquake tremors, not to mention the unique and natural features the island offers. Business seems to be the dominant force in Taiwan as a source of income generation. It is a land of entrepreneurs and everyone seems to be their own boss. Taiwanese are hard working, creative and industrious in nature.  Food, for instance can be found anywhere and at anytime, in all varieties and flavors. For any foreigner coming to Taiwan food is a critical issue and is usually one of the ‘culture shocks’ one must face in adapting to the culture and Taiwan in a whole.  The cuisines, however, isn’t what surprises me, what does is how the food vendors and other businesses are located. A walk down almost any street will take you past shop after shop where food vendors work together next to each other in harmony, a characteristic of the Taiwan family value system. This leads and relates to another surprise on how family ties means a lot to Taiwanese. Whichever situation or event it may be, family value is a high priority. You can go anywhere in Taiwan and it’s likely that you will see the sequential arrangements of businesses. Competition doesn’t seem to be a problem, and even if it is, the relationship seems to be peaceful between the merchants involved. I’ve had several experiences when purchasing food at times of not knowing where to go or who to choose from; probably it’s because of my cool nature of not wanting to disappoint anyone, something I brought with me from home.  Sometimes it’s difficult to pass a food vendor from whom I purchased food before and not stopping by again to get something or even  showing a friendly smile. After couple months in Taiwan, I began to learn the nature of such attitudes.

 It is with great pleasure to be given the chance to write about my surprises in Taiwan. Well to be honest and fair, I have not been in Taiwan for a long time but in my seven months of being here I have seen a lot of things which have surprised me academically and non-academically. Non-academically:

Ø  Honestly, first and foremost I should point it out that I have never seen people in my 28 years of life who are so friendly and always smiling like the Taiwanese people. The moment I arrived in Taiwan I was welcomed with smiles from the airport attendants in Taoyuan International airport up until I arrived in my school.

Ø  Taiwanese people are so generous and big-hearted. The students and non-students are always willing to share and assist whenever you ask for help from them. The first question you get to be asked by Taiwanese is: “What can I do for you?”

Ø  I have been surprised to note that in Taiwan the physically disable people are well catered for in a way that each and every building in Taiwan has a pathway for easy entry of physically disabled persons.

What surprises me the most about Taiwan is how science and its byproduct, technology, are deeply entrenched in Taiwanese academia, agriculture and businesses’ thinking and practices. This year I had the memorable opportunity to visit twice the Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS), celebrated in Tainan in March 2010. During my visits, I witnessed the most beautiful and well-cared orchids I have ever seen in my life. The show demonstrated to me how a synergy of private industries, government agencies, research centers, and academic centers had worked together to develop a successful orchid-industry in Taiwan. I was amazed by the large amount orchids displayed, and the lovely arrangements made by Taiwanese individuals and companies’ expositors.

TIOS-2010: a complete show that displays how Taiwan applies science and technology to orchid’s production. The show gave me the opportunity to walk through the production facilities; learn about Taiwan’s orchid history; appreciate the potting process; interact with breeders; bargain with retailers; and, take pictures to almost every specie displayed. Certainly I had many surprises while I was in the exposition.

I was surprised and thrilled because this was the first time in my life that I have seen so many different types of Phalaenopsis, Doritaenopsis, Oncidums, and many others species just in one place.

Science and technology were everywhere in TIOS-2010, in the growing media or orchids; in the multiplication process; in the greenhouse conditions; in the irrigation and fertilization; in the blooming inducement; in the harvest and shipping process; and in the market analyses. All the “know-how” developed through research in Taiwan made the species look vigorous, bright and attractive.

Wow, unbelievable to celebrate three times New Year on the same year! Let me explain I celebrated Jewish New Year, secular New Year and now Chinese New year and all of them in Taiwan.

Taiwan Culture is very unique to the world, it has many interesting and new stuff to try and experience which is exciting to look forward to while here in Taiwan. Apart from the friendly, kind and generous people in Ping Tung that help us in anyway possible, we also have a variety of aromatic food. These foods varies from stinky tofu, fried rice, fried chicken, fry noodles, rice and noodle gratin, barbequed squid, dumplings and the list can go on.

        I have a healthy appetite, any one who knows me will not hasten to differ, but I have found that my pallets were aroused to one of Taiwan’s yummy soups. I must admit though that I am not a big fun of soups, but that decision was instantly changed when I was introduced to a rich white, creamy, thick, milk like corn soup with beef filled, juicy white flour dumplings.  If one had said to me prior to coming to Taiwan that I would be indulging myself in a bowl of soup with no remorse I would gladly say, “I don’t think so!”

Talk about something so common in the everyday life is quite difficult, and more over when somebody suddenly asks you; it is not because you don’t know the topic, but because you have never stopped to think about it… not until now, at least. It has past three months since I arrived Taiwan and although I have already tried so many Taiwanese dishes the opportunity to decide the favorite one never appeared, maybe because there was always a new dish to try or because among those who just came to Taiwan it is not possible for us to say that we have already tried everything, and I think we are always expecting a new Taiwanese culinary surprise. Well, focusing again in the initial question, what my favorite Taiwanese food is?, I think my response can start with a little background for the reader to be able to understand my final choice.

Cambridge Advanced Learner’s dictionary defines food as something that people, and animal eat, or plant absorb, to keep them alive”. Based on the aforesaid definition, I will describe Taiwan as a nation that has enough food for her people, animals and plants. There are multitudes of food for human consumption. The same assumption is true for plants because the fruit stores are, always jam-packed with a spectrum of varieties of fruits

There is lot to eat in Taiwan. Since I arrived to this beautiful country, in August 2008, I am always considering how to manage my overweight. Frankly, I do not have any problem eating Taiwanese cuisine.