100th Year, First Semester Exchange Student － Zeng Jin-Hong
Being an exchange student is a wonderful experience, and more importantly, a rare one. For students, the greatest reward isn’t simply acquiring academic information from abroad. While it’s undeniable that academic exchanges between countries can enhance knowledge and culture, the biggest gain is definitely the exchange experience itself. The six months are limited, and learning doesn’t end in just six months, but this period serves as a stepping stone for future development and broadening one’s horizons. Therefore, the biggest benefit is the daily experience of life and learning, while integrating and communicating with local culture and geography. No one can evaluate the economic benefits of a six-month exchange, but if you view it as a butterfly effect, you’ll realize its true impact at some point in the future. We seize the opportunity, with both excitement and fear, to experience new countries, step outside our comfort zones, learn, make friends, and adapt to new environments, thus unknowingly growing. This is the greatest gain! Many people think that the high cost of living in Europe or overseas means they should pass on such an opportunity. However, once you experience it, you’ll realize that through exploring life, people’s ability to learn and adapt is strong, and you will find ways to save money. Another group of people can’t see the benefits of this half-year experience and, for them, the potential benefits are unappealing, so they choose to give up. This half-year investment of time might disrupt their usual pace. For example, I am currently in graduate school, and my thesis research might be slower than others. Graduation is not guaranteed on a set schedule, but I know I am not just pursuing a diploma and trying to write my thesis quickly. Some people lack confidence in their foreign language skills and fear communication barriers. This is a valid concern. However, I chose to face my shortcomings with courage instead of avoiding them. Avoidance doesn’t have a huge impact, but it misses an opportunity for growth. Of course, after deciding to face it bravely, I found that it wasn’t as difficult as I had thought. Living abroad, you have to learn to be independent and handle many things. But it’s always better to have companions to support each other in case of any unforeseen issues. Being an exchange student isn’t just about acquiring knowledge. If you have the chance, travel and experience different things. Facing such situations makes life more practical, and these are things we must learn and handle. Additionally, you will see many different things, which can spark creativity for the future, whether academically or in the workplace. However, everything requires diligent learning to make the rewards more evident!
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100th Year, First Semester Exchange Student － Huang Zhi-Qi
Coming to Germany as an exchange student was a novel experience for me. I had never been outside of Asia before, and when I landed and looked around, I saw foreigners with white skin and blue eyes, with only a few of us being Asian. Once we left the airport, someone was there to pick us up and take us to our dormitory, and then we were shown around to buy some daily necessities and familiarize ourselves with the small town we’d be staying in. I was truly grateful for this arrangement. We arrived in Germany one week before the semester started, and after taking care of the essentials, we went to explore nearby cities before classes began. I saw many things that are not available in Taiwan and experienced the German way of life. In order to survive, I had to force myself to speak English with the locals. After classes started, outside of regular class time, we also had some holidays, which we used to travel to different cities. The way classes are conducted in Germany is very different from Taiwan. Here, teachers often ask students questions, which wasn’t something I experienced much in previous classes. At first, I just listened to my classmates' opinions, but once I got used to this style of learning, I found it much more interesting. In my studies, I learned some useful vocabulary from my German classes, which helped me understand everyday conversations when shopping or walking around the town. In my "Project in Industry" course, I visited a factory that manufactures railway track converters, where I helped assess and monitor their production efficiency. In "International Business," I learned about the development status of European, American, and Asian countries, and how China’s rapid growth has sparked interest among European countries to enter the Chinese market, with some trends discussed. Finally, in my seminar, I gained insights into the importance of logistics in the development of both Germany and China and the differences between them.
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100th Year, First Semester Exchange Student － Cao Fang-Wei
On September 6th, I finally landed in Frankfurt. Peter Walker, who had been an exchange student in Taiwan before, and his brother picked us up at the airport. The first thing we noticed was how friendly the Germans were. We embarked on this educational journey in Germany, which I believe will be an unforgettable experience for life. After attending classes here, I realized that the way Germans learn is very different from the Taiwanese way. From an educational perspective, it’s clear that German students don’t have many quizzes, and attendance is usually not taken. Their learning style is more self-directed. Their classmates are also not shy to interact with teachers directly, and I think this is something Taiwanese students can learn from. Another reason might be related to the educational environment and mindset. Personally, I think the German system is quite good, as students who want to learn do so on their own, while those who don’t seek other alternatives. This is a model that Taiwan should learn from. Coming to Germany has been even more rewarding, as every student in the program must work on a project with a company. This semester, I worked on a project with the renowned German company Siemens. Through this, I gained many experiences that I wouldn’t have gotten in Taiwan. When I return to Taiwan, I will bring back the knowledge I gained. I also plan to use this opportunity to improve my German skills and earn a German language proficiency certificate. Another advantage of studying here, aside from mastering my major, is that my language skills have improved rapidly due to the environment. I’m really happy about this. During my time here, I also made many friends from countries other than Germany, which allowed me to experience the charm of our global village.
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100th Year, First Semester Exchange Student － Cai Qiao-Qi
Since my major is German and my minor is logistics, coming to Germany to study logistics management was a win-win opportunity. Not only could I apply my German skills, but I also had the chance to learn about Germany’s logistics management knowledge and perspectives. I’m really happy to have had this opportunity. After arriving in Germany, I realized that many of my previous ideas about Germany weren’t necessarily accurate. Before, I thought Germans were rigid and didn’t joke around, but after coming here, I met many warm-hearted Germans who helped me a lot. Although the term “rigid” still applies to the way Germans work, they are efficient because they like to ensure everything is perfectly done, which is why products made in Germany are almost flawless. However, it’s true that Germany’s nightlife can be dull. Most stores close by 8 p.m., and there are no 24-hour convenience stores or night markets like in Taiwan. Germans value quality of life, so they rest when it’s time to rest. You can even find flowers being sold in regular supermarkets to help improve the quality of life. I’m really glad to have come to Germany—not just as a tourist, but to experience local life. This experience is unique and very special to me.
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100th Year, First Semester Exchange Student － Zheng Congheng
Germany is a country full of artistic atmosphere, with beautiful mountains, rivers, and ancient castles. The air is fresh, and there's a lot of greenery. However, it's quite different from Taiwan and the United States. The houses and cars are small, the German trains are often delayed and ticket checks are frequent, and the highways usually only have two lanes. But the fact that there are no speed limits is certainly a great perk, and you can have a couple of beers and still drive without being considered drunk. People here love to smoke and drink beer. Although Germans love their beer, it's best not to drink tap water, as it might make your kidneys work as a filter. Germans enjoy cold food, which is typically high in sodium and calories. They also love to take vacations, and it feels like they've let go of their own economy. The McDonald's here is open only 23 hours, and the general work efficiency is low; everything is done in a very methodical way. Most Germans are rather indifferent to foreigners, and in general, their English skills are not very good, though they tend to have a high opinion of themselves. However, we also made some good friends here. Overall, Germany is a suitable place for studying, but if you come in the winter, be prepared for the cold. The cost of living is high, everything costs money—from using the restroom to asking for ketchup. The most ridiculous thing is that taking a passport photo costs NT$100, and the student dormitory doesn't have internet, so you have to install it yourself.
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