When I first arrived, facing weather colder than Taiwan’s and being surrounded by various foreigners was both exciting and nerve-wracking for me. Through communicating with my host family, I learned a lot: I realized they value sleep very much, usually turning off the lights and going to bed by 9 PM. Coming from Taiwan, where I am used to staying up late, I found it a bit difficult at first but gradually adapted. If I do stay up late, I try my best not to disturb them. Besides us, there is also a Japanese teacher staying with the host family, and through conversations with her, I learned that she came here for a program as well.
The host family has a pet rabbit, and the surrounding ecosystem is rich. They mentioned needing to be careful of a speckled bird that is aggressive and might attack humans. The neighborhood is beautiful, and there is a convenient shopping area about a 10-minute walk away where I can eat or shop, as well as a grocery store for snacks. The education here is also convenient; my host family mentioned they moved here because it was easier for school.
Every day, the host family prepares different styles of cuisine, which I look forward to. I feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to broaden my horizons and learn about the local culture, which I will bring back to Taiwan to share with my friends and family.