"Why Taiwan?" It is always the first question I get asked, and every time I am contemplating how much detail I should provide. Should I start with the fact that I’ve had this desire to leave Germany for as long as I can remember? Or perhaps my exchange experience in China when I was fifteen? But that is China and not Taiwan — a huge difference, I have to add, but more about that another time. Honestly, who knows.
There are so many factors, and in the end, it felt like all my past decisions led me to volunteering in Taiwan. And I am more than thankful that it happened.
When Giving Becomes Receiving
Many people ask me if it was hard to adapt to a culture so different from my own. To be honest, it felt surprisingly natural. It has gone so far that even the way I write the date has changed, placing the month before the day, just as they do here in Taiwan.
But the most profound shift happened in how I experience kindness. The excitement people show when sharing their culture is overwhelming. It made me realize how precious it is to do something for others without expecting anything in return. You might not visibly gain anything in that moment, but the warmth you exchange is unmatched.
Tainan: The Reunion That Felt Like Coming Home
After one and a half years, I finally managed to return to Taiwan to see my host family again. When they picked me up from the train station in Tainan, my mother even cried a little. My sisters hugged me and it felt like I had never been gone. Suddenly, my year abroad did not feel like a dream anymore; it became real — I actually lived here.
When I visited my old workplace, Yongkang Junior High School, some students told me they were now able to speak English confidently thanks to me. It really melted my heart. It opened my eyes to how much we keep underestimating the impact we can have on others.
This journey is far from over. Stay tuned as I continue to share more stories about my life between two worlds and the many lessons Taiwan keeps teaching me.