Hello everybody, it’s been about a week since my last video was recorded and I am quickly approaching my last few weeks in Taiwan and this will be my last blog post as a result. With this in mind I thought it would be a useful exercise to use this blog post as a sort of lessons learned activity to both help me make better choices in these last few weeks and to help someone else in the future possibly.
So I figured I would just first start off elaborating on who I am and what this will be mostly useful for, as in my situation I am fairly introverted and thus the advice and mistakes I will mention are mostly focused around that.
First, establishing the level of introvert that I am, though this is kind of a confidence builder for people who also have had it as bad before, is that I used to be in a position where I’d freeze up immediately upon being in a conversation I didn’t expect. This was never a good situation but throughout my time in my undergrad I eventually brute forced my way out of this stage. But the echoes of this problem still remain, for example my main struggle today is in initiating a conversation, for whatever reasons I’m often too shy or panicked to just walk up to some and say hello, whether this be at networking events or something less formal.
Now if you’re in a similar position to myself this is obviously a problem when trying to establish yourself in a foreign country, especially since you’re using a language you might not be fully confident in. With this in mind I have found it helpful to try and look back at steps that helped me get out of the super introverted stage. For example, if initiating conversations is challenging, try just getting smaller, manageable goals for yourself. Aim to start one conversation a week with someone new. It doesn’t have to be long or even much of a conversation at all. You just have to push yourself to do it, then just keep gradually increasing that type of interaction each week and it can help build confidence and make the foreign settings feel less intimidating.
Next, you should try and look for social events or groups that align with your interests. You don’t have to go on nightly group outings to get a rich experience, even if it’s just in a small study group. These smaller activities allow for deeper conversations that can help improve your language skills more, these can be anything from looking for posters for on campus activities for your program, or just looking for activities at cool locations, for example, the national theater in Taiwan often had smaller events that have been easy to attend with a small friend group, and most places should have at least one activity that is similar!
Though with this in mind, if you’re someone like me whose social battery runs out pretty quick, it’s also important to try and balance out social activities with time to recharge. You don’t need to be doing things every day to get a rich experience and you could just end up spoiling it for yourself and make sure not to put down the success you’ve had! No matter how small your accomplishments might seem, at the end of the day you’re navigating a foreign country while using a foreign language so even just a small conversation going well should be seen as a great success.
Now as my time in Taiwan comes closer and closer to an end, I hope these reflections and tips can offer some guidance to those who may find themselves in a similar position to my own. Remember, personal growth comes from pushing past your comfort zones! (but not too much!) and every small achievement is a step toward greater confidence. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and best of luck to everyone navigating their own adventures abroad!
Cole Rubin, M.A. in Asian Studies
Sigur Center 2024 Language Fellow
Taiwan
