Chinese Gap Year in Taipei

Going into the program, I really had no idea what to expect. I hadn't done as much research as I should've, and was mostly thinking I'd do the work and then go home and explore alone. It ended up being one of the most transformative experiences of my life. The friends I made at CGY are no doubt ones I will keep for the rest of my life, in no small part thanks to the activities we undertook and the unique environment fostered by the small-scale classes. This was really something I had not expected going in, as I have a tendency to blunder socially. The small-scale classes also allow for you to have great amounts of practice, something I feel is missing from most other programs. It can be quite intensive at times, though I think that if you're willing to put in the work, your Mandarin will improve by leaps and bounds, while you'll still have plenty of time to spend doing whatever you want to do. Which, believe, there is plenty. Taipei is one of the biggest metropolises in the world, and there is an endless amount of things to do, to taste, and to see. I miss Taiwan every single day.

The teaching staff is excellent - specially selected from the larger ICLP program that CGY is a part of. They felt like more than just teachers, but also friends and mentors we could rely on. Many of us are still in contact with some of our teachers.

The activities planned are also incredibly unique and rewarding. Many of the things we did, I don't believe I would have ever done otherwise, like harvesting our own loose leaf tea from scratch, or coming along with aboriginal hunters in the mountains.

My mother was pleasantly surprised when I came back, admitting she had not expected my Mandarin to improve by this much at all.

Looking back, I don't think that - as much as I enjoyed my time in Taipei, I appreciated it quite enough. There is not a day that I don't think about the delicious food, the beautiful landscapes, or my closest friends that I left behind there, and if there were some opportunity to do something like this again, I would take it in a heartbeat.

I had the great opportunity to attend CGY for 9 months, and choosing to go to Taiwan and attend this program was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life, it taught me so much; about myself, Taiwan as a country, its people, culture language and heritage. The teachers were amazingly supportive and the activities extremely interesting and fun, yes it was a struggle. I started from scratch with no previous knowledge. But I’ve managed to come so far ever since then, I even met some amazing roommates and friends, which I will cherish for a long long time.