Life in Hualian is amazing and is a huge draw as to why you would pick this school over others. I'll get to the school in a bit, but first you must know that because Hualian is more rural, you are able to practice Chinese outside more with locals (however a lot of the older generation's first language would be Taiwanese or other aboriginal languages, therefore different accents) as almost everyone speaks standard Mandarin. Compared to schools situated in Taipei or other west side situated Mandarin Language learning schools, the youth know less English and are therefore more comfortable speaking with you in Chinese.
If you are a nature lover, a more laid back person, an adventure, and enjoy clean air, then Hualian is definitely your style. It is also much cheaper here with tons of cheaper (comparative to Taipei) fresh fruit and vegetables. There is river tracing, hiking mountains, swimming in rivers, surfing (yes! however no "friendly sandy beaches" really), wild hot springs (and resorted ones) nearby. That being said, if you crave the city life and it's exciting energy then Hualian is a poor choice as you may find yourself bored... all depends on your perspective. Also to add, organized sports here are lacking.
On to the school itself; the campus is a beautiful, relaxing, scenic (right beside the gorgeous mountains) place to study mandarin. Class sizes are relatively small and allow you to interact a lot rather than just listening. !!!IMPORTANT!!! The class is taught by following a book you buy when you arrive there, so if you are paying with your own money, it is important to figure out if you need a classroom setting with a teacher to learn the material. Often it is a good idea, however be wary, as the Chinese educating system is different than a western one. I find they sometimes value following a rigid and linear educative system, rather than allowing a students mind to best connect the dots. Thinking outside the box here is not as rewarded or at the very least, as supportive (might just be an extension of the complete Chinese education system, not just Tzu Chi... so take that in mind when you first feel the ambition to take on this language and thus it's culture). Obviously I need to give an example to make this idea more concrete. I would often ask questions that are related to the material at hand, however it was not in the teachers agenda to teach, and therefore the teacher was a bit hesitant to answer and more treated my question as a side track instead of a chance to learn. Nevertheless, the teachers are extremely helpful in that they willingly would stay after class to answer my questions if I still had them.
Break this paragraph up a bit. The actual skill of the teaching was good. My first semester teacher was very good in the sense of managing time and instructing a class, having a healthy balance between order and chaos, and also having great teaching techniques and a good attitude. My second semester teacher seemed to have a harder time adjusting to the class at first, but maintained a very good attitude and tried hard to accommodate everyone's learning style as the semester progressed. I understand it can be tough instructing students who have educational backgrounds from different continents, and thus different expectations. Moreover, often the teachers would stay during break time and answer any questions, and also after class, signifying that they care a lot about the students' Chinese language progression.
In conclusion, I had an absolute eye opening and wonderful experience living in Hualian, and attending Tzu Chi University. You also get to meet people that have a similar perspective of living in a more relax place like Hualian, I know I've met some friends for life. I would often go run beside the mountains, and swim in the rivers before class. Go to the beach to watch the beautiful sun set, watch the fish jump out of the water in the estuary. It's really a perfect place to kick start your Chinese, or continue it. I always said, and say, that Hualian is a mandarin learner's paradise.
