留学回顾
我现在是牛津大学二年级的学生，我的专业是中文 ，我已经学了两年的中文了。由于牛津中文系规定二年级学生必须在中国留学一年，我从2015年9月初到2016年6月末在北京住了。我决定7月到台湾参加一个一对一的口语教程，而这个John Speak机构提供一笔奖学金。我可以肯定地说：这一年的留学经验给我留下了深刻的印象，让我获益良多。
我觉得我应该给读者介绍一点点台湾的历史。台湾从古到今都有原住民，可是明代有一些华人从福建来了这里，在16世纪葡萄牙殖民者也来到了台湾，他们把台湾称为「福尔摩萨」，意思是完美的岛。直到1949年蒋中正和国民党逃离中国，他们到台湾建立了中华民国。
西方人都不习惯台湾的气候。我觉得应该住上一年才可能应付。台湾的夏天气特别候热得要命。每天中午我到师大必定汗流浃背。还不到一个星期我的皮肤已经晒红了。去沙滩玩过一趟使我更红了。我期待回英国就恢复原状。
由于我刚从中国大陆来台湾，我忍不住把中国和台湾的生活相比。对于食衣住行，中国大部分跟不上台湾。可是无论有没有差别，中国大陆也有很多值得一探究竟的风景。我认为台湾人跟大陆人一样友好，但是台湾人更多了一点的礼貌和文明。今年有好几次一个过路人停下来帮我找一个地方或者办一件事情。中国和台湾各有特色，而我知道未来几年我一定会回来这两个国家。
虽然我只住在台北一个月就离开，但是我的中文突飞猛进了。大部分的进步来自于老师的教法和我结交的朋友，特别是我的室友们。但是不管我的中文进步得怎么样，一个月太短了。我还没离开，可是我已经在打算下一次再回来台湾。
未来年当我怀念台湾的时候，我一定感到开心中带著伤悲。虽然我一定会再来，但是我等不及了！
View-of-Taipei-from-Elephant-Mountain
ENGLISH:
Looking Back on My Year Abroad
I am currently in my second year at Oxford University, studying Chinese. I have already been studying Chinese for two years. In my institute a year abroad is compulsory and so from the beginning of September 2015 to the end of June 2016 I lived in Beijing. I decided to come to Taiwan in July for a 1-1 spoken Chinese course, and this organisation offered to sponsor me. I can definitely say that this year has left a deep impression on me, and been beneficial in so many ways.
I think it is fitting for me to give a little background to Taiwanese history. There has always been an indigenous population here, but during the Ming Dynasty some Han peoples came to Taiwan from Fujian. In the 16th Century the Portuguese colonialists came to Taiwan and named it Formosa, meaning beautiful island. Lastly, in the 1949 Chang Kai-Shek and the KMT fled from China, they arrived in Taiwan and established the ROC.
Westerners are generally never accustomed to the Taiwanese climate, I think you would have to live here for at least a year, and only then could you possibly handle the weather.
Taiwanese Summer is particularly boiling! Every day at midday I would arrive at my university covered in sweat. Before one week was done I had already burnt, and a trip to the beach only worsened this. I’m waiting for when I get back to England and my sunburn can heal a little.
As a result of just having come from China, I couldn’t help but compare China and Taiwan. Regarding lifestyle, China, in most respects, cannot compete with Taiwan. But regardless of the differences, China still has plenty of beautiful places, all well worth a visit. I think Taiwanese and Chinese people are both equally friendly, but Taiwanese people are a little more polite and courteous. Several times this year a passer-by stopped to help me find a location or deal with something pressing. China and Taiwan both have their merits, and I know I will certainly come back to both places.
Although I will only have lived in Taiwan and left after a month, my Chinese has still progressed far. The majority of my progression was due to my teacher’s methods and the friends I made, especially my roommates. But regardless of how my Chinese has progressed, one month is indeed too short. I still haven’t left but I’m already planning the next time I come back to Taiwan.
In the coming years when I remember Taiwan, I will surely be happy but of course a little sad too. Although I will definitely come back, it’s a long time to wait!