B.2 Why I’m Not in Taiwan (Yet)

A Plan Interrupted

My initial decision to study Chinese during my Bachelor’s degree was closely tied to one goal: spending time abroad in China or Taiwan. That was the central reason I chose the programme.

However, this plan changed abruptly when COVID-19 disrupted international mobility. I remember preparing applications and considering partner universities in China, only to be informed that borders were closing and foreign students would no longer be able to enter. At the time, I shifted my focus to Taiwan, adapting to traditional Chinese in my coursework and assessments in the hope that it might remain accessible.

Shortly afterwards, Taiwan also closed its borders. What had initially been a clear academic pathway became uncertain, and the idea of studying Chinese abroad was put on hold.

An Unfinished Direction

Despite this interruption, the intention to study in Taiwan remained. After visiting Taiwan in 2023 as a tourist, the idea became more concrete. It was no longer only an academic goal, but something connected to lived experience.

At the same time, self-funding a longer stay was not immediately feasible. As a result, applying for the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship by the Taiwanese Government became the most realistic route.

I approached the application with a clear narrative: positioning COVID-19 as a lost opportunity, outlining my academic background, and including TaiwanThreads as an example of ongoing engagement with Taiwanese culture and language. I focused on presenting a coherent direction and did not seriously consider the possibility of rejection.

The Outcome

When the response arrived, I was placed on a waitlist.

While not a definitive rejection, it meant that the outcome was uncertain and, ultimately, outside my control. The result required a reassessment of what had previously felt like a clear next step.

It took some time to process this. The expectation had not been based on entitlement, but on the assumption that the trajectory made sense — that further language study, combined with existing experience, would be a logical continuation.

Reconsidering the Path

The result did not change the underlying goal, but it did change the approach.

Rather than relying on institutional pathways, I began to consider alternatives. Language immersion does not need to follow a single route, and while scholarships can accelerate access, they are not the only way to continue.

This shift also placed greater emphasis on independent work. TaiwanThreads, which had initially been a parallel project, became more central — not as a substitute for formal study, but as a way to stay engaged with language, culture, and ongoing reflection.

What Comes Next

At this stage, the direction is less defined than before, but not absent.

The goal of returning to Taiwan remains. What has changed is the timeline and the method of getting there. Instead of depending on a single opportunity, the focus is now on building flexibility — both financially and professionally — to create that possibility independently.

I have to admit that being placed on a waitlist disrupted my path more than I initially expected. What made it more difficult was not only the result itself, but also how unclear the selection process felt from the outside — particularly when comparing different outcomes across applicants.

At the same time, it became clear that relying solely on institutional pathways may not be sufficient. Funding language study independently is now a more realistic route, even if it requires a longer timeline and more gradual progress.

The intention, however, has not changed. I have not given up on the goal of studying Chinese in Taiwan — even if, for now, it takes a different form or a shorter duration, such as a six-month stay.

For the moment, the focus is on building towards that possibility in a way that is sustainable and self-directed.

Curious what came next? Continue with B.3 — What My Life Looks Like Now — After Freelancing, AI, and Returning to Europe