Sophie Hankin's Rotary Exchange Program to Taiwan

My name is Sophie Hankin and I went on a Rotary Youth Exchange to Taiwan between years 2024-2025. Last week I honourably represented my Rotary district 9660, and Catherine McAuley Catholic College as their first exchange student ever. The Rotary Youth Exchange Program offers students a unique opportunity to embark on the journey of a life time, encouraging personal growth and cultural education. Some of the most amazing aspects of my exchange were: My school, culture shocks, friends, solo travelling, and the end.

School for me in Taiwan for the most part was enjoyable. I never experienced any kind of racism or discrimination; in fact it was the total opposite. I got gifts daily from chocolates to necklaces, and the students were all very curious about me.  They would yell my name, we’d take photos together, and practice English/Chinese. The floor toilets were a shock and my school was cleaned by the students. I was in the Tourism department so I would help in English class and we would go on excursions outside of class. The biggest culture shock initially for me was functionality > aesthetics. In comparison to Australia, Taiwan is less modern and less environmentally friendly. Taiwan has a fast service culture and their people really like eating all of the organs of an animal, especially on Chinese New Year. Overall, Taiwanese people are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, they’re so welcoming and helped me whenever I was struggling to get around.

My favourite part of my entire exchange was friends, they are what made my best moments. We’d make last minute plans and then talk for hours, have picnics along the lakes, have dinner dates, riding in the city at night, and karaoke until 5am. I got along really well with my districts and have made lifelong friends despite our different upbringing and culture. The trips we get throughout the year were the valuable memories. Penghu is the Hawaii of Taiwan; those three nights have to be the best of my life. It was totally chaotic, but the exchange students and I had bounds of fun with different activities including wandering the rainbow bridge, falling off jetskis, fishing, and eating cactus ice cream. On the last night of the trip, we went to watch the incredible fireworks and saw the sunrise while roaming the streets together having to give each other piggybacks because our feet were so tired.

On exchange you have to learn how to find comfort and peace in solitude, I had to learn how to totally be independent. I did anything you can think of alone, I ate at restaurants, shopped, fed myself, caught a plane and public transport in another language, hiked, explored the city and countryside, rode bikes, went to the cinema, museum, and church, all alone. I decided to completely block my comfort zone by doing so I met the most amazing people. I learnt a language that has over 1 billion native speakers (imagine the number of new friends and connections I can make now!), and I have gained a deeper understanding of what values like gratitude really are, not realizing the things, people, and places I had until I didn’t. Taiwan wasn’t even my first choice, but I absolutely adore their culture, nature, city, language, and people; and my amazing city, Keelung.