NSLI-Y 2026 Taiwan – Week 1
By: Arthur, Lincoln, and Liam
Week one of the NSLIY ACES Taipei cohort has been full of adventures, new experiences, Taiwanese cultural immersion, and, most importantly, many Chinese lessons. All 19 students have applied themselves diligently in Chinese and are excelling in their studies, whether in the Dragon, Tiger, or Panda classes thanks to their hard work and the unwavering support of 劉老師 Teacher Liu, 張老師 Teacher Zhang, 葉老師 Teacher Ye, 潘老師 Teacher Pan, 南老師 Teacher Nan, Mike, Mick, Henry, the language partners, every host family, and all the NSLIY and Shih Chien staff.
We started this week off with orientation in Seattle, where we got to know each other and learned how to make the most of our time in Taipei. After a long and tiring 11.5-hour flight, we landed in Taipei on Saturday and met our host families.
Throughout the week, NSLIY students have started to figure out their study schedules, commute routes, host family routines, and explored many beautiful and captivating parts of the city. Below, you will find images and descriptions of NSLIY students’ adventures, highlights of the week, and class activities.
Here’s to a great first week in Taipei (despite the 10-day torrential downpour 😂)!
Group photo (Back: Pan Laoshi, Luis, John, Rohin, Liam, Lincoln, Nan Laoshi. Middle: Seraphina, Amelia, Cameron, Eila, Emilia, Arthur, Cadence, Eliza. Front: Lily, Veena, Anya, Alexia.)
TRAVEL ✈
Seattle to Taipei!!
(11.5 hour flight later ✈🗻➡🏯)
Departing Seattle, view from the plane.
A little rest on the plane.
In-flight meal.
Bus pickup at Taoyuan Airport!
Arriving at Shih Chien University!
南老師 (Nan Laoshi), Rohin, Eliza, Cameron, Emilia, and Lily trying the Doritos Century Egg flavored chips!
Some of the foods students tried in their first week.
Famous Lemon Pepsi 😋
NSLIY Taipei Cohort group picture at Shih Chien University
Shih Chien University tour.
Lily, Lincoln, Rohin, and Avi paying close attention in Chinese class.
John and Veena talking in Tiger class.
Seraphina and Vivaan listening to their teacher.
Cameron and Alexia hard at work.
Alexia, Eila, and Seraphina show off their SCU paper fans.
Chinese song class! They can SANGG y’all!
Cadence, Anya, Alexia, Emilia, and Seraphina.
Vivaan, Eila, Amelia, and Luis.
Veena, Eliza, Lily, and Arthur ready for class.
LANGUAGE PARTNERS 🧑🤝🧑
Rohin working with a language partner.
Eliza hard at work with her peer language partner.
HOST FAMILIES 👪
On Eliza’s first day in Taiwan, her host mom and sister took her to a music festival in Taipei, where they got a picture with one of the singers!
Cadence enjoyed a meal with her host family at Telamo Restaurant!
Anya having fun spending time with her host family at a surprise party thrown for their friend!
Arthur on a car ride with his host dad and his friends!
Lincoln posing up at a photo booth with his host family!
Liam hanging out with his host family at his host grandma’s house!
ADVENTURES IN TAIPEI ⛩
Cameron, Mike (SCU staff), Lincoln, Arthur, and Liam posing up outside a bubble tea shop!
Eila and Amelia working out at the gym! 💪
Anya, Alexia, and Emilia getting bubble tea!
Liam, Lincoln and Arthur the 三兄弟 (three brothers)!
Alexia, Emilia, Seraphina, and Anya checking out Shih Chien’s gift shop!
Arthur, Rohin, and Liam posing up with the owner of 胖哥哥 fried chicken shop!
Liam and Lincoln enjoying ice cream on a hot day!
Some meals students had, out with their host families.
OUT AND ABOUT IN TAIPEI
Exploring near Taipei 101.
Liberty Square Arch.
Dazhi bridge.
Summer rains in Taipei.
View of the MRT tracks.
Thanks for a great first week NSLI Y Taipei Cohort! This is going to be a great summer!!! ❤
