Sydney Hirayama
December 13, 2023
After spending over seven months in Taiwan, I truly feel like I have gained unforgettable life experiences.
After spending over seven months in Taiwan, I truly feel like I have gained unforgettable life experiences. Over the summer, I had a long three-month break, and I had more opportunities to fully explore Taiwan. First, I went to a sunflower field in Taoyuan, which was about a three-hour journey to get there. Although it was the middle of summer and close to 100 degrees, the fields were so beautiful and the trip was definitely worth it. I also got to explore Taipei as well. I went to an ice skating rink, a bathroom-themed restaurant, and even a capybara cafe. More so, since Taiwan is very close to other Asian countries, I got to travel to Thailand with my mom and South Korea with some close friends.
Despite not wanting summer to end, I was also really excited for the semester to start because I could start my internship. I applied for a medical company that helps their customers have a better time sleeping. My tasks include translating English user manuals into Chinese, reception work, participating in weekly meetings and presenting on sleep related topics, and shadowing my company when they frequently visit Taida Hospital. Overall, I really enjoy my internship and I believe that I am gaining valuable practice and experience for when I want to be a doctor. I also think it is really beneficial in learning different aspects of Chinese that I do not usually learn in school. For example, speaking to clients in formal Chinese and learning cultural etiquette is a very valuable skill to have.
Overall, I am really enjoying my time in Taiwan. The connections and friendships that I have made will definitely stay with me for a lifetime. I also believe that my Chinese is improving in ways that I didn’t even expect. I believe that Flagship is an outstanding and memorable program, and the experiences are those that you can only encounter once in a lifetime.
I believe that Flagship is an outstanding and memorable program, and the experiences are those that you can only encounter once in a lifetime.
Sydney Hirayama joined Chinese Flagship in Spring 2021. Sydney was drawn to the Flagship Program because of the opportunities to delve into the Chinese language and embrace her culture. Growing up as a Taiwanese American, she was surrounded by both English and Chinese. As a pre-med student, Sydney has been looking forward to Capstone especially since a medically-related internship would be invaluable to her professional development.
Previously: Capstone Preparation Experience Reflection Sydney Hirayama Spring 2023-Fall 2023 Capstone Cohort
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