All posts filed under: Blog

How did I get started with biking?

Published by nnedi

Biking as a way to commute has gained a lot of attention in the past few years, but it is also something that I have personally always wanted to do. When I first learned how to ride, at that time my family and I only lived in a small 2 bedroom apartment in Fort Totten. My father would stand outside and watch us ride our bikes down the alley while fixing his car or chatting with the neighbors. If we went any further, he would get worried for we were so young at the time. When he wasn’t looking, I would sneak off with my sister and ride down to my cousins’ place (which was just literally a block down) to see if they were outside and say hi and I would ride right back. I wanted to re-live those times but extend it to more of an everyday thing. And this where it started: The transition to biking as a way to commute didn’t start till 2013 right before I graduated high school. I …

Where is home?

Published by nnedi

Nnedimma, you are always on the go. When are you coming back home? Nnedimma, are you flying home for the holidays? Do you have a set place you want to settle after you are done traveling? These are questions I get a lot of time from people. There’s no set time or place that I have in mind. I have no specific ideal or dream place that I want to be. And to be honest, I feel like I haven’t gone to enough places to answer this question. And even if I did, is it enough? Is it where I truly want to be? Do I want to have a place set out for me for the rest of my life? What am I exactly looking for? Maybe I should just be content of where I am? Will, I just hit a dead end? Growing up in the United States nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. to first generation to Nigerian born parents, DC was a very comfortable place for our family to live in. Even my …

How to Apply for the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship

Published by nnedi

What is this scholarship? The Ministry of Education (MOE) established the MOE Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (MOE HES) to enhance exchanges between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and countries designated by the MOE by encouraging foreign students to study Mandarin in Taiwan and to deepen their understanding of Taiwan’s cultural and social developments. Students can pick up a new language and learn more about the culture and history associated with Taiwan. Funding A monthly stipend of NT$25,000. (this money must be used to pay for tuition, rent, and living expenses combined) Duration: two months (summer courses), three months, six months, nine months, or 12 months. Travel to Taiwan and moving into an apartment are expenses not included in the scholarship amount. Please prepare for these expenses before you arrive to Taiwan. Date of the application period The application period is from Feb 1st till March 31st of every year (end date may vary) Required documents Completed PDF Application form Photocopy of your passport Photocopy of the certificate of the highest degree and transcript Photocopy of the …

Postcarding for Life

Published by nnedi

In second grade, my teacher introduced a PenPal program through our writing lessons where each student was assigned a pen pal. These pen pals were college students from a university in DC. So every once in a while, we would get a letter from them. For homework, we had to write a response to these letters. I really enjoyed this program a lot. The thought of receiving a letter from someone you don’t know, yet share their life to them was exciting to me. We learned how to write a letter, how to properly fill out the envelope, what kind of stamps to use etc. And this program continued on till around the end of fourth grade, and I didn’t have a chance to send letters since and was devastated. But when I graduated from high school, my really good friend of mine insisted that since we were going to university in different states that we should send letters to each other. Fun. And the letters began. As much as I love to talk to …

Before you come to Asia…

Published by nnedi

From working in a hostel and constantly interacting with tourists until now, I see a lot of things that can be done to make traveling to Asia (and in general) much more comforting and less stressful. Here are some things you can do before you decide to come over to the east. Do some research before you go There’s a ton of information out there about popular places you can visit in a country. From reading blogs, Trip Advisor, travel guides, watching Youtube videos, and even Reddit. Make a list of places you want to visit and make it happen when you arrive at your destination. Try to look up popular food to eat in each location so you can have a taste of a little of everything. Small steps made to prepare a trip before traveling will make the adventure go more smoothly. And hey, if you have a friend that lives in that country or city, ask for their advice too! But don’t also try to rely on them to be your tour …

Studying Chinese in China vs. Taiwan

Published by nnedi

I have studied in two major cities in China and Taiwan (Shanghai and Taipei) and there is not a ton of information online about these programs or yet someone who has done both and can openly share their experiences about it. I’ve been asked from different social outlets about mine and I want to express the major differences between the two and possibly help those decide which one may be a better fit for them. Disclaimer: My experience may be different compared to others. At the end of the day, this is my opinion on what I feel about the programs and maybe something you should consider before in deciding on which program may be better for you. Keep the facts I mention here in mind, but also take into account that maybe what I experience is different from others. Scholarship Details China Chinese Government Scholarship Bilateral Program pays for the tuition up front. Students can stay in the campus international student dormitory for free. If a student decides to change the housing type at …

Studying Chinese at NTNU’s Mandarin Training Center

Published by nnedi

National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) was the first school in Taiwan to open up a language program for foreign students starting in 1956 called the Mandarin Training Center (MTC). And to this day, its considered as the most popular school to attend and study Mandarin due to their high standards in teaching techniques, along with the books they’ve published used in class for foreign students. The building is located on: 129 Heping East Road, Sec. 1, Taipei City, Taiwan You can take the Green Line to Guting and take exit 5 walking down Heping East Road or you can also take the blue line to Taipower Building Station Exit 3 and walk straight down Shida Road where all the shops are down to the university. At the university, there will be a library in front and right behind it is the Bo Ai Building where students attend the Chinese Language Courses. Take the elevator up the 7th floor to access the classroom area, but if you need to talk to the staff, visit the 6th …

How to Make Friends While Living Abroad

Published by nnedi

Moving to another city is one thing, but moving abroad is an entirely different thing. A lot of things come to mind when it comes to moving such as the changes in the environment, food, people, culture…it can be a lot for many. Especially if someone moving to a new place for the first time without knowing too much of the location or what to expect. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some simple ways to meet people abroad easily Go on a walking tour I don’t know why it took me this long to go on a walking tour. But I went on my first one in Taiwan and was blown away by it. A walking tour is a great way to learn about the country’s history and getting to know the city on a local level. And because of my experience going on the tour, I was able to meet people and spend time with them for the weeks to come. I even met a local who I am …

How to do a Taiwanese Visa Run in Hong Kong

Published by nnedi

If you live in Asia long enough, maybe you’ll run into having to do a visa run. It gives you the right, the permission to stay longer in a certain country. Certain countries around Asia may require a visa whether its on arrival or bought beforehand. Make sure you look at the details of each country before you book your flight. For different requirements vary based upon the type of passport you have and what country your passport is from. When it comes to traveling to Taiwan as a US citizen, we can fly into Taiwan and get a visa on arrival for free for 90 days. After 90 days, its required to fly out of the country and either apply for a visa in any of their embassies in a nearby country or fly in/out right back with another 90 days of validity in the country. Some people who don’t mind taking the trip every 90 days will do so to a nearby country. For Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines are popular destinations …

Workaway in Hualien

Published by nnedi

What is workaway? Workaway is a platform that allows members to contact one another to organize homestays and cultural exchange. Volunteers or “Workawayers”, are expected to contribute a pre-agreed amount of time per day in exchange for lodging and food, which is provided by the host. Just for a small fee, for a year the user have access to hosts all over the world. Choose a country, set up the profile and message away. This is a great way to learn more about the places one visits and a great way to practice the local language and learn about the culture. Typically, volunteers are guaranteed a place to stay in exchange for 3-5 hours of work a day max 6 days a week. With the platform, users can read the list of available hosts and past experiences of volunteers time spent. Users can also look at what’s expected of the work and the incentives of working with that particular hosts. Some hosts may provide more than just accommodation such as free meals, bike rental, laundry, …

First Impressions of Taiwan

Published by nnedi

Everyone is super sweet! I feel like Taiwanese people really want to know and learn more from me. Some places I travel to, people start a conversation in trying to get something from you whether its to buy their product or some type of services, but the people here seem genuine. When I am lost, people go out of there way to help me even if they are not asked for and are very hardworking individuals. Great balance in their infrastructure and use of space From just living in Hualian and Taipei, Taiwan has a great balance between city and rural life in many of their cities. You could take a hike up one of their many mountains, bike on their designated trails, hang out in a park, go watch a movie, go out, sing it up in a KTV venue all without leaving the city. That food tho… Taiwan is a foodie destination. Known to have the best night markets in all of Asia with a variety of food to try. From Beef Noodles, …

Plans can change, but that’s ok

Published by nnedi

Some may take the time to plan out every single minute of a trip without realizing that something can happen, but you know what, that’s ok. When it comes to traveling, its essential to create options for yourself. Just in case if something goes wrong, there should always be a backup plan. And although my trip was pretty set on what I was going to do, anything and everything can happen. Two weeks ago, I got a message from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office in DC stating that I signed up for both the TUSA Program and the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship. Both of these programs are funded under the government, and “technically” I can only choose either of the two. Mind you, I received notification that I got both scholarships in February, but they didn’t notice until this May. Since I planned to stay in Taiwan for a year, I chose the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship. But here is where the problem lies: The Huayu Enrichment program is a 9-month program beginning in August. …

How does one pack for a year? Part 2

Published by nnedi

The first post I wrote on packing simply wasn’t enough and I simply didn’t go into full detail of the ins/outs of packing, so dive right here with me on what I pack and how I pack my belongings. The Luggage So what’s nice about international flights is that with most airlines, you can check in 2 bags for free under 50lbs (23kilos) so I always take advantage of that when I know I will be traveling for a long duration of time. In addition with that, you can carry on 2 bags essentially so, for example, a small carry on like a small roll-on suitcase along with a personal bag like a backpack or a purse. These bags must weigh no more than 20lbs each and must meet the size requirements to fit in the overhead bin. In terms of the type suitcases, I prefer to buy hard side luggage bags for they typically last longer and if you place something delicate inside them, the item is least likely to be damaged. And I …

Don’t Knock It Till You Try It: Hostels

Published by nnedi

Person: How do you afford to travel? Particularly like how do you afford to stay in hotels? Me: Who said I stay in hotels? Hostels all day, every day! Person: What? Aren’t they dangerous, dirty, and nasty??? Me: Let me rebunk that for you… “In a nutshell, a hostel is a budget-friendly type of accommodation that focuses on a shared social experience” – HostelWorld.com There’s this huge misconception that hostels are like a hole in the wall dorms where there are drunk people partying 24/7, having sloppy sex in the corner, and cockroaches flying everywhere. That definitely can be true for some, but not all. And I have stayed in well over 20+ hostels and for the most part, I have had nothing but great experiences. From traveling alone, meeting the best people, exchanging ideas and experiences along with just having great hospitality, accommodation, and simply just good vibes, I have no complaints. Just like going to a new restaurant (minus the overnight stay), its all about reading the reviews. The pictures of the spot …

How does one pack for a year abroad?

Published by nnedi

Yeah…good question. So if you haven’t noticed, I move around a lot. I lived in 3 states in the past year. That’s right, 3. California, Pennsylvania and DC. So imagine having to move around that much in a year. Its fun, but exhausting when you like to order a lot of stuff online like me. So how am I packing to live abroad you say? Well I am moving to Taiwan and as a tropic Asian country, there are a few things I have to bring. Deodorant Asians that grew up living in the east typically don’t use deodorant for they don’t perspire as much as other ethnicities do. And its simply just isn’t a thing to use in Asia. You can buy them in big chain stores, but they probably don’t carry the brands you want. I normally use multiple brands at a time and rotate them just to give myself some variety. And to go through one stick, it will take me about 3-4 months, maybe longer just because I don’t use so …

My first blog post

Published by nnedi

In less than 4 weeks from now, I am embarking another year abroad and I cannot be more than excited. When I left China on May 11th, 2016, I felt like my time wasn’t over. It felt like I had one stick of gum left in my pack and someone took half of it. I want my other half back. Chewing the half in my mouth just isn’t satisfying. And I told myself, I have to go back abroad. And here we are two years later about to embark on yet another journey abroad where I’ll be in Taiwan for the next 5 months following by China into the year of 2019 through the summer and I am more than excited. But let’s be honest here, there’s a lot of people who are wooting for me but many others who are confused and not happy with my decision including my own parents. “But Nnedimma, you worked at Google, how can you not take up on their offer?” That’s not my life. As much as I …