Overseas Taiwanese Summer Program

[ibneko]

http://www.nsc.gov.tw/otsp/

This summer program is part of the NSC's overall effort to recruit new generations of overseas Taiwanese for the purpose of raising Taiwan's overall competitiveness. This generation possesses the language abilities, professional expertise, and international savvy that are advantageous to Taiwan's S&T industries and manpower needs. Building a strategic liaison with this generation can attract long-term returnees for the future, infuse fresh energy into Taiwan's workforce, and ultimately increase international support for Taiwan.

My parents want me to go, but I'm feeling very reluctant, and I'm not too sure while... At the moment, I think it's because:
-I'm being shy and not want to face an entirely strange environment.
-I don't particularily want to live in the house of one of my Taiwanese relatives. It's always somewhat awkward.
-I had plans to pick up all of C/++ and become proficient in it, for both mac and PC apps - being in Taiwan would make that a bit harder. Internet isn't going to be readily available either. XP
-If anything goes wrong with my iBook, it's going to be hard as hell to get support. While I'm sure there's an Apple store somewhere... :P
-I do still speak chinese. I think.
-It would cause problems with my vague plans to go visit Karen and other people.
-And that above paragraph? Yes, I'd like to help Taiwan, but I would also like to be compensated with more than $1,000 USD. 'cause in all honesty, I don't think that's enough. 5 weeks, and I'm expecting a 40 hours a week sort of thing = 200 hours. That's less than minimum hourly wage, yo. Yes, this is an unpaid internship. However, if they really wanted a "strategic liaison with this generation can attract long-term returnees for the future, infuse fresh energy into Taiwan's workforce, and ultimately increase international support for Taiwan", shouldn't they offer something more attractive? Paid travel fare, in addition to living costs would have been the minimum, I think. (the $1000 is just supposed to be the living costs. And we're supposed to arrange our own living and such, as well.) Or maybe I'm expecting too much.
-Knowing me, I'll be lonely and bored. And unwilling to go out and meet people, since I don't care for bars and clubs, and I'd feel strange to wander out for such, while I'm a guest at someone's house. If I lived alone, on the other hand, that'd be ok.

Advantages would be:
-Something for my resume. Internship in a foreign country, for (possibly) a national science institute. Would be nice there. Maybe.
-Brushing up on chinese. Whee. And maybe I'll pick up a bit of Taiwanese, too.
-My parents would be happier with me doing something "productive". Or something like that. At least my mom will stop nagging.
-...I can't think of anything more.

Garrrrrr. Opinions?

Comments

[shanrina.livejournal.com]

I think they figure that getting to visit another country is its own reward...there are people who aren't given any money at all to go to another country. But it doesn't sound like you're too enthusiastic to go so maybe not...if you don't think you would enjoy it then maybe you shouldn't go, and it definitely seems like you don't want to go all that much. You could work in MD this summer, make money, and then maybe go to Taiwan some other time. You could brush up on Chinese and get stuff to put on your resume while in MD too. Normally I'm not one to advocate for people to _not_ visit another country, but you already have tentative goals for your summer. OTOH, I can't be sure if the reluctance is just a temporary thing or not...I know when I went to England I was close to running out of the airport before I left so I could stay with the familiar. I don't know if this helped anything, but good luck making your choice.

[ibneko.livejournal.com]

Mrf. Either way, I'll get to visit Taiwan this summer anyways, 'cause of family plans and such, but...

(And thank you)

[marbenais.livejournal.com]

Give me a year to take basic Chinese and I'll go with you.

I'm serious.

Not like they'd take me, but, damn.

[ibneko.livejournal.com]

Mrrr... we'd probably have different jobs, and possibly be in different cities, and you'd probably have to find your own housing, somehow, since it's not provided... although the provided $35,000 NT (30-something NT = $1 USD) would be sufficient for an apartment in Taiwan... They appear to be $100-200 USD per month, as noted here: http://www.canuckabroad.com/overseasjobs/taiwan/housing.shtml (The page may interest you? It's about teaching english in taiwan...)

[crowbaress.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll do that. In like, ten years.

Bi-khim Hsiao (Taiwan Legislator) – One of the youngest female politicians in Taiwan, Ms. Hsiao is currently a member of Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and represents the DPP’s overseas Taiwanese constituency. Ms. Hsiao is a graduate of Oberlin College and Columbia University.

I think I may actually have heard her speak when she (or someone else I'm confusing with her) came to visit the Taiwan Camp I was with. She was a good speaker, but I still fell asleep because at that point, we were partying all night, every night. Aah, the memories.