Nine students from Montana Technological University spent two weeks this summer at Minghsin University of Science and Technology in Taiwan, getting an introduction to culture, language, and advanced technology.
“This was my first time leaving the country, and it was extremely life-changing,” said Evan Johnson, a civil engineering student from Fullerton, California. “The cultural experience and learning opportunities are something I’ll carry with me forever.”
The students were led by Student Success and Internship Coordinator Cindy Wier and Geological Engineering Department Head Dr. Glenn Shaw.
Computer science, cyber security, and network administration student Hunter Abbott had never traveled outside of the United States before, but is now researching options for obtaining university credit in a semester-long study abroad program.
“As soon as I heard about the Taiwan trip, I knew I wanted to go,” Abbott said. “Getting to see chip fabrication firsthand and being in the labs for a while was a wonderful experience for a computer science major.” Students learned Mandarin and culture classes and studied chip fabrication. They posed for photos wearing an autographed clean suit used by Governor Greg Gianforte when he toured a chip manufacturing plant in Taiwan. They visited such sights as Taipei 101, the world’s largest building.
Radiologic technology student Ryan Burnham, of Belt, Montana, liked the people and the food.
“The people were great and the food was great,” Burham said. “It was also very reasonable, compared to the U.S.”
The group dined from street stalls to sushi restaurants on foods ranging from fried chicken balls, crab triangles, and octopus. The group enjoyed themselves when not in school. They would walk miles each day, take the train to a city nearby, and immerse themselves in Taiwanese culture. Others even chose to indulge in Japan for a short while on the way back home.
“The language difference and cultural differences weren’t as tough as I thought they would be,” Abbott said. “It was hectic—we were constantly learning or exploring—but that’s what made it so valuable. For the price, it’s an amazing opportunity that you can’t find on your own.”
