Cultural Assimilation of Immigrants in Taiwan
Leaving Your Roots Behind
What is Cultural Assimilation?
Cultural assimilation refers to the process in which a minority group or culture assumes the behaviors, values, rituals, and beliefs of their host nation’s majority group.
Why is Cultural Assimilation relevant to Taiwan?
Have you ever met international students in Taiwan?
If so, have you ever tried understanding their cultural background and their struggles to fit in?
Let's take a look to some of their thoughts.
International students' thoughts
Indonesia
Name: Hong Youqing
Age: 19
Years living in Taiwan: around a year.
"I will try my best to adapt to the new environment through finding a" substitute" for something. For example, I do not adapt light taste of Taiwan cuisine so I will buy spicy sauce from an Indonesian style truck shop"
Vietnam
Name: Xu JinJing
Age: 21
Years living in Taiwan: around 3 years.
"I came to Taiwan alone when I was 18 and I faced abundant obstacles in daily life and academic aspects due to the language barrier."
Philippines
Name Diorella Olivia Santos
Age 18 years old
Years living in Taiwan: around 3 months.
"It is frustrating to know that the place where you are from could do more, be better, and offer more"
Thailand
Name: He li fang
Age: 20
Years living in Taiwan: one and a half years.
"It was hard to adapt to Taiwanese culture at first and I often feel homesick because I miss my family and friends back in Thailand"
Malaysia
Name: Wu xin ru
Age: 20
Years living in Taiwan: one and a half years.
"Taiwanese instantly think that I am Malay and wonder why am I able to speak Mandarin. They don't understand there are three main races in my country and I am a Malaysian Chinese; therefore, can speak Mandarin very well."
Let's hear them out!
This house represents Taiwan, and, in each window, you will find the story of international students from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand.
The reason why these 5 countries are being represented in this house is because these form a big part of Taiwan's biggest immigrant communities.
International Students
International Students
Olivia Santos
Xu JinJing
