Danielle ‘Elle’ McManus
HR Coordinator
Elle exploring Taipei
My name is Danielle, but you can call me Elle, and about 6 months ago I made a decision that has changed my life in the most remarkably enlightening and fruitful of ways. After being raised in Wisconsin and graduating from The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2008, with a degree in communication, I moved from the lush green landscape of where I spent my formative years to the rolling hills and sandy beaches of California. As beautiful and exciting as this new home was to me, I soon became bored with the beach bum life (if you can imagine that) and decided to make a change.
So just like that, I was off again with the same fervor and tenacity as I had after completing my collegiate career less than two years prior. As my travels began I quickly realized that I’ve only begun to see this unique planet of ours and there was nothing that could alter my desires to see more, do more and learn more. So from the United States to Central America and across the pond to Europe I went.
Vacations are fun and all, but for me these pilgrimages, as I like to call them, seemed to be more than the casual trip. It took only a short time before I realized it wasn’t just the novelty of being away from home and supposed responsibility. It wasn’t this escape, from this domesticated 9-5 that has been plaguing many of my peers, that I was relishing in the most; it was this unrelenting appetite for expanding myself that I just couldn’t fulfill. So after some contemplation, I came to the conclusion that a great way to live this adventure I was seeking would be to actually live abroad, specifically in a region I had not yet explored. And in what only seemed like the matter of days, I bid farewell to my family and friends as I boarded an airplane to teach English on the other side of the world, in a country that I had only known of from textbooks and waiting-room copies of National Geographic.
I was introduced to this extraordinary opportunity by two friends whom I met while attending college. The two of them had joined the Reach to Teach program in Taiwan the previous year, and after sensing the earnest sincerity I had for making such a drastic change to my life, they suggested I come to Taiwan. After doing a lot of research and asking many questions, I booked a flight to Taiwan and readied myself for what would become a life altering experience. It’s now six months later, and somehow I still feel that sense of wonder and intrigue as I had walking off of that plane and onto Taiwanese soil.
Of all the reasons my friends had given me for choosing Taiwan, it was the promise of the people and their open-arms, warmth, and hospitality that sealed the deal for me. While my friends had told me this, it wasn’t until I was actually in Taiwan that I really understood the acceptance. I figured there may be at least a little resistance considering xenophobia is really just based on natural human fears of the unknown, but to my surprise I received more resistance moving to California than I ever have in Taiwan.
To further illustrate this point, I’ll briefly tell you of my first random encounter after arriving in Taiwan: I was riding the escalator in the MRT station and a Taiwanese woman going the opposite direction completely stared me down, with a huge grin on her face. At this point I was a little apprehensive and suspicious as to the meaning of this glare & grin that was happening, but before I could process what I could all mean – the woman shouted as loud as she could, “Welcome to Taiwan!” As this warm sense of relief circulated throughout my body much like a sunrise on campers after a brisk, frosted night, I knew this is where I wanted to be.
Elle with her students
This hospitality and kindness, mind you, hasn’t been few and far between. I could fill half a novel with these kinds of occurances. After I ran into the woman in the previous story, a Taiwanese man helped me get my luggage, get to the cash machine, get through customs, and he even took me to a taxi and helped translate before sending me on my way. He didn’t have to, and coming from a place where people are so often considered with only ones self, it was refreshing to experience what I had. Other than the gracious citizens of Taiwan, the country’s nature, beauty, and accompanying recreational activities are awe-inspiring. From surfing and swimming to snorkeling and hiking, there is never a shortage of things to see and do. And then there’s the nightlife and markets. Whether you’re going out to a club, seeing how brave your taste-buds are when visiting the night markets, shopping for wonderfully inexpensive clothes (one of my personal favorites), relieving stress in the hot or cold springs, visiting temples or simply enjoying the tunes produced by the sanitation trucks — the one joint factor in all of this country is so unbelievably deep in cultural heritage and tradition that there is an endless amount to learn and experience.
I’ve had some amazing times since coming to Taiwan 6 months ago. From whitewater rafting in Hulian to the hot springs in Wulai and the night markets in Taipei to the breathtaking beaches, it’s been real. But more importantly, I’ve had the opportunity to teach English to a great group of kids. I can’t even start to explain the pleasure that comes from teaching something to your class and actually watch as they learn, and want to learn more. Gratifying doesn’t begin to describe that feeling, and it’s my hope that you too can share in this experience of a lifetime. My worldwide conquest is not close to complete, but as I further my exploration with each place I go – I leave with a new sense of cultural understanding.
Please don’t hesitate to email me with any questions reguarding living and teaching abroad in Taiwan! Good luck on getting your adventure abroad started! It really is an amazing experience you will never forget.
Danielle ‘Elle’ McManus