You have decided to attend the GMBA program at NYCU in Hsinchu and have no idea how to adapt and socialize? I would like to share some thoughts on making Hsinchu your home in this article!
Accommodation
The accommodation was the most concerning question when I decided to come to Taiwan. Fortunately, NYCU provides some options to accommodate the campus with a double or quad room. Especially double room dorms are designed to be more convenient and suitable. Still, the cost is naturally higher than quad room ones. I used to live in a dorm with a double room and had a very comfortable time. There are advantages and disadvantages of living in a dorm. The benefits can be listed as: quickly attending classes and utilizing the campus opportunities conveniently, like going to the gym, swimming pool, etc. Lastly, compared to living outside, accommodation costs roughly two times cheaper. However, living outside the campus gives many chances to get to know the city, local people, and social life! That's why I decided to move out after the second semester of the first year.
Unfortunately, if you cannot speak Chinese, it is not easy to find a rental place. But, thanks to having kind and friendly Taiwanese classmates, you can get their help and communicate with landlords easily. Some agencies work as agents, and some of them can speak English. The most popular website for rental homes is rent.591.com.
Image source: rent.591.com.tw
Mobility
Assume that before you come to Taiwan, you will notice how intense the usage of motorcycles on this lovely island is. Taiwan has the world's highest ratio of scooters per capita. Approximately six out of ten people in Taiwan own a scooter. That's why we can easily say that riding a scooter is convenient, and roads are designed very well for scooter drivers in Taiwan. If you want to discover the city and the countryside, having a scooter and travelling around would be great! The price range may vary according to your desire, but I would say that you can find a maintained secondhand one for roughly 20,000 (NTD).
I did not know how to ride a scooter when I came to Taiwan. I can frankly say that it is as easy as riding a bicycle. So, one of my Polish friends taught me for a couple of hours, and I did manage to ride it even in a hectic traffic jam! So, don't be afraid and give it a try! Regarding the purchase procedure of scooters, there are many secondhand scooter sellers all around the city. It would not be easy to communicate with the owner of the store. Therefore, you had better go there with your friend who can speak Chinese.
How to get a license
If you have a license from your country, you can apply for an international driver's license for a year. But you need to check the validation with the DMV office in Hsinchu. If you want to have a license for more than 1 year, you need to apply for a local scooter license. You can book from this website https://www.mvdis.gov.tw/m3-emv-trn/exm/locations . The exam comprises two parts; first, you must pass the theory test ( you can practice from this website https://www.mvdis.gov.tw/m3-simulator-drv/ ) and the road test. You can attend the road test when you get 80 out of 100. Before the road test, you can practice and prepare for the actual test. After finishing the test successfully, you can get the license immediately.
Image source: DMV Hsinchu
Transportation
After a while, you would like to discover other cities, especially Taipei. Transportation alternatives, such as High-Speed Rail (HSR), regular trains and buses, are easy to reach and for any budget level. For example, HSR is roughly three times more expensive than a regular train and bus. Still, you can arrive in Taipei within 35 minutes. In contrast, the arrival period might take around 50 minutes to 1 hour by bus and regular train. However, the location of HSR is Zhubei, which is a bit far away from the main campus. On the other hand, you can even return to Hsinchu at midnight, like 3 am, by bus (it was tested). Lastly, you can enjoy the free bus opportunity during weekdays to Taipei every hour until 9 pm.
Finally, there are many more clues about Hsinchu. Still, the best way to know more about the city is to get to know your classmates and organize activities with them. Hsinchu is better with lovely friends!
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