Connect with Former Fellows

Hello! My name is Hiroko, a sophomore in Trumbull College. I studied abroad in Taiwan (CET) for Chinese in the summer of 2023 through the light fellowship. I had an incredible 10 weeks of immersing myself in Taiwan – from the most engaging classes, weekly excursions to the mountains, local friendships, so much good food, starting a blog, and more! Please reach out with any questions about studying abroad, Chinese or Taiwan :)

Hi! My name is Cynthia, and I was abroad for the last two semesters in mainland China, first for CET-Beijing and then through another travel fellowship working on some independent film projects. I was also abroad the summer of 2022 through CET-Taiwan. I still keep in touch with all the creatives that I’ve met in China, which has helped with current projects and learning how to make films from different cultural perspectives. Please get in touch if you have any questions on living for a longer period of time abroad or if you’re interested in the arts in a foreign country!

Hello, lovely people! My name is Andy Tan—Davenport class of 2027—, and I studied abroad in Beijing, China, with CET Beijing. I was initially drawn to this program for its intensive curriculum, but upon my departure, I say my favorite experiences came from the activities I did and the people I met outside of the classroom. During my time in China, I visited many cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Taishan, Guangzhou, and Qingdao. From late-night city walks to learning dance choreography on the side of the street while having random conversations with food vendors, I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for Chinese culture. If you have questions about studying abroad as a first-generation student, as a Queer student, or about the experience in general, feel free to reach out! I can't wait to connect with you all!

Hi everybody! My name is Jonas, and I studied in Taiwan at the International Chinese Language Program in Summer 2024. While I was initially unsure if ICLP was the right choice for me, I am so glad that I took the jump and traveled to Taipei! I really enjoyed my host program, as the curriculum was intense but not overwhelming, the teachers were invested in our learning, and my classmates were all amazing people and super friendly. In my free time, I got to travel all over the island, make friends with the local Taiwanese, and eat as many Taiwanese delicacies as I could find. I highly recommend ICLP and Taiwan to any students who want to improve their Chinese proficiency (especially with regards to their speaking ability and reading traditional characters) or who just want to learn more about Taiwan and its unique blend of Chinese, Japanese, Western, and Indigenous elements. Please don't hesitate to reach out!

Hello! My name is Patrick (MY '28) and I recently spent my summer in Taiwan with Harvard Taipei Academy (HTA). Taiwan's food, from night markets eats to proper restaurants, scenery, from beautiful bike paths to strenuous yet rewarding hikes, and the nicest people ever all made this summer unforgettable. I genuinely had a great time in Taiwan and I cannot wait to go back. I'd love to help you learn more about HTA or any and all aspects of life in Taiwan!!

大家好！I'm Sara, a Global Affairs major in Morse. I studied abroad Spring 2025 at MiB (Middlebury in Beijing). It was one of the most valuable experiences of my life and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their Mandarin and make lifelong memories.

你好！My name is Esther-Josette, and I’m a sophomore in Pierson College. Over the past summer, I studied abroad in Taiwan with the Harvard Taipei Academy. I had a blast trying new foods at night markets and in different parts of the country, interacting with locals as well as my host family, and even conducting a field research study on gender equality, access to higher education, and jobs in the countryside. Most importantly, I spent time intensively learning Chinese, which was a struggle at first, especially with the language pledge, but so worth it! Studying abroad was an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, step outside my comfort zone, and create unforgettable memories. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!

Hi! I'm Addie, a senior in Hopper majoring in English and East Asian Studies. I spent this past summer (2025) in Taipei studying Mandarin at ICLP and had an amazing time. I particularly loved exploring different night markets, cafes, and art museums. My teachers at ICLP were amazing, and I'd be happy to answer any questions about the program or about studying abroad in Taipei.

大家好！My name is Sophia Zhang, and I'm a sophomore in Davenport from New Haven. I participated in CET Beijing during my first-year summer, and it was one of the best experiences of my life so far! I had so much fun learning Chinese, bonding with classmates and teachers while enjoying delicious food, yapping with new friends, and making lots of special memories while exploring Beijing and other cities, such as Shenzhen and Hohhot. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about CET Beijing, studying abroad, or just want to hear some fun stories!

I study East Asia because of its unique combination of ancient tradition and dialogue with the West; experiencing the incredible history and diversity of Taiwan while living in the heart of Taipei put me at the nexus of Chinese, European Japanese, Southeast Asian, and American traditions. At ICLP, I studied the local Taiwanese language (on which each of these cultures has left it’s mark) and spent a ton of time hiking the country, Alishan to Yangmingshan to Taiwushan! What made my experience hiking in Taiwan special was learning the unique role mountains play in Taiwanese culture: they represent centers of Buddhist learning, separated the Hakka, Hokien, and Aboriginal ethnic groups, inspire debates between land rights interests and environmental groups, and are the site of many a ghost story! I can’t wait until I can return to explore more of Taiwan’s many historic trails.

Hi! I'm Carly, a sophomore in Berkeley. I just completed a summer study abroad in Taiwan with Harvard Taipei Academy. It was such a great time of trying new foods (Taiwanese night markets are amazing), connecting with locals (had some life-changing interactions), and of course, intensively learning Chinese (hard, but so worth it)! Studying abroad was not only a great opportunity to immerse myself in another culture, but to also learn more about myself and my heritage. Please reach out with any questions you may have – I would love to chat! :D

Hi everyone, 大家好! My name is Nilab, and I’m a junior in Murray studying EP&E. This past summer 2025, I spent two months studying abroad with Princeton in Beijing, where I completed my Chinese Language Certificate. I was on the Fourth-Year track at PiB; the program was challenging, to say the least, but it was also an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in Chinese culture while significantly improving my Mandarin skills. Like many of you, I had only ever studied Chinese in a classroom before, but this summer I was able to learn by chatting with local students on campus, bargaining with vendors at 虹桥 market, and ordering 酸奶 and 北京烤鸭 wherever I went. I’ve found that the best way to learn a language is by immersing yourself in the place and with the people. My experiences this summer have without a doubt shaped both my life and my career aspirations, and I came away with lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. Please feel free to reach out with any questions; I’d be more than happy to connect!

大家好! I’m Jalen, a junior in TD majoring in History with certificates in Chinese and Spanish. I began studying Chinese at Yale in L3, and this past summer I completed my third and fourth L5 courses at the Harvard Taipei Academy, hosted at National Taiwan University. Studying in Taipei was an amazing experience—I could see how much my Chinese has improved since I first started in college. While abroad, I also traveled to places like Pingtung and Tainan on our Social Study Trip, and enjoyed visiting beaches such as Baishawan. I’m excited to be back on campus and would be happy to share more about HTA, Taiwan, or studying abroad if you have any questions!

Hello! My name is Eva, a sophomore at Morse College majoring in Economics and East Asian Studies. Last summer, I spent 8 weeks in Taiwan studying at Harvard Taipei Academy. Those 8 weeks absolutely changed my life - not only did I find a deeper love for the Chinese language, my bonds with the local community, my friends and teachers, and my coursework elevated my experience and I left with a profound appreciation and inspiration for Taiwanese and Chinese culture. As a FGLI student, I also learned to navigate the financial and emotional challenges of living independently in a different country -- whether you are a fellow FGLI student, student interested in Harvard Taipei Academy, or you share an interest in East Asian culture, please feel free to reach out! I was fortunate to receive support from previous Light Fellows during my own fellowship term and I am very eager to help!

Hey everyone! My name is Kalina, and I’m a sophomore in JE planning on studying Cognitive Science and Film! The summer of 2025, I traveled with CET Beijing to mainland China through the Light Fellowship. During eight weeks in China, I had the opportunity to visit cities such as Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xian, make friends with the locals, and eat lots of incredible good. If you’re thinking about applying for the Light Fellowship, traveling to China or even just traveling abroad, feel free to reach out!

大家好！My name is Thomas, and I am a Sophomore in Morse College. I spent my past summer at Tsinghua University's Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Study (IUP). I'm glad that I was able to use my Light Fellowship summer to build upon my Chinese foundations and explore my academic interests in philosophy in the Chinese context, as I read many great ancient and modern Chinese thinkers. Outside of the classroom, I was able to enjoy the amazing local food, play basketball and snooker with local Tsinghua students, as well as go on late-night skewer runs. I'd love to talk about study abroad, Light Fellowship, and China with anyone who is interested so please feel free to reach out!

Hi, I'm Bryant! I studied advanced Chinese in Beijing during summer 2024, and my two months were nothing short of transformative. Not only was I put on the fast track to fluency, but I also rethought so many pre-existing notions I had about Chinese society and culture, got to reconnect with family and friends all over the country, and had a blast exploring the corners and alleys of Beijing with my friends. Please reach out if you have any questions about studying abroad!

Hello or 你好! My name is Kai, a junior in Davenport College who studied in Taiwan over the summer of 2024! My time in Taiwan was truly life-changing (life-breaking even). I learned so much, and not just in terms of Chinese language acquisition, but also important life skills like managing relationships with friends, talking to strangers, and yes, you betcha, cooking! It was truly an incredible time in Taiwan, and I encourage everyone to give studying abroad a shot!

Hi everyone! My name is Zander, and I studied intermediate Chinese (L3 & L4) at the Princeton in Beijing program. I had an awesome time biking around the city, eating amazing hotpot, and exploring Datong and Shanghai! If you have any questions about preparing for Light as an international student (especially regarding visas!) or any questions in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out! :)

大家好！My name is Aaron and I studied at CET Beijing during the summer of 2025. During my 8 weeks in China, I not only improved my Chinese so much, but also got to explore many different cities and try many cuisines. Some of my favorite memories include talking to locals, like my roommate, which gave me great insight into Chinese culture and politics. If you have any questions or want suggestions on what to do on the weekend in China, feel free to reach out!