After a round-the-island trip, he decided to stay — A foreigner in Taiwan: Taiwan is the most

Reporter You T□ru / Reported from Taipei

Is Taiwan the “most beautiful country in all of Asia” in the eyes of foreigners? A 25-year-old young Mexican man traveled across various Asian countries before coming to Taiwan. During his island-wide journey, he fell in love with Taiwan and decided to settle here. Currently studying at a language school in Taiwan, Manuel said: “What attracts me most about Taiwan isn’t the food or the scenery, but the Taiwanese people’s willingness to do good — that


▲The most beautiful thing in Taiwan is not the scenery, but the people.The photo shows the Meinong scenery taken from an aerial drone by Chi Po-lin.(Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Urban Development Bureau)

Having traveled to Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand, Oumainuo has interacted with people from many nations. “I’ve been to many Asian countries, and many are relatively poor. There is often mutual assistance between countries, but that usually happens through government cooperation.”Oumainuo said that while traveling, she observed volunteers from multiple countries willing to go into impoverished areas to help, “Taiwan is always the country with the most people getting involved and is the most impressive.””


▲Many young people in Taiwan are willing to step out of their comfort zones to help others. For example, celebrity Hsieh Hsin (front row, left 1) went to Cambodia as a volunteer.(Photo / Provided by Baishi)

Aimon said that on one of his trips to Japan, he arrived late at night and couldn’t find any open restaurants near the youth hostel where he was staying. He and other travelers from South Korea and Hong Kong tried to find a place to eat in the hostel lobby. “At that time, there was also a group of Taiwanese people staying at the hostel. Seeing that we had nothing to eat, they took out all the food from their suitcases and shared it with us."O'Maino said that his memory of Taiwan during the trip was a window that opened his desire to 'see Taiwan for himself.'

Earlier this year (2023), Oumainuo came to Taiwan and started a round-the-island trip from Taipei, which helped him form a deep connection with Taiwan. "On the first day I arrived in Taiwan, a stranger offered me a ride on his motorcycle and took me around Taipei. We visited many places, and he insisted on not letting me pay.“Upon arriving in Taiwan, I immediately experienced the warmth of Taiwanese people, and Omaino admitted he was deeply moved.”

Traveling from Taipei down south to places like Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Kenting, Omaino said: “I often get lost in Taiwan, but every time I stop, someone asks if I need help."No matter their age or whether they speak English, the Taiwanese people are always willing to lend a helping hand, which allowed Omaeno to experience a lot of warmth during the trip. When I traveled to Meinong, it was already late at night, and I remember that day I couldn’t find any place to stay. A local person near the station, who barely spoke English, offered to guide me, and that’s how I managed to find a place to rest."”

Taiwanese people are not only willing to help “the travelers right in front of them,” but also care about people in faraway countries across the globe."What moved me the most about Taiwan is that many young people are willing to go to poor countries as volunteers, personally using their physical efforts to help others. This is different from just donating money.”Having truly traveled to many countries, after comparing them, O’Malano found that many young people in Taiwan are willing to step out of their own country. Whether it’s building houses, constructing pigsties, or cultivating farmland, young people leave their ‘comfort zones’ to experience another way of life and possibilities, which deeply moved O’Malano.


▲ Many young people in Taiwan are willing to step out of their own country to do all kinds of work, from building houses and pigsties to cultivating farmland.(Photo / Reporter You t
ru Shot)

“If I were to make a list, Taiwan is definitely a country with the most kind people.“Although I also experienced some unpleasant things in Taiwan, the warm and friendly attitude of most people still turned Omaino from someone who just wanted to take a one-week trip around Taiwan into someone who decided to stay.”“Many Taiwanese ask me why I chose Taiwan. I want to tell the people of Taiwan: don’t lack confidence, because you are the most important treasure of this country.”