[June 27] A busload of eager ICLP students rose bright and early for a busy day of exploring treasures old and new: a morning tour of the Lin Yutang House and an afternoon at the National Palace Museum.

Escaping the hustle and bustle of downtown Taipei, students got an intimate look into the private life of Lin Yutang (林語堂) – writer, scholar, and inventor of the first Chinese language typewriter and automatic toothbrush! – at his home nestled atop the mountains north of Taipei. Students were greeted by a large group of polyglot tour guides with peanut snacks (a personal favorite of Lin Yutang). A wonderful tour of Lin Yutang’s home followed, complete with an introduction to his literary works and biography. The morning was capped off by a lovely Western-style lunch in Lin Yutang’s living room-cum-dinning room overlooking the picturesque cityscape below.

After lunch, students were bussed to Taipei’s National Palace Museum (故宮) for a fascinating tour, led by ICLP alumna and current NTU (臺大) graduate student in Art History, Anna Stets (司嬡嬿). Anna’s tour covered everything from the famous cabbage (翠玉白菜) through ancient bronzes to landscape paintings. It was a rare privilege to have such an expert introduction to the museum’s treasures.

The day’s activities concluded at the Shilin night market (士林夜市) where ravenous students chomped down on oyster omelets, bubble tea and sky-high piles of peanut-flavored shaved ice. The trip was a wonderful experience – well worth rising early on a Saturday morning – and proved that many of one’s richest learning experiences in Taiwan happen outside the classroom!