Hello! My name is Caitlyn, and I am 22 years old. When I began studying Chinese in college four years ago, my first-year professor gave me the Chinese name Bei Keling (貝可玲). Now, that name is even on my official residence certificate here in Taiwan! I’m originally from Nashville, Tennessee, but this year I’m living in Yilan, Taiwan, as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA). After leaving Nashville, I attended the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville through the Questbridge Scholarship Program. At UVA, I majored in Chinese language and minored in religious studies, with a concentration in Buddhism. I have always been interested in how people around the world think and live, so I find language learning incredibly rewarding.
During my junior year, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Taipei, Taiwan, for a semester. After that experience, I couldn’t wait to return! I applied for the Fulbright ETA program because I wanted to gain more teaching experience, continue learning Chinese, and give back to the country that had given me so many beautiful life experiences. As part of my Fulbright responsibilities, I teach English to students in a small rural school with three campuses, ranging from 28 to only 15 students!
Want to learn how you could be a Fulbright Scholar like me? The Fulbright Program is the United States government's flagship international exchange program. Fulbrighters foster mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, share knowledge across communities, and improve lives around the world. Learn more by clicking here!
