At around 4:00 a.m., we could slowly see a bit beyond our lights to make out the expansive mountain range ahead. Seeing the potential beautiful views and knowing the sunrise was waiting up top motivated me to push through my tiredness and shortness of breath to make it to the top as soon as possible. The last 500 meters were most challenging due to the rocky and unstable path that required you to hold a chain along the mountainside and pull yourself up to the peak. We arrived at the top right as the sun began to peak through the clouds. Although it wasn’t a clear sunrise, it was incredibly rewarding. Even on a “small” island, the beauty of Taiwan and its mountain ranges felt infinite. As I sat on a rock watching the sunrise and admiring the sea of clouds, all the previous hiking struggles and the soreness from the five-hour hike the day before disappeared, and I felt at peace (despite some shivering from the windy cold weather).
The final hike to the summit took around two hours, and it felt like a metaphor for my last two months in Taiwan. The Taiwanese students we befriended reminded me of the kindness I have received from strangers, both locals and other foreigners. Furthermore, they reminded me of the Fulbright community and many new friends that I have grown closer to because of our shared experience of learning to adjust to a foreign country. In my final month, I am at a point where I am quite homesick and feel ready to return to the U.S., but at the same time, I feel so grateful and excited to have this unique opportunity. As I reach the “peak” (aka the end of my grant), I am so excited to complete this accomplishment and have made so many special connections with peers, coworkers, and most importantly, my students.
