Sydney to Taitung: Worldschooling in Taiwan

Who is Carolina? What’s your background, and where are you from?

I have been married for over 17 years and have been homeschooling since my eldest was school-age. We have 5 kids who were all born in Australia. I’m an introvert who loves books and nature. I was born in Brazil, grew up mainly in Sydney, Australia, interspersed with periods of living in Taiwan and coming to Taiwan on holidays. I lived in Taiwan for about 6 months each time when I was in preschool, grade 2, grade 6, and grade 8. We also came back to Taiwan every few years for our summer holidays. I have spent around 2-3 years in total in Taiwan during my childhood.

Growing Up with Taiwanese, Not Mandarin

When I was growing up, we spoke Taiwanese at home as our home language since we lived with my paternal grandparents until I was 12. For those who don’t know, the older generation pre-1947 Chiang Kai-shek Kuomintang takeover of Taiwan, the main language in Taiwan was Taiwanese/Tai-gi, not Mandarin Chinese. 

What inspired you to make the move to Taiwan?

I’m the one with the wild ideas in our marriage, and my husband’s the one who implements (or dismisses) such ideas. I have had so many ideas, and only a few of them pass the practical husband test. He was totally on board with my crazy idea to come live in Taiwan, so we did it. 

Leaving Sydney for Nature and Space

When we lived in Sydney, we were in a small apartment with 3 kids under 5, and I knew it was going to be hard to homeschool them living like this. Other people have done it, and it can be done, but it just wasn’t me. My kids love nature, and we just felt the need to move out of Sydney since my husband could ask his work if he could work from home. Back then, working from home wasn’t the norm, but his boss said yes, and so we left Sydney.

At the time, we debated between coming to Taiwan or moving to a rural area of Australia. A great rental opportunity came up in the country town where my husband grew up. His parents still live there. We decided to move to this 500-acre sheep farm and start homeschooling there. It was an amazing 5 years with sheep grazing around the house, lambs being born, and plenty of freedom to be outside and explore. 

Reconnecting with Heritage

My last surviving grandparent passed away in 2015, and I came to Taiwan for 4 days for the funeral with my youngest, who was not yet 2 at the time (free air travel). That reignited my idea about moving to Taiwan – giving my kids a taste of part of their heritage and culture. I also wanted to do for them what my parents did for me – give us a different perspective on life and maybe learn the language. We homeschool, so there weren’t any issues with changing schools and all the transition that comes with that.

I had always wanted to pass on Taiwanese citizenship to my kids, and I didn’t even have it myself (not the full citizenship with the right to vote). I looked into what the requirements were for getting citizenship; we had to live in Taiwan for 365 days consecutively. We thought we could manage that.

Taking the Leap

We flew to Taiwan in July 2017 with just 7 suitcases and our backpacks to start a new chapter of our lives here, not really sure of how long we were going to stay, but knew that it would be at least a year to get the citizenship for the 6 of us (me and 5 kids). We ended up falling in love with the place and stayed 4 more years past that initial year. 

Why We Chose Taitung Over Taipei

For the last 5 years, we have lived in Taitung, East Coast, Taiwan. After deciding to move to Taiwan, we then had to decide which part of Taiwan. I really wanted to live in a house with a yard because I knew that the 5 kids and I wouldn’t be able to cope with apartment living after 5 years on a huge farm. The only place we would have any chance of renting a house & yard was in a rural area, or on the East Coast. I investigated the east coast idea.

I joined a Facebook homeschooling group in Taiwan (learn@home in Taiwan), and there were a few people in the group who lived in Taitung and were able to tell me about life here. I met 2 friends in particular through that initial contact who are now great friends of mine. 

Living in a Small Village

Our house is in a little Amis village and has only 4 or 5 streets surrounded by rice paddies. We’re about 5 km away from Taitung city, 1km away from the beaches, and a few km away from the mountains. Everyone says that the soil in Taitung is sticky – once you move here, you’re stuck. I’ve found that to be so true. My heart will forever be here, even though we are making the move back to Australia next month. Another saying about Taitung: 好山好水好無聊 (good mountains, good ocean, so boring). Ha, that’s not true if you love nature. 

How to Find a Rental in Taiwan

Everyone always asks me how we found the house that we live in now. Short answer: Through contact, like everything in Taiwan. My parents knew a real estate agent in Tainan who had a contact in Taitung. This guy gave us the name of our current landlady. The day after we arrived in Taitung, we came to inspect the place, and we signed a rental contract on the spot. We don’t have a huge backyard, but it’s enough for the kids to grow their plants and is a great outside space for active children.

The village kids come over to play when they don’t have a lot of homework or during the summer. The first time they came over, they were pretty disappointed that there wasn’t a swimming pool because they had always imagined there’d be this great big pool in that space (You can’t see into the yard from the front). Kids and their imagination!

How do you approach homeschooling in Taiwan?

Family Background and Homeschooling

I have five children between the ages of 7 and 16. When we came to Taiwan, they were between 3 and 11. We had homeschooled back in Australia, so continuing here was a no-brainer.

Tip for other traveling families: Homeschooling can easily continue across countries if you’re consistent.

Homeschooling Is Legal in Taiwan

In Taiwan, homeschooling is called “experimental education”, probably because it’s outside the mainstream (and because my kids are mice… just kidding). You have to register with a local school, mostly for bureaucracy and paperwork. There’s a homeschooling committee you report to every semester. It sounds scary, but in reality, they’re quite nice. They’ve passed us every semester, even though I mostly recycle my reports and plans.

Funny moment: In Taitung, the committee members sometimes ask, “How will your kids catch up if they go back to Australia?” My response: “Um… we’re going to homeschool there too?”

All Reports Must be in Chinese

Did I mention I’m not literate in Chinese? My dad wrote the plans and first-year reports, and I’ve just been recycling them. Nobody complained. I probably didn’t even follow what was written, and yet it passed.

Pro tip: A few good photos and chatting about the books your kids read can go a long way with the committee.

Homeschoolers in Taiwan Can Attend Public School Part-Time

One of the best things about homeschooling in Taiwan is that kids can attend their registered school for up to 50% of normal school hours. Some homeschoolers pick specific subjects like art or PE, while others just join field trips or special activities. With three younger kids in different grades, picking specific subjects wasn’t practical. We decided on mornings, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and I’d pick them up after lunch. It gave them a solid foundation in Chinese—and I never had to make lunch!

Lunch bonus: The school lunches are fresh, healthy, and include at least four courses: soup, rice or noodles, meat, and vegetables. Wednesdays even have dessert soups like red bean or green bean.

Differences Between Schools

My older two kids attend a local junior school, and that experience has been less smooth. The school is much bigger, and homeschoolers require extra work. I even tried bribing them with snacks once, and the teacher politely refused—he knew exactly what I was doing.

Contrast: Our local elementary school was the complete opposite. They welcomed our gifts, embraced our cultural diversity, helped with paperwork, and even offered private Chinese classes for my older kids to help them catch up.

What’s it like living in Taiwan when you’re not fluent in Mandarin?

The language barrier has been most difficult for my older two kids, who were 9 and 11 when we came to Taiwan. They had been enjoying full-time homeschooling at home for several years. There aren’t many homeschoolers in Taitung, but we had a solid group of 3–5 English-speaking (mostly American) families for co-ops and playdates. One of the dads even taught a weekly creative writing class for the kids for about six months. Unfortunately, due to limited job and educational opportunities in Taitung, all but one set of our kids’ American friends have since moved to West Coast cities, Taipei, or back to the U.S.

Language Challenges for Me

The language barrier has also been challenging for me, as I am not literate in Chinese. I am beyond grateful for Google Translate and Pleco—without these apps, I’m not sure how I would have managed. I can speak conversationally, and my Chinese has improved significantly over the past five years, but I am not at a high level and probably never will be. Sometimes my youngest speaks too fast for me, and his vocabulary far exceeds mine.

Because my husband only knows very basic Chinese, I’ve had to handle all communication with tradespeople, schools, and even the telephone company. This responsibility has forced me to improve my skills. My husband manages with his basic vocabulary for simple errands or purchases.

How the Kids Are Coping

The language barrier hasn’t been as difficult for my three younger kids. My third child, in particular, is very easygoing and hasn’t been bothered by not understanding everything at school. She just graduated from grade 6. While she hasn’t fully caught up with her peers, she has reached a level where she can read and understand a lot of characters. Her small class of only four kids allowed the teacher to adjust the pace for each child. My daughter excels at math, so she was able to advance in that subject while doing easier work in Chinese. I’m really pleased with her progress. She’s not at native grade 6 level, but she’s well beyond my own level.

What are your go-to resources for homeschooling and teaching Mandarin?

Favorite Learning Tools: Books

Hands down, books are our favorite! We own way too many books (is there such a thing?). We just shipped four cubic meters of books back to Australia, about 40 shelves’ worth.

Here’s where I get most of our books:

• Bookdepository.com for literature and reading books (No longer in operation)
• Abebooks for out-of-print books
• Christianbooks.com for curriculum-type books
• Amazon.com (free shipping to Taiwan on purchases over $60 has been amazing)

For Chinese books, I mainly get them from:

• Books.com.tw
• Shopee.tw (for second-hand books and sets of used kids’ magazines)
  

Homeschooling Curriculum

For our English homeschooling curriculum, we use Ambleside Online. It’s a free site, but you have to source your own books.

Favorite Worldschooling Resource: Google Maps

My favorite worldschooling resource is Google Maps. It’s how I research which places are worth visiting in different cities around Taiwan. I click on the camera icon to see photos other tourists have posted, read reviews, and get a sense of whether my kids will enjoy it. Most people’s reviews are surprisingly accurate.

What do you enjoy most about living in Taiwan?

I have more than one favorite thing, um, is that okay?

Loving the Respect for Children and the Elderly

I love how Taiwanese people LOVE children and respect the elderly. In our case, we’ve only ever received encouragement, congratulations, and blessings for having five kids. There have never been any rude comments about “having too many,” unlike in Australia.

I feel that my children, my husband (who is not Taiwanese), and I have been genuinely welcomed and loved here, particularly in Taitung. People are super friendly and always have time for a chat. Life moves at a slower pace, which can feel frustrating if you’re used to the speed and efficiency of the city. That said, tradespeople here are impressively efficient. Washing machines, plumbing, or electrical issues are usually fixed within a few hours. Lightning fast compared to Australia. One of the top things I’ll miss about Taiwan is getting good help quickly!

Safety and Independence for Kids

I love how safe I feel letting my kids walk around the village by themselves, run errands, or even go buy things on their own. My seven-year-old once went to 7-11 to collect a parcel for me because I couldn’t find parking. I could see him from the car, but every time he tried to put the coins in his pocket, they scattered across the tiled floor. When he returned, the cashier had thoughtfully put all his change in a small Ziploc bag. Moments like that warm my heart.

Another time, my daughter, about ten years old, needed to see an ENT. Parking was impossible due to summer tourists, so I sent her in alone with her national health insurance card. Taiwanese clinics have a wide-open layout where multiple doctors and nurses see patients simultaneously. Privacy can be an issue, but I wasn’t worried about her being alone with one person. She got checked, took her prescription, and even picked up her medication herself from the pharmacy. The pharmacist knows us, which probably helped, but I was still amazed at her independence.

Small Acts of Kindness

I have so many funny and heartwarming Taiwan stories. Once in Taipei, a young man saw me struggling with the new technology lockers at Main Station and came over to help—super kind. Another time, a woman helped us buy a cake from a vending machine, using her own credit card when ours didn’t work, and let us pay her back later. I just can’t imagine anyone in Sydney going that far. Sydney, in my experience, is one of the rudest cities I’ve ever lived in.

Amazing Neighbors and Community

Our village neighbors are incredible. They often give us food, and the local carpenter near us feeds all the village kids. My kids help him sand furniture, which is completely safe—his workshop has a huge sliding door that’s always open. His daughter also plays in our yard.

Kindness of Strangers

Once, while biking up Highway 11, I stopped to watch a man picking mangoes. He smiled and handed me one. This is the Taitung I love—everyone is friendly to outsiders. At local night markets, my kids are always curious about how food is made. The fried ice cream vendor let them get close to watch him in action. In Australia, due to safety regulations and liability concerns, kids rarely get that opportunity. Here, the generosity and openness of people make learning hands-on fun and memorable.

Looking back, what are the highlights of worldschooling in Taiwan?

Triathlons and Running Races

These might differ from the answers the kids would give, but my most memorable experiences have been doing triathlons in Taitung, starting with the swim in Flowing Lake. I swim there regularly, about three times a week, all year round except during winter. I love cycling up and down the coast, and I have enjoyed every single run we have done.

The Taiwanese are excellent at theming the runs. The kids love the medals, I love the food at the rest stops, and we all enjoy the sense of community. Triathlons also take us to places we might not otherwise visit, and the kids love seeing new locations while running. They enjoy running races, but I’m not sure they would say this is their most memorable experience.

Here is a link to sign up for runs and exercise events in Taiwan:
http://www.taipeimarathon.org.tw/contest.aspx?lang=en-US

Fruit Picking Adventures

We have had some memorable fruit-picking experiences as well. The Taiwanese are really good at farm tourism. Our favorite was a dragonfruit farm where the owner gave us a one-to two-hour private tour. The tour was free, though we ended up buying a lot of dragonfruit.

We have also picked lychee, persimmons, jujube, custard apples, strawberries, and milkfruit. Visiting farms has inspired my fourth child to grow his own food. He is currently growing sugar cane, chilies, butterfly pea, pineapple, and passionfruit. Last summer, my younger three kids learned to grow rice by themselves and harvested about a handful. It wasn’t much, but the satisfaction of reaping produce was enormous.

Here is an English website for fruit picking farms in Taiwan:
https://ezgo.coa.gov.tw/Fruit/EN/Pick_South

What I love most about these experiences is not just the picking, but that the hosts take the time to explain the whole process and answer all the kids’ questions.

Building a Boat

My older two boys had the chance to build a real boat with three other teenagers and their sailing instructor over seven months of Saturdays. That was a memorable experience for them. For me, the highlight was watching them successfully launch it on Flowing Lake.

This opportunity was a real answer to prayer. The boys, along with their friend J, had been dreaming of building a boat, but J’s mum and I were not experienced in boat building, and my husband thought it would be too big a project to take on. Having someone who had already figured out the process and was willing to guide the boys through building their own boat was amazing.

What are your top 10 20 off-the-beaten-path kid-friendly experiences?

Some of these are off the beaten path, and some are not, but should not be missed. These are some of our best memories, keeping in mind that I have fairly active kids. I couldn’t limit myself to ten, so I hope twenty is okay. I limited myself to twenty.

Lisong Wild Hot Springs, Taitung

This is the best wild hot springs we have ever visited. It takes a fair bit of stamina to hike back up the valley, and I couldn’t move my arms for about two days, but it was worth every second. There are other easier-to-access wild hot springs in Taitung, such as Hongye Gu Hot Spring, if you are pressed for time or don’t want to walk as far. It is still a pretty cool experience to visit a wild hot spring.

You can book a guided tour on KKday or read TaiwanObsessed for detailed directions.

Emerald Valley, Hualien

The scenery here is stunning. We walked from the other side of the stream under the bridge, where we parked our car, to the waterfall area over rocks. It was tough on the feet. We saw a tour group wearing helmets, life vests, and water shoes. We probably should have done the same instead of going barefoot. Once you reach the waterfall area, you climb rocks and boulders to get to the top. I almost couldn’t watch my kids do it. One wrong move could lead to a slip and a hard fall on the rocks.

Visit Google Maps to learn more.

Pingtung Aquarium Sleepover

This was one of the highlights for the kids, though maybe not for me. We slept with the penguins in 15-degree temperatures on a mat the thickness of a sheet of paper. It was basically concrete with a thin blanket, and I felt every bone in my body. The kids, being light, had no issues. Taiwanese parents seemed fine with it as well.

The aquarium provided a behind-the-scenes tour, a night tour of the aquarium, and the kids could roam the museum on their own. It was pricey, but they loved it.

You can purchase tickets from KKday or Klook.

Tea Leaf Picking, Alishan

We went to pick tea, and the owner guided us through the whole process of making tea after picking a bag of leaves. We returned the next day to collect the tea that had been processed. The kids learned a lot and became tea drinkers after this experience.

Visit their website to learn more.

Free Waterpark, Hualien

We visited this every summer until it closed for COVID. It was totally free and open only in July and August. It is as good as any paid waterpark and is located in the middle of Cikasuan Riverside Park (知卡宣親水公園).

Visit their 知卡宣綠森林親水公園 Facebook Page to learn more.

Cingjing Farm, Nantou County

I call this Disneyland for sheep. We lived on a sheep farm for five years, but had never seen sheep as friendly as those in Cingjing Farm. Visitors can touch, feed, and get close to them. The weather is cool even during hot summers, making it a great summer destination.

You can purchase tickets from KKday or Klook.

Sailing in Jinzun Harbour and Flowing Lake, Taitung

My older four kids were privileged to participate in sailing classes with Taitung Sailing School. They had weekly classes at Flowing Lake and Jinzun Fishing Harbour.
台東帆船學校 Taitung Sailing School

Learn more about the Taitung Sailing School camps and classes.

Qianqi Seed Museum, Tainan

This is my favorite museum in all of Taiwan. It belongs to a private collector of seeds. I had never realized seeds could be so fascinating. Tours are offered twice daily, and the owner is passionate and knowledgeable. We purchased a gorgeous tray of about 24 different seeds, though we couldn’t take them back to Australia.

Visit their Facebook Page or Google Maps to learn more.

Deer Island, Matsu

We flew to Matsu from Songshan Airport, then took a ferry to Beigan. From Beigan, jet boats take you to Daqiu (大坵島), home to wild sika deer. Before boarding, vendors sell branches for feeding the deer. The kids loved walking around the small island and feeding the deer.

Learn more about Taiwan’s Matsu islands at TaiwanObsessed.

Tiger Brand Rice Vermicelli Tourism Factory, Yilan

This factory is decorated like 1970s Taiwan. My two younger boys spent hours pretending to deliver vermicelli on a little truck. The DIY vermicelli cooking activity was basic, but exploring the retro factory was the highlight.

Visit their website or Google Maps to learn more.

Clamming in Hualien

Our neighbor took us clamming under the New Changhong Bridge (長虹橋). It was a perfect summer activity. Timing is important to get decent-sized clams, as locals also harvest them.

Buy tickets for the Lichuan Aquafarm clam-digging experience on Klook or KKday.

Picking Radish in Guanshan

This event is organized by the Guanshan district government. We joined through a LINE group. At the designated time, everyone hops into the fields to pick radish. We ended up with about 70 kilograms between the seven of us. I shared them at church and preserved some for later.

Visit their website for upcoming events.

Staying in Jiufen

We stayed in Jiufen for a few nights at the Yun Cheng Min Su, exploring the hillside streets like a maze. Walking the old street at night when most tourists were gone was magical. We even saw the tiny local garbage trucks navigating the alleys.

Book your stay at the Yun Cheng Min Su (允誠民宿)

Lukang, Changhua

We visited sites from my son’s 3rd-grade textbook, including the famous half well. We also wandered through the narrowest alley in Taiwan, historically used to escape pirates. The old streets were full of foods and sights, including fresh fish roe, which my kids now love.

Get the Changhua guide at TaiwanObsessed.

Anping Old Fort, Tainan

After reading “Lord of Formosa,” visiting this fort was a must. Built by the Dutch in the 1600s and overtaken by Zheng Cheng Gong in 1662, remnants of the original wall remain. I have a special fondness for Tainan due to my ancestors settling there. Don’t miss the dragon beard candy on the old street.

You can purchase tickets from KKday or Klook.

Making Soy Sauce in Xiluo

At Wuan Chuang Soy Sauce Factory, we made our own soy sauce and observed the vats outside. We were given detailed instructions to care for it for over six months. When we opened our pots, it was the best-tasting black soy sauce we had ever had. The factory also sold soy sauce ice cream and mantou.

Visit their website to learn more about the factory visit.

Xiaoyeliu Hermit Crabs, Taitung

Xiaoyeliu offers night tours during the summer to see hermit crabs. Kids must be careful, as the pincers are strong. Daytime visits are also fun for climbing and exploring rocks. We prefer Xiaoyeliu over Yeliu in Taipei for hands-on exploration.

Use Google Maps to plan your visit.

Baiyang Trail, Taroko Gorge

Taroko Gorge is a must-see, and the Baiyang Trail was our favorite walk. The trail ends at a waterfall cave where water splashes over you. It felt like a natural waterpark, and the kids loved it.

The trail was closed due to damage from the April 2024 earthquake. Visit their website for updates.

Changhua Roundhouse

This is the last fan-shaped roundhouse in Taiwan and possibly Asia. Built in 1922, it is still operational. Train-loving kids will enjoy it. Our visit brought back memories of Thomas the Tank Engine. Timing is key to seeing the turntable in action.

Visit their website or Google Maps to learn more.

Weishuiyi Station, Taipei

The Weishuuiyi Station (渭水驛站) is a small museum dedicated to early 20th-century democracy activist Chiang Wei-shui. The volunteer gave the kids a “freedom fighter trail” map to explore five historical sites, make paper rubbings of plaques, and receive a gold pin as a prize. We learned a lot about democracy in early Taiwan.

Visit Google Maps to learn more about this free exhibit.