We’re thrilled to kick off our first Intern Spotlight featuring Eliza McCoole! Eliza has been an incredible part of our team over the last few weeks, contributing fresh ideas and enthusiasm to the Center’s work!
About Eliza McCoole
I am a student at Connecticut College in the U.S. majoring in international relations, and I enjoy running, reading, and playing music.
What inspired you to intern at the Center, and what drew you to our mission?
I found the Center online when searching for community-based NGOs in Taiwan, as part of my college capstone program was to complete an internship in Mandarin. Having grown up always going to small community events at my town’s library, I was excited at the opportunity to work at an organization that also strives to serve its community. I was also inspired by the Center’s unique purpose of serving the expat and foreign community in Taiwan, and their multifaceted approach of counseling, wellness events, education, as well as culture tours and fun activities.
Can you share a favorite project or moment from your time here so far?
My favorite moment from my time at the Center was participating in the Wrap & Roll dumpling making event. It was the first time I had been to a Center event, and it was a fun, uplifting event with people who had all different backgrounds and stories of how they came to Taiwan. It was lots of fun to be involved in an event (especially one involving good food!), as well as see how other foreigners in Taiwan adapted to living here.
What’s something valuable you’ve learned about supporting the international community in Taiwan?
Something valuable I have learned about the work of supporting the international community in Taiwan is that there is no single story that encompasses the experience of the diverse international community in Taiwan, and as such, the methods of service are constantly being adapted and expanded to better meet the needs of a wider group of people.
There are also many aspects to moving to a new country that I did not know about prior to coming to the Center, from the differences between different visa and resident rights and statuses, to social and cultural challenges faced. Supporting the international community through activities and cultural awareness as well as through logistics such as legal and financial education are both extremely beneficial to the community as a whole.
How has this internship influenced your perspective or future goals?
This internship has affirmed my goal of working for a nonprofit organization involved in helping others. It has also shown me that an extremely driven team can have a very positive working environment.
What challenges have you encountered during your internship, and how did you overcome them?
During my internship, acquiring the Chinese vocabulary to understand meetings was a challenge. However, I was inspired by my coworkers who are all bilingual, and who were very patient and willing to help me as I worked on improving my Mandarin. Having a small notepad and participating in conversations whether with coworkers or housemates helps me to continue to improve.
What’s one thing you’d like the community to know about the Center that they might not already?
One thing the community should know about the Center is that the organization always takes feedback and suggestions into consideration. Also, the staff, volunteers, and interns come from both local and international backgrounds, so many have experienced firsthand some of the very challenges that the Center helps people navigate.
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