Javier Garcia Vasquez

Javier participated in the 2023 CLS Chinese Program hosted by Tamkang University (TKU) in New Taipei City, Taiwan. Javier is a recent graduate from the University of North Texas with a degree in International Studies with an emphasis on International Security and Diplomacy and minors in Biology, Chemistry, and Mandarin Chinese. Javier hopes to work in healthcare and merge his passions for medicine, global health, and international relations. He hopes through language to connect with patients on a deeper level and use his cultural aptitude to learn about medical innovations from different countries.

Getting to Know Javier 

I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas in a large Hispanic community mixed with various other diverse communities that allowed me to stay in touch with my Mexican heritage. Dancing is a common activity during events in my community, so I’ve always enjoyed dancing to this day. From a young age, I also found myself fascinated and heavily interested in the cultures around me. Language has also been such a present aspect in my life, as I grew up with Spanish speaking parents and was often translating and interpreting for them. I quickly realized the impact language has on my life and others.

Why Chinese? 

I became interested in East Asia because of the vibrant cultures and people, but China and Taiwan really fascinated me. As I began to make more connections with people from these places, I became increasingly eager to learn the language. I chose Mandarin Chinese because it is such a beautiful and challenging language to learn, especially because of the writing system and the ability to convey meaning from the combination of strokes that form a character. The language also provided the opportunity to connect more deeply with the culture.

Embracing An Open Mindset 

My favorite phrase in Chinese is 都可以, which roughly translates to “all is okay” often used when presented with options. When I was in Taiwan, I let myself flow with the wind and allowed myself to experience things I might not have otherwise done out of nervousness or shyness. When my buddies asked me what I wanted to eat or where I wanted to go, I often said 都可以. This led to having some of the most incredible experiences while in Taiwan, one of those was attending the Hualien Harvest Festival of the Amis Tribe and joining in on hours of festivities and dancing. I remember locking arms with the locals and picking up the movements as the night went by, with beautiful music and singing resonating amongst thousands of people. It’s a night I’ll never forget.

Preparing for Take Off 

I always enjoyed spending time with my language partner and my classmate. One of my favorite memories was going to see planes take-off. We first went out to eat some sushi from a place he recommended. We explored Taipei a bit more, and eventually went out to go watch the planes. It was the weekend right before I flew back to the U.S., so it was a bittersweet moment because it was the last time I’d be able to spend a spontaneous day hanging out. In a few days, I’d be the one sitting in one of those planes. I remember trying to take in the scene one last time. I am grateful to have met some incredible people in Taiwan through CLS.

Sharing Mexican American Culture in Taiwan

I really enjoyed sharing my Mexican American culture to my host community, because it encompasses such a large part of the U.S. but may not be as known to people outside of the U.S. Learning about the indigenous communities in Taiwan was enriching as well because it was a subject I previously knew very little about. It was a great way for me to also self-reflect on my own identity and values.

Why Should Others Study Mandarin Chinese?

I would 110% recommend someone to learn Mandarin Chinese. It’s such a completely different language than that of English (or Spanish) and it’s a really rewarding experience being able to talk to someone in a language that looked impossible to learn when you first started.

Words of Advice

Give it a shot! If you miss, give it another shot! Figure out your why, write about it, and slowly but surely, you’ll end up crafting an application that you will feel confident with.

It's truly an incredible summer experience that goes far beyond learning a language. You will learn so much about yourself, and the world, alongside making impressive strides towards language fluency.