Alumni Check-in: Hunter Tsai (Class of 2025)

Q. Where do you live now? Why? What are you doing?

A: I currently live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I am a first-year student at the University of Toronto studying social sciences.

Q. What are the biggest differences between there and Kaohsiung? What’s the biggest similarities?

A: The most noticeable differences are the food and the weather. In Toronto, the food culture is more diverse, but it feels less home-like. This can be a good thing because we can try many different cuisines, but when craving Taiwanese food, it is much harder to find.

On the other hand, the winter here is absolutely diabolical, with the coldest temperatures this year reaching −30°C and typically averaging between −5°C and −10°C. During the summer, the average temperature is around 20°C, which is similar to winter in Taiwan.

Q. What does a typical day look like for you?

A: A typical day starts with waking up, getting dressed, and having breakfast. Then I check whether I have classes. If I do, I attend them; otherwise, I go to the library if the weather permits.

I usually study until dinner, have dinner (often with friends), study more afterward, and then go to sleep.

This is my winter routine. During the warmer months, I usually include some city exploring here and there.

Q. What's one thing you miss most about Taiwan?

A: Definitely the food. I feel that Taiwanese food is unbeatable anywhere in the world. Even though there are Taiwanese restaurants in Canada, they are still not on par with the local street shops in Taiwan.

I have tried recreating Taiwanese dishes myself; the taste is getting closer, but it still needs some improvement.

Q. What advice would you give to those still here?

A: I would say that even though I personally have not gone through the IB DP program, the effort definitely pays off in university, regardless of where you pursue post-secondary studies.

After experiencing Grades 11–12 in a Canadian local school, I found the workload to be much lighter, but it did not prepare me for university as well as KAS would have.

I am speaking as a bystander to the IB program, but I do believe it is similar to or even harder than university, which is why it makes your life easier in the future.

Q. Did your KAS experience prepare you for life in Canada?

A: Yes. Overall, I feel that speaking English daily and the way the school is structured made the transition to Canada easier. I was confident in my ability to settle in and adapt quite quickly.

Q. What are you looking forward to most in the next five years?

A: I am hoping to land an internship at one of the Big Three management consulting firms before graduation.

Q. Anything else? 

A: Have fun