When Ting-Yu Lu left behind a successful engineering career and travelled across the world to Paraguay around six months ago, she was not searching for a specific destination. Instead, she was searching for meaning. Today, living and working in Pilar as an international volunteer, she finds herself teaching technology, organising cultural events, and building bridges between Taiwan and Paraguay in ways she never imagined possible.
Ting on facing an uncertain future
On paper, Ting’s life once looked secure: a master’s degree in the United Kingdom and a career as a software engineer across Taiwan, the United States, and Europe. Yet something felt missing.
“My life looked very set: good job, stable future. But my heart was always telling me there was more to explore,” she shares with The Asunción Times.
She eventually made a bold decision. “I just quit my job without having a next one… I did not really enjoy it. I felt bored and disconnected sometimes.”
Afterward, she joined a start-up in Taiwan, an intense but transformative experience. “It was the most challenging period of my life… But for the first time, I felt truly alive at work.”
That path led her to an international volunteer programme, and to Paraguay.
“Paraguay is the antipode of Taiwan… It is not a typical tourist destination, but it is full of culture and sincerity. I wanted to live somewhere, not just visit.”
Adapting to life in Pilar
She currently works in the Municipality of Pilar as an information technology volunteer through Taiwan ICDF, a cooperation programme that supports projects in healthcare, education, aquaculture, agriculture, and language training across Paraguay.
Arriving to Paraguay, however, was not without challenges, especially the language.
“I did not speak Spanish at all. The first three to four months were overwhelming. People mix Spanish with Guaraní, and conversations are fast. It was not an easy place to learn.”
With no English speakers around, she had to adapt quickly. “I studied almost all day. Every interaction became a lesson, from talking with neighbours to going to government offices. I had to grow fast.”
Despite this, Ting found something unexpected in Pilar: a sense of calm.
“Before, I lived in Taiwan, Europe, and the United States. Life was always fast. But Pilar feels like slow motion. I finally have time to enjoy my life and talk to myself.”
Teaching technology and inspiring students
She also noticed a strong curiosity among young people in the city. After observing the local education environment, she realised many students were eager to learn but had limited exposure to technology.
“I saw that students have strong potential. So I started sharing my experience as an engineer. I talk about what it is like to work in the semiconductor industry and how engineering life looks on the other side of the world.”
She began teaching basic logic as a foundation for programming and is now preparing Python classes. Although she had never taught before, the experience became one of the most meaningful parts of her journey.
“Standing in front of a classroom and speaking in a new language was intimidating. But teaching forced me to truly understand what I thought I already knew. I learned as much as my students did.”
Sharing culture through the Lunar New Year
Beyond technology, Ting noticed something else: many people in Pilar were curious about Taiwan but knew little about it.
“People always asked me what we eat, how we live, and if I could teach them Mandarin. So I thought maybe I could share my culture in a more direct way.”
That idea became a cultural event centred on the Lunar New Year. Together with Taiwan ICDF and the Municipality of Pilar, she organised a public event introducing Taiwanese traditions, including Mandarin lessons, calligraphy, food, and the Chinese zodiac.
“When we released the flyer, registrations filled up so quickly that we had to move to a bigger place. In the end, more than 100 people came. We wanted people to see family life, religion, and daily culture. To understand Taiwan beyond just images. After the event, some parents told me their children went home and tried to eat dinner with chopsticks,” she says with a smile. “That made me so happy. It felt worth it.”
A life changed by Paraguay
Her time in Paraguay has also changed how she sees herself.
“I arrived wondering if one person could make any difference. Now I know even small efforts can have an impact.”
Living in Paraguay has also reshaped her perspective on life. “I like how people here enjoy the moment. In Taiwan, life can be very stressful. Here, the lifestyle is more tranquilo. I want to learn that.”
She also highlights the warmth she feels from the people around her. “Paraguayans are very friendly. Even when my Spanish was not good, people still talked to me and welcomed me. It is easier to make friends here than in many other countries I have lived in. Two years ago, I could never have imagined this life in Paraguay. I do not have a plan right now. And for the first time, that feels like freedom. I hope my future holds things I cannot imagine yet.”
Now halfway through her one-year programme, Ting does not know what comes next, and she is comfortable with that uncertainty.
