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Taiwan 2024 - First 3 Months
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Taiwan 2024 - First 3 Months

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Wilson
Apr 30, 2024
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Taiwan 2024 - First 3 Months
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The next adventure takes me to Asia. This experience is unique simply because this place is the motherland. I came to Taiwan for two reasons: see family and help my parents remodel an old house.

My impression of Taiwan had previously been that it was more of an “old school” place because my childhood included going back every summers to visit family. After three months in 2024, my impression has changed and I have been pleasantly surprised.


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Taiwan Decades Back versus Now

I sat down with our neighbors (that we’ve known for multiple decades) in New Taipei City last week because they invited me over for tea. I was reminiscing going from my grandmother’s house taking the 644 public bus as a 7-year-old to school in Taipei during the US summer break with my sister.

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We had to insert coins instead of a universal public transportation card (Easy Card) in the present day. I also remember when the green and red MRT subway lines were the same before they finally split them into separate routes in the 2000’s.

In short, Taiwan has changed drastically in the last few decades. Things are much more modern. The international community has exponentially risen.

How Did I Make Friends?

One mindset difference about this trip was to “experience Taiwan as an adult”. I have always believed establishing a network of friends is the single most important factor when visiting a place for a significant amount of time.

Andrew from New York introduced me to Ethan Jan 2023 when I was on a quick visit to Taiwan. I met my Taiwanese friend, Cheli, in Mexico in 2018. Before I arrived in 2024, I reached out to Ethan and Cheli. Ethan and Cheli connected me to their friends, and the network started spreading like wildfire.

Props to Andrew, Ethan, and Cheli for being great at connecting people and I’m thankful for their warm welcome.

The (Augmented) Foreigner’s Edge

Unlike any other place I’ve visited in the world, I’m simply either a foreigner or a local.

In Taiwan, it’s like I’m neither of those things. Both parents are Taiwanese, but I don’t have identification to show for it. I go through the same struggles as a foreigner when people at the hospital asks for my health insurance card and blankly stares at me with confusion when I tell them I don’t have one because I’m a foreigner.

Lastly, this is the first time in my adulthood where I’ve spent significant time in a place where I am a part of the majority race.

The Language Barrier

I’ve learned it’s challenging to be a foreigner in Taiwan. Along with the health insurance card example, some other basic examples include the language barrier. Chinese is difficult because there is not only speaking/listening components, there’s also reading - which imo is even harder. I can read about 50% of the characters.

When I speak Mandarin Chinese, I’ve been told my accent is 70% Taiwanese and 30% “gringo”.

When I was a kid, I would actively try to improve the accent.

As an adult, I’m now like… why tf would I ever work on my accent? I want people to know I’m a foreigner ;)

A big reason is because Taiwanese people are very hospitable and friendly to foreigners, so there’s no reason to be anybody but myself.

Thank You to People Who Came and Planned a Visit

Speaking of being hospitable, I enjoy doing the same to others as much as I can. Thank you to friends from New York and California for coming to visit the motherland: Colleen, Sara, (Taiwan) Tim, and Ed.

A Taste of the Experiences

One thing I had not done previously was enjoying the gorgeous nature of Taiwan. It’s very mountainous and the coastline is insanely beautiful.

Hiking/Surfing in Kenting National Park, canyoning in Nan-Ao Township near Hualien (thanks Eric!)

I have been to new places in these last three months: Taitung, Dulan, Hualien, Donggang, Yilan.

I’m genuinely confused as to why expats choose Taiwan. But now I get it.

The first three months was a blast, and I am already looking forward to the next three months.

What’s Next?

I Planned On Staying 2.5 Months. Now…?

In the second half of 2023, I made plans to come to Taiwan end of January 2024 to mid-March. But then mid-March changed to early April, which changed to mid-April, which changed to August. Now, I’ve pivoted to having an NYC "return date” as opposed to a Taiwan “departure date”.

I no longer have a Taiwan departure date because I plan on doing more leisure traveling in Asia during the second half of the year, but my NYC Year 2 return date has been tentatively reset to January 2025. I’ve made a full commitment to doing the complete year in Asia.

There is absolutely no way I would be here if I didn’t have family or if there wasn’t a house to help remodel. But there is one thing I can conclusively say about Taiwan that I did not know I could have said in previous decades.

Because it doesn’t matter whether I’m eating the best 碗糕 Wah Guay in Tainan, heading to Kor Taipei on a night out with friends, or surfing the waves in Kenting.

This place f*cking rocks.

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