Taiwan 2024 - Start of the 4th Quarter
Taiwan 2024 slowly became a story.
That story is wrapping up soon, and I’m thankful for the things that have led up to this point.
Somebody asked me how has Taiwan changed me overall? I didn’t really have an answer until recently.
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Things That Were Different in the 3rd Quarter
In the beginning of the year, I got stuck in what I like to call my own ABC syndrome, where I would hang out with foreigners in the largest city and prevent myself from getting immersed in the culture. I wanted to change that.
I went to Lanyu (Orchid Island), which is governed by Taiwan, by myself and became friends with a lot of locals, particularly from Taoyuan. I ended up taking a trip to see them, and the local hospitality 人情味 was something that I started noticing and valuing more.
There are many places in the world I wouldn’t visit a second time, but Lanyu is one where I would. It’s a place that isn’t visited that frequently by local Taiwanese, and it felt like I wasn’t in Taiwan while I was in Lanyu.
Another significant trip I wanted to highlight was a trip to Alishan. I witnessed the most gorgeous Sunset I’ve ever experienced.
I also started signing KTV more, and among others helped improve my Chinese. I also spent more time with my cousins from the south.
How Has Taiwan Changed me?
The classics “grateful to be American” and “I enjoy interacting with locals” are familiar things I’ve said before while I’ve been in different places around the world, so there wasn’t anything unusual in that department.
But it’s different this time. I’ve built a network of people who are just like me: Born and raised to Taiwanese parents in the US. People who struggle with their Mandarin. The year has made me more proud to be Taiwanese-American and appreciative of the path I’ve walked.
I’ve noticed physical looks is emphasized a little more in Asia. It makes me motivated for the better, so I hired a personal trainer and started taking care of my well-being. I was watching my diet as well for a while.
The Other Trips
I took two major trips outside of Taiwan in the 3rd Quarter. The first one was India and Sri Lanka, and I have a dedicated blog post about that trip.
The second one was a trip back home to the US for a wedding and visiting my parents before navigating to the Dolomites in Italy.
Things That Should be Different in the 4th Quarter
I anticipate that Q4 will be different because I want to wrap up the year in Asia. I plan on traveling a lot less, focusing more on building on existing connections, and welcoming my parents for an extended trip to Taipei.
In the next three months, I plan on focusing more on making a smooth transition to New York City, Year 2, a story that was delayed an entire year in favor of Taiwan 2024.
A Finite Time Remaining
If I were to ask myself to stay in Taiwan for longer than a year, I would be asking myself to be somebody I’m not. I originally came to Taiwan to help my parents remodel a house in Taipei and to spend quality time with family. While I am close to achieving those goals, the year has turned into a complete, standalone story with more meaning beyond what I anticipated.
Taiwan 2024 has been a wonderful experience. What was supposed to be 2 month time period will end up turning into 12 months.
The chapter that is coming to an end is Taiwan 2024, not Taiwan in general. Because I have family in Taiwan and certainly a house to help my family look after. Now I have relationships that will stick through the decades to come, and I’m looking forward to the next time I have an opportunity to spend meaningful time here again.