💗 台灣 💗
Happy Taiwanniversary to me! It’s hard to believe that what was supposed to be twelve months somehow transformed into 12 years of living in Taiwan!
I’m asked on almost a weekly basis about why I chose to come to Taiwan. I always have to admit that my reasons for choosing Taiwan in the first place were not very remarkable. I had graduated from university in Canada and simply wanted a year to decide if I would return to the US and what field I wanted to continue my education in. My really basic research had told me Taiwan was a place I could make a decent living working as an English teacher while still having a high quality of life. So, in just over the course of a few weeks, I packed my bags and decided to come to Taiwan not knowing a single person or a word of Chinese. I cried most of the plane ride here worrying that I had made a huge mistake, simultaneously eyeing the other passengers nervously for clues on how you are supposed to eat instant noodle soup with chopsticks?!
Regardless of bumpy beginnings, what’s far more interesting than my reasons for coming to Taiwan, are all the reasons that kept me here for so long. The kindness of the people who live here and the natural beauty of the country are breathtaking. It’s a place where lost items often get returned, and local shop owners will treat you like family. The safety I feel as a single woman to move about in a major city like Taipei cannot be emphasized enough. There is always something delicious and inexpensive you can find to eat at any hour of the day (I’m eating Lu Rou Fan as I type this!).
But more than anything, I love Taiwan for the opportunities and lessons it has given me. It has taught me that through working hard, building meaningful interactions with others, and seeing challenging situations as chances for growth, the sky is the limit. Life here is ever-changing, constantly humbling me, and ultimately transforming me. The family of other expats and the growing community I have found of Taiwanese teachers, coworkers, students, and friends makes this place truly feel like home.
I feel so incredibly #blessed to have found myself in Taiwan for more than a third of my life now. I only hope that I can give back to Taiwan as much as it has given to me during this time! Xie xie, Taiwan!
Keep moving!
xx,
Katie
💗 台灣 💗
來台紀念日快樂！真不敢相信當初的「來台12個月計畫」，不知不覺變成了12年！
我幾乎每周都會被問一次，為什麼我選擇來台灣？這時候，我總會承認當初選擇來台灣的理由非常的普通：那時候的我剛從加拿大的大學畢業，單純的只是想要利用一年的時間，來決定我要回美國繼續進修哪一個領域。經過間單的研究，我發現在台灣當英文老師能有不錯的生活品質，所以幾個禮拜後，在不認識任何一個人、不會說任何中文、不知道可以在商店買到什麼的情況下，我決定要來台灣。還記得在來台灣的飛機上，我一邊掉眼淚，一邊偷看其他的乘客到底是怎麼用筷子吃湯的泡麵？！心裡慌張地想著：『我正犯下一個大錯。』
能讓我留在台灣這麼久的原因遠比為什麼我會來台灣的原因有趣多了：台灣人的善良與壯觀的自然美景。這是一個掉東西常常可以找回來的地方；這是一個當地商店的老闆常常把你當家人對待的地方；對身為一位單身女性的我，這是一個讓我們可以安心自由地走在路上的地方；這是一個總是可以在任何的時間點找到便宜又好吃的食物的地方（我現在就邊打字邊吃著滷肉飯。）
但是最重要的是，我很感謝台灣給我很多學習與機會．它教我透過認真工作、建立深厚的友誼、把挑戰視為是學習的機會，人生就有無限的可能。在台灣的生活日新月異、常常提醒我要謙卑，然後幫助我不斷地改變與成長。
我在台灣的外籍朋友們就是一個大家庭，大家互相扶持與陪伴，台灣的老師們、同事們、學生們和朋友們，一切的一切讓台灣有家的感覺。我十分地感恩我有三分之一的人生是在台灣渡過，我只希望我能夠回報台灣，來感謝它所給予我的一切。
繼續前進！
愛你的 Katie
( Anna Liang 譯 )
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