Revitalized: My Annual Trip to Taiwan.
Visiting my hometown annually reminds me to appreciate the little things that I may have previously overlooked.
Even though I have lived abroad long, Taiwan has always remained my home. Even after a decade, I still feel excited whenever I book a ticket to go back. It's different from traveling to a foreign country. It's a peculiar feeling of being familiar yet a stranger simultaneously.
In the various stages of my life, from being a student to becoming a business owner and living abroad for the past decade, my annual trip to Taiwan has always been a source of rejuvenation and gratitude for my daily life. It fills me with a new sense of energy and helps me to overcome the ongoing challenges of living abroad. Here are a few aspects of the trip that help me recharge.
Maintain the relationship with the close one.
I have lived with my family my entire life before moving to the United States. They were always there for me whenever I needed their support. However, once I moved to the States, I experienced the loneliness of living far away from my loved ones. No one could comfort or cheer me up after a challenging day. I didn't realize how significant my mom's homemade meals and my dad's neatly presented fruit plates were until I could no longer have them while living abroad. These small things I used to overlook and ignore became very important and precious. Nowadays, when I visit my family in Taiwan and receive love and care from them, I feel grateful and appreciate their effort to love and take care of me.
My parents are the most important people who love me unconditionally. After living away from home for a long time, I've realized that distance has made our relationship closer. We care about and love each other more than ever. Moreover, limiting our time together reminds me to always live in the moment and look forward to the next gathering.
My friends in Taiwan are also my biggest supporters who cheer me on through all the difficult moments of living abroad. Although we rarely see each other, our strong friendship foundation keeps us close. We share our daily lives and chat online. Whenever I visit Taiwan, we spend quality time together and plan our next gathering or trip.
Spending quality time with loved ones is essential for recharging my energy and growing together. Knowing someone I love always has my back helps me through life's challenges.
I am lucky to be able to call both Taiwan & US my home.
I spent almost ten years living abroad, which taught me a lot. Living abroad gave me a different perspective and allowed me to appreciate two cultures. I began to appreciate what I took for granted in the past, such as the convenience of living near stores, small stands, and restaurants.
If I needed a quick bite, there were always plenty of food options available, or if I needed someone to fix my broken pipes, a technician would arrive a few hours after my call. Nowadays, I appreciate all these things so much more. I am proud to share all these with my friends in the States and welcome them to my country.
However, with all the good things come downsides. Living close to people and stores means less space and more temptation to fill my schedule. While living in Taipei, I sometimes scheduled multiple events daily and felt exhausted from the jam-packed schedule. In California, people tend to have a slower pace of life. I live a calmer life with less anxiety compared to my time in Taipei. I'm not trying to compare which lifestyle is better. After experiencing both, I like them both. It's a personal preference that each of us chooses to live. I am grateful to have had the chance to experience both and choose the one that suits my current living preference.
The medical system
We pay so little, and in return, we receive excellent medical care here in Taiwan. If you feel unwell in Taiwan, you can easily find a clinic near your house, and a doctor can check on you immediately. However, when I was living in the States, I had an experience where I urgently needed to see a dermatologist. I had red rashes all over my body, which were itchy and painful. Despite trying to book the earliest appointment with a dermatologist near my place, I could only get an appointment three weeks later. If I needed immediate treatment, I had to go to an urgent care facility and spend lots of money. It was frustrating to experience some illnesses in the States despite taking good care of myself. When you live in the States, you have to adapt to the medical system, accept that it is what it is, and try to find the best solution to solve your problem - in my case, that meant spending more money to get treatment at urgent care.
I find it challenging to understand people who complain about how bad Taiwan or the US is while living in one of these countries. There is no perfect place to live, especially if you are always looking for the wrong side of things. It's all about our personal preferences. It's our choice to decide where we want to live, and once we've chosen, we should be part of the community, contribute to it, and make it a better place.
Indulge the food and explore the scenes in the city.
I had a great time recharging during my recent trip to Taiwan. The food there is simply delicious, and the scenery is spectacular. Whenever I visit Taiwan, I indulge in all the street food and check off all the items on my must-eat food checklist. Aside from the food, I also enjoy taking in the city's sights. I love riding the MRT, observing people, and enjoying the outdoor scenery.
I completely agree with the saying, 'You never know what you have until it's gone.' Living away from home has taught me to appreciate the small things in life and live in the present moment. Even though I returned from Taiwan just a month ago, I'm already looking forward to my next trip back home next year.
I can totally relate to all these aspects. 常回來玩 :)