Life as a Foreigner
A personal story of taking a chance
There’s a difference between traveling through a new place and starting a chapter of your life there. Especially when you’ve relocated to a culture fantastically different from your comfort zone, life doesn’t come close to resembling Eat, Pray, Love.
Transplanting my life from Austin, Texas, to Hsinchu, Taiwan, was a decision I made in mid-2010; by August 27, 2010, I stood in the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, three suitcases and a backpack surrounding me, and I was nearly overwhelmed. I’d never been to Asia. My friend Gretchen was coming to pick me up, but she was nowhere to be seen. I had no phone, zero knowledge of Mandarin, and very little money. At that moment, I doubted myself.
I decided to move because I knew I’d regret it if I never did. I’d considered teaching English abroad for over five years. It never felt right, and I was concerned about my financial situation; with over $20,000 in student loans and debt, I couldn’t flit about carelessly. I had to be smart. It wasn’t until Summer 2010 that the option became real and, dreading the potential regret, I bought my one-way ticket to Taiwan.
Once I finally climbed into a cab with Gretchen, I relaxed a bit and took in the passing scenery. Taiwan, my new country of residence, brimmed with color. Giant Buddha statues peeked out of untamed trees and sat on pedestals next to the highway.
After a few months, I stopped feeling like a foreigner. Now, over a year later, I speak a bit of Mandarin, with “Thank you” and “I’m sorry” being my two most-used phrases. I know the back roads and can give directions using road names and proper pronunciation. I’m a regular at some restaurants. I volunteer with an animal shelter in Taichung. I ride the metro in Taipei like a local.
(Locals get on the wrong train sometimes, right?)
I’ve not fallen in love with the handsome, rich man who lays in a hammock with me on perfect afternoons. Better than that, I have a family of other foreigners and local Taiwanese; I celebrate holidays with a close group of friends from around the world, and that gently fills the void of being away from loved ones.
I keep in touch with friends and family back home through Skype, texts, Facebook, emails, and my blog. Living so far away from the VIPs of my life is a daily struggle. It’s hard, but my Taiwan family and friends make it easier. Nothing matters as much as the people in your life, which is one of the most important lessons you learn when the shininess of your new home fades into normal.
Everyone has his or her own reason for moving abroad, and mine was to pursue adventure… and escape the mundane… and get out of debt… and travel… and to stop living in self-imposed limitations. Of course, now that Hsinchu has become more routine, I’m contemplating the next possibility. Why limit myself to Taiwan?