Over the past five days I have divided my time between saying goodbye to friends and running errands. Since I was so focused on shipping my belongings and getting things done, I didn’t really take time to emotionally say goodbye to Taiwan. It wasn’t until I stepped into the taxi and watched my friend Andrew disappear on the sidewalk that I felt the pressure build in my chest. I have left behind my home, the people that have become my Taiwanese family and friends, the feeling of belonging, and the cultural richness of Taiwan. In some ways it has become more of a home to me than the US. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country and am rather patriotic (ask the Dutchman). It is not about something negative with the US, rather something incredibly special about Taiwan. My family will always pull me back to the US, but Taiwan in its own right has a powerful allure. Taiwan is like a safe cocoon. The people are courteous and always willing to go out of their way for you. I am not talking about a few isolated events, but every day interactions. Now that I have left, I have begun to realize the gravity of the relationships I have built over the past 2 years. Everyone from my lovely doorman to the woman who serves food at my local vegetarian buffet have left a lasting impression with me. I may not have spoken their language, nor spent large quantities of time with them, but it was obvious that we cared for one another.
I would like to take this time to just say a heart-felt goodbye and thank you to some of the people that greatly impacted me (In no particular order).
Tzuli and Jamie:
I was recommended as a tutor to these two spunky sisters. It didn’t take long for our relationship to grow into friendship. I genuinely look at them as some of my greatest friends. It is hard to find good quality friends that you just click with, but with them it is was natural and organic. Every time I see them they make my day better. We laugh often and speak freely.
Thank you for sharing your time and hearts with me. You are both intelligent, snarky, evil (sometimes), and beautiful people. You alone will pull me back to Taiwan in the future.
Andrew:
Andrew is a top notch friend. He is truly dedicated to investing into his friendships and always offers his support. We quickly bonded over board games, movies, food, and travel. I have a deep respect for Andrew and have a hard time imagining what my time in Taiwan would have been like without him. I am excited for our friendship to continue to grow throughout our lives.
Thank you for being so fun, engaging, and downright awesome. It was so special for me to share my last 5 days in Taipei with you and your bomb-diggity family.
Jane and her parents:
On my last day in Taiwan I met up with Jane’s father. He gave me a Buddha necklace and took me out to lunch. Before we parted ways, he asked a woman to take a photo of us. When he handed her the camera, he said that I was his American child. This really made me choke back tears. Jane’s parents gave me so many authentic cultural experiences that I would never have had without them! They are generous, caring, and excellent people. I joke that I adopted them even if they didn’t adopt me back. In all honesty I look at them as my Taiwanese family and love them very much.
As for Jane herself, we met in a hostel in Turkey a couple months before I arrived in Taipei. I asked her where she was from and when she said Taiwan, I got so excited! From the moment I landed, Jane has been my close friend, advisor, and human form of google (hence the nickname Joogle). She is so intelligent, worldly, and fun-loving. I just wish we had had more time together in the same geographical location. Oh well, I know I shall be seeing her soon. It is inevitable that we will share our love of travel on the road at some point.
Thank you doesn’t even cut it Jane.
I would like to take this time to just say a heart-felt goodbye and thank you to some of the people that greatly impacted me (In no particular order).
Tzuli and Jamie:
I was recommended as a tutor to these two spunky sisters. It didn’t take long for our relationship to grow into friendship. I genuinely look at them as some of my greatest friends. It is hard to find good quality friends that you just click with, but with them it is was natural and organic. Every time I see them they make my day better. We laugh often and speak freely.
Thank you for sharing your time and hearts with me. You are both intelligent, snarky, evil (sometimes), and beautiful people. You alone will pull me back to Taiwan in the future.
Andrew:
Andrew is a top notch friend. He is truly dedicated to investing into his friendships and always offers his support. We quickly bonded over board games, movies, food, and travel. I have a deep respect for Andrew and have a hard time imagining what my time in Taiwan would have been like without him. I am excited for our friendship to continue to grow throughout our lives.
Thank you for being so fun, engaging, and downright awesome. It was so special for me to share my last 5 days in Taipei with you and your bomb-diggity family.
Jane and her parents:
On my last day in Taiwan I met up with Jane’s father. He gave me a Buddha necklace and took me out to lunch. Before we parted ways, he asked a woman to take a photo of us. When he handed her the camera, he said that I was his American child. This really made me choke back tears. Jane’s parents gave me so many authentic cultural experiences that I would never have had without them! They are generous, caring, and excellent people. I joke that I adopted them even if they didn’t adopt me back. In all honesty I look at them as my Taiwanese family and love them very much.
As for Jane herself, we met in a hostel in Turkey a couple months before I arrived in Taipei. I asked her where she was from and when she said Taiwan, I got so excited! From the moment I landed, Jane has been my close friend, advisor, and human form of google (hence the nickname Joogle). She is so intelligent, worldly, and fun-loving. I just wish we had had more time together in the same geographical location. Oh well, I know I shall be seeing her soon. It is inevitable that we will share our love of travel on the road at some point.
Thank you doesn’t even cut it Jane.
