When you take 23 million people, and put it on an island three times as big as Hawaii, you get Taiwan. I’ve been living here for 11 months, and today is the last day. I’m leaving soon to airport to go back to America.
Instead of writing a self improvement post, I’d like to briefly write a personal post about what I’m feeling right now so it might not have to do with personal development – sorry.
Anyway, I’m not sure if a lot of people know where Taiwan is or what Taiwan is because on a map, it looks so small. That’s what I thought at first, and it’s so weird (If you look on a map, it’s a small country barely right next to China. Like how people immigrated from England America to gain freedom, back then many people from China immigrated to Taiwan for freedom and to create a democracy instead of communism). You see all these continues and countries on a big map – United States, Europe, South America, Australia, and the last thing you would think that appeals to you is this tiny little barely visible place called Taiwan.
Having lived here for 11 months, I want to say that it doesn’t really matter how big you look at a country on a map! The truth is when you look at a big country; chances are you won’t explore the whole area. I’ve lived on the west coast of America all my life, and I’ve spend most of my life within 3 hours max driving. That’s it!
Within 3 hours of driving, you can cover 1/3 of Taiwan’s land. So I’ve learned never to judge a country by what it looks like on a map because when you’re actually there, you fill up a small space on a grand scale of land. And that’s why I love staying at Taiwan.
Within a small space, everything is pretty convenient. Since there’s so much traffic in the streets, having a car might be a disadvantage. A lot of people ride bikes or take the organized metropolitan station to get to places.
What I learned most about staying here was getting to be more involved with my family members. My mom and my dad immigrated to Taiwan after they got married, so I was born here. Only a few of my relatives had the privilege to live outside of Taiwan. Before revisiting the roots here, I think I had taken my stay in America for granted.
Even though everyday in America, you probably here news on CNN that the economy is getting worse and that people are in desperate income panic, the truth is when you step outside of America and see how other people live or their living standards, you feel grateful for just living in a standard house with a front yard and a tree.
Taiwan is not near a third world country, and although America’s economy is not in good shape, the living standards are still better. I really want to imagine how crazy it gets in a third world country.
Many people sell things in the streets in order to live. It’s kind of a depressing feeling walk through my street everyday and see so much competition because it feels as if it’s overcrowded. Yet, most people are very friendly and make you feel welcomed. It just makes me feel grateful to be able to have a chance to see what it is like outside of Taiwan – America, a place that many people here have not seen yet.
I think I have grown as a person here. I hope that in the future, I can be able to travel to different parts of the world and open up my horizons on what is really happening, what is outside the world of media and what they show us on TV.
Today ends a journey of my stay here. I just wanted to say that even though I do not have that many readers, thanks for sticking with me through these last few months here. I really appreciate it! I’ll be leaving to airport in a few hours so I need to get ready. Tomorrow, I should be in the Los Angeles airport and I hope to continue with my journey of blogging there. Thank you, and see you on the other side of the Pacific Ocean!
photo credit: Simon Grubb
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d like to visit Taiwan. It sounds beautiful and interesting… maybe next year.
thanks for describing your home, Taiwan. It beats the hell out of reading about it on wikipedia or somewhere else. I never left Romania, my home. If I get the chance to explore the world I would definitely visit Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and maybe China. I don;t think I’ll go only to visit, also to share my love with the world.
Wish you a great trip back to US and to us, your blog readers
Firstly I would like to say thank you, I have been reading quite a few blogs in your niche lately and I can honestly say I have finally found one that is a wealth of knowledge. I was just planning to gloss over your blog but found myself reading heaps, and learning.
Hop once again you will visit Taiwan, so i am waiting your post, i mean what you will be your feeling after revisited Taiwan.
Hi Everyday Minimalist, you should visit Taiwan if you have time. Although not every place looks beautiful, there are areas that do look beautiful and are very interesting to go to as well.
Hi Florin. Haha, sometimes articles on Wikipedia are boring. I’d rather give you guys a personal view of my perspective, rather than all the facts. You’re welcome and I hope you do get a chance to explore outside of your home Romania.
Hi Chris. Thank you for being a reader. I hope to revisit Taiwan one day, but right now I’ll be in America still blogging for you guys.
You struck a chord with me Tristan. I remember something similar occured to me the first time I flew ove the slums of mumbai. It was the most incredible and yet depressing sight I’d ever seen. I’m off to india again on Sunday but this time with a new perspective. I was just on the west coast and I drove 1500 miles in the space of 9 days and I have to say America is an amazing place but there’s a deep understanding…that it’s the not the place you see, is the sight you see it with.
Whoa, that’s crazy Amit. I’ve never been to India but one of my classmates did and he said that is the dirtiest place you will ever see and the most beautiful place you will ever see. I was very intrigued. And I also agree that although it’s nice to go sight seeing in different areas, sharing that feeling with someone close to you is an indescribable feeling. Thanks for sharing your story.