Taiwan

Taking your international heritage for granted, aren’t we?

If either you or or parents were not born in America, then maybe you know how easy it is to take speaking a second language for granted. Chances are then, you may also be taking your experience stepping on another continent for granted too! Well don’t. Because that one, first, and maybe only visit back to your motherland just made you a TWO continent traveler! Most people born in the USA, never leave the USA.

A Tidbit of Me and You

Like many of you, my parents came to the US of A in the 1970’s, and some years later (not saying how many years later), I was born here in New York City. Yay my 1st continent! Still, mom and dad remained tightly intertwined with their cultural heritage and language. To further cement my Taiwanese ties, my maternal grandmother actually came to live with us, and raised me for the next twenty one years of life. I actually became so fluent in Taiwanese that I didn’t even know a word of English when I stepped into kindergarten. I’m sure she’d be happy that her grandson became a speech professor in the English language but a few years after her passing.

TAIWAN - My First Asia

I remember vividly my first memory of Taiwan, which consequentially was my first experience in Asia making ME a two continent traveler. It could have been 106 degrees and being grandma’s boy she dressed me in a full out suit while I was sitting in the middle back seat of the car. My first memory was walking out of that car and hitting that heat wave straight on. I remember hating Taiwan, and hating my grandma for the first time for that split moment. The heat was tortuous that I would not return for ten years. But like all times, looking back she was always overly caring and simply didn’t want me to catch a cold. In my lifetime I’ve now been back to Taiwan four times. As my father is now closer in age, I’m happy I brought him back home at least one more time.

What to Expect?

Expect everything. As the eskimos say “snowflake” a billion ways, there are a billion nuances to all that is classified as “Asian”.

Except nothing. Question your beliefs, prepare your senses. Welcome to the largest continent on the planet!