Four Years in Seattle

It's a few hours before my flight back to Taipei. I'm kind of glad that it's drizzling, and warm, a typical Northwest spring day.

It rains more in Taipei (annual precipitation 82.7") than in Seattle (38.25"). I never hated the rain. Growing up in an extremely humid climate, I'm accustomed to the moisture. In fact, I cannot live without it. I've visited California and the Mountain West, and my eyes got so dry that I feared I'd lose my sight.

I am glad to have spent my early adult life in a foreign country, and have made the most out of this experience. I came here as an international student, and had made intentional efforts to "fit it", understand the culture and have always been eager to seek ways to make new connections.

It is more of "what I can make out of my life" than trying to live some sort of "American dream" like many who yearn to work and live here. Seattle didn't let me down. It gave me the right kind of challenge, cultural shock, and yet a good amount of comfort with an educated, open-minded and liberal population.

It is not until I started my full time job working at the Seattle Parks Foundation that I truly felt like I love Seattle and that it feels like home. I had much more stability, strength, and felt like a proud young professional doing something really cool that connected me so well to the city and its people.

At the same time I continue to make friends. I never wanted my foreignness and accent or whatever to get into the way. But eventually I found that me not being from here, and not being American actually helped me find the right kinds of people to be friends with. They all self-selected. If I am so drawn to learn about cultures and explore the world, people around me would be the same way.

I am sad that I have to say bye at a moment where I have formed meaningful connections with a few. It is especially wonderful to have grown, learned, and explored nature, music, and food with many who have a totally different upbringing from myself. Connections are interesting; exploring friendships or relationships is just as fun and exciting as exploring a new place or culture. In fact, it is part of a cultural exploration that I've intentionally made efforts to pursue.

I discovered that I love diversity. In Taiwan, I always sought ways to get out of Taipei and visit rural places and learn different cultures. America is very fortunate to be an immigrant society where you can meet and be friends with people from around the world even without leaving the country. Too bad not enough people take advantage of that.

There are also plenty of opportunities for young people to start a career and establish a life of their own, as long as you work for it. At least in my company, independent and critical thinking were highly encouraged. Creativity and ideas were valued. I enjoy being a self-sufficient individual and can mostly be myself without expectations or judgments from others. It's a refreshing feel.

Leaving what I have here is not easy. Going back is somewhat stressful (expectations) and yet exciting since I will reconnect with many and learn about their new lives. Lots of my friends in Taiwan have also pursued and lived out their dreams in ways they can.

I will have more perspectives on things and the world. When I encounter situations, I'll think to myself, what would so and so in Seattle think? What can be different? Why can't we try things and think about things in new ways? As it had been the same when I lived in Seattle, I would think of how my existing values contradict with the new ones.

Living abroad for four years in one's early-mid twenties- how does that sound? For a long time I'm trying to find anyone who might have a similar experience. Maybe a few have but, not to the extent where I got to know the city so well and had been so involved in many ways, culturally, with my lifestyle, and with my job.

It's a valuable experience and I appreciated everyone I met along the way immensely. I learned what I like and want, and I would always seek for it in the next journey I am about to embark on. Diversity, creativity, freedom, independence, justice, progressiveness, environment, nature, wilderness, water, mountains, cultures, music, community, lastly friends and family. I want all of these.

The Korean girl that sat next to me on the airplane when I first moved here told me: Seattle will be your second home. I didn't believe that anywhere could ever be a home besides Taiwan at the time. But now I realized she's right. I had a great life here.

I am especially thankful for those who have supported through my transitions. I believe those who share a connection with me and can value it are special, at least, special to me.

A couple job interviews are lined up for next week :D I'm psyched about both. Wherever I go, I'll bring a piece of Taipei, a piece of Seattle with me. Life explorations, tbc!