My First Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan
The Mid-Autumn Festival, a childhood memory marked by a school holiday, holds deeper significance in Taiwan. It’s a crucial time for family gatherings and exchanging gifts with loved ones.
My children, having recently moved to Taiwan, reflected on their experiences during a holiday drive. My daughter expressed missing her previous linguistic environment. She attended a French school where she learned German, conversing in French with teachers and peers, formally studying German in class, and receiving instruction from a graduate French major at Columbia. Finding French and German online tutors from Taipei has helped bridge this gap, as these languages are not offered in their current American school. My son, on the other hand, missed his orchestra, where he was a principal, and the friends he made there. Both children also missed their fencing school and their friends.
Despite these adjustments, they embrace the changes, acknowledging the “disruptions” that come with new experiences. We are fortunate to have found piano and cello teachers whom they both admire, especially for my son, who deeply respects his cello teacher’s guidance. We also appreciate our downsized living arrangement, which fosters closeness while still providing individual space and easy access to common areas.
I believe this “overseas” experience will be invaluable for them, offering opportunities to learn a new language, culture, and social norms—lessons best appreciated through direct experience.
After a year of constant travel between the US and Taiwan, it’s time to slow down. The October heat of 35°C in Taiwan is a stark contrast to the familiar 10-15°C chill of the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes, I find myself reminiscing about past pleasures, like attending concerts downtown, visiting my favorite Vietnamese or Korean restaurants, or simply enjoying outdoor cooking with a glass of wine, as the US was home for most of my life.
