There have been multiple stages of identity shifts since I arrived in the U.S. with my family at age 12. Beginning Stage — Culture Shock (Ages 12–17)Disliked the language; didn’t feel like learning; didn’t feel like I belonged; became a loner; homesick. I remember hating this place so much. I remember thinking: I didn’t choose… Continue reading Reflections – Written in 2019
Gloomy Nights
For most of my life, I’ve tried to understand myself by looking at where I came from: Taiwan, the United States, the languages I speak, the cultures I grew up around, and the constant feeling of being somewhere in between. But identity isn’t the only thing I’ve had to learn to live with. There are… Continue reading Gloomy Nights
Quiet Nights
We eventually started living in a nice, four-bedroom house in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I honestly never really liked the house. It was nice and spacious, with beautiful natural light, but something about it made me feel lonely. I remember those late work nights when I was the only one home. I couldn’t bring myself… Continue reading Quiet Nights
Growing up 1.5
I’d like to really understand everything that led me to become who I am today. I remember taking the airplane to America that day, full of excitement. At the airport, I saw my aunt and uncle for the first time in what felt like forever—though honestly, I couldn’t even remember how many years it had… Continue reading Growing up 1.5
Research Interests and Motivation
My interest in researching 1.5-generation immigrants comes from both my academic background and my own experiences growing up between languages and cultures. I want to better understand how 1.5-generation immigrants cope with identity crises, acculturation stress, and conflicting cultural values between their first and second languages and cultures. In particular, I’m interested in how identity… Continue reading Research Interests and Motivation
Learning to Stop Being「白目」
I used to always want people to understand me and accept my opinions. I tended to look down on people when they held values or behaved in ways that I disliked. I often wanted people to become “better”—by my own definition of better. Even though I genuinely love learning about new things, ideas, cultures, languages,… Continue reading Learning to Stop Being「白目」
What Made Me Who I Am
I’d like to really understand everything that led me to who I am today. Growing Up 1.5 在沒有什麼歸屬感的環境底下長大 Trying my best but never being able to truly fit in Choosing to fit in—or choosing to be an outsider The fear of being left out Anxiety Loneliness Not wanting to admit that I was shy Low… Continue reading What Made Me Who I Am
Preface: My 1.5-Generation Story
Everyone has their own version of growing up as a 1.5-generation immigrant, and this is my story. I was born in 1988 in Taipei, Taiwan, where it’s common for people to grow up speaking or at least understanding a mother tongue—whether that’s Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka, or one of the Indigenous languages—and then learn and use… Continue reading Preface: My 1.5-Generation Story
Thoughts I Almost Forgot
I daydream too much. In those daydreams, I think too much. There are too many thoughts floating around in my mind, too many things I want to say but can’t quite put into words. So I’ve decided to try to write some of them down. Before they disappear. 腦筋動得太快， 想得太快， 很容易就忘記上一秒的思緒， 忘記上一秒得到的結論。 My thoughts move… Continue reading Thoughts I Almost Forgot
