Taipei Recap: Part 1 — Family
Taipei is my second home. Most of my extended family live here. I studied abroad here. I know places to go and things to see. I’ve been to Taipei countless times; each journey back reinforces the connection and deepens the bond through new experiences. Even better is sharing this wonderful city with people I love.
Our 2020 Taipei trip was full of family, sightseeing, and food. It was jam-packed, barely covering the must-sees and must-dos. Nonetheless, I left with my heart full and belly stuffed.
Hello from Taipei!
FAMILY
In a short 5 days, I completed a tour de force of all of my extended family in Taiwan. (Planning logistics, to meet 6 uncles, 3+ aunts, and 9+ cousins is no easy task.[1]). Most of these relatives I only see once every three or four years when I return to Taiwan.
Despite the time and distance, something about blood relations and a strong cultural sense of family provides a basis for closeness. I am grateful for this underlying connection to each family member. Everyone makes an effort to see me, even when I’m only in town for a short period every few years. I am touched by their kindness: their time, rides to and from the airport, shared meals, fruit (especially wax apples), gifts, accommodations, and overall hospitality from all of my family.
To be honest though, some dinners can be pretty awkward (certain cousins will know exactly which one I’m talking about). And yet, it also amazes me how other interactions can be so comfortable, despite many years apart. It is very special how my family knows me and I know my family.
This creates the ultimate positive feedback loop. Every trip, every meal, every encounter builds another layer to the family bonds. Having strong family bonds keep me coming back to Taiwan.
This particular trip was extra special for a couple reasons:
First, the family has grown, and I got to witness this snapshot in time. We met two of the newest members of the family, as two cousins recently had babies. It was interesting to see my cousins as new parents. And it is such a joy to see my two little nieces growing up. Now 9 and 12, they have grown up so much in just three years since I last saw them.
And second, now my extended family has met Cathy! It’s very meaningful for my extended family to meet my chosen family, so we can all be one family. Many new connections were made. Some not so subtle hints given and blatant questions asked. One immediate bond was formed between my uncle and Cathy over their veganism. All in all, a series of successful introductions. =)
Family was what brought me to Taipei, but we did so much more! Stay tuned for future posts covering our sightseeing and eats!
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Footnote:
[1] Counting relatives is no easy task. There are family friends as close as family; there are the plus ones; and more recently, there’s the next generation. In total, we saw 37 people I count as family. As you can imagine, the logistical coordination was a beast, and preparing gifts for that many people is an entire ordeal. But more on that in a future post.
