Oh wow, I'm in a blogging mode. :)

Had a conversation about where home is (for those of us with parents that move around) with a friend yesterday that spurred me to be introspective. So, being unable to fall asleep last night, I laid awake thinking, "When did Taiwan become home to me?"

Before, when we were moving to a new country every 2 to 4 years with my dad, I'd always considered home to be wherever my parents were at the time. Taiwan was just a country where I was born and had only lived in for 2 years and went back to visit every once in a while. Then, my dad got sent back to Taiwan for four years, where I finished out high school and applied for college in the States. As graduation approached, I was excited, like everyone else, to be leaving Taiwan and going back to the States. But a few weeks into first quarter of freshmen year, I realized that I actually missed Taiwan. Some time during the four years I was in Taiwan, Taiwan had become what I considered to be home (at the time, I think I was missing more the people than the place, although the convenience of Taipei can''t be beat). There was no doubt as graduation from UCLA approached that I would go back to Taiwan to try my hand in the job industry. I had the option of applying for OPT and staying an extra year, but for some reason it didn't appeal to me. I just wanted to go back home.

Of course after going back, I missed LA and all my friends, but I didn't feel too foreign in Taiwan. I adapted fast to the life back there and settled into a routine. The only thing that was hard was my inability to vocalize my thoughts well in Mandarin, and that was pretty frustrating, making me want to move to somewhere that spoke English. But after a year in Taipei, I think my Mandarin has approved vastly (speaking and listening-wise anyway; writing, not so much) that maybe continuing to stay in Taiwan wouldn't be so bad.

Anyway, when I was given the opportunity to study in Belgium, I decided to go for it because I had the moving itch, and also I thought Europe would be cool. It is cool, I guess. But so far, I've been here for nearly a month, and I find myself constantly comparing to life back in Taiwan and realizing how much I miss home, once again.

Maybe I'm just being close-minded and just need to open my mind a bit to the life and people here. Or maybe I just need to adjust and get over the culture shock. Or maybe I just need school to start to keep me somewhat occupied (if there are even any classes for me to take).

However, this temporary move out to Belgium has reinforced my belief that I will one day settle down in Taipei (whenever that may be) because that be home!

... I just need to stop having this itch to move around (and then regretting it). Ugh!

Image from silentreaper.devart.