As our family adventure year begins to wind down, I’ve been thinking a lot about what Taipei has come to mean to me. What started as a big leap - packing up our life for a year abroad – has grown into something steady and familiar. The rhythm of life here feels easy now, like we’ve truly settled in. It’s the small, consistent things - buying fresh fish every Tuesday from the same vendor, the local restaurant staff that bring pink plates for Tori, the kids casually using Taiwanese slang like “媠啦” (“sui la”)- that have made this place feel like home. It’s those everyday moments that I know we’ll miss most.
I want to share a few glimpses of our rhythm here.
Little Moments That Shaped Us
Local Market Mornings – Several times a week, we head to the traditional market for veggies, dumplings, fruit, and fish. The stalls shift with the seasons, and my Mandarin has slowly improved - mostly by the vendors correcting me!
School Life – There’s definitely more homework here than back home, but the routines are steady, and the big girls are thriving in a bilingual environment. Lexi’s proudly stepped into the role of family translator—reading menus, street signs, and even correcting our tones. Ellie's been deepening her love of art and sometimes recites Chinese poetry to herself during bath time. Meanwhile, Tori has gone from diapers and barely speaking to fully potty-trained and chatting in two languages. It’s been amazing (and a little humbling) to watch how quickly they’ve all adapted.
Roots Church – It’s become a steady anchor in our week. The kids look forward to it so much that they are sad to miss a Sunday - even for something like a family trip.
No-Car Life – Without a car, we rely on public transit and our small scooter to get everywhere. It's shaped our Taipei life to be decided local, just as a practical consideration. It was overwhelming at first to walk on the side of the streets with cars and motorcycles zipping by, but now the kids know the way to school and church.
Upcoming family adventure year trips:
✅ Warren: Bali & Komodo Island Indonesia for the Komodo dragons (Jan 2025)
✅ Mel: Kyoto, Japan for the cherry blossoms (Mar 2025) (Moving Kyoto to Feb 2025 with Michael & Richelle and will search for cherry blossoms in Taiwan)
✅ Lexi: Chengdu, China for the giant pandas (Oct 2024). She also voted for Komodo dragons.
✅ Ellie: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for the underground tunnels. She also voted for Komodo dragons. (Jan 2025)
❑ Tori: Hong Kong for Disneyland (May 2025). She also voted for the mall. 🤷🏻♀️
This weekend, we’re off on our final trip of the year for Tori’s pick: Hong Kong Disneyland (because that’s the closest we could get to a Disney cruise). Then it’s back to Taipei for one last month of DIY crafts, mango shave ice, affordable sushi, and MRT rides.
After that, we’re taking the scenic route home—London with Warren’s family (Wimbledon, here we come!) and our annual Boston trip before we finally unpack back in San Francisco. Looking forward to savoring every last bit of time before heading home.
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