Sabbatical in Taiwan 2020 Reflections
My prolonged sabbatical in Taiwan from November 2019 to September 2020 marked the longest ever stay in Taiwan since entering HKUST. Despite being engaged in virtual course work of my final semester, such a period blessed me with adequate time to truly embrace the sentiment of being “rooted” at home, not the temporary stays in between semester vacations.
With flexibility in schedule, familiarity of home comfort, and independence to roam fields of interests and unknown — I had the opportunity to unwind and navigate introspectively. What are the simple moments of bliss and serenity? What are the environments that you truly thrive and enjoy? Where do I find value? Do I have a good relationship with myself? How has technology shaped and influenced your inner peace of mind? Am I headed towards career, academic, and relationships that align with my own values? How do you relate to others, and are you approachable or easy to relate with?
2020 is a year of change. From political transitions, global pandemics, to navigating academics, careers, and relationships virtually, many adaptations are put into place to in face of transition and uncertainty. I vividly remember “fleeing” from the HKUST dormitory in November 2019 due to political disruptions in Hong Kong. The stark contrast I felt at home in the initial months gave me perspective of how precious stability, independence, and freedom is. I no longer had to ignore sirens, chants, and shots echoing through the night; I need not worry about unprecedented traffic perturbations in the daily commute; nor assure Mom and Dad that “everything is alright” over here because I returned home — just by their side. Upon returning to Hong Kong in September 2020, I felt extremely thankful for the city to be in operation again, as I glance down from my quarantine hotel window, seeing the tramways and busses flowing seamlessly on King’s Road.
In retrospection, the emotional turmoil back in 2019 were unsettling — with uncertainty ahead and overwhelming reports of media exacerbating sensational responses. Yet as we transition with environments and as time passes, we become more emotionally stable and less tossed around by ups and downs. The wisdom of experience tells us what to overlook and what to invest in during moment in times of uncertainty.
For me, there were moments of weakness and uncertainty when negative news approaches us in different forms — the perturbations in University, the passing of a friend, the postponement of important events etc. Yet what has kept me rooted during such turbulent times are simple abundances and the daily constants in life. These are the elements that I found in Taiwan that I cannot do without, overlooked with the hectic schedules in University. Without the stimulating elements present in University life — course load and academic pressure, peer interactions inside and outside the classroom, weekend outings with friends, we face our callings, weaknesses, and return to habits in the truest form.
I appreciated the simple abundances in daily life that sustains in the long term — my morning rituals, daily walks and conversations with Mom and Dad in the end of the day, sharings with bro (listening to him open up with confidence and that sense of humor) focused work, reading, and writing etc. I had the opportunity to observe in detail the day ins and day outs of full time working parents (as I was the one at home taking online classes) — the early starts of the day, the second shifts after work, the exchanges with the family despite being drained from hectic events in work, and maintaining a balance with personal pursuits and devotion for kids. (Sometimes it meant all-in for kids, no time for themselves at all) In the past 20 years, it never occurred me these trivialities of daily life are the building blocks of family — the concerns, the forward planning, the sacrifices, and the understanding of parents; knowing that, one day, they would eventually have to let go. I especially appreciate their patience and understanding during periods of unknown and uncertainty — Mom and Dad never probes too much, supports my decisions; while bro always mocks with his hint of pessimistic dark humor that I play along with. (learned to play along with … it took me some time)
During this time, I confronted vulnerabilities that I deliberately neglected in the past — lessons that I am still learning about and living with as some repercussions leave their mark. Never an extrovert, I gain strength from reflections with a close few or through personal ponderings, and I’ve been used to setting complications inwards, hoping that I get to survive them with perseverance, wisdom, or experience. Yet as with things in life, some questions have open-ended answers, some challenges demand more than time to interpret, and some creases are never ironed out — it stays, a perpetual imprint reminding us of the past that coexist as part of who we are.
My stay in Taiwan blessed me with confidence in searching for personal values and guided me towards the direction of where I want to be in the long term. Indispensable elements in home life that I have overlooked and missed — gathering before a wonderful meal after separate expeditions after a long day, sharing with grandparents simply being present in a part of their daily life, the harmony of aligning your roots with familiarity in your environments, and the expeditions awaiting with the abundance of nature in Taiwan. As always, as I embark on yet another phase of expedition in Hong Kong, I remember myself that all roads lead home.
