Most people I talk to ask me sooner or later why I have come to Taiwan. Many people think because I teach English and learn Chinese, however, the most important reason was: Because I wanted to live together with my beloved and my beloved one is Taiwanese. Learning Chinese in Taiwan, working in Taiwan and living in Taiwan are all things that are associated with living together with my wife, but neither study nor work, nor the residence are the most important thing, but her!
Then many people ask how I met my wife, like having been exchange student in Germany, or at work in Taiwan and so on? Not at all, because we met on the Internet. While chatting online, we fast became friends and friendship developed quite rapidly from Internet friendship to a long distance relationship. I really have no way of reproducing every detail of our history here, but I want to tell you about a few milestones of my life in Taiwan.
In December 2001, I used the ICQ chat program at home in Germany (no idea if it still used by Taiwanese nowadays) and chatted with many people from other countries. At that time, this kind of communication was one of the newest and funniest Internet activities. When I first chatted with my wife on the Internet, I immediately developed a keen interest in Taiwan because I was chatting with the impression that Taiwan is really a very friendly place to be. After a few chats, I realized that I must fly to Taiwan and take a closer look on this country that I never noticed before.
When I met my wife, I was a trainee in a bank and my wife a senior at high school. We were then of course considered to be super young and such a long (and expensive) travel from Germany to Taiwan was a little complicated. In 2002, we have used all possible means of communication (Internet, telephone, fax, mail) to prepare my trip to Taiwan and in July 2002, I finally arrived in Taiwan! :)
Then we had to wait a whole year for a reunion. In July 2003, my wife came to Germany for the first time and we both went to many different places. I was previously unaware that there are so many interesting places in Germany, because I was always flying abroad on holiday, but never made any holidays in Germany.
Then it was my turn again and in January 2004 I flew to Taiwan for the second time, this time for Chinese New Year :)
Back in Germany, I started thinking about living with my wife in Taiwan. We have not been married back then, so studying was the simplest way to live in Taiwan. This decision, however, was also a little dangerous, because at that time, I already spent three years working at the bank and money-making went quite well, and in contrast the future in Taiwan was unclear. But … if I had not gone to Taiwan at that time, I definitely would have regretted it afterwards, so in August 2004, I came to Taiwan for the third time and became a student at the Language Center of Fu Jen University (of course, because my wife studied at the German Department of Fu Jen University).
The first year was really not easy, because in addition to the studies, I had to find a way to make money. Fortunately, it is not that difficult for foreigners in Taiwan to find a job, but the jobs I had in my first and second year were certainly not to the better paid ones. Between 2005 and 2006, I worked at Taipei 101, followed by a translation company and then at a cram school and slowly got used to the Taiwanese working conditions. I did not previously have a 7-day week, but in Taiwan it’s just the way it is (though I now work only 6 days a week ;)
Shortly before my wife got her degree at the university, we “finally” decided to marry. For many people we were still considered to be quite young back then (do you know married university students?), but for us, it was the right time and there was no reason not to do it. We got married in February 2007 and my life in Taiwan changed to a permanent residence.
A few months later, my wife graduated from the University and I finished my Chinese class. We also moved, as Xinzhuang, except for students, is not a great place to live (after graduation we both worked in Taipei). We then moved to Xindian and between 2008 and 2010 we were busy with work, make money, gain work experience and earn even more money.
The latest situation: My wife will probably get a baby in July 2011 :) After more than three years of living in Xindian, we decided to move to Taoyuan, so that we can live closer to my wife’s relatives. We are now preparing to change our life of two to a life of three and continue our exciting story. I hope that the next 7 years will be just like the last 7 years, because I surely still want to collect a lot more experience in Taiwan! :)
