Have you ever wondered what it's like to leave your home country and live in a foreign land? Do you need some inspiration and motivation to do this yourself? "Chat With an Expat" takes you around the world and brings you into the homes, huts, tents and yurts of global drifters to give you an inside look at what life is like living abroad. In this installment, we speak to an Australian with the heart of a Gypsy living in Asia. Kara Hocking
It's always interesting to meet someone who grew up unconventionally in a conventional world. Kara is a personal friend of mine who, although she was raised in Australia, moved around a lot when she was younger. She was brought up in a household of gypsies with parents who loved to move and travel, and she never lived longer than 3 years in one house. Last year, she moved to the East Asian country of Taiwan. Here is her story of what life is like there: How did you end up living in Taiwan? |
Any first impressions? |
Do you have any funny stories about learning the language?
Where exactly do you live in Taiwan, and what is it like?
It can feel a little confined sometimes, but you just suppress it. Every once in awhile, when I finally get time to go to the coast, it isn’t as good as I'm used to. But because I'm so starved of natural beauty, I end up being like, “Oh MY GOODNESS, this is beautiful!!!”
Cool, so do you get to travel around Taiwan?
What is driving in Taiwan traffic like?
Everybody warns you about the traffic and how hard it is to get used to but, I did pretty well. I blended in quite nicely with weaving in and out of traffic feeling like a local and a sense of invisibility, which sometimes is not a good thing.
I've had a few near accidents, but nothing to tell yet. My driving has calmed down a lot and I am much more sensible.
Do you have any interesting stories about driving in Taiwan?
We finally reach our destination and the rain stops as we pull in. We are in Luzhu for a couple of hours and it didn’t rain at all. Then, we hop on our bikes to head back home, and low and behold the rain starts up again!
“Of course,” I think. We put on our sunnies so the rain doesn’t hit our eyes and just get over the fact that we will be incredibly wet.
We are driving along and Khia is only a few meters ahead of me when all of a sudden Khia drives through a huge puddle and a wave of dirty mud water hits me right in the face! I am covered head to toe with filthy street water! I didn't realize how someone could be so wet without going swimming. I was feeling pretty great that day.
We got back to Kaohsiung, went to the first coffee shop we could think of, sat inside, had a warm coffee and drenched their nice comfy seats with water. That was a fun experience. The joys of scooters!
What are the locals like in Taiwan?
Even though I can't speak much they still try and talk to me and have chats. I don't really know what they're saying, so I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe they are telling me off or just wanting to chat to a foreigner.
Anyway, as far as I see, they are pleasant people.
Have you had any friendly connections with the locals?
I have found the locals, the old as well as the young, to be a good natured and lovely type of people, and the friends I have made here are definitely ones for life. So many great times and memories.
What do you think about Taiwanese food?
For example, stinky tofu or the thousand year egg...yeah that stuff is not tasty at all! Also I don’t get the obsession with putting a ton of sugar in almost every drink.
But I have fallen in love with the variety of local street food and the fresh fruit juices. The fruit here is amazing, I didn’t know how sweet it could be. Before I came to Taiwan I wasn’t big on fruit, like at all, I very rarely ate it. But since I have been here I am addicted to it!
I recently went back to Australia for a visit and thought I’d buy some fruit. I couldn’t believe how different it is, it just isn’t the same. It may look big, fresh and juicy, but the taste is awful!
The fruit in Taiwan is so much better, so incredibly good!
Do they have a selection of international cuisine in Taiwan?
How do you manage to stay in the country?
So what do you do for work in Taiwan?
I do enjoy it. The kids can be little grommets sometimes, but they're kids, and they make me laugh a lot.
Alright, last question: Do you have any advice for those who want to move to another country?
Prepare for the worst and it can only get better from there, and never have too big expectations of things, just go with the flow. Things are never as bad as they seem, most of the time anyway. I think that has been one of the best qualities I have cultivated. It's not all about the destination, it's the journey itself that’s worthwhile. I now really do believe that! Mentally prepare yourself for the ups, and especially the downs, but realize that every experience, if nothing else, will make a great story. |
"Chat With an Expat" takes you around the world and brings you into the homes, huts, tents and yurts of global drifters to give you an inside look at what life is like living abroad. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to get regular updates on blog posts. And now we'd like to ask you: Would you consider living in Taiwan? Why or why not? | |
I love reading about expats, and this is a great interview! It's always so interesting to discover what inspires people to move to new countries and how they adjust once there.
Exactly, Dana. I think real life experiences of how people have done it can really inspire others who are considering making similar moves. Also, there are so many interviews on general travel, I wanted to highlight a different aspect, that is, moving to live somewhere else, a more permanent of a trip. Glad you enjoyed it!
It takes a while getting used to, but once you become accustomed to it, it can be pretty fun! The only bad part is when you are dressed up to go out to a formal occasion and the last thing you want is to show up in a suit or dress soaking wet. That could get old fast.
I feel like I need to take a shower after reading about that "filthy street water". Other than that sounds like it's a cool adventure.
I love hearing tales from expats who've created a totally new existence for themselves, Thanks for sharing you two!
I love reading these interviews of people living/teaching abroad. It makes me wish that I was young and brave enough to pick up and go. These stories help me "live" it through their eyes....
I'm so glad to hear that, Mary. I love that people from differing circumstances can come here to The Drifters Blog and find something for them to read and enjoy. We all have separate lives with individual situations, some of travel short term, others long, yet we can all come away with the same appreciation and joy that travel and seeing the world brings.
Great blogg Kara. So awesome you are enjoying yourself. Great to experience new things, those memories will always stay with you.
Thanks a lot. It is really a good experience, a cool story and a lovely interview.
So glad you've had time to get to know some of the 'good natured and lovely' people of Taiwan, though be warned it will make leaving that much harder!! Really hope you get to extend your visa :) thanks for sharing your experience.
my sentiments too kara ,having lived in taiwan 9 months and still here, am already having withdrawals thinking about having to leave in another 3. i think visa stands for very inconvenient so annoying ,the people make you peaceful, but every man for himself on the road,the winters are short and mild, and the cost of living is magnetic.good job jr , keep em coming
Great interview. I always wanted to teach ESL in Asia but never actually did it.
Really enjoyed the interview. I think it's awesome that Kara drives a scooter around Taiwan. I've never been (but we are actually going to Taipei tomorrow!), but I imagine it's on par with most Asian driving and that is pretty intimidating!
Great interview.. I meet Kara last year in Taipei..And now I'm living in Kaohsiung.
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