As Taiwan continues to attract international students, more people are quietly learning what it means to live between cultures.
I have lived in Taiwan for almost four years as an international student. Although many people say I do not look like a foreigner, my Chinese-speaking ability often says otherwise. I became embarrassed when I could not respond the way people expected. It made me feel like I did not fully belong.
However, I became more comfortable living in Taiwan, and getting used to its daily life and language. I have grown to love the version of myself I discovered in Taiwan.
The first time I returned home to Indonesia after living abroad, something felt off. During one summer vacation, I suddenly felt like I no longer belonged.
At first, I did not know why and I dismissed the feeling, but it became harder to ignore, and I began to wonder about it.
One day, it felt strange that going back to my home country felt more like a vacation than going home.
As much as I have tried to adjust to living in Taiwan, I have never felt like I completely belong here either. Yet when I am in Indonesia, I also feel like a stranger.
Conversations feel slightly out of sync, as if I am no longer fully part of the rhythm.
Sometimes, I find myself switching between languages or searching for the right words, only to realize I no longer express myself the same way I used to.
Old habits even feel slightly unfamiliar, as if I am adjusting all over again.
That was when the dilemma began. I found myself constantly comparing everything. When I am in Taiwan, I miss the warmth and familiarity of Indonesia, but when I am in Indonesia, I miss the independence that I have in Taiwan. Somewhere along the way, I started living between two places.
I believe this is not just a personal experience, but a shared one.
Many international students and migrant workers find themselves living between cultures and navigating identities that are not always understood.
As Taiwan becomes more international, such experiences are becoming increasingly common, but they are rarely acknowledged.
Welcoming people from abroad is not only about providing opportunities, but also about understanding the complex identities they carry.
This shared experience highlights the importance of building communities where people can feel less alone.
For some, the decision to live abroad is shaped by practical reasons, whether it is better opportunities or a different pace of life.
Beyond those reasons, there is also something less visible: a greater sense of self that develops. Living abroad not only changes our environment, but it also reshapes how we see the world and how we see ourselves.
Living between two places has allowed me to see the strengths and limitations of each. I am no longer tied to just one place, but shaped by both.
The question of where one truly belongs might not always have a single answer.
Perhaps it is not about choosing one place over another, but about learning to grow between them.
When we go somewhere new, we find new communities and create different versions of ourselves.
In that sense, this feeling of being “in between” is not something to fear, but something many people quietly experience. Even if we do not always talk about it, perhaps we are not as alone as we think.
Patricia Tong is a student in the Department of International Affairs at Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages.
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