Ep 118 | Dr. Michi Fu Straddles Between Living in Taiwan and the U.S.

Mar 1, 2021

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A note from Talking Taiwan host Felicia Lin:

Dr. Michi Fu is a professor, psychologist, writer, public speaker and experience creator. She spoke with me about how her mother’s decision to retire in Taiwan led her to decide to take a one-year sabbatical in Taiwan and to apply for Taiwan citizenship- which proved to be an arduous process but well worth it in the end. It has allowed her to more easily travel and straddle between living in the U.S. and Taiwan. As she’s spent more time residing in Taiwan, she’s faced challenges adulting in Taiwan due to limited language and cultural proficiency. We spoke in depth about how she’s dealt with all this by learning to let go of cultural norms and expectations, and found ways to build a community for herself in Taiwan.

While in Taiwan she’s connected with expat communities like the Black lives Matter and Burning Man Taiwan communities, participated in a bilingual version of the Vagina Monologues, and she’s also been invited to participate in the 228 Transitional Justice Project. I found that to be a timely topic of conversation indeed, with the 74th anniversary of the 228 Incident having just passed.

Also referred to as The 228 Massacre, or The 228 Uprising, 228 is February 28, 1947, the date that the arrest of a cigarette seller in Taipei sparked protests over the corruption and repression of the ruling Kuomintang party at the time. What followed were the disappearance and execution of thousands by the Kuomintang. Some say up to 20 thousand were murdered. It led to the declaration of martial law and it was the beginning of the reign of White Terror in Taiwan that lasted for decades.

CORRECTION: At the 45-minute mark of Michi’s interview when she stated that she had arrived on holiday for her dissertation, she had arrived during the Dragon Boat Holiday for her sabbatical not her dissertation.

Here’s a little preview of what we talked about in this podcast episode:

Michi’s upbringing and where she grew up
Michi’s connection to Taiwan
The study tour that Michi has co-organized with Dr. Tsuann Kuo (Founder of NATWA II)
How Michi’s perception of Taiwan has changed over time
How she’s met expats who have made Taiwan their home and out be interested in applying for citizenship in Taiwan
The reason why Michi decided to apply for citizenship and residency in Taiwan, and to split her time between the U.S. and Taiwan
What’s involved in the process to apply for citizenship and residency in Taiwan if you have a Taiwan birthright (i.e. parents born in Taiwan, and have residency and citizenship in Taiwan)
What the Yo yo card is and how to use it
Residency status that children of Taiwanese nationals can apply for to stay longer than a passport visa
The number of days required to stay in Taiwan in order to able to apply for citizenship
Michi’s sense of Taiwanese and Taiwanese American identity
Michi’s participation in the 228 Transitional Justice Project
The challenges of learning a language later in life
How Michi sometimes feels like a Third Culture Kid
How Michi has learned from cultural misunderstandings
How Michi has connected with and made friends through the expat community in Taiwan
What Michi misses about the U.S. when she’s in Taiwan
What Michi misses about Taiwan when she’s in the U.S.
What advice Michi has for those considering applying for Taiwan residency and citizenship
What advice Michi has for those considering spending more of the calendar year living in Taiwan
The different cultural expectations of Taiwan and the U.S.
The challenges of adulting in Taiwan with limited language and cultural proficiency
The wage gap for certain professions in Taiwan vs. the U.S.
The things Michi considers in deciding to live in Taiwan full-time
How Michi built her own sense of community by connecting with the expat community and Facebook groups