The Tiny American

One of the first things people ask us when we tell them we live in Taiwan is, "how does Z like it?" My answer...."he's great!"

The Tiny American celebrating Chinese New Year

Z doesn't know any different.  We moved to Texas when he was only a few weeks old and the first year of his life we travelled the 5 hours back and forth to Oklahoma ALOT!  He had a room in Oklahoma and he had a room in Texas.  He easily adapted to sleeping in a hotel or someone else's house when we travelled to other places.   He is a goer, relaxed and flexible.  He flew for the first time when he was only 4 months old and had logged 10 flights by the time we went international. 

Moving to our new house in Texas

Sleeping in another hotel

View of his new city

When we decided to move to Taiwan of course I worried about how he would adjust.  But I knew he would and he has.  We laugh that unlike most almost 2 year olds vocabulary Z's includes words like airplane, airport, suitcase, and passport.  

Depending on how long we stay (there is always differing ideas on this) he may or may not have solid memories of this experience but it is shaping him into the person he will grow up to be. There are some things I hope he takes away from this adventure.

I hope he is never afraid to follow his dreams.  Geography is just that, don't let it keep you from doing something. 

Take chances, what is the worst thing that can happen?  And taking chances often leads you to discover new things and maybe things you didn't even know you wanted.

The beach in Hulien

Be flexible.  This one is so important and something that I have had to learn to do here....I can't always find exactly what I want or need for a project.  I can't always do things as quickly and easily as I can back in the States, but I am learning to be flexible.  I make other things work and have discovered that there is more than one way to do things. 

Don't be afraid to try new things. Sometimes it's scary, sometimes it's gross, but sometimes it pays off and you find something new that you like to do or eat or  you make a new friend.
Not everyone is the same. I think this is one of the most important things he can learn from living different places. 
There is beauty everywhere. I hope that he learns from us to look for the beauty in everything not just what he sees immediately or on the outside. 

Enjoying the surf in Malaysia

Hanging out with Daddy

 So far he is super flexible.  He is rarely afraid and he has never met a stranger.  He is almost always happy and eager to go!  I hope that through our example we can teach him to live life to it's fullest and to give back to whatever community he is living in.