My Fulbright Year in Taiwan

Last night we broke the news to the boys that we would be spending the next academic year in Taiwan. As I expected, they were not happy at all. Ian’s reaction reminded me of my own reaction to my parents’ decision to send me to a different high school just before I started 9th grade. As unhappy as I had been in my junior high, I was dead against leaving a familiar environment when the new environment had so many unknowns. The new high school was a Catholic high school. We were not Catholic, but my parents heard good things about the school’s academics. They were concerned about the quality of my education. I was concerned about being a fish out of water. In this case, the ending was a happy one. I had a terrific high school experience, greatly broadened my horizons, had a great deal of fun, excelled academically, and started college very well prepared. At the time that my parents sprung the news on me, though, I objected very strongly. Since I had had a similar experience, I anticipated my children’s reaction, and was at least emotionally prepared.

Stacy was more surprised at the strength of their objections. She does appreciate the scope of the challenge that the kids will face, but I think she was hoping that they’d be more in tune with the opportunity that this presents them to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the other half of their cultural and ethnic heritage.

Anyway, after we told them, and talked to them a bit, Ian declared that he needed some alone time. He went outside and sat in the back yard for an hour or so. Evan decided he wanted to sleep on it, and went upstairs. I told Stacy that they needed time, and that they would warm to the idea and their objections would cool doen. She said later that she didn’t sleep well at all that night.

The next day, Ian, who’s very mature for his years, said that he realized that he had only two choices in this: go to Taiwan and be resentful, or go to Taiwan resigned to it. While not exactly an enthusiastic attitude, it was a huge step forward, so I’m heartened by that. Evan, on the other hand, still isn’t talking to us about it. I think he’s probably more anxious about being in a Chinese environment than unhappy about being away from his friends for a year. We will have to continue talking about this, and making arrangements with the resource people in Taiwan to smooth the transition to life in Taiwan.