#10: Reflections of a Parachute Kid / 回想到小留學生的時候

Taiwanese Diaspora 台灣人 Podcast

(Episode is in Chinese and English / 國語＋英文)

Tracy Chien (簡郁容) shares memories and reflections about moving to the US from Taiwan in 1993 when she was 10 years old. She was sent solo by her parents to live in an informal homestay arrangement to attend school. She was called a parachute kid (小留學生), an unaccompanied minor sent overseas for school. She reflects that this was a particularly difficult and emotionally traumatizing time of her life: she had limited resources to pursue hobbies and interests, she was without her family in foreign community, she did not have friends because she did not know English. Despite not having much of a support network to help her adjust and learn the new culture properly, she eventually adjusted. This was long before Facetime or Skype, and even before long-distance phone calls. She had limited contact with her parents, primarily through written letters. Tracy was determined to learn how to read, write and speak like an American. Tracy fully took advantage of this unique situation and viewed it as an opportunity to “self teach.” She relied heavily on books from the public library and the electronic dictionary, and excelled. She identifies herself as a hybrid Taiwanese and American, even though there are elements from both cultures that she doesn’t fully agree with or relate to. This informs her philosophy about raising her kids, and furthers her desire to give them the tools and resources to feel at home in both Taiwan and the US.

More details in the show notes on the website.

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