I have some personal news to share. I have decided to move back to Taiwan with my family this upcoming summer. In the past couple years, I have been thinking whether California is a good place for my kids to grow up. The USA was great 25 years ago when I first arrived and I appreciated all the opportunities that have been given to me. But things have changed. The education and healthcare systems in America are breaking. The laws are optionally enforced. American politics are polarized to the point that the majority are no longer heard or served. America is still the most powerful country of the world but I found its founding values rapidly slipping.. Many institutions are at the PG&E-level dominance and incompetence that they prioritize their own institutional interest above everything else. People suffer as a consequence.
So why Taiwan? I grew up in Taiwan so I am familiar with the place. First, Taiwan in general is super safe. I can walk out of my apartment at 1AM without worrying about my safety. Business owners don’t worry about theft or zero-cost shopping. If someone commits a violent crime, they will be quickly arrested or sent to rehab or jail instead of wandering around the street committing even more crimes.
Taiwan also has a very functional healthcare system. If people are not well, they can get care within a day or two at a very reasonable cost. Even foreigners who have to pay out of pocket found the healthcare affordable and high quality. My health insurance premium is currently $1800 a month for a family of four in California and the appointments are 6+ weeks out. In Taiwan, I will pay less than that for a small surgery out of pocket. The college costs here are also super reasonable. The annual tuition for National Taiwan University is ~$2,000 vs. ~$15,000 in-state tuition for University of California or $58,000 for Stanford. I am a graduate of National Taiwan University. The quality of education at NTU is high and the caliber of students is amazing.
The weather in Northern California is unbeatable but I don’t want to deal with the crimes and the long-wait and general inaccessibility of healthcare. My oldest kid is going to high school soon. If we were to stay, she would be attending Monta Vista High School in Cupertino, California, which is a super competitive high school. College admissions are very unfair these days. Being an Asian student in a competitive high school with top grades and decent extracurriculars is no guarantee to a good UC. I would rather she spends her high school years in a more chill environment and focuses on the skills she really wants to build instead of building up a resume to impress college admission readers. Both of my daughters will be attending Taipei European School in Taiwan this upcoming fall.
I will continue to make startup investments from Taiwan and keep up with my philanthropic engagements in the Scientific Integrity Fund and the EWCY foundation. Both of my parents are in their 70s. I look forward to spending more time with my family and enjoying my favorite foods back in my home country.
Happy April 1st, Everyone!! Tell me if you are fooled!! I should seriously consider moving back to Taiwan, though.
