I Quit My New York Job and Moved to Taiwan
Life in New York was comfortable and exciting, and my career was progressing well. But as many have said before: “There’s no place like home.” and home for me, is Taiwan.
A few weeks ago I decided to quit my dream job in New York, pack up my belongings, and say bye to the city I once dreamt of living to move to Taiwan.
I’m Kristine, previously a brand strategist working in New York. After living and working in the United States for several years, I made a significant decision: to move back to Taiwan. This decision wasn’t easy. On the surface, it seems simple — just don’t renew the lease when it ends, put everything in boxes, and ship them off. But this decision was more than just a change in where I stayed and lived. It marks a new chapter in my personal and professional life.
I’ve also made a video, and I welcome you to watch it along with this article
Behind the Decision
This decision wasn’t made on a whim, but rather the result of years of long-term thinking and many nights of internal struggle and planning. It can be traced back 7 to 8 years.
When I was planning to go to the U.S. for my Master’s, I had stated in my Statement of Purpose (SOP) that upon completing my studies I hoped to work in the US for a few years. After gaining enough experience, I plan to take what I learned from my studies and from work and then return to Taiwan. Over the past 7 to 8 years, it’s always been at the back of my mind, thinking about when that day would come. Returning to Taiwan has always been part of my life roadmap; I just wasn’t sure of the exact timing. I wasn’t sure when I’d have the courage to make this decision.
Two years ago because of work, I moved from Chicago to New York, a city I had always dreamed of. Even then, I knew New York was only a temporary stop rather than a permanent home. The high cost of living and fast-paced lifestyle of living on Manhattan Island weren’t something I saw as what I wanted long-term. This realization made me cherish every day in New York even more, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to live each day again (YOLO, am I right?). At the back of my mind, there was always a countdown clock. I knew I had to live life to the fullest and worked hard in advancing my career.
The Turning Point
The turning point came from a light conversation with my close friend. It was a normal dinner, we were discussing an test she saw online. and it was a simple question, but it led to months of internal conflict:
How would you rank these five aspects of life? (you can also try ranking these and go through this journey with my)
- Career
- Hobbies
- Friends
- Family
- Partner / Relationship
When I realized that my career was ranked last in my priorities, I began to reassess my life priorities. My top priorities — family and partner — were all in Taiwan, while work, which ranked last, was what was keeping me in New York and the US. This result sent me into a deep internal conflict. It meant one of two things: either I didn’t understand myself, or my current life choices weren’t making me as happy as they could.
Another reason was when I was conducting my annual performance review with my manager a few years ago, we discussed my long-term career ambitions. At that time, I stated it as wanting to empower Taiwanese brands, and to use branding to uplift Taiwan globally.
After accomplishing most of what I wanted to achieve within my career in New York. I thought to myself, maybe it’s time.
The Decision-Making Process
After realizing the misalignment between my heart’s desire and my actual choices, I began to consider whether it was time to return to Taiwan. A few years ago while I was earlier in my career, I would have certainly ranked career higher in my priorities. But now, I have reached a certain height in my career. Of course, there are still milestones I could reach for. But, there wasn’t anything I’d regret not doing. I had the opportunity to work with major clients like GE and Microsoft, gaining valuable experience and had been recognized through industry awards. Now, I was no longer a student or a young brand strategist. I was ready to move back to Taiwan.
After making the decision, I actively started looking for job opportunities in Taiwan and Asia. I not only used various recruitment platforms to submit resumes and search for job opportunities, but I also networked through LinkedIn, connecting with headhunters and industry contacts to find suitable positions. Although the branding industry in Taiwan and Asia is relatively smaller compared to New York, I eventually found an opportunity that met my expectations and ambitions.
Challenges and Expectations
Moving back to Taiwan undoubtedly brings many challenges, especially after spending many years in the United States. Besides potentially adapting to a different work culture, I’ll need to readjust to the Taiwanese lifestyle and deal with new situations that may arise from closer proximity to family and partner. However, these challenges also bring opportunities. The markets in Taiwan and Asia have seen significant positive changes in recent years, and I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience I gained in the US to the Taiwanese workplace. I also anticipate living more closely and frequently with my partner and family after years of long-distance relationships.
Although I feel some nervousness about the future, I’m full of anticipation for this new chapter in my life. This move is not just a change of residence, but an important step in my personal growth and career development. I’m proud of myself for achieving a long-term goal and look forward to starting new adventures in Taiwan.
If you’re also thinking about a similar life challenge, I hope my story and decisioning process helps you in reconciling what’s best for you in this stage of your life. If you liked this article, I hope you can consider subscribing. I’ll for sure be sharing more about my life and career in Taiwan.
