Ramblings

A Fond Adieu

The time is finally here! What began as a flippant idea has become our new reality. Even though we’ve been planning and talking about this for 5+ years, it’s surreal that in 2 months, we will be living in another country.

In the past few weeks, we’ve been showered with many dinners, get-togethers and parties from our family and friends. During these moments, I pause and take a look around to appreciate what’s in front of me. I tell myself to remember this moment.

It’s human nature to take things for granted. We take things for granted on a daily basis, always with the assumption that if we need something it will be there. I’m no different.

But now we’ve come to a point where the things we are used to having may not be there anymore. So while it’s been incredibly hard to say goodbye, I learned to cherish everything about our life here, big or small – from how warm and cozy our apartment is, to the love and support we have from our family. I guess we sometimes need reminders like this to realize how lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

See you on the other side of the world. 😉

Ramblings

Sink or Swim

In the middle of planning our move abroad, Baba suddenly decided he wanted to attempt the 1.5 mile swim from Alcatraz. 😳

Baba has always been a decent swimmer, but open water swimming is a different animal. If you’ve been to San Francisco, you’ll know that the waters here are turbulent and freezing! But inspired by friends and never one to give up easily, Baba started his training on April 1st, just two months before our move.

He started swimming at China Beach and Aquatic Park in a wetsuit. We didn’t know this at the time, but he suffered from hypothermia after the first few swims – slurred speech, uncontrollable shivering, and drowsiness. It looked painful.

At this point, I suggested that maybe Alcatraz isn’t for him. But I should’ve known the man is stubborn. Baba went to the beach everyday, rain or shine, even if it’s to jump in the water for a few minutes. Not only that, but he decided to forgo the wetsuit entirely because it became too much of a hindrance. He also wanted the extra challenge. So the man is stubborn and crazy.

After almost 2 months of open water swimming, Baba took the plunge on Monday, May 22. Contrary to what many people think, he did not do the Escape from Alcatraz, which is popular triathlon. He worked with a company called Pacific Open Water Swim that organizes open water swims for individuals. They boated him out to Alcatraz and had a guide swim with him.

Before the plunge.

We took the boys out of school that day so they could witness Baba’s swim. There were a few swimmers out there that day, so we had to keep our eyes peeled for him and follow his swim route. About 45 minutes after he jumped from the boat, Baba emerged from the water in one piece! He was exhausted, shivering and dazed, but he survived!

Post swim.

We were all so ecstatic for Baba. He accomplished something he worked hard for and never gave up, even though the odds were against him. I guess you do have to be stubborn and crazy to achieve your goals. My only hope is that he doesn’t hatch any more crazy schemes from now until we move!

Introduction

Meet the Hongs

Hello! We are a family of 4 from San Francisco living in Taipei, Taiwan. This blog documents the trials and tribulations of moving abroad and how we’re adjusting to life in a new country. But first, a little introduction.

Meet Baba

A San Francisco native, Baba was a former lawyer before deciding he enjoyed fixing bikes and selling pastries more. He enjoys staying active, eating Indian and Korean food, and watching useless videos on YouTube for hours on end. Hates to cook and miss out on good deals.

Meet Mama

Mama was a former marketing manager and now enjoys exploring Taiwan. She and Baba met in high school, but did not start dating until after college. Mama enjoys cooking, traveling, and napping. Hates early mornings, cold feet (she means that literally), and people who take the elevator to go one floor up/down.

Meet C

C is an inquisitive, energetic kid who lives to eat. He constantly surprises his parents with his curiosity, determination, and big appetite. C loves graphic novels, sports, cooking and trying new foods. Hates wearing hats.

Meet O

O is small but mighty. He has a wicked sense of humor and laughs easily. He adores his big brother even though they argue 99.9% of the time. O loves computers, corn, fast cars and taking selfies. Hates all chores.