Hello from Taiwan! March Recap & Fresh Beginnings

Helloooo from the other side (of the world)! 🌏✨

I’m guessing most of you are still in North America, while I’m officially settling (kinda) back home in Taiwan. It still feels a little surreal. Growing up, I always imagined that by the time I was almost 30, I’d have my own place, a stable job, and maybe even a partner. But here I am with none of the above, and honestly? I’m okay with that.

Life never goes exactly as planned, and I’ve learned to embrace the unexpected. I was super hesitant about coming home, but then I saw this beautiful TikTok video that put my feelings into words—something I hadn’t been able to do myself. And then I stumbled upon this quote by Terry Pratchett:

"Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving."

That hit hard. This phase of moving back home isn’t forever. It’s just part of the journey. The difference is, this time, I know who I am a little more. So, I’m treating this as my reboot—Sammie 2.0 is loading… stay tuned.

But enough with the deep thoughts, let’s talk about something exciting!

I gave a speech at a study abroad info session 🎤

Public speaking has always been one of my biggest fears, but I did it! The event organizers actually found my Leaving Canada series and thought it was inspiring (grabbing tissues brb) so they invited me to speak.

8 years ago, I was the one wandering through these info sessions, wide-eyed and excited, trying to figure out where to study abroad. Now, full circle moment. I got to be the person sharing my experience. Time flies, huh?

Big news—I finally told my parents! 

After being home for a week, I worked up the courage to tell them that I’m not getting a corporate job in Taiwan. Instead, I’m giving my dream—making videos—a real shot. This has been my dream for 5 years, and it’s about time I go all in.

I actually documented the whole journey, so if you want to see how it went down, click here! (Spoiler: No disowning happened, so we’re off to a good start lol)

So, what does this mean for my content?

Moving forward, I’ll be showcasing Taiwan through my eyes! The way I see and experience my home country as a local. The next series is called $3 Feast, where I eat my heart out without my wallet crying.

But I’ll also be sprinkling in fun personal content—family moments, childhood spots, and whatever weird adventures I find myself in.

If there’s anything specific you’re dying to see, email me! I’d love to share more of my culture with you. Hopefully, through my videos, you’ll get to know Taiwan a little better (and maybe even add it to your travel bucket list hehe)

🎞️ WHAT I’VE BEEN WATCHING

Skipping the book reviews this month because… I got completely sucked into a love-y dovey Chinese drama that gave me all the butterflies and giddy laughs.

It’s called Hidden Love (偷偷藏不住), and ohhh boy, it’s the ultimate feel-good romance. The story follows Sang Zhi, who has a massive crush on her older brother’s best friend. He’s five years older (who doesn’t love a mature man, am I right(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)?). Their relationship starts off as innocent childhood interactions but slowly blooms into something real when they reunite during her college years.

Is this the most deep, life-changing show? Nope. But your girl never got her cutesy high school romance, so this is me living vicariously 😳👉👈

It’s on Netflix, but fair warning, you will want to binge it. Consider yourself warned.

📦 MY STUFF FROM VAN FINALLY ARRIVED!

All my stuff from Vancouver finally made it back to Taiwan safe and sound! I didn’t want to carry 2 huge suitcases around, so I shipped it out before heading to LA.

A friend recommended Crazybuy, and I’m so glad I went with them. They made the whole process ridiculously easy:
Fill out a form online → Drop your stuff at their warehouse → Wait for your package to arrive. That’s it. No stress, no headaches.

Now, time to unpack and pretend I have my life together. 😂

🧋 DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT: KAOHSIUNG, TAIWAN

🏠Accommodation
Not gonna lie… living rent-free is a luxury I will never take for granted.

🛵Transportation
Back on my moped life! Kaohsiung’s public transport isn’t as convenient as Taipei’s, so scootering it is.

🥟Food
I haven’t been eating out much. my mom’s cooking is very healthy and i think my body needs it. The other day, we made homemade dumplings together, and it was such a wholesome moment.

Lately, I’ve been really intentional about spending more time with my family. Seeing my parents’ white hairs makes me realize how fast time is moving—it’s a little bittersweet. So for now, I’m soaking up these simple, everyday moments with them.

☕ BUY ME A COFFEE

If you’ve been enjoying my content and wanna help me keep creating, I’ve set up a Buy Me a Coffee page! No pressure—just a fun way to show some love if you feel like it. You can check it out here. ☕💛

This month’s update is a tiny bit longer than usual because, well… a lot happened. But seriously, thanks for being here and supporting my creative journey—it means the world.

Come hang out with me on Instagram & Threads for more real-time life updates and unfiltered thoughts!

Sending love,

Sammie