Freed Like a Bird: A Father's Journey from Taiwan to America

In this intimate podcast episode, a son interviews his father about his life-altering decision to leave Taiwan for graduate school in the United States. The conversation explores the father's profound sense of relief upon leaving, describing himself as a "bird freed from the cage" escaping Chiang Kai-shek's regime and the very real threat of being drafted to fight against China. Despite feeling the heavy cultural guilt of leaving his parents behind as the eldest son, his mother's encouragement pushed him to seek a better life abroad.

Listeners will hear about the practical realities of the immigrant experience in the mid-20th century. The father details his career in civil engineering, where he applied to only two companies and landed a job with the Seattle-based firm that designed the World Trade Center before moving to New York City for better opportunities. He shares his core philosophy for immigrant survival: working incredibly hard to prove your worth in a society that treats foreigners differently. Ultimately, the episode is a story of resilience, detailing how he navigated student visas, corporate sponsorships, and green cards to achieve his ultimate goal: becoming a US citizen, all while proudly maintaining his identity as a Taiwanese man living in America.