12 years since I hugged my 舅舅. 9 years since Eoin stood in the eclipse of those buildings. Never had my children ran through the mouth of a dragon and out a tiger, and always will we remember the excruciating pain of jet lag and the warmth of a new belonging.

I have 8 aunts and uncles and 27 cousins that live in Taiwan and for logistical reasons only saw a fraction of them while we were there. Still I cherish every moment of connection, constant language fumbling, big hugs and shy smiles, a reminder that ours became an achy and brilliant reality when my dad took that job in America with my mom and brother in tow.

On the last day in Taiwan, I stopped by my latest project, 2 custom paintings for a new luxury high rise in Taichung. What an experience—meeting the team I had been emailing with for the last several months, feeling proud and challenged by maintaining a design conversation in Mandarin, getting the tour, and being sent on our way with a large box of Taiwan’s best treats. To finally have paintings in the place my family is from is the best gift.

Spent 2 weeks in Taiwan and Hong Kong over the holidays with my two kids, Eoin, and my parents and it was overwhelmingly magical.