Protected: Summer solstice 2023

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Losing my grandmother and then my dog during COVID-19

So my grandma from my mother’s side passed away in Taiwan in May from cancer. I promised her one thing when I last saw her in summer of 2019: I will visit her again. COVID-19 then happened and I promised to myself that when this was over, I’ll visit her. Unfortunately, Taiwan had a COVID…

6th month mark in the US

Since being fully vaccinated, I was finally able to hug my loved ones, walk outdoors without a mask on, and head to an office that isn’t 30 feet away from my bed. It felt nice and healing. I am glad I came back to the US from England during the pandemic.

Things I’m grateful for during the pandemic

Today marks my 5th month in the US, which is the longest I’ve been in the US since I moved abroad in 2010’s. Although things were not as rosy as I expected, I am grateful for: Receiving my 2nd COVID vaccination shot last weekend. Mustering the courage to move back to California from London during…

2020

Today I received a verbal job offer for an epidemiologist role from San Francisco to combat COVID-19 and HIV. It took me seven years to finally get that job offer since I earned my epidemiology degree in London. What a wonderful way to end the year with, despite the lockdown where I am. It’s been…

July 17

On this day 30 years ago, I moved to the US from Taiwan. I was hoping to move back to the US from the UK today, but coronavirus canceled my plan and destroyed any chances of getting a stable job in California. So I am stuck self-isolating in the UK in a prison-like basement while…

Losing Someone — Dealing with Grief as an Expat

The headline explains why I have been MIA. I attended three funerals within a year from 2018-2019 but the most recent one from home hurt the most. The longer I am away the more that sense of dread grows. We all feel it. I felt immense guilt of not saying goodbye and not being there…

Safety net series: Should the US embrace paid parental leave?

US is the only developed nation in the world that does not offer a guaranteed paid parental leave on a national level. This has some serious implications in health and wellbeing. US has the highest infant mortality rate and percentage of children living in poverty in developed nations. Also overall, US’s educational, health and social…

Noah

Dear Noah, I first heard about you this summer. That you were a pretty active kicker. And now you came into this world an angel as my dad described you. We love you. I hope you enjoy playing with Little Tim, Chloe, and Lucky. Auntie Amy and all miss you. PS. Little Tim can show you how…