The first generation of Taiwanese immigrants are starting a wave of returning home

The first generation of Taiwanese immigrants are starting a wave of returning home. The baby boomers are gradually withdrawing from the workplace. Many have worked in the United States for more than 40 years. In recent years, the first generation immigrants from Taiwan have...

The first generation of Taiwanese immigrants are starting a wave of returning home. As the baby boomers gradually retire from the workplace, many first-generation immigrants from Taiwan who have worked hard in the United States for more than 40 years have returned to Taiwan one by one in recent years to settle down and "return to their roots." Taiwan's comprehensive medical system and cheap living expenses are certainly the reasons why they decided to return to Taiwan. However, returning to the hometown where they grew up, and the inseparable feelings of "people and locals" that are inseparable from their hometown, is the best portrayal of their "retirement and return to their hometown". Lai Weijun, secretary of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, said that since the beginning of this year, the number of applications for Republic of China passports has increased a lot. In March and April this year, the number of passports exceeded a thousand. Many people told them that they had been in the United States for more than 40 years and now their families have moved back to Taiwan. "Compared to last year, the volume of consular affairs has increased by 30 to 40%." Lin Keyang, head of the consular affairs team of the Taipei Cultural Affairs Office in San Francisco, pointed out that although it is impossible to judge whether these Taiwanese passport re-issuers have decided to return to Taiwan for a long time, because some applicants' Taiwanese passports have expired for 20 to 30 years, it can be seen that Taiwanese passports have not been used in the past decades. Now that it is being re-opened, "it may be argued that people want to go back to retire because Taiwan's health insurance benefits are better." Yin Dayan, executive director of the non-profit Asia-American Elderly Service Center, pointed out that in the past five years, "more and more people and friends served by the center have returned to their hometowns to settle down." Since the beginning of this year alone, three pairs of baby boomer retired friends have moved back to Taiwan. Many Taiwanese overseas Chinese have returned to Taiwan, and some Taiwanese overseas Chinese have chosen to settle in Shanghai. "They have even formed clubs in Shanghai and have regular gatherings." Yin Dayan said that "the difference in living costs between the two sides" is the main reason for these retirees to make this decision. In recent years, the U.S. economy has been in recession, and wages are low but living costs have been rising. In comparison, Taiwan is "much cheaper and more convenient." Not only that, Taiwan is a small and densely populated place, and people can communicate more easily due to the close distance. Many people "have a lot of activities and live a happy life" after returning to Taiwan.