“Bilingual” is really hard to define.

I live in Taiwan (English is my native language), and have studied Chinese to be passably fluent. I can trick people into thinking I can follow advanced conversations, interjecting comments here or there (even though I’m mostly lost – just picking out the tidbits I do understand and commenting on them).

But am I bilingual? At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter. What matters the most is whether your level is “good enough” to do what you want! In my case, I just want to be able to go to the store, buy things, and hang out with friends. I can read the newspaper, but I’ll never be able to read/write business contracts – but that’s not a goal of mine.

There are so many different shades of bilingual. Don’t worry about it… and just be as good as you need to reach your goals!

With great power comes great responsibility

I don’t cry when I chop onions. If I’m chopping dozens of them, everyone needs to get out of the kitchen because the air will get potent (but I won’t notice).

Going to college.

I grew up in a cult, and I seem to have suppressed most of my childhood. Of course, I have bits and pieces – like little flashbacks from my childhood days – but I don’t really have a coherent childhood story. From college onwards is when my life story makes sense to me.

I always have one with me in case I enter a shop that has a sign up asking patrons to wear a mask. I used to wear them religiously, but 3 years is enough. Although I respect everyone who still keeps their masks on…

And kids