A Taiwanese Dream (壹)

In 1949, the KMT government retreated to Taiwan, and many young Chinese workers were also recruited to work at military supply manufacturing factories as mechanics, handyman, and general factory workers. They were also the first wave of the new immigrants, known to be the 'outer provincial people' (外省人). My grandpa was also one of them.

Hoping to have a better life, my grandpa got married just a year before the KMT came to Taiwan so he could raise a family in Taiwan. At first, only men were allowed to go, so my grandma had to wait. When families were allowed to Taiwan, she had to live at the dock,

waiting for an opportunity to get on the next boat. Pregnant with my dad, my 21-year-old grandma had to live at the dock with the

rest of the pregnant women whom she befriended with during that time. Every day, they had rice. Since food was scarce for the peasants, a carrot was the only treat during her pregnancy.

After arriving to Taiwan, the two worked in Kaohsiung. At first, they lived in bamboo shacks, along with other Chinese families. My grandpa was working as a mechanic and getting paid 28 catties of rice every month, while grandma was sewing uniform buttons for the military. Not long after, my father was born. When my dad was a year old, my grandpa lost his left middle finger and ring finger to a work accident. Besides going to the medical center,

my grands don't recall any compensations.

However, the Taiwanese were very kind to them. Even though they didn't speak a word of Mandarin, nor my grandparents Taiwanese, they exchanged goods. My grandparents provided them with cotton socks from the military supply factory and the Taiwanese gave them sugar since they were sugar cane farmers. Life was hard and bitter, but sweet in harmony.

A couple of years later, with an introduction from a friend, my grandparents moved to Taipei. They finally saved some money, so they opened up a ma & pop shop while my grandpa worked at another factory, and another baby was born --- my aunt.

Two more children were born after that, and my grandparents did nothing else but saved money to buy houses and raise their growing family.