An American family on a 13-month sabbatical to Taiwan, with the intention of learning enough Mandarin Chinese to change their lives. Jason Lee is a 34-year-old sales professional. He and his wife, Rebecca, and their young son, Forrest, have saved $60,000 over five years to go on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. They all want to build more meaningful relationships with their loved ones. They want to reconnect with and reimagine their goals—not just professionally, but personally.
We all did, but Jason took this big life transition with the readiness and forethought of someone preparing for a big home remodel. He meticulously tracked his savings using the budgeting app, You Need a Budget, ensuring they were financially equipped for this adventure. The family’s plan lines up just right with Forrest’s impending kindergarten year in Taiwan. He will learn about the culture, eat tasty roasted yams, and spend time with his Nana and Papa and countless other family members.
The sabbatical’s timing is critical for Jason, who lost his job in the summer of 2024. He knew that there was no waiting on this golden opportunity. Otherwise, he would have to surrender years of his life to grueling commutes due to work demands. As he stated, “If I don’t do this now, I will forever lose my 30s. And then when am I going to re-explore myself again?”
At first Jason thought about relocating to Taiwan for his profession. He soon realized that he did not want to fall into the country’s intense work culture. He focused on building his family and frontline physician’s goals. These goals helped maintain and improve his physical and mental health while deployed.
The family pinched pennies for decades in anticipation. They stayed in the black, whereas Jason’s first mortgage on their starter home cost $1,200 per month. Renting out Their Home Fortunately for them, they were able to find a friend to rent their house while they’re gone, which will cover their monthly mortgage costs. In addition, they have leased one of their cars, making the financial transition into their new life that much smoother.
Jason’s interest in pursuing this sabbatical goes deeper than his own development. He wanted to give his parents the benefit of developing a close, lasting relationship with Forrest. “I just thought to myself, if I could make something happen where we could gift [my parents] the extended amount of time that they could spend with this child, what a special moment that would be,” he explained.
Jason received his Taiwanese passport to help his transition. Interestingly enough, at the same time, Forrest got his own passport as well. This move represents more than just a geographical shift but the come of accepting their roots and family connections.
More than anything, this decision to dive into this sabbatical is motivated by wanting a happy life. Jason spoke to how the last ten years of his professional life had been shaped by outside forces instead of his own desires. “The whole last 10 years, I’ve been dictating my career next steps not based on what I want, but based on what the world or LinkedIn tells me I should want,” he said.
As the famous economist Richard Easterlin put it, genuine happiness no longer relies on increasing above what one previously earned. “I realized that our family doesn’t need to make as much or more than what we made before in order to be happy,” he asserted.
Though the family is still adjusting to their new life in Taiwan, it’s safe to say that they’re already feeling the transformative effects of their decision. “We are so happy right now, the happiest we’ve been as a family, and we are living our life on less than what we had before,” Jason expressed.