Taking a Life Break: The Lee Family’s Adventure in Taiwan

Have you ever dreamed of pausing your career to explore new horizons and strengthen family ties? Jason and Katie Lee transformed this vision into reality by relocating their family from Columbus, Ohio, to Taipei, Taiwan in mid-2024.

Their son Forrest, now six years old, first met his paternal grandparents during an infant visit to Taiwan. That initial encounter planted the seed for spending extended time abroad as a family.During an eight-week paternity leave stay, they witnessed the deepening relationship between Forrest and his grandparents firsthand.

Why They Chose a Sabbatical Over Career Relocation

Even though Jason initially considered transferring his job overseas, he soon realized that Taiwan’s demanding work environment conflicted with their desire for quality family time. Rather of juggling work abroad,they decided to save deliberately for a true sabbatical-an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in family life without professional distractions.

The Lees embarked on a five-year savings plan aiming for $60,000-a figure carefully calculated based on living costs in Taipei combined with minimal financial obligations back home. Their timing was strategic: Forrest would attend kindergarten in Taipei for 13 months before returning to the U.S. for first grade.

Financial Planning with Precision

• The Lees approached this goal like funding any major project-tracking every expense meticulously through budgeting apps and spreadsheets.
• To reduce ongoing costs during their absence,they rented out their house and leased one of their fully paid vehicles.
• Katie obtained a spousal visa while Jason utilized his Taiwanese citizenship; Forrest also gained dual citizenship through his father’s heritage.
• This thorough planning gave them confidence to resign from their jobs by summer 2024 without looming financial worries throughout the sabbatical period.

The importance of Timing Their Decision

Jason stresses that acting promptly was essential-not only to maximize meaningful moments between Forrest and his grandparents but also for personal development during this pivotal decade of life. “Delaying until my 40s or later would mean missing crucial years of growth,” he explains emphatically.

“We’ve never been happier as a family-and we’re thriving on less than what we used to spend.”

A Priceless Gift: Time With Loved Ones

the Lees cherish providing Forrest with experiences alongside active grandparents who remain vibrant-a precious window that won’t last indefinitely. Reflecting on their year abroad fills them with gratitude; countless memories formed through travel adventures and everyday interactions have made every sacrifice worthwhile.

Cultivating Well-being During Career Pauses

This break offered Jason more than just physical distance-it created mental space too. He embraced wellness routines including daily exercise,meditation sessions,balanced nutrition plans-and accessed mental health support via Taiwan’s extensive healthcare system for the first time ever.

This clarity prompted him to reevaluate long-held definitions of success shaped by external pressures rather than inner fulfillment:

1. Pursuing aggressive sales targets frequently enough left him exhausted when goals weren’t met;
2. A relentless climb up corporate ladders overshadowed genuine happiness;
3. The sabbatical revealed how prioritizing personal well-being leads directly toward contentment rather of burnout;
4. Together with Katie they embraced living well below previous income levels yet experiencing greater joy overall;
5. This shift redefined success as personal satisfaction rather than professional status going forward;

Navigating Their Return & Future plans

Their original plan was returning stateside by August 2025; though exciting news arrived-they were expecting another child! Katie welcomed daughter Ruby early July under excellent prenatal care available locally-a testament to Taiwan’s world-class maternal health services recognized among Asia’s best today.

• The expanding family will return home once Ruby receives her passport later this fall;
• Both parents aim at flexible employment opportunities prioritizing work-life balance over salary alone;
• Katie is developing entrepreneurial projects inspired by her international experience focused on innovative children-centered spaces;
• This transformative chapter reshaped how they envision balancing careers alongside meaningful living moving forward;

A fresh Start Fueled By New Perspectives

“This journey has profoundly changed us,” reflects Jason about lessons learned beyond paychecks or titles-embracing simplicity combined with deep connection now fuels lasting happiness within families more than ever before.”