My Grandparents as Refugees

On my most recent trip to Taiwan, I was absolutely floored to receive these 2 family heirlooms from my aunt. My grandparents had exchanged all of their savings for gold bracelets (these are the only two remaining) while fleeing China from the communists 70 years ago. Gold was the only universal currency they knew of that could be exchanged at their destination. Wearing them in the form of a bracelet must have been the safest method to thwart thieves.

I’ve spent several days reflecting on the significance of these bracelets and it’s impossible for me to imagine the circumstances that my grandparents had to face post-WWII. They were undoubtedly exhausted from fighting the Japanese and were immediately confronted by the realities of their country being taken over by communism. I’ve repeatedly asked myself the questions:

How do you make the overwhelming decision of leaving the only life you know in search of hope? Could I make the same decision to move my family towards the unknown without any assurances of a better life? Would I have had the courage to do the same?

My grandparents and parents are exceptional… as refugees and immigrants, they established our family in Taiwan and ultimately America. I do not take for granted the opportunities I’ve been given is the direct result of the courage my grandparents fleeing a war-torn country. Further down the line, my father had the courage to come to this country with barely enough to cover housing and food. This country welcomed my parents with opportunities and rewarded their hard work.

These two bracelets are what remain from a whole set that my grandparents had to sell to feed, clothe, and educate my father and his two sisters in Taiwan. To my grandparents, these bracelets represent hope of a better life. It’s not lost on me that these heirlooms exist with my family today because my grandparents limited their indulgences. My grandfather and grandmother were survivors… they went for broke and somehow it paid off.