More Than A Game - Natalie Chan
Natalie Chan is a rising junior at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, California. She is also part of the Chinese Tapei (Taiwan) U17 National Team.
As a third-generation Taiwanese-American, I grew up on the immigrant success stories my grandparents shared with me. Moving from Taiwan to a land where they knew no one, spoke little-to-no English, and had to start a new life from square one, my grandparents have always strived to give their children–and now me–a better life in the land flowing with milk, honey, and opportunity. I was equally riveted by the stories of their childhood in Taiwan—how my grandma snuck rice into her classroom for a midday snack, how she climbed up a peach tree to hide from her parents, or how my grandfathers were friends before immigrating to the United States. Taiwan, to me, was a fantasyland: a place of fun and family, but so distant and far away. Finally, my family took a trip to Taiwan in 2015; as soon as I exited the airport, I was engulfed in the rich culture. The people, the food, and the beauty of the land was nothing I had ever experienced before. While I enjoyed my time there, I now realize I was too young to fully appreciate what returning to Taiwan meant. At the time, I just saw it as a fun family trip.
Fast forward to 2020. 2020 was, to say the least, a significant turning point in my identity as an Asian-American. During the pandemic, the headlines detailing all the anti-Asian hate crimes opened my eyes to what many people who look like me were dealing with across the country; until then, I was blissfully unaware of the hatred and the violence that Asian people in America face. I began to feel more solidarity with my community. This solidarity awoke a sense of pride for Taiwan; I found myself longing for a way to return and to reconnect with the home of my grandparents and my heritage.
Finally, a couple years later, the opportunity presented itself. Throughout the eight years I have played soccer, I have dreamed of donning the red, white, and blue uniforms of the United States. As my pride in Taiwan bloomed, a bright idea struck me in early 2022. “What if–,” I remember asking my dad. “What if I played for Taiwan?”
Thus began the process of contacting the Chinese Taipei Football Association to try out for the U17 national team. In April 2023, the team would be competing in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Cup, but the roster was not set. Although the coaches had never seen me before, I still had a chance to impress them and to join the team for the Cup. The coaches were nothing but kind, and they extended an invite for their December training camp. Excitedly, I accepted, and on December 2, 2022, I flew to Taiwan to fulfill my dream.
There are no words to do this experience justice. Going to Taiwan to play for the national team was not only one of the best soccer experiences I’ve had, but it was also a cultural reawakening for me. I flew over a couple weeks early so that I could stay with my grandparents and adjust to the time zone. During those weeks, I soaked in every aspect of Taiwan that I could–the bustle of the streets, the sizzling of the street vendors’ delicious food found nowhere else in the world, the warmth and kindness exuding from every stranger I saw on the street. All of it was new to me, yet I didn’t feel uncomfortable or out of place. I felt like I belonged.
Being able to play my sport during this trip made this opportunity even more memorable. I love soccer because it is like a puzzle—lots of pieces that all fit together to create something beautiful. Being in a different environment made the puzzle harder to figure out at first, but the challenge was what makes it so fun. Taiwanese soccer is different from American soccer in that it is more defensive-oriented and, when in possession of the ball, more direct, so I had to learn to adapt quickly and figure out the puzzle as I went along. I also had the opportunity to play in new positions with new people, which I found exciting and different.
I also found camaraderie amongst my new teammates. Despite some language differences, I was able to make so many amazing friends who I still keep in touch with today. They taught me how to eat more efficiently with chopsticks, what to eat for breakfast, how to say a couple phrases in Taiwanese, and even how to stretch in warm-ups their way. I learned that my legs and back are extremely inflexible compared to theirs. I taught them some things too, like how to say a couple words in English, how to do some soccer tricks, and how to do hair “like an American soccer player” (the hairstyle in question was just a braided ponytail with pre-wrap, but they were fascinated). I have never been happier in my life than my time in Taiwan.
Later, the coaches let me know that I made the team for the AFC Asian Cup, and I was ecstatic! However, I tore my ACL in March, which meant I could not play for the team. While I would have loved a chance to earn my first international cap, I am beyond grateful for the trip in December. It was transformative. It allowed me to connect with my roots, embrace my heritage, and fulfill my childhood dream. From the initial sparks of curiosity and pride in my Taiwanese identity to the unforgettable trip, every step of this journey has shaped me in profound ways. I am proud to be Taiwanese-American, and I am grateful that I have the opportunity to display my pride through the sport that I love.
