Taiwan's Representative Office in the UK (Summary)

Taiwan's Representative Office in the UK (Summary)

First of all, thank you to the Facebook page administrator of "Immigrant Stories Across the Ocean" for the invitation, which gave me the opportunity to recount my experiences running "Kangqiao Bakery" in the UK over the past nine years. Thank you all for enjoying my story. 🙏🏻
Seeing everyone's encouragement and affirmation touched me deeply. 🥰

I hope that sharing my years of experience can bring some positive energy to everyone. I myself once doubted myself. A housewife who couldn't speak fluent English and didn't even know how to use an oven seemed like an impossible task to start a business in a foreign land. But thinking back to my father, who only graduated from elementary school, despite suffering a stroke in his youth that left him uncoordinated, he served as a vigilante for 50 years. Through perseverance and dedication, he helped recover 4,000 stolen cars, earning the title of "Heroic Detective." This taught me that with determination, nothing is impossible!

In the process, I realized that although it wasn't easy, if you don't try, you'll never gain anything; if you don't believe, you'll never succeed; if you think it's impossible, you'll forever remain where you are; don't belittle yourself, everything is fine, everything is a precious experience in life. Because these irreplaceable experiences have made you unique, and the value of life lies in the roads you've traveled, the dreams you've had, and the memories you've created.

God creates people with different talents. Look at those who are truly successful. They are not born better than others in every way, but they know how to find and develop their own strengths and move in a way that is beneficial to them.

The thing you most want to do is where your true talent lies. Do what you love and do it well, and the world will change. My motto is: "Find your strengths, hone them to perfection, and you can forge your own path in life."

Over the years, baking has helped me shift my focus and escape the mire of depression. Along the way, the loving support of my family has enabled me to persevere no matter how sad I am. Love has helped me heal my wounds and turned them into the power to grow. I am grateful to all the friends who have encouraged and helped me along the way. Being able to help others is the greatest blessing in life!

I aspire to be a baker who creates happiness. When others are discouraged, a word of encouragement can bring them back from the brink of despair; when others are disappointed, a dessert with a taste of home can make them feel warm and comforted.

Beautiful lips speak kind and friendly words; lovely eyes see the good in others; learning excellent baking skills can skillfully warm the hearts of those far from home with food, and sharing with those eager for knowledge can help bring satisfaction to more people's souls. Food made with heart is amazing, and food made with love is even more fragrant and sweet. Only by striving for excellence can we break through our limitations and achieve self-realization.

With everyone's encouragement and my husband's support, "Kangqiao Bakery" is undergoing its second transformation. In August 2021, the studio will be officially established. Starting from our home kitchen, after nine years of quiet hard work and anticipation, we finally have our own studio. I remember when I first came to the UK, I couldn't speak English, and finding work was really difficult. The disappointing results were disheartening. My future transformation aims to provide job opportunities for disadvantaged members of society, empowering them to support themselves and build greater confidence in their lives.

Looking back, when I was far from home and faced difficulties due to the language barrier, I felt utterly helpless. It was truly heartwarming to have fellow countrymen extend a helping hand at that time. Furthermore, I transformed my longing for my parents into a greater love by taking on the volunteer role of president of the "Taiwan Cambridge Emergency Relief Association." This is to pass on this love, which is the greatest way to repay my parents, and I also hope to pass on this "good deed" to future generations.

Some say, "Home is always good, but life is always difficult when you're away from home." Being a stranger in a foreign land might be seen as being adrift, but it could also be described as a vacation abroad. 🥰 It was while I was crafting delicious food that I realized the true meaning of life. In this world, "there are no happy places, only happy people and happy hearts."

Add color to the palette of life's joys and sorrows with delicious food, and even a rough sketch of "Saying Goodbye to Cambridge" can be painted to depict a heartwarming scene of love in Cambridge.

I hope to inspire more people by sharing my story, bringing them hope and strength. Everyone encounters setbacks in life. If you let setbacks weigh you down, they become your downfall; if you let them fall on your feet, they become stepping stones, allowing you to climb higher step by step, perhaps even surpassing your expectations and reaching different levels of success in life. 😊

People who eat desserts are happy, so people who make desserts are the creators of happiness. In the future, I want my hands to become an angel's wand, hoping to have more abilities to spread happiness throughout the world!

Author: Jessica Chen, written in Cambridge, April 4, 2021