Yesterday was a moving day for me: I was awarded permanent residency in Taiwan, receiving the Plum Blossom Card (for senior professionals). It was especially moving because the director of Hsinchu immigration, along with a delegate of immigration officers and a TV reporter visited me at my NTHU office to award me the card in person. I was extremely touched and amazed. I learned of the intended visit only in the morning, and serendipitously my family was able to join the occasion.

The appreciation for professors and professionals in Taiwan is outstanding, as reflected by attitudes of many Taiwanese who asked me what I do. That the immigration authorities should also recognize the importance of attracting and retaining foreign researchers and professors is truly exceptional and forward-looking. This is my first such experience across the multiple countries I've lived in.