What holds you back? What keeps you going?

Name: Lydia
Age: 33
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

What is most important to you in your life?
My family play a central role in my life. They give me the power to try anything and have adventures.

What do you expect from your future?
I want to have a chance to create my own family and explore new interests with my partner.

How do you spend your free time?
Depends. I usually go out with friends or family. Or I goto do some exercise. Sometimes, I will just spend the whole day at a cafe with my favorite book.

If you want to reward yourself by doing something special, what do you do?
I plan a long trip to a country that I've never been to.

It is said that in your country beauty plays a big role in terms of career and upward social mobility - what do you think about that?
I have to agree with this point of view, partially. I think our looks relate to the first impression given to others. Making yourself look bright and friendly is more important than beauty.

In Taiwan, how much is...
1 liter of bottled water: $1.30
1 liter of milk: $2.60
1 kg rice: $2.60
1 kg tomatoes: $ 2.60
1 cup of coffee: $4.80
1 ticket for the cinema: $9.65
1 pair of jeans: $32 to $128
1 book (paperback): $9.65