After eight years living across three countries, bloggers and authors Nana and Even reflect on finding a sense of home in London
For Nana and Even, suitcases have never been just containers for clothes, but tools that support a life shaped around their creative interests. Over the past eight years, they have moved with everything they own, building a way of living that centres on mobility and creation. Now in their early 30s, the duo behind the blog London Travelcases and authors of the book Slow London work as a product manager and a software engineer.
Their journey began in Taiwan. “We met at our first job in Taiwan. Once after going on a business trip to the Bay Area in San Francisco, we saw the possibilities of different life and career,” Nana recalls, “and both of us have always wanted to go out and give it a go.” For eight years, the couple lived as nomads: moving from the efficient high-rises of Singapore to the windswept canals of Amsterdam, before finally arriving on the damp pavements of London in 2020.
Recently, they obtained permanent residency. The suitcases were finally unpacked in a quiet west London neighbourhood. Now, they have transformed from passers-by to residents, and Nana reflects on their journey, sharing how they’ve anchored themselves in this city and in each other.
Emotional settlement after rational choice
Choosing London was initially a rational decision, shaped by salary prospects, language, and the pathway to citizenship for Nana and Even. “In terms of the balance between salary and living costs, London has met our expectations, especially considering that taxes in the Netherlands were even higher,” Nana says. Although post-Brexit effects, economic instability, uncertainties around immigration policy, and rising rents have created pressure, Nana asserts that, “for us, as our jobs are stable, it’s still manageable.”
However, what created the true connection was the city’s diversity and inclusiveness. “Personally, I love the diversity,” Nana says. “It is a mix of cultures, neighbourhoods, and people, along with the constant flow of new exhibitions, theatre productions, cafes, and events.”
In 2022, the couple launched their Instagram blog to share everything from daily life in London to travel diaries. Originally created with the purpose of updating friends and family, and serving as a reference for future travels, the account has instead become something more. Over time, Nana had found that they had grown closer to the Taiwanese and Hong Kong communities in London. “Knowing that our readers feel happier after visiting places I’ve recommended gives me a strong sense of connection to the city,” she says.
The shift from Soho to the sofa
Working in the high-pressure technology industry, they were often expected to deliver at a high level. Yet, they wrote a book, Slow London. Nana points out that “slow living was actually one of our main reasons for wanting to move to Europe. We’re both very driven and sometimes even perfectionists, which makes it easy to burn ourselves out.”
Nana and Even found that the calmness of Londoners was something that needed to be learned. Before moving, they had travelled to the city and noticed that, “many people seemed to have a natural sense of ease about life”. They wanted to inhabit that mindset. For Nana, slow living is a mentality that requires deliberate practice and imitation amidst the busyness.
This change is also reflected in their observation of the city. For tourists, London is the city centre with double-decker buses or the Christmas lights in Regent Street; but for residents, the focus shifts to neighbourhood life: local cafes, familiar parks, favourite hidden restaurants, or pubs after work. The shift from tourist to resident happened in Soho. “We went back to see a show and thought, ‘It’s so crowded, I just want to leave’,” Nana recalls. “That was when we realised our lives are no longer in the city centre, but in the quiet every day.”
Each other is the only anchor point
Having travelled to over 49 countries and relocated across three nations together, moving could have been stressful, yet they share a quiet understanding.
“We have an unspoken agreement that wherever we go, we go together,” Nana says. Even bypassed a Berlin opportunity to stay in Amsterdam for Nana; later, she resigned to follow him to London. “These moments of commitment during major life decisions reassured us that we could rely on each other.” Also, they share the same value of facing uncertainty in life. “Moving elsewhere doesn’t guarantee things will be easier, so there’s no perfect option, only the one that fits our needs at that moment,” Nana explains.
In London, the ways they recharge together are beautifully ordinary. “This year, many of our best moments of recharging have come from walking our dog together,” Nana shares, “it’s quality time, a relaxing time without phones and just talking about our day or doing housework together.” Occasionally, cooking hotpot or barbecue meals at home feels like a simple but deeply restorative pleasure for them.
When it comes to home, they are not limited to a single physical space. “I often say we have two homes. One is in Taipei, the one with family, childhood memories, and the cultural connections we love; the other is in London, the family with Even and our dog.” As they believe, “any place with deep emotional connections can be called home, and having more than one doesn’t require choosing between them”.
Now, they no longer need to pack. As long as they are together, they feel anchored.
If London were a colour, what would it be?
Golden, the sparkling Christmas lights.
Since moving to London, which Taiwanese food can you not live without?
Beef noodle soup. Even is the beef noodle master in our home.
If you could speak to your younger self ten years ago, what would you say?
You might feel uncertain about the future, and that’s okay. Even ten years on, the future is still uncertain, so you don’t need all the answers. Just follow your heart, and it will take you somewhere you’ve never imagined.
A song that’s perfect for walking around London?
The first song that comes to mind is Seasons with you by Anni Hung. She’s also been in London over the past two years, and I’ve been to two of her performances. The lyric about The 9pm that is still bright feels very northern – like Hokkaido, where summer evenings stay light for hours. London, at an even higher latitude, is much the same.