Why I Moved From USA To Thailand In 2020
Main Theme: A digital nomad's journey of leaving the US for Thailand, driven by economic hardship, disillusionment with American society, and the desire for a better life.
Most Important Ideas/Facts:
Economic Hardship: The speaker, despite having a computer science degree, faced significant difficulty finding employment in Austin, Texas. He resorted to food delivery to survive and felt increasingly priced out of the city's rising cost of living.
"I applied for hundreds and hundreds of jobs and oftentimes I'd never hear anything back from the employer or the hiring manager and so basically I had become unemployable."
Disillusionment with the US: Witnessing homelessness in Austin and the city's changing landscape disillusioned the speaker, leading him to question his future in the US.
"I didn't like the direction the city was heading and also had to ask myself the very real and serious question you know if I decide to stay in the US am I going to end up on the street like these homeless these poor homeless people right and for me that was not an option simply not an option."
Accidental Arrival in Thailand: The speaker's initial goal was to visit Bali as a digital nomad. After visa issues and short stays in Singapore and Phuket, he stumbled upon Thailand and found a sense of belonging.
"it's was sort of sort of an accident um but I think the timing was was perfect because I flew to Bali a few months before the [ __ ] hit the fan during the pandemic and just happened to arrive in Thailand before the borders closed"
Finding Love and a Home: The speaker met his fiancé in Chiang Mai and has since made Koh Samui his primary base. He expresses a strong connection to the island, its people, and its culture.
"...it it starts to feel more like home than than your home country and I found that to be the case you know I just love the people over here peaceful culture delicious food beautiful weather pretty much year round..."
Building a Digital Nomad Life: The speaker details his experiences building various online businesses, including consulting, YouTube content creation, and managing a Facebook group. He emphasizes the importance of continuous work and personal growth even within a flexible lifestyle.
"as you continue to to age and years you need to find something to to keep your brain going right otherwise you're going to develop Alzheimer's or dementia later in life..."
Advice for Aspiring Nomads: The speaker encourages viewers to consider Thailand as a destination and shares tips on traveling around the country and choosing the right location. He also advocates for launching YouTube channels and online businesses for a more impactful and fulfilling lifestyle.
"if you want to make a a more significant impact I highly recommend launching a YouTube channel"
Overall, the video provides a firsthand account of one individual's decision to leave the US for Thailand, highlighting the push factors of economic hardship and societal disillusionment, as well as the pull factors of cultural appeal and the opportunity to build a digital nomad lifestyle.
Episode 9 - Why I Moved From USA To Thailand