by Rex Apollo
From the outside, I had a pretty good life. I held a job at an interesting international high school outside Boston, where I taught very respectful and friendly international students from places such as China, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil and Russia. In my free time, I went to a salsa club and danced with beautiful women. Yet I knew in my heart that I wanted something different. So, a couple of months ago, I decided to quit my job and move to Hanoi to work, live and explore the world. Here are reasons why I took the plunge.
Adventure
I had lived in the Boston area off and on for seven years. After a certain amount of time, all places lose their luster. If you are not going to play the marriage, kids, and house game, why stay anywhere for too long? The world is a big place and there is a lot out there. I wanted to go climb that mountain and see what lay beyond.
Negativity in the US
While the US is one of the wealthiest societies in human history, it seems people have forgotten what brings them together. There is a lot of negative energy in the America right now. I do not feel that same negative energy in Vietnam. The Vietnamese seem to enjoy other people’s company and often congregate together at coffee shops and other venues.
High Cost of Living
Boston is one of the most expensive places in the US. You can hardly leave your house without spending ten dollars or more. While I am not completely sure of the source of the statistic, my understanding is that rents are the third highest in the country, only trailing San Francisco and NYC. It is insane to think rents in Boston could be higher than in Chicago, Miami, Washington, DC or Los Angeles. While I love Boston in my own way, spending an insane part of your paycheck to share apartment that should probably be torn down in an urban renewal project is just plain crazy.
Everyone is too busy for you in Boston (also many other places in the US)
In my seven years in Boston, I made fewer good friends than in my first six months living in Madrid. While I have only lived in a few states in the Northeast, my fellow countrymen often seem to treat being busy as if it were some kind of religion. People scamper around like chickens with their heads cut off. I also noticed that in Boston, I padded with my schedule with a lot of activities so, I too, became so busy I could hardly even reflect on why I was so. Unless you are running a Fortune 500 company or curing cancer, your life should be the sum of your relationships, not the sum of your activities.
Low Cost of Living in Southeast Asia
In Hanoi, a bowl of pho, Vietnamese soup costs only a little over 1 dollar at the right places. A 30-minute taxi ride runs 2 to 4 dollars depending on the traffic and time of day. Practically everything is cheaper here than in America. Well, except for steak and gym memberships. Compared to New York, San Francisco and Boston, it is a fraction as expensive. Why not save your money and acculumate it for a house or family down the road?
No Path to Promotion
After three years in the same school, I was highly-respected, yet I did not see any path to promotion or a preferred teaching assignment. Life is too short to wait around for others to give you what you want. You have to take the bull by the horns and not be afraid to walk away from any job that does not have the opportunity for professional growth, promotion or higher salary.
New Place to Write About
As a newly-published author, it is always great to travel to get new ideas. Different places give you difference things to write about. One of the great advantages of being a writer is that you can practice your craft anywhere. Why not take advantage of that?
Rex Apollo is the author of How to Spark Your Golden Age: Tips for Success sold on Amazon.
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Just as great civilizations can have Golden Ages, so can you!