I left the Bay Area and moved countries for a tech job — and I'm 100 times happier and less stressed now than I was in Silicon Valley

Wed, 06/05/2024 - 09:40

Woman standing at cliff side over looking the ocean. — Agata Pona often went without health insurance and worked while sick living in the US, but she has more affordable insurance and longer sick days in Poland.
Courtesy of Agata Pona

Agata Pona and her husband left the Bay Area and moved to Poland in 2015.
She says that she felt immediate stress relief living in Poland.
Pona was able to easily get an entry-level tech job, longer sick days, and two-week vacations.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Agata Pona, a 43-year-old employee at SEO agency SUSO Digital, who moved from the Bay Area to Poland. It's been edited for length and clarity.