Their parents moved to the US for opportunity and safety. They went the other way — drawn by the same hopes.

Tech Insider : Business
Hands rolling up a rug/the American Flag
 

Getty images; Tyler Le/BI

I left my career in Atlanta, went to pastry school, and moved to the South of France. I'm finally at peace here.

Tech Insider : Business, Style, Technology
Dawn Belisle in Nice, France.
Dawn Belisle in Nice, France.

Courtesy of Dawn Belisle

Our family lived in Japan for 3 years. We're back in the US now and I really miss these 3 things.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
The author poses in traditional dress she wore during the 3 years she lived abroad in Japan.
The author only lived in Japan for 3 years with her family, but says that 15 years later there are still things that she misses.

Curtesy of Heather Sweeney

I spent my 20s living a dream life abroad, but returned to the US in debt. There's a lot I wish I'd done differently.

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author posing for a photo in the Algarve, Portugal.
I lived abroad during my 20s, and although I don't regret it, I made some poor financial decisions along the way.

Denae McGaha

I left my job to travel after a hard breakup. Starting over in China gave me the life I wanted.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
David Fun posing with San Francisco skyline in the background.
After a difficult break-up, David Fun took some time off from work, and California, and eventually settled down in Guangzhou, China.

Provided by David Fun

I email my 106-year-old grandmother every Friday. It's one of the most meaningful commitments I've ever made.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
The author posing with her grandmother.
Emailing my grandmother every week is a tradition that helps us stay connected despite the distance.

Catherine Work

I moved from the US to Wales 14 years ago. Raising kids away from my family is harder than I thought.

Tech Insider : Travel, Business
Kids looking at plane
The author has lived in Wales for the last 14 years.

Courtesy of the author

I dropped out of college at 19 and had no plan for what came next. Hong Kong pushed me to grow up fast.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
Nikolai Smirnoff behind the bar at Graceland in Hong Kong
Nikolai Smirnoff

Provided by Nikolai Smirnoff

He has no regrets about leaving academia — or California — to start a café in Beijing with his partner

Tech Insider : Business
Ki Won Yoon and Shu Yu at 010 Beijing Natural cafe.
Ki Won Yoon has no regrets about leaving academia — or California — to start a café in Beijing with his partner, Shu Yu.

Provided by Ki Won Yoon

Their first international flight was a one-way ticket — to retire in Thailand

Tech Insider : Business, Style
A couple posing for a photo with their dog.
Nicolia and Charles Connor moved to Thailand in 2025.

The Connors.

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