18 Years Expat: Can I STILL Afford to Go Home?

Like this video, you're probably Like this video, you're probably thinking one of two things. You knew I thinking one of two things. You knew I thinking one of two things. You knew I was broke, you're lying to me, and I was broke, you're lying to me, and I was broke, you're lying to me, and I actually not afford to go home. Then the actually not afford to go home. Then the actually not afford to go home. Then the reality is it's slowly become a real reality is it's slowly become a real reality is it's slowly become a real part of my life. I'm not sad about it. part of my life. I'm not sad about it. part of my life. I'm not sad about it. It's not some cautionary tale about a It's not some cautionary tale about a It's not some cautionary tale about a guy who gave up everything and now can't guy who gave up everything and now can't guy who gave up everything and now can't get back home and is stranded. Moon goes get back home and is stranded. Moon goes get back home and is stranded. Moon goes down. Seven of those years I've been in down. Seven of those years I've been in down. Seven of those years I've been in Vietnam, and somewhere in that time the Vietnam, and somewhere in that time the Vietnam, and somewhere in that time the country I was born in, Canada, and the country I was born in, Canada, and the country I was born in, Canada, and the other countries I lived in worked in, other countries I lived in worked in, other countries I lived in worked in, the United States, Australia, became the United States, Australia, became the United States, Australia, became places I could no longer realistically places I could no longer realistically places I could no longer realistically afford to live in even if I wanted to. afford to live in even if I wanted to. afford to live in even if I wanted to. And the longer I'm honest with myself, And the longer I'm honest with myself, And the longer I'm honest with myself, the more I realize that I can't afford the more I realize that I can't afford the more I realize that I can't afford and I don't want are the same thing just and I don't want are the same thing just and I don't want are the same thing just from two different directions. So, this from two different directions. So, this from two different directions. So, this video is about both of those things. I video is about both of those things. I video is about both of those things. I retired at about 40 in Vietnam from my retired at about 40 in Vietnam from my retired at about 40 in Vietnam from my job of 17 years as an international job of 17 years as an international job of 17 years as an international school teacher, and I want to walk you school teacher, and I want to walk you school teacher, and I want to walk you through the actual story of why I'm through the actual story of why I'm through the actual story of why I'm here, what I left, what it cost to live here, what I left, what it cost to live here, what I left, what it cost to live in North America right now, and my old in North America right now, and my old in North America right now, and my old cities compared to what I pay to live cities compared to what I pay to live cities compared to what I pay to live well here in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. well here in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. well here in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. What nobody told me about this life, and What nobody told me about this life, and What nobody told me about this life, and and some other stuff that has nothing to and some other stuff that has nothing to and some other stuff that has nothing to do with money. So, let's start with do with money. So, let's start with do with money. So, let's start with Calgary. I wasn't born there, having Calgary. I wasn't born there, having Calgary. I wasn't born there, having arrived there from a year-long stint in arrived there from a year-long stint in arrived there from a year-long stint in Melbourne.

Melbourne. Melbourne. Meaning, [snorts] I might have been a Meaning, [snorts] I might have been a Meaning, [snorts] I might have been a younger a decade ago, but I was no younger a decade ago, but I was no younger a decade ago, but I was no spring chicken. I'd traveled, I'd been spring chicken. I'd traveled, I'd been spring chicken. I'd traveled, I'd been an expat.