Caught an episode of the Korean reality show “The Temps” on tvN, which takes celebrities and gives them part-time jobs and, in the end, they meet the people they were filling in for and learn about their lives and the struggles they’ve faced. On this particular episode, former soccer player Ahn Jung-hwan and MMA fighter Choo Sung-hoon (or Yoshihiro Akiyama, Sexyama) worked at harbor gathering and distributing snow crab, they were later assigned to a restaurant that served unlimited snow crab. 

They ended their day sitting down for a meal with their 28-year-old counterpart, who had left an office job in Seoul and moved to a rural part of the country, living with his grandmother and working with snow crabs. The two asked why one would leave a steady job for life in the country and he said the hyper-competitive environment of the Seoul business scene was not for him and snow crabs were his passion, he eventually would like to have a hand in promoting local snow crab to the world. Even during the experience, Sung-hoon admitted enjoying the job on the docks, having previously worked a similar job in his own life.

It was a similar situation moving from the United States to the Philippines, with many questioning why one would make such a move.

Had a steady 9-5 job (often times, an 8-6), a close knit group of friends and a wide network of acquaintances, and (what seemed to be the most important to many) was making an alright amount money. Personally, it wasn’t that life in the New York City metropolitan area was bad, on the contrary, it was and will always be incredible. However, despite the excitement of walking the streets of New York City every day, with that somewhat-esteemed feeling of working in the greatest city in the world, things just didn’t seem right, a chance to escape it all appeared to come at an opportune time.

Since graduating college, worked at office jobs for nearly eight years, which had their moments, but never felt there was an opportunity to advance. Had a talk with a director, who admitted holding back opportunities, which was likely a catalyst in pushing one out of the industry – it was no longer just a matter of finding a new job, it was a need for a new environment.

In the end, it was probably a good thing for her to admit to such truths.

After a vacation to the Philippines months prior to leaving the job, where the groundwork was laid for a big move; scouring a place not called “home” since 1983 and purchasing a home – there was no turning back.

At first, it was daunting. Finding a job was difficult, in a country that openly filters job applicants based on age and gender; found being over 30 years old, was disqualified for many positions. Finding work at a school, having a background primarily in higher education, almost none of them had operating job databases and it was a matter of sending blind resumes – many of which did not even provide directories to contact specific departments.

Even applied at a call center, with hopes of getting some kind of trainer position, but after a couple interviews with the same company, in the end, was just given the run around and eventually was never hired.

Ironically, landed a job as a media consultant for a law firm based in the United States, which was a great position. It lasted a couple years before the job was phased out and was back to square one – but, at least, with some new expertise added to the skill set. After a vacation to the US, decided it was time to move back and established a deadline – then, got the editor jobs at this newspaper. It was back to what was studied in college, an industry first experienced as a senior in high school being picked up as a stringer for the “teen” section of a local newspaper (worked as a music reviewer at the time).

It’s been an experience. It can get stressful at times, but it is not the same kind of stress felt within a cubicle. Working from a home office, with a fair amount of professional freedom, and a column that runs a couple times a week – even getting recognized a couple times around town, it’s a whole different lifestyle. No life is perfect, and while the environment is just about the polar opposite of New York City, the quality of life (in terms of work) feels like an improvement.

Sure, the salary is nowhere near American standards, but it’s sufficient for the current situation. To this day, still have the naysayers who call the move a poor decision – primarily because of money; in addition, am constantly hounded by those who suggest moving back and returning to an office job – again, for money.

Who doesn’t love having money? But, at this point, things are OK.

Elite Daily published a 2014 piece by Emma Bowman, who left the United States for Ireland. As she put it, Bowman went from “attending a top-ranked business school” to “working odd jobs here and there.”

The writer recounts a common experience with leaving everything behind, “Not a day goes by where I am not met with moments of overwhelming doubt.”

“Did I make a mistake?” she asked.

“The decisions you make become yours and yours alone,” Bowman explained. “You learn to embrace the freedom of not knowing because at the end of the day, you’re the one who chose this; no one else did.”

As a parallel to the challenges faced from those constantly promoting the importance of earning money over everything else, she offers an explanation on how those ideas are dispelled.

“You become the only person who dictates your life, and you can do whatever it is that makes you happy,” Bowman wrote. “You’re not living your life to please anyone else but yourself.”

The Huffington Post published a 2014 piece by Meg Giles, where she recounts leaving New York City for her hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona.

While thinking about the move, she wrote: “I have a good marriage, not a passionate one. I work for people I admire and adore, but my job is ending. I live in a glamorous city, but long for fewer bills, better sleep, proximity to my father, and space for my kids.”

“I’m not interested in the next lifetime,” she surmised. “I will live in this one.”

Giles also questioned if the decision was reckless and if she will regret it in the future – for her, she was married with kids. However, she concluded, “My life grows emphatically richer, I suddenly have more – people, space, joy.”

“More heartache, for certain,” the writer added. “But that’s life, and I have more of that now, too.”

While the income is paltry (compared to American standards) and the local setting can leave very much to be desired, these “new” surroundings have provided a multitude of opportunities and experiences.

Besides having places like Hong Kong and Seoul a couple hours away, exposure to new perspectives, and a “cultural” experience; the opportunities with the job have also gone beyond that of an editor. Have reported on a variety of news stories, both local and national; been invited to events like store openings and inaugurations; get the chance to occasionally operate as a sports reporter; expound on life and share views through this column; and (probably the most fulfilling) getting full-page travel pieces published.

Bowman describes the life decision as “a complicated life to choose.” However, she goes on to explain, “Stripping yourself free of everything you’ve ever known allows you to become the rawest version of yourself.”

“I see that what I have is extraordinary,” Giles noted in her piece. “Death is the ultimate destination, no matter which way I steer, [and] I want to live days worth dying for.”/WDJ