Surprising My Parents With a NEW HOME!

Summary

In this heartfelt video, the speaker shares their personal journey from struggling with low-paying nonprofit work in New York to achieving success through YouTube. The story highlights the sacrifices made by the speaker’s immigrant parents, who followed them to the city and dedicated themselves to volunteer work despite financial hardship. After years of hard work, the speaker is finally able to give their parents a beautiful new home in Flushing, New York, as a symbol of gratitude and love. The video offers a touching reflection on family, sacrifice, and the desire to give back to those who have always supported them.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker moved back to New York to fulfill a personal goal of giving their parents a better life.
• 😀 After working for years in non-profits and experiencing financial struggles, the speaker was able to help their parents move into a new home.
• 😀 The speaker shares their childhood struggles, including growing up in a basement apartment with little money, and the sacrifices their immigrant parents made.
• 😀 The speaker's parents followed them to New York City after they moved, further supporting their child’s journey.
• 😀 The family worked together on non-profit causes, with a strong focus on raising awareness about human rights issues in China, including the persecution of minorities like Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners.
• 😀 The speaker faced personal and financial difficulties, including a low-paying wedding video job and living in unsafe areas, but persevered.
• 😀 Despite the challenges, the speaker eventually found success in YouTube, which provided a more stable income to support their family.
• 😀 The speaker’s parents, despite financial hardships, always supported the speaker’s life decisions and career choices.
• 😀 The speaker was able to secure a new apartment for their parents in Flushing, Queens, thanks to a good deal and strategic timing.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on the importance of family support, expressing deep gratitude for their parents' sacrifices and the opportunity to give back.
• 😀 Despite the uncertainty of the future and changes in living arrangements (e.g., giving up an apartment in Seattle), the speaker embraces life’s unknowns and feels fulfilled by the journey.

Q & A

What motivated the narrator to move back to New York?

The primary motivation for the narrator to return to New York was the opportunity to finally give their parents something they truly deserved, a better living situation, which was a long-awaited goal after years of hard work.

How did the narrator's parents contribute to their journey and career?

The narrator's parents were incredibly supportive throughout their journey. They followed the narrator to New York after he moved there, became involved in nonprofit work, and made significant personal sacrifices, including selling their restaurant and donating their money to human rights causes.

What was the narrator's living situation like in the early years in New York?

Initially, the narrator lived in a basement apartment in Brooklyn for $500 a month. The apartment was illegal, unsafe, and lacking amenities like air conditioning, reflecting the financial struggles faced during this period.

Why did the narrator's parents end up donating most of their money?

The narrator's parents donated most of their money to various nonprofits, particularly to raise awareness about human rights issues in China, including religious persecution and the situation with the Uyghurs, Falun Gong practitioners, and other marginalized groups.

What significant life event was the narrator planning for their parents before the COVID-19 pandemic?

Before the pandemic, the narrator planned to take their parents on a European vacation, visiting places like the UK, Spain, France, and Italy, as a way of fulfilling a dream their father had. However, the plan was interrupted due to issues with the mother's passport and the onset of COVID-19.

How did the narrator's career in YouTube and filmmaking help improve their financial situation?

The narrator transitioned to a career in YouTube after initially working for a nonprofit with little pay. Over time, as the narrator’s YouTube channel grew, they started earning a livable income, allowing them to afford a better lifestyle, including moving out of their cramped Brooklyn apartment.

What is the significance of the new apartment for the narrator and their parents?

The new apartment is a symbol of success and gratitude for the narrator. It provides a better living situation for their parents, who have worked hard all their lives. This apartment is a way for the narrator to give back to them after years of sacrifice.

Why did the narrator choose the Flushing neighborhood for their parents’ new home?

The narrator chose Flushing because it is a familiar and convenient area for their parents, who frequently visit Flushing. The location also allowed them to find an apartment within their budget, despite the higher real estate prices in the area.

How did the narrator feel about their parents' reaction to the new apartment?

The narrator felt immense satisfaction and happiness seeing their parents' positive reaction to the new apartment. Their parents were grateful and overjoyed, which made the narrator feel that all the hard work and sacrifices were worthwhile.

What does the narrator reflect on regarding the sacrifices their family made in their early years?

The narrator reflects on the financial struggles and sacrifices their parents made when they first arrived in the U.S., living in a small studio and driving an inexpensive car. Despite these hardships, the parents always provided the best they could for the narrator, supporting his dreams and decisions.