I left the United States and I'm NEVER going back!

Summary

The speaker candidly shares their experience of living in Southeast Asia after quitting their job and leaving the US. They highlight the lower cost of living, friendliness of people, and sense of safety as stark contrasts to their life in the US, expressing a reluctance to return due to these improved quality of life factors.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The speaker expresses a strong desire to not return to living in the United States, despite acknowledging the potential backlash.
• 🏠 They quit their job in January and have been traveling since February, currently in Southeast Asia, experiencing the region's affordability and hospitality.
• 💵 The cost of living in the United States is criticized for being excessively high, with the speaker noting the stark contrast in prices for everyday items like groceries.
• 🍉 Specific examples are given, such as the price difference between a watermelon in the U.S. and Southeast Asia, highlighting perceived economic disparities.
• 🏰 The speaker recounts a family trip to the zoo, noting the significantly lower costs compared to similar outings in the U.S., and the reasonable pricing of food and souvenirs.
• 🏖️ Personal experiences in Southeast Asia have led the speaker to believe that people are generally nicer and more welcoming, contrasting with their perception of the U.S.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker observes that children are treated more warmly in Southeast Asia, receiving compliments and gifts from strangers, unlike in the U.S. where they feel children are often seen as a nuisance.
• 🚫 The speaker mentions concerns about safety and cleanliness in the U.S., such as finding drugs or needles in public places, which they have not encountered in Southeast Asia.
• 🏙️ Despite acknowledging the presence of poverty and trash in Southeast Asia, the speaker notes a sense of cleanliness and order, with daily sweeping of sidewalks and a general lack of littering.
• 🌱 The speaker reflects on the absence of visible homelessness and drug addiction in Southeast Asia, contrasting it with the severe issues in the U.S.
• 🔒 The overall sense of safety in Southeast Asia is emphasized, with the speaker feeling more secure and less worried about potential threats compared to their experiences in the U.S.

Q & A

Why does the speaker express a reluctance to live in the United States again?

The speaker feels that the cost of living in the U.S. is too high, people are not as friendly, and there are issues with homelessness and drug use that make them feel unsafe.

What was the speaker's initial skepticism about before traveling to Southeast Asia?

The speaker was initially skeptical about the claims of how cheap and safe Southeast Asia is, as well as the friendliness of the people.

How long has the speaker been traveling in Southeast Asia?

The speaker has been traveling in Southeast Asia for about a month and a half.

Which countries in Southeast Asia has the speaker visited?

The speaker has visited Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and is currently in Bali, with plans to go to Malaysia.

What is the speaker's main concern about the cost of living in the United States?

The speaker is concerned about the high cost of groceries, food, and housing in the U.S., and questions why things are so expensive compared to Southeast Asia.

How does the speaker compare the cost of visiting a zoo in the U.S. versus Southeast Asia?

The speaker finds that the cost of visiting a zoo in Southeast Asia is significantly lower than in the U.S., both in terms of entrance fees and food and beverage expenses.

What is the speaker's observation about the friendliness of people in the U.S. versus Southeast Asia?

The speaker observes that people in Southeast Asia are generally more friendly and welcoming, especially towards children, compared to the U.S.

How does the speaker describe the cleanliness and safety in Southeast Asia compared to the U.S.?

The speaker finds Southeast Asia to be cleaner and safer than the U.S., with less visible drug use and homelessness, and a greater sense of community care.

What is the speaker's experience with feeling safe in Southeast Asia?

The speaker feels much safer in Southeast Asia, noting that they have not felt the need to worry about issues like pickpocketing or mass shootings.

What are the speaker's thoughts on the cultural differences between the U.S. and Southeast Asia?

The speaker believes that the cultural differences, such as the friendliness of people and the sense of community, contribute to a higher quality of life in Southeast Asia.

Why does the speaker feel that their money goes further in Southeast Asia?

The speaker attributes this to the lower prices for goods and services, as well as the stronger purchasing power of the U.S. dollar in these countries.

What are the speaker's concerns about the environment in the U.S., particularly regarding plastic waste?

The speaker is concerned about the high levels of plastic waste and littering in the U.S., despite the country's wealth and resources.

Outlines

00:00

🌴 Traveling Southeast Asia: A Cost of Living Comparison

The speaker expresses their initial skepticism about moving away from the United States and their subsequent realization of the stark differences in cost of living between the US and Southeast Asia. They recount their travels through countries like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bali, noting the affordability of daily necessities and attractions compared to the US. The speaker is particularly struck by the high prices in America for items like groceries and zoo visits, and contrasts this with the reasonable costs they've encountered in Southeast Asia. They also touch on the broader economic and social implications of these differences, including the role of corporate greed and food waste in the US.

05:02

🌏 Cultural Contrasts: The Warmth of Southeast Asia

The speaker reflects on the cultural differences they've observed between the United States and Southeast Asia, particularly in terms of interpersonal interactions. They lament the perceived coldness and busyness of people in the US, especially in big cities like Seattle, and contrast this with the warmth and friendliness they've experienced in Asia. The speaker notes how people in Asia, whether locals or expats, have been exceptionally kind and welcoming, especially towards their children. They also discuss the cleanliness and safety they've found in Southeast Asia, despite the region's reputation for plastic waste, and compare this favorably to the issues of homelessness and drug use they've encountered in the US.

10:04

🏡 A Safer and More Welcoming Environment

The speaker continues to share their observations on the safety and welcoming nature of Southeast Asia, contrasting it with the concerns they have about safety in the US. They mention the absence of visible homelessness and drug addiction in the places they've visited, and the sense of security they feel, even in large cities. The speaker also discusses the lack of fear they have for their children's safety, especially in public spaces like playgrounds and beaches. They express their relief at not having to worry about potential dangers like mass shootings, which is a concern they carry from their time in the US. The overall sentiment is one of appreciation for the quality of life they've found in Southeast Asia, which they feel is superior to what they experienced in the US.

Keywords

💡Escapism

Escapism refers to the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, often through entertainment or leisure activities. In the video, the speaker expresses a desire to escape from the United States, which they view as having various social and economic issues. This desire for escapism is a central theme of the video, as the speaker contrasts their experiences in the US with their more positive experiences in Southeast Asia.

💡Cost of Living

The cost of living is the amount of money needed to sustain a certain standard of living, including expenses such as housing, food, and utilities. The speaker in the video discusses how the cost of living in the US is significantly higher compared to Southeast Asia, using examples like the price of a watermelon in the US versus Southeast Asia. This comparison underscores the speaker's dissatisfaction with the economic conditions in the US.

💡Poverty

Poverty is the state of being extremely poor, often lacking the financial resources to secure basic needs. The speaker acknowledges the existence of poverty in Southeast Asia but contrasts it with the high cost of living in the US. They imply that despite having a strong currency, the American lifestyle does not necessarily equate to a higher quality of life, as poverty and economic disparity are still prevalent issues.

💡Corporate Greed

Corporate greed refers to the excessive pursuit of profits by corporations, often at the expense of other stakeholders such as consumers or employees. The speaker suggests that high prices in the US, particularly for food, may be more a result of corporate greed rather than just inflation. This concept is used to critique the economic system in the US, implying that it prioritizes profits over the well-being of the people.

💡Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is a region in Asia comprising two main areas: the Indochina Peninsula and the Malay Archipelago. The speaker has been traveling through countries in this region, such as Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, and contrasts their experiences there with life in the US. The region serves as a backdrop for the speaker's reflections on the differences in lifestyle, cost of living, and social interactions between Southeast Asia and the US.

💡Homelessness

Homelessness is the state of having no home or permanent residence. The speaker discusses the prevalence of homelessness in the US, particularly in urban areas like Seattle, and contrasts it with the situation in Southeast Asia, where they have not observed the same level of homelessness. This comparison is used to highlight the social issues and lack of support systems in the US.

💡Drug Epidemic

A drug epidemic refers to a widespread and rapid increase in the use of addictive substances. The speaker mentions the drug epidemic in the US, particularly the presence of drugs like meth and fentanyl, and contrasts this with their experiences in Southeast Asia, where they have not encountered similar issues. This comparison is used to emphasize the severity of the drug problem in the US and its impact on public safety.

💡Safety

Safety refers to the state of being protected from or unlikely to cause danger, risk, or injury. The speaker discusses feeling safer in Southeast Asia compared to the US, particularly in terms of personal security and the absence of mass shootings. This sense of safety is a significant factor in their preference for living in Southeast Asia over the US.

💡Niceness

Niceness in this context refers to the quality of being friendly, pleasant, or kind. The speaker contrasts the perceived niceness of people in the US with that in Southeast Asia, noting that people in the latter region are generally more friendly and welcoming. This observation is used to critique the social climate in the US and to highlight the more positive interpersonal interactions in Southeast Asia.

💡Cultural Differences

Cultural differences refer to the variations in customs, social norms, and behaviors between different societies or groups. The speaker discusses cultural differences between the US and Southeast Asia, particularly in terms of social interactions, attitudes towards children, and cleanliness. These differences are used to illustrate the more positive aspects of life in Southeast Asia compared to the US.

💡Quality of Life

Quality of life refers to the general well-being and satisfaction with life, often influenced by factors such as health, safety, economic stability, and social relationships. The speaker emphasizes the higher quality of life in Southeast Asia compared to the US, based on their personal experiences with cost of living, social interactions, and safety. This concept is central to the speaker's decision not to return to the US.

Highlights

The speaker expresses a desire to never live in the United States again, acknowledging the potential for controversy.

They quit their job in January and have been traveling since February, currently in Southeast Asia.

Initial skepticism about the affordability and friendliness in Southeast Asia has been replaced with amazement and appreciation.

The cost of living in the US is criticized, with examples of high prices for groceries and housing.

The speaker contrasts the high cost of living in the US with the affordability they've experienced in Southeast Asia.

Food waste and corporate greed in the US are suggested as factors contributing to high prices.

A zoo visit in Bali is highlighted as an example of reasonable pricing compared to similar experiences in the US.

The speaker notes the lack of price gouging in amusement parks and similar attractions in Southeast Asia.

A comparison is made between the perceived rudeness of people in the US and the friendliness encountered in Southeast Asia.

The 'Seattle freeze' is mentioned as an example of the lack of warmth among people in some US cities.

The speaker observes that people in Southeast Asia are genuinely nice, not just those trying to do business.

Children are treated with kindness and respect in Southeast Asia, unlike the speaker's experiences in the US.

The cleanliness and tidiness observed in Southeast Asia contrast with the speaker's experiences in the US.

Despite known issues with plastic waste, the speaker finds Southeast Asia cleaner than the US in terms of littering and drug paraphernalia.

The speaker discusses the absence of homelessness and drug problems in Southeast Asia compared to the US.

A sense of safety is felt in Southeast Asia, unlike the constant worry about mass shootings in the US.

The speaker concludes that the quality of life in Southeast Asia is significantly better than in the US.

The speaker expresses a firm decision not to return to the US, based on their travel experiences.

Transcripts

I got to be honest I hope that I never

have to live in the United States ever

again sounds very escapism sounds very

anti-American it sounds like it's going

to piss some people off to hear that and

I'm okay with it but I want to explain

why I quit my job in January we moved

out of our house in February and since

February we've been traveling and we've

been in Southeast Asia for about a month

and a half now it's crazy how quick time

goes but but we've been to Cambodia

we've been to Thailand and we went to

Vietnam in dang and now we're in Bali

and in about a week and a half we're

going to be in Malaysia and I got to say

that I was skeptical I was skeptical

when everyone was saying how cheap it is

and how lovely all the people are and

how safe everything is and I see it now

I see it and I can't believe that I was

ever worried about coming out here and I

can't believe how behind we are in a lot

of things in the US and I also I can't

believe how brainwashed we are and then

that sounds bad it sounds like I said

anti-American it sounds like I'm trying

to talk this up but I'm not I'm just

trying to share my experience and what

it's been so far for me and my

family first of all I got to talk about

the cost of living and I understand that

I have American dollar I get that my

money really goes a lot further here and

that there's poverty and because I come

from a country that has a strong

currency I able to live nicer than

people that are from here I get all that

so I don't need to hear that part of it

but it just goes to show you that for

like groceries and food and housing why

are things so godamn expensive in

America a watermelon at Costco was like

$10

when we left Washington State and here I

buy a watermelon for two

bucks why why I I know there's economics

involved in it all that stuff and I know

that that there are people that will

argue that that is just the price of

things because of our economy being so

much stronger but then you go and you

think about how much food waste there is

in the US and how much of it is really

more like corporate greed rather than

inflation and it goes to just show you

how we're just convinced that our

country is so great and there are great

things about America because I couldn't

be saying this if I was from other

countries that didn't allow you to speak

poorly about your country so I do

appreciate some of those aspects of

America but at the same time it's not

just the cost of living and the cost of

food my wife and I we took the kids out

yesterday for Mother's Day we went to

the zoo and the zoo was awesome it was

total for us to get in about like $65

USD and then when we went in there I was

just so surprised how much it was for

food and beverage and some of the

souvenirs we didn't buy any souvenirs

but the food and beverage was so

reasonable that my wife and I were

laughing about how much it would have

cost us in Washington to go to like the

Seattle it's not the Seattle Zoo but

it's

I can't think of it off the top of my

head but there's a zoo and then there's

like the Northwest Trek and there's

museums and stuff in Washington that

we've gone to and it would have cost us

60 bucks a person it cost our family 60

bucks total to get into the Bal zoo and

then when we had lunch it cost us like

$10 we ordered a pizza for the kids my

wife and I ordered some little like

Teriyaki bowls we all had drinks we

ended up having some gelato afterwards

and it was like $10 in America when you

go somewhere that's like an amusement

park it's almost like an excuse for them

to price gou you and it seems like they

don't do that here I've noticed it in

multiple places not just in Bali when we

went to Vietnam we went to a water park

there the water park tickets were

reasonable they it ended up being like I

don't know like 10 to 20 bucks a person

the kids were a little cheaper than the

adults but that's about what it was

average so let's just say like 15 bucks

so another like $60 to get in and it

might have been cheaper than that but

then when we got in there same thing all

the stuff in there was very reasonable

in price we didn't have to pay $10 for a

soda and we didn't have to pay $20 for a

salad for lunch our money just went so

much further and I feel like I can rant

about cost of living and how expensive

everything is in America and how it

feels like your money doesn't go

anywhere and it feels like you're just

poor I've made videos talking about

making a 100 Grand a year making

$150,000 a year and feeling broke and

now I'm making substantially less and I

feel comfortable but beyond that another

reason why I don't really want to go

back is because people are not nice in

the United States again maybe it's where

I was from Seattle Washington area is

known for the Seattle freeze where

everyone is just not nice doesn't talk

whatever I'm sure if I went to some

Podunk town in the mid West Betty from

next door would bake me cookies and be

super nice to me and want to be in all

of my business and know what's going on

but that's not really the case in most

big cities in the United States the

truth is that we're too busy we got too

much going on we've got work we've got

soccer practice we've got recital we've

got things we got to go do we got

errands we got to run we got to buy

groceries and clean the house and all

that stuff and it feels like people in

the US have no time for anyone if it

feels like it's very hard to find

genuinely nice people and I don't know

why that is because I've had friends

that are super cool but in general it

doesn't feel like people are just nice

in the US and then being here in Asia

and it's not just like shopkeepers and

people who are trying to do business

with us it's people just on the street

people at the beach people that are

local people that are also expats and

just tourists and

everyone we've met has been super nice I

have honestly not

seen anyone pissed off in a month and a

half of being in all of these different

countries I have not seen any fights I

have not seen people arguing I have not

seen anything that I am used to seeing

in the US it's so weird and I swear it

sounds like I'm full of [ __ ] you're like

how have people not been arguing how

have people been so nice I don't know I

don't know it just really seems like

maybe it's a cultural thing maybe I

don't understand what some people are

saying when they're talking to each

other and they are fighting but reading

body language and seeing how people are

interacting it really feels like

everybody's super nice and they're super

nice to us they're so nice to my kids in

the US it feels like kids are a nuisance

it feels like kids are treated as like

sit down shut up stay out of the way

don't talk be quiet all that stuff and

here everybody is so nice to our kids

kids my kids get so many compliments

it's funny because they're not used to

it they get praised from random

strangers they get given toys and treats

and candy and just they're treated like

kids they're treated like they're

welcomed even like the airports here the

stores they have playgrounds they really

think about the kids a lot here and I

don't remember that in the US I mean in

Washington playgrounds you got to be

careful cuz there's homeless people

sleeping there and there's people doing

heroin and Fentanyl and smoking meth on

the park bench and you got to be worried

that your kid's going to step on a

hypmic needle or something and that's

another thing here while there's some

trash southeast Asia is known for their

plastic waste that's not a secret things

can be a little dirty here and while

we've seen some of that while there's

some plastic and some waste on the beach

and on the streets it still seems like

people really take care of their stuff

here something I noticed everyone does

in every Asian country I've been to they

clean the sidewalks they sweep up every

day they really keep their stuff tidy

and I think that a lot of the plastic

waste is just a byproduct of consumerism

and I feel that a lot of people here

from what I've seen really try their

best to be clean I haven't seen someone

litter I haven't seen people be I don't

know trashy in the US I can't tell you

how many times in the United States I've

gone to a parking lot and people have

just left their fast food bags where

their car was parked you can obviously

tell like somebody opened their door and

just dumped all their stuff there and

I'll say for Southeast Asia being known

for their plastic waste and all that

stuff I feel like it's cleaner here than

it has been in the US and I never once

have had to worry that my kids might

find drugs or a needle on the floor in a

playground or on the beach and I only

say that because this has happened this

has happened my family and I used to

carry Naran in our car not because we

want to save someone from odine because

we were worried that my kids might pick

up some fentanyl or something because

they have found baggies with meth in

them and Drugs in them like my kids have

found bags of drugs at the park I

remember we were camping and the kids

said the word beetle because they saw

like a big Beetle and almost every

parent from around the park that was

there when they heard it went running

because they were worried that their

kids said

needle it's crazy we don't have to worry

about that here I haven't seen vagrants

I haven't seen drug addicts on the

street I haven't seen people begging

outside of the gas station I've seen a

few people who are

obviously in bad circumstances people

with deformities people with missing

limbs people that are blind ask for

money and they do have a bit of like

kids trying to hustle for money like if

you go to Mexico you see that where kids

are like selling stuff to try to make

money like that's a reality of being

here but the homelessness and the drugs

that we have in America that problem

isn't here it doesn't exist here people

might be poor here but they still have

like a home and a place to sleep it's

crazy and it's mindboggling because it

just goes to show you like we can't get

that stuff fixed and figured out in the

first world country in the greatest

country of the world America we have a

terrible homeless problem and we have a

terrible drug epidemic and I I don't see

that here I have not once in the last

month and a half felt unsafe when you

come out here everyone tells you be

careful of pickpockets be careful of

getting mugged be careful of dangers

that you might come across when you're

traveling here in Asia because those

things could happen and I've been in

Bangkok which is a massive City Cambodia

we went to CM reap it was kind of

smaller dang was a pretty big city and

here in Bali is kind of chill so I

haven't felt anything like the presence

of a pickpocket or a group of

untrusting shyy looking individuals that

are going to try to like rob you or

anything like that like a good indicator

of something being safe is usually like

seeing single women walking by

themselves and I've seen that in every

place I've been to at all hours of the

day from in the evening to the early

mornings like it's safe and I'm not

stupid I know that there's bad places

everywhere but we just haven't seen it

and feels nice because it's one of the

things that I don't feel in the US

anymore like I never feel safe a

firework went off and my wife and my

kids and I

jumped and my wife and I thought the

same exact thing we were

like man you can tell who the Americans

are cuz when they hear a loud bang they

start ducking that feeling of being in a

crowded place and having to worry about

a mass

shooting is one of the best feelings to

not have to deal with anymore and I know

it's stupid I know that mass shooting

percentage wise aren't that common I

lived in Vegas when October 1st happened

that went down at the manderlay bay and

I know that it's not that common but

it's really nice to not have to worry

about that and I feel like I've talked

about cost of living I feel like I've

talked about how nice people are I feel

like I talked about the safety and all

of those are reasons why I don't think I

can go back of course we're going to go

back and visit people but the the

quality of life it's just so much better

here and it felt like that in Portugal

too so it's not just southeast Asia it

seems like everywhere we go it feels

better than the US and the more we

travel and the longer we're here my wife

and I keep telling each other we can't

go back there's no going back we can't

do it it doesn't make sense to go back

and I really don't think that we will

and I just wanted to share that that's

all I got to say all right thanks for

watching and I'll see you next time