42% of Americans Have Never Left the Country. That Should Scare You.
Week of October 19th
Personal note from Sonaya.
I’m writing this to you from my mom’s house in New Jersey.
This trip back to the U.S. has felt a bit like a tour. Starting in Los Angeles for a one-day event with one of my amazing clients, now here on the East Coast, and then heading to North Carolina before I return to Doha.
Everywhere I go, I keep repeating the same truth:
It is possible for you to live abroad.
And the next question that always follows is: But how can I afford it?
You might be surprised by the answer.
Most people could live a better, more spacious life abroad on the exact same salary they’re making right now.
In many places, you could even build savings, reduce your stress, and gain time back with your family.
But here’s what really gets me:
So many of us are frustrated with life as we know it… but won’t even begin to explore how it could be different.
I get it. Change is uncomfortable.
As Tony Robbins said:
Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change.
But sometimes, we don’t even know there’s another way.
42% of Americans have never left the country, and 1 in 6 have never left the state they were born in.
And let’s be real, what’s shown on TV? Propaganda.
They want you to believe the systems aren’t broken.
But they’re showing cracks in your everyday life, and you feel it.
So here’s what I’ve been telling everyone I’ve spoken to this week:
Most of them work in traditional 9–5s. And many believed that “remote work” would give them freedom to live anywhere.
But the truth is, not all remote jobs are created equal.
Amber Aziza said it best during her session at The Your Expat Life Summit:
“Work without borders means landing remote roles that actually move with you.”
If you missed her talk, you can still catch it with expert sessions on visa options, relocation strategies, and creating real freedom for your family.
This event is packed with everything you need to take the guesswork out of going global. Don’t sleep on it.
So where do you start? Here’s what I recommend:
5 Steps to Begin Your Expat Life
Look up your current job’s international equivalent.
Find out what’s required for that role abroad and see if your current skills align.
Get clear on your finances.
How much does it actually cost to live your life now, and how could that shift abroad?
Identify countries aligned with your values and lifestyle.
Research visa options, school systems, and healthcare availability.
Audit your skill set.
What remote friendly or freelance skills do you already have, and what could be monetized online?
Start building your network now.
Follow expats in your dream country. Join online communities. Ask real people what their life is like.
Sometimes, it just takes seeing it to believe it.
That’s why I started Your Expat Life LIVE, where I interview expats living in different parts of the world so you can see what’s actually possible when you leave the fear behind.
You don’t have to do it all at once. But you do have to start.
With love from New Jersey,
Sonaya