"My wife and I had a comfortable, predictable life with our two kids, but we wanted something new. They're both under five, and we wanted to make the most of these early years by being present in their lives. In North America, it feels like you have to prioritize working just to keep up with the cost of living. We felt that moving abroad would allow us to take a step back, work less, and spend more time with our kids."
"We moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in May 2024. Even though we'd visited before, once we settled in, we realized it wasn't the right fit. It felt like we were living in an expat bubble, and we struggled to integrate into the local community. It didn't help that the weather was super hot all year round. That's when we started looking again. Japan had always been on our radar, and with the yen at a low, we began exploring its real estate market."
Brendan Pon was born and raised in Toronto and spent ten years as a recruiter for senior-level accounting roles after earlier working as an accountant. He and his wife sought a slower, more present family life for their two children under five and decided to move abroad to reduce work hours and prioritize early parenting. The family relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in May 2024 but felt isolated in an expat bubble and struggled with year-round heat. They investigated Japan during a low-yen period, found visa options, chose Osaka for its livability and conveniences, purchased a house remotely, and moved there over a year later.
Read at Business Insider
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