I visited every country in the world. I don't want to live in the USA anymore, here is my new home

My early, clear memories include sensory overload in India: the smell of local spices, incense, velvet flowers and smog mixed together, and the chaotic streets of Vietnam, full of constant noise of countless motorcycles, some of which carried all five -person families or gigantic glass panes.

I learned to appreciate the diversity of cultures and became more open

Traveling with time became my passion and profession, leading me to managing airline lines, and then to air consulting.

As a consultant, I spent long periods in exotic countries, such as Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, which allowed me to understand and appreciate various cultures and perspectives. This in turn developed my mind openness.

For example, in Pakistan, the rules of business labels order that Muslim men and women usually do not give themselves a hand. This is due to both religious tradition and cultural norms that emphasize the modesty and boundaries between sexes.

As a result, during meetings with men, I waited for them to reach out to the embrace, watching what they feel comfortable with. Such seemingly minor daily interactions opened the way to understand the values ​​that shape unique behavior in a given culture.

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Traveling taught me to value experiences beyond possession

A great rule when packing is: take half of the clothes and twice as much money than you think necessary. This wise advice applies not only to packing, but also life.

Traveling lightly, you move easier and you deal with changes better. This increases your flexibility and immunity. Less things mean more simplicity.

Wealth does not come from having things; It comes from experience.

I saw how happiness and joy in some of the poorest countries in the world come from sharing a common plate of rice with meat in Yemen or from joyful musical and dance celebration in the matriarchal community on the distant island of Bijagos.

Traveling taught me to value these moments over the accumulation of material goods.

The house is where you feel harmony

At the end of 2021, as a result of Pandemia, I was unemployed as an independent aviation consultant. At the same time my marriage ended. I was no longer associated with work or my husband and I saw it as an opportunity – a clean canvas to create a new life.

When I looked at the US map, nothing attracted me. I could go abroad, but I only traveled so far, I never lived outside the country. I wasn't sure if I could handle it as a freelancer without a permanent job. Then I remembered the Mozambique lesson when I visited the Girl Move Academy Foundation for Girls.

During our conversation, a young girl, smarter than her age would indicate, shared her life philosophy with me: “Do not put the roof on your dreams”which means to dream high and without restrictions.

Finally, I realized that after years of traveling around the world, my perspective changed in a way that I would never expect. I felt that my values ​​no longer match the USA, especially to Texas, where I spent over half of my life. I knew that I had to look beyond the borders of the country to find a life consistent with a new one.

Why did I choose Portugal from all countries in the world?

Looking for a new way of life, I wanted a place where my basic values ​​would be not only accepted, but even accepted with enthusiasm. I wanted a culture that values ​​a balance between work and personal life, is less consumer and where there is a greater sense of security, with less violence using weapons.

I wanted to settle in a place where the norm is walking on foot and using public transport, and people eat less processed food. A place where accessible health care and health insurance are available even to self -employed people like me.

Ultimately, I was looking for a calmer lifestyle and a climate supporting my goals related to general well -being. I considered different places, including Georgia, Turkey and Mexico, but an important factor was the relative ease of obtaining a long -term residence permit. My foreign journey began in Georgia, but I didn't feel that this was the right place for longer. After three months in Tbilisi, I began to prepare documents for the Portuguese resident visa.

The slow rhythm of life in Portugal, combined with a gentle, sunny climate and active culture in the open air, was a huge advantage for me. In Lisbon, I was particularly impressed by the hospitality of the inhabitants, the emphasis on the balance between work and private life, access to nature, fresh products and the possibility of moving on foot around the city.

After visiting each country, I finally realized that I was looking for a house not defined by a map, but with a sense of peace, security, comfort and belonging – and I found this feeling in Portugal.

The above text is a translation with American Business Insider edition