Choosing to Live in the Countryside ⇒ Better Yet, Leave Japan and Go Abroad

Hello, this is Tetsuya Ashida from ACIDHOUSE, INC.

The wave of remote work has swept away the conventional assumptions of desk work: that sales or meetings can't happen without face-to-face contact.

Now people are using remote work's benefits to improve QOL, with a growing trend toward choosing “workations” or “living in rural areas”.

Worries about wanting to leave cities for suburban or rural life but being unable to find work are gradually easing as remote work spreads during the coronavirus pandemic. Companies are beginning to move headquarters out of metropolitan areas, and more people appear to be considering regional relocation while exploring new ways to work, such as working from home or taking side jobs. Here we have collected posts reflecting that trend.

Source: “The option of living in a rural area” (LinkedIn editorial team)

I've worked remotely since 2017, so I feel, “Finally...”

But once overseas travel becomes active again, I strongly recommend skipping the countryside and living abroad.

In 2019 I gave up my fixed rental home and worked while traveling abroad until March 2020, which makes me feel that all the more strongly.

Benefits of Living Abroad Rather Than in a Rural Area

You Become Free of Conventional Assumptions

You could say the benefits of living abroad largely boil down to this.

For example, life is completely different from Japan from the start of the day.

You also see things unimaginable in Japan.

This photo shows a free ferry for passersby in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Among the pedestrians and cyclists was a tiny car (with a dog), haha.

Under Dutch traffic rules, bicycles take priority over pedestrians and cars. They speed along the roads.

In Thailand, which I visited often, I frequently saw scenes unimaginable by Japanese conventions.

Experience these and other things, and your values are bound to change.

A Smartphone and Credit Card Are Enough to Get By

Make Full Use of Your Smartphone Abroad Too

Living abroad used to be thought of as a very high hurdle.

But internet information and services have developed so much, and we live in an age when you can access them through the smartphone in your hand.

There are plenty of apps for living overseas too, so if you have these:

then you generally won't have problems in most places. Google solves almost every “What should I do in this situation?” question.

For smartphone data, you no longer need to use absurdly expensive carrier roaming. You can obtain a SIM locally or buy one on Amazon and bring it from Japan.

For Money, a Credit Card Is Enough

Credit cards are widespread in many parts of the world, so having several cards, including backups, covers most needs.

Even if you need cash, you can take a card cash advance and immediately call the card company and repay it to minimize fees.

You Can Adapt to Globalization

We've heard “Globalization is the future!” countless times.

People who speak English or other foreign languages aren't unusual, nor are returnees, overseas digital nomads, foreign-company employees or overseas travel YouTubers.

Even so, in reality, it may be “just a handful standing out”.

If you're an information publisher, you'll need to think carefully about positioning yourself with an overseas angle, but focus just on yourself and the possibilities from being updated by living abroad are endless.

The environment has an enormous effect on people.Over the course of a long life, the experience of living abroad, both good and bad, will be irreplaceable.