Beautiful post and thanks for the shout out at the bottom! Hong Kong is a magical place and despite the difficulty of living there sometimes, it’s really irreplaceable and magic. I can see why you moved back. All the best always <3
Well one fine day I quit my job when I was being offered a promotion. It wasn’t an awakening of any kind. I think I have some stories to tell and write, hence I quit my job and now here on Substack. :)
I really feel you, Franco! In the end, logic never wins. I don’t think home is always where we’re born and lived. But it’s always better for us to listen to our hearts :)
Thank you, I’m humbled! And I'm really happy to see that it works so well for you :) Hopefully, my flow will bring me to Hong Kong in the near future as well :)
I understand your situation because I’ve been there, but if I may, my advice to you is to make a plan to get that citizenship, then leave and go home…your kids will thank you forever in the future…the rough patches of expatriate lives are where the personal growth is and where happiness comes from…the lesson is to never give up…and then be free to live the life you want…🩶
hey thanks for that, this is at the back of our minds as well. if we do try it again, we know what we are dealing with this time. and yes, I couldn't believe how much I have grown. what was it like for you on your journey to move country?
I went through a lot of ups and downs…I learned to be mentally strong and never give up and most importantly always say yes to opportunities…I’ve said yes to work opportunities where I was really exploited for a low salary but learned so much! I would say yes to friendships, dating, organized trips opportunities…they all brought something invaluable to my life…even if many are over…you will see after a while all the dots connect…unless you stop your journey in the middle…there were many times were I was down and unhappy, when not so good things happened and I was alone…but in unhappy moments I would seek my happy places like going to a classical music concert or the beach…gratefulness will always bring back happiness…going back to where you came from is very hard because you won’t find things as you left them and your mentality will have changed…
gratefulness will always bring back happiness, I love that. having the vastness in our minds to embrace the down and unhappy moments in our lives means everything. the best lessons are always in the darkness I suppose. indeed, it's hard to go back to where we are from, especially when friends around you haven't experienced what you had, simply explaining isn't enough. curious to know, what brought you here and what's your writing journey like?
Franco, this is a beautiful piece and resonates with my feelings at this moment. I’ve grappled with the concept of home for a decade and am heading back to my country at what many may consider the worst possible time. Is it the most logical or “mathematical” choice? Probably not. But some force pulls me back anyway. Thank you for sharing this thoughtful piece.
follow your heart and like Zhenya said, logic never wins. I am sure you will still find your way even if this is the worst time to be back in the States. but isn't it all relative? with all the places you have been to, they all have their problems and it really depends on how one frames the questions in their heads. political wise, yes, it might be bad. but the US still has a choice 4 years later, a lot of other places don't.
Beautiful post and thanks for the shout out at the bottom! Hong Kong is a magical place and despite the difficulty of living there sometimes, it’s really irreplaceable and magic. I can see why you moved back. All the best always <3
thanks Alex, I hope it won't take too long before we can go for some dim sum together.
Loved reading it Franco! Hope it's all worth it and all the best.
thanks Abhishek for your kind words! what's your story like and why brought you here on substack?
Well one fine day I quit my job when I was being offered a promotion. It wasn’t an awakening of any kind. I think I have some stories to tell and write, hence I quit my job and now here on Substack. :)
Lovely to hear from you and can’t wait to start reading your story Abhishek! Where would be a good place to start understanding your life?
Thanks Franco!
May be with this blog- https://open.substack.com/pub/abhisheksingh22/p/the-confessions-of-a-modern-man?r=67nn7&utm_medium=ios
Time to start reading! And I have saved your new post to read after the kids go to bed😊
Thanks Franco! It means a lot.
I really feel you, Franco! In the end, logic never wins. I don’t think home is always where we’re born and lived. But it’s always better for us to listen to our hearts :)
Love your story and thank you for sharing!!
love it Zhenya, I learned this from you, follow the flow and we will all get there.
Thank you, I’m humbled! And I'm really happy to see that it works so well for you :) Hopefully, my flow will bring me to Hong Kong in the near future as well :)
I am sure we will meet one day. Are you based in Berlin these days like you mentioned?
I’m based in the Munich area :)
Let's hope that one day won't be too long for a wait.
I'm sure it will come faster than we think :)
I understand your situation because I’ve been there, but if I may, my advice to you is to make a plan to get that citizenship, then leave and go home…your kids will thank you forever in the future…the rough patches of expatriate lives are where the personal growth is and where happiness comes from…the lesson is to never give up…and then be free to live the life you want…🩶
hey thanks for that, this is at the back of our minds as well. if we do try it again, we know what we are dealing with this time. and yes, I couldn't believe how much I have grown. what was it like for you on your journey to move country?
I went through a lot of ups and downs…I learned to be mentally strong and never give up and most importantly always say yes to opportunities…I’ve said yes to work opportunities where I was really exploited for a low salary but learned so much! I would say yes to friendships, dating, organized trips opportunities…they all brought something invaluable to my life…even if many are over…you will see after a while all the dots connect…unless you stop your journey in the middle…there were many times were I was down and unhappy, when not so good things happened and I was alone…but in unhappy moments I would seek my happy places like going to a classical music concert or the beach…gratefulness will always bring back happiness…going back to where you came from is very hard because you won’t find things as you left them and your mentality will have changed…
I hope this helps…
gratefulness will always bring back happiness, I love that. having the vastness in our minds to embrace the down and unhappy moments in our lives means everything. the best lessons are always in the darkness I suppose. indeed, it's hard to go back to where we are from, especially when friends around you haven't experienced what you had, simply explaining isn't enough. curious to know, what brought you here and what's your writing journey like?
Franco, this is a beautiful piece and resonates with my feelings at this moment. I’ve grappled with the concept of home for a decade and am heading back to my country at what many may consider the worst possible time. Is it the most logical or “mathematical” choice? Probably not. But some force pulls me back anyway. Thank you for sharing this thoughtful piece.
follow your heart and like Zhenya said, logic never wins. I am sure you will still find your way even if this is the worst time to be back in the States. but isn't it all relative? with all the places you have been to, they all have their problems and it really depends on how one frames the questions in their heads. political wise, yes, it might be bad. but the US still has a choice 4 years later, a lot of other places don't.