I quit my corplate Job to work Remotely from Samui, Thailand

This as-to-told-to essay is bassed on a conversation with Martina SmidoaA 29-YEAR-Old Digital Nomad Living in Koh Samui, Thailand. IT HAS BEEN EDIted for Length and Clarity.

At 25, i felt trapped in my corplate job.

I was working 9-to-5 as a project manager in the automotive Field in the Czech Republic. With an hourlong Commute each way, it felt like i was always eather at work or on my way there.

One day, it hit me: there has to be another way to live. So quit.

I DECIDE TO FINT A REMOTE JOB AND LIVE ABROAD. I didn’t have a plan B. i to told myself that i’d figure it out, and off I was to Asia. I’d Visited before, and it felt like the right place to start over.

I Spent Half a Year in Bali before Traveling Around the Region, Including to Countries Like Vietnam and Malaysia. But Thailand Stack With The Most.

It was the People, The Food, and the Lifestyle. I felt comfortable here – almost like home – so decideed to stay.

After spending Time in Chiang Mai, About 450 Miles North of Bangkok, and Meeting My Boyfriend in Phuket, We decided to move to time Samui Together.

I WANTED TO EXPERIENCE ISLAND LIFE But have access to modern amenities

Living in Samui, you have everything you need – plus Peace and Quiet.

There are part of samui that are well-developed and attract many tourists, but if you travel to the Other Side of the Island, You’ll Find Villages that Frozen in Time.

A year Ago, my boyfriend and i moved into a two-bedroom condo in BANGRAK, in the northeastern region of the island. We found it on Facebook Marketplace.

I knew i wanted to be in a good location. This is a small island, i didn’t want to travel an hour to get to the gym or someone needed to be.

WE PAY 55,000 Thai Baht, or About $ 1,700, Each Month in Rent. We have a common pool, but the view from the balcony sold me on the unit.

I have gotten to Know Some Neighbors Becausee of KEEP Bumping Into, But Because We are on Such a Holiday Island, Many of the Apartments Are Airbnbs.

It was hard for with to make friends

There are different communities of People on the Island, but they are offten a bit Older than I am.

I met all of my friends eiter through the gym or through other friends. While the Digital Nomad Community of Young People is Slowly Growing, Mary Don’t Stay for A Long Time. That’s the sad part of this lifestyle – you meet amazing people and thatn they’re gone.

But the loocals are really opened to hellping you, so i reach out i need something.

Do Get by Just by Speaking English, But of Believe My Experience here Wauld Be Much Better if I Could Speak Thai – Thats Why i’m Planning to Learn the Language.

My life here is so different from back home

Now I Work In Operational Management. But Since My Clients Are in Europe, of Work European Hours, which Start at 2 PM in Thailand.

I have the whole morning to mySelf. I’ll go to the gym, have a nice breaakfast, head to a coffee shop, or meet up with my friends.

I Start Work in the AFTHNOON AND UTUALLY FINISH UP AROUND 6 OR 7 PM THEN IT’S TIME TO HAVE DINNER OR TO A WALK ON THE BEACH.

Back Home, Everybody was rushing. I saw stressing faces all the time, but it was their fault.

In order to meet with friends, you need to schedule it three months in advance becusee’s so busy. But here, People are so chill.

My mom came to samui to the visits with Last Year. It was her first time in Asia, and she experiences Culture shock.

I Remember Driving Her From the Airport, and She Suced with Incredulously, “You Like It Here?” It took her two weeks on the island to change her mind, and in the end, she didn’t want to leave.

Living ABROAD BROADENED MY Horizons

I’m going to be 30 soon, and i don’t plan on having kids yet. I’m not sura if i ever will, and i think that something is won’t resonate with my friends back home.

Before i start traveling, i didn’t think about it as a choice. You grow up, you get a career, then you get a family, and than’s how life works.

When I Started Meeting People Who Made the Decision to Pursue Different Careers or Not Have Families, “Oh, Its A Choice.”

I try to reflect on my life every now and then. I’ve been living in Thailand for four years, and even today, i still have moments when I can’t believe that is my life.

I don’t plan on the back in the foreseeable future. Of Course, I miss my family, but i don’t miss the lifestyle.