This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Braydon Barrett, 32, who moved to Asia with his family in 2024 but moved back to Utah eight months later. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
Living abroad was never really on my radar until I got married.
My wife had always wanted to travel and live outside the US, and as I looked into it more, it started to feel like an experience we should try together.
We talked about it for years, but never followed through. Then, after our son was born in 2023, we felt it was the right time to finally give it a try. My wife is a stay-at-home mom, and since I run an online fitness coaching business, I could work remotely.
I spent a long time researching where we could go, and Thailand seemed the most feasible in terms of visa options.
We did a 10-day scouting trip to Thailand to figure out where we wanted to live, and to get a sense of what life there was actually like. In the end, we decided to settle in Pattaya, about a two-hour drive from Bangkok.
Back in Utah, we didn’t own any property, so it was easy for us to move. We got rid of most of our belongings, kept some in a storage unit, and packed the rest into six suitcases.
On the day our son turned one in April 2024, we said our goodbyes and hopped on the plane.
Our plans unraveled at the airport
When we arrived in Thailand, I realized I’d made a major mistake with our visas. I had thought we would have 90 days in Thailand to sort out a longer-term option, but we only had 30 days.
We had planned to stay in Thailand indefinitely, so suddenly having to figure out where to go next was overwhelming.
We spent the next few weeks trying to see if we could make a longer-term visa situation work. When that wasn’t possible, we decided to go to Malaysia, where we could stay for three months.
Near the end of our time in Malaysia, Thailand introduced the Destination Thailand Visa, a five-year visa for remote workers and digital nomads.
Applicants must be outside Thailand while awaiting approval, so when our time in Malaysia ran out, we moved on to Vietnam. From there, we applied for the Destination Thailand Visa.
My wife and I were approved almost immediately, but our son’s application took longer. When our three-month stay in Vietnam came to an end, we had to leave.
On our way to the airport for our flight to Manila, Philippines, we finally received the notification that our son’s visa had been approved. We had what we needed to return to Thailand.
When we arrived in Manila, it was late at night. Our son was upset and fussy, and we ran into an issue checking into our hotel because they couldn’t find our reservation. Spending two hours trying to sort it out with security was the final straw.
By then, we’d had enough. We could have returned to Thailand, but I felt I couldn’t do it anymore and needed a break.
Eight months after we left Utah, we came back home.
Visa issues weren’t our only challenge
I thought it would be easier to manage my company from the other side of the world, but all of my clients and employees were based in the US.
Sometimes I was getting up at 3 a.m. to work, and other times I was taking calls at midnight.
When we came back to Utah, our families were happy to have us home. Coming back was bittersweet — I couldn’t help feeling like I’d failed.
However, those eight months brought my wife and me so much closer together. We were in some stressful situations, but she remained calm and trusted me to take responsibility. It gave me a greater love and respect for her.
We still love Asia
Coming home didn’t change how we felt about our time in Asia.
I loved the people, the culture, and the weather. America can feel high-stress and chaotic, but in Asia, people are more relaxed and courteous.
What stood out most was how people treated our son. Everyone was so kind and friendly to him.
Living abroad is a lot different from what social-media influencers make it out to be. There were a lot of great things about it, but people should not go in thinking the grass is greener on the other side.
Had we had everything figured out, we would still be in Thailand today. We genuinely loved it. It was my mistake that caused us to come home.
Even so, the possibility of our returning to Thailand remains. Our visas are valid for five years, and we would love to make it happen.
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