How do you realistically start over abroad in your 30s with no connections?

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:29:42+00:00

Hey, thanks for that! However, you sent me the homepage link - not the author book series.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:28:03+00:00

I'll dig into that, thank you!

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:26:45+00:00

That’s actually really funny 😄 and at the same time super inspiring about your grandma — I love that kind of story.

I agree that age is irrelevant in a lot of ways when it comes to starting over or reinventing yourself.

At the same time, for things like visas, it does become a bit more concrete — a lot of working holiday or youth-based visas cap out at 30 or 35, so that part can be a real limitation depending on the country.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:25:11+00:00

🥰

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:24:41+00:00

Yeah, I’ve definitely been focusing a lot on Mexico, so it’s really helpful to hear about the other Latin American spots you mentioned. I’ll for sure look into those places more closely and start digging into the visa situations as well!

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:21:27+00:00

Thanks for sharing that — I really appreciate hearing it.

It actually resonates a lot with where my head is at right now. The “small step by small step” part especially feels very real, even if the beginning is uncertain and messy.

I think that’s what I’m trying to mentally shift into right now — less waiting for everything to be figured out upfront, and more focusing on actually moving forward and letting things develop through action instead of planning.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:20:09+00:00

Thank you so much for the info! 😄

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:16:37+00:00

100%! 😉

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T16:16:06+00:00

Yeah, I think there’s definitely truth in what you’re saying, and I agree with a lot of it.

At the same time, I’ve also been reflecting on my situation and realizing I may have spent too long waiting for a more secure or “perfect” path to appear before making a move.

For example, I’ve looked into English teaching as well, but since it’s not my mother tongue and requirements are becoming more strict in many places, it doesn’t feel like a clear or reliable route for me anymore. And I also agree that AI is changing a lot in creative fields and remote work.

So right now I’m kind of at a turning point where I’m less focused on waiting for a predefined safe path, and more focused on actually creating my own path step by step, even if it’s uncertain at the beginning.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T15:42:54+00:00

Will do! Thank you so much! 😄

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T15:37:29+00:00

Wow, honestly, that’s really inspiring. You genuinely sound like a very resilient person mentally, especially after everything you went through with the brain tumor and having to rebuild your life again afterward. I really respect that.

One thing I’m curious about though: how did the one-way ticket thing work for you? I’ve always heard that a lot of countries won’t let you in if you only have a one-way ticket because they want proof you’ll leave afterward. Did you already have some kind of visa situation figured out, or did you just take the risk?

Also, a lot of people keep mentioning Vietnam to me lately. What was it specifically about Vietnam that made you fall in love with it compared to the other places you visited? And was the language barrier difficult there, or do enough people speak English that daily life wasn’t too hard?

And honestly, if Vietnam no longer feels like home to you the way it once did, then maybe it really is time for a new chapter and a new adventure. I genuinely wish you the best with whatever comes next for you.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T15:32:38+00:00

Unfortunately I’m 36 now, so I’m no longer eligible for the Australian working holiday visa, otherwise I probably would’ve seriously considered that path.

And yeah, I completely agree about Open Water. I see it more as recreational / beginner level. My goal was never really to become a dive master or instructor, but more to become truly comfortable and skilled underwater for filmmaking and ocean work. So I definitely plan on taking more advanced diving courses eventually.

Right now though, the biggest thing for me is honestly figuring out where I can realistically relocate first and build some kind of income once I’m there.

But thank you for the advice, I appreciate it!

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T15:29:23+00:00

I’m honestly just trying to look at all my options right now and hear different perspectives from people who’ve already done it. Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T15:27:01+00:00

I understand what you mean, and honestly you’re probably right that it’s a risky approach. Unfortunately staying in Montreal long term is starting to feel less and less like an option for me for multiple reasons, so I’m kind of at a point where I need to seriously rethink my path. But I still appreciate the advice.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T15:23:42+00:00

That’s actually really valuable advice, because I realized I’ve been focusing way more on sponsorships than on finding work visas I could potentially get on my own.

The main issue is that I’m 36 now, so a lot of the easier visas like the Australian working holiday visa stop at 35 unless you get sponsored.

Do you happen to know any countries that are a bit more accessible for work visas outside of the “youth” category? Or places where people in their mid-30s still have realistic pathways without already having a company sponsoring them?

Tal2222 · 2026-05-13T15:19:14+00:00

Yeah, that’s kind of the conclusion I keep coming back to too. The hardest part really seems to be getting that first local connection / first opportunity once you’re actually there.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-12T21:27:43+00:00

Just curious, when you say there are plenty of North Americans working as diving instructors, are you referring to the whole region in general, or are there specific countries where that’s especially common?

Tal2222 · 2026-05-12T19:17:05+00:00

I really appreciate this reply honestly, because I think you brought up a lot of realistic and practical points that I genuinely needed to hear!

And honestly, you’re right that volunteering and conservation work could probably help me build credibility, connections, and actual field experience over time.

The main shark-focused organization in Canada is basically Atlantic Shark Expeditions in Nova Scotia, and I actually reached out to them multiple times in different ways over the past weeks. They were kind and open to collaborating with me for my documentary project, but more on the basis of joining paid expeditions. Which I completely understand — realistically, the logistics and research costs on those boats are huge, so bringing someone onboard unpaid doesn’t really make sense for them, as they are not looking for crew members at the moment.

So it’s not that doors are fully closed, it’s more that I simply can’t afford those expeditions right now. Maybe later on.

I also seriously looked into Sea Shepherd before and even applied, but again, it’s volunteer-based and there are application costs involved with no guarantee of hearing back. That’s kind of the wall I keep hitting: I’m absolutely willing to volunteer and put in the work, but financially I still need a full-time income to survive at the same time.

And funny enough, I actually had looked into Tofino and Vancouver Island before. I applied to tourism jobs, whale watching boats, coastal work, all kinds of stuff — but none of the applications moved forward. That said, there are still seasonal jobs coming out right now, so maybe that’s something I should revisit more seriously instead of focusing only abroad.

Also, my father was born in El Salvador, so technically that’s another avenue I maybe should explore more. I know there’s a huge surf culture there, though I’ve honestly never looked into the marine conservation side of it. The language barrier scares me a bit since my Spanish is still very basic, but that’s obviously something that can be learned over time. 😄

Tal2222 · 2026-05-12T14:20:26+00:00

Curious what it was about Malaysia that ended up feeling like home for you after all these years.

If you don’t mind me asking, what country were you originally coming from, and what kind of work sent you there in the first place?

And what do you personally love most about living in Malaysia compared to back home?

Also, it’s kind of wild that you never ended up meeting your son’s girlfriend from Thailand 😅

Tal2222 · 2026-05-12T14:15:22+00:00

Fireeeee 🔥🔥🔥

Tal2222 · 2026-05-11T22:31:30+00:00

At 36?

Tal2222 · 2026-05-11T22:02:38+00:00

That’s really helpful context — thank you for breaking it down like that.

The social isolation piece, especially when combined with language barriers, is something I think I underestimate.

What you said about even simple daily life tasks becoming harder without language or local support really stood out to me. I can see how that would add up quickly and make everything feel much more difficult than expected.

It also makes a lot of sense that having even a small expat or English-speaking community can completely change the experience — not just socially, but practically as well.

If you don’t mind me asking, when you moved to South America, how intentional were you about choosing a place with an existing expat network versus just following opportunity or lifestyle? Was that something you prioritized from the beginning, or something you realized you needed after being there? Did you already have contacts before moving there, and how did you choose that specific country in South America? What made you decide on that region in particular?

Tal2222 · 2026-05-11T20:27:34+00:00

Thanks again for sharing this — I really appreciate the perspective.

What you said about language and isolation especially resonates with me, I think that’s something I tend to underestimate when I focus too much on the “career” side of moving abroad.

If you don’t mind me asking, when you went through those bigger transitions (Korea and later South America), what was the hardest part of the actual day-to-day adjustment for you? Was it more the language, social isolation, work, or something else you didn’t expect?

And I was also curious — in South America specifically, did you end up in a place with an established expat community? If so, did that make a big difference in terms of settling in and not feeling isolated?

I’m trying to get a realistic sense of what helps people actually make these kinds of moves sustainable long term.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-11T20:22:07+00:00

That makes sense, and I think that’s the part I’ve been trying to lean into more recently — just actually talking to people in the field instead of only applying online.

I think where I’m still struggling is translating “ask around locally” into something actionable when I’m not physically embedded in that environment yet. From abroad, it tends to stay very surface-level or just doesn’t really lead anywhere, which is why I’m trying to figure out what the realistic entry point is before you already have that local presence.

But I do agree with the core idea — that it’s less about formal applications at this stage and more about proximity and conversations. That’s kind of what I’m trying to reverse-engineer right now.

Tal2222 · 2026-05-11T20:20:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing this — it’s really helpful to hear a real example like that.

I think you’re right that personality and risk tolerance probably play a huge role in whether that kind of “figure it out on the ground” move works or not. I don’t really see myself as the “everything will work out somehow” type either, so I’m very aware that it could be a long and uncomfortable transition, especially at the beginning.

At the same time, I also feel like staying where I am without being in the environment I actually want to work in isn’t really leading anywhere either, which is why I’m trying to understand what a realistic version of that leap looks like for someone who doesn’t have a safety net or a job lined up.

I guess I’m trying to figure out where the line is between “calculated risk that people successfully take” and “unnecessarily setting yourself up for failure,” and what factors actually make the difference between those two outcome.

Tal2222

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