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Education is your way out. The typical way to get out for young Indonesian is through education, but that means you need to be either rich (to pay for outrageous tuition fee / living cost abroad) or smart (to qualify for scholarships). Are you?

An alternative way out is through working on in-demands jobs. For instance, you can gain several years of working experience in IT in indo and then try to apply for openings abroad (Singapore is often the first step). However at the moment, the UK is a closed doors for non-EU people who want to come here to work in hope of a residency, so don't bother... Other countries in Europe that you can consider is Germany, where it's still possible to get a sponsored job visa if you're good.

A final point is: indo is actually isn't that bad. True there are shits going on with a small group of religious extremism, but things are actually getting better, with changes since the reformasi in 98 and people like jokowi+ahok on the lead. Indonedians are largely friendly everywhere, the society is relaxed, the weather is nice nearly everyday of the year, food is good, a lot of nature places to visit in the country alone (and can easily fly to south east Asia and the rest of Asia too), we have a decent economic growth (compared to the stagnant West) .. I guess my point is, if you fail to get out, it's actually quite a good place to be stuck in for now (especially if you can write in English and post on reddit, that usually assumes you come from middle-to-upper socioeconomic background, alongside its associated conveniences in life that you might have to give up when you get out).

Of course don't just take my words for it. For most people you actually have to get out first to realise how good we have it in Indonesia. So by all means, try to get out but don't be surprised that eventually you'd want to return. That's what I plan to do after being away for more than half of my life now. Plus maybe it's my idealism speaking but the country needs people like us, the smartest anak bangsa who leave due to the brain drain. It's only lately I'm seeing more and more people around me who reverses this trend and actually go back to indo after spending years abroad. I think it'd a positive sign that the country is doing something right.

Edit: for a more concrete advice on how to prepare to get out, basically read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Good-They-Cant-Ignore-You/dp/1455509124. Get really good in something that is in demands, and you can usually move anywhere you want in the world. For me, it's computer science. For you, it might be something else.

Edit2: you might also find that as you get older, you can compromise on the atheism vs religious bit. A lot of people put their religions on KTP only, but doesn't mean they actually have to practice that. Or you can simply move to the right neighbourhood in Jakarta where nobody gives a fuck what your religion is.

I would be all for that. Mexico is being overrun by wealthy Americans that are going there to retire, or to start small business that cater to Americans. There are over 10,000 Americans living in San Miguel de Allende, 50,000 in Guadalajara (BTW, after WWII many disabled US Veterans moved there because the VA benefit and care would allow them to live in poverty in the Sates, but their lifestyle is better and their $$ goes much farther - It is known as QUADalajara). Build a wall? I'm sure that Mexico would love to build a wall to keep all of the Americans out that go down there to inflate the property values and raise the cost of living, and have the US pay for it! (a little sarcasm there). I have lived and worked in Mexico before and it is a beautiful place, and the people are awesome. The narco problem was created by the capitalist/entrepreneurial spirit that is required to supply the US population with the cannabis and narcotics tha we so demand. In typical US fashion, we punish the prostitute and not the 'John' that pays for the service. The US created this problem in the first place - and let me tell you, a wall is not going to do anything other than make a lot of construction magnate buddies of our 'supreme leader' very, very rich, at taxpayer expense... I like the layout of this one

Hi! I can help. I just brought by 28lb dog in the cabin from the U.S. to the U.K. (albeit, a completely different beast than UK > US) and did an exhausting amount of research leading up to it (original plan was to fly to Paris). I have also flown with her in the cabin within the U.S. on several long-ish trips.

Delta has no weight limit. They are the only airline I fly. Here's how I do it: My dog's carrier is a XL SturdiBag. I cut 2 inches off the baseboard to help it fit under the seat in a pinch. The height of the carrier is technically too big for most underseat areas but the top of the carrier flexes down to fit underneath the seat and, while I've had employees question me, I've demonstrated this feature and it has always satisfied them. There is a top "door" that I open and let my dog's head poke out. No one has every said a thing. Definitely book a seat in the larger section. This carrier fits pretty well under the first class cabin seats in the Delta A320 & 737 (these were domestic, however...Delta will no longer allow pets in business class going transatlantic. "Economy plus" will work fine though.).

To prepare the pup, I don't feed her before the flight. If it's a morning flight, she doesn't get breakfast. If it's a night flight, I feed her breakfast but not dinner. I take her water away a few hours before we leave and give her ice cubes and small amounts of water in flight. I do give her a vet-prescribed medication that reduces anxiety and is approved for air travel.

The other option, depending on your location, is the Queen Mary II from Southampton to New York. They have lovely pet kennels and the crossing takes 5 days. They do book up far out in advance but there are sometimes cancellations. I recommend ringing and asking if you are interested.

Please let me know if you have any questions. My dog has issues with cages but travels just fine in the cabin. I handled all her paperwork myself.

Will start by throwing a few into the ring:

The Beach by Alex Garland - While its plot is certainly limited with regard to imitability, it offers a very interesting perspective on the types of people you meet in the more interesting places you'll travel.

Vagabonding by Rolf Potts - A quintessential nonfiction guide for anyone who's considering traveling long term. It's preachy in places, but it'll fire you up to get moving.

Off the Rails in Phnom Penh by Amit Gilboa - You'll see this one being sold by street children in Phnom Penh often, but it's not too hard to find a copy anywhere else. A really great, enjoyable view of expat life in Phnom Penh.

Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac - On the Road is, of course, the standard American road novel, and Jack's most famous, but the Dharma Bums offers a really unique perspective on travel - that of a spiritual nature.

The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner - Another highly enjoyable read by an author who travels to the world's most purported "happy" countries. Great take on the subject area.

I did my MA in language acquisition and am raising a trilingual kiddo, and I endorse most of what /u/peachykeenz has written.

> I am just worried that my kid won't speak English to me. How do I make sure that this doesn't happen?

That might happen occasionally, but it's not harmful or unusual. There are a variety of possible reasons that have nothing to do with a lack of fluency, so don't worry.

You could pretend not to understand the child's other languages to sort of force the issue, but you'd have to be strictly consistent in never giving up the ruse. Kids easily figure that sort of thing out. Even the best-laid family language strategies can go awry (and they usually do).

Kids have strengths and preferences in how they express themselves, just like in everything else. It's more common than not for one language to be more dominant than the other(s), especially in certain domains (or "zones" as peachykeens put it). All of this tends to wax and wane over time. All completely normal.

You have a few years to read up on any of this before your child becomes verbal, if you're so inclined. Authors to look for include Baker and Paradis. Baker has a layman's guide written in Q&A format that I found pretty good when I read it a few years ago. Hope it helps!

https://www.reddit.com/r/IWantOut/comments/493lxi/i_think_i_have_a_problem_i_want_to_stop_wanting/

In the end, I haven't managed to completely quell that urge. What has helped is realizing that I don't identify any more with the kind of person I wanted to be, earlier on. The kind of person who casually says they've moved to and lived in all these other places.

I started identifying instead with being the kind of person that is fighting their own private rebellion against the wisdom I'm exposed to on all these travel & digital nomad blogs. That you can't be happy living a sedentary life. That there are deep riches of wisdom and happiness that you can find only if you live in a place long enough to experience all of it. That long-term friendships matter more than telling the 122nd person in a youth hostel, how many countries you've moved to or visited.

Update: Figure I'd mentioned that, in addition, I also collect a bunch of articles to read and file them under 'anti-travel' if I feel the strong pull of the romanticism of traveling.

This book would perhaps be helpful as well. I haven't read it yet myself: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525429123/

Hardest thing was definitely getting the work permit; after that, everything else kind of fell together in a follow-your-nose domino cascade, in which each step kind of points directly to the next. We ended up hiring an immigration consultant in the UK to walk-through the application, which isn't necessary but did speed the process and increased our probability of success.

I guess the most important thing in actually making it happen is: believe it will. It may take a few years. Don't give up. You may bounce off quota limitations a few times. Don't let it faze you, because those get changed every 6mo (along with the rest of the immigration procedure...) Keep your options flexible: while London may be your ultimate goal, there are many routes to get there, some of which could entail starting with a different EU country and pursuing naturalization there (this would take many years, and assumes the UK will still be in the EU once you attain it...) You're young, and have a whole lifetime to achieve such goals. We were in our late 30's when we finally made it. Take your time, do it right.

We're bookish types, and so looked for books that might advise/ease the process. Unfortunately there's not a lot out there on expatriation, but it's worth checking Amazon's "used" listings periodically as prices fluctuate. Probably the two we found most useful were the U.S. Expatriate Handbook (generic expat guide) and Brit-Think, Ameri-Think.

The biggest mistake we made was deciding to import our US car. This was actually done on the advice of some British neighbors in the US, and we still haven't resumed talking to them after that fiasco ;-) If you're living within Greater London (inside the M-25, within 1/2 mile of a Tube station) then you probably shan't need a car at all. If you do decide to get one, note that for your first 12mo in the UK (not your first 12mo owning a car) you can drive on your US license, then you need a full UK license. It can take several months to obtain the UK license (most of my friends took 3+ attempts to pass the rigorous driving test at 1-mo intervals), so start early.

Taxes will be a minor twice-yearly nightmare. You still have to file your US taxes every April 15th, although you shouldn't have to pay much, if anything, due to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (read up on it). Your UK taxes will be vastly simpler by comparison, as the employer basically does it all for you. Also, don't forget to mail your FBAR (TDF-90.22) assiduously every year by June 1st (actually due the 30th, but leave time for delivery) — seriously, you can get deeply screwed if you forget that one, and there's no reminder (although it's free and only takes seconds to complete).

You can look for US Expat groups in the UK for company whilst readjusting. You'll not need them long-term, but it can be interesting to hear some local voices on first entry. There are about 60,000 US citizens in the London area, so they should be easy to find in your particular area (we met with the Thames Valley American Women's club a few times, but didn't stay long). Also of course checkout /r/london and similar. And it can be neat to attend St. Paul's annual Thanksgiving service for Americans :-)

(Almost) everything is more expensive in Australia. Food, housing, and clothing will cost more. If you need anything semi-substantial for your trip, such as new shoes, buy them in the US and bring them along. Depending on where you go, Australian winters may be colder and wetter than you realize, so plan accordingly.

If you're bringing any electronics along, double-check that they can be used with 220/240V outlets. This information will usually be somewhere on the item or on its AC adapter. Check your chargers, too! And don't forget to buy some three-prong adapters ahead of time. (Note that adapters do not make 110V-only items safe to use in Australia. Leave your 110V-only items at home.)

Before you get on the plane, you should definitely find a place to stay your first several nights in Australia. At the airport, they'll expect you to provide your intended address, such as a hotel. Also, you'll be jetlagged for about two weeks; don't expect to be able to look for work or proper housing during this time.

Make sure you have a copy of your visa acceptance letter containing your visa information (even if it's an e-visa and they claim the number is now connected to your passport) and bring it with you to the airport. I did this, and it helped me get through the lines faster, and the folks at the airport thanked me for it.

It's also wise to put a sheet of paper with your identifying information—your name, passport number, flight numbers, phone numbers, Australian address, and American address—inside each of your suitcases. And bring another copy of this information with you, so you'll have it on hand when they ask for your Australian address.

Have cash (ideally a couple hundred dollars or more) on hand at the airport, in both USD and AUD. It might be a few days before you can get hold of any AUD in Australia, and you don't want to be effectively destitute in the meantime. A credit card that can be used overseas is good, too, though I don't recommend making regular use of it due to fees.

Make sure you understand LAX's layout before you get there. Depending on your flights and how groggy you're feeling, it can be very confusing and may require bus rides. Don't buy plane tickets that only give you a short time to make your connecting flight at LAX; give yourself at least a couple hours.

Save all your plane ticket stubs, etc. This is in case you need to prove anything. When I came over, I got a jury summons and I had to send the judge pictures of my plane tickets to prove I wasn't just trying to dodge jury duty (an arrestable offense where I'm from).

Obviously, you'll want to get a bank account when you arrive. Getting your money from the US to Australia can be tricky. Definitely talk to the people at your American bank and get their advice before you go. In my case, I added my mother to my American bank account. Then when I arrived and opened a new bank account, I asked her to transfer my money to my Australian bank. You might be able to use a debit card instead, but you'll have to work this out with your bank ahead of time.

When you arrive, you'll want to apply for a Tax File Number. You'll need a mailing address, such as a P.O. Box, to receive this. You can start working before you get it, but you'll definitely want to get it soon or you'll be placed in the highest tax bracket.

This really depends. It has the potential to change things, but I think you'd have to put in some effort of your own as well. There are people that move simply hoping to improve their mental health. But moving is such a huge deal. Most importantly, you lose friends/community you have (if any). I think reading a book like Feeling Good, or going to a counselor (if you can afford) and working through some of the issues, could be bring more lasting, long-term relief.

Rent: OK, that's a good chunk of cash right there. If I might make a different suggestion, you'll get far more for your money if you look outside of Central London. For the cost of a 2-bedroom flat in London, you could easily get a 3 or 4-bedroom house with a commute that's only a bit longer. For instance, Croydon or Bromley are both only 15 minutes outside London by train. London is maybe a little cheaper than NYC, although not the areas that have rent controls.

Taxes: Try the salary calculator here - https://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php . That'll give you an idea of what your take home pay will be every month. In the UK, people usually get paid monthly, not bi-weekly. As a US citizen, you'll still have to file your US taxes every year (this can be done through the US embassy or online) and, on that kind of salary, Uncle Sam will probably be wanting a bit of it. Speak to an accountant with experience of filing US taxes as they'll be able to help you with this.

Power: Check your electronic power supplies to see if they will run at both 110v and 240v - most small electronics will work on either voltage (laptop PSUs, phone chargers, etc). For these, all you need is a plug adapter. For anything that won't, buy a stepdown transformer - something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stepdown-240-120v-Transformer-100VA/dp/B000NIYF0K . Bear in mind, this works well for standard electronics, but for kitchen appliances and anything that includes a motor, this won't work (the transformer just handles the voltage, not the AC frequency). Leave that stuff at home and buy new in the UK. Tip: Bring a few US power strips to plug into the transformer, that way you can have multiple outlets from a single transformer.

Pensions: The UK has a state pension that you pay into out of what you pay in tax (part of your taxes goes towards 'national insurance', which includes the state pension). This is a bit miserly though, so look into paying into a private pension plan too - there are many that are set up like a 401k. Nest Pensions are pretty good.

Transportation: If you end up in Central London, don't bother getting a car. The Tube, black cabs and Uber will get you where you need to go. Get a Zipcar card too, just in case. If you are outside Central London, getting a car isn't a bad idea as things get a little more spread out. You can drive on your US licence for up to a year, but insurance won't be cheap as you'll have no UK driving record.

GBBO: Worth watching for water-cooler conversation. And it goes by its proper name in the UK - The Great British Bake Off. They couldn't use the phrase 'bake off' in the US as it's copyrighted by Pillsbury, apparently.

I know this is going to sound like an odd suggestion, but I just finished an amazing book called "The Obstacle is the Way" by Ryan Holiday. The byline is "The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs". It has lots of historical examples of people who have overcome adversity and how to have the attitude to accomplish your goals.

Your situation does not sound like much fun, but it will get better.

You can get a hard copy or if you have the kindle app on your phone you can read it there.

http://www.amazon.com/Obstacle-Way-Timeless-Turning-Triumph-ebook/dp/B00G3L1B8K

Edit: If you cannot afford it I would be happy too buy you a copy. PM me with your contact info.

You bet. Might also check out The Long Tail. It's not tactical but it helps you see opportunities everywhere and realize there's virtually an infinite number of untapped micro-niches, pretty much everywhere you look. Meaning whatever you're interested in delving into, there's probably a way to make (or supplement) a living off of it.

You have the right attitude, and this makes me happy. Nothing is benign. Not even water. First lesson of toxicology. However, even chamomile can cause palpitations in some people. Get in touch with Kiva Rose. Matthew Wood is probably one of the best herbalists in the US. And Bastyr is one of the best places to study in America. If you have the love for botany and pharmacology and the instinct for healing, these people will point you in the right direction. As for book sources, I can recommend Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine even though some of this is quite old information. There are plenty more books, but start there. You are on the right track with why the 90% Calendula tincture is mostly used topically, but it's also used internally in certain situations. Study, study, study. The PDR for Herbal Medicines will give you a lot of help, too.

Hi MrPockets11.

I've got what I consider so many problems, so it would make me feel better to at least try and pass on some information that might help you, because I'm afraid to try some new things and I hope that you are not.

So, let's see here. You've got a lot of skills and some cash.

You work at a call center doing customer support.

You have a BA degree in philosophy.

You used to be an auto mechanic.

You have photography skills.

You have $10,000 in cash saved up.

Okay, please don't take offense if I give my thoughts or advice or ask you questions. I wish you well.

I agree with Jaksongitr about not making any rash decisions and planning.

My advice is to start reading some books. I recommend [Dale Carnegie's books] (http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034) and JJ Luna's books and Hans J. Schneider's book and Ed Romney's book to start.

I understand that people in your personal life are perhaps crazy makers, and really, the only way to deal with crazy makers in your life is to get away from them.

But for now, can you just disassociate yourself from them? Or can you just move somewhere else in Dallas for the time being?

How is your health?

What about the US Air Force? You could enlist and learn a new skill, perhaps ultrasonography or medical sonography? Or something in the IT field?

What about using your money for an IT bootcamp?

What about going to Oaksterdam and studying about cannabis and then getting a job in Colorado?

Have you thought about going to teach English in South Korea or China? See Dave's ESL cafe.

So I don't know, without having some more information about what you want.

Can you first just move to another part of Dallas?

Or what about securing another job in Texas?

Or making plans to go to school and learning acupuncture in Austin? That way you're still in Texas? I mean I just don't know.

All that I can say is that I'm in a position in my life where I'm going crazy too but I'm trying to look on the bright side of life.

try this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JFKP7VQ ... thanks for the thumbs up, appreciate it.

Link to the actual report--skip to page 30 for the actual results.

Also, highly relevant and highly recommended: The Geography of Bliss By Eric Weiner.

http://www.amazon.com/Vagabonding-Uncommon-Guide-Long-Term-Travel/dp/0812992180