A Leap of Faith: We're Leaving the UK for Southeast Asia
We’re kicking off 2025 with a giant leap of faith— leaving the UK and our extended family behind to go on an adventure, filled with both excitement and uncertainties, across Southeast Asia, with our three-year-old toddler, Jere, and seven-month-old infant, Kay.
Our Why
We’re down to the last few months of Anna’s one-year maternity leave, and Gabes is taking his four-month paternity leave.
We’re about to embark on the most extraordinary journey of our lives, and it all began with a simple promise.
We were thrilled when Anna started her new job because it meant a lot for her career— until we discovered we were expecting Jere.
Since she wasn't eligible for maternity leave yet, and was determined to prioritise her career and make her mark in her new role, she only took six weeks and six days off work after giving birth to Jere.
We didn’t have it easy that time, juggling our full-time jobs and roles as first-time parents.
So, Gabes promised Anna that her maternity leave with Kay would be different.
God moved mountains and heard our prayers— Gabes’ company updated its paternity leave policy around the time we discovered we were expecting Kay, allowing new fathers to take time off work for up to four months with full pay, up from just two weeks.
With God’s will in motion— both of us being on long parental leave, we realised we had a unique opportunity to do something big as a family of four for a few months.
Our Love for Adventure
If you’ve been following our journey for some time, you'll know we’re not the type of couple to sit still.
We love travelling, and having kids hasn’t changed that.
Some might say Jere and Kay are too young to enjoy and remember all our travels, but we love bringing our children along for fun and letting them see the world— no matter how young they are.
Our love for adventure overpowered our love for structure and routines.
So, we started questioning: what if we pack up our lives, end our rent contract, pull Jere out of the nursery, say goodbye to the familiar comforts of the UK, and set into the unknown for three months?
Did it sound absurd? Yes.
But did it sound exactly like us and something we would do? Yes!
Our Finances
With Anna in the final stages of her maternity leave, we practically only have one source of income— Gabes’.
With the cost of rent, nursery, food, and utilities in the UK, it means we would just be getting by if we stayed, and that’s not us.
We like to thrive, not just survive.
Living fully and making the most of this unique opportunity meant more to us than staying comfortable in our familiar environment.
So, we decided, without hesitation, to go on an adventure for three months.
Our Love for Southeast Asia
Now, the question remains: where are we going to live for those three months?
We went to Bali and Singapore for our honeymoon, and we absolutely fell in love with the little slice of Southeast Asia we got to experience.
Southeast Asia showcases fascinating culture, bustling cities, impressive cultural landmarks— from ancient temples to historical sites, and delicious cuisines. On top of it all, we really appreciate the locals' warm hospitality.
Everything aligned perfectly this time, considering our dislike for staying still and our need to live somewhere more affordable than in the UK for the rest of our parental leave, and how we want to escape the UK’s cold winter season and spend more time outside with our kids.
So, it made sense for us to go back to Southeast Asia.
Our Hardest Decision
Picking Southeast Asia was a no-brainer, but knowing we'd be away from our extended family for such a long time was the hardest part of this move.
Family means everything to us, and it's tough to miss out on precious moments, especially with a new baby having just arrived in our extended family.
Nevertheless, we believe this journey will strengthen our little family of four in ways we can't even imagine yet.
We're excited to face new challenges together, solve problems as a team, and grow closer through our shared experiences— all outside the familiar.
Join Us on Our Journey!
As we prepare to embark on this adventure, we're filled with a mix of excitement, nervousness, and anticipation.
We can’t wait to take you out on this unforgettable journey with us, so we invite you to follow along as we navigate Southeast Asia with a toddler and an infant in tow.
Together, let’s embrace the unknown and enjoy the ride!
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