Welcome to World Aware, your weekly roundup of global news and insights that actually matter if you travel internationally, live abroad, or you're thinking about it.
Travel Club Updates
Our Leap to Granada Spain is fully booked, but we just announced our inaugural Turtle Travel Club Flotilla for April 2027.
Amelia has been hard at work organizing our first club cruise. It's for 7 nights leaving from Miami and stopping at several eastern Caribbean Island nations.
Amelia and I will organize group meetups, share meals, join excursions, play games, and dance the night away with the Turtles as we explore the Caribbean together.
This is open to ALL club members (not limited to 10 rooms like our Leaps). The cruise details and booking instructions are available in the community.
You can lock in your discount (available until June 5th) with a small deposit. We have a dedicated rep at the cruise line who can help you. Her contact info is included in the booking instructions.
It'll be so much fun getting everyone together for a week of festivities and frivolities at sea! 🐢 → 🛳️
Back to YouTube
Did you catch Wednesday's video on YouTube? This is the first video we've posted in 6 months, and it felt good to get back to it.
We talked about why we took a break and a little about what we've been doing since then.
Completely stopping wasn't our plan, but something had to change in order to keep going. It just wasn't working for us anymore, personally.
For those of you who have a YouTube Channel or have given it a try, you understand how much work goes into it. And how easy it is to get obsessed with views and subscribers. And how hurtful the negative comments can be.
When we posted our first video back on September 23, 2018, our goal was to help people follow in our footsteps to a higher quality of life and a lower cost of living. We also wanted to bust some of the myths about Ecuador, and living abroad in general.
Over the past few years, it feels like we've lost some of that original intent. YouTube has a way of sucking you in and making you focus on the things that benefit the platform more than yourself or your viewers.
We definitely fell into that trap.
It reminds me of the "Indiana Jones: Last Crusade" movie at the end when Indy is reaching for the chalice, but it's just out of reach. Sean Connery says, "Indiana... Let it go." Had Indy kept reaching, he would have certainly fallen into the abyss just like Elsa did.
Amelia and I both know that feeling all too well. Being so close to a goal that is just out of reach, and then letting it go for our own health and wellbeing.
That's the main reason we stopped, and why we'll be doing things differently going forward.
We're still not exactly sure what our channel will become, but we know our focus will be different.
Instead of chasing the algorithm and doing what YouTube pressures us to do, we're going to get back to our roots.
That means helping our fellow Americans leave the U.S. and move abroad for a higher quality of life and a lower cost of living.
It will likely mean fewer views and more reliance on our loyal viewers to actively search for our videos. The algorithm doesn't reward content creators who prioritize their mental health, or create more focused videos for a smaller audience.
If that's the cost, then so be it.
It's not always easy, but sometimes in life, you just have to "let it go."
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World Aware News
Here's what we learned about the world this week...
Expat News
Indonesia Tops New Ranking of the Friendliest Countries for Expats
A new global survey from InterNations ranked Indonesia as the friendliest country for expats, based on how easy it is to make friends, build a support network, and settle into local life. Bali continues to attract remote workers and retirees thanks to its affordability, social scene, and established international community, while Colombia ranked second for its welcoming culture and lower living costs. Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil, Panama, Oman, Thailand, Kenya, and Vietnam also made the top 10. [Source]
A Couple Hoping to Retire in Malaysia Learned Moving Abroad Isn’t as Simple as Buying a Plane Ticket
A married couple dreaming of a more affordable retirement in Malaysia began looking into whether they could still receive their Social Security benefits while living overseas. The answer was mostly yes, but their research quickly opened up a longer list of questions around healthcare, taxes, residency requirements, and banking abroad. While Southeast Asia can offer a far lower cost of living and the chance to travel more comfortably in retirement, the move also requires careful planning to avoid surprises with medical coverage and U.S. tax obligations. Americans considering a similar path may find their retirement savings go much further overseas, but they will still need to navigate American financial rules long after leaving home. [Source]
Wall Street Burnout Led One Woman to Start Over in Italy
After years in a high-pressure Wall Street finance job, Alexis Rose Paccioretti left New York for southern Italy in search of a life that felt more aligned with her values. The transition was far more difficult than she expected, with language barriers, culture shock, and daily routines becoming early obstacles. Over time, she built close local relationships, learned Italian, and found a stronger sense of belonging and personal balance. Her story reflects a growing willingness among younger professionals to trade career prestige for lifestyle and mental well-being, even when it means giving up stability and starting from scratch abroad. [Source]
Family of Four Traded Their Dream Home in the U.S. for a Simpler Life in Spain
After selling their Connecticut home, a family of four moved to a rental apartment outside Madrid in search of a simpler and more flexible lifestyle. Downsizing meant adjusting to less space, fewer belongings, and the realities of apartment living, but it also brought easier access to public transportation, cafés, parks, and daily life on foot instead of by car. The move shifted their time away from home maintenance and toward travel, family activities, and a more minimalist routine. For Americans considering relocation abroad, the story shows how trading ownership and space for flexibility can reshape both daily habits and quality of life. [Source]
American Family Found Lower Costs and Less Pressure Living in China
After first leaving the U.S. and moving to Shenzhen, China in 2016 for an English teaching job, Bradley Krae says he now spends far less raising a family in China than he did living alone in the U.S. He and his wife pay about $1,000 a month for a three-bedroom apartment, roughly $100 for groceries, and low-cost public kindergarten and transportation while raising trilingual children in a highly connected city. He describes Shenzhen as technologically advanced, family-friendly, and easier to navigate without the financial pressure he felt back home. For globally mobile families, the story highlights how some Asian cities are attracting foreigners with lower living costs, modern infrastructure, and more flexible work opportunities. [Source]
More Americans Are Leaving U.S. Jobs for Work Opportunities Abroad
A growing number of workers based in the U.S. are leaving for jobs overseas, with the share of employees taking roles abroad more than doubling since 2021, according to new workforce data from Revelio. The shift is being driven largely by tech professionals seeking remote flexibility, stronger work-life balance, and lower living costs in countries across Europe, especially France and the U.K. Researchers say post-pandemic work culture and return-to-office policies have made international moves more appealing, even when salaries are lower. Americans working in globally transferable industries may find more opportunities to relocate abroad without sacrificing career growth or income stability. [Source]
Travel News
WHO Says Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Is Not a New COVID-Style Threat
Health officials are working to contain a small hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship voyage that began in South America, with eight reported cases and three deaths so far. The virus involved, Andes hantavirus, can spread between people through close and prolonged contact, but experts say it behaves very differently from COVID-19 and is far harder to transmit. U.S. health experts are questioning whether federal agencies have responded visibly enough, as passengers from the ship have already dispersed internationally, including to the United States. [Source]
Some New U.S. Passports May Soon Include a Trump Commemorative Design
Americans applying for passports through the Washington Passport Agency later this year may receive a limited-edition “America250” passport featuring imagery tied to the country’s 250th anniversary, including a portrait of President Donald Trump inside the booklet. The commemorative passports are expected to launch around the Fourth of July and will reportedly be issued automatically through that specific agency while supplies last. Officials say the passports will function exactly like standard U.S. passports and include the same security protections. Travelers who prefer the traditional design can still avoid the commemorative version by applying online or through another passport office outside Washington, D.C. [Source]
Slow Travel Is Replacing Fast-Paced Tourism in 2026
More travelers are choosing longer stays, train journeys, and smaller destinations over packed sightseeing schedules and rushed multi-city trips. The growing "slow travel" movement is being driven by burnout, climate concerns, and a desire for more meaningful experiences, with travelers increasingly prioritizing neighborhood cafés, local routines, and time in one place instead of nonstop movement. For travelers, the shift can mean cheaper long-term stays, less exhausting vacations, and more flexibility to live temporarily like a local rather than rushing from landmark to landmark. [Source]
Hantavirus Outbreak on Antarctic Cruise Ship Leaves Three Dead
Health authorities are investigating a cluster of hantavirus infections linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius after several passengers developed severe respiratory illness during a voyage from Argentina toward Europe. Seven cases have been identified so far, including three deaths, with patients spread across multiple countries as officials coordinate testing, isolation, and medical care. Investigators are still trying to determine how exposure occurred, since hantavirus is usually linked to contact with infected rodents rather than person-to-person spread. While officials say the broader public risk remains low, travelers on cruises and remote expeditions may face increased health screenings and stronger infection-control measures at ports in the coming weeks. [Source]
That's all for this week. Let me know if you have any questions.
Safe travels.
JP (Amelia Says Hola)
AmeliaAndJP.com | TurtleTravelClub.com