Congrats on your 13 years abroad. First time watching NYAG and really enjoyed the video. We'll be moving to Portugal in September. Have to go through your playlists and see if you have more on how not to stick out like an American thumb. Obrigado.

Grey hair? You're SO old 🤣

Large teenagers.
Twerking, boisterous.
Drive home, alone.

– Un Haiku Americano

I envy you bro. I have a ton of family here and two sons. I will leave, but I will always return.

I posses Dual US/Italian Citizenship. The United States is a nation in rapid decline.. Many people with means have left the United States or making plans to.. I am making plans to leave ASAP.

If you don't mind me asking, how do you sustain yourself financially living abroad? I've been to Italy and Portugal, and love them both for their culture and unique offerings.

Rafi, this is one of your best videos. So much of what you say rings true for us. We will be moving to Europe within the year and our reasons are many but suffice to say that it's about making the most of our retirement and having new experiences. We, too are from the U.S. and are grateful for having grown up here but it is not the end all. You only go around this world once. We are so appreciative that we have this chance to explore. Thank you so much for your sincerity and openness about your journey abroad.

US is the best country in the world

Good video but extremely evasive point out say it. Dress a certain way?? Etc don’t mean to criticize you just a suggestion

Brilliant. True! I agree with all. I grow every time I travel. USA is not what is was. I do not feel safe, fear democracy is crumbling…. During bush era I hid my American passport and tried to not look American with my clothes. Yes people think all Americans are rich. Haha. I have seen Americans acting poorly in other countries and I have apologized for them. I was talking to Italian friends yesterday. They see the change in USA. Growing up in USA we are told we are the best, leader of the free world! It was constantly taught to us. We were told all the rest of the world was third world. I have traveled extensively and learned so much or all we were taught were lies. We were fed lies. If you speak truth here, you get yelled at or even life threatened now. I’m leaving next year. I know no place is perfect. But I’m done with USA. My personal opinion.
CONGRATS ON 13 years! Great video.

13 years I’ll be 1 month away from sailing the Mediterranean for a few years. I have kids and an ex so no long trips just yet. I can’t not look American most places I go. I’m just way too tall and way too white for most of my favorite places. That being said dress extra sharp maybe a suit in the right city and move confidently and you’re a busy business person and not a easy target.

American living in Rome here. Glad to see you're here…😊

Piggybacking on your reference to America as the “leader of the free world,” I’d say living abroad (native nyer living 8+ years in Rome), that it goes beyond patriotism. I’ve been lucky to work in both the NYC and Italian secondary school systems as a social studies teacher, where I’ve gained great insight on identity. We grow up with this tremendous sense of patriotism, constantly reminded by both the left and right that America is the greatest country that ever existed; however superiority is not patriotism. Patriotism implies a love, a pride in one’s country, whether it be for its history, culture, language, or other various achievements. This is certainly unfortunately lacking in Italy other than when discussing food or football. In America we go beyond this point, and the truth is that America is a nationalist country, that largely teaches from a young age that we are superior, our wars are always just because our objectives are always to act as ‘liberators’ of tyranny and injustice. Sometimes that has been the case, but to say that one nation is superior to another is very dangerous as it creates division, discrimination, and xenophobia. Living abroad certainly puts it all in greater perspective.

Very true words I life my life in the US about 11 years ago. In my native country Panama, has been promoted as a top expat destination. So many US citizens have been moving in droves. I read their comments and requests and expats on groups on Facebook. Many times so many of this new people think that life outside of the US is the same. We have the same things, stores, merchandise items. etc. So the key thing is that life abroad is completely different. Once you leave a place..you leave something and gain something else.

Cringey and corny content.

I've been thinking of leaving the USA to go to Mexico. I don't even know how to fly on an airplane. But I just bought my first ticket to go on a small domestic trip to practice before I go to Mexico to see how I really like it (:

A great talk and very true. Surprisingly, coming from an American born. I wonder what your past American friends think about you and your choice of living abroad? Do they think of you as separate from themselves and make it apparent to share that statement with you? I only ask as usually people from any place in the world have a challenging time making peace with people different from themselves regardless of country.

Spot on ! Fell in love with Europe in 2004-5 when I backpacked the continent. One day….

I left 7 years ago ..I miss family. I'll go back to visit …one day 👀

Congratulation on being a broad for 13 years. But, I have to say, you've done absolutely nothing to look like a broad. So, I don't get it.

Based

Vaccine passport

As usual, Rafael has much to offer and I agree with him, despite our age differences because we’ve had similar experiences! Points: 1) In 13 years?…I see myself on a beach in either PT or IT. Leaning towards PT at the moment but opinion could change as we get to know PT better. 2. Italian schooling? Consider yourself lucky you did NOT go to HS or University in Italy. Speaking from experience. 3. USA Citizenship? I’d lean towards keeping it until you’re older (irrespective of grey hair and receding hair line 😁 ) until you know that your future spouse and kids will not benefit from USA citizenship. If you were 50-60 years old and very wealthy—that would be different IMO. Keep your options open. 4. “We like Clinton!’ Haha. Same experience everywhere and at any age. Had folks tell me the same thing…Barack Obama! Trump! It doesn’t go away. It what folks associate with USA. 5. Represent county at time they left? Absolutely. I don’t call it a ‘fork in the road’ but a ‘time capsule.’ It’s what you know at that time—that can (or will) change with time. Love your work—as always. Look forward to Friday nights. More PT vs. IT…fascinating to me. Cheers.

As an American, I can say that the United States and the West as a whole are overrated!

13 years from now I hope I'll be married with a family to an Italian, living in Italy but spending extended periods of time in the U.S. as well. I'll be 40 in 13 years and I plan on moving to Italy this year as I've just been recognized as a dual citizen. I hope the majority of my next 13 years are in Italy but I want to keep one foot in the U.S. as well because I'll have most of my family here and I also might want to raise a family/kids with lives and experiences in both countries. I'll also adjust my choices based on political and economic developments but for now eyes are set totally on Italy.

Congratulations on 13 years out of the US! This is one of your most thoughtful Vlogs, Rafael. I envy you because you were able to leave so young. I've lived in other countries for longer or shorter periods but mostly for family obligations, returned to the US. We didn't have the technology to be 'Digital Nomads' before 2000 or so. I'm 'retired' now and planning to leave the US permanently…Hopefully this year. I want my JS Italian Citizenship so I am unequivocally European…but if the Documents Chase takes too much more time, I'll apply for a D7 Visa in Portugal.
You're right – you can't go back to places where you grew up or lived before. People come and go. They change. You change. The Politics and/or Economy changes. The Zeitgeist shifts. I wouldn't go back to places I was quite happy in at different times…from NYC to Maine to Jamaica.
We have to keep looking forward – or at least at our present Reality – and live in the Moment. And not as you say make decisions based on some possible future.
I am far from considering renouncing US Citizenship since I don't have any other at this point. But it's a possibility for all the reasons you mentioned. The American Century is over. The reasons our Ancestors came to.the US were practical choices for THEM. But I've never felt I belonged in the US…so…I'm getting ready to Exit with Cats.
PS You're right about Clothes and one's general way of being in the world.

you have so much wisdom Rafael, loved this video talk

In 13 years, I plan to be in Italy – not sure where yet, though I love the Riviera and west coastline…and Rome. I've only ever lived in the US for my 52 years of life…but I'm ready to go. I've been ready. Right now, I'm taking care of family. When that is no longer the case, I will leave.

Never say never. No one knows what tomorrow brings and what decisions you will make at the time.

In thirteen years…
I hope to be alive, living where I am living.. enjoying my life and being happy with my life experiences. No looking back.

Understand what you are saying . You have tasted Europe and love it and for wonderful reasons . Just some advice. I wouldn’t throw away a citizenship that is hard to get . Ie. I got a dual citizenship from grandparents …. My parents never thought of traveling abroad much less living there… but me a grandchild embraced it , learnt the language and can really want to live in Italy … I thank my grandparents for my Italian citizenship and also for my American one …. You just never know ??

Your words ring so true for me. I laughed when you mentioned the children are not here now. LOL! I relocated to southern Italy last august and started a new journey. And like you said I wanted to see/do many more things. Since being abroad, I have much more appreciation for the US. Thank you for your work.

Boy do i understand everything you said Born and raised Canadian Left at age 20 for south of Italy with my parents After many years returned for my husbands work situatiion in 2009 Not the same place i left. Now back in Italy but exploring a new place to retire to hopefully soon hence your videos .Wish i could say more but hope to learn more about Portugal.Enjoying your content Braga looks lovely Good luck and happy aniversery You made the right choice.

S junqueira