- Shawna Lum, 31, knew the American obsession with climbing the career ladder wasn’t for her.
- In 2016, Lum moved to Spain to escape the rat race and carve out her own path.
- In Spain, she’s happier, spending less money on housing, and has started her own business.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shawna Lum, a 31-year-old from Los Angeles who moved to Spain in 2016. She founded Move Overseas Now, a company that helps people move to Europe and Latin America. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
I’m originally from Los Angeles but went to Washington State University. In 2015, I moved to Spain for a semester to study abroad, and that experience completely changed me.
During my six months in Spain, I fell in love with Europe. The ability to travel so easily — like catching a round-trip flight from Bilbao, the city in northern Spain where I was living, to Amsterdam for just $80 or London for $100 — was incredible.
On top of that, the community and my social life were amazing. Going out for tapas, enjoying a glass of wine, and having a meal was so affordable compared to the US. I also loved the walking culture; there’s no need for a car. That’s something I never realized I was missing until I lived there.
Courtesy and Shawna Lum
After my studies in Spain, I returned to the US and worked in corporate jobs for about a year and a half, first in Texas, then in Chicago and Louisiana. Throughout that time, I couldn’t shake the memory of my time in Spain.
The typical American dream wasn’t resonating with me — the “checklist” of getting a corporate job, saving for a house, and getting married. I asked myself, “Why must I follow this path?”
I moved to Europe and came to terms with some downsides of American life
At the end of 2016, I moved to Spain and have been living here ever since.
When I first moved here, visa options were limited. There are many more now, like digital nomad visas and passive income visas for retirees. Back then, a student visa was my best option.
Although I didn’t want to go back to school, I decided to pursue a master’s in entrepreneurship and innovation in Barcelona. After completing my degree, I kept renewing my visa.
Along the way, I started doing side hustles and diving into digital marketing. I eventually realized I didn’t have to work for others and launched a web design agency.
Courtesy of Shawna Lum
In 2021, my dad was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, so I returned to Los Angeles to take care of him. He passed away shortly after.
While grieving, I also became frustrated about life in the US. Coming back to the States was a tough adjustment. I started noticing the toxic culture — people seemed unhappy with their lives, and many of my high school friends were on antidepressants. It also felt like everything revolved around money, even healthcare.
I missed the sense of connection and community I had experienced In Spain. Living overseas showed me that life could be different — the stress levels and the divide between work and home were much more balanced.
I felt like many people could resonate with my reasoning. So, when I returned to Spain, I started Move Overseas Now, a business that helps others make their moves.
I help other people move abroad
As a relocation coach, I help people move permanently to Europe and Latin America through online master classes that outline the steps.
Most people who sign up for my courses are 35 and older, with established careers, freelancing, or working on a 1099.
Affordability is a huge reason my clients move abroad, especially retirees on fixed incomes. Many of them find that in countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama, they can live comfortably on their Social Security check — something that isn’t possible for them in the US.
Courtesy of Shawna Lum
In Spain, you can rent a nice one-bedroom in a midsize city for about $650 to $980 a month or under $1,300 in the major cities. In Panama, some of my clients live in beautiful condos just steps from the sea with two balconies and air conditioning in an expat-friendly community for around $900 a month. Private healthcare is also a game changer: Many clients pay just $80 to $200 a month for coverage, with no copays or deductibles.
By spending less on housing, healthcare, and daily expenses, they experience more freedom, less stress, and a better quality of life — things they feel are out of reach in the US.
I don’t see myself ever living in the US again
I feel like my life has improved living abroad.
I always felt different in the US, like I didn’t fit in. Everything has fallen into place in Europe. I married my husband, who has permanent residency in Spain. Through him, I was granted a partnership visa, also known as a family reunification visa.
During COVID, we lived in a friend’s guest house in France for about five months. We also spent six months as digital nomads in Asia, living in Thailand, Nepal, and mostly India. Overall, it was an incredible journey.
Right now, we’re renting a one-bedroom, one-bathroom duplex just outside Barcelona’s city center for 300 euros, or about $314, a month. We got a great deal because we know the landlord. We’re planning to buy a home eventually, so for now, we’re focused on saving up for that.
Courtesy of Shawna Lum
Living abroad makes me feel freer. The weather, the greenery, and the greater safety as a woman are all amazing. I also feel better spiritually because interactions feel less competitive and transactional. It’s really allowed me to slow down and give myself more grace.
I don’t see myself returning to the US — at least not willingly unless it’s for an event, like a funeral, or to take care of something serious for a couple of weeks.
