Bingo, thats the song from "Stranger things" one of the most overrated series on Netflix (just my personal idea so dont take it serious :p)

    I dont even know the original song and found the melody is as bad as the movie so didnt even bother to look up. One thing i have to admit is the lyrics stuck in your mind like a stubborn gum in the shoes. Maybe because its calling out one major issue that i have been pondering for the last two years: "should i stay here in this foreign country or should i go back?"

    Let’s break it down to pros and cons. And im fully aware this is not the best method to compare things like this, pros and cons are usually better for yes/no or do/not do question rather than comparing options. In addition, this method doesn’t allow you to put weight on each point. But anyway I just needed to offload some thoughts, so here we are:
    Stay – Pros:
  • Better wages: There is indeed a gap of income in the two countries. A person living in a first world country can easily earn around 2000$ a month merely by doing labor jobs (typically higher for white collar workers). This is a huge sum of money for anyone living in Vietnam.
  • Better environment: im talking about air, water, food safety, the overall safeness of the society.
  • Other social benefits: healthcare would extend your life expectancy for a few years, a better education system means you and your children would have more opportunities in the long term.
  • There are rules (written and implied) for almost everything. It could take time to get used to but in the long term, it helps you navigate through life easier.
  • Freedom: you are relatively free to be yourself, to say and do things you want (as long as it’s not against the rule)
Stay - Cons:
  • Loneliness is the main culprit. Most first world countries are endorsed individualism, encouraging people living and fighting for their own life. Plus, chances are you’d be away from friends and family so the mental and emotional supports are lacking.
  • The steep learning curve to blend in a foreign society: the learning of the written and (especially) unwritten rules is long and tiring. You are under the risk of being embarrassed or offend or being offended in the process. Some people cannot even past the first barrier is language.
  • The food sucks (overly generalization right? but I do believe there are people out there would agree with this statement)
  • You’re not too sure about your social class, better get used to with receiving “different looks” (sometimes treatments) here and there.
What about Living in Vietnam?
Back - Pros:
  • That’s the fricking motherland with my fellow countryman scrambling around all day. That buff reduces loneliness by 25% and -25% further by friends and family.
  • Better chance to create strong networking here as you know the system and the people. That could be transformed into financial benefits in the long term.
  • A lot of opportunities erupted from fast-changing society.
  • High rising entrepreneurial spirits all over the country.
  • The food and the girls ;)
Back - Cons:
  • There are no clear guidelines (under the form of rules or moral standards, behavioral codes, etc.) to help you navigate through life. In some places, there are rules but not seriously enforced.
  • Living conditions are not as good, air quality is especially bad (and getting worse)
  • A lot of social pressures, not enough individual freedom (this is getting better but still, not enough)
  • Overall safeness is low
  • Traffic is frankly quite terrible
  • Lower income in general.
As I mentioned earlier, these are just some rubbish thoughts hastily produced on a Friday night, resulted from a naïve promise I made with myself. But through this, I do want to provoke some brains out there, especially ones have been in the same situation wondering “should I stay or should I go?” What were your thoughts and feelings? And most importantly, what did you decide?
So please leave a comment if you have anything to say, anything at all.
P.S. Im going back