Help! The US is Bleeding My Bank Account

[@OperationEden]

Hi there Brando, You got my subscription and likes for the videos you made about Vietnam. Before I dive into this coincidence, I just want to say that I hope all is well with you. I was born here in Vietnam, and moved to the States at the age of 9. Recently, I came back to visit my family and your video came up on my feed, so I can't help to give it a watch. At first, I found it amusing and laughed at the things you hated about Vietnam, they are dead-on. Then I came across a few of your videos about the homeless and the eye surgery outreach. The story about the McDonald for the kids hold a special place in my heart, great work capturing that! For a bit of context, Operation Eden is a non-profit that is currently helping homeless folks in San Bernardino, California. We are starting to put up more videos of our outreach and effort at the location. So with that information being said, I am curious if you would be interested in getting in touch with me and my non-profit to discuss about this matter. Thank you Brando!

[@FollowBrando]

Hey thanks for reaching out! My friend Sven and his wife are certainly doing good things for the kids in HCMC. I was lucky to get to get to interview them that day and document their story. You can reach out to me via email at [e-mail]

[@OperationEden]

@@FollowBrando Thanks for the reply Brando! I got your email saved and will reach out soon! I would love to get in touch with Sven and his wife while I am still here in Vietnam. Please feel free to delete the comment or your email, I got it down and will shoot you an email in a couple of days

[@Cpreston]

I'm glad that you decided to pull away from the really cinematic documentary style for now. I did really enjoy them. But I feel like you're cranking away with work and stuff so much that it would be too hard to keep that up. I still REALLY enjoy these talking videos. Your insights and conversation is something I always come back for. We just need this channel to really ramp up so that you can devote more time to it!

[@FollowBrando]

Yeah I've been praying to the KZbin algorithm about that. I'll keep going until the turn of the year and see where this goes. It's not going into my bottom line though for sure.

[@Patokefe]

Great talk today man. Bout to move to Lima myself. Have to stay in this hemisphere cause of remote job and parent stuff. I do think I'll end up in SE Asia though. I tell you what man, the money thing isn't even the worst part of America, but it's close. The worst part is the culture has gone past a tipping point on a spectrum of social togetherness vs digital separation. We used to be in our devices a little too much and a little too ADD, but now it's gone full-on all the way robotic, all faces in phones, zero fun, people absolutely suck, everyone stays in their bubble, purely digital, never see any couples holding hands, etc. And the last thing you wanna do is pay extra for this shithole. America was especially ripe for digital separation with the carcentric setup of cities. I feel very sorry for people who have to stay here. And I'm in one of the "best" cities, where everyone is moving to. Lol.

[@FollowBrando]

Right on brother. I lived in Seattle for a bit and used to trip out about the "Seattle Freeze" where people go really hard out of their way to avoid eye contact or saying hello. In most other countries I've lived in, particularly in SE Asia, you interact with other human beings - what a novel idea! I feel so much more alive everyday. I was miserable as hell in Seattle and always in my car in Los Angeles. My new life is similar to when I lived in NYC in my 20s and interacted with people on the street all the time.

[@londonshaf]

Going back home from time to time is a great way to remind yourself of how good you have it by every measure in S.E Asia. Good luck with the event.

[@FollowBrando]

Yeah you got that right - it is a good reminder. Thanks for the comments and the well wishes. Stay tuned.

[@hanginwithhymein2162]

This video is so refreshing to see. I feel every point you made. Most of my friends just don't get it and I gave up on trying to make them. 1 of them just asked me, don't I want to settle down and have a house... I said No, Not At All, at least not in the states! This was after him telling me he just brought a house and didn't know about taxes so his $1600 a month payment is now $2200. SMH I was just like, Make it make sense!! lol

[@FollowBrando]

Hey hey - thanks for checking in. I've lost contact with most of my friends and family who have subscribed to that life here. Most of them are pulling it off with family money or really high corporate/doctor incomes - usually a bit of both. I held it together with a good TV job and rental income for about 15 years but it was a lot of work for a life I enjoyed less than the one I have now. With the whole woke culture making it difficult to be a man in the US I don't think I would do the same thing now. Selling all of your things and getting on the next plane to Bangkok is a pretty good place to start a new life for single men in the US right now. Stay tuned. I'm not done posting about a better way to live just yet.

[@Patokefe]

Hope you make it to Angkor Wat and Bayon nearby. Most people realize it was completely impossible for humans to build, even just the moat and the wall around would have been impossible. When you hear the guides tell you an entity came and built it in a day, that's actually the most plausible answer.

[@FollowBrando]

Yeah it's on my list. I'm headed to Kampot and Kep when I get back but Angkor Wat is next. Siem Reap is becoming the new, new expat spot.

[@gene_retire]

Awesome video. I think that the less structured videos work well. Less hassle and stress editing. The cost for things here is astronomical. SEA,is,so much better.

[@thealanshow25]

The American dream is over: I wish I had realized this two years ago when I first made a trip to the Philippines w/ about 70 grand in my pocket, better late than never: it will likely only get worse. America was an exceptional time in human history of about 50 years where we had advantage over the rest of the world, super high quality of life is all gone now for the bottom 80%.

[@wakinguponthegoodside]

Thanks for the video and sharing. I vibe with you big time. Financial bloodletting is the real deal Three tanks of gas in my van in California is equal to a decent monthly rent on an apt. Southeast Asia.

[@FollowBrando]

@@wakinguponthegoodside Since you've been living the same lifestyle I'm sure you get it. Thanks for the props! Stay tuned...

[@gene_retire]

Hey, can you do a video on minimalism and what you pack?Do you only take a backpack?Or do you have a carry on since you do remote work?That's something that would be interesting to know about.

[@FollowBrando]

This trip I did take a checked bag but realized that I could have gotten away with just my carry on. That's a good topic. I have realized how to really minimalize the stuff I own and carry with me. Also, I could rebuild my entire wardrobe in Vietnam for a few hundred bucks.

[@sl5946]

The title to this video should be called: Brando Experiences Bidenomics

[@FollowBrando]

@@sl5946 good title for another video. I'm not done complaining about my bank account haha.

[@samproximax1790]

Haha nice tee

[@Cpreston]

If, for some crazy reason, you ever find yourself in alberta canada you let me know and I'll make the drive! (totally assuming you're never coming to canada but wanted to say it anyway)

[@Cpreston]

Also, for my 487th comment... lol. Are you on instagram at all? Or is that not a medium you're using?

[@FollowBrando]

I do get to Alberta sometimes. My brother and I make an annual pilgrimage to Whistler, B.C. but on a few occasions it's been Banff. I have an IG account that I don't post on. IG: brandondavidcole

[@Cpreston]

@@FollowBrando that's awesome ! Well, I will follow it just in case you do start posting, brother !

[@kam_abroad]

Lol the only thing I will caution is that some of us spend a little more in SEA. I spend about $500 USD a month on food. And that's with me being a pretty slim guy and not going to sit down restaurants much. Having said that, I can never go back to North America again. Mostly because I will need to go intense in the corporate world again in order to afford a good life. But then I would have little free time.

[@FollowBrando]

@@kam_abroad yeah I agree. I couldn't go back to working full time in tv in an office as I did in my 30s.