Short Film: Moving Away From Home (HD)

[@jenp5413]

home is where you feel safe, thanks for the video

[@hi.davidwen]

You're welcome and thank you jen =)

[@andydeeeu]

Very sad but true! We cannot explore the world and stay with out beloved ones at the same time.

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks for sharing =)

[@pinkykwok3590]

I’ve been away from home for 10y this March. Last Nov I went back to Ams for 2 weeks, I felt really cold for the first week, but at the same time I felt good to be back home. After 2 wks I went back to Singapore, It felt good to be back home (too). I guess what I want to say is… you can have 2 homes, but it took me nearly 10y❤oh, and I love your vlogs!! I can’t wait to go back In June!

[@christao408]

Nicely made video. You have really captured that experience that only those of us who have moved abroad can fully understand.

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks a lot Christopher for the kind words!

[@anneliesS04]

There's poetry and contemplation in the way you speak. I appreciate it, David 😊

[@hi.davidwen]

Thank you :)

[@DaniElle25g]

"Home is where you are now" Brilliant! As a child I moved from foster home to foster home and as an adult I have always moved from place to place. And I wouldn't change that for anything.

[@hi.davidwen]

Hi Dani - glad to hear that resonates with you too! And glad to hear that you wouldn't change that for anything...moving around has been a really big growth experience for me

[@hernantibolla64]

Hi David, I'm quite new in this channel and having found this video has been the best thing this day so far. We are planning to move abroad to the Netherlands with my husband next year and this has inspired me a lot, specially because I will go alone at the beggining. Thanks for your videos, not only the informational ones but also this kind of virtual hugs

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks for the warm comment! Wow, next year is coming up...but that's exciting! I remember the feeling...I'm sure you're feeling a lot of different emotions. But I'm sure you two will have a great time Where are you moving from?

[@hernantibolla64]

@@hi.davidwen Thanks for your answer. We are from Argentina. We've been in Amsterdam last January (when we fell in love with the city) and we are going again soon before moving, but this time to explore another cities and places along the Randstad. I've been noticing lately some travelling/immigration content creators that are quite mad with their home countries. I understand their point of view and their reasons, but I have to say that I don't enjoy hearing that kind of speech. I also think that, at some point, it's "easier" to leave your home country if you hate it or at least you have a big resentment. Luckily that's not our situation. I love my country although I realise it's not perfect. We just want a better and balanced life. To sum up, that's why I enjoy your points of view :)

[@hi.davidwen]

@@hernantibolla64 Thanks :) That's nice! Exploring different cities along the Randstad! Argentina is still high on my list of places to visit...well I'd love to do a long trip in South America one day-that's the dream =) Yeah...I can understand the anger/hate but one can only complain so much. There's only so much we can control from the outside world...but what we can control is our internal worlds and how we view and respond to situations and life :)

[@hernantibolla64]

@@hi.davidwen You're right! And let me know if you need any help or tips for visiting Argentina!

[@mibong74]

I can't believe that someone could have the same thought as mine. Yes, it is true: our home is the world, our home is where we are now

[@hi.davidwen]

Hi Le - glad to hear I’m also not alone in this! Our home is where we are now. Hope you are doing well - David

[@machtmann2881]

I like how poetic your videos are David! I'm kind of in a similar situation wrt my friends. Many have moved onto parenthood but I find myself wanting something different. I'm happy for them but I realize that I don't want their lives and that's ok. Life goes on as you said. In fact, I've been applying to companies in Amsterdam and maybe I'll be able to explore what life is like over there myself. I found your channel just searching up videos on life in Amsterdam

[@hi.davidwen]

Hey Chris! Thanks for the kind words and very happy you stopped by. Where are you located and how is the job search so far? What's your motivation for Amsterdam? Let me know if you have any questions! David

[@machtmann2881]

@@hi.davidwen I''m located in Texas right now and I'm currently in the interview process for a position in Amsterdam. I work in tech so I'm a good candidate for the HSM visa. My search has been ok but of course making connections abroad is tough. My motivation is basically following my curiosity. I've been an expat before and missed the life but now I have more work experience that I can leverage. I know Amsterdam is a good center for tech companies and attracts expats so a support network can be built. Level of English is really high among Dutch so it would be good for communication (although of course to really fit in, I'd have to learn Dutch). Lastly, I really like the transportation in NL. It is refreshing to see how many options it gives you rather than the car dependency of the States. I'd love for my taxes to go to bike infrastructure instead of highway expansion.

[@danc991]

Thank you for sharing your journey. As someone who moved around a lot growing up, I agree with you that home is where you are now! I don't feel like any particular place is considered "home" so I try my best to enjoy the present :)

[@hi.davidwen]

Haha thanks Dan =) I'm curious to hear more about your story...next time!

[@tarekhakim5886]

Thank you

[@RichaBujji]

Much needed😭❤️

[@hi.davidwen]

Yeah...are you far from home and how do you feel?

[@RichaBujji]

@@hi.davidwen yes. Now it's been almost a month. And I'm ok rn. As now I understood how to deal with it. Calling each and every person you once were friends with is important 😂❤️. And afcourse family members.

[@jcthejazzmaster]

I so can relate, David. I am an American expat living in Germany. I also always wanted to live abroad and here I am. Just everything you said though, I have felt exactly the same things.

[@hi.davidwen]

Oh I’m so glad you can relate and that I’m not the only one. When did you move and how have things been for you? It’s been a tough past few years for everyone…but I’m trying to stay hopeful that things will get better.

[@jcthejazzmaster]

@@hi.davidwen I moved to Germany in 2015. I had already had 2 years of high school German and I was once an exchange student here. So I had contacts here. But weirdly and unexpectedly, I ended up both loving the language and and sometimes disliking the language. I both loved the idea of wading around in a new culture and rejected the culture at the same time. it's hard to explain. I think it is just culture shock, and I also moved here at the age of 50 so that could have something to do with it. I think I have gotten over this but sometimes the coldness of the people here and the weather, the weather! Yeah, I'm also from Southern California, so I wasn't at all used to the weather. I also miss my family. I think it is normal to go through phases of rejection and acceptance, of denial even and recognition of the culture you have moved to. it is part of a long term adaptation to culture. I dont know if any of this makes sense or rings a bell. But if you ever felt an almost contradictory sense of enjoyment of a culture/language yet at the very same time a feeling that you reject it sometimes, then I think you might understand what I mean. Haha, maybe not the best explanation. But I liked your video, it captured that feeling for me

[@hi.davidwen]

@@jcthejazzmaster Haha yes I can totally relate to that love/hate relationship. I really like having seasons...and I can actually feel spring now that it's pretty much here in Amsterdam (unlike LA where every day is the same day). But I hate the winters here. I've had a hard time learning Dutch due to motivation and the fact that everyone speaks English here (instead, I learned Spanish during COVID hah)...but I would like to learn it to integrate more. Yeah...it's not easy. What I am grateful for is the fact that I can work remotely from California now. That helps. And I'm hoping more friends and family visit soon. When I go home now...it still feels like home but a very distant home. Friends are still there, but everyone is on their separate pathways-and I'm happy for them. Is that how you feel too?

[@yvonneip9980]

Very poetic video, share the same thought with you. Helpless to see parents aging, people comes n goes, n most important of all, everything will be ok.

[@hi.davidwen]

Hi Yvonne - hope you're well and thanks. Yeah I get sad thinking about it and hope it can be a tool for me to start spending my time more consciously (visiting home more often/calling home)...but everything will be ok =)

[@aimexoxo2933]

Hey you captured the feeling very well and I just want to share my story. 2 months ago I moved away to another city. It's only an 8 hour drive but still it's hard. From the people, the culture, the slang words, the food. This is also the first time I left my hometown and it's so hard because my family and friends still live in my hometown. I haven't feel this new city is my home and a lot of times I feel lonely. I feel sad because the new city hasn't felt like home yet. I only have 2 friends that I saw occasionally. I came home from work to an empty house. Today I came back from my hometown for a 10-day holidays. It's such a contrast situation because when I'm in my hometown I am always surrounded by friends and families. But here, in this new city I am all alone. I don't have anyone to talk or welcome when I arrived. It's incredibly sad. I just hope this gets better and hope this new city will feel like home

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks for sharing…seems like we all have similar experiences… Have you found a way to build community over there?

[@ervinslens]

Fantastic upload man, fantastic editing too.🎥

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@SharmilaPunNepal]

Thank you David for this heartfelt video! I could relate to what you said in the video! I miss home, my family but at the same time, I know that if I go back I am not going to be the same again! Maybe this is the price we pay for finding a home where ever we go! In this confused state of my life, I am just trying to go with the flow and also take a break sometimes! Sending you good wishes and enjoy the spring in NL :)

[@hi.davidwen]

You're welcome Sharmila and thanks for the kind words! Yeah I think it's the price we pay...we can't have it all. I am also in a similar position so it's nice to hear we are not alone =) Have a nice spring!

[@jasonharris3277]

Such a neat video! Thanks brotha!

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks for watching Jason!

[@pascalekaiser1396]

Beautifully said. Enjoyed this special video

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks Pascale!

[@mateuvillanueva7814]

deserves way more views

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks :)

[@601studios8]

Wonderful short film!

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks!

[@emalov98]

Nowhere like home, great video :)

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks Emanuell! Nowhere like home...

[@blindpilot3849]

Nice, honest video! Just remember that we are not made of sugar, so don't let the rain stop you. Also, look it at this way; the nature loves the rain and it's the reason why we have certain trees, plants and animals you might not find in the more sunny places. Diversity in nature, enjoy that😃

[@hi.davidwen]

Thank you very much! Yeah very true words and thanks for the reminder...the rain is part of cycle of life...it brings in the 'new' =)

[@jamal93yall]

Beautiful video ❤️

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks Chris!

[@WysdomHub]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@marciobonfiglioli]

David, you should consider moving to a sunnier country. Do consider either Spain or Portugal ! I live in a very sunny country and understand what you say about the weather mood……

[@hi.davidwen]

Hey Marcio - hope all's well and nice to get your message! Oh yes...I definitely do have sunnier countries in mind for later on. I'm still enjoying Amsterdam right now but one day, I'd like to go back to a sunny country. Sunny + nature/good hiking + good food + water + friendly people & culture...

[@marciobonfiglioli]

@@hi.davidwen all well thank you - yes! We will be following you ….

[@internetbully100]

the problem is most sunny countries have allot of other problems. there is no perfect country

[@Matt_from_Florida]

3:35 So right.

[@TravelHungryForLife]

Excellent channel like and support here cheers 👍👍👍

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks for the support!

[@chromebookcutie]

im so nervous but I think I'm going to do it. I have been presented the opportunity. And I think I'm going to take it. I have an elderly neighbor I take care of and I have the wish to get out of Texas. Ive got to find my cats a place to live. It's not as simple. I know I will be so far. I just think I need it. Change. I've been in Texas so damn long. I know I will have new friends and new opportunities

[@hi.davidwen]

Hi Nat - thanks for stopping by. I know that feeling (nervousness)-we've all felt it before. It's normal. And that is so nice of you to take care of your elderly neighbor. If you do decide to take the leap, while it might be hard at the beginning, I'm sure it will be a big growing experience for you. A life story. I wish you well whatever you decide to do. You are not alone =)

[@RichaBujji]

What do you do when you feel homesick?

[@hi.davidwen]

Thanks for asking =) I usually call home to talk to family/friends. But I think homesickness for me...is usually a sign of lack of connection. So I try to meet with friends here. It's a better now compared to when I made this video...mainly because I've met more people. I still get homesick for sure. It goes up and down..up and down...but I find social connection/community to be really important (even for introverts like myself!)

[@dennisongtravels]

Be honest, do you really like those bitter ballens?? HAHAH But yet another great video, David. Appreciate how thoughtful you are.

[@hi.davidwen]

Hey there Dennis - hahahaha YES I do like bitterballen! I just discovered Albert Heijn's "Kwekkeboom Oven bitterballen" for 3.89€...they're not bad! Thanks for the kind words and hope you're well

[@christophera6554]

? ???????

[@hi.davidwen]

????? Hello