Would you ever move abroad? 🌍


👋 A few musings from Milwaukee…

People worried about my safety when I lived in Turkiye, considering it was led by an autocratic president, with hostile policies towards women’s rights, LGBTQ+, immigration, and the economy.

Political opponents have been jailed and protests suppressed. The government controls the news so it's possible for a large portion of the population to be unaware of the severity… It's easy to see how quickly civil liberties can be eroded.

But it’s also increasingly difficult not to see parallels here these days.

Armed soldiers at checkpoints in Turkiye shocked my American friends. But today, military presence in US cities like Los Angeles have become routine news.

I passed through Union Station in DC multiple times over the past few months, and it’s now being taken over by the government under the false pretext of fighting rampant crime.

A friend posted peaceful photos from a lakeside walk the other day and captioned them “venturing out into the killing fields of Chicago.” Ugh, the dissonance is heartbreaking.

And then the gun violence. In a country with more guns than people, it often feels like the right to own one is valued more than the right to feel safe in a grocery store, a nightclub, a shopping mall, a church, even a school.

After this week’s school shooting in Minneapolis, like so many others before it, I’ve found myself thinking about the years I lived and traveled abroad.

I’ll be honest, there are times I regret coming back.

How are you feeling?

🇺🇸 If you’re a US Citizen upset by the amount of gun violence (or any other issues!) please call your representatives and encourage them to take action. I call daily using 5calls.org. You can also call the capital switchboard directly at (202) 224-3121.

Time for a change?

If you’ve ever been curious about moving abroad, but don’t know where to start, my friend Cepee is holding the Move Abroad After 30 Masterclass next weekend September 5-8th.

This is her signature 4-day live training which focuses on answering the most common questions and helping you to create an actionable plan with a group of supportive, like-minded women.

This email may contain affiliate links, which means purchases made through those links earn me a commission, at no extra cost to you. For details, please see my privacy policy. You can unsubscribe from this list at any time from the bottom of the email.

Destination Inspiration ✈

Feeling Lucky🍀

  • Fiji Water is giving away a trip for two to attend the 2025 Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, CA. Enter by 8/31. Details here.
  • Win a trip for two to Hawaii courtesy of the Polynesian Cultural Center and the movie Sharing Aloha. Enter by 9/8. Details here.
  • The Food Network & HGTV are giving away $5000 in the Get Out and Grill Sweepstakes. Enter twice per day until 9/16. Details here.

Have a great weekend!

🧳

My top picks for your next trip

Looking for a recommendation for a cooking class, food tour, or other activities on your next trip? Check out some of my favorites from around the world via GetYourGuide.

See them here →

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Curious about using an eSIM to stay connected while traveling abroad? My go-to for most destinations is Airalo. Get $3 to start with code MALIA2345

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Hi, I'm Malia Yoshioka

I'm a freelance food and travel writer and online ESL tutor from Hawaii, slowly eating my way around the world and sharing the flavors with you in these weekly updates and on ShoyuSugar.com. Happy you're here! =)

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Shoyu Sugar

Malia Yoshioka is a freelance Food & Travel Writer and ESL Tutor from Hawaii. She's slowly eating her way around the world, 43 countries and counting so far! Get behind the scenes news, travel tips and the best food stories from around the web in her weekly Savor the Journey newsletter.

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