EP 005  COVID Refugees with Tom & Emily Lahdenranta

EP 005 COVID Refugees with Tom & Emily Lahdenranta

Introduction

The host introduces the podcast and the guests, Tom and Emily Lardner-Renter. They discuss the concept of "vote with your feet" and how it relates to their decision to move from Canada to Central America.

Moving for a Better Life

  • Tom and Emily sold their house and possessions in British Columbia to move with their three young children to Central America.
  • Their move was triggered by Canada's strict COVID-19 restrictions, which led to Emily being fired from her nursing job due to her choice not to take the COVID-19 vaccination.
  • They left Canada due to what they considered an unacceptable and increasingly authoritarian trajectory of their own government.
  • They began a quest to find a place where they felt they had the freedom to raise their family as they aspired.

Conversation with Tom and Emily Lardner-Renter

The conversation between Timothy Allen, Tom, and Emily focuses on their journey from Canada to El Salvador, including the challenges they faced along the way.

Meeting on the Beach

  • Timothy met Tom and Emily on a beach in El Salvador while he was living there with his family.
  • They hit it off after meeting on the beach, spending time together before eventually leaving because Timothy's family was continuing their travels.

Political Situation in Canada

  • Tom and Emily left Canada due to its current political situation.
  • They were carrying out travels when they met Timothy but decided that El Salvador would be where they would settle down.

Challenges Faced Along the Way

  • No bullet points available for this section.

Conclusion

Timothy thanks Tom and Emily for sharing their story and encourages listeners to reach out to them for more information on making a bold move like theirs. He also wishes those who celebrate at this time of year a happy Christmas.

Creativity in Children

The speaker discusses how children can be more creative when they have fewer toys to play with and are forced to create things themselves. He compares this to his father's experience of making farm animals out of pine cones and sticks as a child.

Children's Creativity

  • When children have fewer toys, they are more creative.
  • Children who don't have access to tablets or remote control cars are more likely to create their own fun.
  • Tablets and films do most of the hard work for you, leaving little room for imagination.
  • Older films left more to the imagination, making them scarier.

Traveling with Kids

The speaker talks about his family's decision to travel with their kids and their previous travels before having kids.

Background on Family

  • The speaker describes his family as a "run-of-the-mill" Canadian family.
  • They had always dreamed of traveling with their kids because they had traveled together before having kids.
  • Emily (the speaker's wife) and he went on a seven-week trip across Central America about 10 years ago before having kids.

Traveling with Kids

  • They knew that traveling with little kids would be different and intimidating.
  • They took chicken buses in Mexico, which are old school buses from the United States used for public transportation.

Introduction

The speakers introduce themselves and discuss their initial reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initial Reactions to COVID-19

  • The speakers were initially uncertain about what to believe and were fearful of the virus.
  • They followed guidelines and tried to be cautious, but still worried about unknowingly spreading the virus.
  • Fear was amplified by media coverage, especially for one speaker who worked in an elder care facility and had to take frequent PCR tests.
  • By summer 2021, they became concerned with government restrictions that tied freedoms to vaccination rates.

Vaccine Hesitancy

The speakers discuss their decision not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Government Restrictions

  • The Canadian government announced that getting freedoms back would depend on vaccination rates.
  • Initially, vaccine passports were not considered, but later introduced across Canada.
  • Both speakers decided not to get vaccinated as they did not feel at risk based on studies and their age/health status.

Decision-Making Process

  • One speaker initially had questions about mRNA vaccines but was close to getting vaccinated until receiving information from their dad that made them question everything.
  • They both felt that young healthy people may not need the vaccine since their bodies can fight off COVID and the risks of side effects outweighed potential benefits.

Concern Over Mandates

  • One speaker did not like being told what to do and wanted to be the last person in his demographic group to get vaccinated.
  • Both speakers became scared when the government started to mandate vaccines and tie freedoms to vaccination status.

From a Peaceful Camping Trip to Losing Freedoms

In this section, the speaker talks about how they felt refreshed after a camping trip with family and nature. However, upon returning to civilization, they found out that nurses were being fired if they didn't have the vaccine by a certain date. They also learned that vaccine passports would be required in British Columbia.

Vaccine Mandates and Passport Requirements

  • Nurses were being fired if they didn't have the vaccine by a certain date.
  • Vaccine passports would be required in British Columbia to go to public places.
  • The speaker applied for their girls' passports before the canoe trip because of concerns about where things were heading.

Quick Changes and Job Loss

  • Soon after the camping trip, it was confirmed that getting passports was a good decision as it was announced that people wouldn't be allowed to fly out of Canada unless vaccinated.
  • The speaker lost their job early October 2021 due to not wanting to get vaccinated.
  • Many nurses gave in and got vaccinated except for three of them.

Conversations Amongst Nurses

  • Most people felt like the vaccine should be a choice and not forced upon anyone.
  • Some nurses expressed concerns about side effects such as infertility from getting vaccinated.
  • There was pushback from some people who believed that working in an old people's home meant you should get vaccinated.

Opinions on Vaccination

The speakers discuss their opinions on vaccination and whether it should be mandatory for certain professions.

Compelling Argument for Vaccination

  • The speakers agree that if you work with old people, getting vaccinated makes sense.
  • However, they do not believe in forcing anyone to get vaccinated.

Testing vs. Vaccination

  • Emily used to get tested every day before going to work, but this option was later removed.
  • Many places kept the testing option instead of mandating vaccination because it had yet to be proven that vaccination stopped the spread of COVID.
  • Looking back, we know more about the facts now than we did then.

Vaccination as a Treatment

  • The speakers discuss how some people were saying back then that vaccination was more like a treatment for COVID symptoms rather than a true vaccine.

Losing Jobs and Restrictions

The speakers talk about losing their jobs due to vaccine mandates and the restrictions they faced as unvaccinated individuals.

Job Loss and Travel Restrictions

  • One speaker lost their job due to vaccine mandates.
  • They were also told they could not fly or take public transport without being vaccinated.

Restrictions on Activities

  • The previous winter had many restrictions such as not being able to gather with family for Christmas or go out to eat.
  • They were worried about what the next six months would look like since they couldn't bring their kids to swimming pools or sign them up for gymnastics.
  • Some ski hills even required a vaccine pass.

Planning to Travel the World as a Family

In this section, the speaker talks about how they planned to travel around the world with their family.

Planning the Trip

  • The family planned to travel around the world for a year.
  • They bought a world map and marked all the places they wanted to go.
  • They bought a Lonely Planet travel guide and read about different countries before bedtime.

Being Honest with Their Children

  • The parents were open and honest with their children about what was happening in Canada and why they were thinking of leaving.

Connecting with Bitcoin Community Members Living in Central America

In this section, the speaker talks about how he connected with members of the Bitcoin community who were living in Central America.

Becoming Interested in Bitcoin

  • The speaker had been investing in different cryptocurrencies, mostly Bitcoin.
  • He had been reading books like "The Bitcoin Standard" and was getting closer to becoming a Bitcoin maximalist.

Connecting with Members of the Bitcoin Community

  • The speaker connected with members of the Bitcoin community on Twitter who were living in Central America.
  • He reached out to several people asking them questions about what it was like living there.
  • Only one person got back to him, a guy from New Zealand who was living in Mexico.

Making a Decision About Moving to Mexico

In this section, Emily talks about how she felt paralyzed by wanting to move but being afraid to push her family into it.

Emily's Fears

  • Emily was afraid that Mexico wouldn't be a safe place to bring their three little girls.
  • She felt like they needed to make a decision and asked for a sign from God.

Getting a Sign

  • The day after asking for a sign, Emily had a conversation with a woman in town who told her about friends who sold everything and moved to Mexico and were happy there.

Leaving for Central America

Emily and Tom decide to leave for Central America after Emily is terminated from her job.

Decision to Leave

  • Emily was terminated from her job.
  • Emily told Tom they needed to leave, sell their house, and book tickets.
  • Tom was caught off guard but agreed to leave.
  • They sold their home in four days and both of their vehicles.

Motivation to Leave

  • Emily realized that the company would rather let them be homeless than not comply with their demands.
  • They saw news stories about parents losing custody of their children due to vaccination status.

Facebook Memory

A Facebook memory inspires a new song.

Inspiration for Song

  • A Facebook memory from nine years ago reminded them of a backpacking trip they took before.
  • The memory inspired a new song idea.

Misgendering and the Woke Court System in British Columbia

In this section, the speakers discuss a case in British Columbia where a father was sentenced to six months in prison for misgendering his child. They also talk about the extreme woke court system in British Columbia.

The Case of Misgendering

  • In British Columbia, a father was sentenced to six months in prison for misgendering his child.
  • Misgendering is considered violence against one's child and is punishable by law.
  • The father spoke out publicly about the injustice of the court system and was sentenced partly because he violated a media ban on speaking out.
  • He got out early pending an appeal but agreed not to speak out anymore.

The Woke Court System

  • British Columbia has an extreme woke court system that prohibits anyone from mentioning the names of people involved in certain cases.
  • Canada has put protections in place for transgender rights, which can lead to situations like misgendering being considered violence against one's child.
  • The speakers express concern about raising their children in Canada due to its trend towards wokeness and forcing people to adopt certain beliefs.

Impressions of Canada

In this section, the speakers discuss their impressions of Canada, including its friendliness and trend towards wokeness.

Impressions of Canada

  • One speaker has always thought of Canada as friendly based on past experiences visiting Toronto.
  • However, they have concerns about raising their children there due to its trend towards wokeness and forcing people to adopt certain beliefs.
  • They believe that as long as people with differing views can respect each other's decisions, it is fine to have different beliefs.

Canadians and Trust in Government

In this section, the speaker discusses why Canadians may be more susceptible to government overreach and how trust in government has been eroded.

Canadians' Tolerance and Trust

  • Canadians are easy-going, friendly, and tolerant.
  • Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have had it good for a long time without real problems or big issues.
  • Multiple generations have grown up without experiencing significant problems or corruption from their government.
  • This illusion of trust in the government has led to complacency among Canadians.

Lack of Questioning

  • The speaker notes that he never questioned whether the government was out to harm him until recently.
  • The speaker wonders if everyone has a "line in the sand" when it comes to being forced or coerced into doing something they don't want to do.

Erosion of Trust

  • The speaker worries that most people don't have a "line in the sand."
  • People who previously didn't care about vaccination became resistant when told what to do by the government.
  • Every time a government oversteps its bounds, more people become enemies of the state.
  • Bank accounts can be frozen, neighbors can report on each other, and eventually everyone ends up working for an authoritarian regime.

Unpaid Informants and Remote Communities

In this section, the speaker talks about how unpaid informants can work for authoritarian regimes. He also shares an anecdote about his remote community.

Unpaid Informants

  • Unpaid informants are people who report on their neighbors to the government.
  • The speaker shares an anecdote about how someone reported seeing lights in the woods near his remote community during the first lockdown.

The Impact of Propaganda and Virtue Signaling on Society

In this section, the speakers discuss the impact of propaganda and virtue signaling on society during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also talk about how differing opinions have led to a breakdown in conversation and discussion.

Propaganda and Virtue Signaling

  • The idea that not getting vaccinated is selfish was propagated even though it wasn't scientifically based.
  • Millions of Canadians bought into this propaganda, making them feel like heroes for being obedient.
  • People posted selfies of themselves getting vaccinated to signal their virtues.
  • Social media has made signaling virtues a simple procedure that doesn't cost anything.
  • Some people gained enemies or lost friends due to differing opinions on social media.

Breakdown in Conversation and Discussion

  • Conversation and discussion have broken down during the pandemic, making it difficult to come to any kind of conclusion.
  • Differing opinions are imperative in society to test one's own theories, but they have become increasingly rare due to polarization.
  • Society has become split 50/50 due to personality traits; 50% are liberal-minded while 50% are conservative-minded.
  • Both liberal-minded and conservative-minded people play important roles in life.

Shutting Down Freedom of Speech

In this section, the speakers discuss how freedom of speech is being shut down and debate is being prevented. They also talk about how democracy in its current form is disempowering for most people.

Attempt to Shut Down Freedom of Speech

  • There is an attempt to shut down freedom of speech and debate.
  • People who pointed out factual evidence were banned from social media because they went against the narrative.
  • This prevents open and honest discussion and finding the truth.

Disempowering Democracy

  • The idea of democracy in its current form is very disempowering for most people.
  • An inverted democratic vote disenfranchises almost 70% of voters.
  • There's no opting out of democracy, which means you're still accountable by the state.

El Salvador: Less Government Involvement

In this section, the speakers talk about their experience living in El Salvador and how there's less government involvement in their lives compared to back home. They also discuss how government can contribute to society's betterment.

Less Government Involvement

  • There's much less government involvement in your life in El Salvador compared to back home.
  • The government has less money to meddle with people's affairs since it's a developing country.

Government Contribution

  • The government focuses on reducing crime, cleaning up garbage, getting people water, better roads, etc., which contributes to society's betterment.
  • In the west, there are no more real problems to solve, so we invent problems.

Bet on Bukele

In this section, the speakers talk about their views on President Bukele and how he's bringing change for the better in El Salvador.

Change for the Better

  • President Bukele is bringing huge change for the better in El Salvador.
  • The number of Salvadorians coming home from abroad now is unprecedented, which shows that what Bukele is doing is good.

Moving to El Salvador

The speakers discuss why some people are choosing to move to El Salvador, including the direction the country is moving in and its stance on certain issues.

Reasons for Moving

  • Two friends who have Canadian citizenship and residency chose to move back to El Salvador because they see the direction the country is moving in.
  • People are choosing to come to El Salvador even if they weren't concerned about vaccination issues because of the movement towards sound money and traditional values.
  • There is less push for woke ideology being taught in schools, making it a more attractive option for families.

Libertarianism and Personal Freedom

The speakers discuss their views on personal freedom and libertarianism, as well as where they draw the line when it comes to government intervention.

Views on Personal Freedom

  • The speakers don't care about other people's personal choices as long as they're not forced upon them or their children.
  • They believe that adults should be free to make their own decisions regarding drugs, sex, and gender identity.

Government Intervention

  • The speakers draw the line at forcing children to learn and believe certain ideologies.
  • They also disagree with being told what medical procedures they must undergo.

Governments and Social Control

In this section, the speaker discusses how governments and powerful people may use technology like a social credit score to curb behaviors they deem undesirable. He also talks about how normal people can be used to police the system.

Combining Technology and People for Social Control

  • Governments and powerful people may use technology like a social credit score to curb undesirable behavior.
  • Normal people can be used to police the system, as historically seen in Russia during the rise of Communism.

Two Types of People

In this section, the speaker talks about how people can be split into two types: those who want to tell others what to do and those who don't.

Judging People Based on Their Inclinations

  • People can be split into two types: those who want to tell others what to do and those who don't.
  • The speaker judges most of his acquaintances based on this inclination.

Traveling During COVID Times

In this section, the speaker talks about his experience traveling with his family during COVID times. He discusses how he spent 10 months traveling with his family, looking at different countries' situations from a macro lens.

Traveling During COVID Times

  • The speaker spent 10 months traveling with his family during COVID times.
  • They were not running away from a vaccine problem but were looking at different countries' situations from a macro lens.
  • The main stress was between him and Liz (his partner).
  • Men and women are super different when it comes to risk-taking.

Settling Down in El Salvador

In this section, the speaker talks about settling down in El Salvador after spending their winter traveling around and being adventurous. He discusses how it feels like they are in a different season now, and he has to reach out and try to find friends.

Settling Down in El Salvador

  • The speaker settled down in El Salvador after spending their winter traveling around.
  • It feels like they are in a different season now, and he has to reach out and try to find friends.

Leaving Canada for a Wedding

In this section, the speaker discusses their decision to leave Canada for a wedding and the challenges they faced due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Decision to Leave

  • The speaker found it hard to leave again after returning home for seven weeks.
  • They were fined $12,000 for leaving Canada during COVID-19 restrictions.
  • The speaker did not want to comply with the restrictions in place but also did not want to miss their sister's wedding.

Restrictions in Place

  • The speaker watched videos about how people were dealing with the restrictions and learned about private flights being used as an alternative.
  • Private flights were expensive, costing up to 10 times more than regular flights.
  • At that time, there were still restrictions preventing Canadians from leaving the country.

Compliance Issues

  • The speaker did not want to comply with the government's spying app called ArriveCAN which required uploading personal information such as vaccination status and flight details.
  • They also did not want to quarantine for two weeks upon returning to Canada.
  • Other countries had already lifted most of their COVID-19 restrictions while Canada had not.

Final Decision

  • The speaker decided not to comply with the government's requirements and risked missing their sister's wedding.
  • WestJet check-in counter required them to use ArriveCAN but they refused.

Arrival in Canada

The speaker talks about their experience arriving in Canada with their family and the challenges they faced due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Arrival at the Airport

  • The speaker expresses concern about what it will be like when they arrive in Canada.
  • They forgot about the flight's length while watching movies, but as they were landing, they remembered that they were heading back into a storm.
  • Upon arrival, there was confusion regarding the COVID-19 restrictions. They scanned their passports, and if someone is not vaccinated, it prints them with a piece of paper with big exclamation marks instead of checkmarks.

Encounter with Canadian Border Services Officer

  • The officer sent them to another booth where an angry Canadian Border Services officer lectured them on how what they were doing was bad and how they needed to comply.
  • They had three kids with them who were nine, seven, and four years old.

Encounter with Public Health Official

  • The officer took their passports and walked them over to Public Health. They didn't know who it was but found out later that it was another RCMP officer standing nearby.
  • The woman said she needed to write up their fines which would take 15 minutes but ended up taking an hour.

Conversation During Encounter

  • The speaker told the officers that this is entirely irrational and wrong. He mentioned that every developed country in the world has dropped these restrictions except for Canada.
  • His oldest daughter asked him if he was going to jail during all this time.

Conclusion

The speaker expressed his frustration with the irrational rules and how he would never teach his kids that it's okay to follow them.

Lessons Learned from Vaccine Passport Experience

In this section, the speaker talks about his experience with vaccine passports and how it affected his family.

Putting Kids Through Stress

  • The speaker talks about how he felt at a loss when he saw people waiting for an hour to get through the vaccine passport checkpoint.
  • He reflects on the fact that it must have crossed his mind what he was putting his kids through.
  • He explains that he used this as a powerful lesson for his daughter, telling her why they were making a stand against the vaccine passport rules.

Punishment for Disobedience

  • The speaker discusses how Canada is treating people differently based on whether they have been vaccinated or not.
  • He calls these rules irrational and says that they are punishing people who do not comply with them.
  • He mentions that those who have received two jabs can come back to Canada and quarantine for only five days, while unvaccinated individuals are treated worse.

Taking a Stand

  • The speaker tells his daughter that they are taking a stand against what is happening in Canada because it is wrong.
  • His daughter responds positively, saying that they are doing a good thing.
  • Despite receiving $11,500 in fines and having a court date set for December 12th, the speaker says he will never pay the fine and is prepared to argue his case in court.

Legal Help

  • The speaker considers reaching out to legal organizations like Fight the Fines for help with their case.
  • He plans to argue his case in court and call it a kangaroo court, saying that the judge is contributing to what is happening in Canada.

Living in El Salvador

In this section, the speaker talks about their decision to move to El Salvador and how they view life.

Moving to El Salvador

  • The speaker believes that it is not up to them to change people's minds about moving to El Salvador.
  • They believe that it is important to do the right thing as they see it and leave the rest up to God.
  • The speaker thinks that life is about giving their children the best start possible, and if they feel that El Salvador is a good place for that, then they will stay there.
  • They are willing to go anywhere where they can live freely and raise their kids according to their values.

Comparing Mexico and El Salvador

  • The speaker thinks that there is something special happening in El Salvador that they did not see in Mexico.
  • Although they enjoyed their time in Mexico, the freedom communities were fantastic, but there was a mentality of hiding out from what's happening.

Covid Refugees

  • The speaker encountered many COVID refugees while staying in Puerto Morelos, Mexico.
  • Many Germans, New Zealanders, Canadians had similar stories of having to get out due to COVID restrictions.

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Adjusting to Life in El Salvador

In this section, the speakers discuss the differences between living in Mexico and El Salvador. They talk about how El Salvador is a developing country with poor infrastructure and limited availability of certain goods. However, they also express their excitement about being part of the Bitcoin culture and community in El Salvador.

Differences Between Mexico and El Salvador

  • Infrastructure in El Salvador is not as good as it is in Mexico.
  • Availability of certain goods when grocery shopping is limited in El Salvador.
  • Despite these drawbacks, the energy and excitement surrounding Bitcoin make living in El Salvador worthwhile.

The Bitcoin Community in El Salvador

  • The Bitcoin culture is very libertarian-minded and values verifying things rather than just trusting someone's opinion.
  • When meeting other Bitcoiners or like-minded individuals, conversations can quickly go miles deep without small talk or meaningless chit-chat.
  • People are open-minded about different ideas and lifestyles within the Bitcoin community.
  • Understanding Bitcoin takes time, so people who are knowledgeable about it have likely contemplated a wide range of topics.

Open-Mindedness Within the Bitcoin Community

In this section, the speakers discuss how open-minded people within the Bitcoin community tend to be. They note that while there may be disagreements about specific aspects of Bitcoin, overall there is a shared belief in challenging one's own ideas.

Open-Mindedness Amongst Bitcoiners

  • People within the Bitcoin community are generally open-minded about different lifestyles and beliefs.
  • While there may be disagreements about specific aspects of Bitcoin, there is a shared belief in challenging one's own ideas.
  • The speakers discuss how the idea of getting away from government-controlled money and the ability to keep printing money is appealing to many people within the Bitcoin community.

Introduction to Bitcoin

In this section, Emily discusses her introduction to Bitcoin and how she appreciates the idea of getting away from government-controlled money. The speakers also touch on how prices for goods have increased in Canada due to inflation.

Emily's Introduction to Bitcoin

  • Emily was introduced to the idea of Bitcoin while in El Salvador.
  • She appreciates the idea of getting away from government-controlled money and inflation.
  • Prices for goods in Canada have increased due to inflation.

Little House on the Prairie

In this section, the speakers discuss their decision to let their children watch wholesome TV shows like "Little House on the Prairie" instead of simplistic cartoon shows. They also talk about how they resonate with the story of a family leaving their home to venture into the unknown wilderness.

Watching Wholesome TV Shows

  • The speakers decided to let their kids watch "Little House on the Prairie" because they want to ingrain good values and encourage thinking.
  • They had previously let their kids watch a lot of dumb down cartoon shows on Netflix but canceled it after reading about how it's dumbing down kids.
  • Daniel Prince introduced them to John Taylor Gatto, who talked about how we're dumbing down kids by giving them simplistic cartoon stories and encouraging childlike thinking until they're older.

Resonating with the Story

  • The story of a husband and wife with three little girls who leave their home because they don't feel like it's the right place anymore resonates with them.
  • The family is settling in an unknown land as settlers in America, where they can have their own land and support their family better.
  • The story is relevant because it's about taking risks and encountering danger rather than staying put and being safe.

Safety vs Freedom

In this section, the speakers discuss freedom versus safety. They talk about observing dolphins in captivity versus those in the wild and how freedom brings joy even amidst danger.

Observing Dolphins

  • While watching dolphins in the wild, Tom and Emma thought about how there are dolphins in captivity that are told to do tricks for fish.
  • The dolphins in the wild were doing flips and spins out of joy and relishing in their freedom, even amidst danger.
  • The speakers talk about how they've been on a journey of observing and pondering things, including safety versus freedom.

Overall, the speakers discuss their decision to let their children watch wholesome TV shows like "Little House on the Prairie" instead of simplistic cartoon shows. They also talk about how they resonate with the story of a family leaving their home to venture into the unknown wilderness. Additionally, they discuss freedom versus safety while observing dolphins in captivity versus those in the wild.

Lessons Learned from Traveling Abroad

In this section, the speaker talks about how traveling abroad has changed her perspective and inspired her to start blogging.

Inspiration for Blogging

  • The speaker started blogging because she wanted to share an honest story of their travels, not just the highlights.
  • She realized that posting pictures on Facebook only showed one side of the story and didn't accurately reflect their experiences.
  • People want to read about raw, honest experiences, not just picture-perfect moments.

Language Barrier Challenges

  • One of the biggest challenges of traveling abroad is the language barrier.
  • The speaker advises people who are considering traveling abroad to prepare by learning some basic phrases in the local language.

Practical Tips for Traveling Abroad

  • Get credit cards that don't cost a lot to use.
  • Many Canadians are interested in leaving but are scared or unsure about finding work.

Living in El Salvador

In this section, the speaker talks about their experience living in El Salvador and how it is not as dangerous as people may think.

Living in El Salvador

  • The speaker has been living in Mexico and El Salvador for almost a year without any bad or dangerous experiences.
  • The local people are welcoming and helpful, although there may be some scammers here and there.
  • People are excited to see foreigners coming to their country, and there is a sense of pride for them.
  • Even strangers will come up to you on the street to welcome you to El Salvador.

Misconceptions About El Salvador

In this section, the speaker talks about misconceptions that people have about El Salvador.

Misconceptions About El Salvador

  • Many people are scared to come to El Salvador because of misconceptions perpetuated by mainstream media.
  • The media often portrays negative news about Bitcoin's experiment failing or Bouquet being a dictator.
  • However, the speaker feels much more free living in El Salvador than they did in democratic Canada.

Uncertainty of Living in El Salvador

In this section, the speaker talks about the uncertainty of living in El Salvador.

Uncertainty of Living in El Salvador

  • Although they enjoy living in El Salvador, the speaker acknowledges that there is complete uncertainty regarding what could happen with the government or other factors.
  • They do not have faith or belief that they can plan to be there for the rest of their lives or even the next five years.
  • They are prepared to leave and go somewhere else if necessary.

Investing in Land and Property

In this section, the speakers discuss their plans to invest in land and property in order to build a home, rental cabins, gardens, and fruit trees. They also talk about the importance of living in a place they like and building something for their kids.

Investing in Land

  • The speakers are considering investing in land and property.
  • They take it seriously because they want to raise their kids and live in a place they like.
  • They dream of building a home, rental cabins, gardens, and fruit trees.

Living Off the Land

  • The speakers' kids were excited about exploring nature on the plot of land they visited.
  • The speakers discuss the idea of co-existing with other families on a large piece of land to experiment with education and living off the land.

Homeschooling vs Traditional Education

In this section, the speakers discuss homeschooling as an alternative to traditional education. They share their experience with homeschooling their own children and express interest in joining or starting an expat school.

Homeschooling Experience

  • The speakers currently homeschool their children.
  • They found that homeschooling one hour per day was enough for their children to stay ahead when they returned to school.

Alternative Education Options

  • The speakers express interest in joining or starting an expat school.
  • They criticize traditional schools for not teaching enough material despite long hours spent there.

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The Benefits and Drawbacks of Moving Away from Family

In this section, the speaker discusses the benefits and drawbacks of moving away from family.

Bonds Between Sisters

  • The bonds between sisters are powerful.
  • The benefits of moving away outweigh the drawbacks in terms of these bonds.

Disappointment Among Family Members

  • The speaker's parents are heartbroken that they moved away with their children.
  • Emily's parents are supportive and understanding.
  • The speaker's brother has two girls who used to spend time with their cousins regularly when they lived in the same city.

Missing Regular Visits and Friendships

  • The kids talk on the phone occasionally with their cousins or friends, but it is few and far between.
  • Regular visits, friendships, cousin bonds are missed.

What is the Point of Life?

In this section, the speaker talks about what is important in life.

Importance of Family

  • One answer to what is important in life is family.
  • Immediate family (own children) as well as extended family give meaning to life.

Moral Stance on Vaccination

  • Taking a vaccination may not hurt statistically but it's a moral stance.
  • Compliance would make life easier but going against morals isn't worth it.

Going Against Morals for Easier Life?

  • Compliance would mean having a great life in Canada with all things loved including jobs, vehicles, private school for kids, friendships etc.
  • But taking that path leads somewhere else.

Vitality Through Non-compliance

In this section, the speaker talks about how non-compliance makes him feel more vital.

Compliance vs Non-compliance

  • Compliance would mean feeling like a shell of a man.
  • Non-compliance makes the speaker feel more vital.
  • Actions of each individual lead us down a path.

Inspiration from Jordan Peterson

  • The speaker is inspired by Jordan Peterson and his talks about Alexander Solstice's experience in the gulags.
  • Little actions of each person have an impact on the world.

The Importance of Resisting Government Control

In this section, the speakers discuss their concerns about government control and the potential abuse of power that could result from compliance with government mandates.

Compliance vs. Resistance

  • The speakers express concern about the potential for abuse of power by governments if people comply with mandates without question.
  • They discuss how Central Bank digital currency and social credit scores in China are examples of how governments can use technology to exert control over citizens.
  • One speaker expresses a desire to resist government control at all costs, even if it means risking their life.
  • The other speaker acknowledges that there may be situations where compliance is necessary to protect one's children, but emphasizes the importance of resisting when possible.

Making Sacrifices for Children

  • The speakers discuss scenarios where they would be willing to make sacrifices for their children, such as getting a fake vaccine pass or breaking the law to survive in a system where compliance is required.
  • They acknowledge the difficulty of being a parent and leading children down a path, but also recognize that who one is married to can affect decision-making.

Fulfillment Through Travel

  • One speaker shares their desire to take their children somewhere outside of Canada to show them how most kids in the world live and help them appreciate what they have.

Overall, this section highlights concerns about government control and emphasizes the importance of resisting when possible while acknowledging that there may be situations where compliance is necessary.

Making the Decision to Leave

In this section, the speaker discusses how he and his partner made the decision to leave their current situation.

The Weight of Responsibility

  • The speaker felt responsible for any negative outcomes that could result from leaving.
  • When his partner gave him permission to leave without blame, it lifted a weight off his shoulders.

The Power of Partnership

  • Making decisions together as partners is more powerful than making them alone.
  • Having a common goal or vision can give focus and direction.

Seeking Emotional Support

  • Men may seek practical solutions while women may provide emotional support in decision-making.
  • The speaker did not confide much in female friends but talked about leaving with co-workers and family members.

Considering Leaving vs. Actually Leaving

In this section, the speaker talks about the difference between considering leaving and actually taking steps towards leaving.

Talk vs. Action

  • Many people talk about leaving but do not take practical steps towards it.
  • The speaker was serious about leaving and took practical steps such as talking to people on the ground in potential new locations.

Practical Steps Towards Leaving

  • Once the decision was made, everything fell into place quickly within three weeks.
  • Despite feeling like Little House on the Prairie had ended, they continued talking for two hours after deciding to end their conversation soon.

Decision Making in Traveling as a Couple

In this section, the couple discusses how they make decisions while traveling and what their individual strengths are.

Individual Strengths

  • Tom is good at seeking out adventure and planning activities.
  • The speaker is good at organization, planning, and handling financial matters.
  • The speaker's background in accounting helps with managing finances.

Income While Traveling

  • The couple left Canada without any income lined up.
  • The speaker's employer contacted her six weeks after leaving to offer consulting work that can be done remotely.
  • There is no long-term plan for income, but the couple believes they can make it work by being open to opportunities.

Opportunities in El Salvador

  • There are opportunities for starting businesses such as real estate or property management due to lack of information available to most people.
  • Being open to trying something different can lead to new opportunities.

Helping Vulnerable Women and Children

In this section, the speaker talks about her desire to help vulnerable women and children in El Salvador. She shares her experiences of encountering women who find themselves pregnant without any support and expresses her interest in exploring ways to provide assistance.

Exploring Ways to Help

  • The speaker expresses her interest in exploring ways to help vulnerable women and children in El Salvador.
  • She shares her experiences of encountering women who find themselves pregnant without any support.
  • The speaker talks about the need for initiatives that can help locals find a good income, such as learning English and computer skills.
  • She mentions Phil Post and Alzante Love's initiative of teaching computer skills, English, and life skills.

Returning to Nursing?

In this section, the speaker discusses the possibility of returning to nursing. She talks about how nursing is a skill that can be taken anywhere but also acknowledges that the pay may not be as good as it was in Canada.

Considering Nursing Again

  • The speaker considers whether she would ever start working as a nurse again.
  • She mentions meeting a taxi driver who used to be an RN and said that being a taxi driver paid better than working as a nurse in Mexico.

Providing Healthcare Assistance

In this section, the speaker talks about her interest in providing healthcare assistance. She shares her experiences of doing outreach work related to healthcare before becoming a trained nurse.

Interest in Healthcare Assistance

  • The speaker mentions someone on Bitcoin Twitter who started a dental clinic in El Salvador.
  • She talks about her interest in providing healthcare assistance, especially to those who live remotely and may not have access or funds to seek out a hospital or clinic.

Reflecting on the Journey

In this section, the speaker reflects on her journey and shares her thoughts on whether she would want to go back to her old life if she could.

Grateful for the Journey

  • The speaker reflects on whether she would want to go back to her old life if she could and says that she wouldn't.
  • She explains that all the bad stuff that happened led them to pursue their adventure as a family, which they had always wanted but were too scared to begin.

Vision for a Freedom Community

In this section, Tom and Emily discuss their vision for a freedom community and the possibility of creating similar communities around the world.

Creating a Beacon of Freedom

  • Salvador could become a beacon for the rest of the world as to what could be possible if we embrace freedom.

Pursuing Life with Freedom

  • Give people the freedom to pursue the life they want for their families.
  • Live in a place where you feel secure and free to pursue your desired life.
  • Have the freedom to travel around the world and see other parts of it.

Building Communities Around Bitcoin

  • People are building communities that use Bitcoin as currency inspired by what happened in El Salvador with Bitcoin beach.
  • The goal is to have a network of freedom communities around the world that can be traveled from one to another.

Providing Jobs and Education

  • Create a freedom-minded community that provides jobs for friends and family who want to leave their home country.
  • Provide an English-speaking school for children so families can privately school their kids.

Advice on Making a Similar Jump

In this section, Tom gives advice on making a similar jump towards living in another country.

Look into Residency Before Leaving

  • Start looking into residency before leaving your home country or abroad.
  • Having residency will make things easier when moving abroad.

Plan B: Second Residency

  • Think about having a second residency as a backup plan.
  • Start learning another language, even if it's only for 10 minutes a day.

Contact Information

  • Tom can be reached at @menscoachtom on Twitter.
  • Emily's substack is Life Lessons from Abroad.

Meeting New Friends in El Salvador

In this section, the speaker expresses gratitude for meeting new friends in El Salvador and talks about his plans to bring his family back for a longer visit.

Gratitude for New Friends

  • The speaker expresses gratitude for meeting new friends in El Salvador.
  • He thanks the person he is talking to for their kindness and hospitality.

Plans to Bring Family Back

  • The speaker plans to bring his whole family back to El Salvador for a longer visit.
  • He wants to spend more time with the people he has met and bond with them further.
  • The speaker believes that the people of El Salvador are an awesome group of people and he enjoys spending time with them.