Ever since I've been very young I wanted to live in the global West. At first England, then USA became more lucrative place. I've spent 10 years trying to move to USA. Sacrificed a lot for it. Lots of self doubt, whether I can make it? Is it a right decision? What about my friends and family? I knew about some of the problems before I moved, but obviously not all of them.

I moved to San Francisco about 5 years ago. I can tell you, it was all WORTH IT! I'm still amazed by the city and the life around me. 5 years later it still impresses me. I feel like I'm living in a movie, and I'm a main character in a movie! I became a better version of myself. I can't imagine being myself if I'd stay back in my country.

p.s. those are my feelings. Obviously life around me is not ideal. There is no such place as ideal, but it works for me despite many-many-many problems that I have in my life right now.

I moved from Singapore to Japan in expectation of a better, free-er life and those expectations have been met. I have a house on fairly large piece of property that belongs to me. I have two cars that I often go for long drives on. Things that would be close to impossible back in Singapore.

I've also moved internally within Japan multiple times each time for better job prospects and those have also turned out well.

The one thing that hasn't changed much is myself. I'm not a social person and take time to get used to people. Particularly, I don't enjoy alcohol and thus do not frequent the local drinking holes. That has definitely had an effect on my social circle.

I have only one advice for you, if you're expecting change, you have to be prepared to change yourself too.

I'm not American. But anyway. I moved to another town 100 km away from the one I grew up in.

I had no friends there and was bored so I started dating* and doing sports. I was lonely and miserable for a while until I met my wife. From this time my life started making more sense.

The change of scenery helped. Had I stayed I would probably still be single and complaining about not meeting anyone interesting.

* The dating itself was a miserable failure, but I met a woman offline by chance who didn't do online dating.

Unless you have scaffolding, it's risky. Scaffolding can include a solid job (one where you aren't going to be downsized a month after moving there), family, or you're from the area in the past.

It will be important to make friends quickly.

I've seen too many people who want to "start over" by moving, then crash and burn because they don't have any realistic plans or contingencies (which can include money - moving is expensive, especially if you don't have a job).

Moved from Gdynia to Warsaw in pursuit of a job. Left the family and friends, made me lonely. I suppose this is down to particular company culture. I used to work at an American corporation and we often socialized after work. In the new job, while people are as fiendly as there, there's no will to meet up outside the office. Bummer.