From California to Prague: Mariko's Global Adventure of Self-Discovery

Episode #0003

What would make someone leave the sun-soaked beaches of California—a place many consider paradise—to explore distant corners of the world? For Mariko Amekodommo, it began with a simple invitation from a friend: "You just got divorced, why don't you come with me?" That first trip to Vietnam sparked a journey that would take her from Los Angeles to Southeast Asia, India, and eventually Prague.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mariko about her extraordinary path as an expat. Her story offers both inspiration and practical insights for anyone considering life abroad.

The First Step: Leaving Hollywood Behind

Before becoming an expat, Mariko had built an impressive career in Los Angeles as a culinary TV host and celebrity chef. Working with wealthy Hollywood stars might sound glamorous, but as Mariko explains, the reality was different.

"Working in Hollywood for really wealthy people, you don't actually get paid that well," she shares. "And the bills are so expensive. My cell phone bill in Los Angeles was $200 a month. Now it's unlimited for $30 a month."

Despite having achieved her professional goals in LA, Mariko felt ready for something new. After experiencing her first international travel at 35 (yes, she got her first passport at 35!), she caught the travel bug. A few years later, after a night of "a few drinks," she revamped her LinkedIn profile to highlight her corporate finance background and started applying for jobs abroad.

"I started instant applying to jobs in Thailand, Vietnam, China," she recalls. "I was like, let's just see where it will take me."

The Leap: One Suitcase to Vietnam

When a Vietnamese company offered her a position with a salary that would allow her to live comfortably, Mariko took the plunge. With no relocation package or corporate housing—benefits she now knows are standard for international moves—she bought her own one-way ticket and arrived with just "one suitcase, my tennis bag, and a laptop."

Her move from celebrity events to a structured corporate environment in Vietnam was a dramatic shift. "I went from doing celebrity events to working in a fintech company in Vietnam—rooms of hundreds of people just lined up in perfect rows. You have to check in at this time, check out at this time."

The contrast between traveling as a tourist and actually living abroad quickly became apparent: "When you're backpacking, you're having beers and noodles at 10 o'clock in the morning, getting five-euro massages. Then it's like, okay, now you're traveling to work on one of those little scooters at eight o'clock in the morning. It's a whole different life and routine."

Adapting to a New Reality

In Vietnam, Mariko found herself immersed in a vibrant tech community with digital nomads and entrepreneurs from around the world. Her social calendar filled with tech events, Bitcoin meetups, and workshops where people were eager to connect and collaborate.

Her lifestyle changed dramatically too. She went from preparing meals for celebrities to having housekeepers visit twice daily and a personal cook prepare her food. She lived in a modern penthouse apartment for $500-600 per month, controlling everything from music to blinds via her phone.

After two years in Vietnam—working for the company and then freelancing—Mariko's life took another unexpected turn when she met "a really cute guy" at a travel tech conference. Their relationship led her to move to India, where she would spend the next four years.

Challenges in India: Cultural Differences and Career Obstacles

India proved to be a more difficult transition. Mariko had expected to find high-paying expat positions as she had read that "expats in India are paid the highest." What she didn't realize was that those packages came with specific circumstances.

"The reason they pay you so much is because it's going to be very difficult," she explains. "They'll give you a three-year management contract. They will put you in the fanciest apartment, give you a car, give you a driver. They will give you every comfort to make it bearable for living there."

Without such a package, Mariko faced significant challenges in finding work. She encountered cultural biases during interviews: "They would ask me my age straight out. 'When are you having children? You're not having children? Well, you should start having children.'"

Even more surprising were the employment terms: "We're gonna hire you as chief marketing officer... we won't pay for the first year." According to a recruiter friend, this practice was common because many qualified candidates had wealthy backgrounds and didn't need immediate income.

Pandemic in India: A Test of Resilience

When COVID-19 hit, Mariko experienced one of the most challenging periods of her expat journey. India was severely impacted, and as a foreigner, she faced additional obstacles, including difficulty accessing vaccines and disappointing support from the U.S. embassy.

"The US response was so horrible," she recounts. "Every other country was offering repatriation flights... the US ended up charging to take this flight, but they did not know actually how much they were going to charge. I had some friends who got bills after the fact for 300 US dollars, some for 12,000 US dollars."

During this period, Mariko and her partner moved from Mumbai to Goa, a remote beach town where they could be in nature and away from crowds. The experience made her reflect on the varying levels of support different countries provide their citizens abroad.

The Czech Chapter: Finding Balance in Prague

Despite the idyllic beach life in Goa, Mariko and her now-husband decided they weren't ready for "retirement" living. They wanted new challenges and to be closer to Mariko's family in the US, who she hadn't seen in four years.

"We were kind of like, wow, we're not ready to be retired. We need something more," she explains. "If we stay here too long, it's gonna be easy to get sucked in."

Her husband secured a job in Prague, a city neither had visited before. Mariko prepared for the worst after reading negative experiences in expat forums, but her reality proved entirely different: "Everything was incredible and amazing. The people we met were amazing. The landlords we met were amazing. The house we found is amazing."

Lessons from a Global Journey

Through her experiences across continents, Mariko has developed a philosophy about expat life and personal growth.

"I have learned that I can do anything," she reflects. "I have complete confidence in myself that I can basically do whatever I need to do... Every time something hard was starting to happen, it's just like, okay, that's hard, but there's something better at the end of it."

Her advice to those considering a similar path? "You have to choose the type of hard that you want in your life. Because it's not gonna be easy, but there's also gonna be so much that you get out of it. Things that you learn, people that you meet, things that you learn about yourself."

Mariko's definition of happiness has evolved through her travels: "For me, happiness is having freedom to be where I want, to do what I want, to live a life without limitations."

Cultural Adaptations and Surprising Discoveries

Like many expats, Mariko has adopted practices from her host countries. Her most firmly embraced cultural habit? Taking off shoes inside the house—a practice she became so committed to after Vietnam that she once turned away American friends who refused to comply.

Food has been another area of adaptation. In Vietnam, she got used to having noodles and rice for breakfast. In Europe, she rediscovered bread: "When I lived in LA, I didn't have a piece of bread in 10 years because it would make me sick. And now living in Europe, bread is a part of life."

She's also embraced the European approach to health and work-life balance: "I know people here that if they have jobs that are stressing them out, their doctors can prescribe them to go hang out at a wellness resort for like three weeks... paid for by insurance."

A New Perspective on "Home"

When asked why someone should consider moving to Prague, Mariko's enthusiasm is evident: "If I look out my office window, I'm looking at one of the oldest forts that used to guard the city. If I look out my terrace, I'm looking at the Prague Castle."

She describes a city rich with history, where you might casually walk past a building where Mozart or Einstein once lived. The walkability, safety, and beauty of Prague make it feel "picturesque" and sometimes "it doesn't even feel real."

Yet despite her love for her current home, Mariko understands the value of continuing to grow and challenge herself: "Prague is great, it's been very great, but I also know that one day there's gonna be a time that it's like, okay, this is comfortable. So what's gonna be the new place?"

Finding Your Own Path

Mariko's journey from California to Prague with stops in Vietnam and India illustrates the unpredictable and rewarding nature of expat life. Her story highlights that while living abroad comes with its challenges, it also offers invaluable opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and the freedom to define your own path.

For those considering a similar journey, Mariko offers this perspective: "You will never grow from being comfortable. That is the worst place to be."

Mariko Amekodommo hosts culinary events in Prague and offers food tours through Get Your Guide. You can find her on Instagram at @MarikoPresents or visit her website at maricopresents.com.

Have you lived abroad or are you considering taking the leap? What challenges or opportunities do you anticipate? Share your thoughts in the comments below!