A man who struggled to build a life for himself in Los Angeles told how he moved his family to the Netherlands without a job and realized he was wrong about the “American dream.”
Sky Govan, 38, from Chicago, has lived in Haarlem, a city outside Amsterdam, with his wife Sara and their young son for the past three years after being picked up and moved during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The YouTube creator admitted that starting over in a different country, where he had to adapt to a new language and culture, was one of the harder things he's done, but he has no regrets.
'All my life I've had this idea of the American dream, but three years ago I moved with my family to the The Netherlands, and I guess I was wrong,” he explained in a recent video. “I think we're all wrong about this idea of the American dream.”
Sky Govan, 38, moved from Los Angeles to the Netherlands with his wife Sara and their son during the COVID-19 pandemic
Govan said they were both “killing it in LA” and didn't need to move, but that they loved to travel and “always had the itch to live abroad.”
The YouTube creator admitted that Amsterdam was last on their list of places they wanted to move because they didn't want to live in 'another crowded place'
Govan said he and his wife were both “killing it in LA” and didn't need to move, but that they enjoyed traveling and “always had the itch to live abroad.”
He recalled how they considered moving to Ireland, England and Germany, and said Amsterdam was last on their list of places they wanted to move to.
Govan explained that he and his wife both grew up in big cities, and neither of them wanted to move to “another busy place” after living in LA.
They thought Amsterdam was 'way too crazy' for them, but that all changed when they visited Haarlem after the birth of their son.
“The moment we got here and just walked around, we both knew this was it,” he said, adding that the city was only a 15 or 20 minute train ride to Amsterdam.
However, a few months later, COVID hit and the reality of having to drop everything to move to another country set in.
Govan said they almost backed out of the move until he got a call from his best friend and mentor, who had just been fired from his job via email.
“When he told me he was fired, it just hurt a lot because I knew how invested he was in the company,” he explained.
After the birth of their son, they visited Haarlem and fell in love with the city, which is outside Amsterdam
Govan said the train from Haarlem to Amsterdam takes only 15-20 minutes
In preparation for their move, they opened a Dutch bank account and gave away the furniture in their Los Angeles apartment
After discussing a possible move, they agreed to use the money they had saved over the years to move to the Netherlands.
Govan set up a Dutch bank account with Bunq, a mobile banking company founded in Amsterdam, and found an apartment through Expat Housing.
Before they moved, they gave away the furniture in their Hollywood Hills apartment and he sold his bright yellow Acura NSX.
“We did all this with no jobs [in the Netherlands]he noted, and three years later they are still living there.
Govan said he also sold his bright yellow Acura NSX, noting they moved to the Netherlands without a job
Govan explained that this move made him realize that the American dream isn't about how much money you make or what car you drive – it's about how you feel in your heart.
“I feel like I'm living the American dream,” he said, “but I don't live in America.”
Govan explained that this move made him reevaluate what the American dream means to him.
“I don't think it's about little white picket fences and your house and what you drive or how much money you make,” he said.
“I don't think that's what the American dream is about. I think the American dream is here [your heart]. Call me corny, call me whatever you want, but I think it's all about where you find your home.
'What is your home? And [it’s] not really about stuff, because stuff is replaceable. That can all be replaced.'
“I feel like I'm living the American dream,” he added, “but I don't live in America.”