You’re Moving Where?
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The Rise of the Urban International Migrant
The conversation around globalization is like pollen in spring; it’s floating everywhere. Turn on any news channel and you'll find pundits, politicians, and professionals talking about how global the world has become. And they’re right. What once belonged to specific cities, states, or countries has now expanded to a broader, interconnected stage.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on how many people of color I encountered while living in South Korea. Most were young Black Americans, fresh out of college, but there were also a few in their thirties and forties—folks who had chosen to experience life abroad on their own terms. I remember meeting one young woman who applied for a job in Korea and didn’t tell a soul, not even her parents, until she was being dropped off at the airport. Extreme? Maybe. But I understood it. Sometimes, you have to protect your vision from the voices that might shrink it.
When I first landed in Seoul, I didn’t expect to see so many brown faces. But their presence helped make my home away from home manageable and meaningful. In many ways, my life in Korea mirrored my life in the U.S.—same social vibes, same fly Black community. But honestly, it was more diverse. The people, the experiences, the daily rhythm—it all expanded me. And connecting with other Black people abroad? That was an unexpected gift.
There’s a growing wave of young Black folks moving abroad—not just for jobs or school, but for freedom. Freedom to live life on their own terms. I call this movement the Urban International Migration, and experience the world with their own eyes.
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| Getty Image by Adam Hester |
Beyond Passports: A New Kind of Migration
Now, let’s be clear: migration is not new. People have been moving across borders for generations. But this particular wave is about lifestyle. Scholars call it Lifestyle Migration—a trend where individuals, often from privileged backgrounds, relocate not for survival but for self-actualization. As Benson and O’Reilly describe in their book Lifestyle Migration: Expectations, Aspirations and Experiences, it’s “about escape, escape from somewhere and something, while simultaneously an escape to self-fulfillment and a new life... a rediscovery of oneself, of personal potential, or of one’s true desires.”
But Urban International Migration is different. It’s rooted in the desire of young urbanites—often Black, often from major U.S. cities- to redefine success and freedom. These individuals aren’t just escaping systems; they’re reimagining life. They want to see the world with their own eyes, not through TV screens or secondhand stories. They’re not just seeking a lifestyle, they’re seeking liberation.
Living Without the Lens of Conformity
Urban International Migrants are free spirits who view the world through an unrestricted lens. They’re not overly concerned with checking off societal boxes—mortgage, 9-to-5, car note, rinse, repeat. They’re carving their own path. They’re trendsetters redefining what it means to "make it," choosing movement, meaning, and mindfulness over monotony.
They are global citizens, truth-seekers, and spiritual disruptors. They aren’t choosing between red or blue pills—they’re choosing to opt out of the system entirely and create their own matrix. One built on joy, exploration, healing, and alignment.
During my time in Korea, I met people who left behind the “land of milk and honey” to create their own version of paradise. They weren’t waiting for permission to live, they just did it. Many had never taught before but became English teachers. Why? Because it offered freedom, flexibility, and the chance to explore. Ironically, many of them felt more liberated teaching abroad (even at lower salaries) than they ever had working high-paying jobs back home.
They weren’t working to live. They were living.
I Am Not Settling—I Am Soaring
Now, years later, I look back on my three-year experience in South Korea with deep appreciation. I thought it would be temporary—a year, max. But one year turned into three. And when people ask if I’m “over” the international life, my answer is simple: Not at all.
Like many Urban International Migrants, I’m not interested in settling for a life that doesn’t reflect who I truly am. I’m committed to living a life without borders—physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Urban International Migrant:
An urbanite who migrates abroad to define life on their own terms; one who integrates travel, intercultural engagement, spiritual growth, and personal development into their lifestyle; someone who chooses to live rather than merely exist.
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