People often yearn for slower life paces. But moving from bustling Singapore to a small town in Scandinavia is likely too slow — and too frigid — for most.

For Weisi Low (27 years old), living in the Arctic provided exhilarating experiences and an increased appreciation of the outdoors.

After growing up fewer than 100 miles from the equator, Low now lives in Longyearbyen, Norway — a town of 2,300 residents that is one of the world’s northernmost permanent settlements. It can be found on the Svalbard Archipelago which lies east of Greenland about 650 mi from the North Pole.

Low was aware of what she was doing. She visited Svalbard during its dark season in 2017, which covers the area from November to January.

Low said, “I was always fascinated by traveling to remote areas and I wanted to try something new.”

At home she thought about Norway but realized she liked the views from high-rises over those of snow-capped mountains. Low, who graduated from college in 2019, moved to Norway with 3,000 Singapore Dollars ($2,229) as well as a backpack of 50 liters.

She said, “I did not want to live a life in which I woke up every morning looking at buildings after buildings.” “I was aware from an early age that I would not be enthused by the standard route taken.”

She gave her new adventure a timeline too — three years. She said, “If my plans fall apart, I will lose three years of my existence.”

Weisi was a tour guide on a bicycle and a salesperson for arctic gear to make ends meet in Svalbard. Additionally, Sheisi works remotely with clients from all around the globe as a marketing manager.

According to her, she printed copies of her resume when I arrived and distributed them around Longyearbyen. This allowed me to meet and grow my network.

She said that everyone is familiar with each other because it’s small, tight-knit and just like Singapore. One of my greatest highlights was forging new friendships and meeting people from different backgrounds.

Low is able to enjoy adventures in the outdoors in places where polar bears can roam free.

The glaciers are completely frozen in the winter so you can drive right over them. Low said that they hiked up Longyearbreen glacier and found a cave under the ice where they had coffee. Low said that the glaciers can melt during summer. You can also see water flowing into rivers and oceans. It is truly beautiful.

Low said that the Northern Lights can also be seen. She said, “During the Polar Season, the lights can be seen in the middle-of-the afternoon because the sky is still dark for many months.”

Low has been able to develop her independence and prioritise her life by spending the last two years living in Svalbard.

“Svalbard has shown me the value of a balanced lifestyle,” she explained. She said, “I prioritise my friends and my work but…also… my passion for adventure.”

Many were forced to change their lives by the Covid-19 flu epidemic. Filipina Christine Cunanan, however, took an even greater leap of faith and moved over 7,000 miles away from her home in order to open a Spanish hotel.

Cunanan said that Manila turned overnight into a ghost city and all activities, from birthday celebrations to work, went online.

After the Manila international airport was reopened she booked a ticket to Tokyo where she is the editor-in chief of a magazine about travel.

She decided that she would like to buy a Spanish house, despite not having any ties to Spain. Spain was on her mind even though she had already been there twice in the past before pandemic closed border around the world.

She said, “When I returned home from Tokyo, before I even unpacked my bags, I searched for properties in Spain online.” “When this property was available online in Granada I instantly thought, ‘Wow! This is amazing.’

A British couple owned the house, which was allowed to operate as a small hotel. However, it was used as a private residence.

Cunanan said, “It was perfect,” despite the fact that he had never been to this region before.

She said, “People might think that I am exaggerating but… all the people I needed to move my business and start my own company…appeared in me at precisely the right moment.”

Cunanan said that she sold the property to a lawyer she hadn’t met, and an acquaintance who she “spoke three words” at a party one year prior took over the keys. Cunanan bought the house blindly.

She stated that “The best friend of this acquaintance came along to help him and hasn’t left the property since Day 1.” “He is now my business partner.”