How I became a Millionaire… Overnight! 3 easy steps

 

Step One

Move to Asia

 

Step Two

Have $100 USD

 

Step 3

Exchange it to Vietnam Dong

 

PRESTO - $2,000,000 (VD)

As I exchanged my money and received over 12 million Dong, I was a bit flabbergasted at what to do with it all. My first instinct was to change it all into the smallest bills possible and then roll around in it all. Granted, that is very materialistic but how many people can say they've rolled around in millions of dollars. Most are worried about not losing their money so it's all safely locked up in a vault somewhere.

My trip was an amazing experience, from Taiwan to the Philippines to Vietnam. As someone mentioned, "crows fly in a straight line…… Adrian… Not so much" *cough Robb cough.* I do have a tendency to take the long way around, but it always leads to great experiences. This time, I sleeping in an airport lounge that I was physically escorted to and physically stopped from leaving until it was 'time.'

 

 

Again, a story for another time.

This post is about money, and how numbers are really meaningless. So far, I've been in places that 1USD is equal to 8 Hong Kong Dollars, 29 New Taiwanese Dollars, 4000 Cambodian Riel and 20,000 Vietnamese Dong. I can't wait to find out what it's like in Laos, Thailand and other Asian nations. Growing up, I always thought being a millionaire is the ultimate goal in life. Money, while not all important certainly makes life easier. And the magic number to me was always $1,000,000.

Now, as an adult, 1 million doesn't seem as much anymore. Even USD. Granted, I have nowhere near that much money. Actually I'm closer to a million dollars in debt than I am in savings (thank you school loans). That being said, money doesn't mean as much as it did when I was a kid. Maybe it's because I'm on my own, not depending on my wonderful parents for everything I need in the world. Maybe it's because I've see how I can live on very little, compared to what I did in the US, and I'm just as happy if not happier. Maybe it's because I have seen people in SE Asia (Cambodia for starters) that live on less in 2 years than then amount of money I spent in one weekend in New Orleans for a bachelor/bachelorette party last year.

It's not about the money anymore. It’s about the people, it's about the experiences I have, it’s about making each day count to the fullest. Today I am a millionaire. Tomorrow, who knows? The only thing I'm sure of is, today I'm happy. I'm happy because of where I am, what I am doing, who I have supporting me (emotionally) and the hope I have for what tomorrow will bring.