I always thought I'd settle down in Canada. Living in Japan for a year changed my mind.

Living in Japan changed my plans for the future. Alessa Hickman After spending most of my life in Ottawa, I moved to Japan expecting to head home after one year. Living abroad showed me how much I value spontaneity, travel, and a life that feels like my own. Now, I'm heading back to Canada with a different perspective on what I want from my future. I was born and raised in Ottawa, and aside from a handful of vacations abroad and summer road trips to nearby Canadian cities , it's where I spent almost all of my time. Most of my family lives there, and the relatives who don't are only a few hours away. Growing up, the path modeled to me was pretty straightforward: Stay close to home, take vacations when you can, and build your life nearby.