One day you’re going to die. Escape the rat race and go on an adventure. Tomorrow, you’ll be one day older.
ABOUT WEERI
I’m a jack of all trades who lives by four rules. I believe the key to happiness and a fulfilling life is living free, being open, staying curious, and getting creative. In short, Live Like a FOCCER.
My goal in everything I create is to make people happy. I try to achieve this through my stories, videos, and businesses by helping people grow as a person and by connecting people in real life.
You can continue to learn about my story below.
MY STORY
I used to do exactly what was expected of me —or at least what I thought other people expected of me. You know, doing your best at school, dreaming of a career, and stuff. The only problem, though, is that I was a six out of ten kind of student. I spent most of my time doing things that were not in line with my projected career path.
I should have become a real estate developer or architect. Instead, I became a cook in my friend’s restaurant. Putting my uni degree aside to work in a postcard-sized kitchen surely wasn’t on my mom’s list of dreams she had for me. But when people tell you they love your food…that’s where you get addicted.
Having my own restaurant was one of my big dreams. This bubble burst after a year of working as a cook. The reward in money versus the stress and effort don’t add up. Some people might think I’m crazy, but surely I’m not that crazy to work like this for 40 years.
The feeling of addiction was not because people filled my ego by telling me about my food. I got addicted to the idea that I could learn anything through YouTube videos and blog posts and then get paid for what I enjoyed doing. Pandora’s box was not safe in my hands.
My mind is filled with ideas. And I like to call myself an optimistic pessimist. So, on the one hand, I think I can do anything that someone else has done. On the other hand, I always doubt myself. This cocktail led me to believe I could become the next Anthony Bourdain in travel documentary-making.
To deal with my self-doubt, I did the only thing that worked: I took a deep breath and jumped. I canceled my apartment, quit my job as a cook, bought a camera, and booked a one-way ticket to my roots. You might think this was a bit over the top, but for me, it felt like the only way to break with the past and look for the new.
There was still one thing from the past that I needed to fix. I booked a one-way ticket to my roots for a reason. Growing up as a Thai kid in The Netherlands, I’ve always felt different. Most people didn’t treat me differently, but if you have a different skin color and family situation, you start thinking.