Austin Zeng, a 32-year-old programmer and freelancer, has adopted a unique lifestyle that he calls “shuttling” between Singapore and Tokyo. In an exclusive interview with Business Insider, Zeng explained how this alternative to the popular digital nomad lifestyle has clear advantages for him.
Zeng, a Singaporean citizen and a permanent resident in Japan, first moved to Tokyo for college 12 years ago. Now, he bounces between the two cities every four to six weeks, taking advantage of the relatively short six-and-a-half-hour flight. He has a part-time job as a programmer for a Japanese tourism startup, which takes up around 28 working hours a week and can be done remotely. The rest of his time is dedicated to freelance gigs, including additional programming projects, translation work, and selling sake in Singapore. He also gives lectures about career development to foreign students in Japan.
Zeng believes that being a shuttler has clear benefits over being a digital nomad. Living arrangements are more stable, and Zeng has built up a deep network in both countries, giving him access to various opportunities. While he admits that maintaining friendships in both cities can be challenging, he believes that the urgency of knowing he’ll be leaving soon encourages him to hustle both professionally and socially.
In-person face time is critical in both Japan and Singapore, and Zeng’s arrangement allows him to maintain strong connections in both cities. He has found that shuttling is cheaper, easier, and a better fit for his lifestyle than the constantly moving digital nomad lifestyle, with the added benefit of providing a clearer safety net in case something goes wrong in either city.
Zeng’s unique approach to splitting his time between two cities may not be easy, but he considers himself lucky to have the skills and opportunities that allow him to successfully pursue this lifestyle. With his culturally agnostic programming skills and fluency in both Japanese and English, Zeng has found a sustainable and fulfilling way to live as a shuttler.