The thousands of miles are worth it for the student…
A student has opened up about her ‘quality of life’ since making the decision to move country and commute to school by plane.
With the cost of living crisis leading some to move into a dumpster and others upping sticks and setting sail on cruise ships in a bid to cut costs, others are deciding to move cities and brave a longer commute.
And we’re not just talking an extra 15 minutes on the train, some people are actually moving so far they have to fly into the city they work or study in – Nat Cedillo being one of them.
Cedillo and her partner Santiago used to live in Brooklyn, New York, however, they moved to Mexico City and the 30-year-old now travels to and from to be able to attend her law school classes.
Cedillo told The New York Post: “It’s exhausting, but worth it.”
Cedillo takes a Monday morning flight into JFK Airport and then on Tuesday night travels back to Mexico City in order to make her class.
And the semester lasted 13 weeks – meaning she’s travelled by plane a staggering 26 times and completed a round-trip of over 4,000 miles.
She’s had to pay for airfare alongside lodging and food, having reportedly spent over $2,000 so far.
Cedillo explained she and her husband ‘love New York’ but weren’t even living in ‘the most lavish neighborhood’ and ‘everything was so expensive’.
Now, living in Mexico City, she and her partner are able to ‘enjoy a better quality of life’ – although, Cedillo notes it is the days she’s ‘not commuting’ which ‘are the best’.
And Cedillo isn’t the only person to make the move and risk the commute in a bid to save some pennies and live a better quality of life.
Monday to Friday, AirAsia worker Racheal Kaur leaves her house in Penang, Malaysia, at around 5am and travels to the airport to fly to Kuala Lumpur, also in Malaysia – the journey taking 40 minutes – before flying home at the end of each day and getting back at around 7:00pm.
Breaking down her daily routine, the mom said: “Usually, I’m up around 4 am, 4:10 am, 4:15 am at the latest. And then, I am showered, dressed, and I leave my home by 5 am.
“And then I take a slow drive to the airport, boarding is at 5:55 am, so it gives me plenty of time to, you know, park my car, put on my shoes, walk over, get myself boarded, check into the flight, sit down.”
She resolved that not only does it help her save money, but it also means she can spend more time with her kids.
Maria Kovalchuk, a 20-year-old Ukrainian model who had been missing for over a week, has been found in Dubai in critical condition. Her family fears she may have been sexually assaulted, according to reports from Apostrophe, citing media and social media sources.
Kovalchuk was discovered in a hospital with severe injuries, including fractures to her arms, legs, and spine. She was found without identification or a phone and has reportedly undergone at least three complex surgeries. Currently, she is unable to speak.
Reports suggest that on March 9, she was last seen at a party in the company of two men. They have claimed to be modeling industry representatives.
The following day, she informed her mother that she planned to spend the night with them. However, after that, all communication ceased. She was scheduled to travel to Thailand on March 11, but she never boarded the flight. Her family, alarmed by the circumstances, suspects she may have been sexually exploited.
According to the Telegram channel Mash, Kovalchuk was allegedly involved in explicit adult work in Dubai, catering to extreme fetishes.
While details remain unclear, some reports suggest she may have attempted to escape from clients who were assaulting her at a high-end party. It is believed she may have been involved in so-called “porta potty” gatherings—elite parties where women are reportedly paid up to $30,000 to attend, often facing extreme forms of exploitation.