Nienke(28)

I was 26, burned out after four years as an account manager at an advertising agency in Zwolle. My therapist recommended a sabbatical. I chose the Azores because almost nobody I knew had ever been there — exactly what I needed.

Sao Miguel is breathtaking. Green volcanic craters, hot springs in the middle of nature, whales off the coast. The island has 140,000 inhabitants and feels like a world of its own. I rented a small cottage in Furnas, near the famous hot springs, for €450 per month.

During my sabbatical I completed my yoga certification online. I started giving classes on the beach and at the thermal baths. Word of mouth did the rest — within three months I had a regular group of twenty students, a mix of locals and expats.

The Azores have a special tax regime. As a resident of an autonomous region you pay less IRS (income tax) than on the mainland — up to 30% reduction on rates. For my modest income as a yoga instructor that makes a big difference.

Integration on a small island happens fast. Everyone knows everyone. My neighbor Maria teaches me Azorean Portuguese (very different from standard Portuguese!) and I give her daughter yoga classes in return. The island mentality is warm, but you do need to make an effort.

I never ended my sabbatical. My old life in Zwolle feels like a memory belonging to someone else. Here I earn less, but I live more. It sounds like an Instagram quote, but it is simply true.