Woman Moves Abroad to be Closer to Family. Then Dad Surprises Her with an Unforgettable Gesture (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Anais and her father.Photo:Courtesy of Anais D’Ottavio

Courtesy of Anais D’Ottavio

After 15 years of living in America, Anaïs D’Ottavio decided she wanted to move to Senegal, West Africa, to be close to her family.

“I was expecting to come to the new apartment with just a mattress, some soap and a towel,” Anaïs exclusively tells PEOPLE. “I think I got extremely emotional because I had come from a place where I was in survival mode,” she adds, referring to her move from Texas. “I just felt extremely loved in that moment.”

The decision to move comes after six years of working at a corporate defense law firm. But Anaïs felt a growing sense of stagnation and a yearning for something more.

“It was a combination of things,” she explains. “I recognized that there were so many opportunities lacking in my life as I met international people. I was really pulling from as much as I could because I wasn’t actually experiencing traveling.”

Anais D’Ottavio and her father.Courtesy of Anais D’Ottavio

Before making the move, Anaïs spoke to her dad about her needs, being careful not to overstep. “I remember asking my dad, ‘When I get there, all I’ll need is probably just like a mattress.' " Coming from a place of hyper-independence and having lived in the U.S. without financial help from family, Anaïs’ expectations were minimal.

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Since moving to Senegal, Anaïs has also embraced the challenges of adapting to a new country, navigating technological hurdles and adjusting to a different work schedule to accommodate colleagues in the U.S.

Anais D’Ottavio hugging her father.Courtesy of Anais D’Ottavio

Despite the adjustments, Anaïs is thriving in her new home, building meaningful relationships.

“Not only did being closer to my family expand my understanding of the social world, but it’s also attracting more people to me now,” she shares. “I already have a solid group of people that I’m starting to go out with and get to know.”

The experience has also allowed her to reflect on her own growth. “I’ve developed so much confidence as a person,” Anaïs reflects. “I feel like I can tackle any problems that come my way.”

For those looking for that extra push to do something as bold as Anaïs’ move, she encourages others to listen to their want for change.

“I think there needs to be a certain point in life where you really take a hard look at what’s going on in your life right now, and are like, does it make sense? Physically? Do you feel okay emotionally?" she says. “And if those things are not aligned, and you feel like there is a struggle, something has to change. Listen to that.”

source: people.com