At 18, she dreamed about moving to Japan. When she turned 50, she quit her job and bought an abandoned home near Osaka.

• Chani had been feeling stuck in a rut, working 10-hour days as a Japanese language teacher in Australia.
• With her 50th birthday around the corner, she decided to quit her job and move to Japan alone.
• She bought an abandoned house, or akiya, for about $13,400, and says she “manifested” her dream life.

Last year, right before her 50th birthday, Chani decided something in her life had to change.

She had been working as a Japanese or abandoned homes, in the countryside. The nation’s .

“There was no woman my age,” Chani said. “Where are the women who are in their middle age who are buying houses? There was no one that I could follow to get guidance.”

That encouraged her to share her own journey online.

“I thought there might be someone like me who wanted to do this but didn’t have anyone that they could look at and get information from, she added.

She has a piece of advice for others who are also interested in moving abroad: Don’t rush into the decision.

“For me, it was all about having that long connection with Japan and knowing what I was getting myself into,” Chani said.

That said, a lot of problems can be solved, and there’s no need to let fear stand in the way of a new adventure — especially if it’s a lifelong dream, she added.

Looking back on her journey, Chani says she’s glad she found the courage to take the leap and build the life she’d always dreamed of.

“I’m really, really happy with life here in Japan, and I’ve gradually formed new friendships,” she said.

Of course, she wishes her family were here, too, but that’s OK because they stay connected via video calls and are planning to visit, she said.

“I sort of manifested it when I was 18, but then life got in the way,” she said. “But I guess it was always in the back of my mind. I do want to live out that dream life that I saw when I was 18, and I want to do that for myself.”

Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you’ve got a story to share, get in touch with me at agoh@businessinsider.com.