Hi, I’m Sam. In 2024, my partner Spencer and I packed up our lives in Kansas City, sold almost everything we owned (house, cars, furniture, you name it), grabbed our cat, and bought one-way tickets to the Albanian Riviera. We weren’t just looking for a new place to live. We were ready for a whole new way of life.

Before making the leap, I spent over a decade working in eCommerce, digital marketing, and business consulting. I helped big brands pull off complex, multi-million-dollar projects, and along the way I learned how to navigate tricky systems, build valuable connections, and spot opportunities others miss. Now I use those same skills to help people like you figure out if life in Albania could be your next chapter.

Through Smile Abroad, I offer one-on-one chats, expat meetups, and connections to trusted local experts, including our favorite immigration attorney, so you can get real answers and a clear plan for your move. No fluff, no hard sell, just the kind of honest, first-hand advice I wish I had when we were planning ours.

When I’m not working, there’s a good chance I’m somewhere in Europe behind the wheel of my 2004 Mercedes S320 CDI. We bought it from the original owner in Germany, and it’s a dream come true since the diesel version was never available in the USA. In fact, one of the funniest reasons we moved here was discovering that more than a third of the cars on the road in Albania are vintage Mercedes. I’ve been obsessed with the brand since I was a kid and have owned at least 30 different examples over the years. So yes, it’s safe to say I’m living the dream.