Vanlife Adventures: Two Singaporeans on the U.S. Road
Picture this: two Singaporean hustlers, a DIY dream machine, and the entire United States as their playground. Yee Jia and Gracia are turning their custom‑built van into a full‑time home and are driving the country like a pair of road‑trip superheroes.
Since April, the dynamic duo’s YouTube channel, The Proper Paupers, has been spilling tea on every pine cone and grizzly bear they meet. Stomp contributor Amber has been a die‑hard fan, chatting up the duo with a dash of Singaporean nostalgia.
Why “inspiring” is the right word
- A nine‑to‑five grind soothed the temptation? No. They were just itching for the “freedom” feeling that the open road offers.
- Amber says:
“Their story really spoke to me as I am trapped in a nine‑to‑five job and would really love to do what they are doing.”
- She’s hoping their adventure will spark a rebellious spark in her workplace colleagues.
Eager to connect, Stomp reached out to Yee Jia and Gracia by email. The parents of Singapore were just stunned:
“It is such a pleasant surprise that Singaporeans back home have heard of our journey across America in a tiny van.”
How the dream got rolling
Just last year, the pair made a bold move: “We decided to take the road less travelled to do vanlife here in America.” They’d built the van from scratch, learned how to use a screw‑driver (finally upgraded to a drill), and even installed custom wooden furniture.
Van‑life: handful of triumphs and epic fails
- “From not knowing how to use a screwdriver to building a custom studio setup.”
- They delve into electrical wiring, learning, and some “messy” setups that eventually shine through.
- While rolling across the land, they keep Singapore alive in their hearts. “We’re such massive fans of PCK. It’s a godsend to watch PCK on MeWatch overseas after being away from home for such a long time.”
Colorado Chronicles
A highlight: Yee Jia’s parents joined him for three weeks in Colorado. The father‑in‑law chief Commentary: “This is day seven of my parents being here. We’ve stayed in four hotels and three nights in the van, and they hate it.”
Yet, in Nevada’s neon glow, the old folks finally warmed up to the escape:
“We’re still on a mission to show people we can do this on a budget.”
What’s next? Where’s the new horizon?
All that remains is to archive the wild ride, while these “proper paupers” start sculpting plans for the next odyssey. Their mission? To open the eyes of Singaporeans and prove that pocket‑friendly travel can be epic.
“To show everyone that you can travel proper, while being paupers – that’s the name behind our title, The Proper Paupers.”
— Stomp first‑published article; reproduction requires permission. Video travel, United States of America.
