Moving Stories
Megumi’s story – moving from Hong Kong to Bahrain in a hurry
Moving your life to another country can be daunting. In March this year, Megumi, her husband, and her two young children moved from Hong Kong to Bahrain at short notice. From relocation companies’ moving estimates, to delivery at the family’s final destination, to discovering her new home’s treasures, this is Megumi’s moving story and relocation tips.
Moving Where the Opportunity Is
Megumi’s husband Lawrence works with investments in financial technology startups. This means the family need to follow the investment money flow, and opportunities need to be taken when they come up – even if this means relocating to a new country in a hurry.
The couple had just 4 weeks to move when Lawrence was suddenly relocated to Bahrain. It also coincided with the end of their lease in Hong Kong. It made no sense to renew their lease for just a short time, so they had to move everything out of their flat in a hurry. At the same time, they needed to work out how to get all their belongings across the ocean. Megumi had to decide how to pack to move in a hurry.
Megumi’s priority was to get out of their expensive Hong Kong rental. They contacted a local moving and storage company and put their belongings into temporary storage. Once they found a place in Bahrain, they’d have everything shipped overseas. In the meantime, though, Megumi needed to find a good relocation company.
How to Choose a Relocation Company
On Friday, just before the weekend, Megumi did some research on moving companies. She contacted three relocation companies for a moving estimate quote and compared their prices and options.
Like most people, Megumi wanted a moving company who would make the move as easy as possible. She also wanted to find a balance between the cheapest way to ship personal belongings overseas and a company she could trust.
“I was looking for a company who were hassle-free, reliable, and affordable.”
She went through the process of shortlisting the companies that she found or had been recommended, comparing moving service cost and quality. What stood out for her in contacting Links Moving was the personalised service, crucial for making this unexpected move run more smoothly.
“A friend had referred us to Links Moving initially. Most local movers don’t handle shipping to Bahrain. After speaking with Patrick (the founder) we felt confident about Links Movings’ services and also appreciated the competitive pricing.”
From talking with Megumi on Friday, Links Moving was able to understand her particular needs, she said. On Saturday the international crating had been ordered, and it was all prepared and ready for packing by the local mover on Monday.
Relocating to Bahrain
With their shipping plans now in place, the family flew over to Bahrain with more piece of mind. While Lawrence settled into his job, the couple stayed in a serviced apartment while they looked for a more permanent home. Serviced apartments are a great place to start, she says, but it’s also important to find the right place to live that feels like your own.
At last they found a house and were ready to settle in. Links Moving picked up their belongings for storage and delivered them to their new home. Unpacking the big stuff can be one of the dreaded tasks when it comes to moving, and Links were able to help them with that too.
The thing that Megumi appreciated most about the whole relocation process was feeling connected without having to actually organise things. There was already enough for her to organise, after all.
“I appreciated the personable, frequent contact that kept us on the same page. We knew exactly what was happening when without having to deal with the nitty gritty details.”
Highlights of Megumi’s New Home
Megumi and her family are now settling into life in Bahrain. Although it’s been a challenge juggling the move and getting into a routine for their two small children, she’s starting to discover all the wonderful things about her new home.
“I felt it was going to be a drastic change from HK, so I was a little apprehensive. And it is a change! But in a fun, adventurous way.
“I’m very excited to explore this country and the rest of this region. It’s a lovely desert island, with an interesting mix of Arabic and International culture. There’s a huge selection of dates, so it’s fascinating to try the different varieties – aside from their multiple origins, there’s from chocolate covered ones, syrup soaked, dried…
“There’s a big American influence here, so I’m currently into spotting the US retail chains in the malls! Krispy Kreme, Bath & Bodyworks, The Cheesecake factory, Popeyes, Chili’s. It’s pretty obvious my focus is on food!
“And my biggest surprise is that my house has so much space! It’s hard to get my head around filling all this space in the house after years of living in Hong Kong.”
Megumi’s Top Moving House Tip
“When you’re relocating internationally, use one international moving company to do the packing and shipping, as well as the delivery and installation at your destination. We had to split ours due to timing and change in the destination (we were supposed to move locally, then suddenly changed to international). But it would have been easier to just go with Links from the start.”
We’re happy to have helped Megumi and her family move, and wish them the best for their time in Bahrain!
Our Top Moving House Tips
Research relocation companies.
Get quotes for moving and storage, timeframes for delivery, and check reviews and recommendations. Investigate other relocation expenses, like customs fees. A good relocation services company should be able to help you identify these costs.
Don’t start packing too early.
It can be tempting to get everything in boxes as soon as possible, but you may accidentally pack something you need. Plus, living in a house full of boxes for too long can just add to the stress.
Plan like a project.
It doesn’t have to be too detailed, but it helps you organise yourself. We suggest laying out a rough plan about three months in advance. Of course, in some cases like Megumi’s, this isn’t possible! If you break the move down into stages and high-level priorities, you can fill in the details underneath, regardless of how long or short a time frame you have.
Research where you’re going.
Knowing the little details – like what the weather’s like, what you can and can’t buy when you arrive, and what people dress like – can help you prepare what to take. It’s also good to have some expectations about culture before you leave. There are lots of great stories and advice about moving to new countries online!
After more tips?
Want to plan more thoroughly? Have a look at our moving checklists, or try our country-focussed moving guides.
Photo credit:
Photos of moving by Megumi Morgan
Cityscape (04) – 05Nov08, Manama (Bahrain) by philippe leroyer under a CC license
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