With the family initially moving
to Stanley, they thought that they
had found the perfect antidote to
Shanghai’s pollution, but the new
location posed other problems. “My
husband’s commute to work was a
nightmare, and as he travels for work
at least weekly, we were too far from
the airport,” Jane says. “As I don’t
drive, I felt isolated and ended up
constantly catching taxis with my son.
While there are some great services
in Stanley, they are limited and so it
felt pretty remote. Finally, fitness is a
huge part of our family’s lifestyle, and
we found that the sports options in the
area didn’t work for us. This meant
another compromise to our lifestyle
that we didn’t want to make.”
With the family choosing to
break their lease after just a few
months and move to Discovery Bay,
Jane feels that they have finally found
their groove.
“The best advice I was given
when weighing up the pros and cons
of moving again was that you can’t put
a price on happiness. Breaking a lease
may cause you financial loss in the
short-term, but happiness and quality
of life are paramount. Also, things
do tend to work out in the end, even
if you don’t have the perfect couch
immediately or you have to sleep on
an air mattress for a few weeks!”
Hoilon Tong at UniGroup
Relocation has the final word: “Keep
an open mind and a positive attitude!
The quicker you get used to the fact
your new location is going to be
completely different to what you are
familiar with, the easier it will be to
adapt to your new surroundings.”
As our experts and expats agree,
with a little bit of planning, an eye
for detail and the right support, your
relocation can be a positive move,
rather than a logistical nightmare.
Just don’t forget to pack your sense of
adventure!
Keep an open
mind and a
positive attitude!
The quicker you
get used to the
fact your new
location is going
to be completely
different to what
you are familiar
with, the easier it
will be to adapt
to your new
surroundings.
