A British expat doesn't miss the thrills he experienced in his past career and is now happily settled in his Shanghai business helping other expats relocate here.
From the Royal Navy in the UK to casinos in Nigeria and now relocation in Shanghai. Kevin Harding's been around the world and lived like a character from a movie but now this British expat says his life has relaxed since moving to Shanghai.
Harding has lived here for the past 10 years and through trying out many different professions he has finally (since being in Shanghai) settled down as managing partner of Elite 8 Relocation Company.
"It's age catching up with me," Harding jokes. "This city feels just natural."
Born in Liverpool, the 47-year-old started his career as a radio operator for the Royal Navy, however, after a motorbike accident he moved to HM Customs and Excise as one of the first drug dog handlers in the country.
"It was probably the most fun and rewarding job I've ever had although tough on the love life; the dogs came first, always," he explains.
From there with a desire to travel the world, Harding obtained a UK croupier license (BJ, Roulette, Baccarat, Punto Banco, Poker, Craps etc) that enabled him to realize his dream.
"After working in the Netherlands, France, Belgium and Bosnia, I spent five years in Nigeria managing casinos and restaurants in Lagos and Owerri. Nigeria was a last-minute change, the group I worked for also had operations in Honduras which was my original destination," Harding says.
It was an incredible experience, he continues. "But in the end it was just a little too risky living there. I had married and Hai-Fei (his wife) had given birth to the light of our lives, our daughter, Kamara. We had survived two coups d'etat whilst in-country but that was enough."
Although this experience came with its dangers, it is one of his most memorable times of his life.
Once the casino in Lagos was surrounded by Army when one punter insulted someone who turned out to be a high-ranking army officer. Another time we were surrounded by a mob, when the car I was a passenger in was involved in a fatal accident - at that time mob justice involved putting a car tire over offenders and setting it alight," the English expat recalls.
However, although his life since living in China is less risky, it has still given him equally memorable moments. "These include getting married in Wenzhou in 1987 when China was hardly open to foreigners and being a chief marshal for Tiger Woods at the HSBC (in Shanghai) for four rounds."
From dog handling to the relocation business in Shanghai was more of a "magic bus" ride than a direct flight, he continues.
"After living in numerous countries over many years (I have been expatriate for 25 years now), my wife and I owned and ran two restaurants in southern Austria. However, that is an extremely tough business and so we sold up and moved to Hong Kong on a whim, as China seemed like the proverbial 'promised land' after initiating the opening-up policy."
With three years in real estate in Hong Kong, the couple felt primed and ready for China's beckoning.
"We made the move to Shanghai in 1997 for the opportunities that China promised long-term to entrepreneurs, although I was initially brought here by a multinational real estate corporation for whom I worked for six years," Harding says.
Now, as managing partner for Elite 8 Consulting, "my work involves organizing and advising our home-search and service support consultants and our clients, as well as business development, company personnel management, accounting, developing and improving the range and delivery of those services and managing the day to day running of the company. It is very diverse work which keeps it fresh and interesting."
This life may seem tame now compared with the adventures of Harding's past. "But this is our life now. My wife and I have been here for 10 years, own our own home and office, have a dog and would not ever really consider moving permanently anywhere else."
Kevin Harding
Nationality: The United Kingdom
Age: 47
Profession: Managing Partner, Elite 8 Consulting, Expat Home-Search & Relocation
Q&A
Favorite place in Shanghai:
Sheshan Golf Club - beautiful Italian architecture, superb golf course and total relaxation. An oasis.
Worst experience:
Being squashed by a articulated truck on the outer ring road - I survived, the car didn't.
Ideal weekend:
Scuba diving off the coast of Borneo (there are now direct flights from Shanghai).
What can be done to improve Shanghai?
Better traffic controls - start with enforcing stopping at red lights and ensuring drivers have proper training and authentic driving licenses.
Advice to new expats:
Use proper home-search and relocation services.
(Shanghai Daily September 18, 2007)
