Mikayla McGee is a self-proclaimed military brat. Both of her parents served in the U.S. Navy, with her mother serving for 30 years and her father still on active duty after 40 years.
“My life was moving from military base to military base,” the 29-year-old American told CNBC Make It.
Maggie said she spent most of her life overseas in Japan, which led her to want to build a life for herself outside the United States.
“I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do because I’ve always strived for freedom, but I knew I wanted the freedom to live wherever I wanted and travel whenever I wanted,” she says.
“Once you have the experience of growing up overseas and you’re exposed to it, you keep looking for it. So when I moved back to America after living in Japan, I always wanted to live outside of America, but I didn’t know what to do.”
In 2020, Maggie, who was living in Atlanta, Georgia, visited her parents in Bahrain, where her father was stationed at the time. The country is located in the Persian Gulf and is home to Naval Support Activity Bahrain and US military bases.
Maggie first visited Bahrain in 2020 and transferred full-time in 2022.
Prakhar Deep Jain appears on CNBC Make It
Before visiting the island for the first time, Maggie admits that she had preconceived notions and didn’t really know what to expect. But she says she was pleasantly surprised.
“Culture shock was that things were actually getting better, not worse. Don’t just believe what you’re told or what you see in the media, because it’s not really like that at all,” she says.
“It’s very calm. It’s very peaceful. I never felt like I didn’t fit in or stood out as an expat. The culture shock was all positive.”
Maggie stayed for three months and says she fell in love with the country.
“I met so many wonderful people. I didn’t want to go home, but as soon as I got home I knew I had to leave and started planning how I was going to get there,” she says.
Maggie lives in a three-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom home with a pool and one-car garage, which she rents for $2,200 a month.
Prakhar Deep Jain appears on CNBC Make It
That first trip to Bahrain inspired Maggie to move full-time in December 2022. She lived in her parents’ three-bedroom home for six months before moving on her own.
Today, Maggie lives near Bahrain’s capital, Manama, in a three-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom house with a pool and one-car garage, which she rents for $2,200 a month.
She said she splits the costs 50-50 with her partner, but he pays the majority of the money, and most of the money goes into savings and trips they take as a couple.
According to documents seen by CNBC Make It, McGee’s expenses also include groceries and range from 25 to 60 BHD or 66 to 158 USD, multiple times a week. She also states that she has a bill that reads:
Nails: 20 BHD or $53 Hair: Up to 30 BHD or $79 Mobile Phone: $150 USD Atlanta Storage Unit: $125 per month
Living in Bahrain while working on the East Coast
McGee works as a senior performance marketing manager at a tech company and earns an annual salary of $140,000, according to documents reviewed by CNBC Make It.
She works Eastern Standard Time and her day typically begins between 5:00 and 6:00 PM local time. She finishes her day between midnight and 1 a.m. local time.
“When looking for a new role, that was the biggest thing for me: finding a place where I could work flexibly, no matter where I live and across time zones,” she says.
McGhee works as a senior performance marketing manager at an IT company.
Prakhar Deep Jain appears on CNBC Make It
Maggie still pays US taxes because she earns her salary in US dollars. McGee also has health insurance provided by his company and still has access to Bahrain’s healthcare system.
When McGhee has free time during the day, he likes to work out, grocery shop, and create content. She shares much of her life in Bahrain with her more than 64,000 followers on TikTok.
“It’s my duty to let Americans know how great this country is,” McGee said.
Maggie currently lives near the capital of Bahrain.
Prakhar Deep Jain appears on CNBC Make It
McGee said he is not sure whether he will stay in Bahrain long-term, but would like to buy properties around the country as a real estate investment and set up his own permanent home there.
“Life here is 10 times better. My happiness level has skyrocketed. The weather alone has lifted my mood,” she says.
“I always want to have a place to go back to, a place to call home. Bahrain felt like home from the day I came here, so for me to leave, other places will have to do the same.”
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