Reflections on this Past Year

Exactly a year ago today, all the schools, restaurants, and non-essential stores and businesses in the country I am living in closed and we were all asked to work from home and shelter in place. We had never experienced anything like it before, and we had no idea how long it would last, or what would happen next.

As I work online with expats living all over the world, I know that not all of our experiences were the same. Some of my clients were separated for months from their partners. Some clients lost their jobs overnight. Clients in the tourist industry had to reinvent themselves and find other income immediately. Some clients experienced extreme lockdown conditions with police patrols. Many mothers felt the frustrations of becoming a home-school teacher overnight, without any training. Some of us got sick. Some of us lost loved ones. Many of my clients, friends, and family were stuck home alone for long stretches of time. Many of us felt isolated. Many people were scared.

As countries started to lockdown and ask us to stay home, travel became more difficult and risky. One of the great adventures of being an expat is traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures and things. With countries on lockdown, and hotels, restaurants and tourist sites closed, many of the benefits of being an expat have been stripped away or severely curtailed.

In addition to restrictions, many of us have been coping with fear for family and loved ones in our home country, the inability to visit and help them, and uncertainty when we will ever be able to go ‘home’ again. I can’t help but wonder how many expats out there are ready to pack their bags and head on ‘home?’ I had clients that decided if they had to work remotely from home for the next 6 months, then why not actually move ‘home.’ At least they would have family around. I had clients take the offer from their home country for the repatriation flight ‘home.’ I had clients that had been visiting their family in their home country when lockdown hit, and were not able to get back for so long that they lost their permits and visas.

Of course many of us are weathering the storm. Some folks I know headed to the beach on the last flights out to work remotely from sunnier climates. Some folks drove to their mountain cabins to enjoy nature. Most of us are making do the best we can. But for how long?

I just read an article in the Financial Times called ‘I just want to go home’ – how COVID-19 changed expat life. I could completely understand why some expats are packing it in. My heart goes out to them as I imagine it isn’t easy to repatriate under these circumstances.

Looking at the flip side of the coin, just last month, Google sent me a recap of my 2020 travels. A bit creepy I know. Despite all the restrictions and my own fears, I was surprised at how much travel I managed. The big trips happened in January, before lockdown hit. Still, I managed to drive to several neighbouring regions that I had never been before, particularly ones where I could enjoy the great outdoors.

Politics, the economy and the health care system will continue to create varying experiences for expats around the world. While we might not have to hoard toilet paper any longer, we still face a number of uncertainties and decisions for our future. What lessons have you learned from this past year? What is weighing heavy on your heart? Have you thought about going ‘home?’ What has convinced you to leave? Or to stay?