Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Meet the British expats stuck abroad: 'I may as well live on Mars'

Meet the British expats stuck abroad: 'I may as well live on Mars'

Though Brussels and London may be close geographically, the COVID-19 pandemic has left families split on either side of international borders.

For many British expats, the expectation that relatives can be easily reached by plane has long been a common assumption.

Freedom to travel was assumed when globetrotting emigrants pursued new lives overseas, enticed by improved career prospects and living standards. But COVID-19 has upturned this preconception for good.

Here, three seasoned expatriates* located worldwide share the stories of their pandemic experiences.

A Brit in Belgium: 'I may as well live on Mars'


Jo, a data analyst in the banking sector, has lived in Brussels, Belgium for 16 years. Though it's usually little more than an hour to fly from between the Belgian capital and London - and less than three hours by train - the pandemic has left Jo feeling isolated.

"Living in Belgium has never seemed far from the UK – you could just jump on a train or plane," she says, "but since the pandemic, I realise I may as well live on Mars.”

She reports that the pandemic initially hit the densely populated country hard. “People are now generally fed up and obeying the rules less," explains Jo.

Belgium has had some of the highest case rates in the world.


In April 2020, Belgium had the highest COVID-19 death rate in the world. Restrictions currently vary, although mask mandates eased in June 2021. Nevertheless, face coverings are still required on public transport and indoors. Additionally, there are some requirements in busy areas such as some shopping streets or outside schools.

The vaccination program was initially slow in Belgium, but vaccines are now available to everyone over the age of 18.

Jo states that now fully vaccinated, she “feels hopeful that life will soon return at least partially to normal”. Having adapted to a new regime, she says she would love to work at home more regularly in the future.

In the early days, however, Jo says she missed being able to go to a café for a coffee.

“It has been difficult being away from our families. We have elderly parents, so that has been worrying. With friends, we have been in contact by Zoom. We did plan to go back to the UK, but then the second wave blocked this.”

So fed up with the situation in the UK, Jo has decided that it will be more straightforward to arrange for her family to visit her in Belgium.

“The UK quarantine rules plus two tests make it difficult to visit. There are also fewer flights, so the price is a lot higher.”

An expat caught in Canberra: 'The thought of a crowded airport is not enticing'


Sarah, a graphic designer for the Australian government, emigrated 15 years ago and currently resides in Canberra. She feels fortunate to have had limited local restrictions until now.

Still, she says that in the beginning, “we didn’t go anywhere, only to the shops to get groceries, working from home and driving rather than taking public transport.”

Australia reacted rapidly once the virus became established. The country closed its borders and brought in strict quarantine laws. State borders were closed.

Sarah says she “misses going to live events, feeling relaxed in a crowd, travelling, not having to scan an app, and not having to worry that we may get trapped across a border”.

Like Jo, she feels distanced from friends and family overseas.

Australia has had recurring lockdowns, most recently in Sydney (pictured) to combat the Delta variant.


“It has been hard watching the harsher realities of the pandemic on friends and family in the UK," she explains. “It has been quite heartbreaking to see friends and family and be unable to meet and hug when times have been hard.”

The vaccine program in Australia has been sluggish. Nevertheless, over 40s have recently become eligible, alongside other priority groups.

Sarah remains optimistic though. “I am hopeful that with the vaccines, we will feel a bit more confident to travel again,” she adds.

Nevertheless, she does not have any immediate plans to return to the UK, remaining cautious.

“It feels like there are waves of infection ebbing and flowing, and the thought of a crowded airport and plane is not enticing.”

Stuck across the pond: The UK's vaccine policy 'is inconsistent'


John is an IT general manager living in Seattle, US - where he's resided for ten years. He voices his astonishment that, despite being one of the more advanced economies, the US has seen such death tolls from COVID-19.

He attributes it to poor political leadership under the previous administration. However, he also surmises that the US has a strong culture of individual liberty, which dislikes draconian measures.

Washington State has taken a prudent approach, although John comments that these regulations “are far less onerous and prescriptive than in many European countries”.

Now open to all over 12s, the vaccination program in the USA has been met with reluctance and suspicion by some groups. As a result, officials are offering incentives such as lotteries to encourage people to receive their free vaccines.

For John, working at home since the beginning has had pros and cons: “It has cut down on commute and travel time but has increased fatigue from excessive concentration on video calls.”

He has enjoyed more quality family time but misses international travel for work and leisure, in addition to dining out and attending concerts.

Regarding being separated from UK relatives, John says the main issue has been “the inability for our children to see their grandparents for over a year. I want to travel internationally as soon as possible once vaccinated.”


John commented on the recent UK ruling, which takes effect on Monday 19th July.

The new rule allows travellers who have been fully vaccinated in the UK to travel to amber-listed destinations without quarantining on return. Yet, the legislation currently does not apply to British citizens visiting the UK who have been double-vaccinated abroad.

“It’s inconsistent with the policy for UK residents," says John, "and it makes no sense because the vaccine is the same. It also means I still can’t see my family in England.”

Despite having their lives transformed by the fallout of the pandemic, all three expatriates appear to have adapted their working and home lives successfully. Eager to travel again, each has remained sanguine that this will again be achievable.


* euro news

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
×