Two years without a traditional Christmas at home
Due to health restrictions, many had to stay in their host country and reinvent the festive season that they usually celebrate with family and friends back home. This time of year, which used to be an opportunity for them to reconnect with their roots, became lonely and challenging for some. Although video calls can help to overcome these difficult moments, family and traditions have been greatly missed by some, especially when it comes to the usual celebrations with friends and relatives.
The long-awaited return to normalcy
Even if the pandemic has not ended, most countries have lifted their travel and entry restrictions (the latest and one of the strictest is China!). Thus, many expats have been able to return home and finally celebrate Christmas with their loved ones, which makes the celebrations even more meaningful since it has been two years without traditions.
This long-awaited homecoming is not only a simple festive moment, but it also means seeing your loved ones again for Christmas and the New Year and spending some joyful moments together. This is especially true for the elders who have often been totally isolated, being the most vulnerable. Seeing their expatriate children and grandchildren once again is sheer happiness.
This year, many will be able to share their adventures, take stock of the past two years, and sometimes even compare their host country's traditions and popular recipes. Although many expats will appreciate this return to their roots, they will also agree that experiencing a different Christmas abroad because of COVID has been an enriching experience.
Planning the return home
Although most travel restrictions have been lifted, some people are still facing issues, especially those who live on the other side of the world. What about transit if you don't get a direct flight? Which countries require a Covid test? Will it be a Rapid or PCR test? Do you need to be vaccinated before departure? Which certificates are required in addition to your visa if you need one? Will there be an additional test at the departure, stopover, or arrival? Is it mandatory to wear a mask?
Most of them made the necessary arrangements several weeks or even months ago, ensuring they have all the information they needed to travel. Of course, this can be a stressful time for some, who would have preferred to come back home more serenely with gifts for their loved ones. Also, many will like to stay only with family and close friends and avoid big gatherings. Any risk of contamination could force them to postpone their return trip.
Expats are finally reuniting with their loved ones
We asked expats how they feel about reuniting with their families after two years of Covid. Here's what they had to say.
Lucas is a student in London and was not able to return home for Christmas 2020 and 2021 because the restrictions were too complicated to manage, but this year is the right time. "I'm finally going home, and I might as well tell you that it will be real celebrations. We are a big family, and the holidays are a time to get together. These last two years have been harsh on expats like me; I know some who have really suffered from having to stay here, so we had to improvise meals with friends in small groups. But it was not the same, even if we had a great time."
Rachel could not return to Ireland in 2020 due to travel and border restrictions, and in 2021, she caught Covid. She had to self-isolate at home in her host city. This year, for Christmas, she will finally be able to see her entire family again: "These last two years have been really complicated and depressing! What a frustration! Living abroad is a nice experience, but the pandemic has taught us to enjoy every minute, and that's what I'm going to do this year. To avoid repeating my last year's mistakes, I even self-isolated before leaving. Apart from the mandatory outings, I stayed at home and avoided going out with friends and risky places. I've even been remote-working and did all my gift shopping online. Some people thought I was overreacting, but if I had missed the holidays with my family this year also, it would have been very difficult for me to handle emotionally. So, I had to adapt and made sure I got on that plane!"
Francesca has always managed to slip through the cracks between Switzerland and her native Italy, and this year, she feels more confident to travel. "Well, I must admit that I have always found a way to get back since Switzerland and Italy are neighbors; I have always managed to find the loophole to get back at Christmas. But it's true that this year, taking the train to Florence will be restful without restrictions or "red zones". This also means less stress! I have a few expatriate friends in other countries who are further away than I am. They will finally be able to come back home, and we will be able to get together after two years. I can't wait to share these moments with them after so much time. These last years, especially in 2020, since we were at the peak of the pandemic, I followed the epidemic curves and the forecast of the restrictions closely to plan my moves. The 3 weeks between Christmas and Epiphany were the worst. However, it didn't bother me that much since I can study remotely".
Virginia comes from a family of expatriates and frequent travelers. Her sister and a few of her cousins currently live abroad, and so does she. Like most expats, she hasn't been able to see everyone during these two years of COVID. "It's nice to have a family like mine, we all end up in the same place in our hometown at Christmas time, but Covid has been really problematic. So, when we all realized that this year we'd have a way to all get in, it was a party in our Whatsapp group! We've all been organizing for a long time, 6 months for some of us, and we're watching for the slightest change, just in case. Even though this year marked the end of restrictions, we're not immune to a new variant. I really hope we can all get together. Our parents will be so happy too! I'm really looking forward to seeing my sister, too!".
This year, many expats will finally be able to reconnect with their families and end-of-year traditions, and we hope you will too! Enjoy your loved ones and have a great holiday season!
