The Austrian lockdown and a new wave of the Delta variant in Europe, not to mention the recent uprise of the Omicron variant have revived wounds that had barely healed. But expatriates do not seem to mind - especially the fully vaccinated. Most borders are open, and even without a booster shot, it is still possible to travel. There also seem to be no restrictions on the number of guests in most countries. At least, not yet. Doctors and epidemiologists are, however, calling for a reinforcement of barrier measures this Christmas. According to them, this 5th wave will be longer than the previous ones. But after the woos of 2020 and 2021, expatriates seem to be approaching this holiday season differently. On the one hand, there is indeed the desire to travel that has never been so strong - whether it is to see loved ones or to get a change of scenery.
Faced with the cumbersome guest, the most optimistic keep their spirits up, like this expat student in Dakar: "I was lucky enough to be vaccinated, but not everyone is. It's very complicated here and in other countries that don't have easy access to vaccines. It's really is the time to show solidarity. It is not just about ourselves and our families, it is for the wider community as a whole. That's why I'm staying here for the holidays. Even though I'm vaccinated, I have to be careful. I want to protect my family and everyone else. This will be my first Christmas alone, or with one or two friends. That doesn't make me sad, however. I will pray for the world to get better, for people to be united and for preservation of the planet." Wise words, echoed by other frequent travelers for whom the pandemic forces more careful reflection, especially during these holiday seasons.
Another expat family living in New Zealand gave up on all their travel plans a long time ago: "The country has been closed since March 2020 and will remain closed to foreigners until April. We figure it's a good time to step back and just enjoy. We are lucky to be here, healthy, with jobs. The kids are doing well. Thanks to the Internet, we can see our loved ones. That's the most important thing. So, yes, the end of year celebrations take on a different meaning. More than just celebrating and forgetting, we remember all that we have received, and we are grateful." But not everyone shares this optimism.
Celebrating in spite of everything
"Before COVID, we thought about the gifts, what we were going to bring back, the celebrations and what have you. Now, we think about vaccines, masks, and we wonder how we are going to accommodate people while respecting sanitary measures!" says an expatriate in Germany. Some locals and expatriates have become weary. Others are worried and fear that the measures will be tightened in December. If the Austrian scenario seems to remain the exception, the rule is to tighten measures: reinforcement of controls for travelers coming from risky areas, acceleration of the vaccination campaign, especially the booster dose, vaccination of children, crowd limitations, compulsory wearing of the mask...
And yet, we all gravitate towards resilience... "As long as we don't confine people", says the most pessimistic. The others admit to having more freedom than at Christmas 2020, and don't want to spoil anything by playing the protester. The more relaxed ones note that the pandemic has made them innovative in finding ways to counteract anxieties and to approach the end of year celebrations with serenity.
