3 Things Expats Feared Before COVID
As an expat there are many things that we try to live through, hold in the back of our minds, or push to the side for later. Miss a birthday? That’s fine, I can send you a card from a cool place and see you next year. Can’t make a wedding? No worries, I’ll throw you an amazing bachelor party in a country on the other side of the world. Admittedly, COVID has made missing these moments matter in a different way all things considered. Prior to COVID, however, expats dreaded these three things happening while residing abroad:
1. Random Phone Calls
I’ve been living abroad for nearly 11 years, and some of my closest friends and family members still don’t take the extra five seconds to check what time it is in Taiwan before calling. 5–8am phone calls became the norm because that’s generally when people finished work and feel like chatting or venting about their day. There’s nothing more terrifying than seeing your phone ring and it’s your sister that never calls, relative you haven’t heard from in years, or it’s at an ungodly hour in your home country. Why?
These phone calls are rarely accompanied with good news. From a family member failing ill, a terrible accident, or an unsuspected death, the heart is always racing before answering and hearing what has to be said from the other end. Being far away as expats we often times feel helpless. Not only with the good events and moments that we miss, but especially with the bad. As we know, as terrifying as it may be, these things are a part of life.
2. Cryptic Text Messages
Please, if at all possible, don’t ever text an expat “call me when you have time, we have to talk” or “ please call as soon as you get this, I have something to tell you”. Our daily lives mostly don’t allow us to have in depth conversations keeping us abreast to the goings on back home. When these messages come through, every possible terrible scenario begins funneling through our minds. If we’re at work, nothing gets done until the call is made. If we’re out, we’re immediately going back in. I’ve received messages like this for good things, which I appreciate, but for gosh sakes just pick up the damn phone and call and video chat with me. Cryptic texts are never recommended. No matter good or bad.
3. The Thought of Going Home
Going home is scary. For a lot of reasons. There’s so many things to pack, too many things to sell, and far too many people to say goodbye to. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Between finding flights, mentally combing through the inevitable readjustment to living in your home country with a roommate or parents, and deciding which of the many items you’ve gathered during your time abroad are must keeps or give aways is beyond draining. The process itself is something that we’re prepared for. Back packing, hostel hopping, and minimal living are a part of the expat package.
Put all of these things together coupled with reentering the work force and cultural adaptations, it’s terrifying just to think about. When it comes to finally heading home, more than a thousand deep breaths are needed.
