Living abroad

[Bluebelle24]

Is anyone else living abroad and struggling with not being able to see their family for a long time? I know that we are all unable to see family and friends in the short term. But that was already my daily life and now I don’t know the next time I will see my parents or other relatives again.

UK is "abroad" to me even though I've lived here for 13 years. I was still used to going home maybe twice a year, and my parents were always visiting me and my family, so to think that I won't see my parents for a long time is difficult. I was really looking forward to going home in July, but I can't see it happening now. I think it's harder for my mum though, as she adores my son as is struggling with the thought of not seeing him for ages. She lives alone too, so probably gets lonely. I have started doing daily video calls with my family, even if it's just a quick hello. It's sad but it won't be forever. We can do this!

Hello @PonderTweek I’m the same, UK is abroad for me as well. We were supposed to be visiting for my baby’s first birthday next week and instead I don’t know if we will even see them for her second birthday. Do you have a time difference to navigate with calls as well?

Yes, I am in NZ and my Mum is in UK, she will be 90 in May and my trip has been cancelled. I have another flight booked for October and just hoping that happens.

I am so scared something will happen to her and I cannot get home, but it is what it is and I would hate to travel and pass on CV to her.

I’m sorry to hear that @FiveShelties , must be stressful not knowing when you can get back next. Do you have other relatives in the UK? Is your mom doing okay for supplies?

Half our family is Spanish.
I have no idea when we'll get over to see them. I am really sad as I am having our second child in July and they won't meet her for the foreseeable future.

My mum is almost 80 and lives alone. We were meant to have a good long visit in April/May during which she had her oncology follow-up appointments planned. They're a long way from where she lives so we usually make a little holiday of it, stay in a hotel, go to the theatre etc.
Not only do I miss her, I worry about her. She's a free spirit not a planner so we've had to hustle to get food/meds deliveries started. Her friends - mostly her age - aren't really taking cv very seriously so I worry she'll get talked out of self-isolating.
It's a hard time to be separated.

Can't put it better than FiveShelties. If I travel to see her I'd be a danger to her and I'd have to self-isolate for 14 days (which could be done in her home but it would be hard). I'm trying to stay philosophical about this and be thankful that I didn't travel just before the guidance was issued.

My fiance is Turkish and I've no idea when we'll be able to see each other again 🙈🙈😔😔

I have a colleague who is in dire straits as she sent her pre-teen and teenager ahead to NZ(who had no cases at the time) when schools here closed and stayed on to work out her notice. Now she now can't get back herself because all flights except embassy arranged ones are suspended . The NZ goverment hasn't even showed a flicker of interest in repatriation flights.
The kids are with a grandparent who is deemed high risk and now of course NZ is in lockdown too.

@Iamclearlyamug I was thinking of that, as I was in a long distance relationship before moving here. It must be so difficult!

I'm sorry that any of us are struggling but it's nice to be around people that understand.

@Bluebelle24 - no relatives other than an Uncle who is 92! We would need a very small table for a family reunion. I order her groceries from Tesco, used to be very easy but a tad more difficult to get a slot at the moment. I am thankful that she is well and has good neighbours and friends.

@habibihabibi I have just been reading about families split up like that, it must be dreadful.

So many sad stories, it is dreadful time and I hope a vaccine is found quickly.

I am incredibly grateful that my children, pets and husband are all in one place. We have parents and siblings scattered all over the world but at least we have our immediate family together. It has changed our plans. I was intent on sending my children boarding in the UK when they reached secondary but am rethinking that.

Yes, I’ve returned to my home country for this reason. It’s difficult when you have family in two countries tried though so you really have to choose between different family members iyswim. Governments understandably aren’t being particularly understanding to the relatively small number of people stuck in this situation either, it’s hardly a priority.

Yes. My sister was supposed to visit for 2 weeks and we were really looking forward to it. Annoyingly she was originally going to come end of Jan but we agreed to move the trip to now because the weather would be nicer and we’d be off due to Easter. Seems like such a stupid reason now but hindsight and all that.
My other sister is due to come end of July and the way things are, I’m guessing that won’t go ahead either. She hasn’t been over for 3 years due to financial reasons and difficulties in getting leave from work.
And I worry about my elderly parents. They are (now) taking lockdown seriously but they’re late 70’s and DM is diabetic and asthmatic. I ring them every day to check up on them but times like these really do make you feel very far away, don’t they?

I live overseas. DH went back a few weeks ago, as it looked like the flights were going to stop, and we thought the DDs (both at uni) should have a parent in the same country. It’s a good job he went back when he did as DD2’s uni closed with a few hours notice, and he had to dash to help her bring as much stuff back as she could. DD1 is still in the town where her uni is. We thought it would be better for her to stay there rather than come back to London, but she’s quite lonely up there as all of her friends except the Polish and Romanian ones have left. My Mum, who is nearly 87 is also in UK. I worry about her as she is quite isolated and won’t ask anyone to help her with her shopping.

I live on an island and have no idea when I'll be able to see my adult DSs, elderly parents, sister, nieces and nephew again who are all on the mainland.

I live in the US and my entire extended family are back home in the UK. DD, DH and I are fine, but no idea when we'll next be able to make it home to see people.
Also, our green cards are due for renewal. We sent in all the paperwork but now just have to hope that something happens so that we don't become illegal aliens. We have until July for govt to process them or extend them somehow.
Luckily I went home mid Feb to see my parents. They are extremely vulnerable so it's possible that that was the last time I will ever see them.

yes. my parents were meant to visit the end of this month and then we were meant to visit them the end of June.
Ofc I understand and support the lockdown but I miss them so much.

I've lived in UK 16yrs, but born in Australia. ALL my family are there, whereas most of OH's are in UK, or spread out around Aus. We usually got every year or 2, but just not sure when I will see my mum now. Just hope I can see her again!