Member-only story
How Long Can You Go Without Seeing Your Family?
My three-year wait is ending soon!
The pandemic has been tough, ya’ll. There have been so many aspects in which we’ve been forced to change our habits and make some really, really tough decisions.
Like whether to put on a mask (YES), whether to get vaccinated (YES), and whether to listen to scientists (YES, YES, YES). Or, for us immigrants, whether it’s time to travel half the world away to see our families or not.
It’s a tough balance. There’s the obvious risk you’re taking, of catching the virus and transporting it to your family. And then there’s the very real possibility that you won’t be able to come back if you leave the country.
All the way in June and July of 2021, tens of thousands Argentinians who had made use of their plane tickets — many of them bought before the pandemic — found themselves trapped in Europe. Their own government didn’t let them return, out of fear for the Delta variant.
Over a year after the pandemic began, the government still didn’t have a better way to manage the virus than closing the borders.
Imagine having to pay for a couple of months of stay in a European hotel with a South American salary. Imagine losing your job because your government doesn't allow you back in the country.
