Summary

The author is a recent Czech emigrant to Australia who, amidst the global pandemic, finds themselves unable to return to their home country due to lack of housing and employment prospects, and is now facing uncertainty in a foreign land with limited support.

Abstract

The author had planned to live in Australia for at least a year, having quit their job and arranged everything for the move. However, the onset of the global pandemic has drastically altered their situation. With no place to live in Prague, no job to return to, and strained family relationships, the author is effectively stranded in Australia. Despite being on a Working Holiday visa, job opportunities have dried up due to the coronavirus outbreak, and the author is not eligible for support from either the Czech or Australian governments. The author reflects on the lack of a social safety net and contemplates the solitude of being isolated in a new city with few connections during this crisis.

Opinions

The author feels a sense of pride and independence, which prevents them from seeking help from family.
There is a concern that the Australian government is not fully acknowledging the severity of the pandemic's progression.
The author is critical of the prioritization of support measures, which currently do not consider temporary visa holders.
Despite the uncertainty, the author maintains a level of optimism about the situation improving in the near future.
The author questions the concept of "home" in the context of not having a place to return to or a supportive family structure.
There is a sense of frustration and helplessness regarding the lack of health insurance coverage for COVID-19 under travel insurance.
The author empathizes with others who might be in similar or worse situations globally, acknowledging that many people do not have a social safety net to fall back on.

But What If I Have Nowhere to Return?

Global pandemic got me stuck in a foreign country with little chances of returning “home”

At the beginning of January this year, I made the biggest move of my life. I quit my job, left everything behind and went on to live in Australia for at least a year. I was stable and secured and ready for the huge change — I took care of everything I could think of before I left.

Making sure I would be prepared in case a global pandemic hits wasn’t really on my list back then.

And so here I am. I arrived in Australia less than three weeks ago. I had fun. Spent my first days going to the beach and deciding whether I wanted to stay. Things were quite different at that time and I didn’t think I would be facing a prospect of getting stuck here for what might be a very long period of time, indoors and with no stream of income. But that is the reality I am looking at today.

I started my job hunt about a week ago and the work situation has been getting progressively worse day by day. I was told that everyone who wants to work finds a job in Australia. Not true in corona times. At first, I was told that “we are not hiring, things are a bit slow”. Now, businesses are shutting down and people are losing, not finding jobs.

Many people on temporary visas are currently leaving Australia and going home amid all the chaos and I get asked whether I am also thinking about returning home on a daily basis now.

But the truth is, I don’t have much choice. I have to stay. I don’t have a place to return to.

I used to rent a studio flat in Prague before I left — I lived on my own and was extremely proud of it. Someone moved in there as soon as I moved out, understandably, as it was a pretty good deal in the current housing situation in the city. Therefore, I don’t have a place to live in Prague anymore. Especially not a place to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival. No roommates to go back to. There is no “crashing on a friends’ couch” during a nationwide quarantine.

I don’t have a job to return to either. I left my last employment on good terms but there is no going back right now. Does it make much difference, being unemployed in your country and being unemployed in a foreign country? I am very likely to find out soon.

And what constitutes “home” anyway? My mom’s house? I have never actually lived there. My father’s house? He would disagree. My country of origin? But what if I have nothing waiting there for me?

I left my hometown more than 5 years ago when I moved to Prague for university and haven’t really been back ever since for a longer period of time than three weeks.

On top of that, I am currently not on speaking terms with any of my family members and in all honesty, my pride wouldn’t let me go knocking on their doors to let me in just because I am currently in trouble. My family does not operate like that. We are bears, not wolves. We all look out for ourselves, not for each other.

My home country is under quarantine, whereas in Australia, especially here in WA with only 30+ cases as of today, there is still freedom of movement. We are heading towards where Europe is right now pretty quickly though and the Australian government failing to realize that is what quite scares me these days.

The only thing that would make sense to “go back home” for is my health insurance and welfare status, as travel insurance companies do not cover Covid-19 and my current insurance expires in 2 months. Yes, this only comes into play in case I actually contract the virus and that could happen anywhere, but here in Australia, I would most likely get hit with a hefty medical bill on top of the flu.

If the Czech government decides to support Czechs who are struggling due to the virus, I get nothing here in Australia. If the Australian government decides to do the same for Australians, I still get nothing. There is a debate about support for temp visa holders but understandably, it’s not very high on the priority list.

I would, however, have to decide to leave and “go home” within the next couple of days and I don’t think I am ready for that.

And just like that, I became trapped.

I have nothing to return to and nothing to stay for. I am completely new in a country so far away from where I am from, alone, unemployed, uninsured. My visa is called Working Holiday but I can’t find work and I can’t go on holiday. And I can’t help myself but wonder, how many other people are out there in a similar situation or worse?

We don’t talk about this too much. Yet. Right now, it is all about getting home and being with your family and falling on your social safety net many of us simply don’t have. But I know for a fact that I am not alone in this.

It is going to be lonely times for everyone right now, but it just hits a bit stronger when you are isolated in a city where you know 3 people in total. Yes, I am still optimistic about the situation. I believe that it will clear out in the next couple weeks or months.

But at the same time, I am starting to worry.

Is my optimism ultimately going to be my demise?