Omicron and dreams dashed

In the last month or so, there was quite a bit of talk that my home country of Australia was going to establish a "travel bubble" with Japan starting from December. The start of the month was meant to see fully vaccinated students, skilled workers and working holiday visa holders not needing to lodge an exemption to fly into the land Down Under. My hope was that soon thereafter, Japan would reciprocate in some form -- I find most of these government agreements end up being a two-way street -- and that sooner rather than later, my friends and family who have been eagerly awaiting a Japan visit could fly out.

And then, almost before you could utter the words reciprocal agreement, Omicron came knocking. In just a few days the world has been thrown into a tizzy yet again because of this new COVID variant, right as the festive season is upon us. Japan has decided to close their borders again to anyone who isn't a citizen or permanent resident, and it feels like we're back at square one again -- right as it felt like there was a tiny ray of light at the end of the tunnel.

Image credit: Davian Ho for the Innovative Genomics Institute

It's not just my disappointment at things being pushed back again that has upset me. I work with a lot of expats in my job, and many of them already had plans to head back home to their respective countries over Christmas. Their tickets were booked, and their excitement was high -- for some of them, this was their first real opportunity to visit their loved ones in the last 2 (or more) years. Now, it's too late for them to cancel anything without significant financial penalty, and there's the ever-present concern that Japan may do what it's done before and stop even permanent resident holders from returning. Some have openly discussed packing up and leaving Japan permanently because of that fear. 

The last 2 years have been incredibly difficult for just about everyone across the globe. Aside from the obvious physical health impacts for those who have contracted COVID, there is the mental health element that affects people, too - lockdowns have taken place in various countries of the world, people's livelihoods have been impacted, various businesses have closed, and people have missed births, birthdays, weddings, funerals, and more. As an expat, I feel helpless at times not knowing when this is all going to be over. 

Omicron, why did you have to come and throw a spanner in the works?