Since 2020, the issue of COVID-19 has been a global concern, and some countries have adopted a policy of border closure in order to prevent and control the epidemic. These policies have made people's lives inconvenient, and we can no longer move from country to country as we did before.
For lovers living in different countries, the pandemic has turned their lives into a "nightmare", and they hope the government will do more to help them reunite. Here are the stories of 4 pairs of transnational lovers, how they overcame all kinds of difficulties to go to the side of their loved ones.
<h1>Meet after looking for loopholes in travel restrictions between the two countries</h1>
Sky News reported on the 19th that the first pair of lovers were Katriona from Scotland, England, and Hugo from France, who met in 2019 when they worked together in Finland. After the outbreak began, the two men interrupted their meetings and returned to their respective countries, not knowing when they would see each other again.
△ The Englishman Katriona (left) and the Frenchman Hugo do not know when to see each other.
Finally, after a gap of five months, they met, Katriona said, and she felt very lucky. It wasn't easy, though, as countless flights were cancelled and they had to find space amid travel restrictions between the two countries. After this meeting, neither of them knew when the next meeting would be.
The second pair of lovers came from the UK and Dubai. Jack, who has been working in the UK healthcare industry during the pandemic, met Joshel, who lives in Dubai, at the beginning of the first lockdown.
Jack (right) intends to go to Dubai to see Joshel, but both trips have been cancelled.
"This past winter has been a nightmare for both of us." Jack said he had already had two trips cancelled and that the July trip didn't seem certain. "My main problem was that the hotel was isolated and the cost was not cheap. I would love to go to quarantine, but the cost is too high. We've been waiting to see each other and I'm very eager to go to Dubai right now."
<h1>Unable to obtain a visa, the two eventually met after marriage</h1>
The third pair of lovers are American Dorian and British boyfriend Mohammed, who have only met once during the pandemic. Both booked a trip to Turkey in December 2020, as it was the only place the two countries could go at the time. Dorian said: "I hope that the turning point will come soon, and lovers like us can see each other again."
Muhammad (left) and Dorian meet in Turkey because it's the only country they can go to.
The last couple are Nicole and Nick, who are from the United States and Greece. Previously, Nicole met Nick on a solo vacation in Santorini, Greece. After she returned to the United States, the two kept in touch. For the next 6 months, Nicole studied for a master's degree at a school in Europe. When Nick learns of this, he invites Nicole to Greece to live with him and his family.
English was Nick's second language, but his visit to the United States was his first time away from Greece. Nick's parents and most of his family and friends don't speak English, so Nicole is now struggling to learn Greek.
In November 2019, after a year and a half together, Nick went to the United States for the second time to propose to Nicole. Then the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in early 2020.
Nick (left) and Nicole had to be separated for 8 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The next 8 months were the toughest times in their lives. They had to be patient and wait for everything to start all over again. The two were in constant contact with embassies and lawyers, trying to find a way to get together.
"I never considered myself a person who was prone to falling into sadness or negative thoughts, but I can honestly say that it was the darkest moment of my life," Nicole said. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I was very worried and nervous. "
After about 7 months, there was no change to the two of them' visas, but Nicole found that if the two were married, the visa might be passed.
So the two chose to go to Serbia and married in December 2020. Nicole finally got the papers allowing her to enter Greece legally. Now, the two are on vacation in Greece, waiting for Nick's marriage visa to be processed so he can return to the United States with Nicole.
The two are planning a wedding in Greece in May 2022, and Nicole said: "I hope the world will pay more attention to couples who have had to separate over the past year, and hopefully everyone will be able to reunite with their loved ones." "
(Wang Hua)