London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Feb 07, 2026

Working abroad: 'The pandemic just made it harder'

Working abroad: 'The pandemic just made it harder'

When maths teacher James Prodger left the UK with his wife and toddler to work in Singapore a couple of years ago, he envisioned a stint abroad peppered with exciting holidays in Southeast Asia and regular trips home to see family. Then, of course, the pandemic put paid to those plans.

"Covid-19 really put a spanner in the works for us," he says. "We were always intending to come here with the intention of being able to go home every six months."

"We went home three times in the first year and then we had friends due to come out for a holiday in Bali, but all those things we were looking forward to just disappeared."

For many people working abroad, the pandemic has forced a rethink about how - and where - they choose to live. Those used to flights home available at the click of a button now face travel restrictions and often, costly periods in hotel quarantine.

That's changed the equation for those already working overseas, as well as for those considering a future career move outside their home country. It's also prompted questions about sustainability. Is it environmentally sound to live on the other side of the planet, if you can only make it work with regular, long-haul flights home?

Vietnam's success at controlling the spread of Covid-19 has made it a more attractive country to work in

Andrew Wigford runs Teachers International Consultancy, which recruits teachers to work in schools in 80 countries around the world.

He recently surveyed 250 British teachers who are either working abroad already or have expressed interest in doing so. He says a growing number of respondents are interested in working in countries where Covid-19 appears to be under control.

"Vietnam, Thailand have been very good at controlling the virus," he says. "They've become more of a focus. Teachers who had never thought of working in those countries started thinking about working there."

And he says, some teachers - particularly those who are new to international work - have been thinking twice about whether they want a career abroad at all.

"What we're still finding now is quite a few teachers are moving back towards the UK as a result of the pandemic. Some of our European schools have seen a rise in applications, as people look to be closer to their families."

Some countries have also tightened restrictions on working visas because of Covid

The Singapore-based consultant says the pandemic has had other unexpected consequences for the international teaching sector, with some countries tightening age restrictions on working visas.

"International teachers in Qatar used to be able to apply for jobs up until the age of 60," he said. "Now it's 50."

Australian teacher Sam Trelly recently decided to give up her job in Singapore and return home to Melbourne. She spoke to the BBC during 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine, time which she says was mostly spent playing a purpose-bought Nintendo Switch.

"If it wasn't for Covid I probably would have looked at another country," she said. "The only one that seemed a safe option was actually Vietnam.

"But in the end, the uncertainty around travel and border restrictions loomed large. "My brother had a baby back in Victoria. My grandma hadn't been very well. I definitely felt that option to go home for a visit wasn't there like it would normally be."

Australian teacher Sam Trelly recently decided to give up her job in Singapore and return home to Melbourne


For James Prodger in Singapore, the thought of being unable to get home quickly for a family emergency, fills him with dread.

"A major consideration for us is our parents. My wife's parents, they are in their 70s," he said. "What happens if one of our parents gets ill? That's always in the back of our minds."

The pandemic has also changed the way some migrants feel about living and working in the UK.

Alex Dreisin, an economist from New York, moved to London in 2008. She has since found a partner, bought a house and had a baby. Although her parents were able to visit the UK to meet their new grandchild in early 2020, the pandemic has prevented Alex and her family from taking any further trips across the Atlantic.

She says the coronavirus crisis hasn't changed her mind about living overseas but it has made it harder.

"I don't think Covid necessarily changed anything about being an expat - it's magnified the challenges that were already there," she says.

"What was a pretty straightforward seven-hour flight to New York now just feels a lot more complicated and while video chats have been good to get us through, we're all really looking forward to some hugs!"

James Prodger and his family had been looking forward to lots travel while living in Singapore

As vaccine rollouts gather pace around the world and borders start to reopen, there will be a rush to book flights - not just from holiday-makers desperate for some sun, but also from those who haven't seen their families for months or even years, outside of a screen.

James Prodger and his family will be among them.

"Singapore's great," he says. "But it's not great when you can't leave."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
The Implications of Expanding Voting Rights to Non-EU Foreign Residents in France
Ghislaine Maxwell to Testify Before US Congress on February 9
Al.com Acquired by Crypto.com Founder for $70 Million
Apple iPhone Lockdown Mode blocks FBI data access in journalist device seizure
Belgium: Man Charged with Rape After Faking Payment to Sex Worker
KPMG Urges Auditor to Relay AI Cost Savings
US and Iran to Begin Nuclear Talks in Oman
Winklevoss-Led Gemini to Slash a Quarter of Jobs and Exit European and Australian Markets
Canada Opens First Consulate in Greenland Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions
China unveils plans for a 'Death Star' capable of launching missile strikes from space
NASA allows astronauts to take smartphones on upcoming missions to capture special moments.
Trump administration to launch TrumpRx.gov for direct drug purchases
Investigation Launched at Winter Olympics Over Ski Jumpers Injecting Hyaluronic Acid
U.S. State Department Issues Urgent Travel Warning for Citizens to Leave Iran Immediately
Wall Street Erases All Gains of 2026; Bitcoin Plummets 14% to $63,000
Epstein Case Documents Reignite Global Scrutiny of Political and Business Elites
Eighty-one-year-old man in the United States fatally shoots Uber driver after scam threat
UK Royal Family Faces Intensifying Strain as Epstein-Linked Revelations Rock the Institution
Political Censorship: French Prosecutors Raid Musk’s X Offices in Paris
AI Invented “Hot Springs” — Tourists Arrived and Were Shocked
Tech Mega-Donors Power Trump-Aligned Fundraising Surge to $429 Million Ahead of 2026 Midterms
UK Pharma Watchdog Rules Sanofi Breached Industry Code With RSV Vaccine Claims Against Pfizer
Melania Documentary Opens Modestly in UK with Mixed Global Box Office Performance
Starmer Arrives in Shanghai to Promote British Trade and Investment
Harry Styles, Anthony Joshua and Premier League Stars Among UK’s Top Taxpayers
New Epstein Files Include Images of Former Prince Andrew Kneeling Over Unidentified Woman
Starmer Urges Former Prince Andrew to Testify Before US Congress About Epstein Ties
Starmer Extends Invitation to Japan’s Prime Minister After Strategic Tokyo Talks
Skupski and Harrison Clinch Australian Open Men’s Doubles Title in Melbourne
DOJ Unveils Millions of Epstein Files, Fueling Global Scrutiny of Elite Networks
France Begins Phasing Out Zoom and Microsoft Teams to Advance Digital Sovereignty
China Lifts Sanctions on British MPs and Peers After Starmer Xi Talks in Beijing
Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair to Reorient U.S. Monetary Policy Toward Pro-Growth Interest Rates
AstraZeneca Announces £11bn China Investment After Scaling Back UK Expansion Plans
Starmer and Xi Forge Warming UK-China Ties in Beijing Amid Strategic Reset
Tech Market Shifts and AI Investment Surge Drive Global Innovation and Layoffs
Markets Jolt as AI Spending, US Policy Shifts, and Global Security Moves Drive New Volatility
U.S. Signals Potential Decertification of Canadian Aircraft as Bilateral Tensions Escalate
Former South Korean First Lady Kim Keon Hee Sentenced to 20 Months for Bribery
Tesla Ends Model S and X Production and Sends $2 Billion to xAI as 2025 Revenue Declines
China Executes 11 Members of the Ming Clan in Cross-Border Scam Case Linked to Myanmar’s Lawkai
Trump Administration Officials Held Talks With Group Advocating Alberta’s Independence
Starmer Signals UK Push for a More ‘Sophisticated’ Relationship With China in Talks With Xi
Shopping Chatbots Move From Advice to Checkout as Walmart Pushes Faster Than Amazon
Starmer Seeks Economic Gains From China Visit While Navigating US Diplomatic Sensitivities
Starmer Says China Visit Will Deliver Economic Benefits as He Prepares to Meet Xi Jinping
UK Prime Minister Starmer Arrives in China to Bolster Trade and Warn Firms of Strategic Opportunities
The AI Hiring Doom Loop — Algorithmic Recruiting Filters Out Top Talent and Rewards Average or Fake Candidates
Amazon to Cut 16,000 Corporate Jobs After Earlier 14,000 Reduction, Citing Streamlining and AI Investment
Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% as Powell Faces DOJ Criminal Investigation During 2026 Decision
×