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I'm someone who the travel restrictions have caused actual problems for. In March I accepted an offer for my first full-time job out of school at a company in

I'm someone who the travel restrictions have caused actual problems for. In March I accepted an offer for my first full-time job out of school at a company in Tokyo. I was scheduled to move in May, but the travel ban put a halt on my visa process. In the meantime, I've started working remotely, but it has been extremely difficult due to being remote with the 13 hour time difference. This certainly isn't how I expected to start my first job. Our reaction to the pandemic has been a huge disappointment. Since March, I've been watching closely as other countries see their first cases, make the tough decision to lock down, wait it out a few months, then finally reopen as cases fall. Here, we never really committed to the lockdown. Where I live in Georgia, it was only a few weeks ago that the governor started recommending mask usage. Needless to say, I don't plan ever to return to the United States once I leave. This country is hopeless.

jkingsbery 6y ago
I'm sorry to hear it. I'm sure it's been a frustrating experience, but one that would be interesting to tell and useful for people to know to understand the consequences of bad decisions. A well-written version of the article would have included one or two interviews from people like you.
dorchadas 6y ago
> Needless to say, I don't plan ever to return to the United States once I leave. This country is hopeless. Indeed. I was hoping this year would be my year to get out too, with a masters program abroad. Now, I'm not sure if it's wise to do that, especially as it was in finance and the finance sector in that country's taken a huge hit, and connections I have there aren't optimistic about it hiring well anytime soon.
ghaff 6y ago
I'm sure it's very disappointing but I'd point out that, as you probably know, Japan has travel bans that apply to the vast majority of the planet: https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/ https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/ It's hardly some unique ban that applies to the US.

jkingsbery 6y ago

I'm sorry to hear it. I'm sure it's been a frustrating experience, but one that would be interesting to tell and useful for people to know to understand the consequences of bad decisions. A well-written version of the article would have included one or two interviews from people like you.

dorchadas 6y ago

> Needless to say, I don't plan ever to return to the United States once I leave. This country is hopeless. Indeed. I was hoping this year would be my year to get out too, with a masters program abroad. Now, I'm not sure if it's wise to do that, especially as it was in finance and the finance sector in that country's taken a huge hit, and connections I have there aren't optimistic about it hiring well anytime soon.

ghaff 6y ago

I'm sure it's very disappointing but I'd point out that, as you probably know, Japan has travel bans that apply to the vast majority of the planet: https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/ https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/ It's hardly some unique ban that applies to the US.