“We have Sarah Prestwidge here checking in for her flight” said the man at the Etihad check-in counter as he called border security. It was a long process leading up to this point. Applying for my Visa, organising accomodation – the usual checklist for moving overseas. However, this time, with a slight variation. It was required that I provide a negative Covid-19 test that was taken 48 hours prior to landing. I also had to apply for an exemption to leave Australia through the Foreign Affairs office, which was a lengthy process. After months of waiting for my exemption to be passed, I finally received the email and I cried of relief. Although, the following quote hit pretty hard. It highlighted that this is not a normal time to be moving overseas.

Please note that Australia has a global ‘Do Not Travel’ alert in place, a number of countries are implementing their own border restrictions in response to COVID-19, and the international air network is reducing in capacity. Your ability to enter another country or return to Australia may be severely impacted.

So, Friday the 4th of September. It’s here! It has been a date that provoked both excitement and fear simultaneously for the past few months. My flight was not until 8:40pm, and so my parents and I sat around for most of the day, twiddling our thumbs and binging ‘When Calls The Heart’ (how fitting) on Netflix. Moving overseas is something that I have talked about for a long time. I have always loved travelling and feeling the world at my feet, and my parents have always taught me to “Dare to Dream”. I will be honest, it was harder than I had ever thought to say goodbye to my loved ones.

Due to the new covid restrictions, you are not permitted to have an onboard bag (apart from a small item, such as a handbag or laptop bag), and so it gets added to your checked luggage. I encountered a slight issue with being 4kg over. Hey! I know what you’re thinking! “Typical Sarah”. No, it was just really hard to pack my whole life into two bags!! Don’t worry, it was quickly resolved with a bat of the eyelids and a smile 😉.

Now, with as many things in my handbag as I could possibly fit, and my gorgeous MIMCO passport holder and bag tag, courtesy of my Brother and his girlfriend, TJ, I was ready to go. My family and I had one last meal together, ‘the last supper’, you may call it. My parents gave me the pep talk of the century, and I walked through the gate after lots of hugs and tears. On the other side, I was more settled than I expected – perhaps it was the excitement of flying Business Class, thanks to my very generous sponsors, Robert and Eileen. That, or the bubbles had gone to my head.

The entire Sydney International Airport was dead. Not a single shop open, and very few people walking around. I counted an average of 30 people on both flights. I flew the entire way with a mask and gloves on, and constantly reminding myself to hand sanitise. You’ll see in the picture below a booth at Abu Dhabi airport that sanitises you as you walk through, and the Etihad “Travelling Well Together” gift bag – nicely paired with a glass of Piper-Heidsieck .

After just 26 hours, I arrived in Manchester, United Kingdom. Deep Breath.

It was absolutely beautiful flying in. It was so green, it actually reminded me of home. Although, I guess technically this is home now.

Now that the hard part is over and I am settling, I want to take the time to thank everyone that helped me get here! Now it’s time to start enjoying the journey.

All my love,

SP