Paper short abstract:

Drawing on interviews of Estonians who are living abroad or have recently returned to Estonia, the paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their intentions to return. In addition, their experiences of (non)belonging while living abroad and especially after returning to Estonia are touched.

Paper long abstract:

Drawing on face-to-face and online interviews, the paper examines experiences of return migrants, moving back to Estonia from different parts of the world (Denmark, Finland, Great Britain, Ireland, US etc.). This paper has two aims. Firstly, to explore the ways the COVID-19 pandemic and restriction of the movement across the borders affected transnational everyday life of interviewees, and more specifically, their intentions to return. Some have stated that COVID-19 pandemic made them take time off and ponder over their future. Unemployment and uncertainty the pandemic brought along pushed some interviewees to make quick decisions regarding the return. However, many are ready to move again, if necessary.

Secondly, the paper discusses the experiences of (non)belonging interviewees had while living abroad and after returning to Estonia. In principle, returnees acknowledge positive developments that have taken place in Estonia during recent years. However, interviewees do compare Estonia and its mentality to the societies where they have spent the last years or decades, and do not necessarily feel at home in or welcomed to Estonia. Interviewees have described the ambivalence of identity positions forced on them – the ways they are positioned and valued by other members of the society, especially by their relevant networks. Sometimes returning is compared to arriving in a completely new country, including similar challenges and negotiations.