My name is Kristin Dobbie and I am 21 years old. I grew up in Southland about 40 minutes out of Invercargill in Titiroa, which is located near the Catlins. I attended Southland Girls’ High School and went on to complete my undergraduate degree at the University of Otago. 

After graduating in December last year (2019) I wasn’t completely sure what I wanted to do job-wise so I set off to America to complete an international college programme and internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I always wanted to travel and was really keen on a gap year out of high school so I decided to combine travelling and working into one therefore, treating 2020 as my gap year doing something I loved! 

Therefore, I was based in Orlando at a housing complex made for Disney college participants from all around the world and within America. I was spending my days and nights working at the attraction Pirates of the Caribbean which was at Magic Kingdom. In my spare time, where I wasn’t working, I was trying to explore all parts of Disney World as it consisted of four theme parks, two water parks, 22 resorts and an outdoor shopping/restaurant area.

For me the COVID-19 outbreak was something that was talked about from the start of my programme, but not something we thought was going to affect us. I first started in January and, as Disney has theme parks around the world, Shanghai and Hong Kong Disneyland closed in late January, slowly followed by the others. 

It wasn’t a pressing concern in America until early March and it all happened really quickly. The week of the 9th to the 15th of March saw big changes, not at first but it escalated pretty quickly. 

On the Tuesday there were hand washing stations placed around the park encouraging more sanitation from guests. I was already used to hand sanitising on the job as, on average, tens of thousands of people come through these theme parks every day. 

On the Thursday we found out that Disneyland in California was closing temporarily for two weeks, a few hours later it was announced that Disney World in Florida was going to do the same. We were then told that we were going to be still scheduled our normal hours and be paid as normal but basically have a two-week holiday. 

Then two days later, I was walking by on my shift in the middle of the day and fellow college programme participants were crying. Walking past to my next position I tried to quickly catch what was going on. All of a sudden, life had been turned upside down. Our programmes were to be finishing the next day (the Sunday) and we had until the following Wednesday (three days) to be out of housing complexes as they were filled of thousands of people and gatherings of more than 10 had been banned in Orlando. 

The thoughts that ran through my mind were, how am I going to get home? How am I going to get me, let alone all my stuff, home? What if I don’t get flights before Wednesday? How am I going to pay for flights before Wednesday? Were we still expected to work tomorrow? Didn’t I read something about self-isolation in New Zealand this morning... what does that mean? The list goes on. It was highly stressful and it just shows how life can change in an instant, which I think everyone has had to experience through this pandemic. 

It was a very full on few days but luckily I was able to get flights before the deadline and luckily I have parents who were able to help me out, which I am very grateful for. The option of waiting it out in America wasn’t even an option – I would feel safer in New Zealand and we had no idea if we would get our jobs back at Disney, let alone how long it would actually be closed for. Plus, where would I stay? 

I didn’t sleep until I was on my long flight home, knowing that I was going to get back to New Zealand. Even then, I was still anxious and could barely sleep as things were changing hour by hour almost. Flying back was strange as rows were empty and I had a row to myself. I felt like I couldn’t cough or clear my throat without people freaking out and it was almost like I didn’t know where to breathe. I just snuggled into my hoodie and counted down the hours until I was home. 

I got home on the 19th of March and have been in my bubble, within a bubble, since. It was strange coming back to New Zealand at first and things here still somewhat normal. Everything in Orlando had basically closed when I left, and it was so quiet. But after a matter of days we became the same. 

My programme was to go until June and from there I was going to travel parts of America with my parents who were going to come over to visit. From there, I had no set game plan. Either more travel or a hope to combine my new tourism work experience and geography/environmental management from my degree at university to pursue a job back in New Zealand. 

Now, I’m in self isolation in Central Otago away from most of my family who are essential workers. I have completed my 14 days of being inside a bubble-within-a-bubble. It was a relief to finally be able to hug my Mum, who was probably more relieved to see get me off the plane than I was. 

Now we’re waiting it out like the rest of New Zealand... but that’s my little story.

• If you're a Southlander living (or forced to return home) from living abroad, we'd love to hear your story. Please contact us at [email protected] Likewise, if you know a Southlander living abroad, please encourage them to get in touch with us to we can all learn more about how this coronavirus is changing life for Southlanders everywhere.