More than 2 years into the pandemic, some reunite with family far away. Others endure a difficult wait

For people in Canada with loved ones abroad, the pandemic has meant long separations and a lot of uncertainty around when they would be able to embrace their family and friends again. 

Now that travel restrictions are lifting, many are reuniting with their relatives. For others, ongoing restrictions and health risks are forcing them to wait a little longer. 

The CBC Radio special The Same Boat explores how people with close ties in other countries have managed to stay connected, two years into the pandemic. 

Last year, producers Idil Mussa and Jennifer Chen talked to people across the country and heard about how they were finding creative and joyful ways to keep their relationships strong, even at a great distance.

This spring, they revisited some of those stories to hear about their progress. 

In May 2021, Yuanyuan Zhou was a young mother living in Ottawa, studying for her early childhood education diploma at Algonquin College. She had a 10-month-old baby named Vincent, and her husband was working at a Chinese restaurant.

The rest of her family, including her seven-year-old son, Yuntao Bai, was in Shandong, China, 11,000 kilometres away. She had planned to go visit him after she had her baby. 

The pandemic made that all but impossible. "Every plan was destroyed because of COVID-19," Zhou said. 

At the time, her eldest son's absence affected her deeply. "We video chat twice a day. Every day he asks us when we are coming back to look after him," she said.

Over the last year, her life has seen some big changes. She graduated from her program, and got a full-time job at a daycare in Halifax. 

Last fall, she secured a visa for her older son and in December, Yuntao — whose English name is Damello — got on a plane and took the long trip to Nova Scotia.

"When I first saw him, I gave him a big hug. I tried to take him up, but I failed," she said. "He's getting taller and heavier than before." 

She says her first words in person were, "Are you cold?" and "Do you miss Mom?" They went out that afternoon to buy a winter-worthy coat and boots. 

Zhou's parents remain in China, and she said it's been hard for them to be apart from Yuntao. "I will take my kids to go back to China to visit my parents. That's the hope for next year."