Jiao Long came to Ireland to study English in 2002, but he could not afford the fees. He began working instead, taking temporary jobs that did not require a visa. In 2012, his father suddenly became ill, and Jiao Long decided to return to China to care for them.

After ten years away, Jiao Long was nervous about returning to China. He missed home, but he did not have time to think of a plan for his employment. “My return decision was in a rush, due to my father’s illness. It did not allow me to think too far.”

Once Jiao Long returned, he was glad to be able to care for his father. He also had a hard time readapting. “The living pace in China is very fast. It is hard to adjust to. I have not become used to the interaction style and business style in China.”

Jiao Long applied for the IOM Ireland reintegration grant. “I invested in my brother-in-law’s decoration shop,” he explained. “We sell paint, wall paper, and other things like that. I was thinking about doing some business when I returned, but I realized it is not easy. I was thinking about opening a restaurant, but it requires a lot of investment. I did not have the money.”

In 2013, Jiao Long spoke with IOM Ireland about his return experience. He was slowing building a life in China, and hoped to earn more through his business partnership. “Maybe I have not resettled yet. I was in Ireland for ten years, so it is not easy to adjust to life in China.”