LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP

Love in the time of closed borders

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many couples are being forced to discover if distance really does make the heart grow fonder. Government efforts to slow the coronavirus’ spread have left many lovers apart and uncertain of when they will next be able to unite. The closing of borders in places where travel was previously restriction-free, such as in Europe’s Schengen Area, has also resulted in some couples suddenly finding themselves in long-distance relationships, despite living close by.

One couple navigating this new relationship territory is Andrea Rohde and her partner of more than a decade, Markus Brassel. Rohde calls the city of Konstanz in southern Germany home, while Brassel lives just a few kilometres away in the Swiss village of Tägerwilen. A 10-minute car ride usually divides them, but since the border between Germany and Switzerland closed on 16 March, the short journey has become impossible.

However, Rohde and Brassel have found a way to still see one another. Several times a week, they each head to the German-Swiss border that divides the cities of Konstanz and Kreuzlingen, to catch up in person through the newly installed border fences. Rohde says Skyping her partner doesn’t compare to being able to have him in front of her. “It’s just something else, even if we’re 2m apart,” she said.

The in-person meetings also allow Rohde to have some contact with the couple’s dog, Niro. The seven-year-old Parson Russell Terrier usually splits his time between his owners’ homes, but the pandemic has meant that he, too, is stuck in Switzerland.

Rohde and Brassel are far from alone. In fact, on a recent weekend, more than 100 couples split between Switzerland and Germany headed to the Kreuzlingen-Konstanz border to come as close to one another as presently possible. The rising temperatures are likely to draw even more lovers in the coming days and weeks.

Writing

Hi Jane, I am in long distance relationship. I don't know what should I do to maintain my relationship with my boyfriend. Should we have video call, play online game or something else? Please let me know what do you think.