labour migration

Voice | ‘My family urged me to return to Armenia; but I decided to stay in China’

Emma Petrosyan, a 28-year-old English teacher from Alaverdi, Armenia, has lived and worked in the Chinese city of Tianjin for a year and a half. When the coronavirus hit China, unlike many others, Emma chose to stay. ‘My mobile phone almost exploded with messages and calls [because of the coronavirus]: my family, friends, and acquaintances urged me to return to Armenia. But I decided to stay.’  ‘This is my home, where I feel safe. I think it’s harder and more dangerous to leave, go to the ai