getting back on UE after a 4 month job abroad

Hi all:

Despite an intensive job search for over year, I finally had to accept an offer from abroad---in a very undesirable, polluted country I might add. I am on a 2 year contract and the company has indicated that I will probably be cut early in three weeks! Not exactly firing because "either part has 100 days to opt out", but really, when it comes down to it, I think I am being replaced with a cheaper, local hire. There is no union here, complete corruption and nepotism ( a preview of what things are going to look like in the US VERY soon). This is happening to other westerns at the company as well.

Anyway, I am devasted because I left so much back home-family, friends, possessions in storage and a great rental I had where the rent never went up in the three years I was there. The trade off is not worth it, except I was able to pay down a bit of debt.

Presumably, I will be sent home on their nickel, even though I already paid for a round-trip ticket to my home base (for Xmas holiday) but I can probably get a refund.

I stopped filing for UE as soon as I got hired, and have about 20 weeks left on EB benefits.
I guess since I have been inactive since late Aug., would I still be in the system? Can I pick up where I left off? I have been out of the loop with what's going on with UE, so any advice would be most welcome.
I can tell you assuredly, that economic pain is EVERYWHERE, not just in the states. Employers are now acting like plantation owners since it's pretty obvious that people are desperate..., such is my case.