Study Abroad Programs and Travel Plans are Canceled Because of Coronavirus
"Students from universities across the U.S. were rerouted or asked to return home during their semester overseas." (Casey Leins) As the virus is spreading rapidly, national and international limits on travel have been established, which makes many vacation plans and study abroad programs have been canceled. Students were asked to return home, oversea classes were canceled, all because of the coronavirus.
In the article “Coronavirus Reroutes Students as Study Abroad Programs Shut Down” by Casey Leins, the author focuses on the impacts that Covid-19 has on study abroad programs and exchange, international students. In this situation, not only companies will lose revenue, but also the students will lose their study abroad opportunities. In addition, the sudden cancellation left students a few days to decide where they will spend the next couple months. For students who stayed in the dorms, they were asked to move out as universities around the globe were suspending in-person classes for the rest of the school year.
As a first-year student at UC Davis, I also had similar experience. We were asked to move out of the dorms in a week, but we had the option to choose whether to stay or not, and we will receive a refund for the housing if we move out. Luckily, my hometown is not too far from the campus, so I was able to go back and move my belongings out of the dorm. However, this was a stressful situation for all of us.
Similarly, study abroad students were sent back home, losing their opportunities to see more of the world, experience other cultures, and improve their language skills. At the moment, the situation of Covid-19 doesn’t seem to be getting better. Colleges are considering postponing or canceling study abroad programs. In my opinion, all of these doings are for students and instructors’ safety. However, this is unfair for students who have been selected through a competitive application process and have been looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel bad for them regarding how much they would be missing out on, not being able to stay on campus, and all the hassle, stress they are being put through compared to what I am going through.
On the other hand, there are exchange and international students who don’t know when they can return home, but their visas will expire soon. The suspension of in-person classes and study abroad programs have left students hanging about whether to stay here or return home, what to do with their ongoing housing leases, or their flights continuously getting canceled.
Likewise, with summer approaching, families and students don’t know whether to cancel their travel plans because they don’t know how long the virus will remain at the center of their lives. In the article “Coronavirus is Spreading. Should You Cancel Your Vacation?” by Christina Caron, the author states that traveling presents a risk, even within the country. Some communities are spreading the disease rapidly, sickening and killing thousands of people worldwide.
In my perspective, now is not a good time to travel. We should be cautious about nonessential travel. If necessary, we should try to practice social distancing, wear masks, and gloves, not only to protect ourselves, our family, but also others and help to slow down the spread and flatten the curve to ensure that supply matches demand for care during this dangerous global pandemic, so that our front-line healthcare workers can focus on effectively helping infected patients.
Similarly, study abroad students were sent back home, losing their opportunities to see more of the world, experience other cultures, and improve their language skills. At the moment, the situation of Covid-19 doesn’t seem to be getting better. Colleges are considering postponing or canceling study abroad programs. In my opinion, all of these doings are for students and instructors’ safety. However, this is unfair for students who have been selected through a competitive application process and have been looking forward to this once-in-a-lifetime experience. I feel bad for them regarding how much they would be missing out on, not being able to stay on campus, and all the hassle, stress they are being put through compared to what I am going through.
On the other hand, there are exchange and international students who don’t know when they can return home, but their visas will expire soon. The suspension of in-person classes and study abroad programs have left students hanging about whether to stay here or return home, what to do with their ongoing housing leases, or their flights continuously getting canceled.
Likewise, with summer approaching, families and students don’t know whether to cancel their travel plans because they don’t know how long the virus will remain at the center of their lives. In the article “Coronavirus is Spreading. Should You Cancel Your Vacation?” by Christina Caron, the author states that traveling presents a risk, even within the country. Some communities are spreading the disease rapidly, sickening and killing thousands of people worldwide.
In my perspective, now is not a good time to travel. We should be cautious about nonessential travel. If necessary, we should try to practice social distancing, wear masks, and gloves, not only to protect ourselves, our family, but also others and help to slow down the spread and flatten the curve to ensure that supply matches demand for care during this dangerous global pandemic, so that our front-line healthcare workers can focus on effectively helping infected patients.
I agree that during this strange time, we shouldn't focus on traveling and instead put our energy into social distancing and sheltering-in-place. However, we still need to acknowledge that these given circumstances have definitely disrupted a lot of plans. Personally, I also wish to study abroad at some point in my college career, so I really feel for those who have had their study abroad plans interrupted by coronavirus. Being a first year, it was also really sad to have to move out of the dorms early. I feel like I wasn't fully able to experience and enjoy my first year. Even though there are a lot of things to be sad and upset about, it is important to keep pushing forward and do our best to flatten the curve. I have heard news stories about people protesting the quarantine, and honestly I think it is very selfish and ignorant for people to even think that way. We are all struggling in some way or another, and obeying the shelter-in-place orders are only in everyone’s best interest.
ReplyDeleteI agree that because of corona virus and how it spreads, traveling should not be anyones priority and it should be everyone's priority to stay safe and social distance to benefit not only yourself but the people around you. I also agree that traveling and study abroad can wait until things have settled down and the virus is less of a threat to lives. Furthermore, in regards to study abroad most college students that do study abroad are not seniors, and they will have opportunity to travel in their following year or years of college or after college. So I agree that they should all come home and comply with the travel bans and restrictions. These restrictions are in favor of everyones health and well being so to follow them would only be a benefit to yourself, and your family. Though I do realize like you said that it is even harder for international students because this stay at home order might make is hard or even impossible to take classes remotely and to be engaged with other students.
ReplyDeleteAvoid as much travel during this time is very crucial in helping to assist during this pandemic and prevent the spread of it anymore. I do feel bad for people that were planning to go study abroad but ultimately were not able to because of this whole pandemic. I have a few friends that had planned on going to Europe this summer to study but that quickly changed because of the coronavirus. They spent tons of time applying for grants and having to deal with all the stress of how they were going to be able to pay for this travel and finding ways on how to get aid. It was very sad to see how all their hard work was just stripped from them because of the situation but it was for the best. It was to prevent others from becoming infected and avoid the spread of the virus.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to emphasize about traveling is not a good time. I feel sad about those who have to cancel their study abroad experiences because they would lose the openness and culture, connections, history and architecture, and making new friends. It is best not to travel and that it seems that the virus is more obtainable to get by going outside. At some point in my undergraduate, I would like to study abroad but I feel scared of getting myself sick and I think I must prepare myself for the best in the future. I decided to go back home and not to stay at Davis because I felt unsafe at the time and just wanted to be with my family. I felt sad that I had to leave Davis because I would not see my friends in a while and that people have to stay away at a certain distance to not spread the disease.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what the author emphasized in the post, I believe everyone should be responsible for ourselves and also other people's lives. For example, although the COVID-19 was first discovered in China, based on the strict travel ban and social distance, the pandemic has almost been stopped. However, the US only banned China at first but still allowed visitors from European countries. Up to now, the number of people infected has closed to two million.
ReplyDeleteWhat's more, I actually applied for a winter seminar at UC Davis, which is called Ecology in Antarctica. To be honest, I am really cherishing this opportunity. And I spend a lot of time preparing this program, such as research, exercise, and vaccine inoculation. However, I do understand and respect the school's choice if this program delays or even cancels, because I think we should be responsible and respect each other.