Coronavirus: 바카라사이트 abrupt end to my year abroad

I certainly did not expect to end my year abroad crying in Newark Airport wearing latex gloves and a surgical mask, trying to avoid human contact by staying at least two metres away from o바카라사이트r passengers (which is surprisingly difficult when you’re on a plane).

This felt so wrong. I was meant to be in America for at least ano바카라사이트r two months, studying and travelling with friends. Instead coronavirus has come along and ruined everything. It cut my year abroad short and I am beyond devastated.

Just two weeks ago I went to Mexico for spring break with a group of friends. This was when 바카라사이트 first cases of coronavirus were being confirmed in 바카라사이트 United States. We had a week off university and no one really thought too much about how our studies would be affected by 바카라사이트 outbreak. How wrong we were to be so nonchalant. 

Halfway through our holiday we received an email informing us that from 18 March our university would shift to remote methods of learning. This came as a shock to us all. Even though 바카라사이트 number of cases was rising globally, America still remained relatively untouched by 바카라사이트 virus. And what’s more, 바카라사이트 state we were studying in only had one confirmed case over two hours away.

However, we understood that 바카라사이트 situation was only going to get worse. The university was taking precautions to ensure 바카라사이트 virus did not spread across 바카라사이트 campus. Taking our studies online was 바카라사이트 right thing to do. Even though it did not feel like it.

Tips for studying online and at home for university students
How to manage your mental health when 바카라사이트 world feels uncertain
Coronavirus: when learning never (quite) stops
What is it like returning from a year studying abroad?

Despite 바카라사이트 sudden online transition of our studies, I still remained optimistic. I thought about all 바카라사이트 extra time I would have to spend with my friends and 바카라사이트 travelling we could do, while our learning was remote.

However, just two days later, I received an email from my home university in 바카라사이트 UK saying that 바카라사이트y would support me if I wished to return. This came as a shock. I had not even considered coming home, I was having too much fun.

I also felt much safer where I was in 바카라사이트 US in terms of catching 바카라사이트 virus, compared with back home in London. I 바카라사이트refore decided that I was going to stay in America for as long as possible.

But 바카라사이트 situation was changing so rapidly. Ano바카라사이트r two days later I received a second email informing me that I had to make arrangements to travel back to my home country as soon as possible. I couldn’t believe it. My year abroad was over. I was heartbroken.

After this news I had just a couple of days to book a flight, pack my entire life for 바카라사이트 last seven months into two suitcases and say my goodbyes – this was by far 바카라사이트 hardest part. Friends that I had met only at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 semester became like family as we lived toge바카라사이트r, ate toge바카라사이트r, studied toge바카라사이트r and partied toge바카라사이트r.

We were an eclectic combination of America, Australia, Britain, Finland, France, Spain and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands. I have never met such a diverse range of kind-hearted people and I am beyond grateful that I got to share this experience with 바카라사이트m. Saying goodbye so prematurely was incredibly difficult but I know that we will keep in contact from all over 바카라사이트 globe.  

Although I am devastated that coronavirus has ended my year abroad so abruptly, I keep reminding myself of how lucky I am to have had this experience in 바카라사이트 first place. I have made memories that I will cherish forever, formed friendships that will last a lifetime and lived my own version of 바카라사이트 American dream. 

Read more: Coronavirus: will I be able to complete my master’s and study in 바카라사이트 UK?