My life plans have been whipping around for the past 48 hours. Until about 3 days ago, Corona seemed like a scary but distant reality that we learned about through occasional vague emails from the school and memes about toilet paper. Then, South Africa began to take steps as their case count increased rapidly.
On Sunday night, South Africa placed a travel ban on high-risk countries, including the U.S. Even though I knew I would be able to leave legally, I was concerned that this ban would lead to flight cancellations because of a lack of demand. I started to feel a little trapped, but my parents and I agreed that I would just wait and see. Monday morning came and the stress and confusion were evident on campus. Then, we got the news that six out of the eight border crossings between South Africa and eSwatini were closing. I felt even more trapped.
Then my fellow students started making plans to leave. My friend from South Africa suddenly announced that she was leaving later that day. Many European students were planning how to leave as soon as possible because their countries were locking down and calling all of their citizens back home. People were calling their parents everywhere you looked. Given the new information, my parents and I decided to take up my friend's family on their offer to take me to South Africa with them. South Africa seemed to have more options in terms of travel home and have a better healthcare system in case I was injured or sick. So, suddenly, I was leaving campus in 3 hours.
We left before the school-wide assembly because up until then, the position of the school was that students shouldn't leave. As we were driving, we received the news that the school was shutting early for term break and that we are supposed to resume on April 20th. I am now at my friend's house in South Africa and will take a plane home on Saturday, and be in Montana for the break.
This has been an extremely tumultuous and emotional time. Being surrounded by people from all over the world during a pandemic is overwhelming. The gravity of the decisions we were having to make, with immense uncertainty, was too. We have known each other for 2 months and we were having to choose to leave for two or more months. There were many tears and many hugs (we ignored social distancing).
Now we are all going home. Hopefully, we will be reunited in April, but we very well may not. It is painful to not know when I am going to see my new family and new home again, but I am just going to focus on controlling the things I can control. I am going to enjoy my time here at the farm, enjoy spending time with my family, and enjoy Missoula. I am so grateful that I am surrounded by people that are looking out for me and that my family has the resources to bring me home during these hectic times.
This world is a crazy place, folks. Please stay safe and keep those around you safe as well :)
On Sunday night, South Africa placed a travel ban on high-risk countries, including the U.S. Even though I knew I would be able to leave legally, I was concerned that this ban would lead to flight cancellations because of a lack of demand. I started to feel a little trapped, but my parents and I agreed that I would just wait and see. Monday morning came and the stress and confusion were evident on campus. Then, we got the news that six out of the eight border crossings between South Africa and eSwatini were closing. I felt even more trapped.
Then my fellow students started making plans to leave. My friend from South Africa suddenly announced that she was leaving later that day. Many European students were planning how to leave as soon as possible because their countries were locking down and calling all of their citizens back home. People were calling their parents everywhere you looked. Given the new information, my parents and I decided to take up my friend's family on their offer to take me to South Africa with them. South Africa seemed to have more options in terms of travel home and have a better healthcare system in case I was injured or sick. So, suddenly, I was leaving campus in 3 hours.
We left before the school-wide assembly because up until then, the position of the school was that students shouldn't leave. As we were driving, we received the news that the school was shutting early for term break and that we are supposed to resume on April 20th. I am now at my friend's house in South Africa and will take a plane home on Saturday, and be in Montana for the break.
This has been an extremely tumultuous and emotional time. Being surrounded by people from all over the world during a pandemic is overwhelming. The gravity of the decisions we were having to make, with immense uncertainty, was too. We have known each other for 2 months and we were having to choose to leave for two or more months. There were many tears and many hugs (we ignored social distancing).
This world is a crazy place, folks. Please stay safe and keep those around you safe as well :)
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