By Cimpeanu Alexandra
Students from all over the world have left their homes to study and follow their dreams elsewhere. Little did they know they would get stuck, not be allowed to leave the countries where they study or to travel to see their loved ones.
Bianca Epistatu, 20, who studies European Law at Groningen University in the Netherlands, said she feels her opportunities are limited.
“I was not mentally prepared, especially from the perspective of an international student, to have my freedom of travel restricted for so long- it’s suffocating,” she said.
Epistatu had to return home when class moved online, so she could be with her family while saving some money on rent.
“It feels like the whole progress we’ve made as students is being reverted; Instead of having to adapt to a new lifestyle abroad and getting out of my comfort zone, I am going backwards, having to reintegrate in my family’s dynamic as if I’d never left,” she added.
This can have a great impact on mental health. According to a report facilitated by American Express, nearly half of the general population feels “anxious and stressed” at the thought of not being able to travel.
Victoria Calabrese is a 20 years old second-year Journalism student at London Metropolitan University and was stuck in Switzerland for four and a half months, when she only wanted to see her parents for a few weeks.
“It was difficult to adjust because although I was with my family, I wasn’t in my room with my things and I couldn’t see any of my friends,” she said.
“Students shouldn’t have to choose between being with their family and being in their homes, where it’s much easier to study- most of them are forced to make a very difficult choice about where to stay, without actually knowing for how long,” she added.
However, the new regulations are in place now, and although travelling for unessential reasons is illegal and can incur a £5,000 fine students can now go home. The rule has been updated two weeks ago and it states: “An international student studying in the UK can travel outside the UK to return home on one occasion before 29 April 2021 for the purposes of a vacation.”
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