Exchange students make the best of their international experience during Covid times
Uncertainty. Pressure. Fear. And maybe regret? The melange of feelings while being an international student during Coronavirus is overwhelming. Foreign students who came to Belgium for Erasmus exchange, felt all of these emotions, if not more, when they left their home country to come here. Now corona measurements are tightened, they still try to make the best of their ‘once in a lifetime experience’.
It is courageous that students choose to be part of an international community, looking for adventure and meeting peers during their highter education years. For some of these Erasmus students, it was a hard decision, being young adults and trying to build a career that will (hopefully) make their parents proud. Most of them are still financially dependent on their parents — and trust me, coming from Romania, this is an expensive decision! A scholarship is helpful, but hardly sufficient to cover only the accommodation and some nights out.
Cultural differences, integration, strange food, home sickness… These used to be the main new experiences exchange students had to worry about. Until now. The coronavirus crisis represents a current problem, being a huge impediment for them in making rational decisions.
International students in Flanders find it really hard to make friends out here and under these conditions. The amount of students in a single classroom is usually split into two, in order to alternate online and physical presence at school. So they are no longer able to meet in person with all of their peers. Also, people are obviously reluctant when it comes to socialising with foreign students, and the general feeling is that they are “outsiders”. And somehow, that it is understandable. They speak different languages, they are used to different customs and teaching methods, and maybe cultural differences play an important role in this case, as well.
The governments in Belgium are constantly changing regulations regarding the coronavirus crisis, because of the rising number of cases. In Flanders, social gatherings are no longer possible. You can’t really walk in the center of Hasselt, for example, with more than three friends, and teleworking is strongly recommended.
That also applies to Erasmus students, who have to follow classes from a distance and can no longer mingle with their peers. We cannot ignore the fact that these students become homesick! And the coronavirus crisis is only making it worse, as travelling is not really an option during this period. The number of coronavirus cases is rising at a fast pace, not only in Belgium, but on a global level.
International student Alina, from Romania, says: “The biggest problem that I am facing during corona crisis is related to my integration upon arrival in Belgium. It has to do with the social context and the absence of gatherings and events. This context is not favourable for socializing and making new friends.” She is not alone, though. Maryam from Azerbaijan feels the same: “It’s harder to meet new people nowadays but since I spent the beginning of the academic year mostly on campus, I am happy I could meet many fellow students. In a short time, I made some strong friendships. If it wasn’t for Corona, I would probably meet even more people, but honestly, it’s not such a big problem to me.”
If the situation is not improving, students will spend their Christmas in Hasselt, far from their families back home. This represents a concern for most of them: “I realize that I will not be able to see my family before the end of the academic year, because I am here for two semesters. It would be a huge relief not to have to worry about seeing my family during my Erasmus. Normally, I would definitely be traveling and discovering Europe. And I think I’d be enjoying the social aspects of my Erasmus much more!”, said Tyler from Spain.
The majority of international students saw the new measurements as an advantage. Romanian universities — or at least 90 per cent of them) — adopted the online system measure announced few days before the start of the academic year. The school attendance system changed here in Belgium as well, to exclusively online courses for the second and third year. Students do not think that the restrictions are too severe. “It’s fine for me at the moment’, says Maryam. “But I’d prefer the education to be on campus rather than online. I find online education less appropriate for my field of studies. I study Masters of management and most of my courses are very interactive and involve group work.”
Despite all of this, Most exchange students don’t regret participating in the Erasmus+ experience. They consider it a once in a lifetime opportunity, even if the timing is not perfect. Alina: “I don’t regret at all coming here during the pandemic, with my Erasmus+ mobility, because the situation would have been the same at my home country. But to my opinion, the new restrictions are too severe. I strongly believe the consequences of these restrictions will be worse for the economy of the country and the mental health of the people than the consequences of a pandemic without these restrictions.”
Lecturers and professors acknowledge the situation is not great for the exchange students. They are used to a larger public and a more diverse environment! However, they are constantly helping them to adapt, being supportive and compassionate. “Covid-19 has increased fear: fear of contagion, fear of each other. Covid has also restricted student’s personal freedom. They can’t travel anymore because of quarantine regulations. A lot of them came to Belgium because it’s in the centre of Europe, but now they are here without having a perspective to discover new people and new surroundings”, says Ms. Brigitte Luyten, International Coordinator of the department of Media and Tourism at the PXL University College in Hasselt.
