COVID and international student life

Being an international student in a foreign country is an interesting yet challenging experience in many ways, but the coronavirus has seen that become even more of a true statement. At my university, we've had to adapt to a new normal courtesy of COVID which has been hard on the student body and faculty members alike.

One of my peers who graduated this month shared this photo with me. No family or friends allowed to attend, social distanced seating, and masks at the ready.

No "outsiders" are allowed on campus

My university took a stance when the COVID crisis appeared to be exploding, and set limits on who was able to visit the campus. During regular times the campus is open to anyone who wants to stop by, and many people in the local area take up this offer. The cafeteria is especially popular with the local community as it serves up a variety of international dishes at very low prices. This has been suspended indefinitely, with campus grounds and amenities strictly for students and faculty. The creation of a university bubble is an interesting concept, but as a number of students live off campus (myself included), the real question might be how effective the bubble really is.

International Festival Canceled

One of the most enriching things about studying at an international university is the diversity. My peers come from all corners of the globe, and each year the university hosts an international festival where our different cultures are celebrated through song, dance, and a sharing of traditions. There are also booths set up where students prepare and serve food specialties from their home countries to festival attendees. Out of an abundance of caution the festival was canceled for 2020 and since it's an event that the entire community looks forward to, it was demoralizing for many of us. With the numbers of COVID cases increasing across Japan once again, it's possible that more community events and festivals will be canceled. On a campus that is already geographically isolated, these cancelations make international student life even harder.

A new look to the usual graduation ceremony

The Class of 2020 had a graduation ceremony that they will undoubtedly remember, and possibly for all the wrong reasons. Graduating is normally a celebratory experience, something which you take pride in sharing with your friends and loved ones who helped to get you through the tough times.

The 2020 ceremony was a rather anticlimactic affair. Those who were graduating this year weren't allowed to invite friends or family, so the auditorium was comprised of students only. If that didn't make the event feel lonely enough as it was, social distancing was required by the graduates, with a seat width of distance sitting between each of them. The University President, Deans, and other faculty members were masked up on stage. The precautions were what most of us would deem responsible, but a number of my peers graduating this year felt cheated by the curse of COVID.