OU in Puebla Steps Up for Brazilian Students

By Robyn Rojas

I had to quarantine in Mexico twice. Quarantining in a third country is risky, and my sister and I were very scared both times. However, the second time we felt safer and more supported by our OU community since we had many meetings with the ISS office. They provided housing in Mexico and constantly checked on us, worrying about both our physical and mental health. I am delighted with all the help OU has given to us, Brazilian students . . . it made me feel important to the campus community, just like any other student.

– Allana Calvano, OU student from Brazil

International students studying in the U.S. faced extraordinary challenges in 2020. For some international students, presidential proclamations restricting their entry into the U.S. compounded those challenges. Starting with China in early spring 2020, citizens from countries including Iran, Brazil and later Schengen-area countries were prohibited from traveling to the U.S. if they had been in their home country in the 14 days immediately prior to their attempted entry. (At the time of this publication, China, Iran, Brazil and South Africa are subject to the 14-day travel restriction.)

These restrictions added logistical and financial burdens for new and returning students coming from the affected countries. Some students chose not to return home over summer break because they knew they would have to arrange travel to a third country for two weeks before returning to the U.S. Others who went home were forced to complete their fall semester online from their home countries because they couldn’t afford a side trip to a third country.

After hearing the frustrating accounts of some of OU’s Brazilian students, CIS extended an offer to all students from affected countries who wanted to come to campus for the spring 2021 semester to use the OU in Puebla campus in Puebla, Mexico, as a landing spot for their two-week quarantine before traveling on to the U.S. Students could stay in the OUP student apartments at no cost with the support of OUP Director Armando Garcia.

Four Brazilian students took CIS up on the offer and arrived to Puebla in early January 2021. Director Garcia was eager to receive them, as they were the first OU student’s he’d seen in over six months! He and his staff provided information and walked the students around the area. Garcia also organized an online challenge for the students. "It was our way to be empathetic with them and make their stay easier, making sure that they were not alone and that we were here to provide support," he says.

CIS was happy to be able to help these students on their journey to Norman, and to use available resources to address a unique challenge and strengthen our community.

Robyn Rojas is director of International Student Services.