The Buzz: Spring 2021

Page 66

The Future Resuming Study Abroad in the Post-Covid-19 Future written by Abby Balter |graphic by Emily Snisarenko | designed by Amy Takahashi As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the United States and the vaccine rollout begins to enter Phase 2 of the plan, the question of when, and in what capacity, life will get back to normal circles people’s minds. For college students, when the nationwide shutdown struck last March, they were forced off of campuses, out of housing, and were left with their entire worlds turned upside down, uncertain of what the future would hold. Students studying abroad were to return home immediately, and those who had abroad programs and internships planned for the summer had their programs cancelled, with little-to-no financial compensation. Now, as the end of the pandemic is in sight, the question arises as to what will remain of the study abroad system. On January 14, Boston University announced that they will make a decision regarding whether or not study abroad programs will continue this summer on March 1. This information comes after months of hopeful speculation from students on the possibility of returning to some form of normalcy, but they are not out of the woods yet. After the United Kingdom and other European countries went into lockdown due to the presence of a new, more contagious strain of Covid-19, it is unclear when borders around the world will reopen safely. Although there are currently four different Covid-19 vaccines approved for distribution in the United States, the rollout

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