Is it making you reconsider sending kids away for study abroad?
DS was supposed to study abroad this summer at a language-intensive in Chengdu, China (accepted to program and paid deposit in late fall)…got notice on 2/27 that it was cancelled. He is eager to try again for next summer, but as a parent in the public health field, I told him no promises at this point. We’ll have to see what the situation is this time next year–I expect it will be fine, but there are a lot of unknowns at this point.
I’m honestly not sure I’d want him abroad this summer regardless of location. There is a real risk of getting stuck/quarantined abroad in an area whose health infrastructure is overwhelmed. That said, there is real risk at home too, but it seems more manageable somehow.
I really feel for all the kids whose current study abroad programs have been impacted, and also those on domestic campuses suddenly having online classes. ?
All parents I talked too are against semester abroad at least during this summer and fall. There is so much uncertainty that most doesn’t think it’s worth it this year.
Younger S is supposed to intern this summer for 6 weeks in Spain. The school says it will make the decision next week. If they elect to go, we will likely still send him, but I would want to be very clear what he would do if he got sick with any virus. But I would be surprised (shocked really) if they let them go at this point, so I’m currently working on alternative working arrangements for him here. Crossing fingers it works out, because nobody here hires college students for summer work when we have a whole city full of uneducated people who can work full time year round.