Did you change your spring break plans because of the virus? From what to what?
No
How did you feel when you were informed the remainder of the semester would be held online?
Terrible. My family and a friend were supposed to come to Pensacola from Buenos Aires, Argentina (where I am from) for my graduation, and then for vacations.
Where will you be living while courses are held online? Is this a change from usual?
It is a change from usual. After doing hicking in the national parks of Washington State, and then staying a few days in Las Vegas, I went to Orlando to a friend’s house, where we recieved the notice that we had the rest of the semester online. So I decided to come back to Argentina, where I am currently doing everything.
What has been your experience with moving classes online? What’s good? What’s not so good?
It is good how professors are helping us. They are really into helping us to succeed and to make everything easy, but it is not so good to not be able of attending to their classes; I really enjoyed to have face-to-face classes.
How has the virus (and the precautions taken to prevent it spreading) impacted your daily life?
Completely. I came back to my home-country, where I had to rent an apartment for two weeks to make sure that I was ok and that I was not going to transmit the virus to anyone. After those 15 days, I came to my house to stay with my family (I did not see them since December of 2019). We cannot go anywhere except to the market and to assist our elder family members.
How worried are you about getting the virus?
I am not worried about myself, because I am healthy and young and the best it could happen is to develop anti-bodies at this time. I am worried about getting it and being asymptomatic, where without knowing I am transmitting the virus to other people.
Do you know anyone who has gotten COVID-19?
No.
Are you staying in? What are you doing to pass the time?
I am in lock down since almost a month. I am spending my time studying, doing things for work, and watching movies and conversing with my parents and siblings.
Are you going out? Where do you go and what is it like?
I just go out to buy things in the pharmacy or market, and to give them to my grandmothers. At first there were many police controls here (Buenos Aires, Argentina), but then people started to go out with more frequency, and now there are not a lot of people, but a considerable amount, so controls are not strict.
What is giving you hope and/or strength right now?
I am a very rational person, so I do not think I am getting a hope or strength. I just think time is going to determine what is going to happen, and until then I must work properly in order to be able to continuing my plans in the future.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about what you’re feeling or experiencing right now?