Students attending Harding University in Latin America (HULA) are spending an extra two weeks of isolation in Peru after travel bans implemented in South America increased in severity and forced them to remain in the country. The students were on the way back to the States March 16 after International Programs (IP) decided to bring them back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to IP Executive Director Audra Pleasant, Peru\u2019s President Martin Vizcarra announced the plan to shut the borders effective midnight March 16. The HULA group was the last program to end their semester abroad early after Harding\u2019s programs in Florence (HUF) and Greece (HUG) ended earlier this semester. Travel bans and poor weather conditions hindered the HULA group\u2019s ability to return to the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA fog delay in Arequipa, the city where the HULA program makes its home, delayed the students\u2019 flight from Arequipa to Lima, making it impossible for the students to arrive in time for their flight to the U.S.,\u201d Pleasant said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Countries in South America are trying to slow the spread of COVID-19 by banning and regulating travel between countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt became clear that everyone in the world would somehow be impacted by COVID-19,\u201d HULA Director Jeremy Daggett said. \u201cCountries in South America were hit a lot more slowly, but they reacted very quickly with isolating measures.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Countries such as Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile and Mexico have closed their borders to surrounding and international countries and implemented strict curfews. The sudden global changes left some HULA students feeling surprised, like junior TaylorAnn Laman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did not expect the coronavirus to have any impact on my study abroad,\u201d Laman said. \u201cI knew it was a problem when HUF got sent home, but I didn\u2019t really get nervous for us until HUG went home.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daggett said the group waited six hours on the plane before eventually deplaning and heading back to El Castillo, Harding\u2019s home in Arequipa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a rollercoaster of emotions to have your study abroad semester cut short, be ready to leave, and then all of a sudden be back where you started,\u201d Daggett said. \u201cBut the students have adapted and responded so positively.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Current HULA student sophomore Deanna Hutson agreed that the students have been in good spirits overall, despite the circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone has done a really good job being positive,\u201d Hutson said. \u201cMost of us were actually really excited to stay, even though we are all under quarantine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hutson continued to say that they get the advantage of continuing their schooling in-person, which gives the group two more weeks to grow closer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think God was quite ready for us to leave Peru,\u201d Hutson said. \u201cI think there are still some things that need to happen first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The HULA students are expected to return to the United States by April 3 but are hoping to work with the U.S. Embassy to get a flight back to the States sooner.
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