To go home or not to go home? Letter from an international student during Covid-19

As a mother with a child studying abroad in Europe, during the days when the whole world is spinning every hour, even every minute with worrying information about “Covid”, I, like millions of other parents, wonder whether I should say: Come home, child?
And after talking to my son, 2 weeks ago, we decided, he will stay.
In recent days, there has been a flurry of news about Vietnamese students returning from other countries, along with worries surrounding the haunting phrase - Covid-19. Most of those returns come from the anxious hearts of their parents.
But there are also young, strong, and different voices. Health & Life quotes two of the letters that international students shared on social networks. War, epidemics, and natural disasters can knock on the door of any country. Give your children more antibodies. No mother can hold her child as safely in her arms as she can. Let your children decide for themselves.

Nguyen Tuong Linh talks about cuisine in Vietnamese culture at the International Culture Week, Niagara University.

"Because all learning will be online from now until the end of the year, students are starting to return home one by one, and many international students are also choosing to return home.
Going back to Vietnam now is risky and puts more burden on the health sector, so I won't go back.

The hardest thing for me is saying goodbye to many close friends. For the next 2 weeks and maybe the next 2 months, I will have to stay in a deserted dormitory. Actually, I have been alone in my room every night for the past 6 months, so basically not much has changed. I have a lot of work to do, I still go to the library and the office every day, there are so many good books and good movies waiting for me.
The office is empty right now except me because the staff are all working from home.
I have been answering emails non-stop these past few days. Updating the situation and reassuring the students. In case foreign students want to return home, we have to make arrangements to ensure they get home safely. I even take the initiative to arrange for someone to take the students to the airport, and I am on duty to make sure they have checked in and boarded the plane safely.

Overall busy but happy to be useful.

The worrying thing about this Wuhan virus is that it makes people anxious and panic. I think the most important thing to do right now is to reassure others.

Another thing is saving. I still use the phone my mother bought me when I went to WRO 2017. This semester I also saved a lot of money on textbooks thanks to the way Tu taught me and studied mainly in the library. Those who do not have the habit of saving will have some difficulties in the future, but fortunately, I was taught this a long time ago.

I didn't go shopping to stock up because the food in the canteen is still plentiful, they've committed to serving from now until June. Mom, please thank your friends for me, I'm fine for now, no need to go anywhere."

Student Do Hanh Thao.

“Honestly, I rarely write on Facebook, but today I have to write because I am a bit frustrated with some ignorant people who like to show off. Every day I receive countless messages urging and advising me to go back to Vietnam, because staying here means death. Why do you say that staying in France means death?

I agree that the number of infected cases in France is currently high, but the biggest reason is not because they lack expertise but because of the subjectivity of the people, at first they thought it was just a common flu ???? But now France has recognized the problem, has limited people from going out, has closed all borders with other European countries, the police have also been mobilized to patrol, if anyone goes out it must be really urgent and have a confirmation report. So now I am completely assured because I stay at home, study at home, and have enough food. Why do I have to return to Vietnam at this time when planes and airports are the places with the highest infection rates because people from all over the world gather there ???? The proof is that the latest infections are all international students returning from Europe, so is it safe to return now?

For me, those who think that returning to Vietnam means survival and staying in France means death, they have no understanding at all. Moreover, that is extremely selfish, if unfortunately I am infected and get on the plane, will I infect hundreds of people? Then the whole country will start cursing, isn't that tiring? It's also funny that many people insist on returning to Vietnam and then post on social networks complaining about having to go into quarantine? How strange???

So international students, please think carefully because at this time everyone is scared and wants to be safe. If you stay calm and follow the requirements set by the government, there is nothing to worry about… “