Arzu Taj is studying for a Master's degree in Controlling at HWG LU and wants to spend the summer semester at the International College of Management in Australia. Full of anticipation, she lands in Sydney on February 5, 2020. Corona is not yet an issue for her at this point. But that is set to change quickly, as Covid-19 is spreading worldwide and will also increasingly take hold of Australia.
"In the first period after my arrival, I had the pleasure of living directly 'on campus' at the International College of Management. The university where I am studying for a Master's in Entrepreneurship is a private international university in beautiful Manly. Initially, I lived directly on campus in the 'Castle' - on the third floor, the girls' floor. The lectures took place on the first floor, so I only had to use the elevator to get to the lecture hall," says Arzu, describing the first part of her semester abroad.
Return journey not possible
However, it soon became clear that the 100 or so students would have to move out of the university's castle as the pandemic progressed - for safety reasons, as they say. The risk of infection was too high due to the shared use of toilets and showers. Late one Monday evening at 11 p.m., the residents received an official letter from the university. Within two days, Arzu and her fellow students have to pack their things and leave the castle. A return journey home is no longer possible at this point. The flights of the German fellow students have been canceled. Instead, the students from the International School of Management are relocated to the Sydney Quarantine Station.
The history of Australian quarantine stations dates back to the 14th century. In order to protect coastal towns from plague epidemics, ships arriving from ports in affected cities such as Venice had to lie at anchor for 40 days before they could be unloaded. Sydney Quarantine Station today comprises a number of heritage-listed buildings and is located on the north side of Sydney Harbour. In the 19th and 20th centuries, 'Q Station' was used to prevent the spread of contagious diseases such as the Spanish flu. Over time, immigrants and soldiers returning from the world wars were stationed there. Today, the former quarantine station is home to a hotel and restaurant with an adjoining event and conference center. Historical tours are offered for tourists on the site. Highlight: ghost performances by deceased employees and patients of the quarantine station.
Growing together as a family
No one expected that the facility would ever be returned to its original purpose. At least until corona. International students from the International School of Management now occupy the rooms. Fortunately, not because they would have been infected, but to protect themselves. Everyone now has their own bathroom, so the risk of infection has been minimized. The sudden move and the shared experiences during their coronavirus semester abroad have put the students, who come from Argentina, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Colombia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal and South Africa, to the test, but have also brought them closer together. When asked how she felt after the relocation, Arzu replies: "Of course you feel a bit uneasy at a time like this on a foreign continent that you can't travel home from, and during a pandemic that you know so little about. But I was lucky enough to be surrounded by other international students who I can now call friends. We're all in the same boat, looking out for each other and looking after each other's wellbeing."
Isolation in a dream environment
The fellow students are not allowed to eat together and have to keep their distance from each other. They are compensated by the fact that they can spend their isolation in a dreamlike environment: The Quarantine Station is located in a national park surrounded by greenery, wildlife and a private beach. For security reasons, however, the students are actually isolated and are not allowed to receive visitors; no one has access to the Quarantine Station.
Arzu sees it as an irony of fate: "The Quarantine Station was built for pandemics and was used for the last pandemic a hundred years ago. Before I came to Australia, I didn't even know that there were quarantine stations for pandemics. Now I've ended up in one myself, and I'm in quarantine in Sydney in the middle of a pandemic. It feels like I'm in a movie myself."
She is now coping well with the situation: "I'm fine so far. I'm trying to make the best of the time. It's the perfect time to think about life and get to know yourself better - with your own interests, weaknesses and strengths." At the moment, Arzu does not yet know when she will return to Germany. Her student visa expires on June 20. She wants to use this time to continue taking online courses, sit exams online and finish the semester as normal - the last exam is due on June 19. Thanks to a special Covid 19 visa from the Australian government, Arzu can stay in the country after that until she has found a flight home.
Thank you, dear Arzu, for getting in touch with us with this exciting report. We wish you all the best and keep our fingers crossed that your semester abroad now runs smoothly, that you pass your exams and can return to Germany soon in good health, bringing many more wonderful experiences with you!
