By Carey Lin

As Massachusetts begins to slowly re-open, students and recent-graduates who fled home abroad must figure out whether they will be coming back to the United States. Even those without visa-related issues, returning to the states at this time poses many challenges that may not be worth the risk for them. 

“It’s a big decision definitely going back to the US where the situation is worse,” said Rebecca Lee, Boston University graduate who is currently home in Taiwan. Lee is pursuing a masters program of Human Nutrition and the Registered Dietitian Practicum this fall at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Before that, she will need to move out of her apartment in Boston this summer. “It depends on the situation in those cities and the reopening process and the consequences, and that’s something we’ll see in the coming weeks,” said Lee.

“I think one of the biggest challenge in my decision making is deciding if I want to be close to family or continue to work in a country that is honestly not very respectful to foreigners,” said Jessica Chen. She is completing her undergrad nursing degree at Northeastern.

This is also a source of stress for Caroline Tung, a Boston University student pursuing a graduate degree in Physical Therapy. There is a very big difference in the atmosphere and attitude towards the pandemic in the US and Taiwan. “I get that [in Boston] we’re now required to wear masks, but I still didn’t feel very safe. Yesterday going out, and I felt so normal. I didn’t feel like self conscious at all, I didn’t feel threatened,” said Tung. She also realized the importance of her own and her family’s health and safety. “It didn’t really struck me until Covid happened that if my health is compromised in any way, that is going to put a lot of stress on everyone around me. That is the last thing I want people to think, and so I definitely will take all the precautions I need to take if I do go back [to Boston].”

These concerns are weighed against their need to complete their coursework and begin their careers. Chen said, “The pandemic also caused a lot more stress in terms of nursing students since our clinical hours can only be met in person.” Since classes abruptly moved online last semester, Chen will need to make up her clinical training later. “I will have to work while I’m in school,” said Chen. For Tung, she has yet to find out how Boston University plans to proceed with her program. “The PT program was not listed as part of the grad programs that will return to campus in the coming fall,” said Tung. She is worried she will not be trained adequately in her profession, and is  frustrated about how this will impact her program and career timeline. “Physical Therapy requires a lot of in-person and intimate work with patients, and it’s not something you cannot just do and learn online.” 

For those returning for work or internships, they face similar concerns. Austin Hsu just graduated with a degree in Finance from Boston University. He has a job offer that was supposed to begin in August, but his current timeline is unknown due to the pandemic. “I was supposed to take two exams to be certified before I can begin working, and that was supposed to happen in June. But now, I don’t know,” said Hsu. “I feel stuck.”

Apollo Lo, another recent graduate from Boston University with a degree in Computer Engineering has also been trying to figure out the logistics of his internship. “My internship is expected to begin in June and I can work remotely but they said I still need to be in Boston,” said Lo. As of now, Lo is “90% sure” he will be coming back to Boston, as he is hopeful that this internship could help him begin his career. “I wish I can do well in the internship and get a return offer. If the school is going to be remote then I might go full time next semester,” said Lo. “Because everything is last minute now though, I’m probably going to make a decision based on stress.”

Some individuals are coping better than others at the moment. Vincent Huang, a Northeastern student who will need to return for his fifth and final year in his Business and Economics program, is optimistic that the US will have it under control by August. “But that might be because I’m in Taiwan where it’s been chill and not that many people have been talking about it,” Huang said. As he had already went through the frustrating process of figuring out his timeline earlier in April, he is not as worried about it as the others. “Last I heard, Northeastern will be opening campus in the Fall, so for me it’s not worth thinking about it right now as I complete military service,” said Huang. 

Despite his optimism, Huang still has his concerns. “One thing that I’m still worried about is if this is going to be a cycle. It’s going to die down, and things are going to open up and the whole pandemic [might] start again,” said Huang.

Regardless of these considerations, they will all have to return sometime in August to move out of their apartments. The situation in the coming weeks as the US transitions towards a “new normal” will determine whether they will come back to stay. Tung said, “It’s really just watching the situation, and I’m definitely worried about going back. Because in my opinion, I don’t think it’s going to get that much better. Even if it does, I wouldn’t feel safe back in Boston.”

While some are fearful of the pandemic in the US, others are looking forward to coming back. “I really wanna go back,” said Huang. As healthcare professional in training, Chen is looking forward to helping out upon returning to Boston. She said “I am honestly ready to go back and help out these nurses that have been working so hard to flatten the curve.”