By Karen Gomez
It was mid of December and I was wondering from my University about a new virus that can produce pneumonia. First, let me introduce myself. I am Karen Gomez, Argentinian, studying in China my master degree in International Business. I am facing my third semester; I am in Wuhan for the last year and half.
As I mentioned, my university send us a notification about a new virus that can produce pneumonia. Thus, they informed about to take some precautions to avoid it. Notification said, avoid crowded places and wear masks in public transport. This notification came before Christmas and New Year. My friends and me were planning those celebration to hung out at night, go to a restaurant and then to a bar or somewhere where we can have fun. Therefore, those plans were cancelled to follow the precautions we received.
However, school activities were on going. Classes were not suspended at that time. Even at the beginning of January, I had my pre-defense of thesis. Everything was on going.
Actually, I started feeling worry about the increasing cases of people infected at mid- January but there were not a lot of information about it. Nevertheless, suddenly during the late night on January 23rd, my phone started ringing a lot. I received many messages from friends sharing the information that the next day Wuhan will be lockdown. It was a suppressive new, and the uncertainty time starts from this moment, not knowing when it will finish.
The international school informed us officially the next day when the decision was implemented. Nobody is allowed to leave the city in any way, even railway stations, routes, and the airport was closed at that time. It was a fast action from the government to try containing the virus, which we notice when the time was passing. The main idea was to avoid people traveling to their homes to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
Since that moment, we woke up with new restrictions and regulations every day. Of course, everyone has few information about this new virus and the policies, and regulations were implemented, such as test and error.
First regulations coming out were try to avoid going outside, just if it is necessary, clean your hands and wear masks outside. No more public transport as well. After a few days, the university closed some entrance and allow going out just from two different entrances and they checked our temperature when we were going out and back to school. Next, no more vehicles can ride the city; you need a special permit to ride your car.
While passing days the cases of people infected were increasing a lot thus the regulation was stricter. University decided to do not allow international students to go outside the campus. Then they delivered the food and supplies directly to our dormitories. Until the day, that government decided to close every community. In that moment, we were not allowed to go out of dormitories.
In the middle of this situation, everyone has their families in panic, worries, and praying for the situation recover soon but the only thing that we knew was international school was carrying us a lot.
From the lockdown day, Argentinian embassy was in touch with my country-mates and me that were located in Hubei to know about everyone. Most of the time, the stress level in me was so high. The situation was completely extraordinary, we were having our normal life but abruptly everything changed. Everything was uncertainty.
On February 17th, I received the confirmation from Argentinian embassy in China that there is an option to be evacuated and go back home to meet my family. After many discussions with myself, I decided to accept it. Here my journey starts.
Getting ready everything, with short luggage due to it will be a repatriation flight and not a commercial one. The route was informed by my embassy, I have to do quarantine for 14 days in Ukraine and then home. Deciding what to leave in my room at university and what to take to home. Stressed but happy at the same time, I will meet my family after two years however this is not the perfect plan so far.
On February 19th, I wait for the shuttle bus to pick me up at the airport. A special flight will take us from Wuhan to Kyiv, capital of Ukraine where will we do 15 days quarantine in a hotel, according to the plans. Once we reached the airport, airport’s employees gave us the ticket and do the check-in of our luggage. Then, all the health checks before enter to the immigration sector. Temperature control, scan, and health form completed. Everything was good. Thus, pass to the immigration and custom sector. When everything was done just wait for the boarding time.
Our flight took off at midnight. Inside plane, the temperature was too high. It was something unusual for me due to every plane I took in my life were so cold. It was part of the protocol. First stop was in Astana, then Kyiv but suddenly, plans changes we were not going out in Kyiv; we will fly again but to a military airport in the southeast of Ukraine. Finally, after a total journey of 15hs we reached the military airport.
Therefore, after the whole protocol, we went out of the plane and go on a bus. According to some whispering, we could hear the first place is not going to host us. Hotel’s employees refused to assist us, then the hotel’s director has to regret his decision and he announced they are not going to host us.
Thus, the final place will be a military hospital. We start the ride to that place; it took around 7hs with full of policies guarding us. In the beginning, I did not understand the reason of many policies man surrounding us. Until, the moment we reach the city where the quarantine was settle, Novi Sanzhary in Poltava. Many people protesting, they blocked the streets and they were so furious than start throwing stones on the buses. They believe we were the virus. An explosion of feeling coming through. I was scared, stunned, worried, and disconcerted.
Finally, we arrived safely at the military hospital where we realize that people were trying to organize everything at that moment. Yes, the hospital was unoccupied for a long time ago. The entire conditions of the building were poor. Nothing that I expected but I am safe at least and trying to figure out and convince myself, it is just for two weeks, it is the step I need to meet my family.
Organizers were so kind. They did twice the covid-19 test at the beginning and in the end. I spent 14 days in there. Finally, last day President of Ukraine came to give us the congratulations to be released from there, to do not be infected. Then, the Argentinian embassy in Ukraine organized the bus to go to Kyiv where I met the ambassador after a journey of 4hs. Finally, the next day I will take the flight to Buenos Aires with stop in Madrid, Spain was waiting for me.
Early morning the taxi was waiting for me downstairs with final destination Boryspil International Airport. I have my gloves, gel alcohol and masks. I am ready to continue the trip. Flight from Kyiv to Madrid took 5hs. In Madrid, the Argentinian Consulate of Madrid was waiting for us to speed up the process and to catch the next flight to Buenos Aires on time. Stop was for 6hs, I am more close to home.
Lastly, we are ready for the last flight, Madrid to Buenos Aires, 13hs in front. Plane was landing and a lot of emotional feeling are coming to my heart and body. After custom and immigration process, I finally met my parents.
I reached Quilmes, my city town where my home is on March 7th but I reached my country after the COVID-19. At that time, we have three people infected. Suddenly, Alberto Fernandez implemented the quarantine for everyone coming from abroad. Fifteen days under quarantine but now at home. I think it will be ok. Suddenly, before two days that I will finish my quarantine, and I will have the opportunity to meet my relatives and friends, cases of infected people in Argentina increased a lot, so the government decided to implemented quarantine to the entire country for two weeks.
Quarantine was extended each two weeks and at this time that I am telling you my story I spent quarantine in three different countries and I am still under quarantine. Yes, I exceed the 100 days under quarantine. This was my unimaginable trip.
