I’m back in the airport where it all started. Exactly 2 months ago I arrived in Copenhagen excited about what the semester would bring and curious to explore what would been my first time in Europe. Sadly, my adventures in Copenhagen had to be cut short. The past 48 hours has been a storm of back and forth emails between my school, my program, and my professors; and before I knew it I had to plan my return back to Florida.
The uncertainty of the Coronavirus has been swirling around for months but just recently, infections have spread all throughout Europe. It was always in the back of my mind that I would need to consider if I wanted to go home for my safety, but I never would have thought that I would be booking an emergency flight out of Denmark. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health notified the country that they would begin shutting down schools in attempt to stop the spread of the virus. As study abroad students no one in our program knew what this would mean for us. Shortly after, my program (DIS) notified everyone that they would also be shutting down and that students had until the 19th to leave Denmark. With all this information being sprung at me at once, I didn’t quite know where to begin. I was already contemplating going home the week before due to concerns on the virus spreading all throughout Europe, and now I was being told that I had no choice but to leave. With it only being Wednesday I decided that I had ample time to make the necessary arrangements to leave Copenhagen in the following days.
That same night early in the morning, about 2am, I got word from other study abroad students that US would be issuing a travel ban from most European countries. I thought that I had time to plan my departure but I knew in that moment I had to act fast or risk not being able to go back home. I didn’t go to sleep until I had successful booked a flight home. I booked one that gave me a little over 24 hours to leave Copenhagen. In the midst of packing and preparing to move out of my apartment, I didn’t get to formally say goodbyes to my professors and the new friends I had made. Everyone left in such a hurry that there was no formal ending to things. I did exchange tearful goodbyes with my housemates; sad to be leaving them after 2 short months of bonding.
Although my study in Copenhagen was cut in half, I will always remember this experience. I know that this isn’t the last time I’ll be in Copenhagen, and I know for sure that this won’t be the last time I visit Europe. So to Denmark I say, until we meet again!
Adventures Abroad 